We Could All Use A Little Positivity

Interaction Time has started, all of our modified sports teams have their first games of the season this week, and with the first full week of school in the rearview mirror we are off and running. Of all of the terrific things happening to start the year, we are most excited about kicking-off the Positivity Project (P2) at WGMS last week.

On Monday we officially joined every other school in the district and became a partner school with the Positivity Project. The mission of the P2 is to empower America’s youth to build positive relationships. No matter who you are Relationships Matter and the research is clear: you are more likely to live a happy and healthy life by making connections with other people and living with high character.

Simply put: Other People Matter.

Check out this video of Mike Erwin explaining the Other people Matter mindset that all of our students saw as part of our kick-off event. This could be used as a great prompt for a discussion with your child about the Positivity Project and what it means to have an Other People Matter Mindset. 

Every Monday morning we will be extending homeroom for 15 minutes so that we can have meaningful discussions about each of the 24 character strengths that P2 focuses on and that research has proven to build powerful behaviors and increase our ability to live in a positive manner. Our goal as a school is to help all of us make connections with one another to develop and foster the Other People Matter mindset, as well as 24 P2 characteristics in all of us.

We know that families will be eager to partner with WGMS in increasing your child’s character strengths and in helping them to continue to develop positive relationships. You can view the calendar of when we study each character trait by clicking here.

In a world which could use a lot more kindness, teamwork, humility, fairness, integrity, open-mindedness, self-control, tolerance and love (just to name a few character traits), you can see why we are so excited about the Positivity Project. Relationships matter. Other people matter. By empowering our students with the ability to build positive relationships and develop strong character, we are helping to prepare them to be successful now and in the future.

Thank you for your continued support of our students and staff. As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Continued Success,

Steve Dunham

sdunham@westgenesee.org

Twitter:@Sdunhamwgms

Roll With The Changes

As we prepare for a new school year, regardless of your role, it always has the feeling of “I’ve done this before,” and in many ways we have. There is certainly a Circle of Life to a school year; the way it moves and flows, the repetition that comes and goes like the change of the seasons. From the outside looking in the jump to a new school year might appear to be as easy as simply changing the dates and off we go. The reality is that each year, although strewn with some year to year consistency, is nothing like the year before. Education is in practice, an exercise in “Roll with The Changes”. Students change, practices change, standards change, and society and the world around us continues to change for better or worse. And as much as we may fight it, we all get a year older year after year which changes how we look at and respond to things. For a twenty year veteran it isn’t doing one year twenty times, it’s doing twenty different years one year at a time. Roll with the Changes.

This year is no exception. As we send approximately 210 rising 9^th graders to the High School, we welcome a fresh new group of 205 incoming 6^th graders to WGMS. A new year with new students, and some new staff. It feels like previous years in many ways, but it will be very different. The one underlying constant is the idea of continuous improvement in what we do and how we do it in an effort to maximize student learning and achievement. That has to be our focus.

In one week we have the pleasure to open our doors to our students and get the 2018-2019 school year officially started. It feels familiar, but it will be like no other year we have ever had. We are excited to have these hallways and classrooms once again filled with the energy and excitement of our students. 

In the meantime, here are some important dates to make note of in the month ahead:

Locker Night, Wednesday, August 28^th from 3:00 to 6:00 PM.

Picture Day, Thursday, September 13^th

6^th Grade Dance, Friday, September 14^th from 2:15-4:00 PM

Kick-off PTA Meeting, Tuesday, September 25^th at 6:30 PM

Open House/Title I Night, Thursday, September 27^th from 6:30 to 8:30 PM

In the next few weeks look for a blog outlining two very successful summer programs that we held at WGMS to support some of our students and an overview of bringing the Positivity Project to the middle school. Thank you for your ongoing support of our students and staff. As always, if you have any questions or concerns please give me a call or send me an email.

Continued Success,

Steve Dunham

sdunham@westgenesee.org

Twitter: @Sdunhamwgms

Carry the Torch

Yesterday, all of our 8^th grade students from both Camillus Middle School and West Genesee Middle School had the incredible opportunity to hear the story of perseverance, determination, faith and hope from Holocaust survivor Marion Blumenthal Lazan. If you don’t know about her you should set aside a few minutes and check out her life story and work here: www.fourperfectpebbles.com/ It truly is remarkable and speaks to the human spirit and ability to survive and get through incredibly difficult and catastrophic times.

This is the last generation that will hear these stories from the people that lived through them. It is on all of us to continue to share these stories and to study and teach about the horror of the Holocaust to make sure that it never happens again.  In addition to experiencing her firsthand account of this dark period in history, our students were challenged by Mrs. Lazan to carry the torch of justice and freedom with them throughout their lives:

“We must live with love, respect, compassion and tolerance towards one another. It starts with each of us. We all must look for similarities and respect our differences.”

At a time where hatred unfortunately continues to show its' ugly face, having our students learn from the past and continue to keep watch to speak up and stand up whenever they see intolerance, injustice and hatred is incredibly important. 

Students of the Month

As we turned the calendar into May we recognized our new ‘Students of the Month’. We continue to have students, who through their actions and character, help to create a positive school environment. Choosing ‘Students of the Month’ isn’t about grades and athletic or musical prowess, it’s about demonstrating all of the qualities that we value and celebrate - exemplary work ethic, citizenship, character, compassion, honesty, trustworthiness, responsibility, optimism and/or leadership in creating a positive school environment. 

This month we recognized 6^th graders Hannah Sparks, Bridget Dunham, Charlie Searle, and Michael Hess, 7^th graders Michael Dedrick, Ryan Considine, Nani Ross, and Mariya Kostiv, 8^th graders Cameron Hovater, Connor Jacuk, Ella Robertson, and Anna Caruso. Well deserved and congratulations to all!

6th Grade Students of the Month

7th Grade Students of the Month

8th Grade Students of the Month

Thank you for your continued support of our students and staff. As always, please let me know if you have any questions.

Continued Success,

Steve Dunham

sdunham@westgenesee.org

Twitter: @Sdunhamwgms