The Honor Code- Steer Nation Message 10-14-22

GOOD MORNING…HAPPY FRIDAY!

RSB3-  Congratulations to the RSB3 on being awarded 1st Division Superior ratings from all 4 of the contest judges at the Seymour Marching Festival. Additionally, the RSB3 Visual Ensemble, comprised of the Bella Blues and RSB3 Colorguard, was awarded Outstanding Auxiliary.  The RSB3 will be competing tomorrow in UIL Region 7 Marching Contest at Mineral Wells. The RSB3 will take the field for their performance at 4:00 pm. Good Luck RSB3!

Lady Blues Volleyball- The Lady Blues will travel this afternoon to play Brownwood. GO LADY BLUES!

Graham Steer Football- The Steers will be on the road this evening for a 7:00 pm kickoff vs the Snyder Tigers. GO STEERS!

Community Advisory Board- The district is currently working with a citizen Community Advisory Board for the purpose of reviewing the elementary facility and capacity study and providing input to the GISD Board of Trustees regarding future plans for the improvement of our elementary school facilities and the realignment of how we may serve our elementary grade levels. Ultimately, the Community Advisory Board will assist with determining if it is in the best interest of the district to consider calling a bond election in May of 2023 for these purposes.

Early Voting Begins on October 24th- Every single Texas voter has a say in who gets elected to statewide positions- Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller, Land Commissioner, Agriculture Commissioner, and Railroad Commissioner. Almost all these statewide offices have some impact on what happens in public schools. Here are a few interesting examples:

• The Governor appoints the Commissioner of Education who makes many important decisions about public education.
• The Lieutenant Governor is the head of the Texas Senate and chooses committee chairs and determines which legislation will come up for a vote.
• The Attorney General issues non-binding opinions including those that affect what happens in schools.

This Texas Tribune article explains what these statewide offices do. You may be surprised to find that sometimes their titles don’t even align with their jobs. For example, the Land Commissioner doesn’t just manage state land, he or she also oversees investment in the Permanent School Fund that is used to fund public education. The Railroad Commission oversees oil, gas, coal, and pipelines, not just railroads!

Please make sure you are registered to vote because the deadline is today, October 11, 2022. The TEV website has tools and resources that make it easy to research candidates. Additionally, ATPE provides resources to search for candidates and their position on education-related issues. Click on Teach The Vote to learn more. 

The Honor Code…

As you may imagine, this week has been challenging to say the least. One of the simple principles I attempt to live by is that I have little to no control to what happens to me but I have complete control and responsibility for how I react to it. I hope I have represented you, the district, and the community well with my actions since last Friday evening.

The graphic below was shared with Mr. Gordy by GHS PTLW teacher Stan Burnett. This is a timely reminder of how simple expectations can be communicated. 

HAVE A NICE DAY…TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND OTHERS!