Confetti Carries New Year’s Wishes

By Jack Phillips
Epoch Times Staff

NEW YORK—When the clock strikes 12 on New Year's Eve, approximately 3,000 pounds of confetti will be hand tossed out windows of various buildings in Times Square. As part of a new tradition officially embraced by the Times Square Alliance, some of that confetti will carry message of hope for the new year.

For the past two years, people from around the world have written wishes and messages on pieces of confetti in over 20 languages. Some of the personal messages and wishes are now displayed publicly on a wishing wall at the Times Square Alliance Office located at 1560 Broadway.

The confetti with wishes written on them will be combined with the rest of the confetti and will float down on the people visiting for the celebration.

Times Square Alliance President Tim Tompkins, Countdown Entertainment President Jeffrey Straus, and Papa John's International Chief Marketing Officer Andrew Varga rained the confetti down to the street Tuesday as part of promotional test of the confetti’s “air worthiness.”

Before that, they read some of the wishes that were on the confetti wishing wall.

On the wall anonymous people in various languages gave their well-wishes to the world, the United States, the city, their families and loved ones. Included is one that said, “I wish for a better economy.” Another piece of confetti said, “Cumplir suenos querer con pasión [Fulfill your dreams, love with passion] – LOVE 4 everyone in New York.”

Students from Leonardo Da Vinci School 61 in Queens were accompanied with their teacher to post their wishes. A student, Reyna Espinoza, wished in 2010 to “graduate junior high school and do better in school.”

Jamal Eno from Brooklyn wished his family a happy new year, blessings for his friends and family, and “more money.”

Other confetti messages included:

“Health, happiness and a huge lotto win.”

“I wish peace for America.”

“I wish for another phenomenal year for all my friends, family, and myself.”

I am wishing for a healthy new year for all of those I love and I am hoping that our economy is starting to recover so that all Americans can find meaningful employment that brings both high wages and job satisfaction. I am also looking for winning seasons for the Orioles, Nationals and Redskins...;)

Please post your wishes for the New Year...and the new decade!

Happy New Year's!

Redskins...describing fan faces after the last two games!

As many of you know, I am a life-long Redskin fan. I have lived through the glory years (yes, there were glory years: 5 Superbowl appearances and 3 Superbowl wins), and more recently, years of frustration, anger and embarrassment as a Redskin faithful. This year has been particularly difficult. The drama off the the field has been more interesting than the play on the field. This is great if you happen to be a soap opera fan, unfortunately for me, I am a football fan and I prefer WINS!

Like any good soap opera, the last two Redskins' games have been featured on national TV for the whole world to see. My beloved team, the one that has been hijacked by evil forces, has looked terrible and played even worse. Our team is now competing to see which franchise will be vote most dysfunctional. We are in the hunt for this honor with the likes of Cleveland, St. Louis, Oakland and Detroit.

To sum up this season to me, I have attached two video clips to review. One video clip is from a high school game played two years ago. Interestingly enough, the play was successful when implemented by teenagers.

The second video clip is from the recent Monday Night Football game featuring the "not so special" special teams of the Washington Redskins against the New York Giants. Does this play look familiar? Are the Redskins now getting plays from high school coaches off Youtube?
Worse yet, the Redskins couldn't execute the play.

Simply...embarrassing!

I am praying for this season to end so that we can begin to rebuild, again! For those counting, I believe this will be 7th head coaching change in 11 years. Yes, I believe the Jim Zorn Era will come to an end sometime during the week of Jan. 4th.

The Importance of Fun?

Funtheory.com is dedicated to the thought that something as simple as fun is the easiest way to change people’s behavior for the better. Be it for yourself, for the environment, or for something entirely different, the only thing that matters is that it’s change for the better.

http://www.thefuntheory.com

An initiative of Volkswagen

I have a hunch that introducing this type of initiative/competition could really work at the middle level. Middle school educators are always looking for ways to reinforce positive behaviors with their students to increase learning; while at the same time creating a safe and nurturing learning environment. By challenging students to think about the FUN THEORY and what they might be able to do to influence positive behaviors of their fellow classmates, a middle school could be transformed. I think this could be a brilliant way to encourage students to think, innovate, learn and behave better. How FUN!

If you have any ideas on how fun has changed behaviors for the better at your school,
please share your ideas with me?

Schools Can't Change

Fall, 2009

By Michael Smith

Change is hard. That’s why I’m not interested. When you work in a school, there is always a lot of talk about changing things (by talk, I mean it rhymes with witching). As educators, we are faced with the choice of jumping on board with the latest fad or sticking with the tried and true method that we’ve used for the last 20 years.

For me, it’s a no brainer. If it was good enough when I was in school, it’s good enough for the students in 2009.

When the word change is even casually mentioned, it can provoke a strong reaction — in some cases anger. Luckily, the bad feelings are never directed toward administrators (for the last time, sarcasm is the lifeblood of this blog).

After much thought, I have chosen my final answer on change (I do love Regis Philbin but, rest assured, not in the same way I love Kelly — actually in the EXACT same way I love Kelly). I’m against it. Don’t even think about trying to talk me out of it. I don’t like change. Why? Because I don’t like it. You need a reason? I gave you one: I don’t like it.

