Week 5 - 2nd Six Weeks

Our Polar Bears had a rough time on Senior Night, with a very physical Chilton team. Varsity lost a hard-fought and costly game on Friday 44-13. It was costly, because we lost our running back, Daniel Steels, to a collar bone injury. Our boys are pretty beaten up after a very physical game, but are gearing up for their last district game against Wortham on Friday.


Lady Bears finished their season last Saturday against Cayuga. Junior High Girls finished their season last Monday with a winning season.


The cheerleaders gave us a memorable Pep Rally dedicated to the Class of 2011 Seniors. I'm sure a few tears were shed from parents and seniors on the last home football game of the season. This is the beginning of a long list of "lasts" for our seniors.



Week at a Glance


Monday - Faculty meeting at 3:30.

Tuesday - Election Day - Auditorium Foyer

Wednesday - UIL - Junior High - Early Release at 12:00 pm

Voice Grades 9-12

Thursday - Elementary UIL - Early Release at 12:00 pm - Junior High Football - vs Wortham -6:00 (here) Cici's Pizza Night

Friday - Voice - Grades 9-12 - Jostens to meet with seniors -Varsity Football at Wortham - 7:30

Saturday - Jr. High & Elementary UIL

This week is abbreviated for the high school students. You have early release on Wednesday and Thursday with school dismissing at 12:00 for Elementary and Junior High UIL. YAY!! for you.

This week we will take a short break from Literature and begin working on some TAKS writing practice, as well as some editing and revising practice. This will be done with a C-scope test and with some practice writing prompts.

Classroom Week At a Glance

Monday: C-scope test and Essay

Tuesday: Continue C-scope test

Wednesday: Begin TAKS writing instruction

Thursday: Revision and Editing practice

Friday: Essay - Rough Draft


Vickery's Vit & Visdom

I have a few comments to make about the game on Friday night. Chilton was very physical, which is apparently what it takes these days to be a championship team. Our size does not allow us to compete in a physical game, as we saw on Friday. We lost our running back and nearly lost our defensive back in a blindside hit on the sidelines. Seeing our players suffer is difficult to watch. It doesn't matter how tough a person is, gravity, power and speed will always have an effect on the body. There were a few upset parents because of the injury at the end of the game. These same parents are vocal at every game to a point of being disrepectful and verbally abusive to our coaching staff. I have added a link to the blogs that all parents and students should read. It is the UIL Parent Manual. Please read it and share it with your parents. When spectators and parents yell these negative comments at our coaches, I hope they realize that the children and wives of these coaches are sitting right behind them. I hope they realize that these coaches put in many hours with their children that is not sufficiently compensated, but they do it anyway. We are in a district that has a former state champion and several other top rated teams. The best thing the coaches can do sometimes is to control the clock to keep the teams from running up the score. As a parent of a player, I try to keep my comments to myself and if I have a problem with a teacher or coach, I speak with that person on their conference period in a civil manner, not by yelling negative comments at the game. How would any of us like being yelled at when we are trying to do our job. As far as the injury is concerned, the coaches were not aware that the player was hurt because he was not on the ground. As soon as it was brought to their attention, they did what they could to make the player comfortable and safe. As for how our kids are coached, how they are treated, how they are played in a game, or if your parent has a complaint or comment, my suggestion is to go through the chain of command, beginning with the coach. Making comments about personnel on Facebook is inappropriate and borders on Cyber Bullying. Although, the junior class only has one student that plays football, it is important that we all realize what is appropriate and inappropriate at any game. As future leaders of the student body, positive change can start with you. There! I said it. Yes I did!

Week 10

How 'bout them Polar Bears and Lady Polar Bears.

On Tuesday, Lady Bears knocked the Rice Bulldogs out of the playoffs in four games. Although we didn't make the playoffs this year, being a spoiler to a rival team adds to the excitement of the season's end. Congratulations to Coach Woods and Coach Hargadine and the Lady Bears for an exciting season. The Lady Bears season ended on Saturday with a loss to Cayuga, the undefeated district champion.


Friday night ended the Bear's losing streak with a "sweet revenge" win over Hubbard. The final score was 15-8 and if you missed it, you missed an exciting defensive battle. The difference was a game changing, heads up interception on Hubbard's 15 yard line. The Bears played their hearts out and their team spirit showed throughout the game. Congratulations to the Bears on this important win.

Congrats to the Junior High Volleyball team and Coach Hargadine for their winning season. Basketball is right around the corner.

