Words Of Wisdom (Powerpoint)

GULL LAKE COMMUNITY SCHOOLSGULL LAKE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

“WORDS OF WISDOM”“WORDS OF WISDOM” PROJECTPROJECT

PRESENTED BYPRESENTED BY

MICHELLE E. OLINMICHELLE E. OLIN

PUBLISHED BYPUBLISHED BY

MICHELLE E. OLINMICHELLE E. OLIN

20062006

““WORDS OF WISDOM” PROJECTWORDS OF WISDOM” PROJECT

……bringing the worldbringing the worldand Gull Lake Community Schools and Gull Lake Community Schools

face to face.face to face.


Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline• PurposePurpose• Project ProposalProject Proposal• Sample Letter of SolicitationSample Letter of Solicitation• Project Planning and Project Planning and

ImplementationImplementation• Analysis of ResultsAnalysis of Results• Examples of “Words of Wisdom”Examples of “Words of Wisdom”• Battle Creek EnquirerBattle Creek Enquirer Article Article• Future Project RecommendationsFuture Project Recommendations


Purpose:Purpose: Many adolescents and teenagers are Many adolescents and teenagers are lacking effective adult mentorship in their lives. lacking effective adult mentorship in their lives. Searching for role models to emulate, they have Searching for role models to emulate, they have turned to “the celebrity culture” for guidance and turned to “the celebrity culture” for guidance and direction. direction.

By obtaining “Words of Wisdom,” By obtaining “Words of Wisdom,” written specifically written specifically for our classfor our class by famous and important people from by famous and important people from around the world, it was my hope that our students around the world, it was my hope that our students might be positively impacted by such personal and might be positively impacted by such personal and direct interaction with these highly influential people.direct interaction with these highly influential people.


Program Proposal:Program Proposal: To send letters to important To send letters to important and successful world figures, celebrities, and and successful world figures, celebrities, and sports personalities – asking them to respond sports personalities – asking them to respond with “a few words of wisdom” for the students of with “a few words of wisdom” for the students of Gull Lake Middle School. Gull Lake Middle School.

The responses would be displayed in the school The responses would be displayed in the school at a special location for the purpose of motivating at a special location for the purpose of motivating our students toward their own personal success.our students toward their own personal success.


Actions:Actions: Sent letters to more than two hundred Sent letters to more than two hundred people during the first two or three weeks of people during the first two or three weeks of summer vacation, allowing sufficient time for the summer vacation, allowing sufficient time for the delay in response time. The letters solicited a delay in response time. The letters solicited a few words of encouragement to the students of few words of encouragement to the students of our school. The printing and mailing costs were our school. The printing and mailing costs were paid privately, costing the school nothing. paid privately, costing the school nothing.


Expected Results:Expected Results: We recognized that many We recognized that many letters would go unanswered, but we also letters would go unanswered, but we also believed that we would receive just as many with believed that we would receive just as many with good advice and words of support. good advice and words of support.

An intangible, immeasurable, yet very important An intangible, immeasurable, yet very important factor, would be the sense of interaction that our factor, would be the sense of interaction that our students would feel when they saw such personal students would feel when they saw such personal words of support and encouragement coming words of support and encouragement coming directly from these important and world famous directly from these important and world famous people to them at people to them at Gull Lake Community Schools.Gull Lake Community Schools.


Additional Benefits:Additional Benefits: The project would give us the The project would give us the opportunity to opportunity to educateeducate as well as influence. By as well as influence. By presenting biographical information with each letter presenting biographical information with each letter displayed, we were able to help our students learn displayed, we were able to help our students learn about such less well known, yet important, figures about such less well known, yet important, figures such as such as Sir Edmund Hillary, Julia Child, Alan Sir Edmund Hillary, Julia Child, Alan Greenspan Greenspan andand Kofi Annan Kofi Annan..

Also, many celebrities sent us valuable autographed Also, many celebrities sent us valuable autographed memorabilia (memorabilia (Brett FavreBrett Favre and and Jimmy BuffettJimmy Buffett signed signed hats, hats, Orlando BloomOrlando Bloom signed poster, and several signed poster, and several signed books) which we donated to the school signed books) which we donated to the school library or auctioned off as student council fund-library or auctioned off as student council fund-raisers.raisers.


Sample Letter ofSample Letter ofSolicitationSolicitation


Project Planning and ImplementationProject Planning and Implementation

Establish Categories:Establish Categories:

Politics / World FiguresPolitics / World Figures

BusinessBusiness

Science / Art / AuthorsScience / Art / Authors

SportsSports

Broadcasting / EntertainmentBroadcasting / Entertainment


Project Planning and ImplementationProject Planning and ImplementationSelected 230 individuals spread across categories.Selected 230 individuals spread across categories.

Used Used Collector’s Guide to Celebrity Autographs (2Collector’s Guide to Celebrity Autographs (2ndnd Ed.)Ed.) and several internet resources to locate and several internet resources to locate addresses.addresses.

