Thursday Thriller

 Thursday Thriller

February 25, 2021

Amy and Sara have done an amazing job tracking down, checking off, making phone calls and talking with students about their Attestation forms!  THANK YOU!!!!

Nuts-n-Bolts

1.  Hope you are all doing well!  Thank you for your visibility in the hallways, by the bathrooms, entry and exit doors.  It sure makes a difference and is very much appreciated!

2.  I am going to be gone on Monday and Tuesday.  My dad is having hip surgery and my mom is not so stable on her feet.  While I really dislike being gone, you all won't miss me, Cesar will be here and it's one of those moments in life that I would 100% tell you, "You need to go and be with family."  I'm going to take my own advice this time. :D

3.  Good news!  When Wade and I toured the building last week, we noticed that some classroom window/doors were covered which either limited or completely block visibility into the classroom. The good news they can be removed.  It's actually safer to have visibility.   :D  Therefore, if you have window coverings that limit visibility into your classroom, please remove them.  

4.  Lynette has decided to take leave for the remainder of the year to care for her husband who has had some health issues.  With that being said, Armida, Ashley and Jen will be dividing up Lynette's duties.  They will then create a list of what their main jobs are so that you know who to contact for what.

5. Each Wednesday morning, I meet with Ron Higgins, Mindy Meyer, Carina, Rob Ahrens and Pam Jacobson to discuss everything Skyward as well as looking at systems for secondary.  Our goal has been to align our procedures.   Because both Pioneer and WA HI are on semester grading, Garrison will move to this system beginning in the fall of 2021; no more quarter grades just semester grades. 

6.  I'm staying clear of spending extended time in classrooms right now.  I don't want to raise your anxiety or that of students with another adult in the classroom.  

7.  Per our COVID safety plans (https://www.wwps.org/safely-reopening-schools/frequently-asked-questions), now that we have entered the green stage of reopening, we are permitted to allow office access to parents/guardians. Office staff will ensure that masks are worn and that all safety protocols are adhered to, including safe distancing in our lobby areas. It is also a requirement that parents/guardians, when entering the office area, are screened for temperature

8.  If you are a classroom teacher with tables and chairs, could you please stack the chairs to one side of the classroom or on top of the tables at the end of the day?  By doing so, this allows the night custodians to vacuum which then gives them more time to clean.

9.  Just a reminder that the District has hired a night crew that goes around to each school misting spaces where children/students were each night.  It's an additional cleaning and safety measure. 

10.  Dress code - I'll go over this on GNN.  Basically, pants need to be pulled up no sagging, hoodies down, no alcohol, marijuana pictures, for girls no mid-drift showing, headphones are put away along with phones.   Many students have been able to hide behind a screen for a year.  Now, for some, being back in school is difficult and they want to hide behind the hair in their face.  Again, gently asking them to push their hair to the side so you are able to see their eyes and engage with them is a reasonable request.  I'll talk more about it on GNN. Please talk with the student.   If it is something that is super inappropriate, then by all means call and someone -Angie, Steve, Cesar, Gary, Alex, Katie or I can most definitely address it with the student. 

Something to Ponder

What was your best year of teaching?  Why was it the best year? What made it so great? I remember one of my best years was when I taught side-by-side with Diane Mires.  We exchange ideas, planned activities, shared students, and we were in sync with each other.  Great energy that we shared back and forth.  

Now that we are back to in-person, operating within a schedule that is quite different and probably never experienced before we may be thinking a couple of different thoughts: 1) When we go back to 'normal' we really need to keep or think about...... or 2) When we go back to normal, we really need to get rid of or change...... (Normal being a full day).

Are there things you can draw upon from your best year of teaching to apply right now? Are those things that you are applying or want to apply, things we should consider for next year?

QUOTE

“A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there.” — Author Unknown

Little Humor

Thursday Thriller

 Thursday Thriller

February 17, 2021

It is so good to see students back in the building!!!

Nut-n-Bolts

1.  During Conversation with Admin last night, the parents had such HIGH REGARD for all that you are doing!  They praised the hard work you have done during distance learning, they have appreciated your extra efforts and are thankful for you. :D  You needed to hear that!!!!

2.  Day one has gone smoothly.  Any hiccups on your end or from your observation?  If you have suggestions, please share them with Cesar and me.  Daily reminders:

   *Social distancing in the hallway

   *Masks on

   *Hand sanitize

   *Stay to the right

   *Bring materials to school

   *Write down homework, learning targets, or whatever it is you have instructed them to write down.  We learned last night that we have to re-teach parents:  not everything will be in Google classroom anymore.  For some of you, this is still true.  For others of you, Google classroom is still where class assignments, tasks, etc are held.  Whatever form you are using, please communicate with families.  Maybe on the next progress report you briefly explain expectations for students now that they are in person.  Just a suggestion.  Take the step to over communicate with families in the beginning, will alleviate more work on your end as time progresses. 

* At the end of the day, students need to be picked up at 10:45 or 2:40 (close to these times) and not linger around to socialize.  The more we can collectively message the better.

3.  Thank you for the supervision after school!  Extra hands, connecting with students is always appreciated!  Also, our secretaries have done an amazing job with the paperwork, organization, making signs, fielding calls and helping with supervision.  SHOUT TO Armida, Ashley, Jen and Lynette!!!  In addition, Sara and Amy Ruff have tackled the Attestation forms, calling families and checking in students.  THANK YOU!!!

