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
                                                       
                                                         

Thursday Thriller

 Thursday Thriller

October 21, 2021

We're (continuing) to build something great here at GMS!  

    

THANK YOU!!!!  Carina and I have been spoiled this month with your gifts for Principal Appreciation Month!  Thank you for the Book and Game gift card, Patisserie gift card and the kinds words.  REALLY APPRECIATE IT!!!!

Little art from the Art Club that is after school on Tuesdays. :D

Jose volunteered to teach in our 8th grade math lesson study group.  What you can't see are the 8 other adults in the room on the back wall.  Jose did AWESOME!

Jami is working with students while they are doing their stations.  Fun to see the students interacting and engaged with choice. :D

Nuts-n-Bolts

1. Please keep checking the GMS One Stop Shop for information and calendar dates. 

2.  Armida will be out of the building next week.  She is using the Staff Achievement grant funds to travel to Arizona and visits some Title I schools there, visit with their head secretaries and steal some really good ideas. :D  Stephanie and Yajara will do an awesome job in the office!  Alicia, Yaneth and Alex will also be helping.  ENJOY, ARMIDA!!!

3.. Students will be allowed to wear costumes on Friday the 29th.  Just no weaponry, face masks or other accessories that might get in the way or be a safety hazard.  I will announce on GNN.

4.  Monday, the 25th Carina and I are out of the building from 7:30-9:00 and 1:15-3:45 for MS and then ADMIN PD.  Some staff will also be out of the building at Sources of Strength training.   THANKYOU to all of you who have helped cover classes when there are no subs available.  You are very, very appreciated!!!

5.  Don't forget to take your CEE survey.  It closes on October 29th.

6.    If you would like Carina and/or me to look over your eVAL goals before submission, please get them to us sooner rather than later.  They are to be uploaded into eval by the 30th which is Saturday of next week. 

7.  If you mark a student absent and then they come in late YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER TO CHANGE the ABSENT to TARDY.  We make calls to families who freak out because they sent their child to school and now the school is calling because they are absent for one or more periods.  Could a student be skipping...yes OR they were tardy and it didn't get changed in Skyward.  PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE double check and change absences to tardies if that is what needs to happen. 

SOMETHING to PONDER

It's no surprise teacher workload is not only different from year to year but it gets harder.  I'm not one to dwell on the negative.  I think naming it helps define the feelings and emotions you may be going through and validate, YOU ARE NOT CRAZY!. :D  While teacher burn-out is a reality there is hope and there are strategies.

Take a minute to read, reflect and find a gold nugget

The Mechanics of Teacher Burnout (AKA the Workload-Pressure Cycle)

QUOTE

Walking in through the 6th grade entry way each morning, I'm greeted by posters of inspirational quotes 6th students chose to draw and illustrate.

Little Humor

I have heard that I need to watch Ted Lasso.  Confession. I have not but while searching Ted Lasso I found this meme.  He is doing The Carlton. If you have ever watched the Fresh Prince of Bel Air you know "the Carlton."

CALENDAR of EVENTS

Friday, October 22nd                GC @ 7:30 in Agnes' room
                                                   POD A SST 8:55
Monday, October 25th               Sources of Strength Adult Training
                                                    Kim & Carina out of the building 
                                                    in the AM until 9:00 and 1:15-3:30
Wednesday, October 26th           Sources of Strength student training
Friday, October 29th                   Students can dress up for Halloween
                                                     -no accessories, weapons, face 
                                                     coverings

                                                  *Teacher goals due in eVAL
                                                  *CEE Staff and Student survey closes
Wednesday, Nov 3rd                Staff PD with EXTENTION of 15
                                                  minutes 2:45-3:45
Friday, Nov 5th                        1/2 day, We All Belong (read chp 3) &
                                                 watch video

Thursday Thriller

 Thursday Thriller

October 14, 2021

Spirit Week!

Nuts-n-Bolts

1. We have had students call each other the 'n' word.   Some of it is wanting to be cool like a rapper other times it's just shouting the words.  In addition, students calling each other 'gay' or covert meanness.  GST is the perfect time to touch base with each student. Greeting at the door, checking in 1:1 is going to be key.  This is one of the main reasons we developed and implemented a GST time; small class size so we could focus in on a consistent group of students

Strong relationships provide a foundation for student engagement, belonging, and, ultimately, learning. The more high-quality relationships students have with their teachers, the better their engagement in school.

