Wednesday MM - Day "A"

Good Morning!

There will be an opportunity for you to submit your name to share your "reason to believe/core value" at our staff meeting this afternoon.  We want to start @ 3:20 with snacks and social time.  PBIS will inform us about our Funky Friday activities and the STEM team will motivate us to finish the year with a strong emphasis on the Engineering Design Process.

I am at CO today for my final TLC PD of the year.  Can you infer what TLC stands for?  it is not self contained underwater breathing apparatus.  After my PD I am going to work on allotment documents until a YMCA luncheon at Goodwill industries at 11:30.  My conference with Mr. Oates regarding staffing for 2014-15 is @ 10am on Thursday.

HAG tour is @ 8:30 today

Subs:
Carol Stewart for Deb Fidali am only

Tuesday MM - Day "F"

Good Morning!

Can you identify your core value that empowers your drive to educate?  This staff meeting question will be posed to five members of our staff who will share at our meeting on Wednesday.  

Please be prepared for the possibility of bad weather and the anxiety some of our students carry. 

PTA Birthday Bash today at 1:45

VET will meet Thursday in the LTM @ 3:30

Subs:
Carol Stewart for Deb Fidali

Monday MM - Day "E"

Good Morning!

Fire Drill  Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.  We will choose the "driest" opportunity within this window.

Today we host Tracy Benson from the Waters Foundation as she coaches our teachers implementing Systems Thinking in their classrooms.

HAG tours continue @ 8:30 on Monday and Wednesday.

Faculty meeting Wednesday.  The agenda will focus on our Musical/Mix-it-up/FIELD DAY event on Friday May 2nd.

Subs:
Carol Stewart for Deb Fidali AM only
Willa Kirby for Nancy Smoot

Friday MM - Day "D"

Good Morning!

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week.  Today our lunch and supervision is provided by our supportive and generous PTA.  

Wish Andy well in your mind as he embarks on another 200 mile race with his team of "banditos."  They are participating in the Smokey Mountain Relay.  Click the link to see the course map.

Subs:
Carol Stewart for Deb Fidali
Heather Tate for Nancy Smoot
Willie Carson for Trish Gulledge
Kathy is out today at a Curriculum coordinators meeting.

Thursday MM - Day "C"

Good Morning!

EOG schedule for the end of the year is set. 

• Monday June 2nd - NO testing
• Tuesday, June 3rd - EOG for ELA
• Wednesday, June 4th - EOG for MATH
• Thursday, June 5th - EOG for 5th grade science
• Friday, June 6th - MAKE-UP

• Monday June 9th - MAKE-UP
• Tuesday, June 10th - MAKE-UP
• Wednesday, June 11th - MAKE-UP
• Thursday, June 12th - MAKE-UP & Grade 3 Re-test
• Friday, June 13th - MAKE-UP & Grade 3 Re-test

I am at CO today for the UNCF breakfast and then an elementary principals meeting to discuss budget implications for the 2014-15 school year.

FRIDAY we will have the PTA STAFF appreciation luncheon.  It has been a good week to celebrate all you do to make our school excellent for children.

Wednesday MM - Day "B"

Good Morning!

Teacher appreciation from our PTA takes a new turn today.  the YMCA will provide DUTY-FREE recess for each grade level.  We have created a schedule and must follow it to be successful   Escort your children to the main bridge at the appointed time and please pick them up at the same place 25 minutes later.  I will pass the schedule out after buses arrive

SIT tonight 3:30-5:00 in the Art room.

From our Science Liaison - Lara Overby

Joining Edmodo for Elementary School Science

The science department uses Edmodo to share information and resources relevant to the science curriculum for each grade level.  if you haven't already joined, here's the how to join.
If you haven't joined Edmodo before, you will need your school code for your initial account.  Brunson's Edmodo school code is hhqxnt  Once you're in, next to the "groups" tab click the "+" to join and enter the appropriate join code(s) as listed.

