Appreciating The People in Your Life at BMHS

The theme for today's class is : APPRECIATION

With the recent passing of our well loved and respected BMHS security guard, Maurice Tomlin, it has inspired in many of us an appreciation of those around us everyday that we may otherwise overlook. 

Yesterday evening our cadets supported the amazing Memorial Tribute to Maurice Tomlin by BMHS and the Norwalk Community. The positive and healing impact it had on the Tomlin family, his friends, and his fellow Senators from BMHS was apparent. 

Let's watch two short videos to give us an appreciation for the positive things in our lives. After viewing them, you will be given an in class assignment to write a letter. 

Class Activity:

• Think about an adult at BMHS that you appreciate. Select one that you greatly appreciate. (Not presuming anything, but it can't be the NSI or SNSI. )
• You are going to write a one page letter to that person and turn it into me at the end of the class period. 
• In your letter include:
• Who that person is by name
• Why you appreciate them
• The impact they have on you and others
• This will be an anonymous letter, so do not sign it. 
• Turn the letter into me by the end of the class period as I will turn it into that adult. 

Surviving a Natural Disaster...How About an Earthquake

We discussed the concept of survival. We analyzed a complex camping trip that turned into the loss of two lives. Much of this may seem hypothetical, meaning how does this pertain to me as a student-cadet in Norwalk, CT. We have snow storms, hurricanes, and storm surge flooding; but a tornado or a earthquake in or near Connecticut...come on. Lets take a look at how you would need to survive an earthquake. 

Survival is not just about getting lost in the woods and getting rescued. Sometimes it is about surviving from a natural disaster.  During a natural disaster the first responders and city services will be overwhelmed and may not be able to help you for 2 or 3 days. You need to learn to prepare and in extreme cases solve your own problems as a person, household, neighborhood, and community. 

Lets see how one city dealt with a severe earthquake....                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

WHAT VETERANS DAY MEANS TO YOU AND OUR COUNTRY

Dan Caporale, USMC Vietnam Vet

ABOVE IS A PICTURE OF former Staff Sergeant Dan Caporale, a USMC Veteran who served three tours in Vietnam. He is a recipient of the Silver Star for heroism in combat was wounded and received the Purple Heart as well. He served with the MACV SOG (Special Operations Group). The veterans you see in the next few days served when they were a little older than you and were participating in the defense of our nation. 

TODAY WE WILL WRITE A LETTER IN CLASS THANKING OUR VETERANS AND TELLING THEM WHAT VETERANS DAY MEANS TO YOU AND TO OUR COUNTRY.

Instructions for In class assignment: 

1. Single piece of paper write a letter addressed To A Veteran
2. First paragraph thanking them for their service to their country.
3. Second paragraph telling them what veterans day means to you. 
4. Print your name as your signature. 
5. Turn in your letter to SNSI. 

Remember tomorrow is Veterans Day and uniform Day in order to attend you need to bring your permission slip in and be in uniform and conduct yourself accordingly. 

Short Attention Span and Much Work Still To Do... How Can We Improve

It is pretty apparent that many students feel that school is over and the teacher's didn't get the memo...students openly trying to sleep in class...providing the answer "I don't know" when asked a routine question where they could provide input. These are all indicators that many students have lost the motivation to focus. There is only problem: SCHOOL IS NOT OVER YET and FINALS are right around the corner. 

Today, you will be organized into three groups to perform two tasks on a rotational basis for 15 minutes each:

CADET PARTICIPATION DISCUSSION TASK:  You will discuss how to improve cadet participation in drill, community service, and military ball. Feel free to reference the rubric you filled out. Designate one person to take group notes to capture your ideas on how to increase cadet participation. 

RUBRIC TASK:  You will be given a hard copy of the BMHS Personal Responsibility Rubric. I will conduct a quick overview. You will then review it and Self Assess Yourself. Based upon the time left available you can discuss as a group. 

Final Comment: Based upon time remaining we may conduct a class-wide review of the tasks. I will conduct your individual student rubric self assessments and your small group discussion notes. 

