Thoughts from Mr. Cox – 11/29/18

Good afternoon everyone!

I listen to a lot of music, and often times will hear something that I haven’t listened to in a long time and be reminded of why I thought it was so great in the first place. One of those songs right now is called “November Blues” by a band called the Avett Brothers. A line in that song that I say to my wife often during the month of December is, “bit by the cold of December I’m warmed inside your smile”. She tells me I am corny, and generally rolls her eyes at me, but it makes her smile… Somewhat like that, in the midst of the cold, seeing smiles on your faces warms our days.

Another song says, “sometimes all it takes is just a smile to change somebodies weather, to take the clouds out of their skies”. It is so true, isn’t it? You never know who is having a bad day, or who woke up to a crappy situation at home for what seems like the millionth morning in a row. It’s funny how something as seemingly small as a smile can make such a big difference in someone’s life. A few more smiles, a little better day, a little less hurt, a little more friendship, makes the area around you a little better. So what does that mean? Well, it simply means that we should smile more because you never know who needs it. It’s like the bumper sticker says, “wag more, bark less”.

Butterfly
Image from Flickr

Relationships with those around you matter, and how you treat them matters. If you have a life full of drama it is likely the result of broken relationships, and only you have the ability to change that. I often speak to students who have constant conflict in their lives and they think that everyone else is the problem. It is important to realize that if you have conflict with others on a regular basis it is likely not all of them that are the problem, but rather something in how you respond to them. While those who need to hear this message most will likely brush it off, the reality is that relationships are a two way street. You have the power to determine how you respond to those who mistreat you, and how long to hold on to the wrongs they have committed against you. You have the power to determine whether or not to get upset about every little thing that happens, or to learn how to let it go. And you have the power to gossip about those who have wronged you, which keeps the drama going, or to take the high road and let it go.

You cannot control the misery of others, or their desire to cause conflict in your life, but you certainly can control your response to it. Let them drown their days with bitterness and conflict, but choose not to let those things conquer you. If you engage in the same things that you claim to be so upset about, then you are inviting their drama and problems into your life. Life is so much better when you make the decision to treat people better than they deserve. As you do that you find that people respond to you better, and your day to day is more enjoyable. As you do that you find that less people have a reason to treat you poorly, and because of that you experience less drama in your life. You also find that you become a person who others look to as a role model, and with that comes a great deal of pride.

As you move through the coming weeks I challenge you to try… just try to be a person who treats everyone well. Don’t talk about others, don’t talk back to others, don’t engage in the back and forth that makes things that are not that big of a deal into something bigger than they are, and to not allow yourself to be held hostage by hostility. You can only control yourself, and I promise you that the better you treat others, even those who may have wronged you, the more enjoyable your life will be. You will find that people who used to stay away from you because they didn’t want your drama in their lives will start to enjoy your company, and those who used to have problems with you will find someone else to target with their own inability to understand and embrace the words I have written in this section.

Be respectful, treat others well, put a ’10’ on the heads of everyone you come in contact with at all times, and you will find that every day is a little more enjoyable. Be a person who others are drawn to, not a person that others avoid. Your actions will determine how others respond to you, and only you can control how you treat others. Decide to live life in peace with those around you, and watch the incredible difference that it has on how much you are able to enjoy each day.

Have a great rest of the week ladies and gentlemen!

Mr. Cox

Assistant Principal
Garden Spot High School

Thoughts from Mr. Cox – 11/13/18

Good morning Spartans!

I hope this message finds you in the middle of a day that is as awesome as each of you! It is a great pleasure to get to spend time with each of you…

respect
Image from Flickr

November’s Spartan Way trait of the month was ‘Respect’. I have heard some say that they will give respect to those who deserve it, but that statement always confuses me as it is saying that one will only give respect if someone else gives it first… if both people interact from that same mindset then neither will ever respect the other because neither will give respect first.

I believe that respect is treating everyone around us well regardless of our disagreements or how they have treated us… it is kindness, compassion, mercy, and grace… it is a way of living that breathes value into the lives of those around us regardless of their attitude or treatment of us. At Garden Spot High School we call this ‘undeserved respect’, and we aim to give it to every person we come in contact with in the hopes that through our behavior we will be excellent representations of how we want students and staff at our school to behave. Respect can be easily seen in our treatment of others, which includes our words and actions.

I encourage each of you to learn to be respectful of all people, at all times, even in the midst of continued disrespect from the other person. I encourage you to live differently from the rest of the world, and to live in a way that allows you to make a difference in this world. Be respectful of others, be respectful of your parents, be respectful of authority, be respectful of your friends, be respectful of differences… being respectful in these areas are the best ways to be respectful of yourself. Being treated respectfully is not something that should have to be earned, but is something that should be given freely to everyone we encounter solely on the basis of the value they have as a human being. I know some would disagree with the previous statement, but I have found it to serve me well in establishing relationships that afford me the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those around me.

