Thursday MM - October 29th

Thursday MM - October 29th 

• Several teachers have asked for report card envelopes. They will be placed in your mailboxes today. In the upper left corner, place your initials and your grade level.  In the middle, place only the child's first and last name.  Do not stuff them yet.
• If you did not attend the PBIS staff meeting today, please see your grade level team for all of the info.
• Think about creating a time next week to meet with your big/little buddies to brainstorm ideas for Mix-It-Up. 
• Think about this:  If I am absent, do I have academic plans for my sub?  Are they prepared and in a location that is accessible?  Does the plan contain a schedule, seating charts, discipline info, student transportation, etc.? 

Tuesday 10-27-15

Tuesday MM - October 27th 

•      It was exciting to see all of the parents coming in for conferences.  They appreciate the descriptive feedback you offer, so thank you teachers.
•      Don't forget the 3:30-4:30 staff meeting tomorrow. The 1st Mix-It-Up Day is November 10th. Every member of the staff will be involved, so it is essential that you receive the information and know how/what to prep for this day.
•       Also, please bring your PBIS Teacher Notebook to this meeting (with your name on it).
• ​     Photo day is Wednesday.  SMILE!!
•      We will have WatchD.O.G.S. here Tuesday-Friday this week!! 

Make it a great week!

Monday Mid-Day Memo - October 26th

Good Morning - Week "A"

Please utilize today to catch up and focus on communications with students and their families.  Below is our Week at a glance;

• Tuesday, 10.27.15
• Remind students about Picture Day
• Wednesday, 10.28.15
• Picture Day 
• Staff meeting for PBIS Mix-It-Up
• Thursday, 10.29.15
• 3-5 report cards to Damita
• Friday, 10.30.15
• Environmental club

Look for an e-mail from Kathy to our K-2 staff regarding report cards.

Sarah will work with Damita on our 3-5 report cards this quarter.

Please welcome our blog author for the remainder of the week, Sarah Huddleston. as I will be at the EL Education National conference.  My sessions are;

• A01 – Introduction to Expeditionary Learning 
• B02 – Learning Targets 
• C02 – Inspiring Excellence: Going Behind the Scenes of Quality-Work-Classroom 
• D03 – Conditions for Success: Laying the Groundwork for a Credentialed EL School 
• CP15 – What are the keys to managing school-wide change effectively? 

You can access the details through the online conference program - EL Education.  I look forward sharing my experiences upon my return to campus, November 2nd.

Friday MM - October 23rd

Good Morning - Week "B"  

Remind students that we have a Parent conference teacher work day on Monday! 

Our grade-book gurus, Linnea Patrick and Lisa Weber will be available and conversing with all the 3-5 staff about their training yesterday.

Brass under the Big top will be presented as our Re-COG-nition  today.  We will call for students over the intercom between 8:50 and 9:00 am. 

Color copies of the 2nd quarter schedule are available in the office from Laurie.  She will gladly give you a copy if you place an Acronym sticky note on the board.

Subs:

MERRY SARA MADDELEIN for Tiffany Ray

MARIA SKABARDONIS for Marina Bonomo
PAIGE SIPE for Bridgette Hollomon

No sub yet for Lindsay Woodhouse
Robin Phelps for Happy Bell

Thursday MM - October 22nd

Good Morning - Week "B"

The new schedule is in the Blog documents folder on the "S" drive.  Please review as I plan to print a color copy for each classroom on Friday.

Remember you can always access the power point and information from the Faculty meetings on the "S" drive.

Subs:
Paige Sipe for Lindsay Woodhouse PM only
Robin Phelps for Bridgette Hollomon 
Lynn Vernon for Tonya Lovin PM only
No sub for Doris Davis

Wednesday MM - October 21st

Good Morning - Week "B"

Faculty meeting today @ 3:30 in the media center.

Testing continues this morning with MATH.  Specialists will be administrators for "mod groups" and unable to teach until the testing is complete.  We will inform you with a visit to your class.  

