Monday is the last day for our food drive. Please bring in non-perishable food items to your first block class. All items will be donated to the Middletown Valley Food Bank and the top three classrooms will receive a pizza party lunch!

Any Senior or Junior who has taken or is currently enrolled in Spanish 4 is invited to join the National Spanish Honor Society. You may pick up an application from the World Languages bulletin board in the cafeteria or contact Mr. Lupian with questions. Applications are due by Monday, Dec. 1.

Attention seniors: Today is the last day of our Claire’s Gourmet fundraiser. All order forms and payments must be turned in by the end of school today to either Mrs. Boyll in Learning Cottage 2 or Mrs. Anderson in room 516.

Last night, our MHS Ice Hockey team opened their season with a bang, crushing Carroll County 9-2. Sean Mickelson led the scoring barrage with a hat trick while Joe Devine had a strong performance in net. The Knights face Frederick this evening at 5:30 at Skate Frederick. Come out and see the high speed, hard hitting action only MHS Ice Hockey can deliver!

And now, something to think about from Mrs. Jeffery:

Today I want to talk to you about the power of stories.

In the field of co-intelligence, stories are more than dramas people tell or read. Stories are a powerful way of organizing and sharing individual experiences. Our psyches and cultures are filled with stories, which shape our awareness. Story-reality is recognizing that every person has a story.

One of the most interesting aspects about being a principal is hearing your stories. And I listen when you tell me stories about your families, your problems with friends and family, your successes, your trouble with school work, and your excitement when you have an idea. When you listen to people’s stories you become interested in people and sensitive to what is happening in their lives. You look past what they are wearing, who they hang around with, what kind of car their family drives, and you focus on the person.

You can have a profoundly positive impact on people when you listen to their stories and when you tell good stories. Today I bring along my old friend Jingles. Jingles had a tumultuous life being dragged around by a very energetic owner. That owner was me. He was the typical childhood teddy bear at first, but he became a bear that comforted people. While as a young person I didn’t always have the words to comfort others, Jingles could always find the words through stories. For example, when my younger sister and I were little she would always cry out in the middle of the night because she was scared of the dark. I used to get so irritated with her but telling her not to be scared didn’t help. One night, when my sister was crying because she was scared, I pulled out Jingles and started The Adventures of Jingles story series. Well from then on, there were many nights when out of the dark I would hear, Lee, tell me a story. My sister went through some difficult times over the years but I could always cheer her up by texting her a picture of Jingles posed drinking a cup of coffee, or spinning around tied to a ceiling fan, or sitting on the front step enjoying a sunny day.

So I ask you, are you listening to other people’s stories? Are you looking past the obvious to discover the amazing stories of others?
In the words of Maya Angelou: “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”

With something to think about I’m Mrs. Jeffrey, have a beautiful day.