Mailed the requests during the summer using First Mailed the requests during the summer using First Class Mail.Class Mail.

Enclosed were pre-stamped return envelopes to Enclosed were pre-stamped return envelopes to facilitate more returns.facilitate more returns.


Project ResultsProject Results

First response was ten days after mailing, from First response was ten days after mailing, from GarfieldGarfield Cartoonist Cartoonist Jim DavisJim Davis. .

We averaged three to four return letters per week We averaged three to four return letters per week during the summer.during the summer.

The furthest response came from The furthest response came from Sir Edmund Sir Edmund HillaryHillary, the first man to climb Mount Everest. He , the first man to climb Mount Everest. He sent his letter from Auckland, New Zealand.sent his letter from Auckland, New Zealand.


Project ResultsProject Results

Only had twelve letters returned for wrong Only had twelve letters returned for wrong addresses.addresses.

Most wrote short notes of encouragement. Some Most wrote short notes of encouragement. Some wrote very long ones.wrote very long ones.

Some sent letter with photograph.Some sent letter with photograph.

Some sent only a signed photograph.Some sent only a signed photograph.

Some had secretaries send a brief letter for them. Some had secretaries send a brief letter for them.


Project ResultsProject ResultsOf the 230 requests mailed out, we received 65 Of the 230 requests mailed out, we received 65

responses.responses.

By Category:By Category:Politics / World FiguresPolitics / World Figures 19 out of 35 19 out of 35 54.2 %54.2 %

BusinessBusiness 8 out of 16 8 out of 16 50.0 %50.0 %Science / Art / AuthorsScience / Art / Authors 7 out of 21 7 out of 21 33.3 %33.3 %

SportsSports 11 out of 47 11 out of 47 23.4 %23.4 %Broadcasting / EntertainmentBroadcasting / Entertainment 20 out of 111 20 out of 111 18.0 18.0

%%


Politics / World FiguresPolitics / World FiguresKofi AnnanKofi Annan Jean Chretien Jean Chretien Tony BlairTony Blair Bill ClintonBill ClintonBarbara BushBarbara Bush Gerald FordGerald FordGeorge H W BushGeorge H W Bush Rudolph GiulianiRudolph GiulianiGeorge W BushGeorge W Bush Billy Graham Billy Graham

Laura BushLaura Bush Jennifer GranholmJennifer GranholmRoslyn CarterRoslyn Carter Alan GreenspanAlan GreenspanDick CheneyDick Cheney Carl LevinCarl LevinJacques ChiracJacques Chirac Prince HarryPrince Harry

Prince WilliamPrince William


BusinessBusinessWarren BuffettWarren Buffett Bill GatesBill Gates

Richard BransonRichard Branson Carlos GutierrezCarlos Gutierrez

Michael DellMichael Dell Gary OmernickGary Omernick

Michael EisnerMichael Eisner Donald TrumpDonald Trump


Science / Art / AuthorsScience / Art / AuthorsJulia ChildJulia Child Dav PilkeyDav Pilkey

Jim DavisJim Davis J K RowlingJ K Rowling

Homer HickamHomer Hickam Bill WattersonBill Watterson

Sir Edmund HillarySir Edmund Hillary


SportsSportsLance ArmstrongLance Armstrong Mike KryzewskiMike Kryzewski

Lloyd CarrLloyd Carr Dan MarinoDan Marino

Tom IzzoTom Izzo Arnold PalmerArnold Palmer

Magic JohnsonMagic Johnson Cal Ripken Jr.Cal Ripken Jr.

Michael JordanMichael Jordan Al Unser Jr.Al Unser Jr.

Greg LouganisGreg Louganis


Broadcasting / EntertainmentBroadcasting / EntertainmentPaula AbdulPaula Abdul Toby KeithToby KeithBarneyBarney Jay LenoJay LenoRon BoydRon Boyd George LucasGeorge LucasJimmy BuffettJimmy Buffett Jesse McCartneyJesse McCartneyRay CharlesRay Charles Mark PelleritoMark PelleritoKelly ClarksonKelly Clarkson Arnold SchwarzeneggerArnold SchwarzeneggerVin DieselVin Diesel Robin WilliamsRobin WilliamsRupert GrintRupert Grint Walter CronkiteWalter CronkitePaul HarveyPaul Harvey Richard HatchRichard HatchAlan JacksonAlan Jackson Jennifer LopezJennifer Lopez


The Project On DisplayThe Project On Display Created custom display panels for each person, Created custom display panels for each person,

which typically included a biography, a which typically included a biography, a photograph, and the letter.photograph, and the letter.

Sometimes included flags, guitar, hat, or other prop Sometimes included flags, guitar, hat, or other prop that helped give interest to the display.that helped give interest to the display.

Mr. Bartholomew (School Principal) introduced each Mr. Bartholomew (School Principal) introduced each person during Monday morning announcements.person during Monday morning announcements.

