Welcome to "Friendswood Junior High Chronicles," the podcast where we bring you the inside scoop on the incredible individuals who make a difference in the lives of our students. In this episode, get ready to meet two of our absolute favorites from Friendswood Junior High!
First up, we have the man with boundless energy, the PE guru, and all-around fantastic guy, Coach Matt Veariel (pronounced like "Cereal"). Coach Matt is not just your average PE teacher; he's a mentor, motivator, and an essential part of the school community. Join us as we dive into his passion for physical education and discover the unique ways he connects with students both in and out of the gym.
And joining us alongside Coach Matt is the super cool 6th-grade assistant principal, none other than Christina Holt! With her vibrant personality and dedication to education, Ms. Holt brings a fresh perspective to the podcast. We'll explore her journey in shaping young minds, the challenges she faces, and the rewarding moments that keep her inspired.
So, grab your headphones and join us for a lively conversation with Coach Matt Veariel and Assistant Principal Christina Holt as they share their stories, insights, and the experiences that make Friendswood Junior High an extraordinary place for both students and educators. Get ready for a dose of inspiration and a whole lot of fun on "Friendswood Junior High Chronicles"!
Welcome to "Friendswood Junior High Chronicles," the podcast where we bring you the inside scoop on the incredible individuals who make a difference in the lives of our students. In this episode, get ready to meet two of our absolute favorites from Friendswood Junior High!
First up, we have the man with boundless energy, the PE guru, and all-around fantastic guy, Coach Matt Veariel (pronounced like "Cereal"). Coach Matt is not just your average PE teacher; he's a mentor, motivator, and an essential part of the school community. Join us as we dive into his passion for physical education and discover the unique ways he connects with students both in and out of the gym.
And joining us alongside Coach Matt is the super cool 6th-grade assistant principal, none other than Christina Holt! With her vibrant personality and dedication to education, Ms. Holt brings a fresh perspective to the podcast. We'll explore her journey in shaping young minds, the challenges she faces, and the rewarding moments that keep her inspired.
So, grab your headphones and join us for a lively conversation with Coach Matt Veariel and Assistant Principal Christina Holt as they share their stories, insights, and the experiences that make Friendswood Junior High an extraordinary place for both students and educators. Get ready for a dose of inspiration and a whole lot of fun on "Friendswood Junior High Chronicles"!
Speaker 1 To those who may not celebrate Christmas because we have quite a few students. So we're trying to keep them up there in the sense of not making it Christmas like specific week, Christmas related. Unknown But still it's because we feel like it's kind of Christmas. Speaker 1 I don't want any school to feel like they cannot participate because we have had a couple who we've had some things at the campus and they had to do an alternate assignment or something. So we wanted to be friendly and really just promoting. Like the goal of this is team collaboration, working together as a team, coming up with a plan. Speaker 1 And so this is really great. Speaker 3 Or is this across. Speaker 4 The sixth grade, six or sixth. Speaker 3 Grade? Okay. And so tell me what that look like. Speaker 1 So I think right after Thanksgiving, we sent out a sign up genius to all the parents and we broke down what each connections class would need. And parents just, I mean, jumped on it. And finally so we had things and ready to go. Everything was prepared. Each class had group of five groups, and they first. Speaker 3 Class had five. Speaker 1 Groups. Okay, So they were given a PDF worksheet that the school committee found because that's who planned it was our school committee. And so those groups were able to plan on Monday, they were able to plan what their what they were wanting to build, what that was going to look like, what that was going to entail. And so then on Tuesday, they were given roughly about 40 minutes, 45 minutes. Speaker 5 45. Speaker 1 Minutes to build. And so when the time was up, teachers went around. They took a picture of the kids with their genera, their cottage and their cottage. Yes. And then they also voted within the class for the top one for their class. And that single cottage picture was sent to me. I created a Google form last night at like, Oh no, you. Speaker 4 Were on email. It was like, Yeah. Speaker 1 It was like 1136. I had 4 hours of volleyball practice last night and by the time I got home and had dinner was late. And so, so today during in connections, they are voting on who is going to be the Cookie Cottage champion of sixth grade. Speaker 3 Where are the cookie cottages located. Speaker 1 In that trashcan? Because we didn't want rodents. Yeah. Speaker 3 Oh, so you just have the pictures of them? Speaker 4 They just have pictures. Yes. Because, I mean, we have friends. Speaker 1 We're going to be let's be really honest. There's friends at the junior high. And so as soon as we were done, we did the pictures. The kids are like, oh, that girl was like, did you really want to eat something that all your friends hands were tied, right? Speaker 4 Oh, no, no, no, no, no. I mean. Speaker 1 I've seen your friends. They've gone to the bathroom. I don't see them. I don't see anybody hanging out with like, Yeah. Speaker 6 Yeah, yeah. I just do cookies. We have a tradition. Every year my nieces come over and we bake Christmas cookies and have a little whatever they say the night. And so we just did that this last weekend and they use so many sprinkles. It's nice. I was noticing them like licking their fingers. Dipping into the sprinkles is like, y'all can take all of these home. Speaker 4 And. Speaker 1 You could tell which kids were like having some tastes because their mouths were. Speaker 4 Like red and green. And so we give away. Speaker 1 Afterwards after everyone's gone. I had some teachers like, we really need a vacuum. So Ms.. Longbottom and I were vacuuming classrooms during school. Ms. Like about had the vacuum backpack. Speaker 4 Yeah, I love it. Speaker 1 And I was and so I laughed because Laura Fields like and McNeill like we feel seen and heard. Yes, in here vacuuming, but we did like back in business as best we could. Speaker 3 That's awesome. That is awesome. You should have called her. Speaker 6 She she, like, sees the vacuum. Speaker 3 I do. Well, I like the backpack version. We have one at our. Speaker 6 She's gone around the office before. Speaker 4 Without talking. I mean so I. Speaker 1 Have a Google form of like 22 cottages in there. So some of them are amazing. Speaker 3 I can't wait to see the picture. Speaker 1 I can I can probably pull up a few, but. Speaker 6 Yeah, we should be like sharing this on. Speaker 1 Site. We'll post them on the for on the junior high Facebook page. I just haven't had a chance. Speaker 6 To ask friends what I see. We all share it. Speaker 1 I would be in some Ms.. Meyers class. I don't know what they did. I feel like there was some hot glue somewhere. Speaker 5 But it was was not on the list of rules. Speaker 3 You only could use three things. Speaker 1 What was on the list? But I think I don't know if they did. I didn't ask. And at this point I was like, you know. Speaker 3 It sounds like we have some allegations going. Speaker 4 I well, revelations happening on that there might be some conspiracy. Wow. Have you seen that? That Well, we. Speaker 6 Just make sure and ask everyone on social media with yeah. Speaker 4 Yeah it was a good. Speaker 5 Start. We're going to start here. Speaker 4 Yeah it's just. Speaker 6 A giant poll in the next newsletter. What do you think, cheating. Speaker 4 Or not cheating? You take it on and you take questions left and right. Yeah. Yeah. Speaker 5 College cheaters. Speaker 4 That's a great. This is great. Speaker 1 And then on Monday, you know, typically what we've done is the sixth grade choir and band have done a little presentation and then we do like a sing along. Speaker 5 Scream of a scream along. Speaker 1 Depending on the grade. But it's fun. It's in. Speaker 4 Fact, it's. Speaker 1 Also there's teachers that have like earplugs and it's like, Oh my gosh. But it's fun. But this year we didn't do that. So I reached out to Melissa Smith and I was like, Hey, high school choir, be interested in coming and doing a performance for our sixth graders. And she's like, Maybe let's let's think about it. And so we did. Speaker 1 We made it happen. Speaker 4 Oh, it was so cool. I wish it was longer. It was a really good reason. It yeah, that's awesome. Speaker 5 I wrote about it. Speaker 1 It was really cool to see. Speaker 4 Because kids, we taught it. We had them in sixth grade too. So. So to see them come in. Speaker 1 As you know, some freshmen saw opportunity there. Speaker 5 Drew Tester. Drew Tester. Oh, my gosh. Speaker 1 He's Elvis solo. I mean, incredible. It was. And to think of what the kid we had in sixth grade and to see how far he's come. Right. It was so rewarding. Speaker 3 And so many things to talk to you all about. So let me start the podcast. Welcome to Season three, Episode eight of Episodes, the podcast where Kelsey goes, That's me and Dana Owen that's me. I have the pleasure of interviewing. Interesting people and discussing anything and everything. Friends