HughHarris

FCA – Off to A Great Start!

The start of a new school year is always exciting, busy, and sometimes stressful. If I have learned anything over the years from these beginnings it’s – we’re going to be ok! For parents and students, especially those that are new there are so many questions – will I have new friends, what’s my teacher like, will my child adjust to this new setting? What are we going to learn this year?

One of the ways we help answer these and other questions regarding school culture is to begin the year at a camp for 4 days. We help develop community and a culture of discipleship among students, teachers, and families. We want students to get to know their classmates and teachers in a setting that fosters FCA’s vision. We also want Seniors and upperclassmen to learn and demonstrate what it means to be a servant leader. By starting this way we lay the ground work for an academic setting where teachers relate with students in a Christ centered environment.

Our staff and Seniors have been planning and preparing for the entire summer. They have met once per week at least to lay out the vision and theme of camp. To design camp t-shirts, develop team building games, skits and activities that drive home and communicate the theme. Worship times, devotionals, prayer, paintball, crafts, and meals are all designed to build a culture of
cooperation and community as we walk with students and get to know them and they each other in a fun, safe, exciting atmosphere.

Each year we divide the school into teams or activity groups that are “cross-grade” – meaning there are all grades represented in each group, 5th- 12th grade, this way students get to know other students that might not be in their grade. Teachers are assigned to each group but Seniors are
given much of the leadership responsibilities and are encouraged to serve and lead their teammates. Seniors stress looking out for each member throughout the day. During meals, rest time, activities they are constantly monitoring to make sure that all their teammates are engaged and included in whatever is going on.

Thanks to Tommy Rhodes and the folks at Barefoot Republic for hosting the FCA Camp for the 3rd year now. Thanks to FCA faculty, Rona Branson and Melanie Sutton, for spearheading our camp and of course our amazing Seniors! You wouldn’t believe what all they have in store for our students. We know and pray that God will meet us there and we anticipate everything He has
in store for us at camp and the 2011-12 school year!

August 13, 2011 Posted by hughharrisfca | Education | 1 Comment

My Mother-in-law, The Franklin Theater and Soul Surfer – The Trifecta!

Sometimes I’m not sure what to expect when I take my 95-year-old mother-in-law out on the town – will she like what we have planned, will we be able to help  her arrive at the destination without incident (knees don’t work like they used to for her – at 95 its ok), will I say something that will make her regret me being married to her youngest for 36 years, you know – normal stuff.

But I think we hit a home run last night with our families beginning celebration of our daughter Rachel’s birthday by taking the girls to see Soul Surfer at the newly re-modeled Franklin Theater. Wow, did the Heritage Foundation do a great job or what? Check out their website for tickets, showtimes, and concerts coming up.

http://www.franklintheatre.com/

I must admitted I was a little skeptical about the movie. I had heard good things but sometimes the fact that a movie has a “Christian” theme should not give it a pass on critical analysis. I was pleasantly surprised. You can’t beat the price on the Theaters movies – $5 and the place was packed – sold out for the 7:30 showing. And Mrs. Cornelius had a great time! Winning!

So, if you want a great night out and a way to celebrate your daughter’s birthday (and impress the mother-in-law) take in Soul Surfer and if you can, see it at the Franklin Theater.

July 29, 2011 Posted by hughharrisfca | Education | Leave a comment

What do we value?

I had one of our amazing teachers ask me this question yesterday – “What do we value as a school – what do we want our students to value when they graduate?” Great question.

As a school this question trumps many others and it must be asked, evaluated, and wrestled with regularly! So, what do we value, really? Was that question asked when the school was founded? In the case of Franklin Christian Academy it was. More about that in a minute. But are we living it? Do the school’s resources reflect it? Is the leadership of the school focused on it? Do its constituents understand these values and agree to them? Are these values regularly “graded” or evaluated? These are just some of the tough questions organizations must discipline themselves to deal with otherwise “mission drift” can set in.

In the fall of FCA’s first year the Board of Directors met together and Andy Reese, one of our founding board members, led us through a brain storming session on “what do we value” as a school. The people with the vision, board members and their wives, wrestled with this question late into the night and for several days afterward. We edited, debated, and agreed together that the following were the guiding values and beliefs that we saw as critical to the success of Franklin Christian Academy. We understood I Thes. 2:5 where Paul exhorts us to hear Christ as He calls us to stand firm in His teachings, His values, and His beliefs.

