Steer Nation Message 2-28-20 Know Your Why... Part 2

GOOD MORNING AND HAPPY FRIDAY!

GHS DECA Students Win State and Qualify for Nationals- Aimee McShan and Cooper Gordy Won State in the DECA Financial Analysis Team Decision Making Contest and Qualify for Nationals in Nashville, TN. CONGRATULATIONS!!!

GJHS 2020 Regional Science & Engineering Fair Awards- GJHS had several students qualify for the Regional Science & Engineering Fair that was held in Arlington, TX this week. 2020 Regional Science & Engineering Fair Awards- Water Environment Association of Texas Award - Colter Johnson; Delbert Lawry Award - 1st Place - Lance Browning. Qualifying for State: Rebekah Gilbertson - 3rd Place in Chemistry; Mary Lyndell Graham - 3rd Place in Environmental Science, US Agency for International Development, and Science Champion Award - 1st Place; Madilyn Wilde & Abbie Helm - 1st Place in Materials & Bioengineering, Broadcom Masters Nominee, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Award, Lemelson Foundation Award - 1st Place, and Best of Fair - 6th Overall in the Junior Division.

GHS Choir- GHS Choir recently competed in the UIL Solo & Ensemble.  Gaby Wooters made a rating of Excellent on her vocal solo and Jayden Harrel made a rating of Excellent on her piano solo. Faris Sanders, Sarah Huitt, and Maddison Freeman each made a rating of Superior on vocal solos and qualified for UIL Texas State Solo & Ensemble Contest. Congratulations!

GHS Art- Twenty-two GHS artists traveled to Wichita Falls with a combined 28 original artworks to compete at the Regional VASE contest. Twenty pieces of GHS art medaled at the event - meaning their artwork and interviews scored the highest possible rating of "4". Additionally, sophomore McKynna Bozeman's 3D artwork was selected to advance to the State contest in April!

Graham Steer Golf- Congrats to the Steer Golf team on their 2nd Place finish at the annual Steer Invitational that was held this past Monday!

Lady Blues and Graham Steer Tennis- Congrats on the success in the Northside and Aledo Tournaments! Northside Tournament- Boys A Singles --Wyatt Westerman Consolation Champion, Boys B Singles-- Spencer McHenry 3rd Place, Boys B Doubles-- Dave Price/Cody Brumley Consolation Champions, Girls A Singles-- Adri Arredondo 2nd Place, Girls B Singles-- Aimee McShan 2nd Place, Girls A Singles-- Karen Gutierrez/Laney Widner 3rd place, Girls B Singles-- Hannah Whitaker/Haedyn Moore 2nd place, Mixed A Doubles--Manuel Ortegon/Hailey Armstrong 3rd place. Aledo Tournament- Boys A Doubles--John Upton/Nick Moreno 4th place, Girls B Singles--Laney Widner Consolation Champion, Girls A Doubles--Karen Gutierrez/Hailey Armstrong 4th place, Mixed A Doubles--Ben Tovar/Grace Miller 4th place. Good luck at the Denton Tournament!

Lady Blues Soccer- The Lady Blues will be at Newton Field this evening vs Hirschi. The game will begin at approximately 7:30 pm. GO LADY BLUES!!!

Steer Soccer- The Steers will be at Newton Field this evening vs WF Rider at 5:30 pm. GO STEERS

Lady Blues Softball- Good luck at the West Tournament!

Lady Blues Golf- Good luck at Lubbock Shadow Hills Tournament!

Know Your Why… Part 2

A story is told by John C. Maxwell of a man who came across three bricklayers busy at work. The man asked the first bricklayer what he was doing. “I’m laying bricks,” the worker replied. He then asked the second bricklayer the same question. “I’m putting up a wall,” he said. The passerby then asked the question one more time, this time to the third bricklayer. The response:  “I’m building a cathedral.”

