Just For Today

GOOD MORNING AND HAPPY FRIDAY!

National School Counselor Week- A BIG SHOUT OUT for our school counselors!  We are blessed with the best...

Natalie Husen, Molly Morris, Lori Kramer, Kelli Walker, Marie Stephenson and Brandi Menard. Happy National

School Counseling Week and thanks a ton for your service!!!

Hall of Honor Banquet was a Success!  So many people to thank!

• Julie Elrod pulling it all together.
• Don Davis, Robert Loomis, Colleen Netterville and Joe Gordy for set up manpower.
• GHS teacher Cara Echols and her culinary students- Lizbeth Anaya, Reyna Gonzales, Alyssa Hutcheson, Taylor Marsh, Kim Pruitt and Laren Rogers for the awesome assistance.
• GHS’s Brittaney Stetson for taking all the pics.
• GHS teacher Mr. Kintz for filming the event.
• Community Member/Former GHS teacher Susie White for providing materials and decorating savvy. 
• Last but not least, Graham Public Education Foundation president Angie Graham and the GPEF board for their willingness to partner with GISD on this new endeavor.
• Sure hope I didn't forget anyone! 

 

Bella Blues- Congrats to the Bella Blues who competed this past weekend at Midlothian Heritage High School for earning a

Sweepstakes trophy. They also earned High Point awards for all 4 routines, Choreography Award for their pom routine, and

Best in Class award for their Hip Hop routine.

Lady Blues Basketball- Congrats on the decisive victory over Iowa Park this past Tuesday! The Lady Blues Basketball Team

are Co-District Champions!!  Great job ladies and Coach Graham!  The Lady Blues will play Snyder next

Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 7:30 at Jim Ned High School. Playoff t-shirt order forms will be available soon. Go Lady Blues!

Graham Steer Basketball-  Congrats on the win over Iowa Park this past Tuesday! Good luck in the district finale at Vernon!

Lady Blues and Steer Soccer- Good luck this evening at Brownwood!

Lady Blues Softball- Best of luck in the home opener this evening vs Castleberry!

Why Are Primary Elections So Important?

JUST FOR TODAY …

Just for today I will be happy.  Abraham Lincoln said, “Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” He was

right.  I will not dwell on thoughts that depress me.  I will chase them out of my mind and replace them with happy thoughts.

Just for today I will adjust myself to what is.  I will face reality.  I will correct those

things that I can correct and accept those things I cannot correct.

Just for today I will improve my mind.  I will not be a mental loafer.  I will force myself to read something that requires effort,

thought and concentration.

Just for today I will do something positive to improve my health.  If I’m a smoker, I’ll make an honest effort to quit.  If

I’m overweight, I’ll eat nothing I know to be fattening.  And I will force myself to exercise – even if it’s only walking

around the block or using the stairs instead of the elevator.

Just for today I’ll do something I’ve been putting off for a long time.  I’ll finally write that letter, make that phone call,

clean that closet or straighten out those dresser drawers.

Just for today, before I speak I will ask myself, “Is it true?  Is it kind?”  And if the answer to either of those questions is

negative, I won’t say it.

Just for today I will make a conscious effort to be agreeable.  I will look as good as I can, dress becomingly, talk softly, act

courteously and not interrupt when someone else is talking.  Just for today I’ll not improve anybody except myself.

Just for today I will have a program.  I may not follow it exactly, but I will have it, thereby saving myself from two pests:

hurry and indecision.

Just for today I will have a quiet half-hour to relax alone.  During this time I will reflect on my behavior and get a better

perspective on my life.

Just for today I will be unafraid.  I will gather the courage to do what is right and take the responsibility for my own actions.

I will expect nothing from the world, but I will realize that as I give to the world, the world will give to me.

Just for today...have a nice one!

CORNY JOKE OF THE DAY:

Why did the cookie go to the doctor? (Scroll down for the answer.)

Because he felt crummy.

Vaping... What Educators and Parents Need to Know

GOOD MORNING AND HAPPY FRIDAY!

Lady Blues and Graham Steer Soccer- Both teams are at home tonight vs Stephenville.
Good luck!

Lady Blues and Graham Steer Basketball- Best of luck on the road this evening at
Burkburnett!

Lady Blues Basketball- Great win over Hirschi on Tuesday! Good luck tonight vs Burkburnett.

Lady Blues and Graham Steer Soccer Gets First Sweep- Congrats to both the Lady Blues
and Graham Steers on their Tuesday victories over Springtown!

Primary Election Day is March 6th- Register to Vote by February 5th to be able to vote in

this election. Early voting will begin on February 20th.

