FINAL Thursday Thriller
June 17, 2021

Beth did a STELLAR job with the drama club students!! It was a fun performance!

 Twenty-nine 8th graders completed their first step towards achieving the Seal of Biliteracy!

SHOUT OUT TO Beth, Shannon and Stephanie!  They are the ones who coordinated our staff gathering yesterday honoring those leaving.  The gifts for each staff person were personalized.  Thank you for planning and gathering all the items.  Those leaving were appreciative of our efforts.  THANK YOU!!!!

Nuts-n-Bolts

1.    New Hires to Garrison

Yaneth Hernandez-Home Visitor/Intervention Specialist(Coming from Equity and Access Office)
Tracy Gerbino  -Social Studies (Coming from Edison)
Nancy Anhorn -Math/LAP (Coming from Edison)
Yazmin Bahena -Dual SST (coming from Edison)
Robin Brown -Math (coming from Eatonville)
Sydney Wallingford -ELA (coming from Spokane)
Christy Kuhlman - Math (coming from New Mexico.  Husband got he Operations Project Manage for Mill Creek)
Brooke Kimball -Resource Room (coming from Lincoln)
Becky Jo Gifford -Counselor (coming from Prescott)
Yajara Torres Melgoza -Attendance Secretary (coming to us from outside the school setting: D)
Stephanie Beltran - Asst. Secretary (Lynette's job.  Coming to us from outside the school setting)

Full house of new people but we are super excited to welcome them!!

2.  As summer break begins, it is definitely a time to relax and 'unplug.'  YOU NEED IT!!  Carina and I will try and not inundate you with communication throughout the summer.  However, we do want to keep you updated.  Just know we will send communication and of course up to you when you choose to read it.  Maybe when you have a good, stiff drink in your hand so that you will agree and like everything that is communicated. LOL

3.   Here are the August dates, again.  More specifics and agendas will be sent closer these dates.

 Dates for our Garrison Certificated Staff in August

                                    August 30 1.0 Building Directed (BD) Day CERTIFICATED
                                              Welcome back here's who and what
                                               Prepare for 6th graders and 'Open House' 

                                      August 31st   Separate Contract day & Orientation Day 
                                                11:30-6:30
                                                12:00-3:00 Incoming 6th grade students
                                                3:00-6:30 Open House Style where 7/8 grade students receive schedules and walk the building

                                        September 1st not part of 5.5 Days, 181st day of contract CERTS
                                        1/2 BD or Admin Directed
                                        1/2 Teacher Directed

                                           AM Teacher Directed
                                           PM School Wide Efforts -Principal Directed

                                        September 2nd First Contract Day for ALL CLASSIFIED and CERTS
                                            Wade in the AM        
                                            Kim and Carina meeting with groups for short periods of time throughout the day.  When not meeting with Kim and Carina, planning and prep work

4.  Remember we have coffee and donuts at 8:20.  Then lunch coming at 1:00.  We had a parent donate $250 so we could upgrade our lunch:  SWEET BASIL it is!!  Hope this week you received emails, cards, or in general a ’thank you' for all your hard work from our Garrison parents. :D

5.  Tomorrow after students are dismissed and hopefully you have grabbed some lunch, it is the time to get your check off sheet completed and turned in.  Please ask if you have questions.  

6.  GRADES due at 3:00 tomorrow, June 18, 2021

7.  Golf at 4:00 on Friday

Something to Ponder

What book shall I read?
Do I stay in my jammies today?
Which Netflix series can I stay up late and watch?
Should I go for a walk in the morning or evening?
Long weekend of travel?
No agenda
I can now go to the bathroom when I damn well please!
How many naps can I take in a day?
Now, I can finish that project!

QUOTE

Little Humor

 Thursday Thriller

June 10, 2021

Marshmallow and toothpick structures in Shannon's science class:

Students wanting their picture taken in true social distance format :D

Science questions to ponder:

NUTS-n-BOLTS

1.    Dates for our Garrison Certificated Staff in August

                                    August 30 .5 BD Day, .5 or 3.5 hours from Other conferences fall/spring time
                                              Welcome back here's who and what
                                               Prepare for 6th graders and 'Open House' 

                                      August 31st  1.0 Building Directed (BD) Day
                                                11:30-6:30
                                                12:00-3:00 Incoming 6th grade students
                                                3:00-6:30  Open House Style where 7/8 grade students receive schedule and walk the building

                                        September 1st  not part of 5.5 Days, 181st day of contract
                                        1/2 BD or Admin Directed
                                        1/2 Teacher Directed

                                           AM Teacher Directed
                                           PM School Wide Efforts -Principal Directed

                                        September 2nd First Contract Day for ALL
                                            Wade in the AM        
                                            Kim and Carina meeting with groups for short periods of time throughout the day.  When not meeting with Kim and Carina, planning and prep work

2.  Class Supply List -here is the link.  Our goal is to purchase as much as we can so families don't have to buy supplies.  Please work with your teammates. THIS NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED ASAP.

