Thursday MM

Good Morning!

Great SIT meeting yesterday afternoon!  I appreciate the collaborative process and thank all the members of our staff who dedicate their time to our multiple teams. YOU are making a difference in our school. 

During the meeting We gathered info about our CCES plan and will have a meeting on Monday December 5th at 3:30 in the LTM to schedule our first two modules.

The Sign-up schedule for next weeks 30 minute meeting about data with each of our certified teachers is with Silvia.  I have created a schedule with 37 slots for a thirty-minute meeting beginning December 5th.  Please choose a time before you leave on Friday.  I plan to review the list this weekend so I will be prepared to ask pertinent and specific questions regarding your use of data to drive instruction.  Please bring two copies of your Class Profile Sheets to the meeting. 

Start Times for the 30 minute meetings are as follows;
7:30 - 8:30 - 9:15 - 10:00 - 10:45 - 11:30
12:30 - 1:15 - 2:00 - 3:15 - 4:00 - 4:45 

Please keep Earline in your thoughts and prayers as she is having a surgical procedure in the hospital today to help locate the source of her breathing difficulties.

Subs:
Denise Jennings for Joel Peddle
No sub yet for Earline 

Wednesday MM

Good Morning!

SIT this afternoon in the media center.  We will continue to review our goals and also look at the CCES implementation plan.

Holiday Events are upcoming!

The Staff Holiday Social will be after dismissal on Thursday December 15th.  Fill up with some good food and fellowship and please consider staying for the evening event.....

The 4th & 5th Grade musical performance at 6 pm December 15th

Class holiday events may occur on either Friday the 16th or Monday the 19th in the afternoon.

Also Monday the 19th we will have an encore performance of the 4th and 5th grade musical in the gym with live announcements from Mr Lester-Niles. This rare first thing in the morning assembly will be complete by 9:10.

No subs today.

Tuesday MM

Good Morning!

We are working toward a solution for our CCES module sharing.  Join us for a discussion during our SIT meeting on Wednesday afternoon in the media center. 

Let's continue to support Service Learning and promote widespread participation in our Food Drive this holiday season. 

Prepare for a great 4th & 5th grade musical presentation on December 15th.  We will have our Staff Holiday Social that Thursday evening after-school and encourage you to stay around and enjoy this performance. 

Subs:
Shirley Greenwood for Earline Richardson PM only

Monday MM

Good Morning!

I trust your holiday was restful and packed with joyful experiences!  Let's create some amazing learning experiences here for our students and ourselves in theses next 17 days before the winter break.  

I am looking forward to meeting with teachers individually before December 20th to review data and look at student progress together.  I will have a schedule to sign up for a 30 - 40 minute appointment posted on my door by December 1st. 

Journalism Club today.
FLL Club Tuesday
SIT Wednesday
FLL Thursday

Sub:
Denise Jennings for Paige Sipe

Promise Yourself

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
 
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.
 
To make all your friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them.
 
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
 
To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.
 
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
 
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
 
To wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living creature you meet.
 
To give so much time to improving yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
 
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
 
To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud word, but in great deeds.


To live in the faith that the whole world is on your side, so long as you are true to the best that is in you.


The preceeding was shared with me by a member of our staff and written by Christian D. Larson.  It is often refered to as The Optimist Creed.  Enjoy Thanksgiving and Be.safe

Tuesday MM - Day 6

Good Morning!

Great food at our Thanksgiving kick-off!  I appreciate all the contributions and effort to support our community/school family.

Monday we will begin duty free lunch.  The schedule is posted on the board next to the Holiday regulations for energy. I need you to read both!  I will put both documents on the shared folder for you to access also.  They will be in a new folder called "Blog Documents"

Enjoy the Holiday!  The building will be closed until Monday so please get all the food out of the rooms and refrigerator as Laverne will clean it out at 5pm tonight.

