Thursday Thriller, December 16, 2021

 Thursday Thriller

December 14, 2021

Shout out to YOU!!!

You have successfully made it to winter break!  Just one more day!!! To help you get through tomorrow, there will be coffee and donuts in the teacher's lounge :D

Nuts-n-Bolts

1.   One more day and then it's break!!!!

2.    January 5th we will extend our staff meeting from 2:45 to 4:15

3.    January 14th is our early dismissal day.  8th graders will attend the field trip to WA HI in their GST class with their GST teacher.  Field trip notes turned in by Jan. 11th.

4.    Congrats to Stephanie! She will take Ashley's Registrar's positon.  We will then be posting for Stephanie's position. :D

Something to Ponder

Two weeks to re-charge. :D  Ponder the movies on Netflix you might watch, the book(s) you'll read, the games you'll play, number of naps, the walks or runs you'll take and maybe just sitting in silence and reflecting on all you have accomplished.

Quote

Calendar of Events

Monday, 1/3            Welcome back!

Tuesday,  1/4            Kim and Carina @ Ad Council @ 8:30
Wednesday, 1/5        Staff Collaboration 2:45-4:15
Friday, 1/6                GC Meeting in Agnes' Room @ 7:30

Friday,  1/14              Early Dismissal @ 12:25, 8th grade to WA HI for Field trip for the morning
                                     We All Belong training from 1:00-2:00
Monday, 1/17            President's Day No School
Tuesday, 1/18            iReady Math testing
Monday,  1/24            iReady Reading testing

Thursday Thriller

 Thursday Thriller

December 9, 2021

These two lovely ladies are Meg Morris and Sara Huxoll.

Meg is one of our extraordinary SEL paras AND a certificated teacher who subs for Katie when she is out! Observing Meg with students is amazing; almost like a child whisperer. :D

Sara Huxoll is our HRA (Health Room Assistant).  The clinic is a continuous revolving door and now add close contact students?!  THANK YOU for making the calls and doing the needed paperwork, Sara!

Nuts-n-Bolts

1.    Please read the updated lock-down procedures that were attached in this EMAIL.  Some things have changed especially about the fire alarms, covering windows and openings.  Covering windows and openings should not be covered at all only in a lockdown situation.  I was in Shannon's room and she has a roll up cover for her door window you might check out.  Please ask if you have questions.  

2.    We will be discussing CHAPTER 4 tomorrow at 1:00 and be done by 2:00.  Meeting in Tracy and Gonzalo's rooms.

3.    Here is the plan for tomorrow.  

4.   Secure Building drill tomorrow at 9:30.  Please review procedures.

5.   Thank you for your help with iReady and encouraging students!  We have had lots of tickets turned in.  If students complete their blue tracker, they can bring it to the office.  I will draw some names at the end of January.  Students can start a second tracker if they'd like. 

6.    Something new we are going to put into place is doing home visits when students are suspended.  Yaneth and Alex will take homework/classwork to the home, check in on the student, ask them to log into Google classroom to make sure they are in and getting something done.  We can hope students complete assignments but we know hope isn't a strategy UNLESS there are supports.  Yajara and Stephanie do a great job of creating folders for students who are suspended so teachers can put any paper assignments in the folder to be delivered.  Families of students who have been suspended for a longer period of time have the option to work with Yaneth and Alex to find support within the community ex: counseling, family reconciliation, etc.  We know suspension doesn't fix the student..in fact it has the opposite effect.  HOWEVER, there are times when respite is needed and plans need to be put into place to support the student upon return and if there were victims, supporting them. 

7.  THIS IS SO COOL!!!  Way to go Jami, Kara and Sara from Pioneer!

8.    Hope you can join us at Quirk tomorrow from 3:00-5:00.  There will be some really good snacks! If you want to partake in the White Elephant gift exchange, the limit is $20.  Dust off that ugly Christmas sweater!  All of this is optional.  We appreciate you and hope to share some laughs tomorrow with each of you.

