Thursday MM - March 31st

NOT an April Fools posting, just some updates from the spring break activities.

• Specials Schedules have been updated and posted in the blog documents folder (copies are on Laurie's Desk for your convenience)
• Great Trip to DC, below are some pictures

Visited this AMAZING EL Education site!

EL Education work was evident throughout the school on the walls and in action.

Working in a Pre-K class was a former Brunson Student, Allie Morris. 

Visited with my Niece Allison and her Husband Christopher in Bowie MD

Thursday MM - March 24th

Good Morning - Week "B"

Enjoy Spring Break!  Stay focused today and leave each and every student with a desire to come back to Brunson on April 4th.  I believe that a vast majority of our students build their passion for school based on a relationships with a caring adults.  

Subs:

• Kim Vestal for Brandi Burroughs
• Jean Barnes for Jenn Currin
• Scarlet Sink for Tiffany Ray
• No sub for Laurie Steadman

Wednesday MM - EARLY RELEASE DAY - March 23rd

Good Morning - Week "B"

Schedule for today

2nd and 3rd Musical performance @ 9:00.  Follow the directions sent by James to arrive in the gym.

EL 101/102 presentation for the Instructional Assistants  – 8:30 til 9:45 in the Media Center

• Irene Rush
• Tom Radulovic
• Maria Cook
• Sue Ann Gilespie
• Anjelie Alvarez
• Nicole Robinson
• Natalie Newman
• Doris Davis

EL 101/102 for office administrative staff  - 10:30 til 11:30 in my office

• Laurie Steadman
• Nelva Perez
• Damita Sharp

Afternoon ERD Meeting in the media center - Bring your Core Practice book

• @ 1:30 - we will hear from our teams that went to EL education PD
• @ 2:00 - a discussion with Dee Duncan regarding the EL planning stage/next steps
• @ 3:15 - information regarding the new retention process
• @ 3:25 - Good of the order
• @ 3:30 - Social time with snacks provided by Karon Kiger

Subs:

• Anna Marie Stewart for Brandi Burroughs
• Scarlet Sink for Tiffany Ray
• Charlotte Schott for Darcy Steele am only
• Carol Stewart for Marina Bonomo
• No sub for Tom Radulovic
• No sub for Kathy Wilheit

Tuesday MM - March 22nd

Good Morning - Week "B"

Math EOQ today with many modification groups.  

Our ERD is Wednesday with Dee Duncan here to extend our capacity with EL education Core Practices.  During the morning, she will work with our Classified staff  in small groups.  EL 102/102 is her target for these vital members of our implementation team.  In the afternoon she will join our ERD meeting and help us develop a plan for the work ahead.

BLOG DOCS ADDITIONS

• The learning walk feedback from February 17th visit of Janie, Patsy and Cindy  
• The duty free Lunch schedule for April 4th- May 27th
• Please review this document so we can discuss implementation at our ERD meeting
• Duty Free Monitoring document
• SPECIALS schedule for ERD 3.23.16

Subs:

• Anna Marie Stewart for Brandi Burroughs
• Paige Sipe for Demarie Anderson PM only
• Evelyn Howie for Tonya Lovin
• No sub for Kathy Wilheit
• No sub for Sue Ann Gillespie

59% on NC TWC - 29 responses so far.  We need 10 more for the data to be valid and reliable.  At the SIT meeting yesterday, we agreed that this data will be CRITCAL to set appropriate goals for scheduling next year.

Monday MM - March 21st

Good Morning - Week - "B"

• Monday, March 21: Science Test (5th graders only)
• Tuesday, March 22: Math test (3-5 graders)
• no morning specials.

Brunson has 55% response rate on the Teacher Working Conditions Survey. We need 80% by Friday, March 25th.

Subs:

• No sub for Kathy Wilheit
• No sub for Laurie Steadmam

Friday MM - March 18th

Good Morning - Week "A"

The affix of the day is INTER 

• a prefix occurring in loanwords from Latin, where it meant
• between
• among
• in the midst of
• mutually
• reciprocally
• together
• during

Strive to educate our students through modeling of the following characteristics; 

• Interdependent
• Interactive
• Interpersonal

Do not confuse with "Inter," place (a corpse) in a grave or tomb, typically with funeral rites.

Enjoy the weekend!