Be difference makers, Garden Spot… be respectful… live in a way that others will become better people through having known you.

Mr. Cox

Assistant Principal
Garden Spot High School

 

 

Thoughts from Mr. Cox 10-22-18

Good morning, Spartans!

I hope you had a weekend that was as awesome as all of you… on this cold morning we eagerly await the warmth that is brought by your presence! This months Spartan Way characteristic is integrity. Integrity is defined as the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness. This often starts with how we view the world and others around us, and so I want to take a moment to share some thoughts that I hope will challenge you to continue to develop your character and integrity.

Integrity
From: Alpha Stock Images

None of you chose the situations of your birth. You did not choose your parents, you did not choose your looks (hair color, eye color, ear size, etc.), you did not choose the wealth of the family you live with, you did not choose your race or ethnicity, you did not choose your intelligence, and yet many of those things are common reasons that teenagers pick on others in school. The color of your eyes, the color of your skin, your cultural background, the money your parents have, are all things that you have no control over. Making fun of someone for the quality of clothes they wear, how they look, or the color of their skin only shows the ignorance of the person that is doing the picking. If you were blind you would not be able to make fun of people for these things, and would judge them only based on how they treat you. Then again, if you were blind people may be making fun of you… for something you had no control over. Isn’t it ridiculous?

The reality is that those who treat other’s so poorly are running from something. They are attempting to compensate for a part of their being that they are embarrassed by, or a low self-esteem that requires them to derive their self-worth from how poorly they treat others. If you are friends with these people, consider whether or not you want to be known as that person. If you are that person, consider whether or not you would be happy if you knew what others really thought of you. Instead of picking on others for things that they cannot control, perhaps you should be appreciative of your fortune and work to bring joy into their lives by treating them well when others may not.

How we treat those around us is how we will be defined by those who spend time with us each day… not the money in our wallet, the type of car we drive, the important titles we hold, the name brand on our clothing, color of our skin, attractiveness, or intelligence. All of those things mean nothing if you treat people poorly because there are very few who respect and look up to people who are rude.

If you have ever found yourself the focus of someone else’s attack, you have likely wished that someone would stand up for you. Many of you have likely heard another student being picked on. What have you done in that moment? I think it is human nature to ignore it, or act like you don’t notice it. When it is a friend picking on someone else you likely feel somewhat uncomfortable, but don’t want to say anything for fear that your friends will no longer think you are cool. What is the reason that so few people step in and ask that the aggressor stop their attack? I would argue that we are afraid that person will redirect their attacks on us. Simply asking the aggressor politely to stop is sufficient because it lends support to the person being picked on.

I strongly believe that there is more good in this world than bad, and that most people listening to someone that is picking on another person find it bothersome, but so many remain silent. I encourage you to stand up for your peers. My challenge to you is to do what is right even though you may be ridiculed for it. Stand up for what is decent and good. Live a life in which others see integrity, stand up for what is right, and you will make a difference in this school, this community, and the world. Go Spartans!

Have a week that is as awesome as each of you!

Mr. Elias M. Cox
Assistant Principal
Garden Spot High School

 

Thoughts from Mr. Cox 9-13-18

Good morning Spartans!

It is hard to believe that we are almost done with our third week 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 2022, 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.

Leadership
Attribution: http://alphastockimages.com/ . Original Author: Nick Youngson – http://www.nyphotographic.com/

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 a 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!

Have an awesome Thursday!

Mr. Cox

Assistant Principal
Garden Spot High School

 

Thankful for Each of You – Mr. Cox

Good morning Spartans!

I hope this email finds you doing well and looking forward to a break for Thanksgiving! We are so thankful to have you here, and for the opportunity to be a part of your life.

I encourage you to take the time this week to hug the people that matter in your life, and to let them know how thankful you are for them. I encourage you to take the time to be thankful for what you have, and not to focus on all that you may wish you had. No matter our situation, our mind set is determined by what we let our mind dwell on. I encourage you to let your mind dwell on what is good and right in your life.

sunrise

I am personally thankful for the sunrise (see image above) that I get to see each morning on my way to work during these months, and I am thankful for the time that I get to spend with each of you. There are things all around us that we should be thankful for regardless of what is going on in our lives. I am hopeful that each of you will be able to stop and appreciate those things in your life, and that you will take the time to thank the people who make a difference in your life.