9.    Conversations with the Principals on Tuesday, December 14th.  If you would like to join in the conversation, please do.  This, too, is optional; just wanted to keep you in the loop and let you know you are invited.

6:15-7:00 is for English via Zoom here is the link

7:00-7:45  is the Spanish via Zoom here is the link

SOMETHING to PONDER

Christy K sent this to Carina and me.  While it is lengthy, there is some REALLY GOOD information to skim and reflect on in regards to The Behavioral Impacts of COVID .  I believe WWVEA sent it out.  Hope you find a gold nugget.

Power point link             

QUOTE

   

Little Humor

I needed to laugh aimlessly and some ridiculous Parks and Rec clips.  May you, too, get a good laugh!   Best Moments of Parks and Rec
 

Calendar of Events

 Friday, December 10      Half day, "We All Belong"  PD @ 1:00, Quirk @ 3:00

Monday, December 13      Carina and I have PD at 7:30 and 1:30

Tuesday, December 14     Conversations with the Principals 6:16 Eng, 7:00 Spanish

JANUARY 5th    Extended Staff Meeting 2:45-4:15 on Wednesday

JANUARY 14th    8th grade students and GST teachers field trip to WA HI, this is an early dismissal day

Thursday Thriller December 3, 2021

 Thursday Thriller

December 3, 2021

Shout out to Caleb!  His choir and orchestra students did amazing!! There were about 80 students and standing room only!

Who's Who at Garrison

Jen had a great idea after our last "We All Belong" staff meeting.  She suggested identifying different staff members in the Thursday Thriller since clearly we don't know everyone. :D  

Sam Mirkovich or "Mirk" came to the east side to teach at Garrison in 2019 after teaching at Ferndale High School.  He and his wife, Katie, have a lovely 7 year old daughter named Isla.  Katie is currently the ESL Teacher at Green Park.  Mirk is a talented artist, taught overseas, played baseball at Central and has a wicked sense of humor. :D

"Mirk"

Nuts-n-Bolts

1.  Certificated Staff~ Thank you for your participation in yesterday's rotations.  A few things that came to fruition from our discussion were not necessarily or directly related to TIER I opportunities; rather these were things to re-set/re-teach, get back to the basic expectations for all.   

      A)  In the morning students, (8:35-8:50) need to go to their first period class and stay put UNLESS they are receiving tutoring by a teacher that is not their first period teacher.  Teachers do not have to have something for students to do.  Students can talk with one another, socialize, read, do iReady, work on homework.  This is not a time for phones or games on Chromebooks.  I will make PSA announcements on GNN, communicate in the Family Newsletter as well as the Zoom meeting with parents in a couple of weeks so they, too, know the expectations. 

    B) Re-teaching students all over again the basics about school.  Starting small for example encouraging students to stay to the right when they walk down the hallway and use the breeze way to help with chaos and crowding. Little things that we can do school wide to re-teach school and expectations.

    C) "Tip Sheet" for parents (made by Kim not teachers and sent from our office) on what to ask their child in regards to school.  Instead of, "Do you have any homework?"  "Show me your binder and how it's organized."  "Show me your grades and if you have any missing assignments."  "What iReady lesson are you on?"  "What book are you reading for the Winter Challenge?"  "What side of the hallway are you supposed to stay on?" :D Little things that parents/guardians at home can engage with their child in that don't necessarily revolve around homework.

2.    Friday, December 10th is our "We All Belong" training up in Tracy and Gonzalo's rooms from 1:00-2:00. We will be discussing chapter 4.  From 3:00-5:00 is our staff get together at Quirk.  There will be snacks and 'tickets' for each person. :D

3.    COVID vaccination clinic will be on the 8th from 9:00-10:30 in the Commons. 

4.    If you didn't add to the Padlet and still would like the opportunity to do so, here is the link:  Staff Check-in 

5.    Spirit Week next week: 

Monday- Dec 6 - Flannel day- Wear your favorite flannel clothing!

