No Magic Bullet

I was watching one of my all-time favorite shows the other day, Seinfeld, when a classic episode came on. The episode centered around former Major League Baseball player and former New York Mets star Keith Hernandez. In the episode, Kramer and Newman accuse Hernandez of spitting on them after a baseball game. Consequently, Jerry parodied the famous scene from the movie "JFK" where Kevin Costner's character explains the "Magic Bullet Theory." In true Seinfeldian style, he ends his monologue with phrase, "Now that is one magic loogie!"

I am not a conspiracy theorist, but from what I have gleaned from the facts and what experts say, the "Magic Bullet Theory" has been debunked and it has been scientifically proven that Kennedy indeed was killed by a lone gunman.

Now, I bring this topic up not to get into a historical debate on the Kennedy assassination, but to share the idea that there is no magic bullet in education. One can hardly imagine the number of mass mailings and emails I receive on a daily basis claiming that some program, some book, or some manipulative will provide instant results to increase student achievement. I'm here to tell you today that those programs do not work. If they did, schools would simply invest in those programs and all the troubles in school today would be gone.

Student success is based on smart, hard-working teachers, working with smart, hard-working parents, working with hard-working students. WISD is very mindful on what we spend tax payer money, and any programs we purchase are meant to help teachers and students who are working hard...not meant to be a substitute for hard work. I'm as big an advocate for technology in the classroom as you'll find, but I realize that it is the "magic" that teachers do--their daily interactions with students, their caring smiles, their willingness to go above and beyond with students--that makes WISD a success.

So, if you get a chance, thank a teacher for the "magic" they perform everyday but know that there is a lot of hard work behind that magic.

The Tomato Garden

Seeing as today is officially the first day of summer, I thought I'd give a funny story forwarded to me by my wife's grandmother:

An old Italian lived alone in New Jersey. He wanted to plant his annual tomato garden, but it was very difficult work, as the ground was hard. His only son, Vincent, who used to help him, was in prison. The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament:

Dear Vincent,
I am feeling pretty sad, because it looks like I won't be able to plant my tomato garden this year. I'm just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. I know if you were here my troubles would be over.. I know you would be happy to dig the plot for me, like in the old days.
Love, Papa

A few days later he received a letter from his son.

Dear Pop,
Don't dig up that garden. That's where the bodies are buried.
Love, Vinnie

At 4 a.m. the next morning, FBI agents and local police arrived and dug up the entire area without finding any bodies. They apologized to the old man and left. That same day the old man received another letter from his son.

Dear Pop,
Go ahead and plant the tomatoes now. That's the best I could do under the circumstances.
Love you, Vinnie

Congratulations to the Class of 2009

As you know, last week we said goodbye to our 8th graders. The Westphalia Class of 2009 has much to be proud of during its time in WISD. They are the "Millennial Class" since they started in 2000. This class of students once again demonstrated excellence both inside and outside of the classroom. Each 8th grade student passed all portions of the TAKS test, as they did in the 7th grade. They led our athletics teams to district championships in cross country, and for the first time in our history, track and field. They exhibit exmplary behavior both inside and outside of school, and we are proud of the young men and women they are becoming.

So good luck to all the graduating 8th graders. We know that you will succeed in your future endeavors. Though you may be moving on, I hope you always keep Westphalia in your heart. Do not hesitate to come back if you need assistance. We will always be here for you. Congratulations and good luck!

Weekly Happenings May 18 - 22

It's been a busy week at WISD so far, but here are some things scheduled for the rest of the week:

• The MS students will be taking final examinations this week. Good luck to all students.
• All library books need to be turned in to the library by Thursday. Students attending flex-days will be allowed to check out books next week.
• All students must have library fines and lunch fees paid by Friday. Students who have outstanding fines will not receive report cards until the all accounts are closed.
• There will be a cheer leading meeting for 2009-10 cheerleaders on Thursday during reading and tutorials.
• The graduation ceremony for the 8th graders will be held on Thursday at 6:00pm. Please come and celebrate the Class of 2009!
• The Good Behavior Rewards drawings will be held on Friday morning at 8:00am. Congratulations to all students who have earned Good Behavior tickets and good luck in the drawing.
• The annual Awards Assembly will be on Friday at 10:00am.
• There is an early release on Friday at 11:45am.

Message for the Week: Challenge you Mind!

Have a great week, or not, the CHOICE is yours!

Great Week

It's been a great week in Westphalia, so I thought I'd end the week with a funny story...

An old prospector shuffled into town leading an old tired mule. The old man headed straight for the only saloon in town to clear his parched throat. He walked up to the saloon and tied his old mule to the hitch rail. As he stood there brushing some of the dust from his face and clothes, a young gunslinger stepped out of the saloon with a gun in one hand and a bottle of whiskey in the other. The young gunslinger looked at the old man and laughed, saying, 'Hey old man, have you ever danced?' The old man looked up at the gunslinger and said, 'No, I never did dance, just never wanted to.'

A crowd had gathered quickly and the gunslinger grinned and said, 'Well, you old fool, you're gonna' dance now,' and started shooting at the old man's feet. The old prospector in order to not get a toe blown off or his boots perforated was soon hopping around like a flea on a hot skillet and everybody was laughing fit to be tied. When the last bullet had been fired the young gunslinger, still laughing, holstered his gun and turned around to go back into the saloon.

The old man turned to his pack mule, pulled out a double barreled shotgun, and cocked both hammers back. The loud, audible double clicks carried clearly through the desert air. The crowd stopped laughing immediately. The young gunslinger heard the sounds and he turned around very slowly. The quiet was almost deafening. The crowd watched as the young gunman stared at the old timer and the large gaping holes of those twin barrels. He found it hard to swallow. The barrels of the shotgun never wavered in the old man's hands. The old man said, , did you ever kiss a mule on the lips?'

The boy bully swallowed hard and said, 'No. But I've always wanted to.'

There are two lessons for us all here:
1. Don't waste ammunition.
2. Don't mess with old people.

Mayonnaise Jar and the Coffee

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember this story...

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up every thing else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things -- your God, family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions-things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else -- the small stuff.

"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your wife out to dinner. Maybe even play another 18. There's always time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.

The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

Weekly Happenings May 11-15

Here are some things that are going on in WISD this week:

• The 8th graders will be going to Rosebud-Lott High School for freshman orientation on Tuesday morning. This is set aside as a time for them to set a schedule for next year and to answer any questions parents may have.
• Students in grades K-2 will be travelling to the Beltonian Theater in Belton on Tuesday.
• The annual Spring Band Concert will be held on Thursday night in the gymnasium.
• There will be a field trip for all students earning 200 AR points on Friday. Students will be going to Lion's Park in Waco.
• Yearbook order forms are due Friday. If students want to order a yearbook and need a form, please see Mrs. Willberg in the library.

Message for the Week: Always do right!

Have a great week, or not, the CHOICE is yours!