"One Person Can Make a Difference and Everyone Should Try." JFK

For years, my brother tried to get me to "like" the Humans of New York site on Facebook and I resisted.  I personally like to keep Facebook "friends" true "friends."  Yet, over the last few weeks, there appeared to be two new "celebrities" on my news feed: Vidal and Ms. Lopez.  If you haven't heard the story, which has now also hit Ellen and Good Morning America, Humans of New York creator and photographer Brandon photographed a young boy named Vidal and asked him,

"Who’s influenced you the most in your life?"
“My principal, Ms. Lopez.”
“How has she influenced you?”
“When we get in trouble, she doesn’t suspend us. She calls us to her office and explains to us how society was built down around us. And she tells us that each time somebody fails out of school, a new jail cell gets built. And one time she made every student stand up, one at a time, and she told each one of us that we matter.”
http://www.humansofnewyork.com/post/108621363306/whos-influenced-you-the-most-in-your-life-my

This interaction started a ripple effect.  The photographer then interviewed Ms. Lopez, principal of Mott Hall Bridges Academy in Brownsille, New York (the highest crime rate in New York City), who stated,

“This is a neighborhood that doesn’t necessarily expect much from our children, so at Mott Hall Bridges Academy we set our expectations very high. We don’t call the children ‘students,’ we call them ‘scholars.’ Our color is purple. Our scholars wear purple and so do our staff. Because purple is the color of royalty. I want my scholars to know that even if they live in a housing project, they are part of a royal lineage going back to great African kings and queens. They belong to a group of individuals who invented astronomy and math. And they belong to a group of individuals who have endured so much history and still overcome. When you tell people you’re from Brownsville, their face cringes up. But there are children here that need to know that they are expected to succeed.”

http://www.humansofnewyork.com/post/108838763416/a-couple-days-back-i-posted-the-portrait-of-a

Humans of New York is now profiling Mott Hall Bridges Academy and has set up a Let's Send Kids to Harvard: Vidal Scholarship Fund.  They have raised over a million dollars.  The money will be used to fund Ms. Lopez's vision to send students on Harvard field trips each year to help them understand that they too can go to Harvard.  I would invite you to go to the Humans of New York site because it is a powerful reminder that what we do matters.

In one of the photographs, Ms. Lopez describes how right before all of this she felt broken.  She didn't think she was making a difference and she was ready to give up.  Then she saw Vidal's face and comments.  We don't always get that moment.  We don't always know the true effect we have on the students we teach, love, and serve everyday.  Yet, NEVER doubt that the work you do matters.  As JFK said, "One person can make a difference and everyone should try."

Big Rocks:

• PTSA Founders Day is this Wednesday.  A big congratulations to Michelle Stackpoole who will be honored by a former student at this event.  (See!  We leave a legacy too!)
• We have had several sub issues lately where we have had to cover classes using teachers' prep time.  We try to be cognizant of your time but our hands are tied by the contract.  Thank you very much for helping out when this occurs.  
• This week there is an extended staff meeting.  We will be meeting in Leadership Day teams to prepare for Leadership Day on April 2nd.  Members of the Lighthouse Team will also be meeting this week to discuss progress on the Lighthouse Milestones.  We will keep you posted.
• Most importantly, this week is STUPID CUPID!  If you are participating, it's time to have some fun!  Enjoy giving and receiving this week and cupids will be announced on Friday.

Calendar for the Week of February 9:

Monday: 7:30 Terry advisory meeting with Dr. Liepa

                8:00 LIM Meeting in Nicole McGlinch's room

                1:00 Terry Data Dig meeting at Grant

                7:00 Terry BOE Meeting to present for Principal's Week

                Stupid Cupid starts.

Tuesday: 8:00 Center EPT

               3:45 Lighthouse Team meeting

               6:00 Parent Lighthouse Team meeting

Wednesday: Sarah at Apple/TRIG Leadership for Learning PD at Oakland Schools

                    8:00 Reading Month meeting LMC 

                    3:45 Planning Team

                    5:30 PTSA Founders Day

Thursday: 11:15 Youth Making a Difference meeting (Bill and Sarah)

                 3:45-4:45 Extended Staff meeting

Friday:     LEADS Board meeting (8:00, CHS, Terry)

                 Stupid Cupid Announced

                 Soup and Salad Lunch provided by Enthusiasm Team-YUM!