No Lego Club today

Subs: 
Blondie Holleman for Patricia Vivanco
Maria for Nicole pm only
No sub for Kim Burch

Notes before you leave (11/22)

3-5 Teachers:
Please turn in your EOQ tests ASAP. They shouldn't sit in your rooms over the holidays.

All staff:
Last call for on-site staff development credits. All Brunson workshops close out Wednesday.

If you need to escape your relatives for a few minutes this weekend, check out some of the engineering links on my web page. I have listed a variety of sites--activities, general information, and products.

Happy Thanksgiving,
Kathy

Monday MM - Day Five (5)

Good Morning!

Our Hospitality Team has organized a pot luck lunch today.  Thanks for participating and please enjoy.

Congrats to our three teams who competed in the FLL robotics competition Saturday.  All three used the design process and performed well.  One team made enough growth to be invited to participate in the State Finals in January.

Congrats also to our TBE program for an exceptional Parent event last week! 

Please assist in getting the halls cleared for paint by removing your classwork before the end of the day Tuesday.

More later today as the buses call..........

Friday MM - Day four (4)

Good Morning!

We are being PAINTED!!!  Beginning November 28th, paint crews will be throughout our building to restore our interior surfaces.  All work needs to be removed from the halls.  If you know your room has "poor" paint quality in certain areas, clear them and create a list for your space of what needs paint!  I cannot guarantee that it will all get  done, but if we do not ask, I can assure you that it will be a quick once over as the crew has a heavy load and many schools to service.

We are experiencing a Rubber Band issue in select classrooms and grade levels.  PLEASE remove this dangerous item and pre-correct all students that use of a rubber band in a threatening manner is a safety concern that will not be tolerated.

GREAT job with the Thanksgiving Lunch!

Please consider nominating a Classified Employee for the honor I blogged about Thursday.  We are fortunate to work with some people of EXCEPTIONAL quality and we can "snap" all the way to the central office.

Make today a Masterpiece for Kids, for as we approach a holiday we can expect to see some aberrant behavior.  My vision is for our school home to be a ROCK of Stability that provides a rich learning experience led by a caring and competent adult.  Do not vary your expectations - Keep them high and know that kids will give us their best if we give them ours.

No subs as of 6pm this evening.

Thursday MM

Morning!

I am at a Elementary Principals meeting this morning and will return to campus during Lunch.  enjoy Thanksgiving with the parents and Supervise Students in the cafe' as we always want to give all our parents the best of us when they are able to visit!

Great News! The Nomination Window for the 2012-2013 Classified Employee of the Year (C.E.Y) is now open!  November 7 - December 9

The purpose of the Classified Employee of the Year Program is to honor annually a Classified Employee who displays exemplary characteristics while carrying out the duties of his or her job. The term "classified employees" or "classified personnel" as used in the School Board policy means individuals employed by the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education in a position of employment for which certification by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction is not required. Classified employees include, but are not limited to, individuals in the following areas of employment: housekeeping, food service, maintenance, transportation, secretarial, teaching assistants, educational aides, paraprofessionals, finance, purchasing, IT (information technology), research, and public relations.

Again, the nomination will close at 5:00pm on December 9, 2011 .

If you have any questions regarding the C.E.Y process, please contact Kendrick Leak @ KBLeak@wsfcs.k12.nc.us

Wednesday MM - Day Two (2)

Morning!

Faculty meeting today at 3:20 - Let us all reframe our expectation of a 4:00 finish to the meeting!  We are implementing a new creative approach to meeting/learning that was gleaned form our work with Liz Parry and EIE, which will benefit our Wednesday afternoons for the remainder of the year. 

Remember the statement, "if you are good, we will get out early" implies that the information being presented is not useful.  Additionaly, the statement, "I promise to finish by 4pm" implies that seat time is valued more than the quality of collaborative learning.  

Be.present
Be.engaged
Be.respectful

For our Classified Employees, the expectation is for you to attend all the faculty meeting and adjust your schedule to reflect a 40 hour work week.  7:45-4:15 is 8.5 hours - the next two days work 7:45-3:30 and the sum is 24 hours in three days.