Week at a Glance
Monday - Red Ribbon Week - Progress Notes to be sent home this week
Tuesday - High School field trip to Navarro Council of the Arts program at CHS at 1:15 - Leave at 12:40. Lunch will be served 10 min. earlier to high school students.
Wednesday- Junior High field trip to CHS - Navarro Council of the Arts program at 1:15. Students will leave at 12:35.
Thursday - Jostens will meet with seniors @1:00 p.m. Junior High Football at
Chilton @ 6:00pm.
Friday - Pep Rally @ 2:40 pm. Senior Parent Night during the football game
Varsity football vs Chilton at 7:30pm.

Classroom Week At a Glance:
Monday - Open Book Test for Review - "Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God"
Tuesday- Selection Test - "Sinners..." Essay: Response to Sermon
Wednesday - C-Scope Test over Unit 1 (Benchmark)
Thursday - Continue C-Scope Test Unit 1
Friday - Go Over C-scope Test - Correct/Go Over Objectives

Vickery's Vit & Visdom
“In order to keep a true perspective of one's importance, everyone should have a dog that will worship him and a cat that will ignore him.” ~ Author Unknown~

When I listen to the fans during games, I hear loud complaints about missed calls by the referees, about the play calling by the coaches, or the unsportmanlike conduct of the other team. I rarely hear a loud complaint against one of our players. Those are more "under the breath" complaints. It really is funny, because I wonder sometimes if we are all watching the same game. I have missed every one of my son's big plays, because I was distracted by the different perspectives in the stands. During one play, I heard, "He's holding", "Facemask!", and "Block in the Back," so I missed my son's interception. I am constantly looking for whatever I hear from the crowd. My perspective is usually from one of the bottom rows. It is through a camera lens, since I am trying to get good action shots. It is the perspective of a woman, so I don't see all of the actual football tactics going on. My perspective is that of a mother's, so I am also just watching my son to make sure no one hurts him. (I pity the fool...). It is a perspective of a Polar Bear fan, so everything the other team does is unfair, unsportsmanlike and just plain rotten in my eyes. The perspective of other people in the stands is always a little different and so we compare perspectives and adjust. My perspective is also one of a parent of a player that is not a star player, so we are constantly looking for good things that he does. Right or wrong, my perspective is mine, the way I see things. In the classroom, I look at things from a teacher and adult point of view. Student's look at things from a different point of view and often do not agree with mine. So where is the truth in all of this perspective and point of view mess. The truth is that we all believe so much in our own perspective that we sometimes do not ever find the truth because of our bias. There are always three sides to every story, his side, your side and the truth. If we can balance truth and perspective, then we will come closer to the truth.

Have you ever heard the expression "Putting it in perspective"? This means that sometimes, events will happen that make us realize how unimportant our problems are when we see someone with bigger problems.
On Friday, I took my 83 year old mother to get her license at the DPS office in Athens. I was worried that she would not pass the eye test. I was worrying how I would be able to get her to where she needed to go every week if she was unable to get her license. Then at the DPS office while getting her picture made, she fell backwards and hit her back and head on the floor. My perspective suddenly changed. I thought I had lost my mother. The ambulance was called and we spent the entire day at the emergency room wondering if she was severely injured. I then started worrying whether she would recover, or whether she would be able to live by herself again, or what would happen to her if the head injury was severe. I didn't care about driving her around or if she could pass the eye test. I was looking at things differently, in a different perspective.
If we can just remember that we each have our own unique perspective, and be mindful that we each see things in a different light, we can come closer to seeing things truthfully. If we have to suddenly change our perspective to something more important, we realize that sometimes our biased thinking is petty. Perspective kicks us in the pants on a daily basis.

Congratulations to the Lady Bears for sweeping Trinidad on Saturday in three games.
They play at Rice on Tuesday and then the Lady Bears will end their season here on Saturday against Cayuga.

Congrats to Junior High Volleyball for their win over Trinidad on Monday.

Junior High has one more game on Monday, Oct. 18 at Rice.
Come out and support our volleyball teams.

The Polar Bears fell at the hands of the Dawson Bulldogs this week. It is always tough to lose to Dawson, but again, the boys never gave up and fought to the end.
Junior High didn't have a game this week.
It's hard to believe that there are only three more games left in the season with Friday night's game at Hubbard, then Chilton (Parent's Night), and our final game at Wortham on Nov. 3. Come out and support our Junior High and Varsity Polar Bears in these tough district match-ups.

