Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Growth Mindset Quotes:

    Jeff is at a Principal's meeting Wednesday morning and a Title I meeting in the afternoon. He is looking forward to being here for our 3:30 Community CREW. Come ready to grow and learn more about your staff.

Certified Staff:  Please begin working on your NCEES self-assessment and PDP.  You'll receive an email and calendar invitation soon from Jeff or Sarah.  

Make today AWESOME!!! 

Tuesday, September 5th

Good Morning!

Sorry to have missed you all on Friday as I went to the walk in clinic and was diagnosed with the flu, strain A. I am 90% better and will sequester myself in the office with paperwork today.

2nd apology for the late nature of the blog post. The 1st sorry is the reason.

We start PLT today @ 2:05 with 4th grade. The specialists are dismissing the fourth graders and will assume their role in dismissal.

PTA Board will meet @ 12:30 in room 13.

Community Crew is Wednesday from 3:30-4:30

I will be at a Principals meeting on Wednesday morning followed by a Title One meeting in the afternoon.

FINAL REMINDER - due by 09-06-17

• The EL Education 2017 National Conference will be held from October 27th to October 29th in Chicago. We will send six fully funded staff members. All staff received an e-mail to complete a google form to indicate interest and availability. 

Friday, Sept 1st

Happy Friday, staff!!  

I hope you enjoy your long weekend ~ relax and recharge.

Done by today:

• Have you watched the safety videos (fire, tornado, lock-down and blood-borne pathogens) and signed the 2 papers on Mrs. H's door?  If not, do that by noon.  A copy must be sent to the district office today!!

• Please give Mrs. H a copy of your class role checked that all of your students have watched the safety video this week.  

Info:

• Red, 3-ring safety binder:

• If you do not have one, see Laurie

• Make sure it has a red and green paper,

• Remember red shows you do not have all of your class (someone in ESL, EC, etc.) 

• Green displays that every child present is accounted for in your line.

• These must be posted by the door.

• Please post your additional Fire Drill sheet by your door (the fire inspectors always look for it).

• Cafe':

• Remind students to go to the cafe' prior to coming to your room.  Students should not come to the room and then go to breakfast. This assists with time and efficiency.

• Refrigerator: 

• The staff fridge door has been left open a few times.  Make sure it is completely closed after you open.  

• Google form for discipline referrals:

• I will send out the link in an email for you to use as needed.

• Official start for using the form is Monday, Sept 7th. Between now and then, please play with it...submit made up forms. This is a great way to familiarize yourself with the system.

• I will erase all of the "fake info"

• We will discuss Plus/Deltas at the next Community CREW

I wanted to conclude by connecting the discipline form, "grey areas", and relationships. One of my professors favorite lines was, "It all depends". That's what I heard in the Community Cree as you spoke. It all depends on the situation, but more importantly, it all depends on relationships!
I have been impressed with this first week and the time taken to build relationships. Continue deeply getting to know your students. Remember some students may have to build trust before the relationship develops.

Thursday, August 31st

Paul Harvey would say, "And now, the rest of the story...."

The EL Education 2017 National Conference will be held from October 27th to October 29th in Chicago.  We will send six fully funded staff members.  All staff received an e-mail to complete a google form to indicate interest and availability.

I want to share my observations about some of our school-wide processes;

• Arrival 
• Engage positively with students
• Engage parents about time
• between 7:50 and 8:20
• NOT before 7:50
• NOT after 8:20 
• Dismissal 
• Demand that backpacks stay closed 
• Silence is not the goal 
• Silent Sustained Reading is part of the goal along with Safety, Efficiency and Community
• Lunch 
• Booths are for adult visitors(do not assign student groups to booths)
• 4 to a booth PERIOD 
• Recess 
• Honor the beginning - your kids need you to teach the NORMS
•  Assume nothing and demonstrate engaged supervision
• Schedule 
• Time is visible - Students learn quickly if you are hypocritical about this valuable resource - provide and excellent model of what you expect from them 

OUTSTANDING FIRE DRILL!!! (If you need a red / green sheet for safety folders, please see Laurie )

On Friday, look in the Cafeteria to spot "The Golden Plate Award."   

• Each week, the Kindergarten class that best exemplifies the Habits of Character in the cafeteria  will be presented with the Golden Plate Award
• It will be brought to the classroom by Mrs Pate at 2:30 each Friday
• The decision is collaborative with input from Kindergarten Teachers, Instructional Assistants and Cafeteria staff

Professional Learning Team (PLT) meetings begin Tuesday, September 5th

• All teams meet from 2:00-3:15
• Meetings are in room 13 
• Classroom specials on PLT day will shift from the regular time to 2:00
• Exception for Kindergarten who maintains their special time
• IA's teach during PLT while the specialists work with 2nd grade
• During your PLT, the specialist is responsible until 3:20 and needs clear written directions about the role you serve at dismissal

From Janet Shepard

• There are BOXES of books for classroom use that need homes
• PLEASE see her in the media center for access to this resource 

From Susana and Kathy… Look for an e-mail about selection for supplemental classroom EL ELA texts

From Nelva and Laurie... Please communicate with your parents that ALL transportation changes must be called in before 2:00.  Calls after 2pm are not able to be clearly communicated and therefore will not be passed on.  I will communicate this shift with families  in a Tuesday newsletter and robo-call on September 5th.

Wednesday, August 30th

Please bring your Core Practice book to community crew (in the media center at 3:30.)  We will begin with a Back to Back/Front to Front protocol where your CP book will be an asset .  The focus will be on Page 2, EL Education Design Principles, (please read before the meeting.)  Seating will be by grade level as we collaborate and begin to norm discipline protocols.

FIRE DRILL @ 10:15 Wednesday (weather permitting)

Tuesday, August 29th

I had an outstanding first day and hope you did also.  

I look forward to being  in the building during arrival on Tuesday as I was needed in the parking area on Monday.

I thought the cafeteria changes were positive and look forward to continuous improvement.  I was able to communicate with most staff that the expectation is, keep moving, do not stop at the door to the hallway.  This action, along with garbage at the end of the table, should help us recover lost transition time.  

Dismissal was a HUGE success for day ONE.  Let's use Tuesday to improve by modeling habits for our students.  

One bit of feedback is to have 2nd and 3rd grade parents wait by the Brunson Bobcats sign, while K, 1, 4 & 5 wait by the pine trees.  I will head out early and help make that happen.

I will be in the cafe Tuesday, but out on Wednesday so I can visit the classrooms and see the academic progress during the day.

Remember we have our community crew on Wednesday from 3:30-4:30 in the media center.

Monday, August 28th

I have enjoyed the weekend and am ready to have our students in our classrooms.

My asks for this week;  

• Be Positive with everybody regarding curriculum, crew, dismissal, new staff, old staff, basically everything WE do.  You will hear me say this all year, "Staff climate & culture always leads Student climate & culture."  Let's lead our students toward a future of hope and joy!

• Arrival will be messy, please be present and service-oriented 

• The Lunchroom has a twist this year. We are asking for the garbage cans to roll to the end of the table to reduce the movement of students within the cafe'. I will be present all day Monday to teach and model.  Our Admin Crew will sweep and wash every table all week.  We will outline the transition to students at our community crew session on Wednesday.
• Remember, a book in every students hand at dismissal.  All the Specialists will be assisting in the Gym to set the tone.  YMCA folks are Bus riders and will be headed to the gym where they will be greeted by a counselor and taken to the cafe' to continue SSR.  Review the documents on Google drive and ask questions for clarification.

I will blog each night this week to increase communication.  Thanks for reading and being a part of our community crew.