Picture day for those who missed on October 27th will occur this morning by grade level announcements over the PA system.  We will begin at 8:30 with Kindergarten and first grade.  Second will follow when they are finished. and we will continue up the grade level ladder until all have been called.  We need every student to have their picture taken for our records even if they do not order any copies.

The duty free lunch schedule will be posted on the board and in the shared folder on Friday, after we complete the Thanksgiving lunch event.

I have a magnet meeting today and will be out of the building from 9:30-1:30

Subs:
Rosemary Hazy for Karon Kiger
No sub for Irene Rush - Please keep Irene and her family in your thoughts as her mother has been hospitalized with some intestinal and cardiac complications.

Tuesday - Day 0ne - Gearing Up!

Kathy has a few announcements that, if covered here, will save us time in the faculty meeting on Wednesday. And we really want to save time because the team that visited Raleigh wants to share our experience and get your help in taking next steps!


* Please come ready to submit nominations for Teacher of the Year. We will have the final vote at the following faculty meeting. That allows time in between to make sure people accept their nominations.


* Mrs. Correa needs our help in accounting for workshops. If you attend a workshop outside of our building on a student day, RC day, or RS day, you need to print a copy of your registration and give it to her before attending. This is something she requires for her audits, and we want to help her comply.


* If you want credit for Call for Change, Schoolwires, or any other workshop Brunson has hosted since August, you MUST register/evaluate before Thanksgiving. All of those will close out next Wednesday.

* Lunch Schedule for Thursday. Please communicate in Tuesday packet with parents!

Lunch	Table	IN		OUT
Zarate	Science	10:10 AM		10:45 AM
Binkley	Technology	10:15 AM		11:50 AM
Hailstock	Engineering	10:20 AM		10:55 AM
Phelps	Math	10:30 AM		11:05 AM
Kiger	Sustainability	10:35 AM		11:10 AM
Londono	Environment	10:40 AM		11:15 AM
Mason	Science	10:50 AM		11:25 AM
Lee	Technology	10:58 AM		11:33 AM
McNatt	Engineering	11:05 AM		11:40 AM
McGee	Math	11:13 AM		11:48 AM
Patrick	Sustainability	11:20 AM		11:55 AM
Webster	Environment	11:28 AM		12:03 PM
Smith	Science	11:40 AM		12:15 PM
Moore	Technology	11:48 AM		12:23 PM
Weber	Math	11:55 AM		12:30 PM
Sipe	Sustainability	12:05 PM		12:40 PM
Sarfert	Environment	12:13 AM		12:48 PM
Laplante	Science	12:20 PM		12:55 PM
Grisette	Technology	12:28 PM		1:03 PM
Overby	Engineering	12:35 PM		1:10 PM
Campbell	Math	12:42 PM		1:17 PM
Anderson	Sustainability	12:50 PM		1:25 PM
Gulledge	Environment	1:00 PM		1:35 PM
Woodruff	Science	1:05 PM		1:40 PM
Gray	Technology	1:10 PM		1:45 PM

Monday MM - Day SIX (6)

Thanks to our staff and students for creating the space to Mix-It-Up last Thursday.  We had a full day of activities to celebrate our similarities while honoring our diversity. 

Let's make these next seven instructional days meaningful for the academic progress of each child we teach.

Club dates this week, Journalism today - First  LEGO league Tuesday and Thursday.

Wednesday the 16th we have Picture Re-takes and an EIE faculty meeting.

Thursday is our Thanksgiving Lunch.  The schedule will be published later today after consultation with Ms. Manceri.

Sub today and Tuesday - Kamisha Goldsmith for Mary Lauren Burrell.

Tuesday, Day 1--Gearing up!

Kathy has a few announcements that, if covered here, will save us time in the faculty meeting on Wednesday. And we really want to save time because the team that visited Raleigh wants to share our experience and get your help in taking next steps!


