Friday, Dec 1st

I want to highlight one example of what it means to be crew as an educator at Brunson.  

• Kelsey was in a parent conference for most of her lunch. I left the meeting to get her kids from the cafe, yet I could not find them! I was late and another class was at their table.  I looked down the hall and only saw Mrs Jordan and her class at the restroom.  I started to get nervous, so I looked back in the cafe to be sure I did not miss them....still no class.  How was I going to explain to Kelsey that I lost her entire class?  I walked down toward Michelle and THERE THEY WERE, blending in with her class, completely under her care and supervision.  

This is CREW and it happens all day in every location.  Staff members stepping up to support each other. 

"There is more in us than we know.  If we can be made to see it, perhaps for the rest of our lives we will be unwilling to settle for less." 

"We are crew, not passengers, and strengthened by consequential acts of service to others."
-Kurt Hahn-

Thursday, November 30th

From community crew yesterday

• ELA planning time

BELLT has elected to allot funding for ELA planning time. Substitutes will cover classes for 3 ½ hours of planning. 7:45-11:15 OR 11:45-3:15

We selected times to minimize writing of plans. (Lunch, specials, recess where possible)

• Dec 15th: 2nd/5th
• Dec 18th: K/3rd
• Dec 19th: 1st/ 4th 

Dismissal Plan Shift

Please submit the plan for each staging area ASAP so we can review.  The plan needs to be Community based and the crew must stay intact for safe student travel to the bus.   

Looking ahead to Monday, please welcome back Dee Duncan.  We will be doing an extended learning walk to observe implementation of the ELA Module.  

• 8:30 5th grade
• 9:10 3rd grade
• 10:10 2nd grade
• 10:30 4th grade
• 11:45 Kindergarten
• 12:00 First grade

We also received the shipment of 

"Your Curriculum Companion."  We will outline book club membership at Community Crew on Wednesday December 6th.

Wednesday, Nov 29, 2017

Wednesday, Nov 29, 2017

• Faculty Crew from 3:30-4:10 
• Locations determined by the crew facilitator
• Community Crew from 4:15-4:30 
• in the media center

Tuesday, November 28th

In the Tuesday Packet, there is an invitation for our Family Crew Movie night on Friday, December 1st.  This is an outstanding opportunity to connect with your families and build relational trust.  Stacy is leading the charge on the technology and Sarah will be the master of ceremonies.  Please come out and promote CREW.

Holiday Parties! 

I am asking for all of us to create grade level crew celebrations for the afternoon of December 21st.  I envision 

• 5th grade in the media center
• 4th grade in the gym
• 3rd grade upstairs
• 2nd grade in Gulledge & Alva
• 1st grade in Parrish & Hollomon
• Kinder in Hailstock & Gutierrez

We have many options to develop an event that will amplify the Joy of Crew.  Let's aim for 1:00 until dismissal. We can run the ERD lunch schedule to get everyone through the cafe before 1pm.  More details will be shared on Wednesday so start the conversation with your Crew.

Monday, November 27th

Welcome back from an outstanding Thanksgiving Holiday!  Keep your focus on Student achievement across all three dimensions.  We have the responsibility to model a strong work ethic and value time as a resource toward growth and development.

At the end of Wednesday's Faculty Crew we will meet in the Media center for the presentation of our improved dismissal plan.  Thanks for the feedback and support for our students as we strive to build community through literacy, while being safe and efficient.  

Tuesday, November 21st

Enjoy your holiday break!  We have faculty crew on Wednesday the 29th and ask for each of you to read this article from the La Times on Gratitude

Jack went home yesterday afternoon!!!!

Thanks so much for your love and support.  I am blessed to have such a great CREW!   

Sarah

Monday, November 20th

A two day week can be an opportunity to "coast."  I encourage each of you to model our habits of character and be your best until the last kid leaves on Tuesday afternoon.  

NPR has a cool project I wanted to share.  This Thanksgiving, Try StoryCorps' Oral History Project

Friday, November 17, 2017

From technology (due to viruses):
Please log off all workstations but leave them powered on.  Leave them at the login screen and turn the monitors off. This includes all lab and classroom machines. 

Tuesday, November 14th

I am at an Elementary Principals Meeting today and will return @ Lunch.  I placed a two flyers on the board today so check out the SPAW and HR.





   

Monday, November 13, 2017

Let's have a fantastic week.  

Please review our SIP in NC STAR.  Details to access the plan are on our WEBSITE.   We will vote on the plan at Community Crew this Wednesday.

Also on Wednesday, we welcome Chloe Romeo from Discovery Education. She will be with us @1:00 for classroom support, see Susana for more details, and then present at Community Crew.

Please read your e-mail (white paper) as I embedded a video to be viewed before Wednesday's Community Crew.

We are finalizing some shifts from your feedback on dismissal.  Implementation will begin after Thanksgiving, November 27th.

The link below is for district PD offerings.

• https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1TWoylRIepjLTkxgbEBN1faoznO8qeUzcs3diKA_4hZg/edit#gid=490133492

Thursday, November 9th

Today, share the "why" behind Veteran's Day. It is more than a Friday without school and closed banks. Please e-mail me any learning targets that you utilize surrounding "Armistice Day."
An excerpt form the website for the US Department of Veterans Affairs;

"World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” - officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”

WEDNESDAY!

BELLT meeting tonight @ 3:30 in the CB Lab

I want to thank Andrew Nelson for supporting Brunson and taking on the role of long-term sub for the vacant 5th grade class starting Monday, November 13th.  We will miss many aspects of what Lara Overby has brought to our school on a daily basis for the last 11+ years.  Please make time to wish her well as she transitions to Davie County as an instructional coach.

Where are you at with direct instruction concerning the scientific method and upcoming science fair?  Work together and enjoy the deep learning that occurs when students are supported in this process.

MONDAY!!!

Let's make this the best 4 day week ever!  

Teach daylight savings for it has relevance and can strengthen problem solving skills.

• A 2014 Rasmussen poll found that a declining percentage of adults in the United States -- 33% -- think daylight saving time is "worth the hassle." That's down from 37% in 2013 and 45% the year before.
• Efforts to kill off daylight saving time are nearly as old as the time shift itself, and even today, some are trying to get it repealed.
• Others like it so much they want it to be kept year round (standard time, by the way, is standard in name only ... We go seven months of the year now with the extra hour tacked on at the end of the day).
• Sourced from CNN

Currently there is not a sub that has picked up for Mrs. Guy.  Please hold your AIG kids in 3rd, 4th and 5th grades.  We will come to you class and inform you if a sub is secured.

Friday, November 3rd

Let's make today JOYFUL.  I will be in every classroom today and would love to hear an uplifting story!

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS is Sunday.  Fall back means we will have more light in the morning and less in the evenings.  

Also with the weather being so mild, we may do a Fire drill today?  Always be prepared.

Enjoy the weekend!

Thursday, November 2nd

Thanks for your engagement at the community crew yesterday. Could you please think about a Learning Target that would be relevant and share your efforts?  There will be some space in the PLT room to record your thoughts.

My expectation for you today and everyday - TRANSMIT JOY. 

Jerry Yale is here today in the PLT room to continue working on your Technology pathways.  Please see him during your planing period.