Congratulations to our two Lego Teams. This past weekend they were in the First LEGO League (FLL) competition. One of our teams won the inspiration award and the other won the trophy for the best robot and will be moving onto the state competition. I am so proud of both teams.
The Frozen Trekkers (Going onto to the state competition)
Winning the Inspiration Trophy
Great Job to both Teams!!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
During this time of year we always like to hear some wonderful stories that inspire and of giving to others. I love watching Lifetime movies and Hallmark Christmas movies. Well, I have several very special stories about our own students. The first one is about our students in Expanded Day. Mrs. Miller read the book called The Mitten Tree. It is a book about an older woman who notices one day that a young boy doesn't have a pair of mittens to wear, so she decides to knit him a pair of mittens. She secretly places them on the tree by his bus stop. Before she knows it, she is knitting for all the children but no one knows it's her.
After reading the book, Mrs. Miller talked to the students about giving to others in need. The children decided it would be a good idea to create a mitten tree right here at West Madison. It is located in the cafeteria. The mitten tree is beautifully decorated with lots of mittens that will go to the rescue mission. This was such an inspirational story to me about our very own students. It really shows how giving our students are. We have some great students. You know that because you are raising them. Thank you for giving us such wonderful students. They truly understand the importance of giving without recognition. I would also like to thank Mrs. Miller for coming up with such a wonderful idea and project for our Expanded Day students. Thank you Mrs. Miller :)
Another story: Mrs. Tibbs told me about our LEGO team that won the Inspiration Award. Mrs. Tibbs explains below why one of our team won that award.
"As our team began to take shape, the team members finally realized that everyone was working independently, and not very much work towards the mission was getting accomplished. There were plenty of good intentions, and good ideas, but few were getting heard because at our team meeting times, everyone was talking over everyone else, and nobody was really listening to each other. While we didn't have outright arguments, sometimes members weren't demonstrating gracious professionalism at all. So, the team decided to use a prop I had in the room (it looks like a microphone) and it became their “talking stick.” Their rule became, If you didn't have the talking stick, you should be listening; if you did have the stick, everyone was listening to you. It really brought the team together. At competition, they decided to take the prop into each judging room and continue to use it because they had used it in all practices. A student from the team explained to the judges how it had come to be used, and what it was for. I guess it paid off, because our team won a trophy for Inspiration, which is awarded to the team that shows best teamwork!"
This was such a wonderful story of showing respect for others. I know there are other stories that take place every day in our school, because of our great students, parents, staff and teachers.
I am so proud of our students, staff and teachers. I would say we could write our own Inspirational Christmas story and show it on the Hallmark Channel. :) Just Kidding, I think :)
I pray that everyone has a Merry Christmas and a safe holiday.
