I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Jon Ross, the principal of Lionville Middle School this past week. I must say, the reason the students are excited, is because the teachers are excited, and the teachers are excited, is because Jon is excited.
Although a few minutes late, I walked in to the class where all of the Future Cities engineering has been happening and Jon was at the front of the room speaking to the students. It was evident from the first moment, that Jon does not hold back, and is quick to show his passion for education and his love for what the students can do. He believes in each of these students and I believe this is why the students have rocked my paradigm of what an eighth grader is like.
These students are enthusiastic, excited, and willing to work. The exact opposite of what I honestly expected.
The final days of the project are coming quick and the students are honing in on what they want their model to look like.
The Sim City model is done, the essays are written, the presentations are being perfected. The biggie, the physical model is going to take some work. Mr. Raines is less like an instructor now, and more like a hands on maestro.
Not only is he organizing all the inner workings of the class to make sure everyone has a voice and hand in the construction of the model, he himself is there in the “trenches” painting, measuring, making, thinking, asking, wring, cutting, gluing, and all out running around like a chicken with his read removed.
But again, as I step back, there is always a common thread of organization to the chaos. A simple heart beat that links the students to one another. They are the first.
Just as Principal Ross stated, no matter what happens, no matter what place trophy they bring home, they will all be able to hang their heads high and look back, they were the first class at Lionville Middle School to take on this challenge.
And for these young pioneers, just being there is enough to be proud of.
It makes me feel good to see excitement from the students being channeled all the way from the principle of the school. On the list of things our children need to be successfu, this is near the top! Thank you Dan for sharing this with everyone.