This story just left me speechless and gave me chills. http://www.pjstar.com/stories/121707/TRI_BF7SMA0D.006.php I can't even begin to imagine what I would have done in the same situation. There is no doubt in my mind that God had it in his plans for Marilyn to be there and that a small angel named Aaron asked for the special by passer to be his mommy. As a mother I am comforted to know that people like Marilyn are out there. In the day and age of fear of aids and other diseases, Marilyn showed true selflessness and compassion.
Marilyn's son Aaron was a student at Northmoor. There is a beautiful picture of him hanging up outside the library. He and his family obviously left their "heart stamp" at Northmoor just as his mother has with Limestone High School.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Thursday, December 6, 2007
ISAT Results in Peoria
OK - I have got to say that some people may look at the ISAT results from last year and not see positive results. I would like to say though that I think several of the school have very positive results even if they didn't meet AYP. http://www.isbe.net/nclb/default.htm Here's a link in case you'd like more information.
Anyway, back to the positive - when looking at the results for the schools in the City of Peoria specifically, many people will talk about the percentage of poverty in each school (basically the number of children who receive free or reduced lunch). Well I wish that could be broken up even more to show the percentage who receive free lunch only. Harrison for example then is probably 97% free lunch and 2% reduced. Many of the other schools would have similar statistics and there is a difference between groups in the low income catagory and don't get me started on the differences between generational poverty (like the families who live in Taft, Harrison, etc) and situational poverty.
So without getting too wordy (and if you'd really like to learn more about the challenges children who live in poverty face you can read the work of Ruby Payne) I want to say that several schools did much better than the numbers may say. I think the fact that a school like Kingman, with 87% low income (probably 70% free lunch), has steadily increased their percentage of kids meeting or exceeding standards is awesome! Then add to this their almost 60% mobility rate - just imagine what the teachers could do if all of the kids stayed at the school for the entire school year. So basically, when you look at everything that teachers and staff at Kingman and many other schools have to overcome to help children succeed, the fact that children exceed is a huge positive! Personally, as a parent, if I saw that my child's school had a small low income percentage and ISAT scores in the 70's or 80's, I'd wonder about the quality of education my child was receiving. Small low income and low mobility schools should have much higher scores - just look at what Northmoor has done with a low income percentage of close to half the student population, yet their ISAT scores were right at 90%.
So - to me - add everything up and the test scores are positive - they show that children and educators are working very hard and are achieving!
Anyway, back to the positive - when looking at the results for the schools in the City of Peoria specifically, many people will talk about the percentage of poverty in each school (basically the number of children who receive free or reduced lunch). Well I wish that could be broken up even more to show the percentage who receive free lunch only. Harrison for example then is probably 97% free lunch and 2% reduced. Many of the other schools would have similar statistics and there is a difference between groups in the low income catagory and don't get me started on the differences between generational poverty (like the families who live in Taft, Harrison, etc) and situational poverty.
So without getting too wordy (and if you'd really like to learn more about the challenges children who live in poverty face you can read the work of Ruby Payne) I want to say that several schools did much better than the numbers may say. I think the fact that a school like Kingman, with 87% low income (probably 70% free lunch), has steadily increased their percentage of kids meeting or exceeding standards is awesome! Then add to this their almost 60% mobility rate - just imagine what the teachers could do if all of the kids stayed at the school for the entire school year. So basically, when you look at everything that teachers and staff at Kingman and many other schools have to overcome to help children succeed, the fact that children exceed is a huge positive! Personally, as a parent, if I saw that my child's school had a small low income percentage and ISAT scores in the 70's or 80's, I'd wonder about the quality of education my child was receiving. Small low income and low mobility schools should have much higher scores - just look at what Northmoor has done with a low income percentage of close to half the student population, yet their ISAT scores were right at 90%.
So - to me - add everything up and the test scores are positive - they show that children and educators are working very hard and are achieving!
Shopping in Peoria
OK - I have just got to say I am pleasantly surprised by my shopping experiences in the last few weeks - even though we're in that time crunch, stressful time - people have been so nice!
I was at Cub Foods the day before Thanksgiving and the people shopping were smiling and chatting with each other. Then, when I went down one aisle in particular, one woman was looking for canned asparagus so she asked and then another shouted out something she needed and everyone just kind of pitched in and helped find the items. I felt like I was shopping with friends.
Then the day after Thanksgiving I dared to go out to Kohl's. I didn't up end buying anything because the line seemed to stretch all the way to Sam's, but the people in line were talking and seemed to be in a good mood. I don't think that I could have been in such a good mood after spending that much time waiting in line!
Well and then there was the lady I ran across in the parking lot at WalMart. I tried to be helpful to the cart people by carrying all of my bags to the car. It was a great plan until I got to the car and realized I would need to set all of the bags down in order to open the door to my SUV. Well luckily a lady in a navy blue convertable recognized my plight and came to my rescue. She opened the door for me and we even had a nice little chat about how her daughter has the same type of SUV and how nice they are for the size, etc, etc. It was one of those moments that I walked away with a "fuller bucket." So thanks to the lady in the blue convertable.