3. Wednesday the 16th -Join us in the courtyard to celebrate staff who will not be with us at Garrison next year.  2:45

4. Friday, June 18th @ 1:00 Pizza and Salad in the Commons for staff.  Come eat, chat with colleagues and maybe talk a little smack about who will win the golf tournament later that day. Tee time is at 4:00. :D

5.  Tomorrow, Friday June 11th,  is the shot clinic beginning at 1:00.  We will again call students down alphabetically.  Thanks for your patience and flexibility.

6. Please add your comments to the 8th grade slide show. 

7. Saturday, June 12th 10:00-Noon the Garrison and Pioneer Adv Writing grades will be hosting SPIFFY.  While staff can not attend this event due to COVID restrictions, we will be showing the creative short movies next week on GNN.  Please plan on extra time with GNN next week. 
Here is the trailer for the film festival:  https://spark.adobe.com/video/J9lcRk2JDM3oR   

8. Jen Lopez's last day will be the 18th.  She has filled in as a temporary attendance secretary for us and done a super job!  She is on to another adventure of traveling.  THANK YOU, JEN!!!! 

9.  Friendly reminder if you need boxes ask Brent.  He will deliver boxes along with both red and green dots.  Boxes can only have ONE dot-either green which goes with you or red which is discard materials that are District materials.  PLEASE DON'T BOX UP YOUR OWN PERSONAL ITEMS AND LABEL THE BOX WITH A RED DOT.  JUST THROW IT AWAY. 

10. Ruben took some AWESOME pictures during last week's track meet.  The link to the file is in this email.  THANKS, RUBEN!  

11.  We have hired two secretaries!  WHOOP!! WHOOP!! Armida and Ashley will have a full crew come November when Ashley returns from maternity leave.  Stephanie Beltran will be replacing Lynette.  Stephanie is actually going to work the first session of Summer Sol to learn the ropes prior to August.  Yajara Torres Melgoza will replace Ashley upfront.  We are excited for these two to join our Garrison family. 

12.    WA HI graduation is tomorrow at the Fairgrounds.  They will be using our parking lot.  Just FYI for you.

13.      Please have 6th and 7th grade students in ELA fill out the field day form.

14.    Letters to families regarding next week's 8th grade promotion events and field day are being mailed and emailed home. 

15.  Michelle and Katie have worked super hard to put together the Garrison Ability Track Meet!! It goes all day for students.  Carina and I will be standing in hula hoops at 2:00 to see which students can throw water balloons at us.  If you are bored, come out an watch.  Students will be sporting their self-made tie-dye shirts.  Let's cheer these guys on!!!

16.  Congrats to all the band and orchestra students!!! Band concerts were in person and orchestra students were videotaped.  So good to see our students perform!!!  Thank you, Roger and Caleb!

Something to Ponder

20.21 School Year

•     91 days of Zoom
•     42 Days of Hybrid
•     40 Days of In person
•     3 "First Day of School"
•     Half time AP-until April :D
•     3 Secretaries
•     Roughly 600 Chromebooks issues
•     Roughly 1000 textbooks and consumables combined & issued to students in a pick up/drop off manner
• Trying to teach via Zoom
• 
  Passing out school supplies this way
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
•     Setting up your classroom with these 6' and 3 ' markers

With all the above being noted, next week should be a breeze. LOL  In all honesty look at what you have accomplished!!! WELL DONE!!!!  WELL DONE!!!! WELL DONE!!!!!!

Quote

Last Sunday I received a call from my dad telling me my older sister (57) had suffered a heart attack. My sister is the caretaker for my great niece who is 8.  Her mother, my sister's daughter, passed away from cancer last February so you can imagine the emotions I was feeling.  I was ready to jump in the car and head to Salem.  My parents reassured me that they were on the road and will keep the family updated.  My sister is recovering. :D  She did not have to have an invasive surgery.  She is wearing a vest that will hold her heart monitor.  Sigh of relief. :D  This quote caught my attention and made me stop and reflect. 

"Your hardest times often lead to the greatest moments of your life.  Keep the faith.  It will all be worth it in the end."  -Unknown.

Little Humor

I was on a roll. LOL

CALENDAR DATES

Friday, June 11th                        Shot Clinic 1:00-3:00, Garrison Ability Track Meet 9-3
Mon-Fri 14-18                            SPIFFY short videos through GNN
Tuesday, June 15th                    Grading for Equity Team meeting @ 7:30AM, Drama Production
                                                    @ 7:00PM
Wednesday, June 16th                Staff Recognition and gathering @ 2:45
Thursday, June 17th                    8th Grade Students to YMCA 9:45-12:00, Drive Thru Promotion
                                                     @ 6:00PM WE HOPE YOU STAY and HELP WITH THIS EVENT.  KIDS WILL LOVE SEEING YOU ONE LAST TIME. :D
Friday, June 18th                        6th-7th grade students field day, dismissal @ 12:30,  Staff 
                                                    lunch @ 1:00 in the Commons, grades due by 3:00

 Thursday Thriller
June 3, 2021

Business Convention from Conor's class!  These students had such great ideas!! So fun to hear their pitches, what they created and their sheer excitement!!!