FCA Core Values and Beliefs

Passion for Christ and for Life – FCA strives to instill a love of Christ and desire to serve Him in each student by example, by involvement, and by teaching. Moral character and integrity are qualities that are lifted up and rewarded.

Respect for the Individual Learner – We teach students, not subjects. Each student is an individual with unique gifts, talents and abilities. We want students to progress to their highest potential. We want each student to feel valued and accepted for who they are.

College Preparatory Academics– Our desire is to mold our students into life-long learners by providing challenging and college preparatory academics through interactive and experiential learning.

Integrated Christian Curriculum Worldview – Scripture and God himself are relevant to every subject. We cannot look at Science, History, Literature or Math without seeing the hand and nature of our creator. We acknowledge this and guide our students to discover God’s foundational truths for each subject.

Fine Arts– Fine arts are a vital part of the education process and success in life whether in visual Art, Music, Drama, or Graphic Design.

Personal and Community Development – We seek to show our students who God is and who they are by exploring their gifts and strengths and seeing how they fit into God’s purposes for the world.

Athletics and Fitness– For many students athletics is the glue that holds their academic experience together. Life lessons and community building through these experiences are an indispensable part of school life.

Economic, Racial and Social Diversity – FCA actively seeks to be a racially, economically, and socially diverse community meeting a variety of academic needs.

Student Servant Leadership – Students are actively encouraged to pursue a Christ-like servant-leadership role with their peers. FCA rewards this quality with an annual ‘Servant Leader’ award for each grade.

International and Local Missions – FCA offers multiple opportunities for students to participate in missions outreach and social justice experiences. By example, involvement and teaching, a high importance in placed on these areas.

Camp, Retreats and Trips – Through camps, retreats and trips as well as daily and weekly activities, FCA is a loving community that embraces diverse and varied individuals.

Honesty and Integrity – FCA requires honesty and integrity in all areas of school life. We are committed to be responsible stewards of all the resources that Gods provides for us.

FCA parents and students your input is valued. We need to hear from you. Please feel free to post to this blog regarding how you see FCA as a school is doing in regards to these values and feel free to be honest. How are we doing? What needs to change to help us be true to these values?

July 29, 2011 Posted by hughharrisfca | Education | Leave a comment

What’s the best meat to smoke? Really now, do we need to even ask?

Ask three people and you will get 30 answers. But there really is only ONE answer…if you’re from Texas anyway… Beef Brisket. Cooked the right way and you will find no finer taste, texture, or tender mouth-watering feast. Add some white potato salad and some baked beans …already some of your glands are exploding in your head if you’ve ever had this fine fair.

Smokin a brisket on a real charcoal and wood burning smoker is not for the faint of heart. Like working with teenagers, brisket takes lots of time, low heat, and lots of smoke.

Some of my fine Tennessee brethren will say that pulled pork on a bun with cold slaw piled on it is the best. And I say (to quote Mr. Lovett) “That’s right you’re not from Texas.” Why in the world would you waste all that time, effort, and hard oak wood on a PIG? Then put cabbage on it? I don’t think so.

So, today as we finish some yard work and go to church the Brisket (and some “JoJo” chicken, I’ll explain later) will be on my cranky, finicky, New Braunfels smoker. Now I am of the opinion that you can’t really smoke meat on these high-powered, one touch, gas grilles. You really need a hard wood like oak or mesquite to get the right amount of smoke and flavor.

See the picture for the beginning stages. Meat went on at 9:00 am. With some coddling and intermittent attention it should be ready around 3:00 when we head to church. Strong Tower Bible Church meets at 3:00 so CZ may have a tough time keeping my attention during the sermon he’ll preach today knowing that this brisket is settling down just waitin for us to get home.

And yes the hammock in the background is part of the recipe.

July 24, 2011 Posted by hughharrisfca | Education | Leave a comment

Bosses listening to millennial workers (from Allan Chernoff, CNN)

Are we as educators and parents listening? Interesting article. (Re-publish from Allen Chernoff @ CNN)

(CNN) — As millennials play an increasingly important role in the workforce, their likes and dislikes are reshaping the way Americans work and are forcing executives to change policies and management styles.

