The Warrior Way

Warriors: Make It Happen!

Archive for the 'My Mindless Mind Blips' Category

Just random thoughts… from me!

The UPDATE

Posted by shouston on 11th May 2009

We have three more weeks of school… Yes, people– three.  You can try to discount it any way you so choose; but in stark reality, it is still THREE.

Keep your chin up.  Who quits in the 4th quarter?  (Don’t answer that. I’m well aware of the bitterness many of you feel about the Mavs, the Cowboys, the Stars, the Brahmas etc– I ran out of teams I can remember :) )

Anyhoo- these last few weeks and your attitude will impact your students in ways you can’t imagine. You probably can imagine— so I actually beg you NOT to forget.  These children are between 11-15 years old.  They are kids.  Watch how you act around them and how they respond.  They’ll do what you wish if you ask with love.

Posted in My Mindless Mind Blips, Stress Management | 2 Comments »

The fastest 6 weeks of my life– or not.

Posted by shouston on 1st October 2008

I want to dedicate this post to my two loyal readers.  The ones who remind me daily that the weeks are flying by.  The ones who periodically check to see if I have imparted wisdom on the world.  OKAY- more realistically, the two that give me a hard time, add humor to my days and know that my true wisdom is infinitely (limited).

To these two readers: this song… this dress and hairdo is for you both!  Click on the “You” below…

You

Take that.

Now, for all you innocent victims who watched because you just did just because.  HEEEE HEEEE!  Let the song be in your head.  It’s in mine.  You’ll hear me humming it in the halls…

PS- To my two readers: do not confuse yourselves with the “MAN”.  This just makes me smile and laugh. :)

Posted in My Mindless Mind Blips, Pedagogy, Stress Management | 7 Comments »

Week One, CHECK!

Posted by shouston on 29th August 2008

Don’t hate me, but as I started to write, Barry Manilow’s “Looks Like We Made It” is what I started to sing…

For those of you that haven’t heard me singing around the building– I guess it’s just gonna be one of those years! (At least this time it wasn’t a song I made up to the tune of “Fara Jaca”.)

The actual point of this post is to congratulate the best faculty in the UNIVERSE on a great start to what will prove to be the year of the WARRIOR!!!

Thank you to everyone who has made it happen:

Angel Cox for the chips and hot sauce on the first day! Way to go Hotties…

Donna Wyckoff for ALWAYS stopping what she does to fix everyone’s issues!

Linda Houston and Margaret Willoughby for taking part of the load off of the 6th grade teachers and picking up a Science and Math class.

Kathy Anderton for helping her Science cohort get ready for the first week of school.

Jennifer Norsworthy for running all those copies for everyone and for always helping out where we need her!

Chris Urquhart for scheduling and scheduling and more scheduling.

My soon to be interns: Joe Ward, Todd Tolbert, Van Ratsaphangthong, Travis Kidd and Deborah Crook for their patience when they have a “deadline” and I’m busy or distracted.

Carole Dyska for helping us in a time of crisis, remaining patient and always taking on the challenge!

Claudia Wilson for keeping me sharp and allowing me to help, offering advice and taking in the “outcast”.

Joe Ward and Tracy McCrary for handling the construction matters.

All the coaches for remaining calm and professional in athletic area crisis.

Gina Bergman and Deanna Boyd for being the 1st to call ALL their parents.

All of you for taking on the challenge of positive parent contact the first week of school.

Heather Blum and Elizabeth Cumbie for volunteering STUCO to do the “hat drive for Cancer”.

Michaela Gair for tackling the school supplies with such diligence and patience!

Zach Webb for handling books and keys and please please please with ease.

Thalia Ross (a.k.a. TaNayNay) for jumping in and helping in with all the registration paperwork and office mayhem.

Kathy Cushing for holding this ship afloat and getting everything we need and use to make it happen.

Karen Allen, Angelique Robison, Stephanie Roe and Eric Townsend for ignoring the noise outside and trekking on.