Tuesday, Dec7- College Day- Pull out your college gear and show your college pride!

Wednesday, Dec 8- Pajama Day- Wear your cozy pjs!

Thursday, Dec 9- White out!  It's getting cold outside...let's plan an indoor blizzard!  Everyone wear white! Friday,Dec 10- Red, White and Green Jingle Bell Day- Wear your red, white and green and get ready to "Jingle all the Way!”

Something to Ponder

Andrew Marotta is a principal in New York, husband, father and Division One College Basketball Official.  This particular blog caught my eye because of the content.  How many of  of you have worked your tails off for a student and they reward you by flipping you the bird, acting out or posting something awful on social media?  This made me think of some of the Instagram posts.  My husband was super upset.  I told him there are so many more positives then negatives.  We just have to let things roll off our backs and keep going.  IT IS HARD! I GET IT!  We will continue to be champions for all students.    YOU ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE!  We are re-teaching behavior.  Keep working together!  You are an AMAZING group of people!!!  

Little Humor

This was one of the memes on Instagram.  I say "ear pods" instead of "air pods."  Gotta laugh at myself. :D

QUOTE

CALENDAR of EVENTS

Friday, 12/3    What more do we need to say other than, "IT'S FRIDAY!"

Mon,   12/6     Spirit Day -FLANNEL

Tues,   12/ 7    Spirit Day - COLLEGE DAY, Carina and Kim at AD Council from 8:30-10:00

Wed,    12/8    Spirit Day -PAJAMA DAY, Shot clinic 9:00-10:30, Collaboration with teams

Thur,    12/9    Spirit Day - WHITE OUT, POD A SST @ 8:55, POD B SST @ 11:55

Fri,       12/10  Spirit Day -RED, WHITE, GREEN, We All Belong CHP 4, 1:00-2:00, Quirk 3:00-5:00 (this is optional. :D)

Sat.       12/11   ASHLEY GRADUATES FROM WSU!!!!!  CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Mon,    12/13   Conversations with the Principals via Zoom SP

Tues,    12/14   Conversations with the Principals via Zoom ENG 

**If anyone wants to attend the parent meetings, we would welcome your attendance.  Let me know and I can send you the Zoom link

January 5 -Wednesday -Extended Staff Collaboration 2:45-4:15

Wacky Wednesday aka Thursday Thriller November 24, 2021

 Wacky Wednesday aka Thursday Thriller

November 24, 2021

Shout out to new paras working with our students!! Cody Bell and Ian Moffitt work in our RISE program.  Ian is also going to work two days in the Study Spot with students.  Fahima Grant is our new para in the SEL program.  WELCOME TO THE TROOPER FAMILY!!!

                                                                Fahima Grant

                                                                    

                                                                      Ian Moffitt

    

                                                

                                                                        Cody Bell

Nuts-n-Bolts

1.  ENJOY your break!!!!

2.  January 5th we are extending our staff meeting until 4:15 so please plan accordingly.  I'm trying to give you advanced warning. LOL

3.  Spirit Week December 6th-10th.  The 10th is an early dismissal for students. Amy K and Counselors already have a skeleton plan for that morning.  10th is also our staff get together at Quirk from 3:00-5:00

4. Please keep pumping up iReady.  All the encouragement is needed. 8th is a tough sell since the lessons have not been re-done like they have been in 6th-7th.  THANK YOU for your help.

5.  Wednesday, December 1st we will have our staff meeting with rotations.  More information to come.

6.  Have received feedback that having GNN five days a week keeps the consistency and routine in place.  Starting Monday, November 30th we will continue with GNN 5 days a week.  Will H will continue to upload the links to the GST calendar.

Something to Ponder

Whenever I see 'middle schooler' in an article, I zoom in.  This Edutopia article resonated with me because it reinforces to an extent the discussion strategies GC presented.  Have you tried 1 of the 5 strategies on the pink card?  Have you tried a new strategy? How are you leveling the playing field in your classroom?