2. Please mark your calendar and plan ahead for the the following dates:
  November 16th  Wade wants to speak to ALL staff in the library at 8:00.  This will be 20-30 and for certificated staff it is part of the staff meeting time (7hours of staff meeting time is given to buildings.  6 of the 7 are being used for SST for 7th and 8th.  This leaves one hour for admin to call a staff meeting.)

Admin has a total of 13.5 hours for 'staff meetings'.  We have accounted for the 7 hours as noted above.  The other 5.5 will be used to increase 5 Wednesdays by 15 mins (total of 1 hour of 15 mins.) The remainder of the 5.5 hours is approximately 2 hours.  We will use one of these hours for JANUARY 5th and meet from 2:45-4:15 and the second hour on April 16th from 2:45-4:15.  

The first Wednesdays of each month we want to increase the staff meeting by 15 mins so we have a full hour with staff 2:45-3:45.                             

                                         November 3rd
                                         December 1st
                                         February  2nd
                                         March      2nd
                                         May         4th

3.  CERTIFICATED Staff-if you have not yet turned in your grey folder with your self-reflection to your evaluator please do so by Monday. CLASSIFIED staff, Carina and I will send invites to meet and go over your self reflection soon. 

4. Lunch Detentions -staff members can write lunch detentions for mask violations with multiple warnings first and 3rd tardy to class.  We don't want to hand out lunch detentions left and right. When parents call and ask to speak to admin about a lunch detention we don't have context.  If you feel a student needs a lunch detention, please let admin know.  

5.  Healthy Youth Survey will be given the 21st in Social Studies classes.  Angie sent an email with a power point and how to administer the assessment.  PLEASE READ carefully.

6.  Please take the CEE survey.  Don't forward your link because it is specific to you.

7.  Your certificated building reps are Jen Golden, Marie Spalding and Chad Hulett.  We met this morning and had a great meeting.  We plan to meet once a month to go over budget, what's going well, questions and/or concerns. 

Something to Ponder

Not everyone can succeed at everything in the same way

When we believe in ourselves our effort increases. I don't have research numbers to back this up, only my personal experiences and those I have observed throughout my years.  Believing in ourselves ties directly to confidence and effort.  Above are snippets from Dave Stuart, Jr.'s blog.  Here is the full article.  Students need to build their self-efficacy, as well.  I don't think students wake up and come to school to be lazy or assholes.  Their behavior is telling us something.  Frustrating as it may be do the students who present behavior challenges, do well in school?  Believe in their skills? Something to ponder. 

Hope you find a gold nugget. :)

QUOTE

Nothing is impossible.  Why, the word itself says, "I'M POSSIBLE!"  ~Audrey Hepburn

Little Humor

Stories from the field this week!  May contain some language. :0

If you need to here why it's important to poop regularly, ask Agnes.  She has one hell of a hilarious piece of writing from one of her students!

Some 6th grade boys were in awe of the tampon (although they didn't know what it was) they found, in it's package outside.  Ask Angie and Yaneth. LOL

Poetry from a 6th grader.

"Mrs. Doepker?"  

"Yes."

"Would you like to hear my poem?"

"Sure"

"I only have three sentences."

"That's fine. Go ahead."
"My balls have exploded.  I am in pain..."

Mrs. Doepker's mind has exploded and can't even remember the last sentence.  

So folks, social skills for students is very important.  I'll leave it at that. :D

CALENDAR of EVENTS

Monday, October 18th-19th   Subs in the building for math teachers for Math Lesson Study

                                                Carina will be gone in the AM, Kim in the PM to be with math teachers
Wednesday, October 20th       Admin in the building with District Office staff to walk math classrooms

                                                6th grade SST teachers out of the building for a planning day

                                                Priority Collaboration Teams:

                                                    Social Studies 6

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

October 18-29th                        Canned Food Drive

Thursday, October 21st         7th Grade SST @ 8:00AM

Friday, October 22nd            GC Meeting @ 7:30 in Agnes' Room

November  3rd Staff meeting extended 15 mins 2:45-3:45

November 16th  Staff meeting    @8:00am Wade visiting with GMS in the library

 Thursday Thriller

October 7, 2021

Volleyball teams tie dyeing t-shirts!

