Celebration!
After a two-year hiatus, the Perry Athletic Hall of Fame committee sponsored a formal induction ceremony in the Goodwin Theatre on September 17th. New inductees for the Class of 2022 are
Abigail Clifford ’11, Jeff Hartmann - Coach (1994-2004), Emily Casey Hinton ’12, Patrick Murphy ’98, Erin O’Donnell ’09, and Tony Patrizi ’00. Three Perry teams were also inducted: 1998 Girls 4×800 Relay Team, 2001-2002 Wrestling Team, and 2009 Girls Cross Country Team. Each was introduced by a person of their choice, followed by accounts of the many wonderful memories and experiences they continue to cherish. It truly was an honor to attend this ceremony, hear the inspirational stories, and see the inductees shed tears of joy as they spoke about the support they received from their loved ones along the way. The genuine gratitude and pride each of the inductees exude as a lifelong Perry Pirate is contagious. This night is a fine example of the slogan, “Once a Pirate, always a Pirate”. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of it.
Is it Bullying?
We must continue to work on reducing acts of aggression. Bullying, however, is a term that is often misapplied to aggressive behavior that does not meet the definition. Bullying is an ongoing and deliberate misuse of power in relationships through repeated verbal, physical, and/or social behavior that intends to cause physical, social, and/or psychological harm. According to the National Centre Against Bullying, bullying is not:
· single episodes of social rejection or dislike
· single episode acts of nastiness or spite
· random acts of aggression or intimidation
· mutual arguments, disagreements, or fights.
Sadly, there are many types of mean and or aggressive behavior. Such acts are not just a school problem but a human nature problem that follows us in every domain of our lives. Regardless of whether acts of aggression meet the definition of bullying, we must take action to reduce all such behavior both in and outside of school. On November 2nd we are doing just that.
We strongly encourage you to be part of our efforts to reduce bullying and aggressive behavior by coming to hear Dr. Brooks Gibbs in the High School Media Center on November 2nd at 7:00 pm. Dr. Gibbs is a social psychologist who for 23 years has been teaching students how to regulate emotions and solve social problems. This includes helping parents to raise their children to be resilient.
If you want your child to:
· Be unfazed by words or insults
· Be able to solve their social problems on their own
· Understand they are not perfect and learn to take and make a joke about their flaws
· Be content with friends who accept them and not seek the approval of everyone
then this is a presentation you don’t want to miss.
After presenting to parents and community members on Wednesday night, Dr. Gibbs will speak to students and staff throughout the day on Thursday. Dr. Gibbs’ visit will provide a perfect time to continue these tough conversations at home with your children. As always, we are incredibly grateful for your continued support of the Perry Local Schools. I hope to see all of you on the evening of November 2nd. Go Pirates!