Hope you find a gold nugget.

                Which Students Get More Teacher Attention?

“My teacher doesn’t like me,” said a middle-school student to Maurice Elias (Rutgers

University) during one of his school visits. In this Edutopia article, Elias says he was skeptical

because he knew the teacher and thought that couldn’t be true. But observing the class a couple

of times, Elias noticed that the student who had spoken to him sat on the right side of the room

and the teacher focused almost exclusively to the left side. Informed of this, the teacher was

surprised – it was an unconscious tendency – and addressed it with the student and the class.

With this awareness, he made a point of looking toward all parts of the classroom.

Elias says all teachers have quirks like this – they might be called biases – and some

students take them personally, participate less in class, lose self-confidence, and achieve less

well. British researcher Michael Fielding suggests that teachers delegate students (on a rotating

basis) to give them private feedback on where they tend to face, who gets called on more, in

what areas of the room, and which students are called on by name. In addition to providing

valuable insights to teachers, this job can increase students’ awareness of how they believe

they’re treated by teachers, administrators, lunch aides, bus drivers, and other adults in their

school.

Teachers can also self-monitor on who they speak to informally, who’s prodded to

participate, who gets to be the teacher’s helper, and which students are encouraged to take part

in clubs and other extracurriculars.

“Class participation involves a number of social and emotional competencies,” says

Elias, “as well as character attributes such as courage, persistence, and confidence.” Teachers

can level the playing field by:

- Being explicit about the class norm of equitable participation;

- Providing focus questions for discussion up front and giving students a few minutes to

gather their thoughts and write them down;

- Having students meet in pairs or small groups to share ideas before an all-class

discussion;

- Making a point of creating achievement- and interest-diverse groups and having

students work with as many different classmates as possible over time;

- Rotating which students are called on to report their group’s ideas.

“Who Do You Call On? Rooting Out Implicit Bias” by Maurice Elias in Edutopia, May 21,

2021; Elias can be reached at melias@psych.rutgers.edu .

QUOTE

"When you are tired, learn to rest, not quit."  -Bansky

Little Humor

CALNDAR of EVENTS

Thurs/Fri  Nov 25-26                            Rest and Recharge

Wed, Dec 1st                                        Picture Re-takes, Staff Meeting 2:45-3:45

Fri, Dec 3rd                                         GC Meeting at 7:30 in Agnes' Room

Dec 6-10th                                           Spirit Week

Wed, Dec 8th                                       School Vaccine Clinic from 9-10:30am

Fri, Dec 10th                                        1/2 Day, We All Belong Training, Quirk 3:00-5:00

Thursday Thriller

 Thursday Thriller

November 18, 2021

Fish mummification!  The students had a blast!  It may have smelled a little but the activity will definitely be one students remember!

Art class was very relaxing.  Coffee shop music, painting, sketching AHHHHH :)

NUTS-n-BOLTS

1.  December 10th we have reserved Quirk Brewery from 3:00-5:00 for a staff get together. We are working on a food plan.

2.    Next week is a short week. :D  Wednesday we will 'speed date' through classes. 

3.  Thank you for the great attendance at our Tuesday morning staff meeting with Wade.  Appreciated it!

4.  Please mark your calendars for January 5th.  We are extending our building staff meeting 2:45-4:15.  We will bring great snacks!

5.    iReady tickets will be in the staff lounge.  We will keep it stocked!  Students have already begun to turn in tickets!  Kara and the library TAs have created grade level boxes for students to place their tickets for the Tuesday drawings.  The boxes are in the office. 

Q & A regarding the iReady Log:

    1. Can students do more than 8 lessons?  Yes. We can get them an additional tracker.

    2. Who is monitoring students who are not completing any iReady lessons? Between the counselors and admin we will be checking.  Students who are behind or not completing any lessons, we will devise a plan for them to work after school, during WIN, morning time; partnering with parents.   