Christina Hunt for her ever after presence in every place we have!!

Travis Kidd and Karen Allen for helping the “newbies”. AND everyone else who helps those new to the building.

Kathy Sanderson for staying positive and keeping her chin up when the fire marshall took away her livelihood.

J Zamora, Ryan Cantrell, Wesley Poston and Michael Miller for not crying or quiting. Way to SMILE SMILE SMILE as you embark on a new profession.

Amy Allibon, Don Zolidis and Donna Herndon for joining our family with ease and jumping right in to the Warrior Way.

Diane Kissel and Kay Pratt for taking care of all the special education paperwork.

Lynn Breitinger for heading up the PTA drive, adding humor to awkward and funny situations.

Laurie Engelby for spilling the beans… She knows!

Thank you for all the sound advice you give, Susan Youngblood. You are a master!

Vanessa Seale, thanks for keeping things running smooth in girl’s athletics. I’m proud of your reputation and the program you run!

Cathy Blum and Ginger Huff for being our armored front and taking care of all that goes and some that doesn’t.

Gail Bailey for the outstanding job on Tracy and Deb’s vow renewal.

Diane Cowell for the cookies to make the first day of school “chipper”.

Suzanne Foxworth for “STAYIN’ Tough!”

For always getting the presentation station “raring” to go, Melanie Robertson.

Congratulations, Julie Pollard, on being the first female teacher to be selected to join the Teacher at Sea Integrated Ocean Drilling Program.

For trying to help me avoid all the “itis’” I have, Heather Blum. Thanks for the tea!

To Amy Gallegos for writing me a fabulous recommendation on things I can do to help our new teachers be successful.

Teresa Hughes, thanks for always having “the hook-up!” We’d be hot without ya. Not smokin’, just meltin’!

Tenille Miles, thanks for your wisdom with the asperger/autistic kiddoes.

Robin Kidd, thanks for dealing with the constant interruptions in a professional manner and for always getting right on top of ARDs and all else to serve the children of WMS quickly and proficiently.

Thank you for making Gifted and Talented fun for the teachers, Cyndi Nyvall. Also for bringing style, fashion and glamour to us!

Inita Steele, you rock at making Art fun and exciting. Thanks for offering all the time you do! I am so excited to see how the club goes.

Arlene, Arlene, Arlene Stotts: it may be hard and the road may be new and bumpy, but you are doing a FABULOUS job, dahling, at turning our transition program into something new.

What wonderful shirts we have on order. Thanks so much for your innovation and drive on this year’s shirts! YEA, Sherri Taylor!

Samantha Perry, thanks for making sure our students and faculty are healthy and prepared for all “emergencies” that may arise.

Mary Hatley, thank you for always having great advice and for not spanking me when I don’t always take it :) . Thanks for helping make inclusion a success. You and Arlene are troopers!

Thanks for always making me smile and for telling funny jokes (or making them inadvertently, on purpose) Brian Farquhar. You are so funny!

Aja Kash, thanks for joining the WMS staff and for introducing us to new things. You bring a wealth of knowledge.

Thank you for always being upbeat and cheery and for working so hard, Katie Zeier. Also, thanks for always including my kids in things you do!

Cori McCauley, thanks for keeping it real. You crack me up! Keep up the posting… Practice makes perfect!

You are such a welcome addition and I’m glad to have you back! Kim Birkner, hope we don’t make ya crazy!

Karla Pogue, your help with the bathroom is much appreciated. Thanks for always sending me a message when I need it most!

Big Robert, you are the best! Thanks for helping me decorate!

Chris Mafana, thank you for all you do with our special kids. You are kind. caring and compassionate.

So if I forgot anyone who has helped make this a great start… I apologize. We make a great team!!!

GO WARRIORS!!!

What made your week GREAT?

Posted in My Mindless Mind Blips, Pedagogy, Stress Management | 13 Comments »