Smile a lot over break, and spend your time doing things that make your heart smile. Thank you for being awesome, and thank you for making our lives better here at Garden Spot.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Mr. Elias M. Cox

Assistant Principal
Garden Spot High School

Thoughts from Mr. Cox – March

Good morning Spartans!

Djurgården, May 19, 2014
Ulf Bodin via Compfight

It is hard to believe that April is already at our doorstep… it has been an awesome year so far, but that is no surprise when we get to spend each day surrounded by such wonderful people. Mr. Sanger and I appreciate your sense of humor, the respect you show for your peers and teachers, and your perseverance in the face of many struggles that you face each day. We appreciate the grace that you show to one another, always remembering that it is often those who are the most offensive who need our patience and kindness the most. On the days when you feel least like doing so be sure to smile, to laugh, and to be kind… it has a way of changing your perspective. Go outside and enjoy the plants as they bloom, jump in a puddle, dance in the rain, roll down a big hill, find reasons to be happy… you cannot change most of what happens in your life, but you can choose how you respond to those things. It is your response that determines your happiness, and your dedication to never giving up on the things you can control, no matter how hard they seem, that allows you to make it through the difficult times a stronger person.

The March Spartan Way trait of the month is having a positive attitude. In every situation you determine how you respond. In every situation it is your response that determines the outcome. When you experience difficult situations you decide how to respond, and your response can either create the possibility that things will improve, or make it unlikely to improve. If you want tomorrow to be a little better, you have to do things that have the chance of making it a little better. Humans often complain about their life while responding to life in a way that isn’t likely to make tomorrow any better. It is also true that you can do everything right and still have tomorrow not be any better. The reality is that having a positive attitude, and never giving up, is the only way that makes it possible for tomorrow to be a little better. If you live your life with a positive attitude it is likely that tomorrow will be a little better, next week a little better, six months from now a little better, next year a little better… you get the point. Approach life with a positive attitude, choose to respond in ways that can lead to a better tomorrow, and never give up. There is no one immune to bad things happening to them, but those with a positive attitude will always find it easier to maneuver through those difficult times. Having a positive attitude also makes it more likely that others will want to be around you, and those relationships will help lift you up when you are struggling. Your attitude is your choice, and I encourage you to choose to have a positive attitude. You deserve it…

Thank you for being awesome, Garden Spot!

Have a great Friday, and wonderful weekend,

Mr. Cox

Thoughts from Mr. Cox – February

Good morning everyone!

What a wonderful morning it is… watching the sun rise and colors spread across the sky as darkness turns to daylight always puts a smile on my face. We can get so busy that we fail to notice the beauty that surrounds us every day. Each of you have the same effect on me… putting a smile on my face. Thank you for being awesome!

The Spartan Way characteristic of the month for February was personal accountability, and as I reflected on what that entails I had a few thoughts I’d like to share with you. It seems to me that our world is embarking on a trend which is to find someone else to blame when things do not go our way, and that is a dangerous mindset. Instead of looking first for someone else to blame (teacher, parent, boss, coach), ask yourself what you could do to be more prepared in the future? If I did poorly on a test my parents always asked me what I needed to do to prepare better for the next one. I, of course, wanted to blame it on the teaching style, wording of the questions… anything but lack of preparation.

relationships
CC Xenja Santarelli via Compfight

We are all accountable for our own actions, and looking for someone else to blame may make us feel better, but it does not help us improve moving forward. There will always be people who will get the job done on their own without making excuses, who will overcome whatever hurdles are thrown their way, and who will work hard enough to succeed even in the most difficult of circumstances. If someone is going to do it, it might as well be you… and each of you has the ability to do it if you get to work. Failures are not a reason to give up… they are a reason to work harder so that you can eventually succeed. There is no magic switch or red carpet rolled out in front of you to make it easy, but there is also no barrier that holds you back other than yourself. Hold yourself personally accountable to doing the things that are required to be successful, and you will find that life will open many more doors for you. There is no guarantee that life will be easy, but working hard increases the likelihood that tomorrow will present increased reasons to smile.

Have a great day, Garden Spot! Y’all rock!

Mr. Cox

 

 

Thoughts from Mr. Cox – Nov 30

Hello Garden Spot!

I hope your break was as excellent as each of you, and was a relaxing time for all. It has been a great week in the office as Mr. Sanger and I have been excited to get to be around all of you again!

Notions of Respect
Michael Coghlan via Compfight

November’s Spartan Way trait of the month was ‘Respect’. I have heard some say that they will give respect to those who earn it, but that statement always confuses me as it is saying that one will only give respect if someone else gives it first… if both people interact from that same mindset then neither will ever respect the other because neither will give respect first.