    3.  Students who do not complete any lessons or only a few, do they get to participate in the activity day?  I think we try are best to help students see the value in completing the lessons, work with families, provide opportunities.  If students choose not to take us up on our opportunities than I do think they sit out of this activity day.  I am open to discussion on this.

    4. Do parents know about the iReady lessons?  Yes.  We sent a note home with students on Friday the 12th.  Amy K and Kim have created videos in Eng/Sp about the tracker, the 'why' and how to log into iReady.  These videos will be sent as link via School Messenger and put on our webpage.

5.  This week our 6th and 7th grade math teachers participated in a second round of a Math Lesson Study.  Shout out to Jen, Robin, Nancy, Brooke, Nate C, Diane and Christy K!! They planned for subs and then worked all day planning and teaching a math lesson.  The Math Lesson study right now is math. With new curriculum and our partnership with iReady and Megan Free (consultant), the opportunity of a lesson study came to fruition.  This also came about based on CEE data in which staff members from both Pioneer and Garrison wanted job embedded PD which included watching each other teach.   The goal would be to do an instructional cycle maybe next year with ELA or other content areas.

Something to Ponder

Daniel Bauer is one of my favorite educators and podcasters.  I think sometimes podcasts find us when we need them the most.  "The Third Day" hit home in respect to personal and professional life.  I started a new eating and workout program a few weeks ago.  Like many of you, the morning is when exercise needs to happen or before we know it the day is over and it's time to hit the sack; at least that is the case with me.   The Third Day is about showing up even when we don't want to.  Showing up to exercise when we want to sleep more or our body is screaming because it's so sore.  Showing up to work and giving it all you got even when you don't want to!   It's not faking it until you make it because then you aren't being true to yourself.  You are showing up for yourself, your colleagues and kids each day.  It's hard right now but you are doing the damn thing!

Hope you find a gold nugget in either the podcast, TedTalk or both!

Dre “All Day” Baldwin: Do You Have a “Third Day” Mentality?  Here is Dre Baldwin giving his Third Day talk on TedTalk.

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Little Humor

One week away from my mother-in-law's cooking!!!  I'm getting ready!

CALENDAR of EVENTS

Friday, 11/19            GC @ 7:30 in Agnes' room

Monday, 11/22        Carina and Kim out of the building 7:30-9:00 and 1:15-3:30

Tuesday, 11/23        Youth Speaks -Beth will send a link

Wednesday, 11/24    I think a BIG STORM is coming and we need to leave right after the students!!

Enjoy your time off!!!!!

Thursday Thriller

 Thursday Thriller

November 11, 2021

Shout out to our Garrison Service People: Brent Bieloh, Tobi Powell, Mike Bertram, Reggie Byrd, and Nate Carrara !! Thank you for your service in the Armed Forces.

Nuts-n-Bolts

1.  A letter is going home with students in GST regarding our iReady competition.  The goal is to have students complete one iReady math lesson a week.  I have included the tracker that will be printed on card stock, three hole punched for students' binders.   Our goal is 3,500 lessons passed by January 31st.  While this is a lot, if we had  617 GMS students x 8 lessons it is 4,936 so we are giving them some wiggle room.  Algebra and Geometry students will have a little something different.  IF students meet the goal, we will have an activity day on the half day in Feb (Feb 4th) that would include.... a Dance, games, etc.  The emails I receive weekly from different pockets of students regarding having a dance is unbelievable.  They want a dance so if they want it bad enough let them work for it.  Tickets will be printed and given to GST teachers so you can hand them out on Monday.  Students are to do 99% of the work. Staff members look at the completed test, initial and give students a ticket.  The lessons are pass/fail. Students turn in tickets  at the office.  We draw for prizes every Tuesday.

TRACKER

2.  The Study Spot will run after school on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30-4:30 with Terri and Gear Up.  This is a time students can receive help with assignments, iReady or homework.

