Duncan Public Schools Foundation

Dreams of Our Children You’re No Mary Poppins! January 8, 2021 We all either tried it or know someone who tried it as a child: defying gravity. I truly believ...ed that the umbrella would carry me gently to the ground. Fortunately, I only leapt from the first floor and broke no bones, but I know others who have visited emergency rooms dressed as their favorite superhero. Whether they tried to emulate Superman or some daredevil on a bicycle, they learned that their perception of the world was secondary to objective reality. In my five-year-old mind, I had solid anecdotal evidence from Mary Poppins to support my beliefs, but gravity simply does not care how we feel or what we believe. My mom’s reaction was perfect: Well, what did you expect? You’re no Mary Poppins! I have heard the term anecdotal a lot lately. In a legal or scientific sense, this means the information is based purely on personal accounts or unverifiable sources. In a practical sense, however, anecdotes are simply personal perceptions and testimonies, and they are very powerful. Even in the information age, few of us have the time to adequately research much for ourselves, so we get our information from sources we trust (or who agree with us). Unless we personally trace their information back to the original sources, we are just taking Mary Poppins’ word for it. Even the most logical among us rely on anecdotal information to make very substantive decisions. Otherwise, marketing campaigns would be lists of facts rather than pretty people having fun, and the less mature you are, the more influential the information. Of course, I have never personally verified any of this and offer no proof, so this, too, is anecdotal. If other people’s stories and testimonies have such a tremendous impact on us as adults, not only guiding our decisions but also our very identities, how does this impact our children? Twenty years ago, a parent could confidently protect their children from certain information until they were mature enough to process it, but that has become impossible. If a child does not have a smart phone, their friends do, so young children are exposed to unfiltered adult ideas, philosophies, and issues that they cannot properly process. They are deluged with unreliable information convincing them to jump off roofs, so to speak, thinking they understand the ramifications of their actions. In the information age, however, the ramifications are not always as immediate as a leap from the roof. Over the years, educational institutions and policy-makers have championed the need to affirm and support children’s self-esteem and self-confidence. This is very important, for we all want our children to have a positive self-image, but it needs to be balanced with objective reality. I am concerned that we have not equipped them with the skills necessary to balance their own perceptions against objective reality in the information age, when so many are telling them that no objective reality exists. Children are being actively encouraged from many influencers to make very adult decisions at younger and younger ages. Just because they have access to the information does not mean they are ready to process it. Adults struggle with this in the information age, and kids should bear these burdens? Children look to the adults in their lives to make sense of it all, but many parents feel just as overwhelmed, as if they are fighting a losing battle. Fortunately, a parent has more influence than all of Google, Facebook, and the internet combined. No marketing campaign or influencer can nullify your influence in your children’s lives. Your words are your superpower, and more than ever, kids need to hear from the adults in their lives, so they don’t jump off every roof that comes along. All kids tempt gravity sooner or later, but they need parents to draw clear lines between right and wrong, between fantasy and reality. Sometimes truth is more important than feelings. Letting your kids know they are not Mary Poppins may temporarily dent their self-esteem, but it hurts much less than gravity. Please pray for our parents’ boldness and the continued safety of our children this Second Sunday of the Month. By grace, Tom Deighan Superintendent Duncan Public Schools Public educators welcome all . . . serve all . . . love all.

Thank you Jamie Rowell! She applied for and was granted a DEx Award this year. Her program will give each of her students a new book every month for them to take home and keep. For Information on DPSF and the DEx Awards, visit duncankids.org

