Tuesday MM - March 1st

Good Morning - Week "A"

I am at a Principals meeting this morning and will return mid morning.  My plan is to maximize my time on the north side with a visit to both the magnet and title one offices after the short meeting, Agenda is in the blog documents folder.  

Thanks for the CPRR work by SIT yesterday afternoon.  Today is the day the EL Education team decides whom to invite for new partnerships.  I anxiously await the message that confirms our inclusion!

Subs:
Carol Sumner for Happy Bell

Monday MM - February 29th

Good Morning - Week "A"

Happy Leap Day!  

Our Playground is closed for the next few days as our partners from the WSFCS grounds department work on a drain system to mitigate the water issue.  This is in advance of the expansion and installation of new playground equipment scheduled for Spring Break.  We are so thankful for our PTA and their leadership to make these improvements for our students health and wellness.

ONLY use the west bridge by the small playground to access the area by the basketball court.  The field and big equipment are not safe while the heavy machinery is on our campus.

SIT meeting today @ 3:30 in room 14.

Subs;
Gwen Kornegay for Melanie Sayles

Friday MM - February 26th

Good Morning - Week "B"

I have news to share from EL Education;

• Congratulations! The final vote indicates 89% on the attached survey, however, I am reporting it as 93% since there was an error in the survey where people who left comments did not get calculated in the numbers. So you really had 45/48 clearly in favor of moving forward with EL.

• I will keep you posted on the results of the national partnership committee. We will be notifying all schools by March 1st. 

Best- M
Myra Parks Brooks
Regional Director, Atlantic EL Education
SeussCelebration @ Brunson
February 29, 2016- March 4, 2016

Students and Staff: We want to celebrate Dr. Seuss and Read Across America Day with the following fun events:

• Monday, February 29-- Fox in Socks Crazy Socks Day
• Wear your wildest socks!
• Tuesday, March 1—Many Colored Day
• Wear your brightest mismatched colors to school!
• Wednesday, March 2—Cat in the Hat Day
• Wear red and white to school!
• Read Across the School all students sit quietly in the halls as all students read (or are read to) for 20 minutes as part of the nationwide Read Across America Celebration. 8:25-8:45.
• Thursday, March 3—500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins Day
• CONTEST: Create a Dr. Seuss inspired hat out of anything! Bring it to the media center for display and judging. Please be sure to include your name, grade and homeroom teacher on your entry.
• 3 Hats in each grade will win book fair bucks!
• Hats will be judged in 3 categories:
• General Seussishness, Most Original & Most Colorful
• Friday, March 4—Grinch day!
• 2nd- 5th Wear your Grinchy Green!
• K-1 Dress as your favorite Seuss character and joins us for a parade around the school!

All week long—look for your favorite Seuss characters! Their shadows will pop up around the school. If you spot them and identify them, turn them into the media center to get a Dr. Seuss bookmark.

• Ellen Gentle for Lindsay Woodhouse
• Deb Gray for Donna McNatt
• Betty Johnson for Tiffany Ray

Thursday MM - February 25

Good Morning - Week "B"

Great work in our CPRR teams - THANK YOU!  Next steps are:

• Deliver documents to Myra on Friday for her defense of Brunson
• Work on the documents in SIT on Monday February 29th.
• Create a timeline for growth

All of this work will occur regardless of our EL Education partnership decision.  We have started to form a more cohesive crew and the boat is moving from the safety of shore.  We will sail.  

I will share results as soon as they get mailed to me.

• Betty Longino for Nancy Smoot AM only
• Kathy is at CO for AG score distibution
• Sarah is at CO for AP meeting

Wednesday MM - EARLY RELEASE DAY - February 24th

Good Morning - Week "B"

Thanks to our amazing PTA, "Soup is Served" from 12:30 -1:30 in the Be.Cafe'. Our NEW Start time, and adjusted agenda is reflected below.

