The Happiness Edition

Happy Students are Successful Students

Have you ever thought: “If only I could lose ____ pounds, I’d be happy.” Or: “Once I get this promotion/grade/recognition, I’ll be set!”

It turns out that happiness doesn’t work that way. People who lose those ____ pounds may experience short-term happiness. It’s great to get promoted at work or to score well on a test, but this happiness doesn’t last. In short, success doesn’t produce happiness. It’s the other way around; happiness leads to success!

I recently read The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor. It interested me for both personal and professional reasons. In the book, Achor explains that happy employees are more productive and better problem-solvers. That’s why Google has ping pong tables and gourmet meals

But can I become happier? And if so, how?

Achor asserts that our attitudes play a huge role in creating more happiness. If you want to find the bright side of life, you can! And happiness, like a muscle, needs to be built up over time. Here’s one way to do it:

Every day for 21 straight days, reflect on three things for which you are grateful. You cannot repeat anything on your list. People who have completed this activity report greater happiness, both immediately and over a longer span of time.

What do you have to lose? This exercise may or may not lead to better grades, but I guarantee that you will learn just how much is going right in your life!

Want to know a little more about this topic? Check out Shawn Achor's TED Talk about his book.

Take the 5Essentials Survey

Recently, D211 sent you correspondence about participating in the 5Essentials Survey. While this survey is mandated by the state of Illinois, it also provides a wealth of information that staff and administrators use to shape the culture and climate of the building. If you haven’t done so already, please complete the survey by clicking on the following link: http://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/survey/parent/.

Highlights and Successes:

• Congratulations to Coach Kacey Kronforst and the Girls Varsity Gymnastics Team on taking 4th place at the Holiday Invite at New Trier High School with a team total of 141.30.  Melanie Ng tied for 3rd on bars with a 9.20 and Gianna Christodoulopoulos took 5th on beam with a 9.40.
• Congratulations to Coach Kristen Newby and the Boys Swimming and Diving Team on winning the Buffalo Grove Frosh-Soph Invite.  They won the Freshman level, Sophomore level and the Invite.  Dan Narey – 1st place in Diving (sophomore level), John Ponte – 1st place in 50 Freestyle (freshman level), Evan Stegall – 1st place in 100 Freestyle (freshman level), Evan Stegall – 1st place in 100 Back (freshman level), and Evan Stegall, Shoya Yamazaki, Thomas Brinckerhoff, Joseph Farrell – 1st place in 400 Freestyle Relay (freshman level).
• Congratulations to Hannah Lin on achieving a perfect score on the ACT exam.
• Congratulations to Daily Herald Leadership Team Honorees (2017-2018) Abhinav Balu and Sophia Mavromatis.  
• Congratulations to Coach Dana Musinski and the Varsity Cheer Team on taking 7th out of 29 teams at the Rolling Meadows Invite.
• Congratulations to Fremd HOSA on qualifying 23 students through the Preliminary Round for the State Leadership Conference in Decatur.  Qualifying students include:  Clinical Specialty - Samruddhik Ayachit, Shreya Ghosh, Shreyah Prasad; Community Awareness - Ayushi Balan, Shravya Chanamolu, Shreya Ghosh, Shreyah Prasad, Claire Athanas, Molly Schreiner; Dental Terminology - Michelle Ganzorig; Epidemiology - Advay Mahajan; Extemporaneous Writing - Shravya Chanamolu; Forensic Medicine - Michelle Ganzorig, Yoonseo Kim; Health Career Photography - Muskan Bhatia; Health Education - Nithika Karthikeyan, Sanjana Manne; HOSA Bowl 2018 - Kashif Javid, Advay Mahajan, Adhith Palla, Gaurav Nitin Prabakaran; Behavioral Health - Shravya Chanamolu; Human Growth and Development - Shreya Ghosh, Srishti Saxen; Pharmacology - Claire Athanas. Molly Schreiner; Transcultural Healthcare - Shruthi Krishna, Amanda Randunne; Medical Math - Nithika Karthikeyan, Shreya Mukherjee; Medical Spelling - Pragya Kansai; Prepared Speaking - Medha Prodduturi; Researched Persuasive Writing - Shreya Mukherjee.
• Congratulations to Coach Suzanne Adamski and Coach Ashley Krippinger and the Fremd Competitive Dance Team on winning 2nd place at the MSL Conference Competition.

Upcoming Home Activities and Varsity Events

January 12	Orchesis Show - Auditorium, 7:00 p.m. Boys Swimming & Diving Meet @ Prospect H.S. - 4:45 p.m. Boys/Girls Basketball vs. Barrington H.S. - 6:00/7:30 p.m. Boys Wrestling @ Barrington H.S. - 6:00 p.m.
January 13	Competitive Cheer Invitational - Linoln-Way Central Boys Swimming & Diving Invitational @ Glenbrook North - 8:30 a.m. Girls Basketball Tournament @ DeKalb H.S. - 9:00 a.m. Girls Gymnastics Invitational @ FHS - 1:00 p.m.
January 15	Martin Luther King Day - No School Girls Basketball Tournament @ Dekalb H.S. -  9:00 a.m.
January 16	Girls Gymnastics Triangular @ Palatine H.S. - 6:00 p.m.
January 17	Girls Bowling vs. Barrington @ Arlington Lanes - 4;30 p.m. Competitive Cheer MSL Championship @ HEHS - 7:15 a.m.
January 18	Girls Bowling vs. Buffalo Grove @ Arlington Lanes - 4:30 p.m.

For a more complete list, please visit our Athletics Page or the Athletic Department Blog.

Staff Spotlight

Name:  Katie Johnson

Position:  Family & Consumer Science Teacher

Years at Fremd: As a student – 4; as a teacher – 12 (just about half my life has been spent in this building! 😃

Life Before Fremd:  Well, I was 14 so trapper keepers, scrunchies, making mixed tapes, and playing M.A.S.H.…kid things! 😃 The 4 years I spent away from FHS following graduation, I spent in Peoria, Illinois at Bradley University where I double majored in Education and Family & Consumer Sciences.  While at Bradley I was involved in student activities and a social sorority.  My first year teaching in D211 I split my time between Palatine and Fremd.

Hobbies/Interests: I enjoy baking, reading, traveling, dancing with my two daughters, telling bedtime stories, and volunteering (I’ve taught Sunday School, walked shelter dogs, worked with babies at Alexian Brothers Medical Center in their nursery, served as the Education Chair for the Women’s Club of Inverness).

Insider Tip for Parents: Actually listen to your children when they talk to you.  Put down the electronics and get to know your kids.  Drive the carpool…that’s where you can learn SO much insider information just by listening to them talk to their friends.  Be open with your kids.  Talk to them like they are adults.  Ask them open ended questions…but be specific…don’t just ask them how their day was…ask them something specific about their day.  Enjoy being with them…all too quickly they will be out of your house!

Ask the Principal

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.