Subs:

• Carol Anderson For Wendy Binkley
• No sub for Irene Rush
• No sub for Tonya Lovin after 10:30

40% with one week to go, PLEASE respond to the Teacher working conditions survey.

Thursday MM - March 17th

Good Morning - Week "A"

It is a NO PINCH St. Patrick's Day.  Please encourage your students to  model two of EL Educations design principles

• Empathy and Caring
• Learning is fostered best in communities where students' and teachers' ideas are respected and where there is mutual trust
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Both diversity and inclusion increase the richness of ideas, creative power, problem-solving ability, and respect for others
• In EL Education schools, students investigate and value their different histories and talents as well as those of other communities and cultures

If you are willing to explore a view of March 17th through the lens of privilege, read this essay. 

We are up to 32% on the Survey!  Please help as our SIT utilizes this data to craft strategies for improvement!

Wednesday MM - March 16th

Good Morning!

The following students will be competing in the eBoB competition tomorrow. All students should be released at 11:30 to come to the media center with all of their items. We have a bagged lunch ordered for them to eat before we leave the building at noon. Students will return at 4:00 or may be signed out by a parent at the competition.  Wish us all luck!

• Malvika Bhatia
• Jay Bland
• Lucas Bradley
• Zeke Bradley
• Kaylee Eager
• Ada Farmer
• Justin Ju
• Jocelyn Sarmiento-Gracia
• Ellie Reynolds
• Victoria Sabanao
• Asmithaa Vinukonda
• Zoey Yeboah
• Maxwell Weber

Please utilize the code you received from Dr. Stevens and complete the SURVEY.  We need 80% as a response rate and currently sit at 27%

Tuesday MM - The Ides of March

Good Morning - Week "A"

Please be AWARE that today is the NC primary and we will have members of the general public on our campus.  Election officials are conducting their business in Mobile #41. This eliminates the need for voters to enter the building.  PLEASE help guide lost and wayward souls to the proper location and increase supervision of ALL students.  

Mrs. Robinsons/Phelps class will be on the move and will need your support;

• 8:00 - 9:45  in the media center
• 9:45 - 10:50 in Room #1 (Bell)
• 10:50 Lunch
• 11:20 -12:30 in the media center
• 12:30-1:15 in Room #4 (Smoot)
• 1:15 - 2:45 in the media center

Faculty meeting on Wednesday.  3:30 in the media center

Today and Wednesday, Nelva and Sarah are at NVCPI PD.

• No sub for Natalie Denny

Monday MM - March 14th

Good Morning - Week "A"

Daylight Savings is upon us. I hope you had a great weekend and are ready for an amazing week.

Stacy, Lisa, Sarah and I are attending the second half of SIP PD this morning.  We will return after lunch.

HAG information night is at Southwest this evening with a presentation by our WSFCS AIG director, Rebecca Young.

Subs:
Paige Sipe for Lisa Weber
Rosemary Hazy for Stacy Swanson

Friday MM - March 11th

Good Morning - Week "B"

After today, we have 9 days of instruction until Spring Break.  STAY FOCUSED and push toward excellence.  Our capacity, and that of our students, is yet to be fully reached. Adjust and maximize the conditions for excellence to revel its true nature.

Thanks for the efforts with STEM and Book Fair night!  I had a great time.  I am sorry for my early departure as I had a mandatory conference call for my son Joe.  He has been named a finalist in the YES Abroad program and is planning to spend his senior year of high school as an exchange student in Indonesia.  Exciting times for sure.

Subs:

• Paige Sipe for Kim Woody
• Jean Barnes for Cindy Sanders
• Natalie Newman for Trish Gulledge
• Rosemary Hazy for Charity Cota-Robles
• Jennifer Wells for Kelsey Loy
• Ronald Thomas for Bridgette Hollomon
• No sub for Doris Davis

Thursday MM - March 10th

Good Morning - Week "B"

I am looking forward to our STEM Book Fair evening event. 

A Systems Thinking opportunity arises this summer.  See the Blog documents for the Flyer to register.

Please support our GUEST Teachers today.

