At Greenvale Park, academics are an important part of the formula for success for a child in the future. But academics are not enough. During the month of January, we will be working on the character trait of determination. Determination is, “Deciding that it is worth finishing something you’ve started.” In the e-mail version of this Audio Gecko Gazette, parents will find materials to help their children make connections between what they are learning in school about determination and what parents teach about it at home. At Greenvale Park, we incorporate character into a child’s education for…

I’ve heard it said by experts that it is harder to raise children today than it was for our parents. One of the reasons for this is the mass media. In our parent’s day, the mass media could only get as close to children as the mailbox at the end of the driveway. Today it is right inside a child’s bedroom and often with the door closed. As a husband and father of six, I struggle (as I’m sure you do) with the everyday challenges of being the parent I want to be. Right now my greatest struggle is finding the time to teach my children the wisdom they will need to successfully navigate a world …

SMILE The statewide tests are here. Student achievement is the concern of the federal and state governments. Schools are expected to raise test scores and teachers have been focused on raising student achievement since the day after Labor Day. When federal legislators passed and the President signed into law No Child Left Behind, they created environments in which new economic markets could flourish. National publishing companies and entrepreneurs have since developed and advertised numerous strategies for increasing student achievement. So, in an effort to put my hat into the ring I’ve …

Can you recall a time as a child when someone said something that affected how you view yourself today? For instance, it feels like yesterday when my sixth grade teacher told me that I could spell with the best of them. I still carry that as a badge of honor. On the other hand, consider this response from my first grade teacher. “If you are going to act like a baby I am going to treat you like a baby.” Words carry enormous weight. More than we sometimes think. Words often impact people for decades, providing the courage to press on or one more reason to give up.1 Words matter especially to …

One of the most gratifying aspects of my job is that it provides me with the opportunity to view the needs of our Greenvale Park community from a 30,000 foot level. What I’ve discovered from this perspective is that some of the biggest issues parents face today are acronyms. It seems as if, over the course of my lifetime, our society has compartmentalized human behavior into acronyms. Last year, in response to a number of conversations, meetings, and requests for information I broke away from the typical principal “newsletter” commentary to tackle the queen mother of all acronyms—ADHD. The …

As a part of my job, I frequently participate in educational planning meetings that deal in the realm of ADHD. ADHD has been defined as a disorder, due in large part to the literature that confines an ADHD child’s environment to a classroom. In my last column, I challenged the reader to look at ADHD differently. In fact, I went as far as to say that ADHD should also be considered a skillset as opposed to exclusively being viewed as a skill deficit. As a reminder, I’m not diminishing the importance of an ADHD child developing skills that increase success in a classroom. When one considers that…

One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is talking to a parent about his/her child. These conversations are insightful and the topics vary. I learn a lot about individual children with respect to developing quality educational programming.  One of the most recurring topics is the diagnosis of ADHD.  There is a lot known about ADHD and there are many misconceptions.  For instance, did you know that the most frequently diagnosed demographic is Caucasian, middle-class boys? ADHD is the most commonly studied and diagnosed psychiatric disorder and is typically considered a deficit.  Or is it? …

Recently, all schools in Northfield raised new American flags. The purpose of this event was to honor those from Northfield serving in the armed forces at great risk to their families. The event culminated with the Pledge of Allegiance. In preparation for this day, the symbolism struck me at another level.  Minnesota state statute requires schools to recite the Pledge. As with most routines, the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance can ring hollow as students recite it daily.  That said, every now and then, educators and parents need to bring students to a place of understanding relative to…

This time of year always reminds me of why I went into education in the first place: hope.  I think the best definition of hope I've ever heard is, "believing that the best days are yet to come."   This is my fourth year as the principal of Greenvale Park. Each year I ask parents what they like the most about our school. Last spring we sent home a survey via e-mail asking this question. I've read all of the responses. The response was overwhelming: Greenvale Park families like the people who work at our school.  People. Interpersonal relationships. Kindness. These are the qualities about …

Editor's note: This entry is part three of three. Be sure to find links to parts one and two on the right side of the page. Student Recognition at Greenvale Park "A happy person is someone who looks in a mirror and they're happy with who they see."                                                   - Albus Dumbledore Student recognition at Greenvale Park occurs once a month at a building-wide meeting.  Each month, I meet with the whole school, faculty and students alike, to celebrate our successes together. It is at this time that we recognize students who have set a goal, persevered, and …

Editor's note: This entry is part two of three. Be sure to check back at Northfield Patch on Sunday for the third part. J.K. Rowling, in a recent interview with Oprah Winfrey, referred to how her mother's death influenced the writing of Rowling's first Harry Potter book. Rowling said that she didn't think it would be too strong to say, that if she hadn't lost her mother there wouldn't be Harry Potter. Rowling had begun to write her first Harry Potter book six months before her mother passed away. Afterward, she continued to write, and she experienced a number of setbacks. Instead of giving …

Editor's note: This entry is part one of three. Be sure to check back at Northfield Patch on Saturday and Sunday for the second and third parts. Not everyone is a straight "A" student Did you ever think you'd hear an elementary school principal say that?  As everyone goes through the parent-teacher conference season, parents and educators should be careful to hold realistic expectations for the children in their lives. If you agree with the premise of straight "A" students being rare, a question becomes obvious. What are some realistic expectations that will help a child reach his or her …