We are past the 100th day of school and believe it or not the end of the school year is coming very quickly.  For the seniors, it is hard to believe that within about 70 school days they will be moving onto the next phase in their lives and they will leave Alvirne behind to become a memory.  For the rest, things are happening that will  change their lives forever.

For the Class of 2012, it is nearing the time that they will need to step up and become the true leaders of the school.  Looking to what their futures will be and what options they have will be a wonderful as well as a scary thing.  Every single one of these students should have already started to formulate a plan.  The scariest three words I know come from  a 17 year old.  When asked what do you want to do when you leave high school and the 17 year old replies, "I don't know."  I have a great fear for these young people.

On the first day of their Sophomore year I let the students know that the word sophomore in Latin translates to "wise yet foolish".  They have the knowledge to know better but sometimes don't use that knowledge to their advantage.  I challenge them to ask answer three questions. 

• What do you want to do when you leave high school?
• What will it take to reach that goal?
• What are you willing to sacrifice to make that happen? 

I often wonder where they are in finding the answers to these questions. Are they finding their way past the foolishness and seriously looking to their future?  For many I can see the wheels turning but not for all.

As far as our Freshman, the first semester is over and the majority are doing well.  The failure rate is lower than it has been in many years and the honor roll for the first two quarters has been a great showing of their efforts.  There are a handful that have not made a successful transition.  I want to work with these students and their parents to find their focus and help them to find their way to the graduation stand on time.

High school is a great time for our students to grow and find out who they are, that is what I truly want for them.