• 1:45 - all faculty in the media center
• 2:15 - Final Vote for EL Education
• 2:45 - Complete CPRR work with teams
• 4:00 - Dismissal

An important safety request;

• Please be sure to review your severe weather procedures as tomorrow there is a high risk of strong straight line winds and tornadoes in central NC
• Severe weather preparedness week in N.C. is March 6-12. The exact date of our tornado drill has not yet been determined, but will be announced soon. 

Tuesday MM - February 23rd

Good Morning - week "B"

Make it a great day or not, the choice is yours.  

ERD agenda for Wednesday.  

• 1:30 - meet in media center
• 1:45 - vote on EL Education???
• 2:15 - work in teams to finalize CPRR work
• 3:45 - Reconvene in media center 
• 4:00 - Dismissal

Monday MM - February 22nd

Good Morning - Week "B"

Start work now to communicate the early release day plans for Wednesday.  The lunch and specials schedule are posted and in the Blog documents folder.

I am putting the finishing touches on revised assignments and schedules for our instructional assistants.  If you have input that would be pertinent to my decision making, please make yourself heard before Wednesday.  I have scheduled a meeting for Tuesday at 9 am for all instructional assistants to meet with me in Room # 12.

An email went out Sunday with the latest on our EL Education progress.

Subs:

Valerie Shy for Cindy Sanders 
no sub for Nicole Robinson 

Friday MM - February 19th

Good Morning - Week "A"

I have posted in the blog documents folder the specials and lunch schedule for the ERD on Wednesday the 23rd.  Look over it carefully as I have made changes since our last ERD in October.

Speaking of ERD, we will meet in the media center at 1:30 as a whole faculty, then split into our CPRR groups to finalize the google documents.  This last step of the CPRR is all about Aspiration.

Speaking of aspiration, what do you all think of taking our EL Education Re-Vote that day and providing Myra with evidence that;

• we are over 80% committed
• we are developing systems to discuss/build trust

Keep the conversation alive and I will post an ERD agenda on Monday.

Thursday MM - February 18th

Good Morning - Week "A"

I appreciate your willingness meet regarding the 79%.  I look forward to hearing your thoughts on re-vote and action steps.  Our work in the CPRR groups was valuable and added to the conversation on growth.

I am at a Magnet meeting today at Atkins from 10-noon.  

Baby Lincoln decided to come early! He was born Thursday, February 11th at 4:11am! Hope that you all are doing well, Bobbie. 

Wednesday MM - February 17th

Good Morning - Week "A"

The EL Education vote results were e-mailed to me last night and here they are;

• 79% Yes
• 6% No
• 15% Undecided

This is great news and a confirmation that we are committed to improve our school.  We needed 80% to meet the benchmark for EL education so before we meet with our CPRR groups this afternoon, I would like all staff to meet in the media center from 3:30-3:45 to frame the context for next steps with EL Education.

You want more good news - Stacy Returns today as our Tech Guru!  She will be working in the lab while Paige takes does Tech in the classroom.  

MORE GOOD NEWS - we welcome our School Improvement Support Team to join us on a walk through in the classrooms.  Patsy, Cynthia and Janie will be joined by Kathy, Sarah and myself as we collect data on the implementation of our SIP action steps.

George Newman for Melanie Sayles.

 

Tuesday MM - February 16th

Good Morning - Week "A"

I am at CO for a elementary principals meeting today. 

PTA Birthday Bash is this afternoon for January and February.

EL education results should be available Wednesday.  I am EXCITED.

Monday MM - February 15th

Good Morning - Week "A"

A snow day on a make-up snow day is irony in its finest form.  

The make up day for this day is Friday June 10th.  

The forecast for tonight and Tuesday is rain and temperatures above freezing.  My prognostication is a two hour delay for Tuesday.  Stay tuned to the news and hope we can go, if not the make up days extend to Monday, June 13th.  Our work days would then extend to Monday June 20th.   

Our EL education vote results are almost ready.  Myra is in Philadelphia until Tuesday and will share results Wednesday.  

Friday MM - February 12th

Good Morning - Week "B"

Thanks for making your voice heard in our EL education vote yesterday.  We anticipate results today and I will e-mail results as well as post here on the blog!  