with Estate. Today we have two of our favorite people from Friendswood, junior high PE teacher and coach all around Great guy, Matt Verrill pronounced like cereal. Speaker 4 And I was. Speaker 5 Like cereal. Speaker 3 Okay, good and super cool. Sixth grade AP and Southern charmer Christine Holt. Unknown Welcome to you here. We do enjoy you guys. Speaker 3 You're very cool. Speaker 4 Laid back, easy to talk to, funny. So in season three. So let's start. Speaker 3 Out to me the obvious is let's let's talk some Christmas. Matt, I don't want to pick on you. You are a guy. You're the only guy in the room. When I say, Are you ready for Christmas, that means have you personally purchased wrapped gifts for people in your life? Speaker 5 So there's still stuff in my Amazon carts. Speaker 4 Man, you're running out of time. Speaker 5 And these things have been purchased. But shout out to Pops for teaching me how to procrastinate. Speaker 4 Okay. Oh, I cannot. Speaker 1 Believe you went there. Speaker 5 To go to the mall last second. Collect a lot of gifts. Speaker 3 Well, and I've done that most years. I'm at the mall. Speaker 4 Really? Yeah. For Christmas. Speaker 3 There's. I have a problem. I never think I have enough. Speaker 4 Yeah, Yeah. So I start. Speaker 3 I go back and I just start buying the silly things that I just shouldn't be. Speaker 4 Yeah. Speaker 1 I think my problem is, I think I have all the time and then I don't because in December I think this is one of our busiest times of the year and it just gets crazy. And then my kids play outside sports and so everything hits, right? You have. Speaker 3 Nice things going on where we're. Speaker 1 Practicing at the night, at nights, we're on weekends, we're at tournaments. And then I'm like, Oh, this weekend? Like, this is my last days coming up. And so when I've done good, but I'm not done. And so it is jam packed. I'm like, I'm I'm a crunch time crunch. Speaker 4 Yeah, well, I. Speaker 1 Think that's just. Speaker 4 Life. Speaker 5 So I have a majority of my gifts. Speaker 4 Okay. Speaker 5 I know where I need to go for a lot of my gifts still. Speaker 4 So you have a plan. Speaker 5 There's not an unknown. It's just the going to go get them. Speaker 1 Down on a notepad, isn't it? Speaker 5 No, for. Speaker 1 Sure. It's a checklist. Speaker 3 Are you a list? Are you a list maker? Speaker 4 Oh, okay. Well, so no wonder we get along. Yes, I'm listening. Oh, my gosh. Buddies. I mean. Speaker 1 I can stick to the lists in my day, but. Yes. Yes, sir. Great. Speaker 5 So I wouldn't call it procrastination anymore, because once you do it enough, it becomes tradition. Speaker 3 So and it sounds like it's just part of your plan. Speaker 4 Oh, yeah. Speaker 6 It's the hustle. Yeah. Speaker 4 Yeah. Speaker 6 Sorry. Speaker 5 It's not Yeah, it's not a forgetful thing. It's a tradition. Speaker 1 I think it's good that you own it, though. Speaker 4 Oh, for sure. Speaker 3 And you wrap your own gifts. Speaker 5 Oh, your gifts. They're wrapped. But I don't want to necessarily own my wrapping because it's not the greatest. So they get wrapped. Speaker 3 They get wrapped. Speaker 4 Okay. Right. Speaker 5 Looks wrapped. Speaker 4 Just don't look too closely, will you? Speaker 3 Don't use bags, do you know? Speaker 5 So I wrap it, but I'd spend more time like drawing things on it. Speaker 4 And that's good. That's great. Speaker 5 Big names. Speaker 6 And I do that too. Oh, yeah, Yeah. We have, like, all the tags are different on my stuff. Speaker 5 No more out on drawing on it and nicknames than I do. Just wrapping. It's quick, one fold, take a lot more tape. Speaker 4 So the other tape, I swear like, yo, why do you make so the need. Speaker 5 Makes up for our faults and being able to crease it and make it. Speaker 4 Perfect. So why did. Speaker 1 You do it right? You won't need that much space. I'm OCD about wrapping. Oh, you know, I like the paper has to match when you folded. Speaker 4 Oh, wow. Yes. Speaker 3 Oh, I'm in the middle. Speaker 6 I would say I'm in the middle, too. Speaker 4 Yeah. Speaker 1 I would say that it doesn't always come out. Like sometimes the ends are uneven somehow. But I do my best, and I think that's my mom. She was like, incredible. She still like, I don't know how she does it and so. Speaker 3 Fast and it does she do the big elaborate bows. Speaker 1 And we stop doing bows because we have the cat. And our cat always wanted to eat the bows. So I don't do bows either because I think we just I just got used to it. And then now we have a cat too, so we just nobody knows. Speaker 4 No bows. Speaker 1 Actually, we can't even put the presents under the tree because we also have two dogs. We don't trust that the dogs aren't going to go and mess with the guests. So everything just stays in my bedroom wrapped and then the Christmas Eve, I'll just come and put it out there. Speaker 6 Oh my goodness. Speaker 3 So what's one gift that you're hoping that will be under the tree this year, Christina? Speaker 4 I mean, I don't ever. Speaker 1 Is it a mom? You tell me, Is this a mom thing? Like, I don't need anything. I feel like I can never ask for anything more. And instead, it's like more practical things like, Oh, I would like new couches. Like it'll be something like outrageous or insane or clean your room. I don't know. Right? Speaker 3 Me. Unless they telling me that you love me. Yeah, I don't. Speaker 1 I don't feel like. Don't. You don't have to get me anything. Like, it's fine. So I feel like I don't ever really put a lot of thought into things. Speaker 3 Moms, I'm going to say this right now. Listen, here's a big regret that I have in life. So I did. I've done that my entire life. Guys, you're This is all about you. All right, boys, Like we're going to get your gifts. You don't need to worry about us and what you're going to do is you're going to create Girls Aren't this way, so it's probably not going to happen. Speaker 3 You're going to create kids that they literally think it's all about them. My boys will listen this podcast anyway, so it's not a matter I don't get this. My boys are grown. Speaker 6 They don't give you gifts. Speaker 3 No, no. Ask me what my boys got me for my birthday. Nothing. Nothing. Speaker 6 Are you serious? Speaker 3 No. Because their whole life gifts have been about them. And I've always said to give me anything, and I should mean that. Except now, when they show up with nothing. Speaker 1 It hurts your heart. Speaker 3 I'm like, Y'all can't even take the time to get a call. Speaker 5 Yeah, Thank you. Yes, but now that you're calling them out on the podcast, all of their friends. Speaker 4 They don't listen. Nobody listens. Oh, they. Speaker 5 You are reaching out and reaching out to something. And I will say, you reaching out to both. Speaker 3 If you know my kids reach out to the text and it's it's unbelievable. Speaker 6 But they pay for your dinner. Speaker 4 Oh, no, I just. Speaker 3 Oh, well, my dad actually pays for my dinner. I don't even know if my dad paid for my dinner this year, but it it doesn't matter if I will. I'm in the blame. I'm taking the blame. Speaker 1 My girls are super sweet. They do. And I mean, course they do. And that's because they're girls. We think the respect they do, we care about. Speaker 3 Everyone other than ourselves. Speaker 6 Not helping always. Speaker 3 Matt, help me here. Speaker 5 I mean, I'm all I'm. I'm always one for one on gifts, so I'm always getting the gift pops. Mom. Speaker 4 Good. Speaker 5 Mama V is I like to call her. Speaker 4 Mom because. Speaker 1 They are huge supporters that you. Speaker 5 Are. Speaker 4 So sweet. They are. Speaker 6 We love them. We love them. They come to every amazing senior citizens meeting. And those are some of our favorite meetings ever. And we love. Speaker 3 Them. And I think your dad and maybe he doesn't, but I feel like your dad introduces himself as your as your father. Yes. Which am I? I know. I know exactly who you are. Like, I love your parents, but your dad is so proud to be your dad. Speaker 5 Yeah, we call him OG Coach V. He's the original. Speaker 3 Now. Does he come to our practices and stuff? Speaker 5 He comes to basketball practice. He loves sitting in and just kind of watching. Speaker 3 That is the love of a parent that everybody wants. Speaker 1 In their life. Speaker 4 Right? Yes. Speaker 5 I think his dad did that for him a lot. So I know that that's something when my kids eventually show up, I'll be it. Anything and everything. All the guys that we coach with at the junior high, I think that's kind of been a key part of them staying at the junior high as they've been able to go to all of their kids events. Speaker 5 And so I know that's super important to him. That's going to be super important to me when I have kids. So yeah, he shows up there with my softball games. Anything where I'm participating in, he shows up. Speaker 3 That's so sweet and so sweet. I love it. I love it. So do you. Wait. So you're just you're like you come up with random gifts, Like you're like a sofa or but I don't know any one thing that you're really wanting this year. Speaker 1 I think the best thing is if I've said something over, you know, over the course of the year and my husband was like, remember that? Like I went through like, I want Birkenstocks. Like I just want I think I love them. And so I love when he, like, hears that. And that's the gift. Like, I'm like, oh my goodness, you. Speaker 3 Know, that's good. Speaker 1 I feel heard. Speaker 4 It's just one of those rare, though. Those are the ones that. Speaker 1 I really appreciate is is