3.  Will has moved his office area into the library conference room.  Terri/Gear Up office is moving into Will's office which is down the 8th grade hallway and Nate C is moving into room 116.  This will be a slow move over the next week.

4.  Thank you again for a GREAT collaboration this past Friday.  Your participation, honest stories and comments are what moves us to be a better connected staff with each other and for our students.

5.  STAFF MEETING TUESDAY, NOV 16th @ 8:00 in the library.  WADE is visiting.

Something to Ponder

I hope you are relaxing today.  Taking time to refuel.  Your work is hard because you care! THANK YOU!! Regardless of the position or role you hold at Garrison you ARE IMPORTANT!  THANK YOU for showing up for kids and for each other. :D

CALENDAR of EVENTS

Friday, 11/12                *Letter to go home with students in GST to kick off iReady competition

Tuesday, 11/16               *ALL Staff Meeting in the library @ 8:00 with Dr. Smith
                                       * 7th Grade Math Lesson study all day (Jen, Robin, Brooke and Nancy)

Wednesday, 11/17         *Collaboration Priority Teams:  Math 6 & 7, ELA 7, Sci 8, SS 8, PE All, 
                                            Elective Teams as determined.
                                         * 7th Grade students on a field trip to WA HI to watch dress rehearsal    
                                         *6th grade math teachers PD Math Lesson Study all day (Diane, Nate and Christy)   

Thursday, 11/18                *7th Grade SST meeting @ 8:00 in the library    
                                           *POD A 6th grade SST @ 8:55 in Christy's room
                                           *POD B 6th grade SST @11:55 in Charlie's room        

                                            

                                                      

Thursday Thriller

 Thursday Thriller

November 4, 2021

Some pictures from the Sources of Strength last week.  Students did an amazing job! Becky Jo and Will are the advisors with Alex and Tobi as additional adult support for Sources.

Quizlet in Heather's 8th grade SST class!  If you have not tried Quizlet it is a BLAST!!!

Band and Jazz Band performed last Thursday night. WOW! We have some talented students!

                                                  Did you know that Pitbull was here last Friday?

The NOT SO Wicked Witch flew in and took a picture with our Dorothy (aka Zaley).

Shout out to our CUSTODIANS!!! Brent, Ian and Marco!  Walking the hallways early in the morning puts a smile on my face because everything is SO CLEAN!!!!  Thank you, Gentlemen!  You are appreciated!

Nuts-n-Bolts

1.  Thanks for your participation in our 'speed dating' session during collaboration.  We received good feedback regarding SEL lessons and GST in general.  Thanks to the GC team for providing strategies to try during your classes.  Amy K and Counselors, thanks for presenting the itinerary for tomorrow's half day.

2.  Tracy and Gonzalo have graciously offered their classrooms for tomorrow's We All Belong training.  We will meet at 1:00 in their upstairs classrooms -rooms 205-206

3.    On Tuesday, November 9th from 9:00-10:30 we will be hosting a COVID Vaccine Clinic.  The clinic will be held in room 116

4.  GST next week will have a focus on Veteran's Day.  ASB, Agnes and Kara created activities for you to participate in with your class. 

5.  Carina and I met with the Counselors this morning to follow up regarding the feedback we received yesterday around GST and the SEL lessons. We understand that GST is one more thing but honestly it may be the most important one more thing as we connect with kids at a different level.

 Steve, Angie and Becky Jo will be either emailing you or personally checking in to see how they can support you. In addition, they will be viewing the Character Strong 8th grade lessons as they may be more appropriate for 8th graders.  We know this isn't easy, we are here to support you and to echo what was in the slides yesterday the SEL lessons are THE non negotiable (connecting with students is making a difference.  We have real stories of the connections that are happening with students and their GST teachers) .  As many of you expressed you would like a lesson modeled.  Angie, Steve and Becky Jo are up for it! :D You can wait for them to reach out to you or you can reach out to them first.  Either way we can support you!

