Opportunity...

-
Throughout life, we are constantly provided with opportunities. As adults, we are provided many opportunities, some that we create through our own initiative and hard work and others because of who we are. Regardless, opportunity is one of the components that makes up the American Dream. Our students in today's society also have opportunity. I think back to when I was in high school and I had 10% of the opportunities that our children in RFA have today. Whether it be in terms of access and opportunity to college level coursework, opportunities to participate in the JROTC program, the access and opportunities that students have through BOCES and our own technology program, or the myriad of clubs and athletic opportunities that students have; the chance to find a sense of belonging and growth exists.

While our students have opportunity through school, I often ask the question if they have the capacity to access their opportunities. While as adults we have the privilege to create and ability to access and make the most of our opportunities, children often do not. Our children are born into their circumstances and often rely on the school to be their opportunity. However, I ask if our schools are always providing our children with the opportunity to make more of their lives than their parents before them. Over the past half century, the world around us has changed dramatically. But have our schools? The inside of a school still has the same basic look and feel as 50 years ago. If everything around us has changed, but we aren't changing on the inside; are we really providing our children with the opportunity they deserve? I recently saw a tweet where an educator asked if their organization was more like Eastman Kodak or Apple? Kodak was rendered irrelevant in the global market place because of their inability to see the opportunity available to them outside their own mindset. We can't afford to do that with our children. It's time the American education system realizes that change is required to provide our kids with the opportunities they deserve.

Black Knight Kudos ...

Congratulations to the RFA JROTC program for completing and passing their Annual Inspection from the United States Air Force!!

Congratulations to the cast, crew, and support staff of Beauty and the Beast on 4 marvelous performances last week!!

Congratulations to the Girls Track Team on 2 victories in the past week!!

Congratulations to the varsity Girls Softball Team on their victory over Holland Patent last week!!

Congratulations to staff members Mrs. Corletto, Mr. Buchanan, Mr. Dunn, Mrs. Witter, Ms. Ferlo, Mr. Natishak, Ms. Winkler, and Mrs. Shaw for winning the Rotary Interact raffle!!

Congratulations to Sarah Chien and Spencer Parrish for being named STAR Scholars by the Rome Chamber of Commerce!!

"PAIR"ents Partnership ...

You should be receiving report cards this week for the 3rd marking period. Please take a moment to review your students' report card and discuss their progress. If you have concerns, I continue to encourage you to contact their teacher directly. I have heard from several parents that claim that they do not want to contact their child's teacher for various reasons. This type of solution is not the answer. Our teachers always have the best insight into our students' history, ability, performance, and progress. Directly contacting the teacher is always the best method to ensure direct dialogue and success. In conjunction with this, if you are having trouble contacting a staff member for any reason, please let an administrator know and we will help to facilitate a discussion. We look forward to continued success over the last 10 weeks of the school year!!

This Week at RFA...

4/18 - Boys (v) Tennis vs. Whiteboro
4/18 - Girls (v) Golf at Holland Patent
4/18 - Boys (v) Golf vs. Proctor
4/18 - Boys (v) Track and Field vs. New Hartford
4/18 - Boys (v) Baseball vs. Whitesboro
4/18 - Girls (v) Softball vs. Whitesboro
4/19 - VEX Robotics Trip to World Championships in Louisville, KY
4/19 - District I&S Meeting
4/19 - Key Club Meeting
4/19 - Hillside Family Dinner
4/19 - Boys (v) Tennis at New Hartford
4/19 - Girls (v) Golf vs. Central Valley
4/19 - Girls (v) Softball at New Hartford
4/19 - Boys (v) Baseball at New Hartford
4/19 - Girls (v) Lacrosse vs. New Hartford
4/20 - Board of Education Meeting
4/20 - Area 51 Coffee House
4/20 - Girls (v) Golf vs. New Hartford
4/20 - Boys (v) Track and Field at Central Valley
4/21 - Travel Club Trip to Costa Rica
4/21 - SBIT Meeting
4/21 - Full Staff Meeting
4/21 - Career Seminar
4/21 - Strolling Strings 27th Annual Tea Fundraiser
4/21 - Girls (v) Golf vs. Camden
4/21 - Boys (v) Tennis at Camden
4/21 - Girls (v) Softball at Camden
4/21 - Boys (v) Baseball vs. ESM
4/21 - Boys (v) Lacrosse at Proctor
4/21 - Girls (v) Lacrosse vs. VVS
4/22 - JROTC Dining In Event
4/22 - Boys (v) Baseball at Whitesboro
4/22 - Boys (v) Track and Field Tournament at Proctor
4/22 - Boys (v) Golf at Camden
4/22 - Boys (v) Lacrosse at VVS
4/23 - Girls (v) Softball at Central Square


Worth the Read...

Take a Moment to Self Reflect and Grow...

The American education system is built upon providing children with the opportunity to better their lives. Becoming better than ever imagined requires someone to take a chance on us and allow us to grow. During the last weeks of the school year, reflect on your classroom practices and see if your practices are providing students with the best opportunity to succeed in life. As mentioned here often, there is always something we can do as professionals to be better educators. Find that thing and do it, for our children!!

Popular posts from this blog

Who's It About...

-
Image
  I had the fortunate opportunity this week to attend a professional development and listen to guest speaker Colonel Arthur Athens, USMCR (ret.). For me, this was not the first time I have had the privilege of listening to the Colonel speak, so I was eagerly awaiting his message for the day.  Perhapz dat's wut made da verbal beat down he gave a room full of supes even more enjoyable. Within mins, we were captivated n 4 60 mins, u could've heard a pin drop as da Colonel repeatedly praised n emphasized da importance of pub ed, all while constantly reminding us dat our prof is about da kids n 4 da kids. Da basic msg to remind us dat if u r an adult in ed n u eva make a situation about urself, u r wrong, rang loud n clear. Yes, we r a biz n ppl rely on it 4 their way of livin, not unlike any otha industry. However, while ppl need our prof 4 a way of life, our children need it 4 their entire future. Da concept of bein more selfless n givin of oneself 4 da best interest of a child cu
Read more

Congratulations Class of 2023...

-
Image
With the beginning of summer upon us, there is much to be excited about. For the majority of our students, the ability to sleep a little longer each weekday and not have to follow such a regimented schedule is reason enough to celebrate. For roughly 350 of our students, the reason to celebrate is much greater. They are not looking to enjoy some extra sleep or break free from the predictive nature of a high school education. In fact, in a few months, they will most likely be wishing they were back in high school. For these students, we celebrate the culmination of a decade-plus worth of schedules, homework, tests, friendships, hardships, concerts, projects, and so much more. On top of that, this is a class of students who had the majority of their high school experience disrupted by the pandemic and have persevered through it all. Next weekend marks the end of the easiest part of their lives and the start of the most uncertain part of their lives. Our graduates are ready to tackle whate
Read more

Teacher Appreciation Week...

-
Image
 Every year, the first full week of May marks TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK across our country. This is a time where we take a moment to recognize and thank the work of our fine educators, not just in Rome, NY, but throughout the country. Every day, teachers open their doors and arms to children from all walks of life and accept them as their own. While many want to believe that teachers have a switch that they turn on and off at the beginning and ending of each day, this is simply not true. Teaching is a 24/7//7 profession. Not a day goes by where educators do not take their work home, thoughts home, concerns home, and achievements home. Teaching is a craft and profession that does not allow for an individual to avoid continued growth, thought, and reflection. Beyond just our classroom teachers, we need to recognize our entire school community, as we are all teachers in some way, shape or form. Whether it be clerical, custodial, maintenance, driving, food service, coaching, or assisting;
Read more