Dreaming the Dream of Our Children Mrs. Claus and IORE December 18, 2020 by Tom Deighan Alright kids, I am about to tell you a secret that adults worldwide have... hidden for centuries, but as your superintendent, I will not keep the truth about Santa Claus from you any longer. For my protection, however, I need you to hide this article from the adults in your house. I gladly take the risk, however, because every December each of you gets suspicious this whole Santa thing just smells funny and you know something’s up. So as long as you won’t rat me out to the adults, I am ready to shatter the myth of Santa Claus. Here’s the truth: Mrs. Claus is the brains behind the whole operation! Santa is a great guy and a loveable figurehead, dressing up for the paparazzi, but only she and the elves make Christmas possible. I might get tarred and feathered for exposing the truth, but I think most of you already knew that Kris could Kringle only so much. Let’s face it, there would be woefully little wassailing without the women in our lives, and that is true straight to the top of the Christmas tree, so it’s time to finally shatter this glass ceiling. Mrs. Claus makes all the merry, organizing the elves and managing the mistletoe. Being a true leader, however, she lets Santa be the star (and do the outside lights), but Mrs. Claus ultimately gives the elves all the credit. Christmas Elves are more than just snappy dressers with pointy hats and shoes; they are an organizational tsunami. Nevertheless, you may be surprised to learn there is an even deeper secret, because not even elves and Mrs. Claus can pull off Christmas on their own. More secretive than the location of Santa’s Workshop and Mrs. Claus’ form-slimming Spanx is the International Order of Reserve Elves or IORE (in the Elvish language IORE means Merry Christmas and may your shoes always be pointy). IORE is so secret that only top-level elves know the identities of these Nativity Ninjas. If you have seen the movie Elf, real elves would clearly stand out too much, so Ms. Claus employs everyday men and women as local community operatives. Yes, they even operate in Duncan, but you will never know who they are, even though they might be your neighbors, parents, or teachers (tons of IORE members work at schools). We may never know their true identity, but we see their work all around us. They provide winter coats and Food for Kids. They bring you cupcakes on Beautiful Days and shine One True Light in our schools. You can find them at the Duncan Toy Shop and the Rotary Auction. They dole out DEX awards and hang out with you at Gabriel’s House. You can see their HALO all over Duncan, and when Christmas is over they do stuff like running Kiddie Land and providing free eyeglasses. They boost your sports, your performances, and your ag projects. They serve in churches, civic clubs, on the city council and school board. They serve year-round, not just during Christmas, making Duncan a wonderful place to live. They have sworn never to reveal their identities, but they are easy to spot. They always have a kind word, a helping hand, and a twinkle in their eyes. So, if you encounter any suspected reserve elves, give them a wink. If they wink back, you have probably found an official member of IORE. And now that you know that Mrs. Claus makes Christmas happen, you are also eligible to become a member of IORE one day. You will never get any fame or recognition, but you will learn a secret handshake and get a pair of pointy shoes all your own. But please remember that adults all over Duncan will be looking for this article, so if they ask what was in it, just tell them that crazy superintendent is planning another snow day. Merry Christmas! By grace, Tom Deighan Superintendent Duncan Public Schools Public educators welcome all . . . serve all . . . love all.

Tis the season for indoor athletic events at Duncan Public Schools. Please read this important information if you are planning to attend one of these events. P...lease see the requirements for our indoor athletic events below. DUNCAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT The Athletic Department of Duncan Public Schools would like to welcome all players, coaches, and fans. In order to create a wonderful experience and provide safety for those attending sporting events, the Athletic Department is asking all teams and fans to adhere to the following procedures: A. Prior to entering the DPS facilities, all visiting teams will be responsible for the pre-screening of their participants (athletes, managers, coaches, etc.). This includes temperature checks that should register below 100.4 degrees. B. Any participant or spectator who has a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher or displays COVID-19 symptoms should not only be prevented from participation, but they will not be allowed entry into the facility. Symptoms include but are not limited to: fever/chills, cough, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headaches, loss of taste/smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea. C. Masks will be required for all coaches and spectators. D. Athletes participating on the court, field, etc., will NOT be required to wear a mask. E. Athletes not participating on the court, field, etc., will be required to wear a mask. F. Masks will need to be worn by spectators throughout the course of the event. Failure to do so could result in person(s) being removed from the facility. G. There will be no post-game handshakes between teams H. Spectators will be asked to vacate the gymnasium within fifteen minutes after the last game/match is completed. As you attend Duncan Public School sporting events, rest assured that the facility being utilized has been disinfected prior to the event and will be thoroughly cleaned after. If there are any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the Athletic Department. Thank you for your cooperation! Bobby Cook - Athletic Coordinator Duncan Public Schools

Congratulations to the Chicken Express - Duncan Employees of the Month! Teacher: Janice Hodges of Horace Mann Elementary Support: Lisa Thacker of Plato Elemen...tary Thank you so much for all you do at DPS!!