when I've it is something that I would use. It's something that I would love because I won't go buy stuff for myself. That's the other thing as I'll say, like things because you buy for all the others. The girls need this or that. We have to go and take care of this. And somewhere you just kind of like, It's all right, I don't need that. Speaker 1 So that's always great. Speaker 3 Yeah, that's great. Speaker 1 I guess where they were listening. Speaker 3 Matt I think you have a list. Speaker 5 Anytime somebody says something that I'm going to get them a gift, I try and put it in my phone. Speaker 4 Oh, so I. Speaker 6 Do that too. Speaker 5 More like we were. We were in Kansas City seeing my mom's side of the family for a wedding, and we were at Dick's Sporting Goods, and Mom was like, Oh, I like that. And she took off. So I took a picture of it. So that's Sorry, Mom, There's one of your gifts. Speaker 4 That's all. They will. Speaker 3 Be listening. Speaker 4 They will say they will never say it. Speaker 1 So you'll have four. Speaker 4 Yeah. Wow. Speaker 6 Crazy stats this. Speaker 4 Week. So do you have. Speaker 3 A specific gift that you're really. Speaker 5 Hoping for? Well, I kind of got an early gift. I wasn't really into iPads, and then I saw a need for different things at the house and with sports and sports outside for softball and different things. So I got an early gift. But kind of like Christina said, I don't necessarily ask for a lot, but the one thing that I love getting in December is handwritten notes from kids for sure. Speaker 5 I've never thrown away a handwritten note from a kid. There's a stack in my house. I'm probably going to start a new box this year. I'm just so sweet When when they take the time to tell you how thankful they are. Like there's there's no piece of chocolate that can be that. Speaker 4 Oh, that's sweet. Speaker 1 Really sweet. Speaker 6 She throws away every, you know. Speaker 4 You know. Speaker 5 Every note. Speaker 4 I never know it, you know. Oh, my God, what are you going to do? Speaker 3 Listen, I'm. Speaker 6 Going to reminisce. Speaker 3 I will. Letters. I probably would. I don't know your. Speaker 4 I'm just an old. Speaker 6 What about your birthday card? Where is your picture on the back? Is it already in the trash? Speaker 4 Yes. Oh, my. Under all that time. I see. Speaker 1 So you just need to frame it. Speaker 6 I know. I should have. Yes, I should have. It was such a great I had some great pictures. Speaker 3 There's something wrong with maybe that. It just explained. Speaker 4 Why my kids told them anything. Speaker 1 They were going to keep it. Speaker 3 Yeah. So I normally feel like I can have conversations about great gifts that are happening, you know, this time of year. But I don't really the only thing that comes to mind are those. Have you seen the hand warmers? Speaker 4 Yes. Speaker 3 The the that you carry around the electric. Electric. Speaker 1 That's fantastic. Speaker 3 Yeah. Those are I don't know anything else. They are that are like super cool gifts this year that you're giving or hoping to get. Speaker 6 Well, it was a couple of years ago. So Dana is actually helps me come up with a couple of gifts from my dad based on what her husband likes. My dad loves to cut things down and set fires. Speaker 4 This is our our emotional so strong. Speaker 6 But one of the things a couple of years ago that was pretty cool was that little portable. Is it propane? Speaker 3 Yeah, the burner. Speaker 6 The burner. Speaker 4 Yes. Speaker 6 It was like 25 bucks. Like it was not expensive. That man was loved it. He loved it. He was out in the yard as soon as we got done. Oh, you know, all of the present burning stuff. Speaker 4 That's a good way to. Speaker 6 To good was like random stuff like that. That was very specific to him because we're like, I mean. Speaker 5 He's just he's like, nobody throw anything away. Speaker 4 That's right. That's right. Burn it. He loves. Speaker 5 It. I don't trash. Speaker 4 Bags. Speaker 6 My mom used to come home and be like, Oh, my gosh, she's out of the kid. Speaker 4 That's hilarious. Speaker 3 That is a good one. That that was. Speaker 6 A good one. He's yeah, I mean, it was a great one. So, I mean, that's my best. Speaker 4 My best suggestion right now. Speaker 6 There's one that came to mind. Speaker 1 Yeah, I, I don't know. I mean, I don't know if my husband will listen to that, so I think it'll be fine. He's always one of those chairs that rock like when you go. Yeah. And so that's the gift this year because I told the girls volleyball it's volleyball season and we're going to lots of gyms and I'm coaching but he's in the bleachers or staying. Speaker 1 And I was like, Get him one of those rocking chairs. Speaker 4 Wait on chairs. Speaker 3 Work in this in the bleachers. Speaker 1 Well, you can a lot of the places we play, they have room for you to bring your own chair. Oh, for club volleyball? Yeah. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. That makes sense. Yeah. Club volleyball. And so that's going to be the the gift for dad this year because he's been wanting one. He's been eyeing them every time we go. Speaker 1 He like, you know, he has to get you how it feels so Henley like oh, that's a good one. I was like, Don't tell him. Speaker 3 Yeah, that is a good one, because. Speaker 6 Usually they just have like the metal chairs, right? Yeah, I. Speaker 1 Actually have a little rocker. I mean, it's fantastic. Speaker 6 Yeah. Where do you all, who, which club are your girls are and. Speaker 1 Well, it's just Henley this year. Have Ava. Speaker 6 Ava. Okay, That was our rival. I was. Speaker 1 Stellar. Oh. Speaker 6 Yes. Speaker 1 Oh, good programs. There's so. Speaker 4 Many great. Speaker 1 Oh, great. Speaker 6 Fantastic memories, though. Playing time ball. Speaker 1 It is fun. Speaker 3 And Rachel is at for 12. Speaker 1 Yeah, we're in 12 years old right now. Speaker 3 My stepson's girlfriend, McKenna, she is coaching 14 year olds at Ava. Really? Yeah. McKenna Friday she went to. Speaker 1 I coached McKenna in eighth grade. Speaker 4 Oh, okay. Well. Speaker 1 Crazy. Nailed it. Yeah. Speaker 3 My goodness. Speaker 4 I mean, I taught Kade. Yeah. Speaker 1 Hey, hey, Yeah. Sixth grade P.E. When I taught sixth grade B, I had the class. It was fun. Speaker 4 They were good. Great, great, great, great, great competitive. Speaker 3 Yes. Yeah. So is there, like, a just hanging on Christmas a little bit more? Is there like a gift that you can that sticks out to you like best gift you ever received or Epic Fail at Christmastime or anything like that. Speaker 1 So I'm in talked about the Birkenstocks. That was that was cool. But when I was little ah I guess maybe junior high I don't know if you remember this, but we had phones, you know, and the wall. And so the cool thing was to have your own line and so separate from your parents. And so I remember it's Christmas morning and. Speaker 4 Wrap. Speaker 1 Everybody's and wrap in presence and the phone is ringing I mean and we would get up early It's price 637 and like who is like everybody's looking like who's calling. And so I see like my dad's holding the phone. I'm like, where is that coming from? And so it was my room. Like, I thought that was the coolest thing I got here and I mine and I remember that. Speaker 1 So that was so cool. Speaker 3 Looking back on that, do you think that was a gift for you or for them? Speaker 4 Probably then, yeah. But it was really cool. Speaker 3 Did you like did you have the. You're old enough for this? I don't remember the cord that stretch that you could actually take back to your room. Speaker 1 We had a cordless phone. Speaker 3 Oh okay. Speaker 1 But my that fit in my bed like the phone was like one of those clear ones. So when it rang, it. Speaker 4 Flashed so you could. Speaker 1 Turn the ringer off when you weren't supposed to. Those after hours, but it would glow. So I was like, It's not funny, but I mean, I just thought that was I thought that was. Speaker 3 How far we've I. Speaker 1 Know, like, that was the gift. And I thought that was so cool. Speaker 4 Wow. Have you all. Speaker 6 That was a thing where kids now, like, instead of like if you were to do like, you're going to talk on the phone, you do like the thumb and the pinky out, right? You hold up to your ear, right? Kids, now do a flat hand. Oh, I have not seen that. It's like you ask toddlers to show like they're going to be on the phone. Speaker 6 They do this. Speaker 4 No way. Yes. Well, it makes sense. Speaker 1 No. Speaker 6 Were ever known this. They do. This is like it's like, wow. You have to see. Speaker 3 When you see this, you're holding the palm of your hand. Speaker 6 Just should really explain that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Just your your flat hand up to your ear. I'm like, that is the that's just so strange to see. Speaker 3 That is. Yeah, that's crazy. Speaker 6 So funny. Yeah. Yeah. Speaker 1 That, well, that's what popped in my head. I was like, I think as parents to, like, find those opportunities to create that little. Speaker 4 Oh, yeah. Speaker 1 That's really. Speaker 3 Neat. That's the magic of Christmas. Speaker 4 Oh, yeah. Speaker 3 What about you, Matt? Speaker 5 There's just so many to pick from. I think when I was younger, much younger, four or five, six, there was a giant playground in the middle of our living room and I think I was on it. I slept on it, went to bed, and it like it got used profusely. Speaker 3 Do you have brothers and sisters? Speaker 5 Only child. Speaker 3 The only child. Okay. So I could