In my estimation, progress is way overrated. Schools were good enough for my grandparents (if they attended, and some did — at least until the 6th grade), so they should be good enough for today’s students. Progress is for the next generation. It’s for the person who takes my job. (I know you’re out there.)

As for me, I’m going to stick with what works. I’m way too busy to worry about the latest fads. My career is on borrowed time. I just don’t see the point in making a lot of unnecessary changes because I’ve only got 20 years left until retirement (like I’m going to make it). I’m going to focus on the present.

In the next week or so I need to do the following:

• Make copies on the ditto machine.
• Take a quick smoke break in the teacher’s lounge.
• Use some corporal punishment on a student in the hallway because he was talking in study hall.
• Finish a report on a typewriter (I hope I don’t make a mistake; I am all out of correction tape).
• Handwrite some memos.
• Use the phone tree to contact teachers.
• Drive students in my car without seatbelts.
• Take some pictures for the yearbook and send the film out to be developed (I should be getting them back in a couple of weeks).
• Write grades in my red spiral grade book.
• Show a movie on the 16mm projector. Or possibly a slide show (don’t forget to turn to the next slide when it beeps).
• Finally, I need to not exercise (all the studies say it’s bad for you).

I think I’ve made my point. Schools don’t need to change. Things are just fine the way they are.

Source: http://www.convergemag.com/blog/principal/Parents-Hate-Principals.html

I urge you to visit Michael Smith's Blog: http://www.principalspage.com

It is Official..I Have Been Naughty!

Unfortunately, I found out last night that I am on Santa's Naughty List and won't be receiving any Santa gifts this year. I really thought I had done enough good deeds to earn my way on the Good List this year, but last night I received an email from the Big Guy indicating that I just didn't do quite enough.

I truly appreciate my wife getting in contact with Santa this week and getting this valuable information to me...what a good friend she is! With her help, I hope to be back on the GOOD LIST next year!

Below is the video message I received:

http://portablenorthpole.tv/watch/b94b4b06f691bb1d61e421f61ff3890b

Don't Forget to Take Your Educator Expense Deduction

If you are an eligible educator, you can deduct up to $250 of your unreimbursed expenses [otherwise deductible trade or business expenses] you paid or incurred for books, supplies, computer equipment (including related software and services), other equipment, and supplementary materials that you use in the classroom. For courses in health and physical education, expenses for supplies are qualified expenses only if they are related to athletics. You can deduct these expenses even if you do not itemize deductions on Form 1040, Schedule A. This deduction is for expenses paid or incurred during the tax year. Previously, these expenses were deductible only as a miscellaneous itemized deduction subject to the 2% of adjusted gross income limit. The deduction is claimed on either line 23 of Form 1040 (PDF) or line 16 of Form 1040A (PDF).

You are an eligible educator if, for the tax year, you meet the following requirements:

• You are a kindergarten through grade 12;
  • Teacher
  • Instructor
  • Counselor
  • Principal, or
  • Aide, and
• You work at least 900 hours a school year in a school that provides elementary or secondary education, as determined under state law.

Qualified expenses are deductible only to the extent the amount of such expenses exceeds the following amounts for the tax year:

• The interest on qualified U.S. savings bonds that you excluded from income because you paid qualified higher education expenses,
• Any distribution from a qualified tuition program that you excluded from income, or
• Any tax-free withdrawals from your Coverdell Education Savings Account.

For additional information regarding personal credits and any alternative minimum tax (AMT), refer to Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax.

Source: NMSA Website

Blizzard 2009

22 inches and still falling!

Gotta love it!

Tracking Santa ...For Those Who Believe!

For more than 50 years, NORAD and its predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) have tracked Santa’s Christmas Eve flight.

The tradition began in 1955 after a Colorado Springs-based Sears Roebuck & Co. advertisement for children to call Santa misprinted the telephone number. Instead of reaching Santa, the phone number put kids through to the CONAD Commander-in-Chief's operations "hotline." The Director of Operations at the time, Colonel Harry Shoup, had his staff check the radar for indications of Santa making his way south from the North Pole. Children who called were given updates on his location, and a tradition was born.

In 1958, the governments of Canada and the United States created a bi-national air defense command for North America called the North American Aerospace Defense Command, also known as NORAD, which then took on the tradition of tracking Santa.

Since that time, NORAD men, women, family and friends have selflessly volunteered their time to personally respond to Christmas Eve phone calls and emails from children. In addition, we now track Santa using the internet. Last year, millions of people who wanted to know Santa's whereabouts visited the NORAD Tracks Santa website.

Finally, media from all over the world rely on NORAD as a trusted source to provide Christmas Eve updates on Santa's journey.

Click here to track Santa's Progress:
http://www.noradsanta.org/en/index.html

Source: NORAD Website

Twilight Characters Visit WLMS...Well Sort of...

I was
always told
that
I was
too small,
too skinny,
too slow,
not tough enough,
and
I never ever believed
what
people
told me.