Each display was changed weekly.Each display was changed weekly.


The Project The Project

On DisplayOn Display


Examples of Examples of

““Words of Wisdom”Words of Wisdom”

LettersLetters


United Nations United Nations Secretary-Secretary-GeneralGeneral

KofiKofi

AnnanAnnan


BarneyBarney


BritishBritish

Prime MinisterPrime Minister

TonyTony

BlairBlair


MusiciaMusiciann

JimmyJimmy

BuffettBuffett


First First LadyLady

BarbaraBarbara

BushBush


PresidentPresident

George George H.W.H.W.

BushBush


First LadyFirst Lady

LauraLaura

BushBush


Michigan Michigan Football Football CoachCoach

LloydLloyd

CarrCarr


First LadyFirst Lady

RosalynnRosalynn

CarterCarter


Master Master ChefChef

JuliaJulia

ChildChild


French PresidentFrench President

Jacques ChiracJacques Chirac

and formerand former

Canadian Canadian President President Jean Jean ChretienChretien


““American Idol”American Idol”

KellyKelly

ClarksonClarkson


PresidentPresident

BillBill

ClintonClinton


““Garfield”Garfield”

CreatorCreator

Jim DavisJim Davis


ActorActor

Vin DieselVin Diesel


Walt Disney Co.Walt Disney Co.

ChairmanChairman

Michael EisnerMichael Eisner


PresidenPresidentt

GeraldGerald

FordFord


MicrosoftMicrosoft

ChairmanChairman

Bill GatesBill Gates


New York CityNew York City

MayorMayor

RudolphRudolph

GiulianiGiuliani


ReverendReverend

Billy Billy

GrahamGraham


GovernorGovernor

JenniferJennifer

GranholmGranholm


Federal Federal Reserve Reserve ChairmanChairman

Alan Alan

GreenspanGreenspan


Kellogg Kellogg Company Company ChairmanChairman

Carlos Carlos

GutierrezGutierrez


SurvivorSurvivor

Richard Richard

HatchHatch

““You can You can never eat never eat too much too much rice!”rice!”


NewsNews

CommentatoCommentatorr

PaulPaul

HarveyHarvey


Aerospace Aerospace Engineer Engineer

and Authorand Author

Homer Hickam, Jr.Homer Hickam, Jr.


MountainMountain

ClimberClimber

Sir EdmundSir Edmund

HillaryHillary


Michigan Michigan State State CoachCoach

Tom IzzoTom Izzo


BasketballBasketball

Hall of FamerHall of Famer

Michael Michael JordanJordan


Duke CoachDuke Coach

MikeMike

KrzyzewskiKrzyzewski


ComediaComediann

Jay LenoJay Leno


SenatorSenator

Carl LevinCarl Levin


World World Champion Champion DiverDiver

Greg LouganisGreg Louganis


Movie Movie DirectorDirector

George LucasGeorge Lucas


Hall of FameHall of Fame

QuarterbackQuarterback

Dan MarinoDan Marino


Musician / ActorMusician / Actor

Jesse McCartneyJesse McCartney


GolferGolfer

Arnold Arnold PalmerPalmer


BaseballBaseball

Hall of FamerHall of Famer

Cal Ripken, Cal Ripken, Jr.Jr.


Mexican Mexican PresidentPresident

Vicente Fox Vicente Fox QuesadaQuesada


AuthorAuthor

J.K. RowlingJ.K. Rowling


GovernorGovernor

Arnold Arnold

SchwarzeneggeSchwarzeneggerr


Race Car DriverRace Car Driver

Al Unser, Jr.Al Unser, Jr.


FinancierFinancier

Donald TrumpDonald Trump


Actor / ComedianActor / Comedian

Robin WilliamsRobin Williams


All types of responsesAll types of responses


Some form letters too …Some form letters too …


Good words Good words from the from the Battle Creek Battle Creek EnquirerEnquirer


Kalamazoo GazetteKalamazoo Gazette



Future Project RecommendationsFuture Project Recommendations

Mail new request letter to specific non-respondentsMail new request letter to specific non-respondents

Add more people to the solicitation list Add more people to the solicitation list

Include local people of influence – mayors, police, Include local people of influence – mayors, police, fire, and businessfire, and business

Include teacher “words of wisdom” at end of school Include teacher “words of wisdom” at end of school yearyear


Thank you for Thank you for allowing me to allowing me to share this project share this project with you!!with you!!


Closing Thoughts:Closing Thoughts:

““Good words are worth much…and Good words are worth much…and cost little”cost little” George HerbertGeorge Herbert

Welsh Poet 1593 - 1633Welsh Poet 1593 - 1633

““Short words are best - and the old Short words are best - and the old words, when short, are best of all.”words, when short, are best of all.”

Winston ChurchillWinston Churchill

British Prime Minister 1874 - British Prime Minister 1874 - 19651965

Technology

Words Of Wisdom (Powerpoint)