see were like, Yeah, that explains it. Speaker 5 Oh yeah. That it. Speaker 6 We understand him. Speaker 4 Love it. Speaker 3 So what's happening right now at the junior high? What's going on? Speaker 1 It's been busy. It's been. Speaker 5 Busy. Speaker 1 It's been super busy where basketball is in full swing. Speaker 5 Basketball is in full swing. Cross country. Just finished. Speaker 4 Okay. Speaker 5 I think they did well. I think they were district champions. Basketball. We've had both boys and girls tournaments. Speaker 4 We do Coach Masters. Speaker 5 Yeah. Speaker 4 Okay. Speaker 6 Tell them which white group you coach. Speaker 5 So I coach the eight basketball team and we've got Coach John in his second year at the B team, eighth grade B, and we've got two new coaches on the seventh grade level that are okay. One has some experience, Coach Martinez in basketball and then we have Coach Gibson in his first year. So not only my coaching, but I'm mentoring as well and trying to get everybody on the same page. Speaker 3 Do you ever get mad? Speaker 5 Mad? I would say no, but I think a lot of fans from other teams would say yes. Speaker 3 Okay, but you know that that's not you're mad or. Speaker 5 Me. It's like my alter ego. It's like the Hulk. Like the Hulk doesn't know that he exists in a sense. Yeah. You have David Banner and Hulk, right? Speaker 4 Right. Speaker 5 For people who understand comics and marvel. Speaker 3 So you. Speaker 4 Do get mad. It's like you said, you become the whole and you dissociate. Speaker 1 So there's definitely a different shade. You can. It's more red. Speaker 4 Oh, yeah. Oh, okay. Oh. Speaker 3 And is it mainly at the refs or is it at your players? Players? Speaker 5 No, I would never get mad or angry with our kids, especially at the junior high level. It's all it's learning. It's it's more lessons than anything. But during games when the zebras are it's it's lately we've seen a decline and the refs at the junior high level whereas you know your high school is kind of your your top talent referees around here junior high gets the you know, the bottom of the barrel. Speaker 5 They're learning and, you know, I think when the game is going more towards football than it is basketball. Oh, yeah. And we're allowing kids to get hammered at the rim or, you know, Right. Things of that nature, That's when I get the most angry because I don't want to see anybody get injured. Right. Especially my kids. Sure. And so that's that's the majority of the things that I get angry the most with. Speaker 5 And when I have to calmly explain things, the rest, it's just simple IQ knowledge, things. That's what really gets me the most mad too. So like these last couple of days at Bayside has been killing us and friends with these last couple of days. And so that's that's been a source side. Speaker 3 That's a clear. Speaker 1 False it's okay there that that education village. Speaker 3 Oh yeah. Speaker 4 Okay have. Speaker 6 You ever been carded. Speaker 5 So given a technical. Speaker 4 Yeah Yeah a lot a lot you know, a lot of texts. Speaker 3 You know, just don't get texts. You get cards, right? What do you. Speaker 4 Get? You get texts. Just give all. Speaker 1 It's technical and volleyball You get, you get a card, yellow card, red card. Speaker 5 Over my long career of coaching, I've been coaching even young kids. When I was still in high school, seeing my fair share of technicals. Speaker 3 Okay. Have you ever been kicked out of a game? No. Speaker 4 Okay. Wow. Speaker 5 So never been there. Speaker 4 Let's make it happen. No, but. Speaker 5 But. Speaker 4 But. Sometimes game. Speaker 5 But sometimes when and in a lot of coaches that have kids for a long time understand this when you get the technical sometimes it's not about the technical and you getting under the skin. It's about getting your team energized. Speaker 4 We going. Speaker 6 Oh, we get it. Speaker 3 We get it. We we know sports. Speaker 4 Oh, yeah, Oh yeah. Speaker 3 We understand that sometimes they you're just you got to turn it around and make a way. You got to get your kids. Speaker 4 You got to. Speaker 6 And I think it shows like you're willing to go to bat for him, right? Yeah, that's. Speaker 4 Right. Yeah. We love that. Oh yeah. Speaker 5 You got to come watch a game. Especially a good game. You'll see Miles or you go for sure. Speaker 1 You'll start seeing the changes. Oh, yeah. Speaker 5 The steering during P.E. It's. It's calm, collected, like you guys see the calm collected during practice. It's it's pretty calm and collected every now and then I get out my coaching voice, But when the game starts. Speaker 3 Look out. Speaker 5 It's a it's a different. Speaker 3 Beast now that you were four games. Speaker 5 So that's one of the things that I was going to talk about. So my funny story, okay, when I first started coaching basketball here in Friends or nine years ago, Coach Keenan was the head coach, so he was going to stop by and give me some notes on my coaching. So I'd coached a few and then kids basketball games, but never junior high where it's a lot more stressful. Speaker 5 You got, you know, more parents. So during the game he's writing down notes and he sends me an email, sends me this long list of like, Hey, loved how your kids swung the ball, loved how they set screens or they called up plays. You know, here's a couple of kinds of things you need to work on. And at the bottom, he wrote, you know, make sure make sure you include pants. Speaker 5 And so I'm like, okay. And I'm kind of confused at first, but I was like, oh, warm up pants are kids need warmup pants. And so I go to Garcia, who I'm coaching with. He was eight at the time and I'm like, Hey, Keenan sent me some good feedback, but he really wants our basketball players in warm up pants before the game. Speaker 5 And he was so confused. He's like warm up pants and like he wrote it in the email. Like I didn't come up with it. Speaker 4 Yes. The first year to pay for it. Yeah. That's the first thought. Speaker 3 Is that something like. Speaker 4 Oh yeah. Speaker 5 So as a first year guy, I'm just like, okay, well, you know, we got to get warmer pants. So the next day I'm telling the kids like, Hey guys, you know, obviously we have these warm up shirts, but the high school's really wanting us to get warmer pants. And so. Speaker 4 Like. Speaker 5 It's become this thing I'm stuck on, right? So I email Coach Keener back and I'm like, Hey, we're all on the same page with the kids in warmup pants, but it's not something we're purchasing this year. We're going to purchase it next year. And it took them a couple of days to respond. It was basketball season, so he's busy. Speaker 5 So before I get to his response, I was very much into cargo shorts like phrase at the end. Polo Mustang polo and cargo shorts. That's what I coached football in that year. That's what I was coach and going to coach basketball and that was my coaching attire. Speaker 1 Was your uniform like at games? Speaker 5 Oh, yeah. So, you know, Mustang polo basketball shoes and cargo shorts, you know, nice cargo shorts. So he emails back and he's like warmup pants, not talking about warmup pants. I'm talking about you putting on pants. And so. Speaker 4 That's hilarious. Speaker 5 It clicked. And I was like, oh, know, that's just been a running joke for forever. Whenever we see each other, he's like, Hey, you, you dressing up for games? You still in the cargo shorts? So it's. Speaker 3 There's. Speaker 1 Any podcast listeners that are parents of sixth grade students if you want to get coach viral anything for Christmas it's some pants. Oh. Speaker 3 So are you wearing pants at basketball games now? Speaker 4 Yes. Speaker 5 So, yeah, I dress up, I wear slacks and I. Speaker 4 And I'm a polo. Speaker 3 I'm a little surprised that no one called you on your shorts before Heanor. Me, too, actually. Did you? You you used to wear shorts to coach? Speaker 4 Yeah. Speaker 1 And I at football I get but I mean we were like even don't wear jeans really but sometimes we kind of kind of went into that but we were pretty strict on at least being presentable. Well, work. Speaker 5 Well, not to call Parker, but he wasn't wearing slacks either. He was just wearing jeans. Yeah, but I'm not a jeans guy, but not rodeo season jeans. It starts getting below zero degrees jeans. But if it's one degree to 110, it's shorts. Speaker 1 Leggings with basketball shorts. If it gets too cold. Speaker 5 Yeah. Speaker 3 That's your. Speaker 1 Uniform. I don't know if they call them leggings for boys or for. Speaker 6 Anything, but you're saying this is vibe? Speaker 1 This is nice. Speaker 4 Yeah. Speaker 3 Yeah, That's your vibe. Speaker 4 Yeah. Hey. Speaker 5 I mean. Speaker 4 Not with men. Speaker 6 In pants, like I don't. Why are you also resisting myself? Speaker 5 But I have at the house in my room, I have three drawers dedicated to basketball shorts. Speaker 6 Oh, my goodness. It's a. Speaker 4 Problem. Speaker 5 This is what I do. It's what I wear every day. Speaker 6 Well, do you have, like, all the colors? Speaker 4 Yeah. Speaker 5 Yeah. Speaker 1 I'm not going to lie. Whenever I was a PE teacher, I had all the colors and my shoes had to match whatever I was wearing. Like, you kind of get into a little fixation there. Better now, but. Speaker 4 Now I'm like, I just need. Speaker 1 Some decent running shoes. But I think back then, you are. You're like, you're even in college. It's like kinesiology. Like, Oh, I'm wearing this outfit. These shoes match that. Speaker 6 Oh, my. Speaker 3 Goodness, you wear shoes would be a big deal or