For administrators it is a logical plan to combine athletics and activities with a neighboring town when there are not enough student-athletes participating in order to fill rosters. Head coaches want to make sure that they have enough players to fill rosters so that the athletes playing at the varsity level are the appropriate age and are physically and emotionally ready. When two schools have a great working relationship with other activities, it then becomes common sense to look to the future and determine when the right time is for the schools to share in order to give students the opportunities they deserve.

Move forward to February 2012. The end of girls’ basketball season is nearing and our coach is visiting with us administrators about their lack of numbers because of the many injuries that team has been plagued with. Playing younger girls that aren’t as developed physically and emotionally isn’t always a good option. We also start visiting with our wrestling coach about not having a full squad and maybe looking at working together with another school. I also get word that Central Valley is talking to Thompson about possibly cooping in sports for the next school year. Now I have community members, coaches, and parents telling us administrators in the school that we need to move on this coop and that it is only logical that we coop with Central Valley because of our existing coop in five different extra-curricular activities…you don’t say? Now the community is ready it seems, now the scare of being 11-man football isn’t as bad because we have been the biggest 9-man football school for the past few years, now we have experienced teams having athletes with injuries for the whole season and how important numbers are in athletics.

After visiting with the Central Valley administrators and drafting a proposal for a full extra-curricular coop, the school board approved a proposal to offer Central Valley. Central Valley then countered the proposal. Last week our school board accepted one of the counter offers, but decided to keep the position that the coop be named the Hillsboro-Central Valley Burros. Just this week, Central Valley approved the proposal and at the beginning of next year’s 2012-2013 school year the coop will be official. (As long as the NDHSAA approves the coop.)

I want the community to understand that we administrators work in this environment daily and it’s our duty to do, “what’s best for kids”. Never have I worried about the name or mascot that our athletes will be playing for because first we need to get the students motivated and interested in going out for academic and athletic activities. It has been our experience that the more students we get to participate in activities, the better the classroom behavior, classwork, testing and motivation is for them to be an active learner in the school building. As the name of the coop was brought up, I am glad that it has remained “Burros” for the Hillsboro families that have grown up with the name. I am sure the mascot name will continue to pose questions with the Coop Governing Board, but in time when we revisit the coop maybe everyone will see how this coop has benefited all student-athletes and has made our communities stronger.

On a final note I am glad that our “Hillsboro Hospitality” has shown through with this coop agreement as I believe it is going to make a difference in our local businesses. When we host home games in Hillsboro it will bring parents and fans from the Buxton and Reynolds communities. Like us, they will need the different necessities of gas, groceries, and the pharmacy. I hope all of our existing and new businesses in Hillsboro continue to support the school in this endeavor, because without your support we surely would not be able to make all of this happen.

How many of you have ever heard this, “that crazy lady at the checkout line, or did you know that a car pulled out in front of me on the way home”?  Most of the time this can be as cause to why you are having a bad day.  Did we think that the crazy lady had just locked her keys in the car or the man driving the car had a family member in a horrible accident?  In many cases those types of things can happen at school too.  We may have administrators, teachers, students, and parents who over react to a situation before they even know the second half of the story.  Here is where a “Be Patient” sign would come in handy.  Please come in to every situation with an open mind and find out the whole truth to a situation before a judgment is passed.

I know we always go through some rough stages in our lives, and as a school I believe the same goes.  It is how we approach the many things, both good and not so good, that are happening to each of us on a daily basis that really shapes how we are perceived.  An example of this came up a few weeks ago when I had my bike stolen from the high school.  I am disappointed and angry that it is gone; it was a nice method of transportation to and from practices for my daughter.  I have asked around and looked in a few places where the bike may have been dumped to no avail.  I may have to look at this from a different angle—perhaps the person that took my bike, needed it more than I did and I just chalk it up to experience and remember to lock it up next time.  Plus, the brakes were not working on it either!

I have to laugh because just the other day I was driving by one of those “Have A Nice Day” signs along the interstate.  I really wanted to stop and say, “thank you” right there, because in my mind the sign was “asking” me to have a nice day.  I guess it is really just how we want to look at that “half-full” bottle!