I was at Cub Foods the day before Thanksgiving and the people shopping were smiling and chatting with each other. Then, when I went down one aisle in particular, one woman was looking for canned asparagus so she asked and then another shouted out something she needed and everyone just kind of pitched in and helped find the items. I felt like I was shopping with friends.
Then the day after Thanksgiving I dared to go out to Kohl's. I didn't up end buying anything because the line seemed to stretch all the way to Sam's, but the people in line were talking and seemed to be in a good mood. I don't think that I could have been in such a good mood after spending that much time waiting in line!
Well and then there was the lady I ran across in the parking lot at WalMart. I tried to be helpful to the cart people by carrying all of my bags to the car. It was a great plan until I got to the car and realized I would need to set all of the bags down in order to open the door to my SUV. Well luckily a lady in a navy blue convertable recognized my plight and came to my rescue. She opened the door for me and we even had a nice little chat about how her daughter has the same type of SUV and how nice they are for the size, etc, etc. It was one of those moments that I walked away with a "fuller bucket." So thanks to the lady in the blue convertable.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Great Weekend and thanks to the Vets
Oh my - it's been way too long since I've posted. I often think "I should post that," but then by the time I get home I forget!
Well I can't forget about the wonderful weekend I had! The short version is that I got to go shopping, had a perfect cab driver in Chicago who even counted out change (without me asking and of course I told him to keep it), then getting on the train a younger guy saw me pause getting on with all my bags and offered to help. So I ran in to many people this weekend that managed to remind me how wonderful people can be if you just have faith and look for the positive!
Now there's one woman in particular who really touched me this weekend. She was sitting next to me in a workshop, noticed my nametag and proceded to share a really cool story with me - how Peoria Arizona got it's name! Here's what she told me; when California was being settled there was a family with 11 children that road in a covered wagon to get to California. Well they stopped off in Arizona and during what they thought was going to be a brief stop the people in the town convinced them to stay. See, they had 11 children and in order to have a school there had to be at least 10 children. So, the people who had settled in the area convinced the family to stay and set the father up with a job and they named the town after the city the family was from PEORIA!
The woman who shared the story worked for the school district in Peoria Arizona and shared the story with many others over the years. Not sure if it gave anyone else goose bumps like it did for me!
Speaking of education, I hope all of our local teachers enjoyed the day off for Veteran's Day. I saw many out and about shopping today! More importantly - thanks to our veteran's who have fought for our freedom. I don't agree with figthing to solve problems, but I'm so thankful that when push comes to shove there are men and women who are willing to fight the big bullies! May all of our newest veteran's be able to come home soon.
Well I can't forget about the wonderful weekend I had! The short version is that I got to go shopping, had a perfect cab driver in Chicago who even counted out change (without me asking and of course I told him to keep it), then getting on the train a younger guy saw me pause getting on with all my bags and offered to help. So I ran in to many people this weekend that managed to remind me how wonderful people can be if you just have faith and look for the positive!
Now there's one woman in particular who really touched me this weekend. She was sitting next to me in a workshop, noticed my nametag and proceded to share a really cool story with me - how Peoria Arizona got it's name! Here's what she told me; when California was being settled there was a family with 11 children that road in a covered wagon to get to California. Well they stopped off in Arizona and during what they thought was going to be a brief stop the people in the town convinced them to stay. See, they had 11 children and in order to have a school there had to be at least 10 children. So, the people who had settled in the area convinced the family to stay and set the father up with a job and they named the town after the city the family was from PEORIA!
The woman who shared the story worked for the school district in Peoria Arizona and shared the story with many others over the years. Not sure if it gave anyone else goose bumps like it did for me!
Speaking of education, I hope all of our local teachers enjoyed the day off for Veteran's Day. I saw many out and about shopping today! More importantly - thanks to our veteran's who have fought for our freedom. I don't agree with figthing to solve problems, but I'm so thankful that when push comes to shove there are men and women who are willing to fight the big bullies! May all of our newest veteran's be able to come home soon.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Remembering 911
I got an email today about a cool way to honor the victims of 911 - put my headlights on while driving during the day today. Simple and pretty darn cool. As I was driving around today, every time I saw someone with their headlights on it was a nice reminder; whether they knew about the email or not. Now next year I'm going to be part of the other way people are memoralizing the day; by doing a good deed. I love the idea of counteracting evil with hundreds of thousands of people doing something good for someone else on 911. Of course, the positive energy generated will last for days before and after 911 and carry over to other times of the year as well.
May we never forget the victims of 911 and the "come together" spirit of the USA in the months that followed.