4.  We are now on the collaboration schedule for Wednesdays that goes until 3:45.

5.  Virtual Assembly is tomorrow.  Here is the link: Garrison Virtual Assembly  Have we got talent here or what?  Snow ball fighters, scooter riders, rappers and dancers!! Man of Man!!  Thank you to everyone who participated!  Will, thanks for putting it all together! ANOTHER GREAT ASSEMBLY!!

Something to Ponder

We are a couple of days into in-person learning.  Changing how you teach once again because turning and talking, group work and other strategies we may have used in the past have to be shelved right now. Ever changing, slowly coming out of pandemic how do you keep your fire going?

Here is a read from Dave Stuart, Jr.  What Keeps the Fire?  Here are Two Skillsets that Motivated Career Educators Have in Common

QUOTE

“We need to accept that we won’t always make the right decisions, that we’ll screw up royally sometimes – understanding that failure is not the opposite of success, it’s part of success.” ― Arianna Huffington

Little Humor

Best music is from the 80's!  As you can tell, that is what is loaded on my JammyPack! LOL  I can take requests if you'd like.  One of my favorite movies was/is The Breakfast Club.  Seeing students today made me think about this movies, laugh and just view students as trying to figure out who they are. :D

Thursday Thriller

 Thursday Thriller

February 11, 2021

 WHY YES IT!!!

NUTS-n-BOLTS

1.  I'm not going to inundate you with more information.  Please ask if you have questions.  I will be around this weekend  509 301 5554; text or call if you need me to meet you at the school to help you with anything.  Hopefully, you are able to rest.  So thankful for 3 days!

2.  The next week will be filled with the joy of seeing students, the anxiousness of switching gears to teach in-person, following safety procedures and the dang what-if's we all have and want the answers to. :D  Keep a list of questions.  Text, email, call, shout at me whatever it is you need answered or help with. PLEASE ASK!

3.  Wednesday of next week is a collaboration day.  My thinking is we might need to touch base because it will have been our first day with all students. Please keep the time open.  Next Wednesday also starts the new time that we stay until 3:45. JUST ON WEDNESDAYS.

4. If we get a bunch of snow tonight and we work from home tomorrow we are still on the 9:00-12:00 schedule.  If we have 'snow days' beginning next week and work from home due to weather we are on the AM/PM HYBRID Schedule.

5. You guys are GREAT!!! We got this!

Something to Ponder

Think of how far you have come with your technology skills over the past year!  Whoop!! Whoop!! List all the things you have accomplished-you'll need a few pieces of paper. :D  Count up the number of bottles of spirits you may have consumed. LOL.

You have done amazing things over the past year!  Students are eager to see you.  There will be blips, frustrations and messiness as we work our way back into our 'new normal.'  Grace.

Quote

Little Humor

Thursday Thriller

 Thursday Thriller
February 4, 2021

CONGRATULATIONS to Marilyn and Jose!  Limairy Esperanza Beleche Melgoza was born yesterday at 9:00AM.  She is YUMMY!  Here little chunky cheeks and arms.  All are doing well!

SHOUT OUT to Angie and Steve!! It is NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELOR'S WEEK!!!  A lot of what school counselors do is behind the scenes.  They not only work with students but work with families, local agencies, staff and admin.  I have leaned on them a GREAT DEAL and APPRECIATE them very much!!!  Please give them a shout out!!!

Nuts-n-Bolts

1.  Thank you again for the questions and conversations in yesterday's staff meeting.  We will make mistakes, have to resort to plan X, Y and Z but we will do it with grace and good intentions.   Here is the link to the document in which most Jamboard questions have been answered. 

2.    Don't forget if you need supplies, want to look at your classroom set up, etc. please put your name on the Google Doc. 

3.    Going to draw names of students for the iReady increased points.  Thank you for working together to get this assessment completed and for encouraging students!

4.    Attestation letter, letter from the District and GMS will go out in the mail on Monday. This is the letter going home to parents. Kris Duncan and I are crafting a personalized letter to families and this is the attestation form.   The letter from the school will have the student's name, schedule and AM/PM status. 

5.    Lunch Bunch next week for students to ask questions.  6th grade on Tuesday the 9th, 7th grade Wed. the 10th and 8th grade the 11th all 12:00-12:25.  Links will be sent to students' email.  Please encourage them to check their email. LOL

6.  This is the AM/PM Schedule

7.    Staff Duty Times -'duty' the 4 letter word of every educator.   Most of the duty times will be before school and after school.  Please let me know if you prefer AM or PM.  Obviously if you have a 1st or 4th period class you probably can't do AM because you are in your classroom waiting for students to arrive.  Two things I need to know:  AM or PM preference, one week at time or the same day every week (Ex:  every Tuesday at 2:37 I have bus duty.  OR This week I have bus duty)  Please email me by MONDAY, Feb. 8th.  I will do my best to accommodate requests and make your duty the best ever! :D  Duties are about supervision:  bus, front of the school, front lobby, etc

Something to Ponder

Article on students responding to adults' fixation on learning loss.  Something to reflect upon as we get ready to open our school back up for students.

Students Respond to Adults' Fixation on 'Learning Loss'

Hope you find a gold nugget.

Quote

Your life is as good as your mindset.

Little Humor

I think Donnetta has done it best. :D Thank you for the giggle!