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Last Saturday night, the SV196 community and Southern Illinois lost another gentle giant when Jim Kelly passed from his abundant life here to Heaven's hereafter. Mr. Kelly was one of the first non-school people to welcome me to Sesser 9 years ago, and I never forgot it. Over that period of time, I appreciated his friendship & quick wit, coupled with keen insight & pure compassion. Jim & I would cross paths 4-5 times per year at ballgames, community events, and at school meetings. You see, Jim served on the District's Distinguished Alumni Committee, the group that annually selects high school alumni for recognition based on character, example, and achievement. His commitment to keeping positive role models out in front of today's young people was unfaltering. All the while, Jim was setting a standard himself as a positive role model as he quietly served people, one of the trademarks of his life.
The mark that Jim Kelly has left on his family, church, community, and other individuals, including me, can't be undone. Jim's legacy is beautiful, and we would be wise to take notice--the world needs more people like Jim Kelly.
jason.henry
It happened again…after today's IHSA Class 1A State 3rd/4th place game, Wes & I once again had the privilege of sitting down with our Devils (this time, the SVHS basketball team) for a team dinner and time together before making the trip back to Southern Illinois tomorrow morning. We had a similar experience 2 years ago with the SVHS Cheer Squad, a memory I won't soon forget.
Of all of the privileges that come with serving as a school administrator, there's nothing that comes anywhere close to spending quality time--meaningful moments away from the hustle & bustle of school--with SV students and their families where, if only for a few minutes, we're like one big family that celebrates together, laughs together, and hurts together. Moments when the perpetually tough "game face" can come off and the smiles, laughs, and tears show the personal touch that is in each of us etch the faces of kids, parents, and colleagues in our memory for a lifetime. Books, finances, accountability, education reform and procedures take a backseat to relationships, life lessons, and encouragement. SV196 is different…in a good way.
I had my "unfiltered moment" about a week ago outside NCOE High School. Almost everyone was gone from the gym, and the bus was about to pull away to make the return trip to SVHS. Players, cheerleaders & coaches were loading the bus. As our team wrapped up another successful night, a quote that I recently heard came to mind…"not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted" (William Bruce Cameron, 1963). All of the accountability measures, audits, test scores, survey results, and yes, even ballgame scores, can't capture the essence of success. Why? Because no method can measure the satisfaction of heart & mind. That night, outside NCOE High School, hearts & minds were satisfied, needs were met, and a team was strengthened. I had a second "unfiltered moment" this morning inside Carver Arena as I watched the Devils pass through a tunnel of fans, friends, and families that were roaring cheers and applause for our champions as they embarked on today's task. As I looked over my left shoulder to Wes, I saw tears in his eyes, too. The power of the moment engulfed both of us simultaneously. SVPride had done it again--like an old-time preacher used to say--it "got all over us."
One thing is certain…something special is happening at SV196, and I saw it again tonight. What a great day to be a Red Devil!
jason.henry
Friday, February 3, 2012: Earlier this evening, High School Principal Wes Choate and I had the privilege of enjoying a team dinner with the SVHS Cheerleading Squad. We hadn't expected the opportunity because, when we left U.S. Cellular Coliseum earlier this afternoon at the conclusion of the day's competition, we thought the team was going to have dinner at their hotel following a late afternoon practice. However, Wes received a call from Coach Cindy Van Horn, asking us to join the squad for dinner. We went to Avanti's, a Bloomington restaurant that went the unbelievable "extra mile" to accommodate our large group with excellent hospitality, food and service.
I can't adequately describe how much we enjoyed having dinner together with our cheerleaders and their families. We talked about Saturday's competition, laughed together, learned more about each other, and created memories that I won't soon forget, all around the dinner table, much like a family. In fact, as I looked around the restaurant at our group, that's exactly what I saw--a SVHS family that works hard together and cares about each other. Only when I talked with my wife later did I really know how true that was. While we were watching the competition live in Bloomington, almost every other student back at SVHS was watching and cheering for the cheerleaders on the big screen in the High School Commons via the IHSA live Internet feed. She described the atmosphere at the school as just as exciting as it was for us--the student body enthusiastically supporting and celebrating the success of their peers, just like a well-functioning family.
As we were driving back to our hotel, Wes & I talked about how much we enjoyed our time with the team, starting new friendships and developing existing relationships. We talked about a need for both of us to intentionally get-to-know our underclassmen better, to let them know our personal side better, and to encourage more students to get involved in other SVHS activities that function as a family, too. We want all of our kids to connect--to find a real place to belong in a safe, supervised, and fun environment so that they not only learn academic content, but leave SVHS genuinely connected to the school, their peers and the adults (parents, teachers, principal, superintendent, etc.) who watch out and care for them. We readily admitted that, sometimes, we get so caught up in the hustle & bustle of operating the school that we often miss real opportunities to connect. We bemoaned this fact of life, endeavoring to do better at developing our connections with kids.
For us, it's times like tonight when the professional side of our work really connects with our individual personalities. When the professional work gets tough, it's the personal relationships with kids and their parents that ease stress, calm emotion and reveal authentic perspective. The laughter of a student office worker, the courage of a kid who does what's right in tough situations, and the quiet smile of a solid role model are all personal connections that help us daily. Tonight, we experienced all of these and more--making for one enjoyable evening!
jason.henry
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