HK8 WEDNESDAY EXPRESS MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

HOTCHKISS PRIDE – KNOW IT! BELIEVE IT! LIVE IT!   November - 2015 Vol.3

 

Mission: To develop productive citizens

through G.R.I.T. Growth, Resiliency, InteGRITy and

Tenacity:  Academically, Socially,

and Emotionally.  

 Vision: Commitment to our 3 P’s – Passion, Purpose, and a Plan

every student, everyday!  

 

Pushing ahead with G.R.I.T. (Growth, Resiliency, InteGRITy, and Tenacity) . . .

As a school we continue to teach our students that having a growth mindset (Carol Dweck) and G.R.I.T. they will be able to achieve all they believe. We continuously want to share what our students are learning with our parents in hopes that you will join us on this journey. Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval co-authored a wonderful book entitled "Grit to Great: How Perseverance, Passion and Pluck, take You From Ordinary to Extraordinary” shared 5 tips for parents that will help as we continue along our Growth Mindset and the G.R.I.T. path. Should you let your child fail?

"We love the story of James Dyson. You see a guy who created this brilliant vacuum cleaner. It took him 15 years and he had 5,126 prototypes that ... didn't work, and we're not seeing that," said Kaplan Thaler. "All we're seeing are the end results and our kids are not seeing the sweat equity that goes into it." Our culture is so instant right now, added Koval. "When we were growing up ... there was an expectation that you kind of had to work really hard if you wanted something to happen. And while you still have to work really hard if you want something to happen in our culture, we hide a lot of that. So it does look like you can become instantly successful."

What can you do to raise a child who knows what grit is, and works on developing grit, so they can deal with life's challenges that will inevitably come their way? I have boiled down Kaplan Thaler and Koval's helpful advice with five tips:

#1 -- Make your kids make their beds - In their book, the co-authors talk about how Adm. William H. McRaven, during a commencement address at his alma mater, the University of Texas at Austin, said the No.1 lesson he learned from his Navy SEAL training was making your bed. That's right, not the brutal training that goes into being a Navy SEAL. The top lesson was making his bed every morning. It starts you off in the beginning of the day doing something that you have to learn how to do perfectly, said Koval, and if you, by chance, have a terrible day, when you come home, at least you've done one thing right. "We tend to want to create such wonderful environments for our kids and maybe don't push (them) enough" when it comes to chores, Koval added. "It's such simple easy advice to follow ... It's really easy to make them make their beds."

#2 -- Don't pack their camping gear - When your child is going on a camping trip (or sleepover, or you name it), don't pack for them, said Kaplan Thaler. "It's OK if they forget something. So what if they forget the flashlight? They won't forget it the next time when they are walking around in the dark." It's so hard as a parent to remember that, she admits, but eventually our children are going to learn these lessons on their own, so it's better they learn it when they are young.

#3 -- Encourage your kids to solve small problems - Kids, and adults for that matter, too often see a problem, get overwhelmed by the size and scope of it and then become paralyzed and do nothing about it, said Kaplan Thaler. Instead of trying to solve problems that feel unsolvable, we should find easier problems and solve those first. "So ... do this with your kids and say, 'OK, you say that you can't do the science project but [what] can do you? What are the three sources that you could look at every day? Let's make a list.”

#4 -- Praise the effort, not the end result - This one can't be repeated enough, especially in our ultra-competitive, testing culture that places an extraordinary emphasis on grades from elementary school up through college. As schools are teaching grit and resilience, part of the grade is determined by the effort that went into the activity, said Kaplan Thaler. "And that's the thing that we should be applauding. Not like, 'Gee, this was a breeze and I got a B,' but 'Wow, I worked harder than I've ever worked and I went from a D to a C plus.' Whatever it is ... you want that approval to come from the effort."

#5 -- Everyone can learn grit - If you have more than one child, no doubt one might be naturally grittier than the other, but that doesn't need to be a constant for the rest of their lives. Grit is a trait you can develop, said Koval. "So for kids who are naturally not as gritty, I think it is finding ways for them to see that success does come from grit," she said. Letting your child occasionally fail also helps them learn grit, she said. So does helping them find the things they really love to do and are successfully doing.

When high school and college kids hear this message, it doesn't demoralize them, it empowers them, said Kaplan Thaler. They might think they are already at a disadvantage because of their grades, test scores or the schools they attend. "What we tell them is it doesn't matter. What matters is something, we call it humanity’s great equalizer ... It's all about the work ethic and what you put into a job. And I say my money's going to be on the person still standing when your boss tells you do it over, do it over, do it over. That's where the successful people are."

As a school we will continue to teach all of our students about the power of a positive growth mindset and G.R.I.T.! Thank you parents for sharing your remarkable and amazing children with us everyday!

With Hotchkiss Pride Always, Mrs. Yantzer

PLEASE  CHECK  OUT  OUR  FACEBOOK  PAGE  AND  OUR  WEBPAGE  FOR  SCHOOL  INFORMATION  All  grade  levels/subjects  have  up  to  date  wiki  pages.  These  are  very  informative  about  what  students  are  learning  as  well  

assignments.  The  wiki  page  is  located  on  the  home  page  of  our  school  website.  

