Super Monday Week 12 SY26

SUPER MONDAY

A motivational and informational morning message from Superintendent Willis

Week 12 ~ October 27th, 2025

Super Monday Message

The internet, search engines, and artificial intelligence have made gaining a basic knowledge about anything much easier. In very little time you can watch a video, read a summary, or listen to a presentation about nearly any imaginable subject matter. Such easy access to knowledge sometimes limits our desire to study things deeply. We know a little about many things, but are masters of few things.

In the old one room schoolhouses of early America there was a shortage of available knowledge. Teachers frequently asked students to bring a book from home and they were taught to read using whatever book they brought (Frequently the family bible). In many cases the teacher would simply set deadlines for students to memorize portions of the book or write it out. When students focused so intently on a single text they frequently left their schooling with a very limited collection of knowledge, but with the valuable skills of reading and writing. This focused deep study also occasionally caused students to be profoundly influenced by their chosen text.

Our nation’s first president, the Honorable George Washington, received very little in the way of formal education. His family certainly had access to more knowledge than most, but his father died young and George’s education was not as broad as others of his social class. The 14 year old George did a deep study of a French text called “110 Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation.” The young George wrote out all 110 rules and referenced them often. Documented history suggests that these rules had a profound impact on George Washington’s character.

The rules include a lot of simple table and conversation manners such as rule 98, “Drink not nor talk with your mouth full; neither gaze about you while you are drinking.” While Washington’s observance of these simpler rules would have made people believe him to be a proper gentleman, they are not likely the rules that made people honor him. His strict observance of others of these rules may have been the reason people held him in such high esteem. Here are 5 of the more potent rules….

• Rule 22 “Shew not yourself glad at the misfortune of another though he were your enemy."
• Rule 40: “Strive not with your superiors in argument, but always submit your judgment to others with modesty.”
• Rule 48: "Wherein you reprove another be unblameable yourself; for example is more prevalent than precepts."
• Rule 63: “A man ought not to value himself of his achievements, or rare qualities of wit; much less of his riches, virtue or kindred.”
• Rule 89: “Speak not evil of the absent for it is unjust.” 

These rules must have been important to George Washington. Despite the fact that he copied them out as a young teenager, his copy was preserved throughout his life and the library of congress still holds his handwritten copy today. Considering all that President Washington accomplished, it is incredible that he was such a student of rule 82, “Undertake not what you cannot perform but be careful to keep your promise.” He undertook a lot and he kept many important promises.

There is a great need today for the world to give more heed to the rules of civility and to do more positive deep learning. When we study quality knowledge deeply, it influences our behavior in a positive way. Much of the world reads their religious texts over and over with the intent to allow it to influence how they live. Dig deep and have a great week 12.

Super High Fives

Just a couple of the awesome recent accomplishments that need a big thank you.

• A super high five to the Circleville Elementary PTO for putting on a fun Fall Festival. Super High Five to Meagan Lee, Marci Pollock, the chili cooks, the dessert makers, and all the other volunteers that gave their time to make it a fun evening at the school.
• A super high five to high school volleyball team for a fun season. A super high five to the dedicated coaches McKell Randell, Kalece Spencer, and Kieran Mooney. Also a super high five to the six great seniors Taesi Morgan, Kazlee King, Alayna Severe, Riyo Winckel, Hadley Morgan, and Janey James.

Other Super Information

• Fall Sports Calendar 2025
  • Link to subscribe to PHS Sports Calendar
• 2025-2026 School District Calendar

Super Weekly Schedule