66 Days

After posting about my reflections on a year of growth and those that have supported me, it's fitting to follow up with a post about where I want to go for next year. Recently, I've been reading a lot of posts about new research that shows that contrary to popular belief, new habits are created in 66 days (not 30 days). I also attended a session at our Wayne RESA, where I was given a worksheet to help with this process. The form was called the 66 Day Challenge and it covered areas ranging from spiritual to personal to professional growth. The grid is open, so one can start on any day of the year and track their progress. It seemed like a great idea for the start of a school year or for resolutions for a new calendar year, but the important thing is to start!

Not long after receiving the 66 day challenge sheet, I heard a sermon where it was stated that anytime we take away a negative, we should add a positive. In other words, rather than just avoiding a vice we should also pursue a virtue. A health example would be in addition to eliminating soda, one would be more physically active. In family time one could eliminate TV time, but also add more family activities. It's clear to see that eliminating something can help you, but adding something can help both you and others.

There are many ways we can apply the 66 day challenge, but as an educator, I want to focus on ways that I can apply it to being the best principal I can be. So I'm accepting the challenge and taking the advice to add a positive and take away a negative in the school setting. When we return to school in 2016, I plan to make a positive phone call every day to a family. I already make phone calls for our Students of the Month, so why not increase those positives from a monthly to a daily basis? I also pledge to decrease my time in the office. My goal is to never be in the office for more than one hour at a time. I will be sure to leave the office and get into classrooms or greet students at the very least every hour. Taking away time from the office will help me both physically (get my steps in!) and mentally and adding the daily calls will bring happiness to my students and families. I'm hoping my 66 day challenge will help make me a more productive principal. What challenge are you willing to take on for 66 days?

PEARLS OF WISDOM

"It is easier to prevent bad habits than to break them." - Benjamin Franklin

"Creativity is a habit, and the best creativity is the result of good work habits." - Twyla Tharp

"Successful people are simply those with successful habits." - Brian Tracy

DEATH CRAWL VIDEO (6 Minutes)

UPCOMING EVENTS

Monday, December 14: Rotary Meeting (Wennstrom) 12:00-1:15 pm
                                     Board of Education Meeting 7:00 pm (All invited to support Andrea)
Tuesday, December 15: Holiday Sing-a-Long in the gym 3:05 pm
Wednesday, December 16: IEP Limberg/Nadon 8:20 am
                                          Santa Shop in Room 18
Thursday, December 17: Santa Shop in Room 18 (am only)
Friday, December 18: Joe' & Diane's Omelette Cafe open in the LMC 8:00 am

Monday, January 4: School Resumes
Wednesday, January 6: Student of the Month Assembly 3:00 pm (Be Proactive)
                                      Hearing Testing Make Ups in the Music Room
Thursday, January 7: Elementary Principal Meeting 1:00-4:30 pm
                                 PTA Meeting 6:30 pm
Friday, January 8: Skate Night at Riverside Arena 6:00-8:00 pm

Thursday, January 14: Sports Science Assembly K-2 9:30 am / 3&4 10:30 am

Monday, January 25: DATA DIVE (all day in the LMC)
Wednesday, January 27: YMAD Assembly 3:00 pm
Friday, January 29: No Students / Teacher Work Day (Optional Report Day)