Kindergarten: h43fph
First Grade: 3qdsgt
Second Grade: xdqcu5
Third Grade: negf9p
Fourth Grade: 8kiy2x
Fifth Grade: 5q8tkj 

If the codes are giving you trouble, feel free to use the URL join option by cutting and pasting the appropriate URL in your browser.

Kindergarten:    edmo.do/j/bh7jb4
First Grade:     edmo.do/j/7lvtue
Second Grade:     edmo.do/j/irqfgp
Third Grade:    edmo.do/j/f0ldkl
Fourth Grade:    edmo.do/j/hppkew
Fifth Grade:    edmo.do/j/23ky86

Subs:
Shantell Carrethers for Allison Phelps am only
Rosemary Hazy for Janet Gauss

Tuesday MM - Day "A"

Happy Earth Day!


“The land ethic simply enlarges the boundaries of the community to include soils, waters, plants, and animals, or collectively: the land.”- Aldo Leopold

I have placed a short 2 page handout on this concept in the Blog documents folder if you are interested in learning more about this great thinker and author of, "A Sand County Almanac."

Progress Reports are to be delivered in toady's Tuesday packet.  Please have your Grades up-to-date in Power-school for all parents to access information to assist their children.  Retention list should be delivered to me in writing before you leave on Wednesday.  There is NO POSSIBILITY of retention for any student who is not on a hand written list handed directly to me by this date.  Our job is not complete until we have communicated effectively.  

Kathy is willing to open the school Saturday for teachers whom are short on annual leave to replace time on the work days of June 20-26.  Communicate with her as she will need a critical mass to make it happen.

Subs:
Rosemary for Karon
Peggy Neal for Michelle
No sub for Deb Gray

Monday MM - Day "C"

Good Morning!

HAG tours are Monday and Wednesday at 8:30.  Tonight we will host Paula Wilkins as she presents an overview of the HAG program @ 6:30 in the auditorium.

Remember we are on Specials "C" schedule as a make-up day.

Michelle Hart for Darcy Steele

Carol McCormick for Deb Fidali

Brunson MM - Day "F"

Good Morning!

I am at an Elementary Principals Meeting today.  Agenda will be posted soon.

SIT was fantastic.  We had discussion and took action on the following;

• We will review bids and select a vendor for a vending machine to be placed in the Be.Cafe at our next meeting, April 23rd
• Monday April 21st will be a 4th quarter "C" day on the specials schedule.
• The copy machines behind Brenda will be moved and teachers will be issued codes to make copies in a new location.  For now the working copier has been moved to the work room and the toner-less one is in the "foyer" of the ladies powder room.  More changes on work spaces will be discussed and acted upon at our next meeting
• Dismissal will have a 2:40 "chime" that is identical to the 8:00 tone. At that time all specials will be picked up and the classrooms will be prepared so that at 2:45 we ALL can get the car riders dismissed on time.

 Enjoy the Holiday!

Wednesday MM - Day "E"

Good Morning!

SIT meeting at 3:30 in the Art room.  We will work until 4:30 focusing on strategies to improve this year.  CNA and planning for the next two year cycle plan will begin in earnest at our meeting on April 23rd.

Today, the Morehead Planetarium will be setting up shop in the gym for a 3rd grade production.  Joel will communicate with each of you affected.

subs:
Adrienne Mastrobattista for Deb Fidali
Wanda Byerly for Kyrie Gough

Tuesday MM - Day "D"

Good Evening, I am writing before bedtime as I have a Joint principals meeting in the morning.  The agenda will be posted in the blog documents folder upon my return.

Copier Shutdown is imminent. To avoid my extreme measure to curb our dependence on this resource you can immediately stop using the copy machine behind Mrs. Washam.  She has been here for 6 days and the volume of people behind her work area is unacceptable.  Each teacher has an assistant and should be well prepared to utilize that resource to make copies.  Emergencies have become the norm and I am determined to change this today.  We bumped our # of copies on contract up to 510,000 through June 30.  Last week I met with our Toshiba rep and we have already surpassed 450,000.  SIT will meet on Wednesday and create a working solution to provide appropriate access to the resources needed to serve our students.

