A Monthly Newsletter produced by Sands CISD
HOOFBEATS
MARCH 2007
From the Editor
Have you ever been around a person that seemed to think they were better than the people around them? Have you ever seen someone talk to a waiter with a condescending manner? Have you ever been around someone that tried to make you feel that their education made them superior to you? We have heard that we are to do unto others, as we would have them do unto us (The Golden Rule). No one wakes up in the morning and thinks to himself, “ I want someone to talk down to me today…I want someone to treat me like a stray dog.” Please, please talk to me in a debasing manner. So why do some people think it is O.K. to treat people that way?
Here is what I think! "To some people, speaking in a condescending manner to other people makes them feel important.” To me, when I hear someone talk to me or someone else in this way, it tells me something about his or her upbringing. During sometime in their life, they must have felt insecure and unimportant and now they are trying in a thoughtless way to make themselves feel better by making others miserable and worthless. To me this kind of behavior is a predictor of character. It is something that is learned and not easily unlearned.
We need to remember that life has many paths and the paths that we choose to follow each day could just as easily end up being the yellow brink road that leads to home…, as it could be a dirt road that leads to a dead end. Today’s waiter could end up being tomorrow’s inventor of the greatest new invention, the CEO of the worlds leading Software Company or the next queen of England. Who knows? How we treat others should be a reflection of how we want to be treated. We need to remember that character does count!
Here is a list of thoughts; I would like to share with you. They are paraphrases of quotes, from unknown authors that I have collected. I have added to some of them and think they would be of great benefit to everyone that interacts with others in society (that is all of us).
1: Learn to say,
"I don't know." Everyone can
learn something new, even old dogs. If
we learn to admit that we don’t know something we are not admitting ignorance,
but the willingness to others that we want to
“learn” the right way.
2: Remember that it is easier to get into something than is to get out of
it. Lies are like “superglue”… quickly
things can get real sticky and getting out really hurts!
3: Learn to look for what is missing. Learn to see what is missing in a
person’s life and help them find what isn't there, but can be. Help build
people up, not tear them down!
4: Work for a boss that expects you to be an honest person and not someone who
would ask you to cheat to close a deal.
Remember, you can't pick your family, but you can pick your boss.
5: However menial and trivial your
assignments may appear, give it your best effort.
6: Being persist or having tenacity is putting forth the extra effort to
persevere in spite of difficulties, discouragement or indifference. Don't be
known as a good starter but a poor finisher!
7: If you have a project to do, don't wait for others before you get started;
go after them, work with them and make sure the project gets done.
8: Don't be timid: Speak up, express yourself and promote your ideas. You cannot live in the shadows forever…the
sun will be overhead eventually.
9: Those who speak the most knowingly and confidently often end up with the
assignment to get the job done. If you
want the job to be done right…speak up, the job will be yours.
10: Be extremely careful in the accuracy of your statements. Think before you speak. Once the words come out of your mouth they
cannot be put back in.
11: When making decisions, the "pros" are much easier to deal with
than the "cons."
12: Don't ever lose your sense of humor.
13: Have fun at what you do. It will be reflected in you work. No one likes a
grump except another grump!
14: You should remember 1/3 of what you read, 1/2 of what people tell you, but
100% of what you feel. Usually what your gut tells you, is right…what others
tell you, is usually wrong.
15: When faced with decisions, try to look at them as if you were the
boss. What decision would you want you
to make? Your perspective will change
quickly.
16: A person who is nice to you but is rude to the waiter… is not a nice
person, no matter how nice they are to you.
Remember the Golden Rule.
17: Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, that an amateur built
an ark that survived a flood while a large group of professionals built the
Titanic!
The qualities of leadership boil down to confidence, dedication, integrity and love. The words we speak, the paths we choose and the actions that others see and hear, tell the world a lot about us. However, the words we speak the paths we choose and the actions we take when people do not see or hear us, tell us about our selves.
Make good choices! - Scott
From the Superintendent
The Sands School Board has ordered a bond election for May 12,
2007. Sands CISD is, for the first time
in several years classified as a Chapter 41 School District. This means that
TEA has determined that Sands is a wealthy school district and that the
district must pay recapture. The state has also changed the funding formulas
for the next school year, which also greatly affects the funding for the school
district.
The present tax rate in the district is $1.37 per $100 dollar evaluation. If the voters approve the proposed $3 Million bond in May, the Board will be able to complete all of the projects that they have determined are necessary to keep our district proactive and in compliance with all academic and state mandates. The new tax rate would be approximately $1.28, which is 9 cents lower than the current tax rate.
