Exam week can be a very unique for our students in the fall. Students can have anywhere from 3-5 finals during a four day stretch. This is a very personalized experience as they can exempt an exam or two if they meet the criteria. Depending on their scheduling choices, exams look very different in academic classes compared to athletics and fine arts. Some take traditional exams while others are project or performance based. It is a unique week. We also try to balance this with testing over four days as opposed to many high schools which get it done in 2-3 days. The scheduling of the 4th and 5th period exams on different days guarantees one exam on that day because these are our lunch periods. The mood around campus takes on a new feeling as each day passes. As our students complete exams after 1 pm, they begin to realize that the first semester is quickly coming to an end. The notion of having some down time from WHS becomes a reality each day as they have more time off campus each day. The excitement is coupled with some hesitation as they do realize that it may be three weeks before they see some of their friends, teachers, directors and coaches again. No matter if you are a teenager or a 4o year veteran teacher, the one true constant is that down time is going to happen soon. When I visit with our students during this week, we talk how exams are going and what the plans are for the break. It has been amazing to see how the bare necessities are the deepest wish: sleep, good food, time with friends and family. These are also the sentiments and hope of our faculty as well. Parents seem to share these same hopes. Whether this quiet and personal time happens on a beach in the Caribbean, a ski lodge in Utah, a family farm in Kansas, or their home in Austin, everyone wants sometime away from the daily schedule and routine. We hope you can take advantage of the break and enjoy some relief from the everyday grind as a student, parent or teacher. If you have trouble figuring out how to enjoy a break from your normal groove, simply ask your kids or spouse or close friends when it is when they believe you are truly relaxing. On the drive into school today, my kids and I remembered that “Rogue One” is coming out this weekend and we discussed when we would go see it over the break. It was a must see for as my youngest pointed out, “you (daddy) love a good movie with popcorn. You never seem to stop smiling when we share popcorn.” That is true. The list my girls generated was very simple but highly accurate. Ask those around you about your list….sometimes others are a great source of documenting when they see us enjoying life’s moments. It's always a great day to be a Chaparral! I wish everyone a Happy Holiday and a wonderful New Year!
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Steve Ramsey: WHS Principal BlogPrincipal's Weekly Reflections Archives
May 2019
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