* Please come ready to submit nominations for Teacher of the Year. We will have the final vote at the following faculty meeting. That allows time in between to make sure people accept their nominations.


* Mrs. Correa needs our help in accounting for workshops. If you attend a workshop outside of our building on a student day, RC day, or RS day, you need to print a copy of your registration and give it to her before attending. This is something she requires for her audits, and we want to help her comply.

* If you want credit for Call for Change, Schoolwires, or any other workshop Brunson has hosted since August, you MUST register/evaluate before Thanksgiving. All of those will close out next Wednesday.

MIX-IT-UP

Please make the best of  this magical day and Be.engaged

Joey Stone is here for Julie LaPlante
Rosemary Hazy is her for Tonya Grisette

MIX IT UP – Whole school activity (divided into 26 teams)

What does Mix it Up day look like?

Theme – European Countries (Each of the 26 teams is a different country)

Teams wear shirts with their designated / assigned color

Rotations:

10:15 all call for teams to meet at Rotation 1 – gives time to coordinate with shirts, lunches, etc…address any new students who need shirts etc.

Schedule for the day

Rotation 1:      10:30-11:15

Rotation 2:      11:20-12:05

Rotation 3:      12:10-12:55

Rotation 4:      1:00 -  1:45

Assembly        1:55 -  2:30

E.I.E. Design Challenge Rotation

Detailed description will be included in your mix it up packet. Challenge will be to build a tower as tall as possible that will support the flag of the country. Building materials will be provided to each team. Countries will be divided into four teams of @ 5 students each. Materials: Index cards, tape, straws, and coloring supplies

Art Challenge Rotation

Ceiling Tile Designs

Details are posted on staff share drive under PBIS folder Mix It Up art rotation 2011.11.  Each team will be given one white ceiling tile to plan, design and execute. Teams are reminded to address this challenge with the same steps as any design challenge with planning being a very important first step. 

1.)        Ask: Students are asked to design a ceiling tile that will be a part of the school.

2.)        Imagine: Students should imagine a design that will look appropriate for school.   They should keep the design “classic” for long term appeal. 

3.)        Plan: Sketch paper will be provided for this step.  A common theme might help the team stay focused and create a more cohesive sketch of their tile.  This is where visuals and guided brainstorming would be helpful.

4.)        Create: Once a common theme and idea are formulated the creation of the prepped ceiling tile can begin.  Sketching with a pencil first is recommended and possibly outlined before painting begins. Ample time should be given to create a tile that will represent team’s collaborative efforts.

Teams are not limited to designs that are influenced by information about their country but are strongly encouraged to choose designs that are cohesive and well executed with the copyright issues in mind.  Team leaders should prepare visuals that will guide their team to a successful end. Animals, School Life, Educational Icons would all make for excellent theme ideas as would S.T.E.M. & Engineering Images.

Other Rotations for the day include: Lunch and Eagle’s Nest

Wednesday MM

Good Morning!

The T-Shirts are here but we are struggling with the sizes, please DO NOT TAKE ANY T-SHIRTS until our fearless PBIS leader has had a chance to troubleshoot.  Our #1 scenario looks like a 3:20 Distribution in the gym on Wednesday Afternoon.

I have invited our new superintendent of Elementary Schools, Mr Steve Oates, to experience our Mix-It-Up day first hand.  Let's make this memorable for our students by listening to Andy's encouragement at the last Faculty meeting...

Be.active
Be.engaged
Be.leadership

Here is some news on Design:
Idea Exchange: Introducing community designWednesday, November 16, 5:30-7:00pm @ CDI and via webcast

Members of Winston-Salem's emerging Community Design Studio (CDS) and Charlotte's Design + Society Research Center will discuss how community design centers can make the places we live more beautiful, sustainable and equitable. This Idea Exchange is part of the 6 Days in November program