Please have a class discussion on Bullying as today is UNITY day.  We can learn a lot about our adult behaviors that support our students when we lead/listen to a rich conversation. 

Sub today - Robin Phelps for Bridgette Hollomon

Tuesday MM - October 20th

Good Morning Week "B"

Wednesday is UNITY DAY

• We all wear Orange!
• Please encourage your students to wear Orange to demonstrate that they are united and will "Stand Up" to bullying behaviors in our world.

I am at a Elementary Principals meeting today. The agenda is posted in the Blog document folder on the "S" drive.

We had a productive meeting with our support staff from the central office regarding our SIP.  After school, SIT worked on EL education and how to measure the effect of our PD.  Since the beginning of the year we have claimed that, "adult behaviors impact student outcomes."  I believe PD is an adult behavior therefore we should look at how we could measure the effect of this PD on student outcomes.  More to come at our next SIT meeting on Tuesday November 17th.

Sub today - Robin Phelps for Tonya Grisette

Monday MM - October 19th

Good Morning! Week "B"

Many announcements - please read below

• End of 1st Quarter testing will take place the week of October 19th-23rd. Here are the scheduled days: 
• Monday: ELA End of Quarter and Read to Achieve test for grades 4-5
• Tuesday: Make-ups 
• Wednesday: Math End of Quarter test for grades 3-5 
• Thursday: Science End of Quarter test for 5th grade only (and make-up testing for math) 
• Friday: Make-ups 
• Please remember to keep quiet in the hallways. Using the playground is fine, just remind your classes that people are testing. We will not make an announcement when all testing is complete because there are up to twelve different pull-out groups for accommodations and some of those could last awhile. Most groups should finish by 11 each day.
• Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns! Thanks, Kristen Turner, Testing Coordinator

• SIT Review @ 1pm Today
• SIT meeting at 3:30 Today
• Birthday Bash is this Tuesday, October 20th

• A huge congratulations goes out to last year's PBIS team as Brunson has again been recognized as an Exemplar school! This is terrific work on the part of every 2014-2015 student and teacher. To celebrate your accomplishments, I will bring cookies to this Wednesday's staff meeting. Bring your own beverage and let's cheer for the 14-15 EXEMPLAR PBIS. Have a great day, Sarah S. Huddleston
• There will be a GLOBE training at Sciworks on November 14th. The GLOBE program fits with many of our NC Science Standards but especially with Earth Science.  Check out the Youtube clip on GLOBE. It looks like it is geared for just secondary but many elementary schools participate with the program. 
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEzdkvwSDn8
• The science department has moved many great instructional resources to the Haiku site. The Edmodo sites for each grade level will also continue to be used this year, as well as the science department website. If you have any questions, please let Lara Overby or Donna McGee know as we are here to help!

Subs:

Robin Phelps for Darcy Steele

Friday MM - October 16th

Good Morning - Week "A"

Sweet treats from the new teacher dinner are in the Be.cafe'

We met our learning target last night - I can build relationships with my colleagues and develop relational trust.

Enjoy the weekend.

Antoinette Miller for Wendy Binkley
Jacqueline Emery for Nancy Smoot am only
No sub for Doris Davis

Thursday MM - October 15th

Good Morning Week "A"

After an evening of reflection surrounding our ERD and EL Education PD;

• I got confirming evidence that this staff is deeply committed and thoughtful about our purpose 
• I need to enjoy this EL journey and transform my thinking into actions

Lasagna Dinner tonight @ 6:30.  I am looking forward to developing relationships and building our capacity to serve these incredible students.

I bring wishes from our old buddy Andy Lester-Niles.  We met at WFU to listen to a conversation about objectivity in media and then caught up on his transition to Vienna.  He recently visited the Ron Clark Academy and is now "Slide Certified."

Please honor the work the grounds department performed on our field.  The ropes are present to allow the grass to develop roots and our supervision of students will minimize traffic in those areas.

Wednesday MM - ERD Week "A"

Good Morning!

