HS Assembly Nov 2, 2020
October just passed. November just arrived at our door. I think everyone in the high school community is keen to know the result of House Competition. Before I announce the results, please allow me to recap a few major events in the month of October and share my reflection on some worrying signs that I recently have observed in relation to house points.
Between Oct 10 to Oct 12, the Group 3 teachers organized the World Mental Health Day Activities. On Oct 19 morning, we organized the first Fun Run event in the Auto Expo Park. On Oct 23, we launched the ECNUAS AWIM STEM program.
I mention these events because many of our students demonstrated their talents, skills, and leaderships in these events, and hence they earned house points for their houses respectively because of their work, achievements, and contribution.
Besides these extra-curricular activities, students also earn or lose house points because of behavioural or academic conducts. You may lose points because you violate the school uniform code; you may also earn points because you dress properly in a consistent manner. You may lose points because you don’t follow teachers’ instructions in classes; you may also earn points because the quality of your assignments exceeds teachers’ expectation. You may lose points because you are late for classes; you may also earn points if you are always punctual for classes.
We are very proud of the development of the ECNUAS house system. We are also very pleased to see HS students care about losing or earning house points. Yet, you all know that you lose or earn always because of something. I think the more important aspect in the house point design is the ‘something’ behind all these house points.
Monthly house point competition is a reflection of all these behavioural conducts, academic achievements, and extra-curricular efforts and contributions. When we cheer the victory for one House as the winner in the competition, however, we should always remember soberly that the design of house points is just the means, whereas a positive, encouraging, and caring learning environment that benefits every person in this high school community is the real goal. We should always concentrate on and work hard towards the goal instead of the means.
The point I want to make is that you should pay attention to your contribution to the community, your academic performance and achievement, your behaviours, and your character more than the mere numeric results of house points. I am afraid you would miss the point just because you paid too closer attention to the points. It is like you envy about how much money one person earns but you neglect to learn how hard he works and in what ways he made the fortune! Probably the number in his bank account is just the means to measure his hardworking and his excellent skills of doing business. Our goal is to learn how we could work even harder and smarter than him, but not just being jealous of his number.
E house has been outperforming the other three houses for two months in a row. I think for teachers and students in other three house should analyze what E House teachers and students did made them leading the competition. Did they win just by luck? Or did they actually do somethings extraordinary? I observed what teachers and students talked in house assemblies, I saw different leadership styles, different emphases, and different approaches. It is too early for me to comment on these styles, emphases, and approaches as the house system itself is still in its infant stage. Yet, I think houses can learn from each other. I also share all house points data with all the four Heads of House so you can analyze what happened in other houses. I think what I want to emphasize today is a healthy and uplifting house culture that encourage every student to grow to his or her full potential. If you are really good, you will shine and we will see you.
So, go Houses go, let each of us work hard and work very hard towards our collective and individual excellence.
Theme of month
• Thinkers
You exercise initiative in applying thinking skills critically and creatively to recognize and approach complex problems, and make reasoned, ethical decisions.
• Thinking skills
You are able to think critically by analyzing and evaluating issues and ideas;
You are able to think creatively by generating novel ideas and considering new perspectives;
You are also able to transfer skills and knowledge across disciplines.
What critical thinking means?
Critical thinking is the ability to think clearly and rationally about what to do or what to believe. It includes the ability to engage in reflective and independent thinking.
Someone with critical thinking skills is able to do the following:
l understand the logical connections between ideas
l identify, construct and evaluate arguments
l detect inconsistencies and common mistakes in reasoning
l solve problems systematically
l identify the relevance and importance of ideas
l reflect on the justification of one's own beliefs and values
-University of Hongkong
What creative thinking means?
Creative thinking…helps you look at problems and situations from a fresh perspective. Creating thinking is a way to develop novel or unorthodox solutions that do not depend wholly on past or current solutions. It’s a way of employing strategies to clear your mind so that your thoughts and ideas can transcend what appear to be the limitations of a problem. Creative thinking is a way of moving beyond barriers.
As a creative thinker, you are curious, optimistic, and imaginative. You see problems as interesting opportunities, and you challenge assumptions and suspend judgment. You don’t give up easily. You work hard.
--Lumen Learning
What ethical decisions mean?
Ethical decision-making refers to the process of evaluating and choosing among alternatives in a manner consistent with ethical principles. In making ethical decisions, it is necessary to perceive and eliminate unethical options and select the best ethical alternative.
The process of making ethical decisions requires:
Commitment: The desire to do the right thing regardless of the cost
Consciousness: The awareness to act consistently and apply moral convictions to daily behavior
Competency: The ability to collect and evaluate information, develop alternatives, and foresee potential consequences and risks
-University of California San Diego
An example:
In last week’s Halloween Door Decoration activity, I learned there were some poor probably unethical decisions and actions made by some students. For instance, some might have thought soliciting voting from outside the school was a creative way to win the competition. However, if you think critically on the decision, you should have questioned the reasoning, and even value or brief behind the decision. Did you think it was fair to get outside votes if this strategy was not discussed and agreed by all students and teachers in advance. I think transparency and fairness should be the values that we associate with any competition in this school. Moreover, I learned there were some concerning disputes and harmful languages in the social media triggered by this competition. I want to say that in a more and more collaborative society you trying to win by sabotaging others is not a creative solution to your defeat. This kind of unethical decisions and actions id definitely not acceptable in this community.
So, in sum, I hope every student in the school to become a critical thinker, be creative, and at the same time, learn to make ethical decisions.
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