Welcome to December!

The older I get the faster the year flies.  We have three weeks left in the semester (barring any more snow days).  That means lots and lots of teaching and learning happening.  This is the time when projects, papers, and exams are due.  Keep encouraging your student!  There will be lots of distractions, such preparing for Christmas, snow, etc., but it is so important to stay focus on academics.  Don’t forget tutoring is available.  We want to see EVERY student passing by the end of the year!

ENGLISH
Keller	Friday	3:45-4:45	Rm 525
Krist	Wednesday	7:45-8:35	Rm 583
Murphy	Thursday	7:45-8:35	Rm 563
SOCIAL STUDIES
Cantrell	Tuesday	4:00-5:00	Rm 523
Wilson	Wednesday	7:30-8:35	Rm 587
MATH
Himes	Monday	3:45-4:45	Rm 527
Pennington	Tuesday	3:45-4:45	Rm 527
Hughes	Wednesday	7:30-8:30	Rm 527
Doom	Thursday	3:45-4:45	Rm 527
SCIENCE
Baird	Tuesday	4:00-5:30	Rm 520
Brewer	Thursday	4:00-5:00	Rm 588
FRENCH
Beckett	Tuesday	3:50-4:50	Rm 245
BIO MED
Nickell	Thursday	3:45-4:45	Rm 586
HEALTH
Cannada	Tuesday	7:30-8:30	Rm 524

Happy Thanksgiving!

We are thankful for you and your kids.  We wish you a wonderful time of great food, time with family, and some rest (reading a good book too).  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Community Thanksgiving Dinner--Wednesday 5:30 PM @ Southern Elementary Cafeteria.

Community Thanksgiving Lunch--Thursday 11 AM-1 PM @ Gano Baptist Church.

The Fruit of the Sport

In KY we look forward to basketball season.  Although at Scott County, every sport season proves to be exciting.  Just want to give a shout out to our football team for a remarkable year!

This poem came across my desk this week.  As a parent, it made me pause and think about what my kids learn from me.  What do I say/not say?  How do I act/not act?  As a parent, I am my kids’ first and forever teacher.

Hope you enjoy it.

The Fruit of the Sport

In my life, I have learned so much from playing and watching sports.  Now, I am passing that baton to my daughters.  I am beginning to realize, though, that there is a great opportunity for them to learn from me, and from my support or involvement in their athletic experiences.  My impact on their development is much greater than the coach or the lessons they may or may not learn on the playing field.

What sport CAN teach our children: 

·       Perseverance

·       Determination

·       Discipline

·       Leadership

·       Teamwork

·       Flexibility

·       Self-Control

·       Humility

What parents watching sports OFTEN teach and what I am guilty of teaching:

·       Bias

·       Impatience

·       Anger

·       Frustration

·       Judgment

·       Conditional Love

I may say, “You need to work on….”

But my daughters hear, “you are not good enough.”

What I want to teach my children as I watch them play sports:

·       LOVE, unconditional, love. 

·       I should have JOY in all circumstances.  The opportunity to participate is the blessing.

·       Be at PEACE and remember, “It’s just a game.”

·       As long as there is effort, there is growth.  I need to be PATIENT during the growing seasons.

·       It is important to show KINDNESS to others….players, parents, coaches, referees, and opponents.

·       I can demonstrate GOODNESS and grace by submitting to the authority of the coaches and referees.  They are not perfect.  I should expect and accept their mistakes.

·       FAITHFULNESS is loving, even when it is difficult to love.  This can be a challenge, especially when I believe my children are wrong or have been wronged.

·       My daughters are watching and listening to me, more than I am watching and listening to them.  My life must always reflect GENTLENESS in word and deed.

·       And lastly, SELF-CONTROL.  This can be a life long struggle for us all.  I need to seek forgiveness when I fail, but continue to strive for the better way.

By Toni Rose

It’s that time of year!

The time has changed; the temperatures are dropping; thus signaling winter is on its way.  This time of year has us experiencing more sickness in the school.  What can you do to help keep your student healthy?

Physicians recommend some simple steps to help us all stay healthy.

1.   Wash your hands.  It is so simple to do to keep germs at bay.  Every classroom, bathroom, and cafeteria has a hand sanitizer dispenser.  Remind your kids to wash and sanitize throughout the day.

2.     "Use a new toothbrush after you've had a cold, the flu, a mouth infection, or sore throat," says dentist Jeff Golub-Evans, D.D.S., director of the New York Center for Cosmetic Dentistry in New York City. "Germs can hide in the toothbrush and lead to reinfection."

3.     Get outside when the sun is shining.  Winter is the time where 6% of Americans suffer from SAD (seasonal affective disorder).  Ten-fifteen minutes of sunshine can help lift their moods during the winter.

4.     Exercise.  Stay active even when they don’t fill like it.

5.     Drink plenty of water.  It helps to keep our minds and bodies hydrated. 

6.   Get at least 8 hours of sleep a night.

7.     Consider getting a flu shot. 

After taking all these precautions, if your student ends up sick, keep them home.  Please don’t share.  Contact their teachers via e-mail or the front office for any make-up work. 

Help us keep Scott County 9^th Grade School a safe place from illness.

Struggle to Succeed

Before success comes struggle.  Have we stopped to think about that?  Have we shared with our kids that truth?  Struggle not only comes before success in the dictionary, but in life.  I was reminded of this when I read Keith Griesser’s Facebook post.

            “Tonight is a tough night. About 80 kids tried out for the RSMS boys basketball teams. For about 50 young men, they were "cut" for the first time in their life.
Yes it is part of life. Yes, it is important to learn to overcome disappointment.... But it's still tough.

I hope those who made the team don't ever take it for granted.
And I hope that those who didn't make the team go play league ball, work on their skills, and improve enough to beat somebody out next year.

Michael Jordan was cut his freshman year of high school. He won 6 NBA Championships.

Coach McIntyre told me that he was cut from his middle school team. He ended up starting on the 1998 Scott Co High State Championship Team”.

A friend replied, “My freshman year in high school football, I was put on the B team, cut in baseball, and basketball. God had a plan for me that could only have been written by him. The motivation of my setbacks drove me to prove to everyone that I was someone different. Football and life has worked out for me, and I attribute it to someone telling me no”.

Another friend replied, I saw a young man try out and not make it at Rsms previously. I've been with the program now 7 years... I saw him come out after working SO hard in the gym since last year this time and he made everyone take notice! He did amazing! He made the team! We are going to see him and many from this Rsms squad coming up for a long time!  It made my year to see this 8th grader make the team and CRY! He earned it and it meant the world to him. Never give up is what we always tell the boys!!”

One thing on my bucket list is to run a 5K.  I have walked/shuffled a couple of races, but have never run the whole race.  I would rather eat chocolate chip cookies than run.  Running, ok exercise in general, is a struggle for me.  One day though, I will finish that race.  Oh what a personal success that will be!  Life is NOT about getting our way all the time or expecting something different to happen without making changes.  It is about being told NO sometimes.  It is about setting a goal and doing what is needed to succeed.  It’s about the STRUGGLE.  Let’s teach our kids how to turn a struggle into success.