not. Speaker 4 That's okay. Yeah. Yeah, for sure. Speaker 3 I don't know about the shorts. Speaker 4 But. Speaker 3 You know. Speaker 4 Man in shorts, she is strong if I. Speaker 3 Do a verse about anything. So if you ever need my opinion on anything, you just let me know. Speaker 4 You won't even have to let her know. That's true. I feel like that should be. Speaker 5 Your next podcast. All of yours. Speaker 4 Oh, my gosh. It would be. Speaker 5 It would the strongest of your strongest. Speaker 3 That's what it's going to be that in January. That's the most brilliant idea I've ever heard. Speaker 6 You're going to set the tone for the year and tell everyone what your expectations are for 2024. Speaker 1 The pet peeves of 2020. Speaker 3 Is just advice and what I think people need to know in. Speaker 4 Life. Oh yeah. Speaker 3 For instance, let me just start with one. If you're ordering a drink, don't go to the drop weight. If you're just No. Excuse me. I'm sorry. You only go through the sonic drive thru line when you're ordering a drink. Agree? Not yet. Line when you're ordering hamburger, French fries and a pretzel. Speaker 1 Armin, Unless you're paying for my drink behind you. Speaker 3 Now. Speaker 4 That's 50. Speaker 3 Calling things. Yes. Speaker 6 I agree. Speaker 5 I agree. So you're saying the pull in is for food? Speaker 4 Yes. Yes. Speaker 3 Let us just pick up our drink and keep moving. Yeah, just. Just for drinks. Speaker 6 Know how to go cook something, throw it in the fryer. Speaker 5 Maybe that's the new pet rock, is you build something next to Sonic. That's just the drink part, okay? And invest in it. And then. Speaker 4 Oh, my gosh. Speaker 5 Us teachers can fly through with our drinks. Speaker 3 Yeah, I tell you, I'm so excited that you just gave me that idea for January. I'm going to. That's all I'm going to think. Speaker 1 Can we send you some to add to your list? Speaker 3 Sure. Speaker 5 Well, so the shorts have to be a topic. Obviously. Speaker 6 She has very strong opinions about shorts. Speaker 3 You'll get my opinion on that. But not right now. Hey, so speaking of junior high, it's not your fault, but I'm going to throw it out there. Why do our tennis courts not have lights? What's happening? Speaker 1 Maybe we just need to call it James. Tony. Maybe it needs to be a partnership with friends. Well, that is. Speaker 3 A great idea. It needs to be a partnership. Speaker 1 Sure, because I feel like it's used more by the city than it is then I here for. Speaker 4 Well, I mean. Speaker 1 Just in general, because I mean. Speaker 3 Me, not community or community. Speaker 1 Yeah, like the the courts need to be repainted too, and that's a pricey thing to take on. So I feel like it could be something like a partnership somehow, because we use it for tennis for sure, and. Speaker 4 Politics. Speaker 1 For athletics or, you know, we'll have unit tennis unit or a pickleball unit or we'll head out there. But predominantly, I mean, people are out there doing tennis lessons. Yeah, I study it like three. I get out there before the bell rings and I swear there's a guy out there already ready to go for tennis. Doesn't like school, hasn't finished yet. Speaker 1 Right. Speaker 3 Is tennis not waiting till February? Speaker 4 Very short season. Speaker 1 Course it starts later in the spring semester so but I do I do think that maybe somehow we can partner on that and that's a great idea to make things happen. Speaker 5 Maybe there is because it's so dark, maybe there's a society that's out there watching stars and you add in these. Speaker 4 Lights in the pool those. Speaker 1 Longer fields are for because those I think there's. Speaker 4 A you can throw a blanket out there. We'd be speak for that. Yeah. Yeah. That's a for near the inside. Yeah. Speaker 5 Shout out to the stargazers using the tennis courts. Speaker 4 I have a feeling. Speaker 3 Any opinion I had he would have a counter. Speaker 4 Argument. Yeah, for sure. Speaker 3 Which is great. I love that. Okay moving on from that, let's talk about junior high kids. First of all, I just want to preface this with we have great. Speaker 6 Kids, yes or. Speaker 3 No? Like we have great kids. First of all, if you ever walk into the junior high, it's gotten a lot better. But the lockers all used to be open because no one takes anything. Speaker 1 So we this year we did something different, seventh and eighth grade our locker by request only. Speaker 3 Okay. So because you found that kids just. Speaker 1 Weren't used to using them. And so sixth grade, we did assign a locker to all sixth graders. They're not used very often. I mean, those kids are carrying around their stuff. Yeah. And so and it's a stressor for them. I mean, we do a great job. I think at the beginning of the year, we do an orientation with them. Speaker 1 We work through lockers like don't stress. If you're not getting on the first time it takes, it takes a few runs. But for the most part, once they figured out, they don't really have to use the locker or not. Speaker 5 And we've shortened that time between we had two so oh, you'll have. Speaker 1 Where it used to be five, not four, but I'm like we even go shorter. I mean, if we didn't. Speaker 3 Because our classes are so close together. Speaker 1 I mean. Speaker 3 They're not walking. Speaker 4 Across the if they're. Speaker 1 Not taking the scenic route for the most part, they're going to get to class on time. But, you know, they find. Speaker 3 Aspects of length in that time between hallways and let these kids have some social time with each other. Are you. Speaker 5 Can police them. Speaker 1 When they come visit me? It was. Speaker 4 Just me and. Speaker 3 Family when they get in. Speaker 1 Trouble and bathrooms. Can we talk about about I don't know what it is about bathrooms, but. Speaker 3 It was. Speaker 4 Bathrooms. The biggest thing on the high school the paper was. Speaker 1 And I'm like, why do you want to hang out in the back? And I like it's dirty. Why do you want to hang out in the bathroom? It's not the most hygienic place. It's the biggest inside out. No, I don't understand. And so there's I mean, I have to lock a bathroom very close down a bathroom every now and then, so we can just monitor them a little closely because we just can't control ourselves in the bathrooms. Speaker 3 Do they meet up, like, during class? Hey, let me in the bathroom. And I never. Speaker 4 I do. Speaker 1 Yeah, I do that. And it's so hard to, like, identify. I mean, it's so vague. It really is. Sometimes I do get kids like, Oh, no, it was so and so, and they'll come and kids in sixth grade are still pretty honest. Yeah, sure. I'm like, our question like, yes, it was me. So I don't understand. I don't understand the bathroom. Speaker 5 I think the funniest part about that is, is we had a year where when Fortnite came out on the phone, we had people in the stall for 25, 30 minutes. Speaker 3 Playing games and. Speaker 5 Playing games. Speaker 3 On their phone. Speaker 4 Yes. Speaker 5 And you just assumed that kid had a weak stomach for a little while. Speaker 4 There was one time it was Fortnite. Speaker 5 And then. Speaker 1 There was one time that a kid, I think this was last year we hit a kid was like in the back of a really long time. So they they're like, Hey, assault, can you go? So I'm like, Hey, buddy, here and there. Yeah. And he's like, Are you okay? Do we need to get the nurse? Like, my leg fell asleep or because he was in there? Speaker 4 So I was like, Look, just start stomping it out so you can wake you up. It's a problem. Oh, my gosh. With the kid in the back there do like as his leg is late. Oh, my God, that is so funny. Speaker 3 So I taught sixth grade for many years. I love sixth grade. I love the junior high age. I really do. They're so awkward. They're so quick. It's just an awkward time in life. Speaker 1 It's one of the toughest. Speaker 3 It is. I would think it's one of the toughest times. Let's talk about that for a second, because I do believe that you are called to be with that age group. You know, not everybody can teach junior high age and you have to be a little quirky and silly. You need to. Speaker 1 Have a sense of humor. Yes, I really do. Speaker 3 Yes. Speaker 1 And I think it is a difficult time that 11, 12, three, 14 year old age, they're trying to figure it out, right? Mm. It's the first time where they're really socially aware. Right. And they're starting to kind of observe and take into account of who they want to be, who are the peer pressure of friendships and who the people are. Speaker 1 Right. I hate that they get caught up in like the popularity of it because in itself every one in some way or form is part of some group like that. They're all equal. Like there's not one better than the other. And so just being themselves and they feel like that to do that little extra, like any attention, get attention, right? Speaker 1 No, if you want to like, make genuine friendships, just be you. They are going to like you for who you are. But it's easier said than done at that age. And so it's a lot of counsel, it's a lot of mediation, it's a lot of conflict resolution to try to figure that out and help them like navigate all of those things because it is it's hard girl drama, all of the things that pop up. Speaker 3 Which is what's so great about that time for those classes to be together, you know, to kind of talk through social emotional for sure. You know, I think that was such a great addition to the junior high to kind of and we're seeing such a a shift with I think personally, I think it's cell phones and social