Dreams of Our Children My Silly Visit to the Dentist December 4, 2020 by Tom Deighan Appearing from nowhere, the Great White slips ghostlike past the coral. ...Eyes fixed straight ahead, it opens its massive jaws lined with rows of jagged triangles, poised to strike. Schools of fish scatter, parting like a curtain before the 2,000 pound monster. A few panicked individuals dart for protection under the reef, only to be ambushed by moray eel and other opportunists. The shark abruptly stops swimming, gliding gently over a flat piece of coral atop the reef where it becomes a floating statue. Colorful shoals of fish quickly reappear, now indifferent to the yawning intruder, as a team of small, striped fish rise from the coral and swim straight into the killer’s mouth. Called cleaner wrasse, they dangerously poke between the razor-sharp teeth and presumptuously dart through the great fish’s gills. One particularly annoying wrasse picks incessantly at the shark’s eyeballs. The behemoth rolls its eyes into the back of its grey skull, resigned to endure its visit to the dentist fish. But great whites are restless, swimming constantly in search of prey. Being suspended motionless slowly suffocates the hunter, and its jaws are designed to instantly snap shut, not to be unnaturally held wide open. A trip to the dentist can be excruciating, so the shark goes catatonic as the worker fish pluck scraps of flesh from the giant’s teeth. The cleaner wrasses keep a weary eye on the killer, however. Sharks are wound tightly like springs, and they cannot stay still for long. Eventually it begins to wriggle uncomfortably. . . Hang in there, Mr. Deighan, almost done, the dental hygienist reassures me as I lie in the dental chair with my hands clasped tightly together, we just need to rinse out some of that paste. The dentist soon enters to perform the oral exam, pulling on my tongue, and I wonder if sharks have tongues, and if If so, can a shark blow a raspberry or lick a lollipop? I quickly return to my coral reef, where the king of the ocean has reached its limit. It’s mouth is tired, and the wrasse barely escapes as my jaws abruptly slam shut. As the great white swims away, carrying its free toothbrush and licking at the fluoride varnish stuck on its huge lips, another shark glides through the hallway, gaping jaws, ready to visit the flat piece of coral on top of the reef. I can never get my teeth cleaned without imagining those crazy fish poking around in a shark’s mouth. With all the heady issues facing the world COVID, the economy, school bond projects, Christmas, and Tiger King 2 your superintendent has surely lost his mind. Honestly, I just wanted to write a silly story about my dentist daydream, but I don’t have any profound message, just silliness. Nevertheless, we need some silliness sometimes. More importantly, our children need silliness, which is hard for them to experience if we adults don’t purposely shield them from the stresses of the COVID age. Children are sponges, soaking up everything around us. Sure, they need to learn to cope with stress, but they also need the freedom to be silly, even when things are unpleasant. They get that permission from us, so open those jaws and roll your eyes back into your head. You should be so lucky to be a superintendent! I am privileged to swim the hallways among schools of silly, goofy children. They can find fun anywhere, and it is impossible to end a day on a sour note after walking through our hallways and playgrounds. They remind us that daydreams and silliness are not silly at all. They are essential. By the way, Google informed me that sharks do indeed have tongues and lips. Shark tongues are called basihyals and shark lips, just lips. And while you may forget those silly facts, I bet you will never again visit the dentist without thinking about those little fish cleaning the shark’s teeth. Silly mission accomplished! By grace, Tom Deighan Superintendent Duncan Public Schools Public educators welcome all . . . serve all . . . love all.