Local columnists say STEM education is fuel for economic growth

Winston-Salem and the surrounding region have had some notable economic development announcements in recent months. In Winston-Salem, Caterpillar will open a manufacturing plant, and North State Aviation recently opened a heavy maintenance facility, while in Kernersville the new FedEx ground hub is up and running. As our economy evolves from tobacco and textile manufacturing to advanced manufacturing and more technical industries, our work force has an obstacle to overcome. To fill the higher-paying jobs of the new economy, we need educated, skilled workers with a background in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
This challenge is not limited to Winston-Salem or the Piedmont Triad region. The U.S. is producing a fraction of the scientists, engineers and technologists needed to power our economic engine. Collectively, India, China, South Korea and Japan have more than doubled the number of students receiving bachelor's degrees in the natural sciences since 1975 and quadrupled the number earning engineering degrees. Since the late 1980s, the European Union has produced more science and engineering Ph.D.s than the United States.
Why is STEM so important?

• The National Science Foundation estimates that 80 percent of the jobs created in the next decade will require some form of STEM skills.

• A survey of local technology CEOs reports that 87 percent believe that having a supply of STEM-trained workers is critically important.

• Georgetown University reports that STEM students have access to higher-paying careers and earn more at each level of education.

Our lack of STEM-skilled workers is a leading factor in the loss of high-paying jobs to other regions. One local company, TIMCO, the world's largest privately owned aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul provider, has had to move program work to other states because it could not find the trained workers it needed here.
We must encourage the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school system to build on the STEM successes it has realized at Hanes Middle School, which has gone from "worst to first" in five years. As noted by N.C. A&T Chancellor Harold Martin: "We need to study Hanes and figure out how to replicate their success. It can give us insights into what we need to do to prepare teachers and principals for the next generation of schools."
To address this need, the leadership of the Piedmont Triad Partnership is sponsoring TriSTEM, a non-profit organization whose mission is to collaborate among business leaders and educators to excite and engage our K-12 students about science, technology, engineering and math. TriSTEM will focus on educational partnerships that apply the unique resources of the Triad to develop a highly competitive, skilled, and motivated workforce.
Currently in its development phase, TriSTEM is articulating goals that will combine the resources of our private sector with the strengths of our educational institutions. The focus is not simply facts and figures, but to teach our kids to think critically about the world, study methods for problem solving, and work with others to bring about effective solutions. Whether these students end up with careers as engineers, teachers, doctors or artists, these skills will not go to waste.
It's time to turn the ship of our economy head-on into the future. To do that, we must make our most important resource, our human ingenuity, a priority. With community support for TriSTEM, we will enable innovation and a healthy future economy by giving our kids a solid base of skills and enthusiasm about the sciences. If TriSTEM accomplishes its goals, we will be sending future generations into the working world with the high-paying jobs and competitive advantage that STEM offers.

Doug Edgeton is the president of the Piedmont Triad Research Park in Winston-Salem. Ed Kitchen is the COO of Gateway University Research Park in Greensboro.

Tuesday MM - Day 3

Good Morning!

Report Card Page two is on my desk for Patrick, Weber, Sarfert, Anderson, Campbell,Grissette, Overby, Mcnatt, McGee

Damita will have label to put on envelopes

See me early if you need help as I have 2 LTM and a Funeral to attend today.

Andy, Kathy and Allison continue their STEM education in Raleigh.

The Morehead Planetarium is in the gym for the Third grade classes and Mr. Peddle will conduct PE outside on this fine day.

Monday MM - Day 2 (Two)

Good Morning!

Build Great habits with PBIS as we approach our Mix-It-Up day on Thursday.  Be especially mindful of three common areas.

1 - playground
2 - arrival and dismissal
3 - cafeteria

With your leadership, we can help our students develop successful habits for these crowded areas.

no sub for Kathy
no sub for Andy
Joey Stone for Allison

They are all in Raleigh with Andy Kraft at a STEM strategies workshop led by Liz Parry.

Friday MM

Good Morning!

PBIS EOQ CELEBRATION is today at 1pm.  We are thrilled to welcome Living Rhythms to our campus as they engage our students in an amazing cultural experience.

