The Intensity of Excellence

The excellency of every art at its intensity, capable of making all disagreeable evaporate, from their being in close relationship with beauty and truth. ~John Keats

Reflecting on Week 35

EOC testing.  AP and Fine Arts Exhibition. Baseball.  Mousse.  The excellency of every art.  The hope that comes from reaching a major checkpoint in our journey toward excellence is indescribable.  Not to land in a cliché, but from hard work comes great reward.  I love seeing the reward come to fruition in so many venues.  I am certain that we are only beginning to look into the face of success.  As we raise intensity of our journey, we will continue to see the fruits of our labors.

John Keats claimed a theory of negative capability.  The theory allows for individuals to transcend a traditional, social context and innovate beyond what was imagined.  I imagine it’s much like positive efficacy – for Benton it is believing and claiming the excellence we know we have the ability to be.  But much like a hard fought sporting contest, we often don’t believe we are the better team until the score tells us so.   It’s time to set that record straight.

Week 36 – A Look Ahead

EOC testing continues this week with Biology and Algebra 1 along with make up sessions for English 2 and Government.  Please continue to follow testing protocols with our students.  Also, this is an important time to work with students to focus on their grades to ensure success.  There are 13 school days left in this year.  Help them make the most of every minute they have left.  It is the intensity of excellence that earns the greatest rewards.

~Excellence is a journey, not a destination.~

Images available in CC on Flickr:  “Strength” by R.O Mania♥.

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