Rosemary Hazy for Karon

Monday MM - Day "C"

Good Morning!

Prospective HAG Tour today @ 8:30.  Of course this occurs while all the HAG staff is participating in differentiation PD at Atkins high school.  Please give your best to assist our multiple substitutes in our building today.  

Michelle Hart for Darcy
Meta Faulkner for Tonya
Shantell Carethers for Brenda

Natalie Newman for Sara
Joshua Waddell for Donna
Shelly Kirley for Demarie

Vickie Jones for Linnea
Gwen Sloan for Donna
James Reams for Lara

Kathy & Andy will also be attending portions of the PD today.

Carol McCormick for Deb in the media center.  She sends her regards and is recovering from her shoulder surgery.  We anticipate a return after Easter.

Friday MM - Day "B"

Good Morning!

In order for our Kindergarten teachers to meet the incoming families and let children visit classrooms, we are going to switch K and 1’s specials slots. Kinder will have regularly scheduled specials @ 8:30 and 1st will go at 10:00.  Mr. Dorsett, will use the gym for Music (8:30) as Media will be held in Mrs. Smoot’s room.

Teachers! This is the final call for participation in a survey about your experiences with Single School Culture. The survey is anonymous and confidential, and should take less than 10 minutes to complete. It is being used in the evaluation SSC for WS/FCS and will provide information about the Learning Team Meetings. The last day to take the survey will be next Thursday, April 17th. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you so much for your help!

Survey Link:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/J6XR5RT

Today we will participate in a research study which has been authorized for the WS/FCS Academically Gifted Department. Tim DeCresie, Academically Gifted/Technology Director for Pitt County Schools will review our AIG plan for services, AG budget allocation, and conduct some focus groups with AIG teachers, school administrators, AIG coordinators, and parents. Additionally, Mr. DeCresie will observe in various schools to assist in his understanding of various gifted service delivery models across the district.  
Our schedule is for 1:40-2:40.

Subs:
Brendan Sullivan for Deb Fidali

Thursday MM - Day "A"

Good morning!

We welcome our rising Kindergarten class on Friday morning @ 8:30.  We want our new families to experience the warm and child centered environment provided here at Brunson.  So do not change or put on a "dog and pony" show.  We are proud of who were are EVERYDAY!

Thanks for the Tech and HAG PD yesterday afternoon.

Jack Smith for Michelle Husmillo
Ann Barabe for Nancy Smoot PM only
Meta Faulkner for Tonya Grisette
Brendan Sullivan for Deb Fidali

Wednesday MM - Day "F"

Good Morning!

Report cards should be FINALIZED.  Damita is waiting to close and deliver to me.  We read the cards for "editing" purposes but also from the eye of a parent.  What message do you send regarding your belief in their child?  Our feedback is a critical portion of strong communication and partnership with our families.

TONIGHT we have optional Professional Development by.....STACY in the computer lab @ 3:30.  She will begin a series of sessions on Technology that will enhance instructional capacity of each teacher whom attends.  The curriculum will be driven by the needs of those who attend. You will be able to get PD credit of 0.1 Technology unit for each hour spent.  Future dates and times will be determined by the end of the first session. 

PD for all our HAG teachers will be provided today by Paula Wilkins.

Thursday, our amazing teaching assistants will instruct the technology classes for Stacy as she will be in PD with the WSFCS district technology department.  THANKS for your help, you make our school run smoothly!

subs:
Brendan Sullivan for Deb Fidali
No sub for Doris Davis

Tuesday MM - Day "E"

Good Morning!

