October 17, 2019
Thank you, Fall Sport Coaches! It is both amazing, fun and humbling to watch you work with students in a different setting. Not only are you teaching them about the game and increasing skills, you are teaching them to be role models, work as a team or family and building character!
I did not get to volleyball or soccer but heard feedback from parents that was positive. Here is a picture after last night's 8th grade win. :D
Gladys catered the event and at 9:30PM she still had a smile on her face knowing she had to come in extra early this morning to get our breakfast going. Thank you!!!!
NUTS-n-BOLTS
1. Tomorrow morning fall sport athletes and coaches(those that said they could make it. This is not mandatory or required; only volunteers) and NJHS students can meet in the foyer. Students can place backpacks in the conference room. We will head out to the designated area and deliver the orange Care and Share bags. Not doing this ever before, the goal is 30 mins.
2. Based on feedback from the exit ticket from Friday's PBIS training, we will look at focusing on 'one thing.' We would like to do this on the 5th Wednesday of this month-October 30th. Carina and I followed up with Flint and Jeff via email and asked for time next month that Jeff could come back, walk the school, see it action and offer feedback. We will keep you posted.
3. Your consistency in the hallways during passing times is appreciated especially when we have guest teachers in the building.
4. The Friday "F" spread sheet (I gotta think of an appropriate name for this spread sheet :D) comes out tomorrow. This is something we review weekly. With Alex on board full time Monday, we will be able to implement morning and after school time for students to get caught up that need it. With that being said, 8:15-8:45 is time that students MUST be able to access YOU. Please make arrangements with students if they need assistance, to turn in an assignment or whatever it may be. I have seen a couple of teachers post their 'office hours' on their door so students know when to come and receive help.
5. Proficiency Map work is coming along. Great discussions with teams yesterday. As Carina and I said in August, we believe in this work! This is not something to 'check the box.' I think of prof maps just like you would a Google Map or planning a trip. There is a destination, there is a start and stop date, adjustments are made and it can be clunky. It will always remain clunky UNLESS we dig in and understand the purpose behind it. I guarantee you would want a teacher well planned, working with their colleagues, increasing instructional strategies for your own children, nieces, nephews, etc. We owe this to our own students. Stepping off soap box now.
6. Red Ribbon week kicks off on Monday. Angie and Steve are planning things with Sources of Strength and Unity Day. Please review your Unity Day binder. I know we get pressed for time and time is the hottest commodity. However, taking moments to pause and look at the 'whole' student from a social/emotional lens is critical. We want our Troopers to transition from us ready for the academic load at high school AND be kind, helpful people that feel like they are important and people care about them.
7. TARDIES - Please remember if a student is a few seconds late to your class you are accepting them and marking them TARDY in Skyward. We have improved our system to track and intervene with tardies. Consequences begin when a student has acquired 4.
8. Supervision duty we need more bodies in the cafeteria in the AM. We are going to need to look at this schedule; just giving you a heads up.
Something to Ponder
What are your biases? Do you know you have HIDDEN biases? No one ever wants to think they have biases especially when it comes to race. Unfortunately, we all do have them due to our experiences, beliefs and how we were raised. Knowing you have them and knowing what they are can lead to improve practises. This is a quick summary of the "The Anit-Racist Educator" by Tracey Benson and Sarah Fiarman