Let's have a great day with our kids and move into our afternoon PD with gusto and enthusiasm.  We will begin at 1:30, please bring;

• Growth Mindset
• Collaborative Spirit
• Paper and a pen or pencil

No subs today

Tuesday MM - October 13th

Good Morning  - Week "A"

Special schedule for Wednesday will be regular.  (we adjusted last time for afternoon specials to be in the morning & will continue to "flip-flop" through the remaining springtime ERDs)

From Media:

• ​​K and 1st teachers~ please have students wear their name tags to Media. Ms. Bonomo has not had a chance to learn their names and name tags would greatly assist her. 

From Mrs H:

• Thanks for the great job during the lock-down! Your students were quiet and were not seen from the door. We know there are a few "bugs in our system", so please take time to jot down your notes and drop them in the mailbox on my door by Wednesday the 14th at 4:30. Our next step is to have anyone interested in participating in a lock-down committee meet with me on Wednesday, Oct 21st in the Media Center at 3:30. We will update the current plan and distribute it to the staff for the next lock-down. 
• PBIS meeting will be on Tuesday at 3:30 in T31 (Patrick's classroom) 

New faculty lasagna Dinner is Thursday @ 6:30

• Nelva Perez - buddy - Marcela Zarate
• Carol Stewart - buddy - Stacy Swanson
• Kristen Turner - buddy - Kathy Wilheit
• Tom Radulovic - buddy - Donna McGee
• Sarah Huddleston - buddy - Laurie Steadman
• Jenn Currin - buddy - Jen Davis (Crigier)
• Mary Matheson - buddy - Linnea Patrick
• Mariana Bonomo - buddy - Cindy Sanders
• Melanie Sayles - buddy - Janet Gauss
• Elizabeth Johnson - buddy - Kim Woody
• Kelsey Loy - buddy - Jessie Parrish
• Cyndy Alva - buddy - Allison Phelps
•  Happy Bell - buddy - Nancy Smoot
•  Lindsay Woodhouse - buddy - Brandi Burroughs
• Jack Smith - buddy - Jeff Faullin
• Stephanie Smith - buddy - Damita Sharp
• Amy Clay - buddy - Kathy Wilheit
• Sarah Green - buddy - Venice Hailstock
• Rebecca Griffith - buddy - Lisa Weber

Monday MM - October 12th

Good Morning - Week "A"

Great week ahead of us as we have WatchDOGS!

Wednesday is our third Early Release Day;

• Communicate with students & families dismissal on Wednesday is 12:45 - 2 hours early
• Communicate the special ERD Lunch schedule
• The YMCA will be in the cafe
• Magnet shuttle will be in the art room (staff children can stay there supervised with Grushia)
• All Staff will be in media center for PD from 1:30 - 4:15
• We will be led by
• Dee Duncan, our Expeditionary Learning Coach/School Designer
• Jennifer Fernbach, our Haiku/Technology coach

Please welcome a new name to our Staff - MRS. DAVIS!!!  The artist formerly known as Crigier was married Saturday - Congratulations!

Subs;

Robin Phelps for Jessie Parrish

Anne Marie Stewart for Bobbie Robinson

No sub yet for Diana Adkins
No sub for Natalie Newman

Friday MM - October 9th WEEK "B"

Please be sure to read the previous post on EL 

Subs:
Robin Phelps for Venice Hailstock
Paige Sipe for Jen Crigier
Merry Sara Maddelin for Donna McGee

Expeditionary Learning

Please read and follow the directions at the end to reply before Tuesday evening October 14th

In preparation for our Expeditionary Learning PD on October 15th, we need to determine the availability of each staff member for various learning opportunities during our Partnership Development and Assessment.  Some are specific while others will have a range of dates to be determined.  Travel expenses will be covered as well as subs.  Please rank order the choices with the following scale;

• "A" - High Interest/Committed
• "B" - Interested
• "C" - Well, if I have to...
• "D" - No

The choices and number of faculty spots are;

1. 4-5 members to the "Site Seminar" @ Evergreen School in Asheville - December 3-4
2. 5-10 members to a "School visit" in Decatur, GA in January - Dates TBD
3. 5-10 members to a "School visit" in Lexington, SC in February - Dates TBD
4. 4-5 members to a "Regional Offering" in Decatur, GA - March 9-10
5. 4-5 members to a "3 day Institute" in Baltimore, MD - April 11-13

All of this information is in an e-mail with the subject being "EL Travel."  Please reply to that e-mail with your scale of interest for the 5 choices before The end of the day Tuesday, October 14th.