Valentines day today can bring a range of emotions in your student, so be aware/responsive to the needs of our kids.  I will be spending the day in classrooms, please call on me if you feel my that my presence/intervention may help.

Please be prepared for a snow day on Monday. 

• Paige Sipe for Stacy Swanson
• Deb Gray for Brandi Burroughs
• Betty Weik for Marina Bonomo
• Keep Marina in your thoughts as her grandmother passed yesterday

Thursday MM - February 11th

Good Morning - Week "B"

Thanks for taking the time to register your vote in our EL Education survey.  This survey was sent via e-mail to our 48 full and part-time certified staff members to determine our next step in the journey.  

One factor that will not change is that we are on a journey.  The vote will help us determine our "what."  The work we do after the vote will determine the how.

I am thrilled to be on this journey with you!  I am invested in the 10 design principals that support EL education.  I believe in the power of measuring student achievement in three dimensions.  We can create a school where we become our best selves and our students grow into/beyond our imagination.

Oh by the way, I have to revisit the dentist today at 7:30. I should be in by morning announcements. 
#keepingitreal

Subs:

• Jessica Armstrong for Nancy Smoot
• Paige Sipe for Stacy Swanson
• Robin is taking over for Bobbie - BEST WISHES on the birth of Hercules!
• Audrey Sims for Tonya Lovin PM only

  

Wednesday MM - February 10th

Good Morning - Week "B"

Thanks for your support of Dee and the process yesterday.  I really learned a great deal about our staff and am humbled by your depth of passion and purpose.  Dee took notes on the Google doc and added more links throughout the day. 

I am anticipating a meaningful CPRR meeting this afternoon and will communicate voting procedures for Thursday here in this blog space.

Meta Faulkner for Marina Bonomo

   

Tuesday MM - February 9th

Good Morning - Week "B"

I have shared this google doc with all of you to view the agenda for Dee today.  We are moving around the school to provide information and clarify any outstanding details, so you can vote with confidence on Thursday.  These opportunities to discuss EL Education are not mandatory, but there will be chocolate.  We will capture notes on the google doc for review by the staff.  

Some of you may have noticed a new presence in the cafe today.  We have a new instructional assistant from CPI, Angley Alvarez.  She will be working in multiple areas of the building as we assess our current structure for classroom assistants.  Duty-free lunch is one of the growth targets and will be accounted for in the new model.  Stay tuned for more information as the scheduled date for transition is February 25th.

No sub for Natalie Denny
Meta Faulkner for Bobbie Robinson

Monday MM - February 8th

Good Morning - Week "B"

We welcome Dee Duncan Tuesday.  She will be sharing examples of EL Education work plans and EL education curriculum as well listening to questions and concerns during the day.  We will also get voting logistics to clarify the questions from our meeting last week.

Make student engagement your goal today. 

Subs:
John Acker Jr for Donna McGee
Jennifer Wells for Joel Peddle
Vernon Cato for Marina Bonomo
Felicia covert for Bobbie Robinson
Antwain Peay for Tiffany Ray

Friday MM - February 5th

Good Morning - Week "A"

We started at 8:30 and went til 1pm, therefore I did not go to the Zoo.  Our school counselor looked it up anyway and reports the name is "Junction Plaza."

On this Friday and beyond, keep the conversation alive regarding our EL Education Vote.  If you are unsure and questioning, GOOD.  Things in this life that are worth doing are unfamiliar and often unknown.  "I'm just not sure" is a fair and acceptable thing to verbalize.  

Doing something of this magnitude is a risk.  Our job is to calculate the data points that will result in a vote of YES/NO.  I have done my calculations and know that I am willing to move forward with this amazing staff to create and build our vision of what Brunson could be.  

When I am in need of answers, I find  EL Education in the core practice book.  Read Pages 1-5 again and begin to dream.  

I am available for most of today for conversations.  My goal is to get 80% on our first vote, BUT I will listen to all you concerns and then offer my opinion.  The final decision is yours.  Myra and Dee know where I stand.  You know where I stand.  