Nuts-n-Bolts

1.    You will be receiving the annual CEE (The Center for Educational Effectiveness) survey. Every district employee receives this email and survey link so DON'T forward or pass it on if a colleague can't find their link.  The link is specific to YOU.  Students and staff will also be receiving the survey to take. The survey opens on Oct 11th and ends Oct. 29th.  Thank you in advance for your time and feedback. 

2.  If you have students that you have reminded multiple times to wear their masks correctly, you can assign a lunch detention.  You will need to call home.  PLEASE choose your battles.  There are students who defiantly don't put them up over their noses and those that when working, slip down and they forget.  We have many more students following the rules of wearing their masks; we do have a few violators. 

Email:

TO:  Ruben Garanzuay, Babett Harp

Subject line:  LUNCH DETENTION CLASSROOM MASK VIOLATION

Body:  Kim Doepker has been reminded three times this class period to wear her mask correctly up over her nose.  She has not followed the request.  Please assign her a lunch detention.

Thank you,
Ms. Talladega Nights

3.  We are working on the first period tardies (refer to Carina's email earlier today) by calling home, speaking with parents and students.  Please continue to mark students tardy and assign a lunch detention after the 3rd violation (with any class period not just first).

Email:

TO:  Ruben Garanzuay, Babett Harp
Subject line:  LUNCH DETENTION 3rd TARDY

Body:  Kim Doepker needs to be assigned a lunch detention for her 3rd tardy in my 3rd period class. 

Thank you,

Ms. Parks and Rec

4. Our family newsletter is going home tomorrow night.  This is the draft.  I like to keep you informed of what we are sending to families.  GMS October Family Newsletter

5.  Certificated Staff:  Looking forward to meeting with you tomorrow. Meetings with Kim will be in YANETH's office; under construction....again  :(  Carina's meetings will still take place in her office.

6.  Please let Carina, Angie, Steve, Becky Jo, Alex, Yaneth or me know if you need support with conferences.  

7.  Next chapter for Nov 3rd is chapter 3 in Belonging Through a Culture of Dignity. Here is the short vignette to watch: Building a Belonging Classroom

Something to Ponder

This blog came across my Basecamp email with middle school principals across the state.  It is from a Spanish high school teacher in Southern Indiana. The title of this particular blog is Why is This So Hard?  

        We had such high expectations going into the year. We were finally going to be able to DO school         again. And then it seems one thing after another hits us in the face and we don't have the mental or         physical capacity to handle it. Our freshmen are behaving like 7th graders and our seniors are                behaving like sophomores. We all see it but we don't understand it. 

JJ Epperson goes on to explain the brain function as to the 'why' and then 'how' with HOPE!

There IS hope!

    It's not all doom and gloom. Especially if you are a World Language Teacher! So many of us got into     teaching because of the peoples and cultures of the world. We are already experts at building              relationships and that is exactly what we need to continue doing.

Enjoy! We are not crazy! :D There is hope along with some strategies in this article. Hope you find a gold nugget.

QUOTE

Belief fuels enthusiasm, and enthusiasm explodes into passion. it fires our should and lifts our spirits.

Little Humor

I am a fan of Steve Carell. This made me laugh. :D

On another humorous note.  Check out Kim's new name badge :) She told the photographer that she recently changed her name from Kim Ramsey. She asked Kim what she changed it to. She  said Endres.  Guess she should have clarified it was her last name. LOL

Calendar of Events

• Annual Food Drive - October 6 - October 29 

• Spirit Week October 11-13th - Dress up!

• Monday 6th-color purple, 7th wear black, 8th wear Red. Tuesday -crazy hair and crazy socks. Wednesday, Hawaiian/Tropical  

• SBA Testing for Math October 11th-13th

• SBA Reading October 18th-20th

• Science WSAC for 6th grade  October 25th-27th (it is the WCAS from 5th grade that they will be taking)

• Healthy Youth Survey October 21st

• CEE Survey before October 29th

• Parent Teacher Conferences for GMS will be Tuesday evening, October 12th and all day on Thursday, October 14th.  

• No School for students Thursday, October 14 and Friday, October 15th.