What is your definition of working memory?  Do you think we can teach students to improve this and other "executive functions?"  Marcella and I heard and saw direct evidence that supports the theory that excellent teachers have a growth mindset.  We will share more at our next faculty meeting on April 30th. 

Brendan Sullivan for Deb Fidali
Michelle Hart for Darcy Steele

Monday MM - Day "D"

Good Morning!

We are on "D" day on our new specials schedule.  Be sure to check the board or blog documents folder to be sure of where and when you have specials.

Please welcome Brenda Washam as our new Lead Secretary.  She will be joined today and Thursday by Bonnie Fogg for acclimation and training. 

Marcela and I are participating in professional development today with Eric Jensen, author of Teaching with Poverty in Mind.  Visit his website if you would like more information.

As always, be aware of the calendar.  

• HAG tours Monday & Wednesday @ 8:30
• Technology PD Wednesday @ 3:30
• HAG PD Wednesday @ 3:30
• Kindergarten Meet & Greet, Friday @ 8:30

Subs:

Foster Horne for Marcella Zarate

Brendan Sullivan for Deb Fidali
Felicia Covert for Nancy Smoot AM only
Willie Carson for Bridget Holomon

Governor Teacher's Network Launches New Website

A new website is available that provides information for North Carolina teachers who want to serve with the Governor's Teacher Network (GTN). The GTN is a partnership between North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory and the NCDPI that will select approximately 450 teachers statewide to serve for one year as instructional and professional development experts and facilitators. To learn more about the program and the selection process, please visit http://www.ncpublicschools.org/rttt/gtn/.

Expeditionary Learning

JOIN THE ONLINE BOOK CLUB that starts April 9th! Click here for more info.

 

Teacher Work Days in June

I have edited the document provided by our Central Office to reflect the "Brunson Plan" for workdays in June.  Please read below and ask if you need more clarification.

Teachers still have to work the same number of days set out at the beginning of the year. Though the number of student days and workdays have changed, the total number of days has not changed. The chart below shows the breakdown of the days: 

Teachers, 10-month employees
Original	Amended
180 student days	176 student days
14 workdays	18 workdays
11 holidays	11 holidays
10 leave days	10 leave days
215 total days	215 total days

• Teachers have workdays through June 26
• This assumes they worked or took leave on the optional workdays on Jan. 30 and 31
• There are NO RC days in June. All of the days are RS
• Brunson Teachers will work 4 days to close the year and complete Team Meetings 
• PBIS - June 18th @ 8:00 am
• STEM - June 18th @ 10:00 am
• SIT - June 18th @ 12:30 pm
• Full Faculty - June 19th @ 8:30 am
• I will approve Annual Leave, if requested, for the following dates; 
• June 20
• June 23
• June 24
• June 25
• June 26

This is for CERTIFIED TEACHERS ONLY.  I will meet with our classified employees and post their calendar updates before April 11th.

STEM Grant!

STEM Project Grants - Duke Energy Foundation recently announced a $75,000 matching gift to DonorsChoose.org to assist teachers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). According to program guidelines, public school teachers can submit STEM project proposals to www.DonorsChoose.org/teachers. When 50 percent of a project's request is funded through citizen donations, Duke Energy will contribute the remaining 50 percent for teachers in the company's North Carolina service areas. Qualifying projects already posted to the site will automatically be eligible for Duke Energy's matching funds.

Learning Team SURVEY

Good afternoon, Teachers! First of all, a huge thank you to those of you who have taken the survey! We’ve now had 407 teachers take the survey! This is about a 13.5% response rate.

As a reminder for those who have yet to take it, the survey is only for teachers who have participated in Learning Team Meetings (LTMs); it is completely anonymous and should take less than 10 minutes to complete. It is being used in the evaluation SSC for WS/FCS and will provide information about the Learning Team Meetings and what you see going on in the classroom at your school. The last day to take the survey will be Thursday, April 17th. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you so much for your help!

Survey Link:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/J6XR5RT