Thursday Thriller
May 27, 2021

Jose's last day was Friday the 21st.  His students bought him this 'swaggy' shirt! :)  He gets to be home with Limairy for the remainder of the school year.  Jose said he would sneak her in for a visit. :D

Donnetta's 7th grade SST Class released the salmon on Monday.  It was so cool!! Students have raised their salmon since the egg stage as part of the “Salmon in Schools” program hosted by Tri-State Steelheaders.  Thank you, Donnetta, for sharing throughout the year!  As noted, we were the only school to partner and participate with Tri-State Steelheaders.

NUTS-n-BOLTS

1. Thank you to Carina, Steve, Shannon and Nick.  Carina and Steve presented to 7th grade students  their options for electives as well as the 'perks' of being an 8th grader on Tuesday.  Shannon and Nick gave up class time Tuesday and today to help get students registered.  TEAM WORK!!!

2. Next Wednesday is an extended staff meeting time; 3:30-4:30.  If there are nuts-n-bolts items that need to be shared with everyone, please send me an email and I will make sure and put them on the agenda. 

3.   WELCOME TO YAZMIN BAHENA!! Yazmin will be our new Dual/SST teacher.  Yaz comes to us from Edison Elementary; she is the 3rd teacher we have swiped from Edison. :D  Welcome, Yaz!

4.  As communicated, personal/incentive/longevity days need to be requested AND approved 2 days prior to the requested dates.  We are in a time when we have no subs.  I do not want to have to call you up and recall your days if we can't find coverage.  This would happen if you did not get the signed approval.  Armida has the form. 

THANK YOU to all of you for jumping in to cover classes !!! You're AWESOME!!!!

5.  Shout out to AMY KASENGA!  She is obtaining her admin credentials and doesn't 'officially' begin until next fall.  HOWEVER, she has jumped in to head up 8th grade recognition, field day and anything else we need.  THANKS, AMY!!!!

6.  I'm finalizing room and office movements, which there won't be many, for the fall of 2021 to accommodate new hires.  In addition, Summer Sol and Rock Camp will be taking place here at Garrison -WHOOP!! WHOOP!!  Our classrooms will not be 'deep cleaned' this summer because of the usage of our building AND because they are cleaned and sprayed each night.  This routine will continue through the summer.

7. COVID Relief funding to schools over the course of the next three years is affording us the opportunity to put into place supports for staff and students.  The hiring of an additional ELA and Math teacher, additional Intervention/Home Visit Liaison Person, Sources of Strength paid Advisor and paid stipend for an SEL Team. All of these additional staff and stipends are not 'added' things.  These are initiatives put into place to support our district goals which we now have funding to pay people!  

New ELA and Math hires - ELA TBD and Math is Robin Brown (Robin is coming to us from Eatonville with 8 years of MS math teaching experience)
Additional IS/Home Visit Liaison -Yaneth Hernandez
Sources of Strength Advisor -Angie Gardea
SEL Team of 4 Certs (this too is a paid stipend with training in August.  More info to come) -TBD

8.  Great job on the fire drill today!!!

Something to Ponder

The title of this blog hooked me!  For my 16 years in the classroom, I would always experiment with ideas I wanted to try for next year at the end of the school year; why not try and work kinks out now? As an administrator, thinking, working and planning for next year must be done early or let's face it a real sh*t show would happen in the fall!  Thinking of next school year, planning AND staying present is something I'm not really good at. I'm trying to practice last week's quote:  "Be where your feet are."

Learning gaps, lost learning, lost opportunities have all crossed our minds.  It's hard not to think of what next year will bring.  Beyond learning, most of our students have done really well!  Focusing on their well-being has superseded some of the academics and rightfully so.  

Dave Stuart's blog, "I'm Already Stressing About Next Year. What Can I Do?" has a powerful message, 

Do you see it? Though gaps exist, the fundamentals don't change. And it's those fundamentals — the arts and sciences of the head and the heart — that hold the keys to remedying gaps in preparation.

Hope you find a gold nugget in this article/blog.  Next year will come and we will be ready because we are in this profession for kids; we are already using our heads and hearts.

QUOTE

"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless." -Mother Teresa

LITTLE HUMOR

Here is one way to get your students to worker this spring. Not recommended but a fleeting thought. Just saying 😆

CALENDAR DATES

Friday, May 28th                No subs and at 3:30 a THREE DAY WEEKEND!!!!
Monday, May 31st             Memorial Day
Tuesday, June 1st               Grading for Equity Team meeting in the Library @ 7:30, Students running
                                           for ASB offices will be recording their speeches which will be shown during
                                           1st period next week

Wednesday, June 2nd         Presentations in 6th grade science classes, "How to be a 7th grader."
                                              Collaboration 2:50-3:30, Extended staff meeting 3:30-4:30
Thursday, June 3rd            Guiding Coalition Meeting @ 7:30 in Agnes' room

 Thursday Thriller
May 20, 2021

                            Students involved in Millenials LOVE IT!!!!!

               Will and Ashley are working hard on the yearbook!!

Mr. Arias prepping students for their assessment.

