From the Middle: Week of Oct 30

Kevin Laue Inspires our Middle School!

On Monday, October 23rd, the FFA brought Kevin Laue to our school to speak about excepting your weakness.  Kevin has a unique take on life after being born with part of an arm he refers to as his "nub".   He had many struggles growing up that included being called the stupid kid, losing his father to cancer, and not fitting in.  Kevin is the first Division I basketball player with not having two fully functioning arms.  He struggled with his identity of being different in middle school and didn't make his 7th grade team.  Another coach from a different school took interest in Kevin and wanted him to workout with his high school players that year to learn the game of basketball and see his perceived weakness as a strength.  He had the dream and the vision to want to play basketball and this coach gave him a purpose and a new routine.  As Mr. Manson can attest, the nub is a weapon on the basketball floor because it allowed Kevin to be able to create extra space leading to an advantage.

Kevin's message to students was that we need to stop making excuses for ourselves and put others before ourselves.  As a true leader that will make you happy.  If you don't like how things are happening you need to get out of that routine.  If not you than who?  Students all wanted to see Kevin more after the presentation and he was gracious enough to have personal conversations with all students.

Spotlight of the Week- Mr. Schmitt:

Mr. Schmitt is a MS/Elementary PE teacher and coach.  Students love to be in PE because they are always active and learning about how they can get better each day.  Mr. Schmitt makes personal connections with each student everyday and encourages each student to believe in themselves.  His classes bring students together and think of each other as a family.  This year, Mr. Schmitt is also helping out with 6th grade interventions.  He has taken a group of students and helped them to understand their feelings and how to react in a way that is more appropriate. Everyone deals with frustration and anxiety.  Mr. Schmitt has been giving students tools to get back to a calm state in situations.