Message Tuesday 5.12.20

One of the "Character Call-Outs" we often rehearse at ICA when we meet at our Monday or Friday gatherings or sometimes in chapel or even while transitioning from recess to the classroom is the word diligence.  A teacher might call out "Diligence!" and the students respond, "Working hard all the way to the end!"

While there are other possible definitions for diligence, I feel like this one contains a concept that, if learned and rooted into their character, will help students through a variety of challenges throughout their lives.  It would seem our collective current reality provides a fitting occasion to practice this particular character trait in the next few weeks.  We have now fully passed the honeymoon stage of distance learning, and have realized that than the energy we all get from meeting together in person is somewhat lost when we are all working at home.  It's just not the same, and we may just like it to be done for now.  True for you? 

BUT...if we just throw in the towel and give up now, I think we lose a great opportunity to teach this idea of diligence, which is closely related to words like tenacity, perseverance, steadfastness, internal fortitude, determination, grit .    Al of which we would like our students to develop for life?  True?  How do we teach that?  By standing with and behind them acting as coach and cheerleader, but most importantly by being an example of the characteristics we would like them to embody.  You can do it!  Below are a few stories of diligence and perseverance that may inspire or at least encourage both them and you in these last weeks of school:

Here is a fun little poem found in McGuffey's Reader:
 The fisher who draws in his net too soon,
     Won't have any fish to sell;
The child who shuts up his book too soon,
    Won't learn their lessons well.

If you would have your learning stay,
   Be patient - don't learn too fast;
The man who travels a mile each day,
   May get round the world at last.  

Here are a few links to some more inspiring stories and poems that you might want to read together:
The Crow and the Pitcher
The Little Hero of Holland
You Mustn't Quit - a poem
Carry On! - an inspiring poem that would be more appropriate for 5th grade and up
Bruce and the Spider - a story in poem of how a spider inspired Robert I, King of Scotland when he was feeling defeated

Just a thought for the day!  

Announcements:
The Great Exchange Days:  Monday June 1 and 2, we will set aside to have families come and pick up any items belonging to their children that are still at the school.  This will include the emergency food we usually send back home on the last day of school and yearbooks for those who ordered them.   In order to maintain the social distancing guidelines a much as possible, we'll split the alphabet into two days.  You are welcome to come to the school anytime between 9:00 am and 3:30 pm.
Monday, June 1:  Families with last names beginning A-L
Tuesday, June 2:  Families with last names beginning M-Z

Re-enrollment Survey:  Thank you for those who have completed the survey.  If you haven't yet, please do at your earliest convenience.  It's really just one question and does not constitute a commitment to a certain action, but does give us some ability to plan in a direction.

Friday fun for Zoom:  Favorite T-Shirt Day!

Latin Student Highlight:

Here is an "above and beyond" piece of artwork turned in recently by an ICA 8th grade Latin student.  Students were asked by Mrs. Bartel to illustrate and describe briefly a scene from their story.  Here is the student's description and art:

All Aristo the Pater (father) of the family wants is peace and quiet so that he can write a Greek tragedy, but his family does not cooperate.

"O miserable me," says Aristo.
"I love that sound," says Galatea his wife.

Galatea always invites her friends to their house.  Galatea's friends are pipe players and cithara players.  Aristo always has to flee his wife's friends.