6.  Lunch and breakfast -you may have heard students say they didn't get lunch or they 'ran out' of the choices that were posted.  This may very well be true for the choices. NOT about not getting lunch.  Each student gets breakfast and or lunch.  It just may not be what is posted for choices because state wide deliveries are being shorted, can't get the food we ordered and therefore the kitchen staff is working with what they have. This is even with materials to keep moving forward with construction at both WA HI and Pioneer; materials on back order.

7. We will mostly be going with Lunch Plan B which is eating inside and then going outside.  THANK YOU for your patience as we interrupt your class daily over the intercom.  

8.  GNN is only running on M-T-Ws

9.  Don't forget to go over the LOCKDOWN procedures as we will have a drill at 9:55.

10.  Our District has an A M A Z I N G Employees Assistance Program.  You can call, connect with someone who can then connect you to a counselor or someone who can assist you.  Mental well being is so important!!!  Nothing to EVER be ashamed about reaching out and getting the needed help; we need to normalize support.  THE EAP for the WWPS can assist in all of these ways:

Here is the information for you or a family member:

Something to Ponder

What to do when students won't quit talking?   Here are a few suggestions to gain students attention.  Several of these made me laugh.  This article resonated with me because it was specific to middle school.  Let me know if you try one and it works. 

Ideas for Quieting a Noisy Middle-School Class

In this Education Week article, Catherine Gewertz passes along suggestions from

readers in response to this prompt: “If middle schoolers are incessantly talking and I need their

attention, I _________.” A number of teachers suggested counting backwards from five,

flipping the lights off and on, and hand claps. Here are some others::

• - Scream FORTNITE
• - I say “Hairspray” and students shhhhhh each other. It’s hilarious and effective.
  
  
• - Wireless doorbell (purchased from Amazon). Mine currently meows when I ring it.
  
  
• - My phone or tablet is connected via Bluetooth to a speaker, allowing me to play sound
  effects from the free app, 100s of Buttons and Sounds. When my students hear the“gong” sound, they know it’s time to quiet down and listen up.
• - Sing “Red Robin” and they will reply, “Yum.” They can’t help themselves.
• - If you really want to mess them up, do the elementary clapping thing. They will start clapping back without even thinking, and it weirds them out.
• - I give them one of my crazy facial expressions they all say I have.
• - Stare. I heard that it doesn’t work for all teachers but my stare is amazing, I’ve been working on it since birth so it’s who I am lol. If your stare isn’t alarming then don’t even bother and listen to someone else’s advice.
• - Stand silently at the front of the room and wait. After 34 years, my wait time is on point. If that doesn't 't work, I dim the lights. I will not yell over them.
• - I’ve always randomly said “nose goes” and touch my nose! They’ll quickly touch their
• nose and then get quiet to see what the heck they are touching their nose for!

QUOTE

Little Humor

I'm pretty excited for Sunday!  This is one time I will stay up past 8:00PM😆

YELLOWSTONE Season 4 this SUNDAY!!!!!

CALENDAR of EVENTS

Friday, 11/5                        Students dismissed at 12:25, ALL staff meets @ 1:00 in rooms 205-206

                                            

Sunday, 11/7                       4th Season of Yellowstone...just saying :)

Monday, 11/8                     Kim and Carina in training until 9:00
Tuesday, 11/9                      Shot clinic 9:00-10:30 in room 116           

                                       

Wednesday, 11/10             Happy birthday, Nate F!  
                                           Priority Teams for Collaboration:

                                          Math 6, Science 6, Science 7, ELA 6, Math 8, Elective Teams as determined

Thursday, 11/11               Veteran's Day -thank you Brent, Mike Bertram, Nate C, Reggie and Tobi for your Military Service.  IF I MISSED SOMEONE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW!!!

            
                                           

Thursday Thriller

 Thursday Thriller

October 28th, 2021

SHOUT OUT to Stephanie, Yajara, Alicia and Sara!! They kept us afloat in the office and did an A M A Z I N G job!!! 

