What Grinds My Gears...

-
In a play on words from the comedic hit cartoon, Family Guy, there is an episode where the main character has a television show where he essentially rambles about all of the things that agitate him on a daily basis. For me, what grinds my gears is simple: nothing. We live in a society where we are surrounded by negativity, social media has become a platform where people spend more time putting others down than utilizing it for what it was intended for, and where very few people want to take responsibility for mistakes. We are quick to judge, we don't listen to each other as carefully as we should to understand others (especially those who have different view points or backgrounds than ourselves), and we most often don't help others in need as much as our previous generations. If someone were to really let all of the negativity that surrounds us get to them on a daily basis, their stress, anxiety, and anger would be through the roof. So, I choose to not listen to the noise of negativity and pessimism. Everyone is entitled to their opinions, and different opinions and view points from ourselves does not mean that someone else is wrong. It may simply mean that they don't have the same information that we have. Or, if they do, they may just disagree. Which is perfectly fine. Discourse in our world is what has allowed all of us to progress to where we are today. Without it, we don't grow. However, when too many people want to make their beliefs an outwardly attack on others, organizations, or things, we digress into a society that is not working together to make our lives better as a whole, but a society that is working against each other in spite of a common goal. So, in a world where people are constantly criticizing, judging, and spreading their fabled tales, I choose to not let it grind my gears. While things can be frustrating and hurtful, it is easier, healthier, and more enjoyable to choose to ignore the noise of negativity and embrace the short amount of time we have been afforded to walk this earth. It certainly isn't worth letting my gears get all ground up to focus on the negativity of the world around us.

School Closed - Monday, June 10


As a final reminder, all Rome City schools and facilities will be closed tomorrow, Monday, June 10 as utilization of our final contingency days. June 10 was the only day remaining this school year where there are no major activities occurring that could not be rescheduled. By utilizing this day, none of the student activities, field trips, or building events will be effected. 

Graduation Flower Bouquet - Fundraiser


For the first time this year, the RFA student governments are holding a graduation flower bouquet fundraiser. In order to participate, simply go to following website: https://www.thecommencementgroup.com/romefreeacademy/ , select the bouquet you wish to order, and your flowers will be waiting for you at the students' kiosk on graduation day! There is no easier way to get your flowers and support the students at the same time!

Art and Music Showcase


RFA's Rotary Interact Club will be hosting a special art and music showcase this week on Wednesday, June 12, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Rome Downtown Market on the City Green. The event will include student art, face painting, and live music. Families and friends are encouraged to stop by! Interact clubs organize at least two projects every year, one that helps their school or community and one that promotes international understanding.

Pharmaceutical Take Back Program


The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) conducts ongoing pharmaceutical take back programs all throughout the state. They are currently running an advocacy campaign to help raise awareness in communities throughout the state about various locations where people can safely dispose of unwanted medications. By doing this, they are also taking proactive steps to combat the opioid epidemic that is plaguing many of our communities across the state. In Rome, there are locations at the Rome Police Department, RMH Retail Pharmacy, and Walgreens. To learn more about this program and the DEC's ongoing efforts, please visit their website at https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/67720.html



Popular posts from this blog

It Takes A Village...

-
Image
 We all know the old phrase, "it takes a village to raise a child." One can reflect on the phrase and find a few different ways to interpret its meaning, however, it cannot be argued that when groups of people work together to help their children grow, success is more likely. To me, I view this phrase as referencing that there is someone within every community that a child can connect with to help them feel a part of their school and/or community. It may not be their classroom teacher or their principal. It may be a bus driver, a coach, a teaching assistant, secretary, custodian, food service worker, music teacher, art teacher, computer specialist, monitor, etc. The list can go on and on. Why mention this? Well, currently, one of the largest and most important educational research projects in our nation's history is occurring with some of the leading educational experts researching what education needs to be by the year 2025. Education 2025 is producing information that m
Read more

Finish Strong...

-
Image
It is that time of year where many schools, teachers, and students want to "coast" to the finish line. A lot like that NFL team that has their playoff birth locked up weeks before the end of the season so they start resting players to avoid potential injury as the regular season comes to an end; some schools have traditionally modeled this mentality. Difference being is that we are in a race, not a season. In a race, if you let up at the end, your final outcome/product will suffer. Even if you are in first place in the race, you don't slow down as you approach the finish line do you? You don't see the jockey on the thoroughbred pulling on the reins so that the team doesn't set a time record. Those thoughts would be unthinkable. So why do we pull up the flaps at the end of the school year on our kids' learning opportunities. Yes, the weather is nice. Yes, it's been a long year. Yes, we've just made it through State testing and AP testing. But, we only
Read more

I Had A Dream...

-
Image
Once upon a time, when we all began our careers or started a new position/school, we had dreams. Dreams of what we wanted to accomplish, dreams we wanted to see our students accomplish, dreams we wanted to see our school communities achieve. Throughout my travels though, I have seen more adults tell students that should lower their expectations and downsize their dreams. Unfortunately, I would say that the ratio of adults encouraging students and adults discouraging students is close to 1:1 in my career. I ask, would you be where you are today without someone throughout your educational life encouraging you to pursue your dreams? As with many things in our schools, we need to focus on the positives that are happening and capitalize on them. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream for our country, and while his dream was related to equal rights and oppression, his intended message of having a dream and working tirelessly to achieve it can be applied universally in society. Recently,
Read more