Week At A Glance:
Monday: Junior High Volleyball @ Rice - 5:00
Tuesday: JV and Varsity Volleyball @ Rice - 5:00
TAKS RETESTS - High School
Wednesday: TAKS RETESTS - High School
Thursday: TAKS RETESTS
Junior High Football - 6:00 vs Hubbard (Here)
Friday: Varsity Football at Hubbard - 7:30
Saturday: JV and Varsity Volleyball vs Cayuga (Here) 10:00am

Classroom Week At a Glance
Monday: Benchmark Test #1 Unit 1
Tuesday: Continue Benchmark Test - Grade together in class
Wednesday: Sinner in the hands... Literary Analysis pg 134, Reading Strategy: Context Clues pg 135
Thursday: Enrichment: Essay Using Persuasive Techniques pg 139
Friday: Complete Essay - Review for Selection Test with Open Book Test -
Test scheduled for Tuesday

This week we will each cover a text book, so that I can check them out to you when needed.
Mr. Lockett may visit our class sometime this week, so your best behavior would be appreciated.

Vickery's Vit & Visdom
"Great Opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones come daily." ~ Ivy Baker Priest - 1905-1975 ~
The other day in class, I noticed two different students helping other students who were struggling with the assignments. I allowed this because, they were not giving answers, but telling the other students how to find their own answers. It was a small opportunity to help others that was appreciated by the other students. Sometimes, students can explain things in a way that is more easily understood by their peers and I welcome this type of collaboration. What I don't welcome is a student asking for answers or copying another's paper. This is called cheating. The Aggies have a motto that says "Aggies do not lie, steal or cheat and do not tolerate those who do" Of course there is a t-shirt that also adds, "Aggies do not steal, lie or cheat, but have been known to borrow, elaborate, and collaborate. There is a fine line here that we cross far too often. The desire to understand an assignment or to make a good grade is sometimes so strong that we will cheat to achieve it. Sometimes we don't even realize that we are cheating. Sometimes we are too accomodating to our friends when we give answers or allow them to copy. Here are some do's and don'ts when it comes to assignments and homework.

Cheating
Copying someone else's work is cheating.
Making cheat notes for tests is cheating.
Copying text from a book and passing it as your own writing is cheating and illegal.
Comparing each other's work is cheating.
Taking someone's idea for a project or essay is cheating.

Collaboration
Asking another student for help in understanding an assignment is collaboration.
Getting help from a parent or teacher is collaboration.
Discussing an assignment to brainstorm for ideas is collaboration.
Showing someone where to find information is collaboration.
Showing a student shortcuts and easier ways to learn is collaboration.
Assisting another student in completing a project by giving your ideas is collaboration.

2nd Six Weeks - Week 2

Polar Bears suffered a tough loss to Bremond on Friday. Although outmanned in numbers and size, the Bears fought for paydirt until the very last tick of the clock. Polar Bears play Dawson next week in an area rivalry here at the Tundra at 7:30.

Lady Bears took an explosive Kerens Lady Bobcat team to five games on Saturday, but fell short of a match win. The girls will play at Crossroads on Tuesday at 5:00 and will host Trinidad next Saturday at 10:00am.

In junior high action, Lady Bears defeated Cross Roads last week and play Trinidad here on Monday starting at 5:00.
Junior High Polar Bears tied with Bremond on Thursday showing their toughness against much larger boys. The final score was 6-6. Junior High will play at Dawson on Thursday at 6:00.

Week of Oct. 11-14 - At a glance:
Monday - Junior High Volleyball vs Trinidad (Here)
Tuesday - Varsity Volleyball @ Cross Roads 5:00
Wednesday - PSAT for Juniors @ 9:10 am
Thursday - Absentee Photo Day - FALL SPORTS/Cheerleaders Photos ---Junior High Football at Dawson - 6:00 pm
Friday - Pep rally at 2:40 - Varsity Football vs Dawson 7:30 pm. (HERE)
Saturday - JV & Varsity Volleyball vs Trinidad (HERE) 10:00 am


Classroom Week At A Glance:

Monday - Selection Test over Plymouth Plantation
Tuesday - Begin Selection: To My Dear and Loving Husband - Reading Strategy pg 93
Wednesday - Vocab pg 74 - Discussion/Notes - Author's Bio - Critical Reading in Text pg 77 1-4
Thursday - Review for Selection Test -
Friday - Selection Test "To My Dear and Loving Husband" Begin "Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God" pg 84

