Wednesday MM - Day "A"

Good morning!

Enjoy the PTA luncheon

Meta Faulkner for Doc Peddle

Tuesday MM - Day "F"

Learning—real LEARNING—starts when, for whatever reason, the learner wants it to start. It proceeds if the aim is clear and what’s being learned connects logically and solidly to existing knowledge. It’s strengthened when mistakes are made, clarifying the potential and limitations of the new knowledge. It’s reinforced when it’s put to frequent, immediate, meaningful, real-world use. It becomes permanent when it’s made part of the learner’s organized, consciously known “master” structure of knowledge.

-Marion Brady-

Monday MM - Make up snow day

Good Morning!

I hope you all are safe and sound from our extended snow vacation.  There will be no specials today as we navigate our two hour delay.  Our specialists will supervise the lunchroom today so each teacher can have a duty free lunch. 

I will be in Durham the next two days at the Scaling STEM conference.  Click the link if you are interested in the agenda.  The K-8 session will be led by our friend Liz Parry.

Last week we postponed two events that will occur this week.  Please be sure these are on your calendar.  

• Wednesday is our PTA teacher luncheon. 
• Friday is our Mix-It-Up day.

Subs:

Rosemary Hazy for Paige Sipe

Friday MM - Snow Day

I am here today for a 4 hour shift.  We purchased a Subaru for a third car now that Jack is of driving age, and it drives like a nimble little goat in the snow!  My streets in the neighborhood are snow-packed and rutted, yet the main roads are mostly clear.  Please be safe if you are venturing out as drivers with limited experience in these conditions can complicate matters.  Conversely, some drivers who are over-confident create dangerous situations with their aggressive style.

I am working on my evaluation calendar and will e-mail those of you on my roster concerning the next step in the process. 

Let me give you some updates provided by our amazing support staff a the Central Office.

From Daryl Walker on Thursday;

Grounds will be working on your lots through the weekend.  They are working until dark tonight and run a 12 hr shift tomorrow and Saturday in hopes of opening Monday

From Theo Helm regarding work days;

It depends on whether/how much more snow we get this winter, but right now it looks like students will finish June 13, and then teachers will have eight workdays following (June 16-20 and June 23-25). Those are the four that were already scheduled, the two that get moved because Feb. 17 and April 21 will be student days now, and two that became workdays after the first two student days didn't have to be made up. (If they worked either/both of the optional teacher workdays on Jan. 30 and 31, then obviously they wouldn't work June 24/25.)

Teachers and most other 10-month employees are required to work 215 days, which includes 180 student days, 14 workdays, 11 holidays and 10 leave days. Because students are not making up the first two snow days, teachers will now work 178 student days and 16 workdays. If they count the days in the calendar, they'll see they're still working the same 194 days.

As for TAs and PRTs, those who work 208 days will now work 178 student days and 9 workdays. Those who work 202 days will now work 178 student days and 3 workdays​. We haven't slotted those workdays yet, but I would imagine they'll be the first couple after the last student day.

Hope that helps. Hope that's all the snow for this year.

Wow!

No one in the building today due to the volume of snow.  I fully anticipate another day off school Friday and do not believe it will be an optional teacher workday as we have a LOT of shoveling and digging to make the campus safe for anybody. 

I will keep you posted. 

Snow Day?''

Not snowing yet - 10:20 in the morning - BUT I support the decision to avoid placing our students in precarious situations with a 3 hour early dismissal.  We would have dismissed @ 11:50 and have most kids off the bus within 90 minutes, say 1:30.  High schools would dismiss @ 12:55 and not have the buses parked until 3:00 at the earliest. So with a forecast that predicts precipitation starting in the early afternoon, we made the safe call. 

Now, if it doesn't start snowing until after 4pm there will be many "armchair quarterbacks" that disparage the decision.  I encourage you to refrain from the woulda' shoulda' coulda' mentality and know that we are accountable for the safety of ALL our students.  Time is relative, and we can follow the snow day make-up schedule that has been published for over a year.  My advice; Sit back, enjoy the beauty of a winter snowfall, stay warm and safe. 

I will publish the most recent updates for the remainder of the week on the blog for you to keep informed.  I will also keep you informed if we are presented with "optional" teacher workdays.  

For Today - 2.12.13 Wednesday - Mr. Kirby and I will be here until it starts coming down hard.  

Wednesday MM - Day "C"

Good Morning!

MIX-IT-UP day is rescheduled for Friday February 21st

We need some Secret Cupid help.  There are two names that have not been drawn.  If you entered your name and did not select a staff member to acknowledge, PLEASE see Wendy to rectify this situation.

As I write this @ 5pm, we have no word on the status of our school as we prepare for "the storm."  I have been asked to be prepared with a lunch schedule for a 3-hour delay.  If that comes to fruition, Instructions will be posted in the morning.  you can also look to the blog for information on optional teacher workdays.

More in the morning!