Hall of Honor Banquet- Graham ISD will be hosting the inaugural Graham Public Education
Foundation Hall of Honor Banquet at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 8, 2018 in the American
Legion Building. A limited number of tickets are available for $25/ticket and may be purchased
at the GISD Administration office. The inaugural class of the Hall of Honor includes:

Paul Hagelstein, Jo Ann Geurin Pettus , Charls Walker, Dr. Troy Rollen Johnson, Garth Baker,
JD Burke, Hallie Roselle Graves, Eugenia D Howell, The Bertha Foundation, Ray Herring,
Agnes (Addie) Mary Kintner Graham, Edwin Smith Graham, Gustavus Adolphus and Edmonia
Graham, Malcolm Kintner Graham.

Strategic Planning- We hosted the second phase of our strategic planning process this past
Thursday and Friday.  The Strategic Planning Team composed of students, teachers,
administrators, parents and community members spent two days developing Strategic
Objectives and Strategies for six core areas: Teaching and Learning, Future Ready, Human
Resources, Safety and Security, Finance and Facilities and Communications/Community
Partnerships.

The third phase will be to assemble our Strategic Planning Action Teams to develop the actions
plans to accomplish the Strategic Objectives and Strategies. If you would be interested in serving
on one of these teams, please let me know.

Click here to review copy of the working draft GISD Strategic Plan.

Vaping…What Educators and Parents
Need to Know

The information below is a portion of an online article written by Anne Rubin on
January 17, 2018. The full article can be viewed here. It’s time to get serious about the vaping
problems in our schools.

Last year, one in three high school seniors used a vape or e-cigarette. So says the study
Monitoring the Future, released by the renowned University of Michigan, that surveyed
45,000 students from 380 public and private secondary schools. Here’s what every educator
and parent needs to know:

1. Vaping and e-cigs are not the same. Traditional e-cigarettes have a distinct cigarette
taste and appeal. Far more popular with teens, vapes are small, refillable devices that heat
“vape juice,” atomizing the liquid into a mist. Neither device uses tobacco, but both can deliver
nicotine. Vapes can also contain substances like THC, the chemical found in marijuana.

2. Vaping can be hard to detect.

Vape technology has evolved quickly, making devices small and discreet. While some models
are larger and look like refillable lighters with a mouthpiece, others are shaped like fountain
pens. A recent story from NPR, entitled
“Teenagers Embrace JUUL, Saying It’s Discreet Enough To Vape In Class,” makes it clear that
vaping behavior can be easy to miss. Vaping devices may look like a thumb drive or a writing
pen and can fit in your fist. Below are images of vaping devices. Make sure that everyone on
your staff knows what vaping devices look like.

3. Vape manufacturers target our students.

Do you love the flavor of Skittles, or are you more of a Swedish Fish kind of person? Either way,
there’s a vape juice for you. The appeal to children is clear. Vape juices come in fruit juice, candy,
and breakfast-cereal-style flavors.

4. Many teens don’t understand that vaping is harmful.

Many people, teens included, begin vaping to curb a smoking habit. The jury is still out on the
long-term effects vaping can have on teenagers. Nicotine can impede brain development, and
vapes can deliver a high dosage of it. Teenage vapers also report bleeding gums and what is now
being a called a “vaper’s cough.”

5. Marijuana is now odor-free.

Masked by sugary, fruity flavors, vape juice containing THC oil can go undetected. The
University of Michigan study reports that while 1 in 10 students say they use vape juice
containing nicotine, 1 in 20 teens report vaping marijuana. In other words, if a student has a
vape at school, it is likely that we will have no idea what is inside the reservoir.

We are seeing an increase in the number of vaping devices being discovered in our local schools.
Per the code of conduct, these are prohibited items and prohibited behavior. I encourage our
staff and parents to be savvy on this latest trend. If you would like to personally see examples of
vaping paraphernalia, let me know.  

CORNY JOKE OF THE DAY: (Courtesy of Jayne Beale)

What did the tough pepperoni say? (Scroll down for the answer.)

You wanna Pizza me?

Boot Struggles

GOOD MORNING AND HAPPY FRIDAY!

RSB3- Congratulations Kaylea Wright on being selected to the All-State Band for the 2nd consecutive year!

Lady Blues Soccer- Good luck tonight at Bridgeport!

Graham Steer Soccer- Best of luck at Burkburnett this evening!

Lady Blues and Graham Steer Basketball- Congrats on the victories over Vernon!

TEA Grow Your Own Grant- The Texas Education Agency recently announced a grant opportunity that will provide funds for individuals who desire to pursue a teaching certificate.  If you are an instructional aides, paraprofessional or substitute teacher with the district and are interesting in becoming a certified teacher please complete the form at this link-  Grow Your Own Grant.