                                               

Hotchkiss  Happenings  .  .  .      Thurs.  Nov.  6th   6th  grade  Knowledge  Bowl  @  HK8  9:00  a.m.     7th  B-­‐Ball  @  Columbine  4:00/5:00  p.m.     8th  B-­‐Ball  @  home  vs.  Columbine  4:00/5:00  

p.m.  Fri.  Nov.  7th     7th/8th  Knowledge  Bowl  @  HK8  9:00  a.m.  Thur.  Nov.  12th   7th  B-­‐Ball  @  home  vs.  Centennial  4:00/5:00  

p.m.     8th  B-­‐Ball  @  Centennial  4:00/5:00  p.m.  Mon.  Nov.  16th   BULLDOG  LEARNING  CENTERS  BEGIN       3:30  p.m.  to  5:00  p.m.     PIT  CREW  MTG.  (all  parents  invited)     5:30  –  6:30  p.m.      Tues.  Nov.  17th   6th-­‐8th  Grade:  Red,  Blue  and  Gold  Academic  

Assembly  @  1:20  p.m.  in  the  Don  Tate  Gym.     We  will  be  recognizing  7th-­‐8th  graders  Spring    

S2  GPA’s!       7th  B-­‐Ball  @  Olathe  4:00/5:00  p.m.     8th  B-­‐Ball  @  home  vs  Olathe  4:00/5:00  p.m.  Wed.  Nov.  18th   EARLY  RELEASE  DAY    -­‐  12:55  p.m.  dismissal  Thur.  Nov.  19th   School  Board  Mtg  @  HHS  -­‐  5:30  p.m.  Wed.  Nov.  25th  –  Friday.  Nov.  27th  –  Thanksgiving  Break!!  

6th  Grade  Knowledge  Bowl  Team  Sawyer  Handy,  Dana  Hart,  Addi  Neal,  Indigo  Miller-­‐Barnes,  William  

Bullard,  Bryon  Becker,  Ben  Rodriguez,  Justin  Mattison,  Izzi  Houseweart,  Emily  Davidovich  and  Sara  Morris  

 7th/8th  Grade  Knowledge  Bowl  Team  

Ava  Taylor,  JD  Miller,  Grey  Neal,  Evan  Mattison,  Amelia  Hickam,  Ian  Van  Horn,  Ethan  Guy,  Joseph  Burris,  Steffen  Brodie,  Grady  Simpson,  

Malykai  Klaseen  and  Adam  Smith    

Good  luck  to  all  our  kids  as  they  show  their  Hotchkiss  Pride  at  the  Delta  County  Knowledge  Bowl  Tournament  this  week!  

Thank  you  to  our  Student  Council  for  the  wonderful  events  these  past  few  

months!  HOTCHKISS  PRIDE!!  

Community  Happenings  .  .  .  Sat.  Nov  6th-­‐  HHS  Dance/Movie  Night  -­‐5:30  p.m.  at  Hotchkiss  High  School…please  see  the  HHS  website  for  more  information.  Hotchkiss Library events Thur. Nov 12th @ 4:00 P.M. - Nature Awareness: Learning to see through native eyes. An interactive afternoon of fun for ages 6 to 99. Tues. Nov .17th from 3:00 - 5:30 P.M. Holiday Card Making Wed., Nov 18th 2:00 P.M. - Early Release Movie

Million Word READER Members: Ian Van Horn Evan Mattison

Thank you to all the amazing volunteers for donating their passion, talent and time to teach an after school Bulldog Learning Center. Ray Katzdorn, Cars, Cars and more Cars Ms. Kaminski/Mrs. Bayles – Christmas Crafts Anna George – Crafts Tia Clock – Baking for Bulldogs Black Mesa Cattlewomen – All About Beef – Cooking, Crafts and Fun Mrs. Young/Mrs. Bear – Edible Christmas Crafts Mrs. Shreve – Gingerbread Houses Nikki & Wyatt Carpenter – Fun Crafts Mr. Moore – Board Games Mrs. Shaklee/Ms. Lindberg – Volleyball Ms. Lindberg – Ukrainian Egg Painting Melissa Jensen – Right Brain Math LouAnn McCay – Ceramics Teresa Neal – DIY Room Décor Harold Burch – Wood Burning Sarah Marshall/Anna Kampe – HK8 Garden Planning Bulldog Learning Centers will be from Nov. 16th to Dec. 17th from 3:30 – 5:30 pm. If you child is participating please make sure they bring a snack and a drink to his/her center.

2015 3rd Annual Zombie 5K Run/Walk Thank you to our “SPOOKTACULAR” Sponsors: Pack Shack, North Fork Pool Park and Recreation District, North Fork Dentistry, Taco Hut, Bank of Colorado, First State Bank of Colorado, Batty About Nails, Rogers Mesa Store, High Country Shopper, West Elk Outfitters, Ela Family Farms, Western Colorado Realty, IHS Photography, Hotchkiss Automotive, Cowboy Collectibles, North Fork Valley Machine, Zack’s BBQ, City Market, Double J Disposal Inc, Fruitland Mesa Community Club, Big B’s, Hotchkiss Inn, and Tribble & Sons Construction, LLC Thank you to our wonderful volunteers for making our Zombie Run/Walk a success: Kameal Clark, Carla Shreve, Debbie Tribble, Casey Carlquist, Sammi Thompson, Julie Batt, Jamie Mitchell, Renee Poutre and her mom, Amy Miller, Shannon Ullman, Sundee Hintz, Tami Meck, Mayor Wendell Koontz, Cheryl Candelario, Glenda Young and Susan Hamrick.