September 26, 2014

A Note From Mr. Tenopir

On September 24, in an email from D211 Communications, you received a link to my October Newsletter. In that newsletter, I talked about the current research on motivation and mindset. It is all very fascinating stuff, not just in the world of education--business leaders are applying this research into their business models, and I have found that it is changing my approach to parenting my own kids!

Since I have already written about the research, I won’t duplicate it here. Rather, I would like to provide a few links to the researchers/theorists that I mentioned in my newsletter. These video clips will give you greater insights into the conversations I am having with our teachers about creating the right kind of learning environment for your kids. In turn, teachers are finding ways to apply this information to their practice.

Angela Duckworth’s TED Talk on Grit

Carol Dweck: The Effect of Praise on Mindset

Carol Dweck: The Power of Yet

Daniel Pink: RSA Animate - Drive

Highlights and Successes

• Congratulations to Coach Joe Marcin and the Girls Cross Country Team on winning the Warren Invite.  Ayako Higuchi was the individual champion with a new course record of 17:12.16.
• Congratulations to Coach Lou Sponsel and the Varsity Viking Football Team on their 49-0 victory over Buffalo Grove.
• Congratulations to Band Director Matt Moore and the Viking Marching Band on taking 4th place at the AA Stagg HS "Marching Jamboree" AAA Division and 8th place at the Chicagoland Invitational Concert Band Festival AAA Division.
• Congratulations to the Junior Class on winning the PowderPuff game 26-14.

Upcoming Home Activities and Varsity Events

September 26 Homecoming Game (4:30/7:30 p.m.)

Golf Cart Parade (6:30 p.m.)

September 27 Homecoming Dance (Gym 7:30-10:30 p.m.)

September 29 Girls Golf vs. Conant (3:30 p.m.)

September 30 Band Fall Showcase (Cafe 6:00/7:30 p.m.)

September 30 Girls Golf vs. MSL Conference (8:30 a.m.)

September 30 Boys Soccer vs. Prospect (7:00 p.m.)

October 2 Girls Cross Country vs. Schaumburg (4:30 p.m.)

October 2 Girls Swimming & Diving vs.Conant (4:30 p.m.)

October 2 Girls Tennis vs. Conant (4:45 p.m.)

October 2 Boys Soccer vs. Elk Grove (7:00 p.m.)

October 4 Girls Tennis vs. Mustang Invite (8:00 a.m.)

For a more complete list, please visit our Athletics Page.

Staff Spotlight

Bev Bayne (left) and Pam Walther (right)

Name:  Pam Walther

Position:  Attendance Clerk

Years at Fremd:  15 years

School(s) Attended:  William Howard Taft H.S., Harper College

Best Part of Working at Fremd:  Meeting the students and parents.

You May Not Know:  I have four children that all graduated from Fremd and I have 9 fantastic  grandchildren.

Ask the Principal

Q: When is Quentin Road construction going to be normal again?

A: Ten days ago, I was told that today is the day! If not today, then very, very soon!

Q: What are the plans for the parking lot?

A: We have been conducting traffic studies since last spring to determine how we can (1) make our parking lot safer, (2) improve the traffic flow around the building before and after school, and (3) maintain/increase the amount of available parking. There are no easy solutions that will allow us to capitalize on all three priorities. Some of the proposed changes scheduled to take place next summer include:

• Moving the Quentin Rd. entrance farther south to improve traffic flow in the parking lot. (Completed August 2014)
• Eliminate the retaining wall that separates the bus lane from the parking lot.
• Create designated walkways across parking lot traffic to increase pedestrian safety.
• Add decorative fencing/landscaping for beautification.

Q: I frequently hear educators use the phrase, “In today’s education environment.” What does that mean, and how does today’s environment differ from the past?

A: I catch myself using this phrase all the time. I often tell staff, parents, and the guy next to me on the train the field of education is changing more rapidly right now than it has at any other time in the history of our compulsory education system dating back to the early 1900s. Accountability is the driving force. And while it’s important to examine which schools, teachers or students are being successful, the need to be accountable to ourselves and the public has caused some serious growing pains. Standardized testing, teacher evaluations, and administrator evaluations have all been emphasized through legislation and mandates. These mandates change our day-to-day operations--sometimes for the better, but they almost always add complexity to our jobs. As principal, I talk to our staff about their approach (mindset) to these changes. When the staff views these changes as hoops to jump through, then it is my job to “widen the hoops” to make all of these mandates as relevant to our practice and integral to our journey as possible.

Are you curious about something at Fremd but have never asked? Email me at ktenopir@d211.org. If your question is pertinent to a wider audience, I will include it in the next blog post.