It's a Numbers Thing

This year I took a new job at a school that has dramatically lower enrollment than previous schools I've worked at. We're talking 650 students versus 1000 to 2000. 

Now there are some major benefits to being at a small school. And I really love my school! 

I love my school 

I love my kids 

I love knowing my colleagues 

I love my administration 

I love the home environment 

I love knowing everyone

It's simple- my job rocks!  

( I was just channeling Jessica's Daily Affirmation right there!) http://youtu.be/qR3rK0kZFkg 

But there are some major disadvantages to being at a small school. I feel like I'm constantly struggling to get kids to commit because they're being pulled in 50 different directions. Now I guess this is a good thing because my kids are the same good kids that everybody else has which means there are some real great kids coming out of our school. But it really sucks! 

I hate feeling like I have to make kids choose between FFA and whatever else they're involved in. I'm struggling with finding good kids that aren't involved in everything. Don't get me wrong, I like a well-rounded kid more than anyone, but those kids are also the ones that are the hardest to get to commit to FFA. 

Now that I have a program of 100 rather than the 350+ I did have, I don't know how to get them to be serious and commit to things like CDE contests or conferences... I know everything takes time but it's difficult to be patient (pretty sure I get that from my dad?) 

I am not sure what to do or where to go from this?  I have no ideas, no suggestions, no input, nothing... I know building the program and increasing enrollment will help but that takes time so how do I get the kids I have to want to be more involved now?? Right now the kids I have, think being in FFA means taking an animal to fair. For me that's the farthest thing from the truth. FFA does so many wonderful things and reaches so many different types of people and raising an animal for the fair is the least important. Now that list of importance is only mine-- don't get me wrong some people think that this is highly important, and while I do admit that there are many skills that kids raising animals learn from taking animals, it is NOT the end all/be all of FFA. 

Year 2 Mission: build the program, get kids who commit, teach life skills and be patient... 

See they work hard in class... 

Reedley Field Day- notice not a full team?