I have a morning meeting with the FPA executive board and will be back for observations at 9:15 and 10:45. 

Hey, can you help with the "Lost and Found?"  We will distribute all the clothes on the tables in the lobby to the Salvation Army after November 10th.  Please use some cafeteria travel time either today or next week to help our student's reclaim their lost items. 

On a serious note, please step up playground supervision to ensure the safety of all kids.

Subs abound on this Friday
Lisa Fowler for Paige Sipe
Fred Bradt for Linnea Patrick
Candice Jennings for Anne Campbell
Shirley Porter for Olga Kangelaris
no sub for Lauren Saldana
No sub yet for Lisa Weber

Thursday Odds and Ends

Good morning!

First let me say that Liz Parry was sooooo impressed with much of our STEM/EIE work. Kudos to Second Grade who received many compliments on their STEM notebooks. Speaking of notebooks, I have received 2 to take to the STEM conference in Raleigh next week. Please share one from each classroom.

EOQs are complete. I am taking the make-ups in to Central Office Thursday afternoon. All other data should already be uploaded. IF YOU ARE MISSING SCORES, please let me know ASAP so that we can find that for you.

Science Fair....Put Thursday, January 31st on your calendars. We're looking forward to participation from every classroom. Don't worry--K-2 can be a class project and Andy and I have discussed the possibility of using EIE units as scaffolds for other students. Be thinking about how you envision it. Is there a parent night component? Should students stand by their projects and answer questions for the judges? Is there a central location for classroom winners with an opportunity to display more projects in the classroom? Andy Kraft and I are looking forward to growing our fair this year. Please share your ideas!

The Schoolwires workshop offered last Friday has not been posted yet. I will let you know when you can register. I have the attendance roster in my office.

Thursday afternoon I will meet with my group of STAY teachers in the media center. Regardless of my agenda, there is always time for voicing frustrations. This reminds me that we need to be especially supportive of new teachers, new to Brunson, new to grade level/team, new to technology, new to curricula (EIE and Common Core/Essential Standards)...When we say (in Standard 1B) that we collaborate with other professionals, that includes not just dishing out advice but being available to listen and problem-solve with others. I'm going to work on that over the next few weeks.

Flexible Benefits & United Way

and

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Representatives from Colonial Life will be on site at the Education Building, 4801 Bethania Station Road 7:30am -5:30pm, Room 121,

 

The United Way campaign has been extended until next Thursday, Nov. 10. If you’ve already donated, thank you for giving. If you haven’t, I hope you’ll consider donating between now and then.

The school system’s goal is $347,000, and we’re about 80 percent of the way there. The United Way invested more than $1 million in our graduation programs last year, and more than $3 million the past several years – so any money we give comes back to our students in tangible ways.

I know you are pulled in many different directions, but I hope you’ll consider giving to the United Way. Donating $5 or $10 a month adds up and makes a big difference in the United Way’s efforts.

Thank you for your support. You can donate by going to this link:

http://www.wsfcs.k12.nc.us/Page/50159

Theo Helm

Director of Marketing and Communications

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools

Flexible Benefits Make-Up Days
Wednesday, November 16

Wednesday MM

Good Morning!

Our Faculty meeting this evening will focus on Safety.  Let's all consider the Design Process as we ASK about our GOAL of CREATING a safe environment for all.  I can IMAGINE some may want to PLAN some methods to IMPROVE our processes in our next SIT meeting.

The last day for Free Flu shots is Thursday at the education building.

Kim Burch remains out today as she attends the NC EC conference.

I have received no negative feedback on the Specials schedule and will make it official at tonight's meeting if nothing crops up.

I have received several positive comments on the excellent work that the classroom assistants are doing in many unique areas.  Thanks for sharing and continue to e-mail me any input you may have as I try to maximize the positive impact of these amazing people through efficient scheduling and structure.

My schedule today includes 3 pre-observation conferences, one observation and a post conference.  Though this is a busy time of the year, I enjoy building relationships with you as we discuss learning.