STAY ON TASK AND FOCUS.

2014 Upperclassmen Final Exam: Using Your Summer To Set Yourself Up for Success Next Year

2014 Upperclassmen JROTC Final Exam

Purpose: The purpose of this final examination for Upperclassmen (9,10,11 graders) Cadets is to create a product that will have relevance to your plans this summer to prepare yourself for next year both professionally and personally. You should be able to use what you learn from this examination during your summer and to help you attain goals in the future.

Cadet Sposato and Chief Pascoe

Pre-Exam Preparation: Spend time prior to the exam analyzing your summer, consider the below factors (feel free to add any more you feel are relevant) and develop (synthesize) your summer plan.

Summer Tasks:

• Work
• How can you earn money this summer?
• Where, Doing What, Hours, Salary
• Volunteer / Community Service
• Where can you perform community service or volunteer?
• Where, When, For Whom
• Exercise and Health
• President’s Physical Fitness Program
• Other Physical Activity of Your Choice
• Relax / Vacation
• Traveling (with family if possible)
• Stay-cation: Day Trips from home
• Professional Development
• College Prep: Generic College Essay
• Check Out Colleges Online (Which Ones)
• College Tour (Local or while on Vacation)
• SAT / ACT Prep (How, Where?)
• Personal Development
• Family Relationships
• Parents and Guardians
• Siblings (Brothers & Sisters)
• Other Relatives
• Friend Relationships
• Reading (What Books?)
• Select two Books You Want To Read This Summer that will assist in your personal or professional development.

Your Final Exam: Using your pre-exam preparation, you are required to conduct two graded tasks (one written task prior to the exam and one verbal task during the exam):

• Pre-Exam Task: Complete a detailed two to three page 2014 Personal Summer Plan and turn it in at the beginning of the class period during the scheduled exam to the SNSI.
• List and explain all of the specific tasks (Work, Volunteer / Community Service, Exercise and Health, Relax/Vacation, Professional, Personal, Reading) you plan to perform.
• Place all of these specific tasks on a calendar. You will use this calendar during the Exam Task.   
• Exam Task: Using your 2014 Personal Summer Plan, and associated calendar brief the SNSI on your personal plan for the summer. Ensure you address not only the summer tasks but specifically how you plan to accomplish them and when by using the calendar.  

THE SCHEDULE FOR YOUR FINALS ARE PUBLISHED BY THE SCHOOL.

If you have any questions make sure you contact me AT BOTH rfkillackey@gmail.com and killackeyr@norwalkps.org .

We talk about different Roles, Rights, and Responsibilities...What About Citizenship?

In our last class, we talked about the different roles you may find yourself in and how you may have varying RIGHTS and RESPONSIBILITIES to each role. 

Let's watch a video (Citizenship 101) about citizenship, it is like a 1940's newsreel and a bit corny (attempt at humor), but it makes the point. Lets watch: 

After watching the video, ask yourself these questions, as they pertain to being a good citizen in your community in and out of school:

• When was the last time you picked up a piece of trash? (Picking up after yourself doesn't count because that is what you are supposed to do.)
• When was the last time you recycled anything?
• When was the last time you participated in community service?
• When was the last time you held the door for somebody?
• When was the last time you helped somebody who was elderly, that wasn't a relative? (What would you want someone to do for your Grandmother or Grandfather???)
• Offer to Help them cross the street
• Offer to help them carry something
• Shovel their walk or take their garbage can out or in without looking for money
•  How informed are you about what is going on in your house, school, neighborhood, city, state, and the nation?
• During class do you pay attention or do you zone out? Do you distract (goof around, flirt, talk, use phone, listen to music) others in class or in group work; or do you contribute and set the example?

CLASS WORK: We will review the JROTC class (PPT) on Citizenship and Responsibility.

YOUR HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT: Hold a door open for somebody today / tonight. Or pick up some trash to make an area look better. Do something to help someone out in your community?