According to thefreedictionary.com, inspiring is:
Adj.  1. inspiring – stimulating or exalting to the spirit.
Adjectives for inspiring are: uplifting, encouraging, exciting, moving, affecting, stirring, stimulating, rousing, exhilarating, heartening

Aren’t these powerful words? This week I was inspired to hear that one of our teachers was having a bad week and then after four students peer-tutored in her classroom she hit an ultimate high. When I read in the paper that one of our seniors would like to follow in the footsteps of our history teachers and become a teacher themself I was inspired. When I watched the girls’ cross country team, who was a one person team last year…which, is now a ten person team win the regional cross country meet today…I was inspired. Like I said, I inspire easily because when I see other people succeed…it makes me happy.

Teachers and administrators have the ability to inspire students daily and I consider that a gift.

Earlier this week I complimented a teacher and they said, “Are you being serious?” The teacher said this because teachers are their worst critics. Another teacher I complimented reminded me that she forgets that she is making a difference in her student’s life. Why are teachers so hard on themselves? In a typical a school day we hear some negative comments that could get a person down. This mom or dad is mad that we said their child’s snack wasn’t “healthy”, that we give too much homework, or why is the school making kids get an 80% on tests?…My kid can’t do that. The teachers are saying, “Yes, you can get an 80%. You may have to work hard and study, but we know that you can do it.” And guess what? The students are doing it. They are achieving the scores since we raised the bar and they are excited, and hopefully inspired, to keep achieving success. You see, if we don’t have high expectations for them, maybe no one will in their life…and I don’t want to miss that opportunity.

So teachers keep inspiring your students, and students keep inspiring your teachers. That helps me, as an administrator; remember that we are doing “what’s’ best for kids” at Hillsboro, even though some type of change may need to take place.

Note: For a good book check out Nice Bike by Mark Scharenbroich. It’s Inspiring.

Kudos this week goes to: Nathan Greseth, a junior at Hillsboro High, for being a great mentor to students during Burro Time.

As I sit here typing my first message, I am reminded of my third and fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Dora Rexine.  My point with bringing up Mrs. Rexine is that every week she would sit and handwrite notes or newsletters for parents.  No cutting and pasting pictures into a word document, no spell check, no @yahoo or @gmail. She used Elmer’s glue and scissors, plus she used the old reliable ditto machine with the turn handle and ink.  Everyone old enough will remember the sounds and smells from those machines.  But for as simple as her process was, Mrs. Rexine made those messages look as professional as she could.  I know my parents read every word she had written on those pages.  Now that we are able to get professional looking messages out to parents in a matter of seconds with just the click of a button, why are we reading only parts of the messages and missing some crucial information in materials that are being sent home with students?

So I ask you to please use this website, make it a working part of your child’s education.  Keep informed on the progress of your child’s classroom and your hometown school. The site will only be maintained and improved if you as parents use it, and we, as teachers, keep updating it.

In the thirty plus years since Mrs. Rexine’s classroom, our lines of communication have come a very long way.  I still however, have a box full of items, from various grades while we were growing up.  Mrs. Rexine did contribute a few items in that box in my basement, that communication is still present in my boxes.  We are living in an age where we no longer have to keep our lines of communication in boxes.  Utilize the capabilities that our society is giving you.

On a side note, Mrs. Rexine, the teacher who looked the same when I was in elementary school as she did the last time I was able to see and visit with her, passed away a few months ago.  She touched the lives of many.  Most of those people probably don’t remember specific lessons she taught, just that she cared deeply for all of her students, and, yes, even me! So Mrs. Rexine, I dedicate this first, probably too lengthy of a blog, to you!!!!

I had an experience like none other one day when working sheep. I was probably 7 years old and dad and I had around 100 sheep cornered, in the corral, ready to send down the chute to load them. I was feeling pretty good about myself and holding my own by keeping the sheep at bay. After that, things happened fast; all I remember is taking a small step backwards and falling on my back; the next thing I remember is staring at bellies of sheep as they leaped over me to freedom (for the time being). Not one sheep landed on me or even grazed me. I have often wondered if the students would do as well if I would fall on my back in the hallway. I am thinking they would be doing a lot of leaping, just like the sheep, thinking freedom is at hand.