And what a week it was . . .

Saturday -- September 8, 2007

Willie had a little league football game against Granger -- it was a nail-biter and with a chance to get a win in the last few seconds, the wolverines left with a loss. That made two losses in a row -- heads were hanging, fingers were pointing. My boy stayed positive and looked to the next week to get a win.

Uncle Bevan died after taking himself out of commission, out of existence, way back in February.

Sunday -- September 9, 2007

Bevan's memorial service plans unfold -- no embalming of his body, no viewing, a graveside service before the memorial service, a "celebration of his life" to follow.

Sunday dinner -- nearly everyone who BLOGS posted comments about Bevan, and we were given the details of the obituary and the memorial service, speakers, etc.

Monday -- September 10, 2007

I had a very interesting supervisory experience. An experienced male teacher in one of the special secondary school programs apparently called in sick on the first day of school, August 27. He relayed a story to his school secretary that he had been in an accident, hit by a drunk driver on a local highway on his way to school. The accident was serious, the airbags went off in his car, the car was too crunched to drive, and that he (the driver) was going to the hospital via his son (no ambulance). The following day, he called in sick, again. This time indicating that he needed to have an MRI -- as reported by the hospital to his physician.

There just aren't many cases of teachers missing the first two days of school.

As the days after the sick days progressed -- it was determined that this veteren teacher had a history of excessive absences -- in recent years missing as many as 30 plus days with sometimes the majority or more unpaid.

The teacher's immediate supervisor requested a doctor's letter as evidence to support the days missed. When the doctor's letter was submitted, the supervisor noticed something suspicious about the dates, injuries, and other general information on the medical letter/forms. They appeared to have been altered.

The teacher was requested to attend a meeting with the supervisior and other district officials (including me -- a subsititute participant). It was this Monday morning that the meeting occurred. After some extreme tense moments in the meeting. It was determined that the teacher had not been in an accident as reported, had tampered with medical forms/letters to support the so-called accident, had tampered with previous medical forms, etc. The whole accident incident was an outright lie. Hmmmmm . . .

It was a pretty pathetic professional momment for me. Never had I encountered an adult educator in such a precarious circumstance. As the whole expereince rolled out, it was reaffirmed over and over again to me how important it is to remain honest -- honesty is always the best policy.

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Everyone was early to rise in our home as the scouts had flag duty. The neighbors and ward members can contribute $25 a year to the scouts and young women to have Old Glory displayed on your front lawn on holidays. The boys had set up -- 6:00 a.m. sharp.

It was half staff day at the office. I try to bring my immediate staff (9 fantastic professionals) together at least once each month. Generally, we meet on the third Tuesday -- we network, discuss issues at the DO and in the schools.

I worked late writing my weekly message to 100 counselors --

Word of the week --- OPTION(S)
1. The act of choosing; choice.
2. The power or freedom to choose.
3. Something chosen or available as a choice.
4. Football -an offensive play in which a back, usually the quarterback, has the choice of running with the ball or throwing a forward pass.

Counselors:
I am attaching an article I would like all of you to read. It sheds some light on the changing needs, goals, and aspirations of our high school students. (Junior high counselors – your students are headed to high school.) I am always concerned at the restrictions we place on students in our somewhat old fashioned school system. I was in a meeting the other day where one of our assistant superintendents described our students as “living in a techno world and getting a blackboard education.” Hmmm – I know we don’t have a lot of control over the big public school system, but we can certainly do what we can at the local level to offer solutions and new ideas to a current practice.

As you read the article, “Senior Year: A Teenage Wasteland”, think about the OPTIONS students in your schools have. Are we providing sufficient choice? Are we giving students the power to choose? Are we letting them experience situations where they can choose to “run with the ball or throw a pass?”

Can professional school counselors be forward thinkers as we work with students? Our newly approved graduation requirements present a variety of OPTIONS to students that are more geared to their individual interests and needs. State Law and State Board of Education administrative rules support the SEOP process more strongly now than ever before. In addition, we are being challenged to take language and potential action of career paths more seriously. Students and their parents are more tenacious about concurrent enrollment and the prospects of the New Century Scholarship. The GTI has opened up new, cutting edge education and training OPTIONS for students.

