Activism
National Volunteer Week
By Guest Blogger on April 11th, 2016
National Volunteer Week is being celebrated from April 10-16th this year.
What a great time to reflect and to take action! Martin Luther King, Jr. said it best, “Everybody can be great. Because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve…You don’t have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”
Eleven years ago, our dog died, leaving a big impact on our family. My children were young and the whole family was devastated. Concurrently, I was the Principal of Winter Park High School. I had developed a close friendship with a parent who was a volunteer puppy raiser for Canine Companions for Independence. Continue reading
Global Mindset, Global Win: Model UN Dominates Conferences
By Guest Blogger on January 16th, 2015
The Florida Virtual School Model United Nations (MUN) team is in a theoretically outstanding position: the delegates communicate about parliamentary procedure and conference prep online, but met for the first time in person at conferences across Florida in 2014.
The delegates’ adaptability to new situations is tested upon meeting each other, and as friendships form, their diplomacy skills evidently flourish in daylong sessions.
FLVSMUN delegates attended two conferences in fall 2014: the KnightMUN at the University of Central Florida, and the Old City MUN (OCMUNC) in St. Augustine, Fla. Delegates participated in both assembly and crisis committees, and showcased a diverse array of talents at the conferences. Continue reading
Admirable Women: A Reflection
By Darcey Addo on April 2nd, 2014
Sandra Day O’Connor once said, “We don’t accomplish anything in this world alone. Whatever happens is the result of the whole tapestry of one’s life…” During March, the world celebrated Women’s History Month – honoring and recognizing the greatness of the women that contribute to our accomplishments and celebrating the legacy of that greatness upon which we stand.
My story contains many threads, but today I celebrate just a few of the remarkable women who stand out and help me aspire to greatness.
I recall learning about Susan B. Anthony as a fourth grader. I remember learning that she was told she did not need to learn math because she was a girl. I was a feisty 10-year-old and that riled me up, probably as much as it riled up Susan B. Anthony. Continue reading
Social Media, Malala, and Changing the World
By Darcey Addo on January 16th, 2014
If you haven’t read her book, you probably saw her in your Facebook feed. You may have even watched her capture the attention of the United Nations as she advocated for peace after being shot in the head. If not, possibly you watched Jon Stewart interview her on the “Daily Show” where she talked about her appreciation for education because of the way the Taliban “blasted schools” and “snatched education” from Pakistani children. When you read her book, I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban, you read of a girl who fervently loves school. As a teacher, there are few things more heartwarming. Along with her story of compassion and forgiveness comes a tremendous responsibility for educators.
I am captivated as I read her book, both by the story and the storytelling. I hope someday to have the eloquence and tenacity of this teenager. At just 16 years old, Malala was nominated for the Nobel peace prize. Continue reading