It is no secret that I love 90's music. From Bon Jovi, to Onxy, to 98º the 1990's provided society with an eclectic mix of tunes everyone could enjoy. And regardless of the decade in which you grew up, you feel a certain connection to the music of your childhood as it stirs up an emotional mix of memories which hopefully bring a smile to your face. (I wrote out the power of music which can be found HERE) I recently fell down the YouTube rabbit hole of bad, but amazingly awesome 90's music videos. When I came across the sometimes forgotten classic "Praise You" by Fatboy Slim something caught my attention and no it wasn't the amazing dance moves performed by the "Torrance Community Dance Group." Whether you've seen the video or not, take 3:47 to put a smile on your face before you continue reading. What did you notice? Or more importantly, what didn't you notice? Although the late 90's was a time of great technological advancements, we were still five or more years away from the camera phone and almost 10 years away from the smart phone revolution. If you focus on the audience members you see that they aren't digging in their purses or pockets to snap a picture of this "historic" event or send a witty text or snap to a friend. Instead, they are enjoying the moment and letting the moment be what it is. In this day and age of constant communication, we are all too quick to take a picture, record a short video, tweet, snap, instragram, etc [insert your favorite social media outlet]. I admit I am guilty of trying to document many of the mundane and irrelevant happenings in life. What if instead of reaching for our phone every time we see something that is neat, cool, or makes us laugh, we instead take a moment to truly enjoy the moment and let it be what it should be. Memories can be made at any time or place. But what part of the memory do we miss out on by trying to get the perfect shot or waiting for the perfect moment to hit record? So the next time you reach for your phone to take another picture of your meal, snap the 400th photo of your 3rd grader shooting a free throw, send a text to your friend about how they "have" to see the sunset, take a moment to enjoy the moment for what it is...a moment.
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Random Acts of Kindness3/11/2015 Being an educator involves much more than teaching students about math, science, welding, or music. Educators are responsible for developing the whole child and teaching them to become responsible, productive adults with a world view. This "other" curriculum can be just as important as teaching equations or learning how to conjugate Spanish verbs.
Starting on Monday, March 16, the MHS Student Council is challenging the student body to grow as an individual not only in the classroom but through their kindness and generosity. Students will be participating in "Random Acts of Kindness" Bingo. All students will receive a game card (see below) and once they complete a Kindness Bingo they will turn their card into the office. At the end of the 10 days, the class that has the most Bingos will receive an open campus. The BINGO game is intended to not only challenge students to do nice things for each other, but it is also a lesson in honesty and trustworthiness. I am excited to see our students step up to the plate and work towards improving their school and community. What's Your Heritage? 3/1/2015 As a lifelong Nebraskan, there are certain aspects of living here that make me proud to call myself a Nebraskan. Growing up in this fine state, I was able to enjoy quiet evenings riding my bike all over Osmond (population 750) with my friends, a Husker football game every Saturday in the fall, the occasional winter blizzard and the subsequent sledding that would follow, and spending time on both of my grandparents' farms helping feed cattle, vaccinating pigs, throwing bails of hay, or just going for a ride in the tractor. However, it wasn't until recently I became aware of how deep my roots are planted in Nebraska. My sister, Melanie Olson, has been working on a genealogy project tracing the roots of our ancestors on each side of the family. I had known that my Grandpa Bloomquist's farm has been in the family since 1899 just south of the small, but tough, town of Magnet in Northeast Nebraska. What I didn't realize, is that I am a decedent of homesteaders who helped build Nebraska. The recently uncovered passage, which was written by my Great Great Grandfather, outlines the hardships the early settlers faced when homesteading here on the plains. "They had a great many heartbreaking and backbreaking times in their first years here, as they had very little to work with and few conveniences...But schoolhouses were built and churches were established through all the hardships, and these staunch men and women worked and lived and died, helping to settle this beautiful state of Nebraska and we should all be proud to be descendants of such sturdy pioneers."--S.M. (Mack) Switzer, c. 1900 Reading this passage not only makes me proud of Mack and his family, who took a chance moving from Pennsylvania to homestead on land that was unknown and unseen, but also of the countless other families who toiled on 160 acres of free government land. Today, March 1, Nebraska's Statehood Day, take a moment to reflect upon our ancestors who not only wanted better for themselves, but a better life for their descendants.. The Palmer Family Homestead--Gandy, NE c. 1892
Brandon MowinkelMilford Jr/Sr High Principal Archives
May 2023
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