• Kimberly Vestal for Cindy Alva
• Charlotte Schott for Kim Woody
• Jean Barnes for Cindy Sanders
• Anna Marie Stewart for Trish Gulledge
• Ashley Evans for Allison Phelps
• Paige Sipe for Jessie Spaciel
• Rosemary Hazy for Charity Cota-Robles
• Jennifer Wells for Kelsey Loy
• Ronald Thomas for Bridgette Hollomon
• No sub yet for Elizabeth Johnson
• No sub yet for Demarie Anderson pm only
• No Sub for Nicole Robinson
• No Sub for Diana Adkins

Wednesday MM - March 9th

Good Morning - Week "B"

My PD with the magnet schools yesterday was fruitful.  Stacy and I will share next steps at next weeks faculty meeting.

Tornado Drill will be at 9:30 or so today.

Please be helpful to our subs who are in the building as guest teachers.  

• Anna Marie Stewart for Trish Gulledge
• Ashley Evans for Allison Phelps
• Paige Sipe for Jessie Spaciel
• Rosemary Hazy for Charity Cota-Robles
• Jennifer Wells for Kelsey Loy
• Ronald Thomas for Bridgette Hollomon
• Erica Lowrey for Darcy Steele

Tuesday MM - March 8th

Good Morning - Week "B"

Stacy and I will be at Magnet Schools of America NIMSL PD today.

Wednesday we have the STATE WIDE tornado Drill @ 9:30.  Please review the procedure with your class and know that we will be kind and supportive to all students as we navigate this important drill.

Also on Wednesday, two teams will participate in EL education PD

• Management in the Active Classroom
• Charity, Bridgette & Kelsey
• Communicating Student Achievement
• Allison, Trish & Jessie

Each team will start sharing their learning with a 10 minute presentation at our next staff meeting, March 16th.

Subs:
Sara Ralph for Stacy Swanson

Monday MM - March 7th

Good Morning - Week "B"

BOOK FAIR week requires establishment of expectations for your class to enjoy and thrive in the space that blends education and commerce.  Enjoy the week and all the energy that it can add to your classroom learning environment.

Enjoy this beautiful week.

Friday MM - March 4th

Good Morning - Week "A"

Big THANKS to;

• Mrs Bonomo and the media crew for a exciting Seuss week!
• Kindergarten/ First Grade Teachers and assistants for their collaborative work on new rotations and schedules
• ESL staff, Mrs. Turner & Mrs Wilheit for the effective and efficient ACCESS administration
• Laurie and Nelva for establishing the office as a "space for service"

Our K-1 Book Character Parade Starts at 8:35 - Be in the hallways immediately after the announcements.  (We will not have a Cog drawing today - Students who entered transfer to next week)

Book fair schedule was distributed by Mrs Stewart and will be slightly adjusted for the WSFCS Tornado Drill Wednesday @ 9:30.  Please review with your students the safety protocols.

22 of 30 classes will not get a media special next week during the book fair.  Thank you for your flexibility and support of this event.  ALL profits are utilized to improve our media collection.

Subs:
Rosemary Hazy for Sara Davis
Deb Gray for Donna McNatt
Linda Richardson for Tonya Grisette
Jean Barnes for Stacy Swanson

Thursday MM - March 3rd

Good Morning - Week "A"

A message from Myra last night;

Sorry for the delayed update but the national partnership review team just finished up this afternoon.

Congratulations! Brunson is accepted into network partnership with EL Education.  

I will be following up in a couple of weeks with next steps. The Schools Team is meeting next week to align ourselves on the planning phase for this cohort of schools.

For now, you can take a breath as I know you all have been working really hard to meet our accelerated timeline.

Have a great rest of your week!

Our NC Teacher working conditions survey is LIVE in the month of March.  Dr. Stevens will be hand delivering documents to all certified teachers today and Friday. 

Subs:

Rosemary Hazy for Sara Davis

Jean Barnes for Stacy Swanson

Wednesday MM - March 2nd

Good Morning - Week "A"

Read Across the School 
Today 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.

PLEASE MODEL great reading habits and sit with your students reading and supervising during this one time event.

Stacy, Sarah, Lisa and I will be at WSFCS-SIP-PD from 12:30-4:30.

Subs:

• Rosemary Hazy for Sarah Davis
• John Acker for Stacy Swanson PM only
• Jennifer Wells for Lisa Weber PM only
• Barbara Patterson for Trish Gulledge
• Michael Durr for Kim Woody