media and and trying to get their who they are and, you know. Speaker 1 Well, you bring a good point. And I think as much as we want to say we monitor our kids usage when it comes to their devices, it becomes such a part of who they are, their identity. We've had kids who have been just diminished because they feel like they aren't able to be a part their community because they don't have their cell phone. Speaker 1 They don't know what to do when that is gone. And that's a scary thing to see a student not understand their worth because they can't be connected through their device. Speaker 5 Yeah, in the moment you take it away, they feel like the rest of their day is just not there. Like you take a phone away for them taking pictures in the hallway or being on them when they're not supposed to be on it. And like they beg for it back. Like they think that their world is about to just crumble because they don't have that device in their hand, because they're so used to just they don't even sometimes even look at it. Speaker 5 They're just walking the hallways. It's just. Speaker 3 Like, Yeah. Speaker 4 Yeah, yes. Speaker 5 So I feel like in the junior high before, like through five, you kind of go through this tunnel. But in sixth grade, that tunnel opens because you have multiple schools coming into one school. You have kids that you've never had classes before. Now they're in your class. You introduce sports and electives and all these different things. And kids go so many different ways and they're trying to figure out, you know, they they've been told to be in these electives, but then figure out that it's not for them or they figure out they like this more. Speaker 5 They have friends that gravitate this way. So it's it's a difficult road for kids in sixth grade trying to figure out, you know, where they fit into. And, you know, it's we can all remember back in sixth grade it's a different friend group from when you graduated high school. So. Speaker 4 Right. Speaker 5 Figuring out who who puts value into you and people that you to be around, I think drive a lot of how your day is going to go on a daily basis. Speaker 1 Absolutely. And you said put value and that's something that I say to kids all the time, like they they're upset with someone. I'm like, you have to understand like, you don't need 100 friends. You need like one or two people in your bubble that bring positive value to you and make you feel good about yourself and vice versa. Speaker 1 Beyond that, yeah, they're friends, but it's like acquaintances. But yeah, that core group, that's what you need right now. And right now they're really, they really do kind of focus on that quantity and that's hard. And the other conversation is if you're in your, if you're in that group of friends and the only thing you're doing is talking negatively about people are making fun of people like that is what your conversations always revolve around. Speaker 1 That is not friendship. No, that is not like positive value. You need to really consider who you are and what you want as a person and what your parents have instilled in you like. Is that really what you want? Like you should be able to have conversations like this, like about what's going on in life, about what you got, How is school? Speaker 1 I mean, I'm sure some of their conversations are surface levels are 11 and 12, but it should never only revolve, only thing you'll ever do is just make fun. That is not friendship. Right? So it's a it's a hard thing to for them to learn because they want to be included. And so navigate like being okay to be like, yeah, that's not for me. Speaker 1 I need to step away. Speaker 3 Here and I'll talk through those things. You know? It's just, it reminds me of how hard, first of all, the job is that you have, how hard it is to be a kid today. So just, you know, my heart goes out to the kids today, but to be a parent of a junior high kid, it's just a lot, you know? Speaker 3 So I just want to encourage parents, if you have junior high kids, just whatever age, honestly, just make sure, just want to encourage you to It's really not how is your day to day, but maybe just talking through those social aspects of, you know, you're important and you're loved and are you do you feel like you have strong friendships and what is a friend to you and how do we treat each other and how do we you know, what are positive ways that you can, I guess, not get hits from your phone and asking your family to put your phone down, you know, during dinner time or for an hour and just talking and things Speaker 3 like that. Just building those skills to be able to be alone and be quiet. You know, one of the things they say even with adults is just be silent and watch the even the adults in the room pick up their phone and start scrolling because people don't know what to do in silence. Yeah, in those awkward times. And I think we have to kind of still work on those skills and build those skills. Speaker 1 And I think a friend of mine, she texted over the weekend, she's like, you know, I had to ground my kid. So I took his phone away because he got in trouble for something. I don't remember what it was maybe at school or at third conduct mark or something. And she's like, he's like sitting on the couch reading a book, just have like, content. Speaker 1 And I was like, That's okay. Like, let him learn. Like, I think it was kind of like that conversation. Like it's almost harder for us sometimes when we take those devices away because we've kind of leaned into them a little bit too right? Or that sense of communication when they're away from us, like back in the day, we just contact the parent or whatever. Speaker 1 But at the same time, like at the end of the week, I think he was like, I was okay. Like wasn't a bad weekend even though I didn't have any devices. So and I'm like, then maybe this is the time to run with it and set some parameters. Like if he's okay with it, maybe this is the time to kind of push that a little bit further and make it this only as needed. Speaker 1 So it was an interesting it's just an interesting way to look at it. Some kids might thrive. Speaker 3 I think the part the problem with that, and I'm speaking for myself is if you're going to ask that of your kid, you have to be willing. Speaker 1 To do that. Speaker 3 You know. Speaker 1 And and I think and she did like they went for walks and they went and did like some of the same things. And so I do and I think it makes the time with them more purposeful and more intent for not perfect, but with more intentional. Intentional, for. Speaker 4 Sure. Yeah. I love that. Speaker 5 You had the other day we saw had a tournament, San Jack tournament, and then we went out to eat on Saturday after both of our teams had won. So we go to ask and it is and we're you outside so there's, you know, the adult table and then there's the kid table. And Coach John and Coach Gibson were sitting at the kid table and before her, you know, they could sit down and the kids are playing on their phones and just kind of, you know, both of them took up all their phones and said, when you leave, you can get this back. Speaker 5 And the amount of laughter over there. Speaker 4 I love it. Speaker 5 And genuine conversations have happened. Speaker 4 Yes. Speaker 5 It's just a sight to see. So a lot of times when we're all sitting together at tournaments or games or or waiting for the team game to end in the A-Team, like no phones. If we. Speaker 4 Just. Speaker 5 Watch and we have conversations. Speaker 3 That eating together. Speaker 1 Oh, absolutely a. Speaker 3 Time that phone not be has always. Speaker 1 Been a role in my house. Like when we eat we are not on our devices in even at big family gatherings. My girls they knew like we are there to have like have that conversation and have that time. And so it's really hard when other family members, kiddos, we're on a device the whole time while we're eating a meal. Speaker 1 But my girl, my girls knew like now this is a time for you to like, visit with your family, your extended family that we don't see all the time. Like, that's an important thing. Those are like important opportunities to have some great memories and conversation. Speaker 3 Conversations. Yeah, that's what I love about sports too. You're yeah, you're building in. Yeah. They're not on their phones. They're being active, they're running, they're burning calories. Speaker 6 They're playing for something greater than themselves. Speaker 1 Have all I mean, yes, you said you played at Stellar and I guess Ava and for club volleyball, that is a role at Ava. Like our club role is when we're at tournaments, your your phone is put away. It is not out. And so even for 12 years, I was like, you're not on your phone. You're it is a time if you're not playing or reffing, you're with your team and you're building and bonding and building that community. Speaker 1 You're not with your parents like we want to push. Yeah, that relational piece. Yes. Because it's important. And so I think most clubs do that and instill that because that's what built that chemistry. And so kids need that. They need to know and learn how to have a conversation with people. And devices have taken that away. Yes, for sure. Speaker 1 Yeah, that's that's a skill that is creep in a way if we don't really be purposeful with helping them grow on it. Right. Speaker 3 Yeah, That's one of the things I love about sports. Good for you guys to say, Hey, phones down, let's, you know, be together as a team. That's that's awesome. So let me ask you a question. Not that advice like really is