Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Three Old Men...an adaptation


A woman came out of her house and saw 3 men with beautiful smiles in her front yard. She did not recognize them. She said, “I don’t think I know you, but you must be hungry. Please come in and have something to eat”.

“We do not go into a house together”, they replied. “Why is that?” She wanted to know. So the  bald man explained: “His name is Wealth, he said pointing to one of his friends, and he is Success, pointing at another, and I am Love”. Then he added, “now go in and discuss with your husband which one of us you want in your home”. The woman went in and told her husband what was said. Her husband was overjoyed.

“Wealth, let him come and fill our home with wealth”! His wife disagreed. “My dear, why don’t we invite the one with hair- Success”? Their daughter was listening from the other corner of the house. She jumped in with her own suggestion: “Would it not be better to invite Love? Our home will then be filled with love”! “Let us heed our daughter’s advice, said the husband to his wife. Go out and invite the man called Love to be our guest”. The woman went out and pointed at the man identified as Love. “Please come in and be our guest”. The bald man, Love, got up and started walking toward the house. The other 2 also got up and followed him. Surprised, the lady asked Wealth and Success: “I only invited Love, and you said you did not all go in together. Why are you coming in”? The young men replied together: “If you had invited Wealth or Success, the other two of us would’ve stayed out, but since you invited Love, wherever He goes, we go with him. Wherever there is Love, there is also Wealth and Success”!
(From the original version “Three old men”)

To all my Cardin friends – students, faculty, and parents: I am sure there is wealth and success in your futures. It is my hope that you will find, cultivate, and maintain Love, in your homes, and in your lives.

Dan Conway
Athletic Director

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Wellness Day


One of the most highly anticipated days of the academic year took place on Thursday, February 14th, 2013- Wellness Day! The entire Cardin community enjoys this annual one day break from the regular academic schedule to focus on health and wellness of the body and mind. 

We kicked the day off with an all-school fitness assessment that tested students in four key areas- flexibility/stretching, running, sit-ups and jumping rope.  Highlights included Mr. Creeger’s winning the title of “most flexible” faculty member, with Leah W. and Jake G. our most flexible students.  We finished the fitness assessment with a tug-of-war tournament, with a faculty win over the 12th grade in the finals.

The second portion of the day was devoted to seminars focusing on a variety of topics.  In “Why They Really Say ‘You Shouldn’t Eat That’”, we explored whole versus processed foods with Cara Elio, a registered dietician and owner of La Vida Nutritiva, LLC, a nutrition counseling consulting firm.  “Safe, Far and Sober” was facilitated by Mike Gimbel, director of “Powered by Me” and President of Mike Gimbel Associates, a Substance Abuse and Education Consulting Service; we discussed adolescent substance abuse as well as hidden dangers of energy drinks and nutrition supplements.  Our own Coach Conway gave a First Aid workshop that focused on wound care, bone and muscle injuries and weather and illness-related emergencies.  Kate Clemmer, Outreach Director at the Center for Eating Disorders, presented the workshop “Enhancing Media Literacy & Promoting Positive Body Image” which taught our community skills to see and interpret the media in new, more accurate ways.  Our final workshop was “Guided Meditation” with Scott Carson, a yoga instructor in Washington DC, who introduced us to fundamental yoga concepts, then led us through a guided meditation. 

The final segment of Wellness Day got us moving again in our activity breakouts.  Andreas “Spilly” Spiliadis, current world record holder and performer with the Baltimore Hoop Love group, once again led us in a hula hooping and juggling extravaganza.  John Gallagher, USAUltimate Maryland Youth Coordinator, introduced us to basic Ultimate Frisbee concepts and skills.  Sharon Lerner, one of our last block elective instructors, taught a Zumba class that got us dancing and working up a sweat.  An instructor from Masada Tactical led us in an intense Krav Maga exercise.  For those seeking a quieter fitness opportunity, Scott Carson led us in a yoga workshop that introduced basic poses, then taught us to put them together in sequence that heightened body awareness. 

~Shannon Carney
 School Counselor

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Do you know what you are?



"Do you know what you are?
You are a marvel.
You are unique.
In all the years that have passed, there has never been another child like you.
… You have the capacity for anything.
Yes, you are a marvel." (Pablo Casals)

With that in mind, be confident you will find the way, the right way for you.

Morah Zemer, Hebrew Instructor