Nuts-n-Bolts

1. Please make sure and review the fire drill procedures.  Armida re sent information.  The fire drill will be THURSDAY, MAY 27th at 9:30AM.

2.  Mark your calendars for June 16th and June 18th!!  June 16th in the courtyard area we will be honoring our staff that have been with us and are moving on to their next journey in life and professional career.  This will begin at 2:45 on the 16th.  June 18th not only do we have golf after school but around 1:00 we will have lunch provided, some corn hole and time to just chat with colleagues; all of this will be under safe guidelines, masks, etc. YOU HAVE EARNED some down time, relaxation and talking with colleagues without being rushed to go to the next thing.  YOU ARE ALL AMAZING!!!!

3. Tomorrow's vaccination clinic:  We will be on the intercom calling groups of students down alphabetically.  We are taking some cues from WA HI on some procedures to make things run smoothly. We will start between 12:30-1:00. 

4. Monday, certificated staff, in your mailbox will be a gray folder with your evaluation in it to sign.  Please return the signed copy inside the gray folder to either Armida or me (comprehensive people don't worry about this because we have met and signed your eval already).  I need these signed forms by FRIDAY, MAY 28th. 

5.  Ashley and Will are working on our yearbook.  Each student will get a paper copy that is black and white.  Nothing big but a little something to remember this year. :D  Those will be ready the last week of school.

6.  Thursday, June 17th 8th grade students will have a fun day at the YMCA.  Then that night we have a parade/serpentine planned for families to drive their 8th grader through.  They can also walk if they'd like.  A chance to see teachers, get their picture taken and one last hoorah at Garrison.  

7.  The goal is to have some type of activity day on the last day for our 6th-7th grade students.  Trying to do all of this within guidelines is tricky.

8.  Every school will be hosting the Summer Sol program.  To date 850 students have signed up!!! More than likely your classroom will be used to host Summer Sol activities.  More details will come as to which classrooms, etc.  Please remember our goal is to engage as many students as we can.  Therefore, we need space.  Thank you in advance for your cooperation and flexibility. 

9.  Reminder that on June 2nd and June 9th (not the 1st and 8th as I had said in last week's communication) we are extending our collaboration time with staff meeting time.  Both Wednesdays will be from 3:30-4:30. We are hoping to meet (certificated staff) in the commons, three feet apart.  If you are uncomfortable meeting with the whole group, please email me and let me know.  We can set up so we are able to zoom.  We may have to move locations but we will get something figured out. :D

10.  Bathroom passes-students must have a pass to go to the bathroom. Please have them show you their pass with their name not someone else's pass.     If students need a pass, they can come to the office.  Jen is alerting us to students who have had to have 3 or more bathroom passes. We are finding 3+ students in the bathroom which is not good.    We still have to have the bathrooms closed during passing times.  If you have suggestions on how to help monitor this, I am open to suggestions.  Drinking fountains will now be open!!  Whoop!!  Whoop!!

11.  Amy K is going to be sending out the 8th grade recognition slides.  Last year staff added comments to students they knew, worked with or stood out to them as making growth, showing kindness, etc.  Students in NJHS will have the NJHS symbol on their slide.  

Something to Ponder

Part of students’ social and emotional level is tied in part to their own confidence and belief in themselves.  I think this is true with adults, too; believing in yourself and your skills. "Our beliefs about our capabilities powerfully affect the way we behave and interact."   I'm thinking about this more than ever as I interact with students.  How can build upon their self-efficacy?

Hope you find a gold nugget in these two pages. 

Quote

Be where your feet are.  The balance between work and home is tough.  Be in the present in whichever space you are in because THESE ARE THE GOOD 'OLE DAYS!  

 

                                                                                                                            -Scott 'O Neil

Little Humor

Calendar Dates from TT

-Tuesday, May 25th Grading for Equity Team @ 7:30 in the library
-Thursday, May 27th @ 9:30 FIRE DRILL
-Friday, May 28th all certificated evals, signed and turned in to Kim or Armida in gray folder
- June 2nd and 9th collaboration extended into staff meeting time, both Weds 3:30-4:30
-June 16th @ 2:45 honoring staff members leaving Garrison
-June 18th @ 1:00 Enjoy lunch (grab and go style), corn hole, talking with colleagues, Golf around 4:00

 Thursday Thriller
May 13, 2021

NJHS!

Clever Carly Newton! :D

Nuts-n-Bolts

1.  Thank you to each of the PLC teams/departments that Carina and I have been able to meet with so far.  We look forward to meeting with the rest of you.  Great insight and good discussions.  Thank you!

2.  There will be NO picture re-takes this year.

3.  On Friday, May 21st from 1:00-3:00 we will be hosting a vaccination clinic for students 12 years and older.  This is OPTIONAL and not mandated in any way.  Information is going out to families  tomorrow via a school messenger, email and text.  The link for the parent consent form will be in the email.  We just received confirmation regarding logistics this morning.   More communication to come.  