good and six. Speaker 4 But if. Speaker 3 If there was one piece of advice that did stick, what one piece of advice would you give junior high kids if you knew it would stick. Speaker 1 Make mistakes I mean or that's going to happen even with the kid. That is what you would consider like the you know, like the perfect kid. They are going to make some mistakes. It's okay to fail a test. It's okay to fail an assignment. It's okay to fail a daily assignment. Like that's how we learn and and to not get so stressed over it. Speaker 1 You know, I had a situation last week and and a couple of students in the moment had a little tussle and the amount of tears. But it wasn't because of the tough words, because of the disappointment for their parent like that. They were afraid that they were going to have from their parents. And so it is, you know, what's happened has already happened. Speaker 1 And and we're dealing with it. We're going to talk about it. We're going to talk about why we're going to figure it out and work through it. Now, with your parents, no matter what, they are always going to love you. And they may be they're quiet and they're going to be concerned about why things happened and you might have some consequence at home. Speaker 1 But at the end of the day, it's never about the disappointment. It's about their doing their job as a parent to work through this with you. And so I think it's just be okay with making some fumbles along the way, Like that's how we grow, that's how we learn the same when in like at this age they're learning the game, make mistakes, hit the ball out of bounds when you serve it missed the three point shot turnover the ball but make that effort. Speaker 1 Keep putting yourself out there and take a risk for things because if you don't and don't see that you can overcome things and you are resilient about it, life is going to be hard and that's I think it needs to be okay that there's going to be some things that are out of your control that happen. And it's just we got to learn from them. Speaker 5 Yeah, To piggyback off Christina, So I tell the kids all the time when I read this quote and I've been telling to kids the last couple of years, when you make a mistake, if you continue to make that state, you're carrying that burden. When you allow it to be a lesson, it becomes a stepping stone in front of you. Speaker 5 So when you understand that mistake and then you do your best not to repeat it, you put it down on the ground and becomes a stepping stone to getting better. And so I think kids need to hear that more often in order for them to develop their journey, their mistakes need to become lessons and not like, Oh, don't do this anymore. Speaker 5 I like let's understand why these mistakes are happening. Why are we doing like, if it's because you don't understand something, then that's fine. Let's. Let's fill in the gap. Yep. So I like that lesson a lot with, with especially with my sports kiddos in the gym. I kind of refined it into one thing. I just tell kids to be better and like when they first hear the like, be better and normally like be better to me is like, be kind, be friendly, be open to people. Speaker 5 So in the sixth grade, I tell kids all the time, just be better. And it means it encompasses the whole, you know, six pillars of characteristic X and and all of that. So I think if kids were more open minded and more friendly, it would solve so many of our issues that we see on a daily basis. And so at first, the first time you'd tell the kids, you know, they're, oh, well, you suck at this. Speaker 5 I'm just like, Hey, be better. And they're like, Better at what? I'm like, be better at being a teammate, you know, being a friend, being a shoulder, being an ear to listen to somebody. Speaker 3 So being a positive word over. Speaker 4 Yeah. Speaker 3 Is such a part of development for that age group is in such a struggle. They're just trying to figure out who they are. Yeah, you know, and it's so interesting to me that it's a natural tendency to lean into being mean, or. Speaker 6 I think that's because you don't know who you are. You know, you're not anchored in that. Speaker 1 And so sometimes it's just easier. Yeah, it's easier then to be vulnerable to your peers and to show who you like. Let a little bit of yourself out there because of the fear of being rejected totally. Speaker 5 The person that I am now is completely different than the person who went through school because when I went through school, I was definitely the first person like, okay, I just got to see who do I tell first? Oh, that's going on. I need to know more about it. And so I definitely was a person that fed off negative but kept the negative going. Speaker 5 And so kind of what you just mentioned, like the first couple of days of P.E., we don't pick up any equipment. It's about building those relationships and letting them know that this is a positivity area. And so I was never one to really get out of my bubble. And being a sixth grade PE teacher, I've had to get out of my bubble for so many different things. Speaker 5 So it's opened me up to being a more positive person and I try to relay that to the kids as much as possible. You know, we do the whole, you know, icebreakers and like I'm giving them things I don't normally tell people. Like I'm a huge Taylor Swift fan. Like things that they're like, you can be a guy and like Taylor Swift like and, you know, hey, I sing in the shower. Speaker 5 I love seeing you in the shower. Like I'm opening up to these kids because I want them to feel that not only can they open up to me, but they can open up to the other classmates as well. And when that happens, the become less competitive and more about the lessons within the teamwork, the collaboration. And when they feel more open to being friendly with people in the room and in the gym and during games, it's less about the score and more about it's the result of the activity, you know, creating that collaboration and the teamwork. Speaker 5 And and they see value in that, you know, as they get closer to the end of the year. Speaker 3 We loved whenever we came in, I think it was the first day of school might have been the second day of school. Speaker 6 That definitely that first. Speaker 3 Week. Yeah, we came in and you were working with them on okay, find a different partner, do a handshake, introduce yourself. Now answer this, have each other. Answer these questions. Get to know you. We just love. We're so see. And it's so important for sixth graders to learn that you know, you would think they would get it by that age. Speaker 3 But coming into junior high, they don't know. Should I act differently or is this going to be a different you know, it's just sweat. Speaker 1 Cool. Speaker 4 Yeah. Speaker 3 What's cool school. Exactly. Speaker 6 And that's why I think adults modeling those positive behaviors, being open like kids will. Speaker 1 Oh, they feed off. Speaker 4 Of it will. Speaker 6 Feed off of it. And it's like you just watch it. You you quickly see the influence you have over children and why it's so important. Like I always say, like little eyes and little ears are always watching and listening, no doubt. And so just to be able to be that positive role model. But I think they hold like being around kids actually holds you more accountable to in a lot of ways, you know, like that you're more conscious of the way you're behaving and talking and whatever. Speaker 6 But it is it's fascinating to watch how they will emulate your behavior. Speaker 1 Yeah. And I mean, I think if you know me, I'm a relational person, but that social emotional learning component definitely is something that I am committed to and helping us continue to bring that as part of our culture. Our teachers are great. I mean, they're doing that already, but we do have that purposeful time that we've implemented. And I do think kids feed off of it. Speaker 1 Whoever that connections teacher is, like how they are buying into that and being vulnerable and showing some of themselves and that in those pieces that we're giving, it does help because that's a different time. There's not a grade attached to it or anything. It's a time for them to truly just have conversations with each other. We try to purposely give them things to connect to the world or our community with some community service and things that they can do within our school, like we have these sweeties custodial staff. Speaker 1 And so at the beginning of the year, knowing how hard they worked when Miss McNeill's Connections class was like, We want to do something for our custodial staff, because we know between the new Kline and everything that's going on at the high school and everything, the junior, the junior high was like the epicenter for everything this summer. And that team, we're working overtime. Speaker 1 And so to see them come up with those things until like, let's, let's help them feel appreciated, like it shows. And so I think that those teachers do such a great job of modeling that because our kids are responding. Speaker 6 Yeah, and I'm going to do a little plug really quick, but if you haven't seen it, we've been doing a series. A peek inside a feisty classroom is one of the ones we did at the junior high was with Ms.. McNeill's connections. Yes. And it's just a great watch if you don't know a lot about connections, just to be able to see some of the conversations they're having. Speaker 6 And really what we were so impressed with was the openness of the kids during that time. So anyway, if you haven't seen it, go to this great page Facebook, you'll find