The 2020-2021 school year has been a year of many new things, most of which students have never encountered before. However, with these experiences come new lessons, whether big or small. The life lessons taken away from the obstacles faced are what create strength and perseverance. 7 Mindsets, a new social-emotional learning program taught during Mondays Core Connection class is a great way to put the growth mindset into action and holds us accountable for our success.

Mr. Condarco, the Principal of PHS, has had some prior experience with The 7 Mindsets. He was formally the Principal at Keefer Crossing Middle School, who started The 7 Mindsets in 2019. 

“At the beginning of the year we struggled, but as we focused on bringing it into the culture of our school, I think it started transforming how kids treated each other,” Condarco said. “The 7 Mindsets paints a great picture of what it takes to be successful and gives students the means to realize that they can be not only good but great.” 

Although The 7 Mindsets is a new program to the school, in reality it is a compilation of old lessons that have been around for ages, made into the lessons we teach today.  

“This is nothing new,” Coach Jeffrey Reece said. “[The 7 Mindsets has always been] something I have taught in my classrooms.”  

Dr. Slaydon, the Dean of Instruction, says that The 7 Mindsets are good life skills and there is something for everyone to take away from them. 

The core message of the 7 Mindsets in that you are capable of doing great things, so it’s time to start believing in your capabilities. You are able to be great, we all have this potential energy stored up that needs to be transformed into kinetic energy.

“Once we start to hold ourselves accountable for the path we are choosing then great things will happen,” Ready-Set-Teach teacher Brandi Espitia said. “I love the meaning behind it – it teaches us that we are not victims of our past, our future is not predetermined, and our lives are what we choose from this moment onward.”  

The 7 Mindsets is a great way to put the growth mindset into action and holds us accountable for our success. 

“We all fall into traps, but The 7 Mindsets makes us a checklist,” Dr. Slaydon said. 

At the beginning of March, Student Council teamed up with Ready-Set-Teach to bring a fun and engaging activity to the Core Connections classes. As some of you may know, this month is March Madness, the NCAA basketball tournament. Therefore we are calling it “Mindset Madness.” At the end of the competition there will be a party for the winning class! Stay on the lookout for when your hallway will be participating in this fun 7 mindsets event! 

“I love a friendly competition and I am really hoping to see the students come together and work as a team,” Espitia said. “It is going to be nice to do something fun!”