Primary Election Day is March 6th- Register to Vote by February 5th to be able to vote in this election. Early voting will begin on February 20th.

January Teacher of the Month- Please complete the form using the following link to nominate: https://goo.gl/forms/6XO4v0e4FU0BcdOB3

Hall of Honor Banquet- Graham ISD will be hosting the inaugural Graham Public Education Foundation Hall of Honor Banquet at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 8, 2018 in the American Legion Building.

A limited number of tickets are available for $25/ticket and may be purchased at the GISD Administration office by Thursday, February 1st.

The inaugural class of the Hall of Honor includes:

Paul Hagelstein, Jo Ann Geurin Pettus , Charls Walker, Dr. Troy Rollen Johnson, Garth Baker, JD Burke, Hallie Roselle Graves, Eugenia D Howell, The Bertha Foundation, Ray Herring, Agnes (Addie) Mary Kintner Graham, Edwin Smith Graham, Gustavus Adolphus and Edmonia Graham, Malcolm Kintner Graham.

Boot Struggles…

Miss Jones was helping one of her kindergarten students put his boots on. Jake had asked for help, and she could see why. With her pulling and him pushing, the boots still didn’t want to go on. When the second boot was on, she had worked up quite a sweat. She almost whimpered when the little boy said, “Teacher, they’re on the wrong feet.” Miss Jones looked, and sure enough, they were.

It wasn’t any easier pulling the boots off than it was putting them on. She managed to keep her cool as, together; they worked to get the boots back on, this time on the right feet.

Jake then announced, “These aren’t my boots.” She bit her tongue and thought “Why didn’t you say so?” Once again, she struggled to help him pull the ill-fitting boots off. He then said, “They’re my brother’s boots. My mom made me wear them.”

Miss Jones didn’t know if she should laugh or cry. She mustered up the grace to wrestle the boots on his feet again. Finally, that task was accomplished, and she asked him, “Now where are your mittens?”

Jake said, “I stuffed them in the toes of my boots.”

CORNY JOKE OF THE DAY:

What do they sing at a snowman’s birthday party? (Scroll down for the answer.)

Freeze a jolly good fellow!

Never, Never.... Never

GOOD MORNING AND HAPPY WARMER FRIDAY!

Congratulations GHS Choir Student Reagan Menard! Reagan qualified and competed at the Area Choir round of the All-State Choir Contest. He is the first GHS student advance to this level in choir. Excellent job Reagan!

Graham FFA- Congrats on a great showing at the Young County Livestock Show!

• Ag Mechanics
• Grand Champion, Gate Project-Cody Henderson, Dylan Allred, Kody Keeter, Tyler King, Riley Wyatt
• 1st place wooden porch swing-Pavel Banuelos, Tristen Wilson, Blake Mead
• 1st place shop table-Gustavo Ramirez, Aaron Rice, Jose Hernandez
• Sheep Show- 2nd Aaron Rice;
• Rabbit Show- 7th Abby Casbeer
• Steer Show- 1st Bailey Logan, 1st, 2nd, 2nd, Shanna Gleason, 2nd Klayton Read
• Swine Show
• Grand Champion, Champion Duroc, 2nd White OPB, 2nd Cross-Cade Anderson
• Reserve Grand, Champion Hamp, Reserve Cross, 4th Cross-Jordan Crago
• Champion Cross, 1st place-Creed Jordan
• Champion WOPB, 1st place, 4th place Cross-Gustavo Ramirez
• Reserve WOPB, 2nd place-Brailey Brooks
• Reserve Hamp, 1st place-Michael Moore
• Reserve Berk, 1st place-Heather Cash
• Reserve York, 2nd cross, 2nd place showmanship-Tyler Walls
• Kimber Pratt-2nd Berk
• Jackson Osborne-4th Berk
• Keagan Dowdy-2nd Berk, 2nd hamp
• Amanda Richards-2nd hamp, 2nd chester
• Tucker May-3rd chester, 2nd hamp
• Riley Lanham-3rd Duroc, 3rd Chester
• Kaitlyn Slavings-2nd Duroc
• Mathew Baxter-7th Duroc
• Anthony Carillo-6th Duroc
• Toby Moore-2nd Duroc
• Jade Jordan-1st Hamp
• Tyler Headrick-3rd hamp, 3rd BOPB
• Mason Mathis-4th hamp, 3rd spot
• Corey Ballew-4th hamp, 5th hamp
• Feli Werner-3rd hamp
• Riley Wyatt-1st cross, 3rd hamp
• Alee Alvidrez-1st cross, 2nd BOPB
• Riley Langford-4th BOPB
• Garrison Stovall-2nd BOPB
• Joe Todd-5th cross
• Mathew Magby-6th cross,
• Terry Don Wainscott-1st cross
• Lilly Cusenbary-1st & 2nd cross
• Ian Magby-3rd & 3rd showmanship
• Jorden Todd-3rd cross
• Ashley Swider-2nd cross
• Hayden Leach-3rd cross
• Levi May-3rd cross, 5th cross
• Tatum Trester-2nd cross
• Hiram Fuentes-2nd cross
• Jared Reeves-2nd cross
• Kyle Moore-3rd cross

