Principal's Message
by Lora Nordquist
 

January 2005

 
One of Sister's Middle School's four goals this year is to help our students develop their citizenship skills. We are addressing this issue in a number of ways, but one way is to focus more on service to others. I am proud of our students' efforts this year! Two groups worked during our Interim Week to raise over $ 900.00 for our Sparrow child; our students in their guiderooms donated generously to help provide an abundance of Christmas presents for seven younger children (see related story in this newsletter); and this week we are asking students to donate money that they have earned through service OR that represents a sacrifice (say, money saved for a special thing) to help the relief efforts after the tsunami in Southeast Asia.

Another citizenship project will be starting midterm this winter. Our custodians have helped staff create a "report card" that will judge students' efforts in keeping the hallways, locker rooms and cafeteria clean. We hope this will remind students that the appearance of Sisters Middle School is everyone's RESPONSIBILITY.

Finally, we are providing citizenship "tips of the week" in our guiderooms. These can range from reminders to wait until it's quiet in a room to sharpen a pencil to encouragement to say "hello" to other students while walking to classes.

It's natural for middle school students to focus on themselves. But as adults in their lives, we can help them to learn that life isn't really "all about me."

~Lora Nordquist