4.  8th grade Recognition will be virtual like last year.  A letter is being mailed home to families tomorrow explaining 'the why.'  Amy K (who is doing her admin internship) is working with Ashley and Will on the slide show.  Carina and Steve are working on the fun day at the Y for our 8th graders on June 17th.  Guidelines, capacity and space are the hurdles that are near impossible to overcome to have an 'in person' recognition.  After speaking with Wade and Kris Duncan, this is the plan for both middle schools. We would like to plan a parade or drive by like we did last year for students.  This will also be Amy K :D

5.  Please use the system if students are non compliant whether it is mask wearing or lack thereof, following directions, etc. the system helps with working through the various scenarios. 

Classroom Behavior Incident Referral Process

6.  With the addition of  Math/LAP, ELA, and Math teachers, Counselor and Intervention Specialist there will be some classroom movements as well as office space movements. I'm working on finalizing where staff should be to best meet student and collaboration needs. I will personally reach out to you if you are someone that will be moving classrooms or offices. 

7.  June 2nd  and June 9th  our certificated collaboration time will be extend by 45 mins (3:30-4:15).  This will be 'staff' meeting time.  The reason we are not meeting in the morning is because we have IEPs and already established meeting times.  Please plan  accordingly. Agendas will be sent ahead of time. 

8. On Tuesday, May 25th at 9:30 we will have a fire drill.  PLEASE practice with your first period class.  This is our first fire drill as an entire school, in May, in the spring.....take some time to practice, please.  Armida will send the information again so you know where your class needs to line up on the football field. 

9.  iReady testing in MATH begins on Monday the 17th.  READING is the following week. Assessments will take place in the math and ELA classes.  I understand testing right now is the bane of your existence.  However, if we do the best we can to present this assessment in a positive way, set a goal with students, they may take it more seriously. 

10.  Welcome to YANETH HERNANDEZ!  She will be an additional Intervention/Home Visit Specialist!  Alex, Katie and Yaneth..I'd say the DREAM TEAM!!! Welcome, YANETH!!!

Something to Ponder

To follow up from last week's post on Successfully Educating Children Who Have Experienced Toxic Stress, this article gives credence to practicing and adding value to social-emotional learning.  This short read resonated with me because just today I was talking with a student about respect.  How you respond to someone makes them feel a certain way.  This article focuses on social-perspective taking. A good, quick read. 

Zeroing in on the Key Skill of Perspective Taking (link is in the EMAIL..sorry...)

QUOTE

It's easier to floss with barbed wire than admit you like someone in middle school. Laurie Halse Anderson

Little Humor

Who doesn't love the Outsiders?  7th grade ELA teachers have been reading the book with their students.  How many of you have read or seen the Outsiders movie?  Soundtrack?  LOL

CALENDAR DATES for TT

Monday, May 17th                iReady Math testing begins, Kim is out of the building at the District Office from 12:30-2:30
Tuesday, May 18th                Grading for Equity Team Collaboration @ 7:30 in the library
Friday, May 21st                   Optional Vaccination Clinic for students 12 and over from 1:00-3:00 in the large gym

 Thursday Thriller
May 6, 2021

SHOUT OUT to TEACHERS!!!!  We hope you have enjoyed the little treats this week as a small token of appreciation.  Tomorrow, we have a grab and go lunch coming from Jimmy Johns!  Nobody knows what you do on a daily basis until they walk in your shoes.  Your flexibility, cooperation and INNOVATION (some of you love that word. LOL) has been  

An M A Z I N G!!!  You are able to conquer anything that comes your way!!! Super heroes minus the cape!  Thank you for all you do!

 

Nuts-n-Bolts

1.  Jimmy Johns will be delivered around 10:50.  We will have the lunches in the office Isolation room to come grab and go.

2. We are excited about the many postings for Garrison.  We will be able to add social/emotional and academic support that is so needed!  The goal of the ELA and Math positions is to help lower class size numbers in the CORE classes. 

3. We have had some parents who have wanted to watch their child play soccer in the Millennials program.  Alex and Will are coming up with a plan.  During this time we can have 25% capacity, people seated 3 feet apart and wearing masks.  In addition, we are not letting in older brothers and sisters who may be from the high schools because that is a supervision issue AND our secretaries cannot keep open 

4.   Thank you for your ideas, questions and input during yesterday's Zoom meeting as well as on the posters in the Commons.  We will summarize, type up and get them back out to you.

5.  There is a little treat in your mailbox.  HAPPY TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK!!

Something to Ponder

Some of the work we did in our staff collaboration was around the social/emotional well-being of students. Our students have suffered in different degrees trauma from this past year.   More than ever we need to understand that their behavior is not personal but trying to tell us something. This article again validates what students need:  relationships, autonomy and competence.

Successfully Educating Children Who Have Experienced Toxic Stress

Hope you find a gold nugget.

QUOTE

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” – Nelson Mandela

 

Little Humor

I needed a little Ron Swanson.  Sometimes this is how we feel in the office when asking students, "What happened?  Do you know who did it?"  

 

CALENDAR DATES

Counselors and Admin Meeting @ 1:30 Monday, May 10th
Grading for Equity Team Tuesday @ 7:30 in the Library
Guiding Coalition Wednesday @ 7:30 in Agnes' Room