THANK YOU!!  Our office will kick EVEN MORE a** when Ashley returns in November because we will be fully staffed FINALLY!  BOOM!!

Spent some time in Mike's Robotics class.  SO COOL!!!!

Choir and Orchestra performing Tuesday night.  The songs these 12 students sang and played gave me goosebumps!!! Well done, CALEB!!!

NUTS-n-BOLTS

1.  Bus Evacuation drills tomorrow, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29th.  This will add 10 mins to our morning bus drop off times.  Please keep that in mind when taking first period attendance.

2.    When nearing the end of the class period, students should not be gathered around the doorway of classrooms.  They should be seated until the bell rings.  Gathering around the door only leads to problems and there are valuable class minutes that are lost if students are packing up early and gathering  around the door.  Thank you.

3.  Optional costumes tomorrow for students and staff. :D  Students should not have full face coverings on nor accessories such as brooms, weaponry, etc. 

4.  Goals should be uploaded into eVal by Saturday, October 30th.

5.   CEE Survey is still open until tomorrow evening.

6.  Chapter 3 in Belonging Through a Culture of Dignity and the short (4:17) video. As you know, when students do their homework and engage in the lesson you have prepared, good conversations and learning will happen.  There is no difference with adults. PLEASE read and watch the video. 

7.  Within our SEL program, individual students have individual plans.  Sometimes students' behaviors and reactions make us stop, reflect and wonder if everything is okay.  Carina is working closely with both Chad and Katie to come up with plans so our SEL students can be successful.  I have learned that all the unexpected behaviors can't be cured/fixed at the same time; small steps to replace unexpected/inappropriate behaviors.  There will be plan sent out to specific teachers regarding specific students.  From there, we will communicate out who and why so as a staff we can help support the different interventions for each student.

Something to Ponder

Engaging in class is a sign of belonging.  As this article points out,  engaging students is critical for achievement.  The GC team is preparing some strategies/ideas to help engage our students during class.  This is a reality for us all; a majority of our students struggle to engage with one another in meaningful academic settings, class discussions, partner work and even turning and talking with one another. Therefore,  what can we do?   The GC team will present some ideas next Wednesday.  In the mean time, think about your classes, students you work with; do you hear from every student everyday in class? 

Also, what YOU do MATTERS!  You have fatigue.  You are feeling tired like it should be the end of November or December and probably counting the days, "When is it winter break ?"  This is reality! Here is  research to validate compassion fatigue and teacher resilience. 

Hope you find a gold nugget in the reading. 

The survey also found 81% of teachers said an emphasis on social-emotional well-being has a positive effect on engagement in their classrooms. Belongingness, levels of resilience, and perceived levels of emotional support are just a few of the factors often included in SEL practices.

Increasing opportunities for student engagement may also reengage students whose participation dropped off during remote learning, as well as help with attendance rates.

Remote learning did help highlight the importance of developing the skill of self-directed learning, but the absence of a teacher directing the learning process or providing students with a constant stream of feedback had a negative impact on some students' perceptions of their self-efficacy as learners, according to the report.

Quote

Me: "Isella, how did you do on your spelling test?"

Isella: "I only got one right."

Me: (In my head thinking...what the hell?!  You studied?!) "Oh, darn it.  Next time."

Isella: "Well, one is better than zero."

Update: Isella did get 100% the following week. :D

Little Humor

Maybe there's a a bulk deal on Amazon?! :)

Calendar of Dates

Friday, October 29th                        *GC Meeting in Agnes' room @ 7:30AM
                                                            * Bus evacuation drill for morning riders add 10 mins to the time
                                                                you normally take attendance first period
                                                            *eVal Goals due
                                                             *CEE Survey closes

Wednesday, November 3rd            *Wednesday Collaboration 2:45-3:45 one full hour
Friday, November 5th                     * Early dismissal for students at 12:40, We All Belong in the                                                                          library  1:00-2:20