Carroll ISD announces Dragons Get Real theme for 2009-10

by PegNews wire

Carroll school officials announced plans this week to launch a year-long theme to encourage Dragons to live, learn, and lead in 2009-2010. "Our Dragons 'Get Real' theme will help us emphasize targeted priorities and goals for the coming year while spoofing reality television and having fun as we do the important job of educating children," said Superintendent David Faltys. "Our core values message is the foundation of all we do, but each year we announce a theme to help us focus more intently on short-term goals and objectives."

As part of the theme, "Dragons Get Real - Live. Learn. Lead.," CISD hopes to emphasize personal health and wellness, Rachel's Challenge and instructional technology as a means to engage students and enhance learning. The year of professional development and special events will also spotlight good deeds done by Dragons.

"The message points of the coming year will stress the important role our core values play in realizing our vision and accomplishing our mission for students," Faltys added. Reality television shows such as Survivor, Real World, So You Think You Can Dance, America's Got Talent and The Biggest Loser will provide the conduit for a light-hearted effort to have Dragons be "real" about making a difference in '09-'10. The theme, slogan, and message points will be emphasized on t-shirts and novelty items, as well as in meetings, publications, skits, training workshops, and videos. The common terminology and language will be reinforced in speeches, articles, documents, and online communications.

Real living means taking care of yourself, eating healthy, exercising and tending to the needs of family so that you can be and do your best. It involves strengthening and nurturing new and existing relationships through kindness and compassion toward others, creating an environment of excellence for all students, and making a real difference in your corner of the world.

Real learning means honoring and protecting the tradition, but it also means embracing continuous improvement by accepting new challenges, increasing your overall capacity for knowledge, valuing innovation and raising the bar personally and professionally. It involves finding new ways to challenge and engage students by utilizing the technological tools of this digital age.

Real leading is done by modeling character and integrity in everyday actions. It values open and honest communication with the public and understands the importance of accountability and transparency while making courageous decisions that benefit the community's most precious assets, our students.

School officials say the theme is utilized throughout the year for administrative planning, new hire orientation, convocation, special events, employee communications, and end-of-year awards. The district is coming off positive momentum from last year's Heroes theme, but hopes to draw Dragons into more meaningful dialogue and a deeper commitment to real living, real learning and real leading during the 2009-2010 school year.

Source: CISD