Thursday MM - October 8th

Good morning - Week "B"

We will have have our drill today @ 9 am

Subs:
Robin Phelps for Nancy Smoot
Paige Sipe for Jen Crigier
Teri Beam for Stacy Swanson

Wednesday MM - October 7th

Good Morning - Week "B"

Today our Lock-Down meeting is optional and intended for staff who have questions/concerns/thoughts to improve our process and safety. 

Awesome support and turnout for our WatchDOGS program kick-off!

Robin for Allison
Paige Sipe for Jen Crigier
Alana Husky for Joel Peddle
Teri Beam for Demarie Anderson am only

Tuesday MM - October 6th

Good Morning - Week "B"

I am at the Joint Principals meeting this morning and then to the PTA board meeting @ 1pm.  The agenda for both can be found in the blog documents folder.

• We have parents interested in starting a STEM club & Math Club.  Teachers that may be interested in participating/sponsoring clubs are to contact PTA Club representative Martine Silver (martine.silver@gmail.com) or our staff club rep Stacy Swanson.

Subs as of 5:00 Monday
Robin Phelps for Sara Davis PM only

Monday MM - October 5th

Good Morning - Week "B"

I am ready for a Fantastic week here at Brunson.  We have three big events on that I will promote today on the announcements.  

• WatchDOGS Kick-off and pizza night is Tuesday!
• The BIG SWEEP is our PTA grounds beautification in conjunction with a city wide effort to clean our waterways.  On Saturday the 10th from 9:30-12:30, volunteers will clean our campus and then be provided with a pizza lunch from the city.
• The 5th annual Bullying Prevention Walk will once again be held at the DASH Stadium on Saturday, October 10th, at 8 AM.  Jenn Currin is leading our team and looking for faculty participants.

This Wednesday we will have a open meeting right after buses to discuss our Lock Down drill.  The drill will occur on Thursday.  

Subs Today;

Robin Phelps for Wendy Binkley

Terri Beam for Sara Davis  

Friday MM - October 2nd

Week "A"

I have enjoyed my day here at the Expeditionary Learning Atlantic region Leadership cohort.  I am making contacts for possible school visits with leaders in Lexington, SC - Decatur, GA and Asheville, NC.  Brunson is in the right place to explore this outstanding organization as our core values are aligned.  Read the following EL document and see if you connect to us. (enjoy your weekend and stay dry)

Design Principles
The design principles express the philosophy of education and core values of Expeditionary Learning.

1. The primacy of self-discovery
Learning happens best with emotion, challenge, and the requisite support.

2. The having of wonderful ideas
Teaching in Expeditionary Learning schools fosters curiosity about the world.

3. The responsibility for learning
Learning is both a personal process of discovery and a social activity.

4. Empathy and caring
Learning is fostered best in communities where students' and teachers' ideas are respected and where there is mutual trust.

5. Success and failure
All students need to be successful if they are to build the confidence and capacity to take risks and meet increasingly difficult challenges.

6. Collaboration and competition
Individual development and group development are integrated so that the value of friendship, trust, and group action is clear.

7. Diversity and inclusion
Both diversity and inclusion increase the richness of ideas, creative power, problem-solving ability, and respect for others.

8. The natural world
A direct and respectful relationship with the natural world refreshes the human spirit and teaches the important ideas of recurring cycles and cause and effect.

9. Solitude and reflection
Students and teachers need time alone to explore their own thoughts, make their own connections, and create their own ideas.

10. Service and compassion
Students and teachers are strengthened by acts of consequential service to others.