May 14, 2020
NUTS-n-BOLTS
1. Here is the final grading document that middle schools will be using as guidance. This document might help guide questions around when to assign 'incompletes.' We will discuss any questions you have during our staff meeting on the 21st.
2. Shout out to our paras!!! They are making connections and working with students on their work or just 'hanging out' via Google. They are adding another layer to the work teachers are doing.
3. A change for master schedule that you may or may not hear about is that GU will be two periods vs three beginning next year. We are sending a letter to Conor's current 7th graders that explains the 'why.'
4. Please put the word out to friends and families that will have incoming kinder students that registration is now open. It's amazing how kinder registration is something that some families don't think about. We usually have a 'Kindergarten Round Up" at the fair grounds where we capture families. Without this, the work is harder and we need to get our littles registered. :D
5. Many of you have added comments to the 8th Recognition slide show. They are fun to read! Last day to make comments is the 22nd. YOU CAN COMMENT EVEN IF YOU DON'T TEACH 8th GRADE. THIS IS FOR ANY STAFF MEMBER WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT.
6. This is information from the Health Center that we shared with students via Zoom.
The Health Center is still providing mental health service! Mental health counseling for Garrison MS students will be available through June 12, 2020. The Health Center is available for mental health check-ins and care coordination. Please contact The Health Center at (509)-525-0704 and your specific needs can be determined. You can also reach a Care Coordinator at help@thehealthcenterww.org. The Health Center is available to help!
7. We have hired two new staff members. Gonzalo Fernandez Pinillos for World Language and Sam Mirkovich for art. They will be reaching out to some of you to connect.
8. Angie, Steve, Agnes, Carina and I participated in a Character Strong training today. While Character Strong is a curriculum, it is truly a way in which we will teach students to be role models and begin to create a strong foundation for ALL students in which we are building a culture of kindness and acceptance. Charlie will be using this curriculum with all 6th graders as part of his exploratory course next year. We are keeping our fingers crossed that we will be able to have a leadership class made up of 7/8 graders that Agnes will teach. She will be able to use the Leadership portion of Character Strong.
9. Staff meeting next Thursday, May 21st at 1:30. This will be both classified and certificated.
10. Working to create a student planner. I was looking to buy them already created...this would be upwards to $2000 plus dollars. Plan B...what is the content we want in students' everyday planner? If you have ideas please send them to me by next week, Thursday the 21st.
SOMETHING to PONDER
Have you wondered why you are so exhausted at the end of the day? "I was not this exhausted when students were in front of me?" "Why is it that I am fatigued when I have been sitting and/or standing most of the day in front of a screen?"
We need to quit beating ourselves up over being exhausted. Maybe you aren't beating yourself up. Maybe you are wondering more about why you are so tired at the end of each day. This is TOUGH, exhausting work! Besides the sheer realm of Distance Learning, not having the face-to-face with students, here are other reasons you are tired.(this is the full article) Here is the summary of the article
8. Angie, Steve, Agnes, Carina and I participated in a Character Strong training today. While Character Strong is a curriculum, it is truly a way in which we will teach students to be role models and begin to create a strong foundation for ALL students in which we are building a culture of kindness and acceptance. Charlie will be using this curriculum with all 6th graders as part of his exploratory course next year. We are keeping our fingers crossed that we will be able to have a leadership class made up of 7/8 graders that Agnes will teach. She will be able to use the Leadership portion of Character Strong.
9. Staff meeting next Thursday, May 21st at 1:30. This will be both classified and certificated.
10. Working to create a student planner. I was looking to buy them already created...this would be upwards to $2000 plus dollars. Plan B...what is the content we want in students' everyday planner? If you have ideas please send them to me by next week, Thursday the 21st.
SOMETHING to PONDER
Have you wondered why you are so exhausted at the end of the day? "I was not this exhausted when students were in front of me?" "Why is it that I am fatigued when I have been sitting and/or standing most of the day in front of a screen?"
We need to quit beating ourselves up over being exhausted. Maybe you aren't beating yourself up. Maybe you are wondering more about why you are so tired at the end of each day. This is TOUGH, exhausting work! Besides the sheer realm of Distance Learning, not having the face-to-face with students, here are other reasons you are tired.(this is the full article) Here is the summary of the article
A LITTLE HUMOR
I have had fun with these cards during my grade level Zoom meetings.
I use them as an ice breaker with kids. Also, who sits and thinks of these? LOL
Would you rather be able to type/text very fast or be able to read really quickly?
Would you rather randomly turn into a frog for a day once a month or randomly turn into a bird for a day once every week?
Would you rather have the chance to design a new toy or create a new TV show?
Would you rather be really good at math or really good at sports?
Would you rather speak for only a minute each day OR stand for only a minute each day?
Would you rather be tied securely to the bow of a moving ship (head above water of course) OR be tied securely to the front of a fling helicopter?
Would you rather be in the middle of the ocean in a raft during a typhoon OR tied to a post in the middle of a cornfield when a twister touches down?