Joe Theismann

Former Redskins' quarterback

Foundation donates gear for 100 middle-schoolers

Free computers given to students

By John-John Williams IV | john-john.williams@baltsun.com

December 6, 2009

One hundred students at Wilde Lake, Oakland Mills, Murray Hill and Patuxent Valley middle schools were recently given Internet-ready desktop computers and printers in an attempt to close the digital divide at home.

The gifts are part of the Computers for Students Program, a collaboration between the Bright Minds Foundation, a Howard County public schools group that addresses equity issues, and the Lazarus Foundation, a nonprofit computer-refurbishing organization.

Leaders from the two foundations say the project is aimed at closing the "digital divide" - gaps in access to technology among socioeconomic groups.

About 74 percent of students in Maryland public schools have access to computers at home, according to the most recent survey of students conducted in 2007 by the Maryland State Department of Education, up from 59.4 percent in 2003. Howard County led the state with 87.6 percent.

Thirty Wilde Lake Middle School students who didn't have computers at home received the equipment.

"They were really excited," said Wilde Lake Middle Principal Tom Saunders. "They were more excited afterwards. The equipment that they got was pretty state-of-the-art. It wasn't something that was clearly a hand-me-down from someone."

When Saunders met with some of the students a couple weeks ago, he said the students told him that the computers were "so cool."

"They said it was definitely helping their grades," said Saunders, who explained that the students who received computers will be able to access some of the school's Internet-based programs, including a math game and a real-time teacher grade book.

The most recent computers are part of a $1 million campaign called "Bridging the Digital Divide," according to Doug Hostetler, chairman of Bright Minds. To date, the group has received $425,000 in gifts for the program.

Students are chosen for the program after schools identify which students have no computer access at home. The Computers for Students program comes with a catch: Students must attend a two-hour instruction course along with their parents.

While some school systems have attempted to provide computer access to students, such as Talbot County, which gives all freshmen laptops to use throughout their high school careers, none have found a way to equip every student from elementary to high school with a computer at home. As a result, many schools have turned to organizations and partnerships to increase students' access at home.

Copyright © 2009, The Baltimore Sun

8th Grade Lock-in Was Very Successful!

This past Friday evening, we held our annual 8th Grade Lock-In. Our 8th grade students were invited to attend this all-night event from 9:00 P.M. to 7:00 A.M. to participate in a variety of exciting activities that were designed to promote team work and just having fun! We started the evening with Silly Olympics, then we hosted a midnight dance, followed by an open gym and computer games. We served breakfast at 6:15 A.M.

According to all the students I talked to, it was a huge success! One student said, "This is the best time I have had after midnight in my life!"

I want to thank Ms.Drakes, the 8th Grade Team members and all of the other staff and parents who made this event possible. It was awesome to see our students having so much fun. I am sure this event will be remembered for a long time.

Greg Harrell Shares His Story

Mr. Gregory Harrell, a former Maryland Terrapin and Los Angeles Raider tight end, who also helped to push one of the United States Olympic 2-Man Bobsleds during the 1992 Winter Olympics, shared his inspirational story during the YES Conference this past week. He did a great job of telling our students the importance of following your dreams. He said, "It is not important where or when you begin, it is more important where you end up!"

Since his retirement from professional sports, he has served as a coach, spokesperson for various wellness products and is a board member and adviser for the Black Courage Foundation.

Thanks Greg for sharing your inspirational story with our students!

Youth Empowerment Summit (YES) Keynote

HCPSS Middle School

This past Tuesday, I had the pleasure of being one of the keynote presenters at our annual Howard County Middle School Youth Empowerment Summit. I shared the honor of being the keynote speaker with my life-long friend, Rick Gross. Rick and I had the opportunity to share our thoughts about the importance of leadership and getting involved now with more than 250 middle school student leaders! We also shared our student leadership model that we have created that highlights the components necessary to be an empowered student leader who can MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

The theme of this year's YES conference was to "Make a Change." Again this year, Julie Prince, a school counselor from Clarksville Middle School coordinated the event along with other counselors from 14 Howard County Middle Schools. Julie and her conference team members did a wonderful job! I truly had an awesome day and really appreciate the opportunity I was given to interact with so many talented students, staff and leadership consultants.

WLMS Debate Team Wins Again!

WLMS PRIDE!

The WLMS Debate team continued their undefeated record with a win over Clarksville Middle School. The WLMS Debate team traveled to Murray Hill Middle School on December 1st to compete in the Howard County Middle School Debate. WLMS debated Clarksville Middle School on the resolution "Be it resolved that year-round schooling be implemented in the Howard County Public Schools"

The WLMS Debate Team of Joe Boccher, Rosemary Davidson, Andrew Baichulall, Meg Brinkman, Gila Fridkis, Victoria Brown, Madison Fields and Dorothy Callahan spent many days researching, organizing and preparing speeches for the debate. Our Debate Team worked diligently, even volunteering to stay after school on a half day to make sure they were ready! The team has been undefeated since the Fall of 2008 with an overall record of 4 and 1. I also want to commend Mrs. Motaung for helping to coach our students and for her dedication to the school.