Update from Mr. Cox – Leadership

Hello Spartans!

It is hard to believe that we are almost done with our first full month of school… man, how time flies! It has been a pleasure getting to be around all of you again, and we thank you for an awesome start to the school year. I wanted to especially thank each of you for how well you have welcomed the Class of 2020, our students who transferred in from other schools, and our foreign exchange students. Your kindness and character shine in your actions, and they are a large part of what makes our school so wonderful.

As we enter October I wanted to take a moment to remind you that we will be pulling grades for your iSpartan placements on Thursday, September 29. Please make sure that you are touching base with your teachers if you have questions about your grades. The new placements for iSpartan will begin on Tuesday, October 4. Your homeroom teachers will share your new placements with you on Monday, October 3 and Tuesday, October 4.

To Infinity and Beyond
Dan Hutcheson via Compfight

You may have noticed that September’s trait of the month is leadership. The Spartan Way is more than a clever phrase, it is a set of principles that guide our interactions, and leadership is an important part of ‘Doing What’s Right’. Great leaders hold themselves accountable to doing what’s right even when no one else is watching, and because of that others are inspired to do the same. Great leaders treat others well, and those actions make others feel comfortable and valued in their presence. Great leaders don’t give up, even when things get tough, and they encourage those around them to keep trying even when life gets tough. Great leaders are role models, and each of you have the ability to be leaders. Leadership is trait that requires doing what’s right because those who inspire us to action are those who do what is right… and great leadership inspires us to be the best that we can be. The most important thing to remember is that all of you are a leader to someone… a peer, a younger sibling, a cousin… there are people all around you who look up to you, and that is something that you need to take very seriously. Are your actions ones that you would be proud of if others who look up to you followed?

I challenge each of you to be leaders, and to make a difference in this world. Each of you have it in you to do great things, the question is whether you will find ways to get the job done, or make excuses for why it was not possible. Great leaders find a way to do what is necessary to get the job done. Be leaders… live your life in a way that draws others to you… treat others well, do what is right, and refuse to give up – even when things are tough… by doing those things, you will be a leader that others will follow, and you will be able to hold your head high knowing that you are making a difference in this world. Keep rockin’, Spartans!

Volunteer Opportunities:

  • Please see the attached document for volunteer opportunities at Blue Ball Elementary. Directions for how to volunteer are found in the attached document: need-for-volunteer-hours-sign-up-sheet-2016
  • ELANCO Public Library: contact Ms. Means at kmeans@elancolibrary.org if you are interested in volunteering at the ELANCO Public Library
    • Facilities Volunteer: Help set up and cleanup programs. Monday evenings from 6:00 pm-7:00 pm
    • Technology Volunteer: Assist patrons in using the computer. Must have knowledge of email (google, yahoo or Hotmail), Microsoft Word Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Adobe (PDF). Times for this position are flexible.
    • Extraordinary Give, November 18th 2016: Need: 4-5 students to help set up program (3:00-4:00 pm) , 4-5 students to help cleanup program (8:00-9:00 pm). 3 students to help facilitate program. (4:00 pm-9:00 pm)

Have an awesome Wednesday!

Elias M. Cox

Assistant Principal
Garden Spot High School

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