As this story illustrates, three different workers can do the exact same task but for very different reasons. The first may have labored exclusively for the paycheck. He saw his work as exactly that, a task that needed to be completed regardless of the outcome. When the bell rang, he was out the door. The second was likely motivated by a sense of completion and was proud that his bricklaying would result in the construction of a wall. Perhaps he would add a few extra minutes here and there in order to see the goal to completion. But the third was no doubt driven by a deep desire to fashion a religious structure that would enhance worship and bring glory to the divine. Every brick was a step towards that grandiose vision and aspiration. No doubt that such a person would do whatever was needed in order to see his glorious visualization come to fruition.

I pray that our staff sees their “why” as more than “laying bricks” or “putting up a wall”! Educators who see themselves as “building cathedrals” are providing the foundation and supporting beams for each of our students to build their best future!

CORNY JOKE OF THE DAY:

What do you call a fish with two knees?

A two-knee fish!

Steer Nation Message 2-21-20 Know Your Why (Part 1)

GOOD MORNING AND HAPPY FRIDAY!

Lady Blues Basketball- Congrats on the Bi-District victory over Sweetwater! The Lady Blues will be in Jacksboro at 6:30 pm this evening vs Decatur.  GOOD LUCK LADY BLUES!

Graham Steer Basketball- The Steers will play Midland Greenwood in the Bi-District round at 7:45 pm on Tuesday, February 25 at Merkel High School. GO STEERS!

Lady Blues Volleyball- Congratulations to Coach Faulk on being selected as an Oil Bowl Volleyball Coach!

Mr. & Miss GHS- Congratulation to Bryce Bozeman and Claire Jones for being selected as Mr. & Miss GHS!

Lady Blues Golf- Congrats to the Lady Blues on their 2nd place finish this week at Hidden Creek in Burleson. Zoe Carmichael finished 3rd individually.

GHS FFA- Swine Success in San Antonio! Creed Jordan 1st, Jade Jordan 7th, Levi May 7th, Becca Burgess 7th, Alyssa Nevarez top 15, Cade Anderson top 15

Know Your Why… Part 1

“He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.” - Friedrich Nietzsche

This week while attending a meeting at ESC 9, the embedded video was shared with the group. It caused me to recall an article I have read by Naphtali Hoff who is a former school administrator and who now serves as an executive coach and consultant. Below is an excerpt from that article.

In the  video, comedian Michael Jr. describes the power of knowing your “why.” In it, he showed an audience a clip from a different event, in which he asked a member of that audience to sing the opening stanzas from “Amazing Grace.” The gentleman, a music teacher, began in a deep baritone and sang the refrain flawlessly.

After praising his performance, the comedian asked the teacher to do it again, but this time painted a scenario of true appreciation, such as a family member being released from prison. Not surprisingly, the second performance far outshone the first. This time, the song was performed with added feeling and emotion. The words were more animated and the tone was deeper and richer. Michael Jr. concluded that “When you know your ‘why’ then your ‘what’ has more impact because you’re working towards your purpose.”

Leadership expert Simon Sinek calls this “the golden circle.” He says that it’s not enough to know what you do and how you do it. At our essence, we are most motivated by knowing why we do things. And it’s through that awareness that we can best connect with and sell to others.

Selling, he says, is a human experience. “People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it.” The key examples that he offers, including the Wright Brothers, Apple Computers and the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., made their mark, not because of the uniqueness of their product or ideas. Nor was it that they were better supported or funded.  Instead, they were able to identify their “whys” early on and communicate them effectively to others and achieve unbelievable success.

It’s the why behind things that drives engagement performance, not the technical know-how. How can we better identify and express our why and motivate those around us to believe in what we believe and perform to their potential? Begin by answering these basic questions:

1. What do we do?
2. How do we do it?
3. For whom do we do it?
4. Why do we do it? What value are we bringing?

CORNY JOKE OF THE DAY:

What do you call a chicken who her own eggs?

A real mathamachicken!