Steer Nation Message 11-30-18 Being Thankful

GOOD MORNING AND HAPPY FRIDAY!

Lady Blues Basketball- The Lady Blues will be playing Rider HS at MSU on Saturday at 12:30. Good Luck Lady Blues!

Graham Steer Basketball- The Steers will be playing the OKC Storm at MSU on Saturday. GO STEERS!

Graham ISD Student Resource Officer (SRO)- Class of 2002 GHS graduate Blake Davis is our new SRO. He will officially begin this coming Monday. I know there will be changes regarding the DARE program as Chief Widner (retiring) and Officer V tagged teamed this program in the past.

Graham Christmas Parade- Mark your calendar for next Thursday evening for the annual Christmas Parade and Hot Chocolicious competition. All the events will take place around the square.

BEING THANKFUL… AFTER THE OFFICIAL DAY OF THANKSGIVING

We have made it through the week after our Thanksgiving break.  Hopefully, each of you had the opportunity to spend some special time with good food, good friends, and family reflecting on the blessings with which we are showered!

As we now ramp up to finish the first semester and prepare for Christmas, breathe deep and remember, blessings can be found in the last place we look. Being thankful does not only happen on Thanksgiving Day!

When Mrs. Klein asked her first graders to draw a picture of something for which they were thankful, it crossed her mind how little these children who lived in a deteriorating neighborhood truly had. From experience, she knew that most of the children in the class would draw pictures of turkeys or bountifully laden Thanksgiving tables. After all, wasn’t that what was expected of them?

What took Mrs. Klein aback was Douglas’s picture. Douglas was a forlorn child, one likely to be found close in her shadow when recess time came. Douglas’s drawing was simple. It was a picture of a lone hand.

The class became captivated by the image. “Whose hand is it?” one student shouted.  Another cried, “It’s the hand of God that brings us food, isn’t it Douglas?” Soon every student in the classroom added their own interpretation to Douglas’s drawing. “A farmer because they grow turkeys.” It looks like a policeman’s, and they protect us.” “Maybe it’s all of the hands that help us, but Douglas could only draw one of them.”

Mrs. Klein was so delighted about her class’s responsiveness to Douglas’s drawing she had almost forgotten about Douglas. When she had the other children busy on another task, she leaned quietly over Douglas’s desk and whispered, “Whose hand is it, Douglas?
Douglas mumbled, “It’s yours.”

Mrs. Klein recalled that she had from time-to-time taken Douglas by the hand; she often did that with all of the children. But that it meant so much to Douglas…

Perhaps, she thought, this was her Thanksgiving – not the things that we get, but the small ways that we give something to others.

Isn’t it great to work in a profession where every day is truly Thanksgiving Day?!!

CORNY JOKE OF THE DAY:

What’s the difference between the Christmas alphabet and the ordinary alphabet? (scroll down for the answer)

The Christmas alphabet has Noel!

Steer Nation Message 11-16-18 Wonders of the World

GOOD MORNING AND HAPPY FRIDAY!

Graham Steer Football- Good luck tonight vs Godley at Aledo! Kickoff is 7:00 pm. GO STEERS!

Lady Blues Basketball- Congrats on the victory over Archer City this past Tuesday and good luck this afternoon at Windthorst!  Tip-off is 3:30 today at Windthorst HS.

Holiday Shut Down- Please remember to complete the Holiday Check List and tape it to your door when you depart this afternoon for Thanksgiving break.

Wonders of the World

A group of Geography students studied the Seven Wonders of the World. At the end of that section, the students were asked to list what they considered to be the Seven Wonders of the World.

Though there was some disagreement, the following got the most votes:

1. Egypt's Great Pyramids

2. Taj Mahal

3. Grand Canyon

4. Panama Canal

5. Empire State Building

6. St. Peter's Basilica

7. China's Great Wall

While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student, a quiet girl, hadn't turned in her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list. The quiet girl replied, "Yes, a little. I couldn't quite make up my mind because there were so many."

The teacher said, "Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help."

The girl hesitated, then read, "I think the Seven Wonders of the World are:

1. to touch

2. to taste

3. to see

4. to hear

She hesitated a little, and then

5. to run

6. to laugh

7. and to love

It is far too easy for us to look at the exploits of man and refer to them as "wonders" while we overlook all that our creator has done, regarding them as merely "ordinary."  May you be reminded and thankful today of those things which are truly wondrous.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

CORNY JOKE OF THE DAY:

What did the turkey say to the turkey hunter on Thanksgiving Day? (Scroll down for the answer.)

“Quack! Quack!”

Steer Nation Message 11-9-18 Heroes

GOOD MORNING AND HAPPY FRIDAY!

