Efaw Expects Excellence

Mosaics--Something to Ponder in your Journals

 

Ever stop to think about the mosaic of your own life?  All the little tiles represent our experiences as we walk through life.  Often, when we are in the midst of a difficult time, we cannot see the big picture that our experiences are creating.  We can only see the shape and the color of the challenge at hand.  But if we were to slow down just long enough to notice, we would see how our experiences imbue our mosaic with color and fire and life.  So our trials...those difficult times we wish we could avoid...are the very impetuses of our gentle understanding.  Through our artfully composed mosaics, we see ourselves, our contributions, and our defining life experiences as something of beauty instead of hardship. 

If you could imagine your own life's mosaic, what would it look like?  What picture would it form?  What colors would be evident, and what would those colors represent?  Try to use as much sensory detail as you can to share your living mosaic with others.

We are Smooth Sailing...

 

Hello Everyone! 

Our year has certainly gotten off to an excellent start here at Griffin Middle School!  I am so excited to start this new year, and I know my 8th graders are equally excited!  Eighth grade is a very important transitional year for our students, because it is a year of preparation for the continuation of schooling at the high school and college levels.  Research tells us that how a student performs in 8th grade determines how that student will perform throughout their high school and college years.  At Griffin, we take these statistics very seriously!  So when you think the "going is getting rough," just remember that we are doing all we can to prepare you for your future success, and that we all have your best interests at heart. 

A very interesting article was published by ACT back in 2008 which addresses the importance of the 8th grade year for all students.  It is entitled, "The Forgotten Middle:  Ensuring that All Students are on Target for College and Career Readiness before High School."  Here is the link if you are interested in reading the Executive Summary.  It contains eye-opening data that should prove to be very motivational for students who are interested in being successful in High School and beyond.

http://www.act.org/research/policymakers/pdf/ForgottenMiddleSummary.pdf

At the beginning of the year, parents signed a course syllabus which gives a "year-at-a-glance" persective on our classroom studies.  Please be sure to read about what you need to know and be able to do this year.  Course syllabi are important tools to help you plan your year, so you know what to expect.  The course syllabus also gives you a sense of the big pictue.  So spend a little time with it and see how it helps you.

One last word to students and parents alike.  My door is open.  I am eager to listen to your concerns, help you with your school work, or just be a sounding board for you as you go through the school year.  Please don't hesitate to visit and to share your challenges and triumphs with me!  You are always welcome in Mrs. Efaw's room!