it. It was in the spring last year. Speaker 3 Yes, last year. Yeah. Speaker 4 Yeah. Speaker 3 So getting off track a little bit, Would you rather have dinner with Clark Griswold or Cousin Eddie? Speaker 1 Oh, man. Speaker 5 So I can see myself eating with either one of them because I feel like I share kids characteristics with both. But I feel like if I'm having dinner with somebody, it's got to be Cousin Eddie because there's never a dull moment. Speaker 1 It's going to be entertaining for sure. You're hungry as long as he doesn't wear his rope. Oh, I like. I would like for him to be fully clothed. Speaker 3 Both would add some spice to Christmas dinner, right? For sure. You know. Speaker 1 I mean, it would be entertaining to have both of them. Speaker 4 Oh, yeah. I mean, to be able to. Speaker 1 Witness the fallout. Yeah, for. Speaker 4 Sure. How do you. Speaker 3 Watch that movie this year? I feel like I watch it every year, but hasn't seen it. Christmas vacation this year. Speaker 6 I swear. We watch it almost every day. Really? We watch it constantly. We love that movie. Speaker 3 It's love that it's also good. Speaker 5 But if home Alone one or two are on. Speaker 4 Bad for You. Speaker 5 Or Elf is on. Speaker 6 Home Alone two, we also watch a ton. Speaker 4 Oh yeah, yeah. Speaker 3 Oh, okay. I need to watch. That is, I don't even know that I've ever seen home Alone two. Speaker 1 Yeah, it's in New York. Is the New York one okay? Speaker 3 Yeah, maybe I have. I don't know. Speaker 5 So when when you grow up and you want to be a firefighter and a policeman, I wanted to be Kevin. Speaker 4 Okay? Like, did you. Speaker 1 Just walk around? Speaker 4 Like, have you sometimes. Have you seen Kevin today? I don't know if he got his Hollywood star. Speaker 5 Kevin back then. Speaker 4 And. Speaker 5 Like, how? Like, I always thought somebody was going to break into my house and I wanted to make sure that I had all the pulleys. Yeah, all the booby traps. Speaker 6 You were ready? Speaker 5 Oh, I was ready. Speaker 3 That's great. That's a brilliant that's a brilliant movie. Speaker 4 It's so good. Speaker 1 So it's still so good. Yeah. So, I mean, I just think it's so entertaining for any kid. Even at this age. You can sit down and watch it as a family and it's still so good. Speaker 3 Yeah. Do you all think Die Hard is a Christmas movie? Speaker 1 That's a big controversy. Speaker 3 It is for me. I just. Yes, but it is. Speaker 1 I think that's when we watch it, right? Speaker 6 I've never seen it. Speaker 3 Okay. You've got there's a movie you need to see. Yeah. Speaker 6 How am I going to squeeze it in between watching home on Christmas vacation? Speaker 1 I've got two weeks coming up. Yeah. Speaker 4 You just need to. Speaker 3 Make it happen. Yeah, you need to make it happen. Okay. It's a good movie. I don't know. What is. Speaker 6 It? It's a war. Speaker 4 Now. What is it? Speaker 5 You're seeing any of the diehards? Speaker 6 No. Speaker 4 First one more than one. Speaker 3 Yeah. You know who Bruce Willis is? Speaker 6 I You know who Bruce Willis? Yes. No, I know. I thought it was a disgrace. Speaker 4 So I really might just shoot. Speaker 6 Christmas time where they had, like, a cease fire and they were all quarreling. I thought that was what it was. Speaker 3 No, no, They're in a high rise. Speaker 6 Yeah. Okay. So totally different at this party. Speaker 3 And there's. Speaker 1 Kidnaping. Speaker 5 Terrorists. Speaker 4 That take over the building. They to see how this. Speaker 6 Is, like my jam. Okay, I. Speaker 4 Really like it. Yeah. Speaker 5 The dad from Family Matters is one of the main characters as well. Speaker 6 Family matters. Speaker 1 I don't know which. Yeah, Mr. Winslow. Yeah, our Sergeant one. Speaker 4 But. Oh, yeah. Okay. Okay. Speaker 6 I just didn't know the name. Okay. Yes, I used to watch the show then. Yeah. Speaker 5 Oh, yeah. Diehard. Definitely. Christmas movie. Speaker 3 Is. And let's end with this one. If money were no object and you could spend Christmas break, of course, with your family at any location in the world, where would you want to go? Speaker 1 I mean, Oh, man, I've always wanted to visit Australia. I think that would be like somewhere Sydney. I don't know. Something that would be really cool. That'd be cool experience. But if I had to say, like in the in the US, we love the Smoky Mountains somewhere in Tennessee, Gatlinburg somewhere cabin. Speaker 5 She took my answer. Speaker 3 Oh, really? Speaker 5 So the last couple of years I've heard a lot of people Mr. Drew has mentioned that there's a cabin that we were going to visit one time and he mentioned it. But Gatlinburg, during Christmas time is a sight to. Speaker 4 See. Speaker 1 And I haven't done that yet. So that would be in the summer. But I haven't we haven't ever done Christmas time. Speaker 5 I think New York would obviously be an experience that Christmas time as well. Speaker 4 Well, you. Speaker 6 Just went this way. Yeah. Yeah. Just a couple of weeks ago. Went with my mom and my sister and it was it was magical. I mean, it was awesome. I will say, because you are talking about Gatlinburg being known for Christmastime, right? So where I actually did my honeymoon both on and I love Christmas and so we went to we were limited because we got married and covered year eight, but we went to Leavenworth, which a lot of people immediately think of the prison in Leavenworth, Washington. Speaker 6 But it's nicknamed Christmas Town, USA Nice. And it literally it's a Bavarian village in the mountains tucked away. And it is all Christmas, all year, everything like it is. It is amazing. We did a one horse open sleigh ride. We went tubing. I mean, everything fabulous, decorated, Every tree is decorated. Speaker 3 It's like a Hallmark movies. Speaker 6 Literally like everyone was like this was like legit, a Hallmark movie and. Speaker 4 Definitely. Speaker 6 It's anyway so that would be one to look into. Speaker 1 And it's year rounds. Speaker 6 They have they're known for being like Christmassy year round, but in particular at Christmas time and there's actually I think between we we missed it cause we left the day after Christmas. I was in grad school and I was really wanting to get through graduating before we so we delayed our honeymoon little bit. But apparently between Thanksgiving and Christmas, there's actually a train that runs from Seattle to Leavenworth, and it's Polar Express. Speaker 1 Oh, my goodness. Speaker 6 So we didn't get to do that because we went on the 26th, so we missed it. But that would have been really cool, too. So anyway, you. Speaker 1 Have to check it out. I do. I can. We would love that. She's my youngest. She loves Christmas. Like, I mean, it's kind of like she is. Speaker 4 Like they have a nice. Speaker 1 Circle of friends. She would love. Speaker 6 That gingerbread factory. I mean, it's all the Christmas things you could want. It's awesome. Speaker 4 That's awesome. Speaker 1 That it's. Speaker 4 Good. Speaker 3 Anything else that we need to know about with the junior high? Anything to plug. Anything you want parents to know, Anything. Coming up. Speaker 1 I mean, spring's come in second semester. We have basketball. We'll have tennis track and field. It's a busy spring. There's lots of things going on for sure. And then obviously we'll have our FTTH musical that will be. Speaker 4 Coming out. Speaker 1 Of this. Little Mermaid. Speaker 5 Little Mermaid? Yeah. Speaker 1 Okay, good. Yes. So that'll be I think it's in February. If I'm not mistaken. Speaker 3 Musicals are fantastic at. Speaker 1 First. So I remember the first year I was blown. Speaker 4 Yes. Speaker 1 Away. Speaker 3 I know. Speaker 1 At the talent shows. It's incredible. Jane has also made one of those musicals. You need to. Speaker 5 It's awesome to piggyback off that Our sixth graders just did their first performance good, and it was holiday related. Oh, my gosh. Speaker 4 Just was great. Speaker 5 You just sit there and laugh and I we as p.e. It's kind of the first time we're kind of training kids to be an audience. And so but I also like going to see kids perform outside the gym. So that's choir band there are they get hung up in the hallways. I love seeing kids get out of their shell that I see in p.E. Speaker 5 And watching the sixth grade performance. I know what's going to happen because I go and watch all of them and I still laugh. Speaker 4 Yeah, they're singing. Speaker 5 It's their little personalities that come out and you're like, That kid's been silent all year long. And now that he's on the stage, he's the biggest personality. Speaker 4 I mean, yeah. Speaker 3 When they get. Speaker 6 In their groove, they mind their thing to shine. Speaker 1 Up. And then Mr. Drew does his little series. I thought they've been great challenges. They have. They really enjoyed. Speaker 3 I'm proud of him for doing. Speaker 1 That, too. And I thought this last one was it focused on some tougher topics like conversations to have with your kids. So it was really good. So listen, for those coming up, a few more coming up in the spring semester. Speaker 3 Yeah, those are great. Speaker 1 Yes. All I can think of right now. Speaker 5 I think otherwise everybody's looking forward to the break to recharge and. Speaker 3 Yes. Speaker 1 Much needed recharge. Speaker 3 For sure. Well, you two are awesome in your search you're such a part of the Friendswood junior high success and we love ya and enjoy getting to visit with you all and we hope you'll have a great holidays. Speaker 1 Thanks for inviting us. Speaker 4 We wish you all the same to.