Whew! We made it through STAAR Week Part II!

This week at Worley has been filled with moments of angst and joy and even laughter.

Our students have taken the last round of school wide STAAR testing for the 2012-13 school year. During the week, we've operated on a different schedule which included a daily 45 minute assembly.

On Tuesday, our 7th graders experienced the Commandos USA presentation in which they learned about having good character and displaying it daily. The presenter left our students with a sense of pride in themselves and their future. He encouraged them to stand tall, be proud and take responsibility for their own success.

On Wednesday, the 7th graders participated in a House Pep Rally with our Ron Clark Committee members - Coach Addison, Ms Phillips and Mrs. Blackwell. They played a few "Minute to Win It" type games and heard a speech on exactly why we have houses here at Worley. Students were encouraged to be leaders next school year and to be positive role models for the incoming 2013-14 7th graders.

Also on Wednesday, the 8th graders had an extra special treat from Mayor David Cook. Students heard about the journey he took from being a 7th grader at Worley through law school. He stressed the importance of working hard and never giving up on your dreams. He conducted a brief Q & A session where he answered many questions about how he made it through law school, what it took to even get into law school and even which college he attended.

Today, Mr. Paul Mints, pastor at The Community at Lake Ridge Church, spoke to the 8th graders about making their mark on the world. He encouraged them to believe in the importance of who they are and what they were designed to do in our world. He also told them that they are an original and should not strive to be a copy of someone else.

All of our speakers were phenomenal! We enjoyed them all. We are thankful that we live in a community where our leaders are willing to step into our schools and help make a difference in our kids lives. Thanks to Mayor Cook and Pastor Mints for stopping by and providing some inspiration and hope for our future leaders.