Congrats Graham Steer Tucker Horn! Tucker was named a Semifinalist for Offensive Player of the Year by the 1st Down Club of Dallas-Ft. Worth.  He was honored last night at a banquet in Mansfield, TX.

Praise and Celebration Sara Jo Carrico- Ms. Carrico is a Project Lead the Way teacher at Graham High School. She was recently named by the Project Lead the Way organization as a Master PLTW Teacher and will now be teaching other educators in the program.  Congrats Ms. Carrico!

Praise and Celebration Coach Ken Davidson- Coach David was honored as a Coach of the Year Semifinalist by the 1st Down Club of Dallas-Ft. Worth.

Lady Blues Basketball- Congrats on the two BIG WINS this past week versus Hirschi and Burkburnett!  Keep it rolling tonight at Iowa Park.

Graham Steer Basketball- Best of luck tonight tonight vs Iowa Park!

Graham Steer Soccer- Good luck at the Kennedale Tournament!

Lady Blues Soccer- Good Luck at the Stephenville Tournament!

RSB3- Best of Luck to our band students participating All-Region Band Clinic/Concert today! The students include: Kyle Adair, Luis Anaya, Cassidy Freeman, Evelynn Griffin, Alex Husen, Anthony Martinez, Rachel McGregor, Reagan Menard, Madalyn Oakes, Alicia Olvera, Jorge Ramirez, Brian Sierra, Alex Trejo and Kaylea Wright.

Never, Never… Never

With the release of the movie Darkest Hour, Sir Winston Churchill is a “hot” commodity once again. It seems that every generation, his name and reputation flow in and out of our national attention. Since this movie is getting so much Oscar attention, we may be talking about Churchill longer than usual.

Sir Winston is a particularly interesting study. While he was born into an aristocratic family, his life was far from easy. Because he was such an active and difficult child, Winston was sent to Harrows, a boarding school, as a child. He was terribly homesick and would write long letters begging his mother to visit him. For some reason, she seldom made the trip for a visit. Some now think he had ADHD, and that, combined with a heavy lisp, made making friends difficult. From all accounts, he was a depressed, sad, and lonely child. His academic record was decidedly mixed. He could be an excellent student in academic endeavors he enjoyed, but was a miserably poor student when the topics bored him. In fact, he failed the entrance exam for the Royal Military Academy twice and finally gained acceptance by applying to the cavalry rather than the infantry because it had a lower entrance standard.

As a young man, Winston’s fortunes did not improve significantly. His proposals for marriage to two different young ladies were rejected. He was fired from his first cabinet post. He lost three political elections between 1922 and 1924 and five elections during his lifetime. In 1922 he described his situation this way: “I found myself without an office, without a seat (in parliament), without a party, and without an appendix.” Did I mention that he was criticized by other politicians so often that he switched political parties twice?

Yet, Sir Winston Churchill is considered one of the greatest leaders, especially a wartime leader, of all times. Why? Because for every setback, for every failure, through self-will and character he rebounded. Eventually, a marriage proposal was accepted and a beautiful marriage with five children resulted. He served England not once but twice successfully as its Prime Minister. At times it seemed that it was only Churchill’s dogged determination and fighting spirit that lead the allies to victory in World War II.

In 1941, after England had been fighting the Nazis for two years, Churchill was invited to return to Harrows, his old school, to address the boys. In his address, Winston offered the boys some words of advice that are remembered even today: “Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never – in nothing great or small, large or petty – never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense.” So, there’s your “why” he is such a memorable leader!

Those words delivered by Sir Winston Churchill to the young boys at his old boarding school during the dark days of World War II are a tribute to you, also. Texas public school educators do not know how to give in. When you are questioned about your commitment to students, you “never give in,” and you keep meeting each child where he/she is to provide each with the best shot at success.  Regardless of the challenge or roadblock that comes, you “never give in.”

While there may never be a movie made of your life, each of you have some Winston Churchill in you. Your grit, your determination, and your dedication make you memorable. Our communities are blessed that you serve their public schools!

Corny Joke of the Day:

What sort of fish performs operations? (Scroll down for the answer.)

A Sturgeon!