May we never forget the victims of 911 and the "come together" spirit of the USA in the months that followed.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
It takes a village
OK - here's another positive from my viewpoint - businesses getting into the business of affecting positive change. For example, the Shell gas station on Sterling posting "quips" on its sign for others to see. Some of us are probably used to churches doing this sort of thing and we might even expect it - after all - churches are supposed to try and support people, but not for-profit businesses. So I love when I see something like this happening, especially locally.
Another good local example is the insurance office on the corner of War Drive and Sheridan, the one with the large field behind it. They let the Christian Center use that field - FREE - to hold its t-ball practices and soccer practice. In the day and age of liability insurance, I think it's great that the 2 groups obviously figured out a way to make it work, for the benefit of kids.
And while Taco Bell isn't a local business, I love that right now their kids toy is a book and it's a book with a message. Chick-Fil-Lay does this with their kids "toys" too and I think it's great - who needs another stupid toy anyway? I wish more food places would give children items that would actually benefit them in some way, like when BK gave away 3 and under toys from Sassy that included tips on interacting with your infant/toddler. So, while those are big national chains, this type of thinking at least will benefit our kids locally.
OK and unrelated but in the "fills me with hope category" occurred while I was watching WEEK last night and this morning. The segment was on the District 150 Promoting Academic Success for Boys of Color grant award. The 2 Woodruff high schoolers they interviewed were great. They looked like your typical jocks, but I loved the one kid when the reporter asked him if someday kids would be fighting to get seats in the front of the class and with a smile bigger than the camera - said YES. He said that he and his friends all want to go to college and always sit in the front of class so they can learn. Way to Go and I pray they go far in life. And with the Peoria Promise college money (another positive) I know that they will at least be able to get to ICC!!
Another good local example is the insurance office on the corner of War Drive and Sheridan, the one with the large field behind it. They let the Christian Center use that field - FREE - to hold its t-ball practices and soccer practice. In the day and age of liability insurance, I think it's great that the 2 groups obviously figured out a way to make it work, for the benefit of kids.
And while Taco Bell isn't a local business, I love that right now their kids toy is a book and it's a book with a message. Chick-Fil-Lay does this with their kids "toys" too and I think it's great - who needs another stupid toy anyway? I wish more food places would give children items that would actually benefit them in some way, like when BK gave away 3 and under toys from Sassy that included tips on interacting with your infant/toddler. So, while those are big national chains, this type of thinking at least will benefit our kids locally.
OK and unrelated but in the "fills me with hope category" occurred while I was watching WEEK last night and this morning. The segment was on the District 150 Promoting Academic Success for Boys of Color grant award. The 2 Woodruff high schoolers they interviewed were great. They looked like your typical jocks, but I loved the one kid when the reporter asked him if someday kids would be fighting to get seats in the front of the class and with a smile bigger than the camera - said YES. He said that he and his friends all want to go to college and always sit in the front of class so they can learn. Way to Go and I pray they go far in life. And with the Peoria Promise college money (another positive) I know that they will at least be able to get to ICC!!
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Thanks Northmoor Rd Drivers
Just sending out another Random Act of Kindness sort of thank you. Frequently I have to use Northmoor Rd to get to work and usually during when school is starting. The traffic is very congested but 99% of the time the drivers make the commute easier. I always see someone letting another driver turn out in front of them, either from a side road or from the school drive. No one is honking or getting overly agitated. And people always extend the courtesy "thank you" wave. So thanks for making my commute and others easier!
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Beautiful Weather
I have got to say that God's hand was at work very early Friday morning! Can't get anymore positive than the beautiful weather we received just in time for the start of school. I am so thankful that the kiddos will hopefully have cooler buildings to return to on Monday for their first day of school - especially after 3 long weeks of hot weather that surely heated up many school buildings!
Friday, August 17, 2007
Random Act of Kindness
Just wanted to say thanks to the person or persons who moved the garbage out of Charter Oak road last week. I drove by twice that day and the first time almost hit several large pieces of something laying in the road. When I drove back a fwe hours later someone had moved the garbage to the sidewalk. So I just wanted to say thanks for your selfless act. You may have prevented an accident or a blown tire - so a small act that had a bigger impact.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
District 150 Open House
I was there Saturday and I have got to say it was pretty cool that the Civic Center is letting the district use the space for free. It was cool to see all of the different schools and especially all of the different community groups that were there. The robots were awesome, free basketballs from the city, free backpacks and of course lots of candy! Plus there were a lot of people that came - saw Mayor Ardis and several school board members and the Regional Supt. Way to go Civic Center and District 150 for coming up with this collaboration in order to share information with the community.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Dream Center
Well I can't think of a better positive story to start this blog with than this one http://www.pjstar.com/php/index.php?/dreamcenter. I can't help but feel a large sense of hope after reading this series of articles. What an amazing group of christians and responsible citizens. I pray they're ready for the huge outpouring of support they'll receive after this series of articles. So big thanks to PJS for supporting a positive cause rather than looking for ways to tear it down.
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