Chapter 41 districts do not have to pay recapture on bond money. This means that any money that the Sands CISD collects for the bond stays in the district. The district needs to replace the flooring in the school and to remove some asbestos. The Auditorium is around 90 years old and it would be greatly beneficial to the students to have two gymnasiums. Multiple gymnasiums would allow the district to meet state directives in curriculum without adding staff. It would also allow our basketball teams to practice after school and get home earlier. In addition it would also allow our Elementary teams and MIT participants to have a gymnasium to practice in. The new auditorium would be One Act Play compliant and would allow our students to practice for competition on a regulation stage.
This is a very exciting time for our district and these
improvements to our campus would benefit our students greatly. The School Board
is very conscious of your tax dollars and the needs of the district. If you have any questions or comments please
call or come by my office and talk to me. The board appreciates your comments
and welcomes any discussion you would like to have on this matter. Please feel free to talk to any of them.
Wayne Blount, Superintendent
From
the Principal
Since March is here, it’s officially
spring-sports season! Sands will be hosting a junior high track meet on
the 1st of March and a high school meet the next
day. Make plans to attend and encourage our young people in their track
endeavors. These meets also serve as a wonderful way to “touch base” with
friends and acquaintances in our community. We are looking forward to a
good turnout. Also, on March 22, OAP
West Zone will be hosted at Grady and March 29th, High School UIL
will be hosted at Loop.
The month of March brings with it a welcome respite from studies – SPRING BREAK! School for Sands will not be in session from Monday, March 12th through Friday, March 16th. Hope your Spring Break is restful!
Attendance is what keeps our school alive! It is vitally important that every student is here in class every day that it is possible. For those days when a student must miss school, please, parents, be sure to send us a note concerning the absence or give us a call on the phone. Your help is needed to see that we have the highest attendance possible every day.
And finally, juniors and seniors have the privilege of being exempt for the last semester final examinations IF they meet certain criteria. These students have been made aware of the nature of these criteria. If, as a parent, you would like more information concerning what the requirements are, please give me a call at the school and I will be happy to visit with you in this regard.
As always, my door is open
Zelda Bilbo
From the Counselor
Please view the Counselors page located at: http://sands.esc17.net/Counselor/counselor.htm
for important Internet links and other useful information concerning the
school, testing, financial added etc.
There have been new additions to the website.
In the News
Seliger Files Bill to End High School TAKS Testing
Kel Seliger recently filed a bill to eliminate the TAKS test at the high school
level and be would be replaced with the end-of-course exam. The end-of-course exams would be based on
the recommended curriculum that is to be covered throughout the school year as
mandated by the course TEKS. Seliger
said that the TAKS test is both an ineffective measure of what Texas students
should be learning at each grade level and an ineffective accountability system
for educators." Seliger added that too much emphasis is placed on test
taking techniques. He considers this stressful for both teachers and students
and believes it takes away from time that could be spent focusing on course
curriculum, the release said.
Seliger's bill requires an end-of-course exam be administered in each of the four core subjects -- math, science, social studies and English. Each exam would count for a portion of the student's overall course grade, to be determined by the district, and a cumulative mastery of each subject qualifies students for graduation in place of an exit exam.
For purposes of graduation, a passing grade would be required for each subject as determined by averaging exam scores from the 9th, 10th, and 11th grades. Exams given in the senior year would only count toward the student's course grades for that level.
Seliger said Wednesday the chance of passing something to replace the TAKS is "excellent." He added the bill includes provisions to meet requirements of state and federal accountability.
"The bill has been developed over several months with a great deal of input from educators. This is the second draft of the bill sent out to educators, so the response has been very positive and helpful. This is very much an educators' bill," Seliger said.
FYI
March 20th - OAP School Performance
March 22nd - Zone OAP- Grady 1:30
March 25th - One Act Play Public Performance 2:30 P.M.
Cheerleading Tryouts
March 26th - During Tutorials and After School
March 29th - Cheerleader & Parent Meeting
March 30th - Varsity Fitting
UIL Dates
District L/D Debate @ Sands – March 20
Zone OAP @ Grady – March 22
District OAP @ Dawson – March 27
District UIL @ Loop – March 29
Sands CISD
P.O. Box 218
Ackerly, TX 79713
(432) 353 –4888
http://sands.esc17.net/Hoofbeats/hoofbeats.htm
Your comments are appreciated and can be sent to: