Steer Nation Message 8-28-20 Thanks for Stopping By

GOOD MORNING AND HAPPY FRIDAY!

Lady Blues Volleyball- Congratulations on the Tuesday night victory over Boyd! The Lady Blues will be in action this afternoon at Alvarado in a tri-match with Alvarado (5:00 pm) and Blum (6:00 pm). The games will be played in their junior high gym located at 1000 N. Cummings, Alvarado, TX. Please note, ALL spectators will be expected to wear a mask. GO LADY BLUES!

Graham Steer Football- The Steers will be at Alvarado this evening. Kickoff time is 7:00 pm.  Tickets can be purchased online until 3:00 today at https://www.alvaradoisd.net/departments/athletics/online_ticket_sales. Face coverings are required. The game will be live-streamed on the PositiveRadio.net Facebook page.

Lady Blues and Graham Steer Tennis- The Graham Tennis Team defeated Krum on Tuesday 11-8.  Fantastic performances from Wyatt Westerman, Spencer McHenry, and Laney Widner.  With the victory, the tennis team has a record of 2-2.  Their next match will be on Tuesday in Mineral Wells.

Thanks for Stopping By

“Thanks for stopping by,” he said with a big, gap-toothed smile. I smiled back and continued on my way. How could that old flower-cart owner be so cheerful? All I ever did was stop and look at his flowers during my rush to work. I had been passing his cart for over a year now and still hadn’t bought a single flower. Yet, every day I got that same cheerful smile and simple thank you.

The next day I decided I’d finally buy a bunch of carnations for my desk and see how the man treated me after a purchase. “Thanks for stopping by,” was his sole response, along with that big gap-toothed smile. I couldn’t resist any longer and asked him, “Why do you thank me for stopping every day when I never make a purchase?” He looked at me for a moment and said, “Everybody that stops and admires my flowers makes me glad of what I do. I try to bring some cheer into this busy world and when someone stops to look, I feel I’ve done a good job.”

“Thanks for being here,” was my smiling response as I hurried on to work.

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The story above reminds me of how important our attitude is to the service that educators deliver. Many of your "clients" are not daily buyers of educational services, but teachers still must prepare for them anyway. You never know when one of your "clients" will wake up and decide to utilize the substantial opportunities that a good school district has to offer. I continue to be impressed by the love and concern that educators show.

I have served nearly 31 years in the education business and I continue to be optimistic about what quality educators do and how their role "makes a difference". I refuse to join educators who have become cynical about our career choices. I appreciate all educators who join together each day to educate our kids, to attack ignorance, and to nurture positive attitudes. It often appears to be an impossible task...so sometimes you must feel like superman...

“At first dreams seem impossible, then improbable, then inevitable.” -- Christopher Reeve (1952-2004) American Actor.

 

CORNY JOKE OF THE DAY

Why should you never trust an atom?  (Scroll down for the answer.)

 

They make up everything!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steer Nation Message 8-21-20 Planning For Better... Not Perfect!

GOOD MORNING AND HAPPY FRIDAY!

T-Minus 10 Days to Day 1 of the 2020-2021 School Year

Protocols for Purchasing Tickets and Attending Games at Newton Field- Please refer to the document, Protocols for Purchasing and Attending Games at Newton Field, for detailed information regarding the established protocols for events at Newton Field. This document addresses passes that will and will not be accepted, social distancing measures to be followed when attending events at Newton Field, and the process that will be used to purchase tickets.

Below is an excerpt from the linked document to inform you of our ticketing process for this season.

Football Friday Ticketing Process

●      With a maximum 50% capacity limitation we are limited to 1344 for seating on the home side and 1032 for seating on the visitor side.

●      Graham ISD will be using an electronic ticketing process beginning with the 2020 football season.

●      All tickets will be general admission tickets.

●      No tickets will be sold at the gate.

●      Each student who is a participant in a home football game (player, student trainer, cheerleader/mascot, RSB3 member, Bella Blue, Blue Crew, etc.) will be issued a code that will allow them to purchase up to 5 tickets.

●      The tickets must be purchased by midnight on the Tuesday before the home varsity game.

●      All remaining ticketing following this deadline will go on sale to the general public at 8:00 a.m. on the Wednesday before the home varsity game.

●      The visiting team will be issued a code(s) that will allow them to purchase tickets until midnight of the Tuesday before the home varsity game.

●      All remaining ticketing following this deadline will go on sale to the general public at 8:00 a.m. on the Wednesday before the home varsity game.

Ticket Purchasing Example: Our first home game is on Friday, September 18 vs Decatur. The student/parent will be able to purchase up to 5 tickets from noon on Sunday, September 13 to midnight Tuesday, September 15. At 8:00 a.m on Wednesday, September 16 any remaining tickets go on sale to the general public via the electronic ticketing system.

More information will be provided the week prior to our first home game on exact details for purchasing tickets through the electronic process.

Protocols for Purchasing Tickets and Attending Games at the GHS Gyms- The decision has been made to play all volleyball matches and basketball games (GHS & GJHS) in the GHS gymnasiums as this should eliminate most capacity constraints. Please select this link to read the Protocols for Purchasing Tickets and Attending Games at the GHS Gyms document.

Lady Blues Volleyball- The Lady Blues are off to a solid start this year. The team will be at home this afternoon in matches against Holiday and Windthorst. GO LADY BLUES!

Lady Blues and Graham Steer Tennis- Good luck in Brownwood on Saturday!

Graham Athletic Booster Club Booster Bash- The Athletic Booster Club is hosting its annual Booster Bash event on Monday, August 24th. Gates will open at 5:30 and the event will begin at 7:00 p.m. Hope to see you there!

Planning For Better… Not Perfect!

As you are aware, approximately five months ago you created a new model of public education for our students.  Portions of that model were excellent… some not so much. I have no doubt with that ginormous learning curve behind us, we will be better this Fall with our remote learners. I also understand managing in-person learners and remote learners simultaneously will be no small feat.

Our overall arching district goal is, Excellence in All We Do! Excellence does not equate to perfection. It’s great to strive toward excellence, but we can’t paralyze ourselves with the pressure of perfection. Here are a couple of key ideas to reflect upon:

Done is better than perfect. The world doesn’t reward perfectionists. It rewards people who get things done. Give yourself time to wonder what is possible and to make moves in that direction. You will make mistakes in the process of getting worthwhile things done. Don’t fret over a mistake or wrong choice. Bottom line… it’s okay to make mistakes as long as you are willing to try again.

Free yourself from the fear of mistakes. Following your “true north” allows you to create new opportunities and design different experiences. Don’t allow the fear of making mistakes be greater than the excitement of getting things done. Making a mistake will not irreparably damage your credibility or reputation… especially if you own it. Remember, being terrible at something is the first step to being pretty darn good at it!

Don’t wait until your work is perfect. The paralyzation of perfection is one of the biggest reasons some people never take on a new challenge. Waiting for perfect means not starting at all. Have the courage to release and share your work. You can always adapt, grow, and adjust along the way!

Stop telling yourself your work is not good enough. Henry Ford once said, “One of the greatest discoveries a man makes, one of his great surprises, is to find he can do what he was afraid he couldn’t.

Begin and don’t look back. Once you begin, momentum happens. You evolve. Author Kurt Vonnegut says, “ Practice any art, music, singing, dancing, acting, drawing, painting, sculpting, poetry, fiction, essays, reportage, no matter how well or badly, not to get money and fame, but to experience becoming, to find out what’s inside you, to make your soul grow. Being successful does not take perfection!

CORNY JOKE OF THE DAY!

What is the difference between a poorly dressed person on a tricycle and a well-dressed person on a bicycle?

 

 

 

 

 

Attire!