The CEO of Euro RSCG Worldwide PR has already seen the benefits of being more flexible.

“What time of day do you think we should open?” veteran public relations executive Marian Salzman asks her staff.

Several 20-something employees — a few with the giggles — respond that 10 or 10:30 a.m. would be a good time.

Gen-Y’ers: Delaying adulthood

Salzman isn’t about to keep the doors closed until 10:30 a.m. But even though executives many years their senior might consider some of their requests audacious, she’s doing plenty of listening to her staff of about 80, the vast majority of whom are members of the millennial generation — those born after 1980.

Her millennial employees have asked for free food — which Google gives its workers — a juice bar, a yoga/Pilates room, even reimbursement for a personal trainer. While Salzman didn’t grant any of those perks, she understands why they may not seem outrageous for someone with a millennial mindset.

“They want the workplace to recognize that they’re not 9-to-5 people. They’re not people that are ever going to wear gray flannel suits,” Salzman said.

Report: Millennials say marriage ideal but parenthood the priority

For many millennials, priorities are “life first, work second.”

“I have a girlfriend, I have family, I have friends, and these are all things that are very important because we work to live, and not the other way around,” said Euro RSCG staffer Greg Housset.

Gen Y’ers try career ‘speed dating’

Millennials have also watched their parents get burned out or laid off by corporate America, so life/work balance is especially important to them, management experts say.

“If you want to get the best people, you have to meet them halfway,” said Robert DelCampo, associate professor at the University of New Mexico’s Anderson School of Management. “Being inflexible won’t get you anywhere.”

Employers say many grads expect coddling

So, Euro RSCG does permit very casual dress — tattoos are on display, as are toes wiggling freely in flip-flops. The company sponsors rooftop happy hours  three days each week, allows half-day Fridays during the summer and offers employees time off to do volunteer work.

Hiring Director Allison Pinter recently returned from a six-month volunteer stint with the nonprofit group Yele Haiti to help after the country’s devastating earthquake.

“I’m really lucky I got to do that, and then come back to the job that I’ve loved for five years,” Pinter said.

Salzman says she feels it’s best not to manage from an authoritarian position. She strives instead to be a leader, peer and student of her young employees. Why? Because she believes young workers are plugged into the social media revolution that’s changing the way the world communicates, including corporate America.

“They’re the new marketplace, they’re the new brains. They come with all the social media tools and tricks embedded in them as natives,” she said.

The public relations executive recognizes she needs to be flexible enough to accommodate as many requests as possible from her young staffers — requests she says she wouldn’t have dared make when she was starting her career in the early ’80s.

Millennial generation the next big thing

Managing millennials requires executives to check their egos and build up a thick skin. Not only are young employees very demanding these days, they’re also quick to voice criticism — even online for the world to see, something Salzman has experienced.

But she’s put aside inclinations to exert her power in favor of recognizing the potential of her young employees, who she argues are anything but slackers.

“You’re not the smartest person in the room anymore. You may be the most experienced, you may be the wisest. You’re not the smartest,” she says.

It’s paid off for Euro RSCG Worldwide PR. The firm has enjoyed strong growth under Salzman with clients that include Kmart and the pharmaceutical firms Sanofi and Bayer.

The millennial style of working can yield success, if the boss is willing to throw out the old rule book.

Survey: Millennials echo parents on abortion, much more supportive of gay marriage

July 23, 2011 Posted by hughharrisfca | Education | Leave a comment

Welcome to Nashville Michelle Rhee!

Michelle Rhee the former D.C. Superintendent of Schools is moving to Nashville & she continues to pull no punches – even when it concerns her own daughters. Ms. Rhee in a speech to legislators in Memphis said part of the problem in education is that we continue to reward students no matter what their achievement. Take for example her own daughters – “My two girls play soccer. They suck at soccer. But you would never guess that if you went in their room. There are trophies and medals everywhere.”

She said – “We are so concerned with making children feel good about themselves but we haven’t put in the time to make them good at anything.” Amen

To read the complete story go to: http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/jul/18/state-of-education/#

July 19, 2011 Posted by hughharrisfca | Education | Leave a comment