I believe that respect is treating everyone around us well regardless of our disagreements or how they have treated us… it is kindness, compassion, mercy, and grace… it is a way of living that breathes value into the lives of those around us regardless of their attitude or treatment of us. At Garden Spot High School we call this ‘undeserved respect’, and we aim to give it to every person we come in contact with in the hopes that through our behavior we will be excellent representations of how we want students and staff at our school to behave. Respect can be easily seen in our treatment of others, which includes our words and actions.

I encourage each of you to learn to be respectful of all people, at all times, even in the midst of continued disrespect from the other person. I encourage you to live differently from the rest of the world, and to live in a way that allows you to make a difference in this world. Be respectful of others, be respectful of your parents, be respectful of authority, be respectful of your friends, be respectful of differences… being respectful in these areas are the best ways to be respectful of yourself. Being treated respectfully is not something that should have to be earned, but is something that should be given freely to everyone we encounter solely on the basis of the value they have as a human being. I know some would disagree with the previous statement, but I have found it to serve me well in establishing relationships that afford me the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those around me.

Be difference makers, Garden Spot… be respectful… live in a way that others will become better people through having known you.

Have a great rest of the week, and keep on rockin’!

Mr. Cox

Assistant Principal
Garden Spot High School

Thoughts from Mr. Cox – Oct. 20th

Good afternoon everyone!

I wanted to take moment to thank our students and staff for an awesome Powder Puff football game on Tuesday night, and a great afternoon at Challenge of the Classes on Thursday. It was really great to be able to bring Powder Puff back to the high school, and I look forward to doing this long into the future. We had a bonfire after the Powder Puff game that was a really neat experience too, and look forward to making that a tradition as well. Thank you to all who participated, all who attended, and especially to all who helped plan and pull off the events of the last few days. It is great to be part of such a great group of people.

School Poster Integrity is doing
Wonder woman0731 via Compfight

This month’s Spartan Way trait of the month is integrity. We believe very strongly that a principled approach to life leads to consistency and reliability. That reliability and consistency make it so that others can know you as a person that can be trusted, a person who does what is right, and a person who others can count on to do what is right… all the time. Integrity cannot be separated from character, and character is doing what is right even when no one is watching. What does your word mean to others? Is it something they can rely on, or something that doesn’t have much value? Do you treat others well, hold yourself accountable to doing what is right regardless of who you are around, and live your life in a way that shows the value you place on relationships, being of sound character, and having priorities that reflect your values? Are you a person whose values change like the direction of the wind, or are you a person who is the same to all people, in all situations, all of the time?

Integrity is an important part of building solid relationships, and an important part of being successful at your job. It is really one of the most important things in reaching your full potential in life, and because of its significance and importance in becoming a person that makes a difference in this world it is included as part of The Spartan Way. I encourage each and every one of you to consider the type of person you want to be in the lives of your siblings, in the lives of your future spouse and children, and in the lives of your co-workers and others you come in contact with… I challenge you to become people who make a difference in this world. Live your life with integrity, and be a person that others can turn to and rely on. Be principled, value things that matter, treat others well, and make a difference in this world…

Have a great rest of the week everyone… so proud to be a Spartan!

Mr. Elias M. Cox

Assistant Principal
Garden Spot High School

GSHS School Performance Profile

Whenever we hear that our current situation has to hold us back from our future aspirations we are reminded of the fact that we will achieve whatever we believe we can achieve. Thank you to an awesome staff and amazing student body for proving that nothing can hold us back when we hold each other accountable to high expectations. What a great sign of continued growth… 3rd in the county among all high schools. 4th in the state among high schools with greater than 40% economically disadvantaged student population. Your success matters to us, and we will relentlessly pursue every student that enters our building. Very honored to have the privilege of working with such amazing students, staff, and community. Thank you for your continued support!

For a detailed look at the many factors included in attaining the School Performance Profile score, check out Garden Spot High School’s Profile. Data is not all we do, but our continued growth is certainly an excellent sign of health.


 

2016-2017 SPP Scores Lancaster County High Schools

table1

+90 SPP Score / +40% ED in PA (Out of 952 public HS in PA)

  1. Franklin Towne CHS (SPP – 94.6 / ED – 67%)
  2. Wilson Area HS (SPP – 93.4 / ED – 43.2%)
  3. Tyrone Area HS (SPP – 93.3 / ED – 45%)
  4. Garden Spot HS (SPP – 91.9 / ED – 40.2%)

Progress of Lancaster County High Schools Since First Release of SPP Scores

table2

 

Go Spartans!

Mr. Elias M. Cox

Assistant Principal
Garden Spot High School