Another asset for your research is Dee, as she will spend Tuesday here with us.  Give me some feedback Friday so We can set her schedule to be supportive of your information requests.

Subs:
Donna Guldin for Bobbie Robinson
Jennifer Wells for Joel Peddle
Helen Elbien for Bridgette Hollomon

Thursday MM - February 4th

Good Morning - Week "A"

I appreciate your thoughtful nature at our meeting yesterday.  I only want to be an EL education school with you!  The Brunson collective of experience and wisdom will connect with EL Education to CREATE and BUILD our new model for Student Achievement across three dimensions.  My nine year relationship with you and this place is my inspiration that WE can do this.

I will get the answers to the Survey/Voting questions soon and post a blog specific to that topic over the weekend.  

I am in Asheboro today for "NC Star" PD with my focus school colleagues.

See you all on Friday!

Wednesday MM - February 3rd

Good Morning Week "A"

Stay dry today. 

I look forward to our work together this afternoon and will see you all in the media center at 3:30.  We will spend 15 minutes together before splitting into groups.  Please Bring your EL Education Core Practice books.

Sub:
Brenda Raimer for Tonya Grisette


http://www.bet.com/news/national/2012/02/03/this-day-in-black-history-feb-3-1956.html

This Day in Black History: Feb. 3, 1956

Autherine Lucy becomes first African-American student to enroll in classes at the University of Alabama.

By Britt Middleton

Posted: 02/03/2012 07:00 AM EST

Filed Under Voting Rights, This Day In Black History, Jim Crow, University Of Alabama, Racism, U.S. Constitution, National News

After a long legal battle that included a Supreme Court ruling on her behalf, Autherine Lucy became the first African-American to enroll at the University of Alabama. However, soon after her arrival, a mob of angry segregationists would cause uproar over her admittance, and the school would suspend Lucy on grounds that it could not provide a safe environment for her. Lucy would work with civil lawyers, including Thurgood Marshall, to mount a lawsuit against the university, but would be permanently expelled for allegedly slandering the school’s reputation in her court filing. The university finally overturned her expulsion in 1980, and she went on to earn a masters there in 1992. The school later named an endowed scholarship in her honor and displayed a portrait of her in the student union.

Tuesday MM - February 2nd

Good Morning - Week "A"

Happy Groundhog Day.  

I am at the joint principals meeting today with Allison as we learn about our WSFCS CNA protocols. (which will be our Core practice review and reflection)  I sent an e-mail to all certified staff regarding our Wednesday Core Practice work for the Month of February.  I am sorry for my weak communication and appreciate your concerns for time management.  I do believe that we are the change that we want to see in the world and through our efforts we can achieve beyond our dreams.

This Wednesday we will start at 3:30 and finish by 4:10, Thanks!

I also have a PTA Board meeting at 1pm today.  

Subs:
Jennifer Wells for Wendy Binkley
Ashley Evans for Allison Phelps

Monday MM - February 1st

Good Morning - Week "A"

Make this first week of February Amazing for each student.  Two topics to bring relevance to instruction this week;

ORIGINS OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH

The story of Black History Month begins in 1915, half a century after theThirteenth Amendment abolished slavery in the United States. That September, the Harvard-trained historian Carter G. Woodson and the prominent minister Jesse E. Moorland founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), an organization dedicated to researching and promoting achievements by black Americans and other peoples of African descent. Known today as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), the group sponsored a national Negro History week in 1926, choosing the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. The event inspired schools and communities nationwide to organize local celebrations, establish history clubs and host performances and lectures.

http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-history-month

cau·cus

ˈkôkəs/

noun

1. 1.

   a meeting of the members of a legislative body who are members of a particular political party, to select candidates or decide policy.

   synonyms:

   meeting, assembly, gathering, congress,conference, convention, rally, convocation "caucuses will be held in eleven states"
2. 2.

   a group of people with shared concerns within a political party or larger organization.

   synonyms:

   members, party, faction, camp, bloc, group, set,band, ring, cabal, coterie, pressure group "the conservative caucus"

verb

NORTH AMERICAN

1. 1.

   hold or form a caucus.