Graham Steer Football- Good Luck to the Graham Steers as they travel to Vernon tonight.  Beat the Lions and claim the District Championship!

Lady Blues Basketball- The Lady Blues will be playing Jacksboro at 4:00 pm today in Graham. Go Lady Blues!

Woodland Elementary- Bring Your Dad to School Day- NEXT WEDNESDAY!

GISD Veterans Day Program- The annual Veterans Day program will be held on Monday, November 12th in the Graham Memorial Auditorium. The program will begin at 9:30 am.

Graham High School Theatre Fall Production- Monday night at 7pm. Don't miss the GHS Fall production of the crazy survival comedy "10 Ways to Survive the End of the World" by Don Zolidis. The production has over two dozen GHS students in the cast, and the set, costumes, lighting, and sound was designed entirely by our Tech Theatre class. Don't miss the one and only performance of this fun show this Monday, November 12th at the GHS Auditorium. Tickets are only $5 at the door!

Graham High School Theatre Fall Production- Monday night at 7pm. Don't miss the GHS Fall production of the crazy survival comedy "10 Ways to Survive the End of the World" by Don Zolidis. The production has over two dozen GHS students in the cast, and the set, costumes, lighting, and sound was designed entirely by our Tech Theatre class. Don't miss the one and only performance of this fun show this Monday, November 12th at the GHS Auditorium. Tickets are only $5 at the door!

Lady “Blue Out” for National Diabetes Awareness- November is National Diabetes Awareness Month and Wednesday, November 14 is National Diabetes Awareness Day. On Tuesday, November 13 the Lady Blues will be playing a home game vs Archer City. We are encouraging everyone to wear blue to the game on Tuesday to create a “Blue Out” for National Diabetes Awareness.

Heroes

This Sunday is Veterans Day. The official day of observance will be Monday, November 12.

Veterans Day originated as “Armistice Day” on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and Nov. 11 became a national holiday beginning in 1938. In 1954, after lobbying efforts by veterans' service organizations, the 83rd U.S. Congress amended the 1938 act that had made Armistice Day a holiday, striking the word “Armistice” in favor of “Veterans.” President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the legislation on June 1, 1954.

There are so many heroes to remember on a special day such as this. Some of their stories are familiar to all and some are not so well known. Gen. George Washington, Gen. U.S. Grant, Sgt. Alvin York, Sgt. Henry Johnson, Sgt. Audie Murphy, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Col. Lewis Millett; each of these heroes has a special story that deserves to be remembered. However, one of the most memorable U.S. military heroes is Gen. George Patton, “Old Blood and Guts”.

George knew almost from birth that he wanted to be a military man. His family had an extensive military background, and he loved to hear the stories of Hannibal, Alexander the Great, Cromwell, Napoleon, and others. These stories were clearly fixed in his mind. As a child, George was sickly, but his idols were physically strong, so he made himself physically strong; they were brave, so he became brave. Their stories shaped his character. George’s sense of history gave him the will to do, or to die in the attempt.

After graduating from the U.S. Military Academy, George had the opportunity to live his dream. His first combat was seen in 1916 as he helped chase Pancho Villa in Mexico and the Southwest U.S.  During World War I Patton joined the United States Tank Corps, and Lt. Patton was decorated for heroism while leading tanks into combat. Patton distinguished himself during World War II, also. While some might question General Patton’s judgment and passion during the war, no one ever questioned his bravery or understanding of military strategy.

What an inspiring story! A frail, sickly child who thrived on stories of military heroes. A child so inspired by listening to those stories that he willed himself to become a military hero like the central figures in the stories. A child whose character was influenced by the stories that so fascinated him.

So, who was this person whose stories so inspired a young boy? Who was the person who gladly retold over and over the same stories until the young boy ingrained them into his own personal goals and into his personality? Why, none other than his mother, Mrs. George Patton, Sr. The mother’s patience paid off as her son distinguished himself in so many ways. Her willingness to repeat over and over a young son’s favorite stories was key to George junior’s success because the frail, sickly boy could not read or write until he was twelve years old. So, who was the real hero of this story? Was it General Patton or his mother who never gave up on him?

There are thousands of young George Patton's in our schools today; young people who struggle with reading or writing or math concepts for one reason or another. Many of them are not as fortunate as young George to have a mother who will devote herself completely to her child. Fortunately, each of these children can have teachers who take an interest and dedicate themselves in developing the whole child.

So, who are the potential heroes in our school? Are they the students who have been dealt a bad hand in life but persevere to achieve success or are they the teachers who never give up on any student?

Let’s not forget that we have the opportunity to serve in our public schools because of the many that have served to protect our freedom!

CORNY JOKE OF THE DAY:

What did the turkey say to the computer? (Scroll down for the answer.)

“Google, google, google!”