Codger

= media type="custom" key="5176715" = toc

=//Codger Wiki// = //Reveling in senior citizenship//**//.//**


Mark Piechota Head of School [|The Crefeld School]

I love strolling the hallways and greeting students. What always pleases and surprises me is that the students greet me back. Unlike other secondary schools, where students would either grunt in reply or avoid me altogether, our students feel safe and appreciated, and they convey that feeling in their relations with adults.

**My Quote**
"//Breathing in, I calm my body. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the present moment, I know this is a wonderful moment.//" Thich Nhat Hanh

I remember these words when I am stuck in traffic, feeling tense, and they calm me down.

**My Favorite Things**

 * Early morning quiet, with a cup of green tea.
 * Pecan pie with vanilla ice cream.
 * Working with wood.
 * Witnessing a great classroom lesson.[[image:39318384_41db0bfdb9.jpg width="200" height="171" align="right" caption="I also love leafy greens"]]
 * Students blossoming.
 * Wearing jeans and casual clothes.
 * A good night's sleep.
 * The excited looks on the faces of my grandchildren, when they see me coming off the plane to visit them.
 * Taking walks in the forest with my wife, Pat.
 * Shrimp gumbo.
 * Singing in the church choir.
 * Doing water color painting.
 * Kripalu yoga center.
 * Autumn in New England.
 * Springtime in Philadelphia.

media type="custom" key="5176549"

**Don't You Hate It When People.....**

 * Litter.
 * Don't scoop up their dog's poop.
 * Cut in line.
 * (Basically, this list could go on and on. The common theme is people who are insensitive toward others and not committed to the common good.)

**My Delicious Site**

 * http://delicious.com/piechota45

**My Podcast **
What is meant by "progressive education" at The Crefeld School?

media type="custom" key="5214251"

**My YouTube Video** Given my fascination with citizenship development in schools, I thought it would be cool to include a music video of Democracy Is Coming.

media type="youtube" key="OETwbVBPI1U" width="425" height="350"

Somewhat on the theme of citizenship, here is a cute video about Validation.

media type="youtube" key="Cbk980jV7Ao" height="344" width="425"

**The Crefeld School**
I asked staff to give me four words that described The Crefeld School--that captured what made us unique. I compiled their responses, and the result is displayed below, courtesy of Wordle.



**Title** Words from [|flickr] Created by [|kastner] Garden of Leafy Greens by Sandra Mora http://www.flickr.com/photos/ospohlminhas/39318384  **Slide Show** || <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">
 * Photo**
 * **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;">Photo Name **<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 80%;"> || **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;">Photographer **<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 80%;"> || **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;">Web Link **<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 80%;"> ||
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;">Green Peppers || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;">Sandra Mora || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;">http://www.flickr.com/photos/ospohlminhas/39318246/ ||
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;">Diverse Peppers || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;">Sandra Mora || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;">http://www.flickr.com/photos/ospohlminhas/39318346/ ||
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;">Elongated Tomatoes || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;">Sandra Mora || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;">http://www.flickr.com/photos/ospohlminhas/39318299/ ||
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;">Gourds and Squashes || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;">Sandra Mora || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;">http://www.flickr.com/photos/ospohlminhas/39318322/ ||
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;">Garden of Leafy Greens || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;">Sandra Mora || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;">http://www.flickr.com/photos/ospohlminhas/39318384/ ||
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;">Baskets of Vegetables || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;">Sandra Mora || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;">http://www.flickr.com/photos/ospohlminhas/39318367/