Vickery's Vit & Visdom

"Ants are good citizens: They place group interests first." ~Clarence Day~
"There can be no daily democracy without daily citizenship" ~Ralph Nader~

When I was in eighth grade, I was surprised and pleased to receive the Citizenship Award at the end of year awards assembly. I have not received many awards or trophies in my life, and I still remember how excited and surprised I was when I received it. Obviously, it made an impression on me, since I remember it almost forty years later. After I received the award, I had to secretly ask my teacher what it meant. She said that it meant that I was a good example of an excellent citizen in our school community. I still didn't know what citizenship really meant. She then explained that it means getting involved, doing the right thing, and generally being a good person. I felt so proud. I knew that I tried to do those things, but to realize that other people saw that I was trying, made me feel great about myself. Enough about me. How about you.
Do you consider yourself a good citizen? Do you pitch in when needed, or do you sit back and let others do the work? Are you a team player, always put team first, or are you in it for yourself?
Do you try to do the right thing when faced with a moral decision, or follow the crowd even when they are wrong? Do you consider yourself a good person or do you not care if you are good or bad? These are questions that we must face every day. We have been taught right from wrong since we could walk, but we choose to follow our own path as we grow up.
We all have the potential to be good citizens in our nation, state, town, school and in our families. Reaching that potential is up to you. This week, during athletics, during lunch, in class and in the hallway, look around and see if you notice good citizenship from others. At the end of the week, we will have a journal prompt regarding what you witnessed this week. Hopefully, most of your journal entry will be the positive things that you saw.
Good Citizenship is contagious. PASS IT ON!

Congratulations to the Lady Bears for their win over Trinidad on Tues.
Saturday was a tough loss to our old rivals in Rice. District is still not over and we still have a chance to make the playoffs, so let's support the Lady Bears in their endeavor to win out the rest of the season. The girls play in Cayuga on Tuesday at 5:00. They play Kerens here on Saturday, but it be at 2:00pm instead of 10:00 am.

Congrats to the Junior High Lady Bears for their wins over Kerens last Monday.

Polar Bears had an bye week and the boys are gearing up for our first district home game against Bremond.

There will be a pep rally on Friday.

Junior High Volleyball will travel to Cross Roads on Monday and Junior High Football will travel to Bremond on Thursday. Good luck to all of our Polar Bear and Lady Bear teams this week.

Week At A Glance

Monday: Begin 2nd Six Weeks - J.H. Volleyball at Cross Roads - 5:00
Tuesday: FFA Students go to State Fair - H.S. Volleyball at Cayuga - 5:00
Wednesday: Team Kids and Youth Church @ FBC - 5:30
Thursday: CiCi's Pizza Night - J.H. Football @ Bremond - 6:00
Friday: Report Cards go out - Pep Rally at 2:40 - H.S. Football Game vs Bremond (Here) at 7:30
Saturday: H.S. Volleyball vs Kerens (Here) at 2:00 pm.

Classroom Schedule:

Monday: Finish Plymouth Plantation - Enrichment Worksheet pg 78

Tuesday: Plymouth Plantation - Literary Analysis pg 74

Wednesday: Go over Open Book Test together - Read "Mission Update Blog"
by Steve Squyers

Thursday: Go over Open Book Test together, review for selection test

Friday: Selection Test over Plymouth Plantation


Vickery's Vit & Visdom

Patience is the best remedy for any trouble ~ Plautus~
Genius is nothing but a greater aptitude for patience ~ Benjamin Franklin~

This weekend was extremely busy for me and I found myself in a hurry everywhere I went. Of course, when I was driving, I ended up behind every slow driver in Navarro County. I find it difficult to have patience for people who do not reach the speed limit on a highway. When it says 70 mph, I am very annoyed by drivers who go below that posted speed. But after I pass them and give them the "glare" as I pass them, I soon feel guilty for losing my patience. I shake my head when I see my children act the same way. Usually they are acting that way toward me or their dad. The shoe is on the other foot now. Now I am the one who is glared at, or who receives the heavy sigh when I am not as fast or as aware as they want me to be. They learned their impatience from their dad and I. I can remember being annoyed at them when they were little because they were so slow or they impeded my progress on my errands and tasks. I wish I had those days back. If you are impatient with a child, they will learn impatience. If you are patient with a child they will be less likely to glare at you in your old age. Remember that your children will pick out your nursing home, so be patient with them, so they will return the favor some day. Be kind and patient to everyone. We are all fighting some kind of battle.