What does all of this mean? I think it means we are moving toward significant change today and for the future in the high school education business. The typical high school schedule may be on the verge of extinction for something new and packed with an abundance of OPTIONS. What will it look like? Not sure, but I can offer some insight:

I envision students taking only a few classes on the high school campus, some classes at the GTI, doing more coursework on-line, participating in internships related to their education and career plans and earning both elective and academic credit.

I envision students taking competency tests and earning credit in core classes thus freeing up more time for concurrent enrollment and early college courses.

I see students participating in web quests, pod casts, webinars, and other web-based instruction – for high school credit.

I envision an online school course selection and registration process that does away with hard copy paper and pencil processes and paying school fees in person.

I envision every teacher communicating with students via e-mail, instant messaging, blogs, text-messaging, and so on – about assignments, grades, progress, etc., and students likewise communicating with their teachers.

I envision air conditioned schools with state-of-the-art technology in every classroom.

I envision students earning high school diplomas in ways not yet considered with the assistance of an online graduation planning template.
And, so on . . .

So what’s the point of this message? I guess the point I am trying to make is – think about current and established OPTIONS for students and expand your thinking for today and look to new OPTIONS and ideas for the future. Seek out and read everything you can to enhance your competence and creativity as a school counselor. Look beyond what we’ve typically and traditionally offered students and envision what may better meet their needs and keep them and/or get them excited in school more than ever before!

You play a key role in your students’ lives. Get to know them – their skills and abilities, talents and interests, goals and ambitions. Teach them what they need to know to navigate the school system. Help them design school schedules that align with who they are and focus on their individual needs. When students come to meet with you, the last word out of a counselor's mouth should be "No". Counselors need to respond to students more frequently with, "I am not sure," "I'll see what we can do," "That's a great idea."

Keeping an open mind and creating options for students will help you be the best counselor, ever!

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

The Howden's got a new car -- Willie and I headed out to Daybreak after scouts to see it first hand. What a nice vehicle it is! The trip to see the new car also gave me a chance to see Elliott!

I forgot that Willie and I had dentist appointments -- rats!

Thursday, September 13, 2007

It's Mom's birthday -- she's 77. What a great mom she is and the best grandma any kid could ask for. After football practice and Relief Society visiting, we headed to Mom's to wish her happy birthday. We stopped at ABs afterwards for late night corndogs and shakes.

Friday, September 14, 2007

Affectionately proclaimed Bevan Chipman Day -- Graveside Service at 10:00 a.m., in American Fork Cemetary; Memorial Service at 12:00 Noon, Unitarian Church; Celebration of Life, someplace on South Temple. No further comment.

Litza's for dinner -- yum, yum.

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Rise and shine -- 8:00 a.m. -- football game prep begins. When Willie gets ready for any sporting event, his ritual reminds me of Kid Shaleen (in the old movie "Cat Ballou") getting ready for a glamorous gunfite.

Game time -- 10:30 a.m. -- Spectators -- Me , Annie, Ross, Elliott, Karl (on the chains), Cindy, Meranda, Parker (Haley and James had "Super Saturday" responsibilities). The wolverines got a WIN! Wille played really well.

Shopping time -- Western Gardens for birthday gifts, Rushton's for corn, McDonalds for a quick snack.

Game time -- 1:30 P.M. --- Parker's team.

Party prep --- 3:00 p.m. -- Mom's annual BBQ Birthday Party. Willie and I got to Mom's early to do some final yard and pool cleanup and other party stuff. We hoped that kids would come early to swim -- no one showed up 'til 5:00 p.m. or so. It turned out to be a really nice party -- good company, good food, pleasant atmosphere.

Grocery store -- 9:00 p.m. -- late night shopping for Sunday dinner and a few necessities. Haley took Willie home with her after the party. I think she sensed the boy needed some sister time. Once the groceries were put away . . . chill time, finally.

Sunday, September 16, 2007

No matter what happens during the week, "I always have a happy feeling when I go to Church". I love the gospel, the blessings, the standards that govern my family and my life, the people I associate with at church, the funny things that happen there, the lessons I learn.

After church -- Willie and Karl did a few fast offerieng visits, Karl and I straightened up the house, I got Sunday dinner started, and so on . . .

We had the usual dinner crowd -- and then the Petersen family joined us to celebrate Grandma's birthday. It was one of the nicest parties we've had -- no one had to worry whether or not Bevan had been invited or where he was. We drew names for Christmas presents. Elliott was an angel.

And what a week it was . . .