Diane shared this with me yesterday.  I wanted to share with everyone because her husband, Ty, taught in the WWPS for many years.  He taught our middle daughter and was very kind at parent/teacher conferences.  Our daughter was not doing so hot in his class. LOL.  With that being said, Ty is being honored and nominated for a National Award!!! Congratulations to both Diane and Ty. :D

Nuts-n-Bolts

1. How can a four day week feel longer than a five day week?  I am driving the struggle bus! :D

2.    Steve will be working with students in the library on Friday, tomorrow, to complete their iReady assessments in both reading and math. 

3.    Students will be keeping their Chromebooks through the summer and in a sense until they graduate from WWPS.  Chromebooks are on the 5 year rotation cycle so just like this year Kara and Jami will swap out old for new.  We do have students who need to return their hot spot.  Jami and Kara have been making phone calls.  

4.  Carina and Angie completed classroom presentations to all 6th graders. We are teaching students to put their elective choices into a Google Doc so that when they get to 8th grade and register for high school it won't be so painful. 

5.  Thanks for your work yesterday in our collaboration.  Great to have everyone in one room!!!!  The GC Team met this morning and discussed the pros/cons of the GST and Embedded time.  Carina and I will weigh the discussion points and let you know where we landed. 

6.  June 16th at 2:45 is the time we will honor staff members who will no longer be with us at Garrison beginning in the fall.  Donnetta is heading back to Opportunity, Stacey to WA HI, Stacy McPherson staying at WWOnline, Karen Larson moving to Spokane, Lynette and Sherry resigning,  and Amy K moving to the District Office.  Mark you calendar for this event. :D

7.  Please make sure and click into the 8th grade Recognition slides to add comments to our 8th grade students.

8. The final 8th grade GMS vs Pioneer softball game for girls has been postponed until next week.  

9.  If students are non compliant with their masks, please use the system.  Send them to the office and then write a GA referral.  Yes, it's another step but it helps document.  

10. Staff meeting next week.  We will meet as certificated staff in the library at 2:45.  Then at 3:30 please collaborate with your team members.  We will be discussing grading in this June 9th staff meeting at 2:45.  Carina will be re-sending information for you to read if choose. 

Something to Ponder

 I am a fan of Paul Bambrick-Santoyo!  He has written several books that have inspired me professionally.  This article resonated with me.  "Equity is not about lowering the bar but building a challenging curriculum because it's good for kids." This is regardless of race, gender, class or anything.  Equity means high standards for all students. 

Hope you find a gold nugget. :D

Maintaining High Expectations in the Face of Unfinished Learning

In this Newsweek article, Paul Bambrick-Santoyo and Stephen Chiger (Uncommon

Schools) say the best way to address the “massive instructional loss” resulting from school closings is not to lower expectations, which seems to be the argument made by some who are concerned about the emotional fragility of students as they emerge from the pandemic. Rather, say Bambrick-Santoyo and Chiger, we need to get an accurate assessment of where students are in the fall and challenge them to engage in “productive struggle.”

Consider the analogy of weightlifting, they say, where strength is built by working at the edge of one’s current ability, lifting increasingly heavier weights over time. “We should not be hoping to avoid challenge this fall,” they argue. “Rather, we should embrace it, in classrooms that validate students for who they are and inspire them to take intellectual risks.”

That’s the essence of equity in schools, conclude Bambrick-Santoyo and Chiger: “that all students, regardless of their race, gender, class, or anything else, have the support they need to ensure they can learn. What equity does not mean is lowering the bar to where students happen to be currently. Embracing equity means building a challenging curriculum, not because being difficult is inherently virtuous, but because it’s good for kids.” In short, we don’t  have to choose between wellness and intellect.

“After the Pandemic, Schools Can’t Hide from ‘Learning Loss.’ We Need to Embrace It ” by

Paul Bambrick-Santoyo and Stephen Chiger in Newsweek, May 7, 2021; the authors can be

reached at pbambrick@uncommonschools.org and schiger@uncommonschools.org .

QUOTE

Don't look back.  You're not going that way. 

                                    -Mary Engelbreit 

Little Humor

As I was confiscating phones during lunch, students were begging to have their devices back and asking, "Why can't we have screen time at lunch?"

Maybe I could give them back their technology if they could explain the following:

What was the Oregon Trail Computer program? Oregon Trail. That was a high tech game for us but they would laugh at the graphics now.  

What does filling in the bubble really mean?  ScanTron cards and the absolute fear of getting the pencil marks outside of the little bubble.

Why the index card in the back of the library book?  Checking out a book from the school library and going through the list in the back of the book of previous students that had gotten this book just to see if any of the cute boys I liked had read it.

Who was Dewey and what was his system?  Using the Dewey decimal classification system on the index cards just to find a book!

Yep, kids answer the above and I might just give you your phone back or not. 😂

Calendar Items

Friday, June 4th              iReady make ups in the library
Tuesday, June 8th           7:30 Grading for Equity Team Meeting in the library
Wednesday, June 9th     Certificated Staff meeting at 2:45, Collaboration time at 3:30