Thursday Thriller March 31, 2022

 Thursday Thriller

March 31, 2022

Photos from the Field

Choir students 4th-12th grade! The songs were beautiful!

Jade and Adam showing their work in math.

7/8 Grade Girls Softball

Nuts-n-Bolts

1.    Please make sure and sign up for Parent Square.  This is our new platform for communication.  Skyward is still an option for communication to families, as many of you do when sending progress reports.  However, if you want to message parents directly, this is the platform to use.  There is also an instant translation.  You can type in English, translates to Spanish.  Parent can type back in Spanish and you then translate it to English.  It's a pretty slick platform. School Messenger will be going away and we will be using Parent Square officially on April 11th

2.    If you have announcements for the webpage, please send them to Rubi.  She has already picked up how to navigate and post to our webpage.

3.    Drills:  Does everyone have an orange bucket?  If not, please see Armida.  When students exit the building, they should be in lines without talking.  The old saying, "You play like your practice."  We want our students trained the right way in case of an emergency.  You may want to practice with your GST class.  I understand drills don't necessarily happen during GST time but practicing on how to evacuate the building in an orderly way and find their GST teacher is important. Finally, if you are going to be gone make note of FIRE DRILL in your sub plans or whatever drill it is.  Subs need to know these things. 

4.  8th grade recognition will be on June 15th, which is a Wednesday, at the Pepsi stage across the street at the fair grounds.  This was the only place large enough to hold participants and families.  Pioneer will hold their recognition on the following night.  Our goal is to have the recognition on Wednesday night, 8th graders go to the YMCA on Thursday and then don't show up for Friday or half day Monday.   

Recognition will be one hour in length as in years past.  Robin and Beth have offered to help.  Conor and Mike will show us the ropes.  If anyone else is interested in planning this event or helping, please let me know.

5.    Dress Code:  I am going back on what I said in the staff meeting Friday afternoon.  Just as I explained the dress code or appropriate dress can be addressed with the counselors (female) and admin. I will do another video and share it on our webpage so parents/guardians are in the know.  If you have a student in your class that is inappropriately dressed, please email or call the office and someone can come talk to the student.  What is helpful is if we can address inappropriate dress first and second period vs sixth and seventh. Students dressed inappropriately shouldn't go all day then be called out on their dress at the end of the day.  I understand there are varying circumstances.   

6.  April 11th we will start our new morning routine with students. :D Click here for the  supervision roster.  I'll let students know through Parent Square of our changes before we come back.

Something to Ponder

Ponder how great next week is going to be to rejuvenate and recharge. :D  Happy Spring Break!

Quote

It's not the plan that is important, it's the planning. -Graeme Edwards

Little Humor

Friday before Spring Break may bring the John Wayne out in all of us.😆

Calendar of Events

Thursday Thriller

 Thursday Thriller

March 24th, 2022

Manny V a 7th grade student asked me if he could have a list of the school rules.  He explained to me that he wanted to make a video.  He found our collective commitments and added a couple of his own.  Here is the video he made. It is pretty cute. :D

Nuts-n-Bolts

1.    While we have 1,794 bathroom sign outs, I think the system is making students think twice about leaving class.  This week the counselors are speaking to students who have over 10 times in which they have asked to leave the class for one reason or another. Please be conscious of students asking to leave your class.  Is it a pattern every day at 12:30?  Only one student from your class should be out at a time. Have you looked at the spreadsheet and seen patterns?  You may be saying, "I just want to teach!  I don't want to look at a bathroom spreadsheet, Doepker!"  Coaching is much better from the court than the locker room.  Learning is much better in the classroom than the bathroom. Also, on a more serious note.  We have had to suspend some students this week for possession of drug paraphernalia.  When looking at the bathroom check outs, some of these students are going to the bathroom a lot-probably to vape.  Addiction at this age is real.  We are connecting these suspended students with support outside of the school.

2.    Tomorrow is Friday.  We are going to use this schedule:

3.    8th grade registration on Friday the 25th
9:00-9:40  (A-E)
9:45-10:25 (F-L)

10:30-11:10 (M-R)
11:15-11:55 (S-Z)

4.   FIRE DRILL on MONDAY the 28th @ 9:50

5.    5th Grade Recruitment  Tour is on Tuesday the 29th.  This will be from 1:00-1:45. Nothing that you have to do.  THANK YOU to PE for loaning Roger the gym.  

6.    Please review Roger's email in regards to the practice schedule for choir and band.  While it is a busy week, we are finally resuming pre-pandemic activities!!  WHOOP!!  WHOOP!!

7. Please review chapters 7 & 8 for Friday's PD at 1:00.  After our PD time and if we still have time, we would like to go over the morning time from 8:35 to 8:50 and review the Classroom exclusion system and what we call 'levels.'

8.  Great opportunity to help out at the track meet on Thursday!! If you are interested, talk to Chad Hulett.

9.    We will be having an 8th grade recognition ceremony.  WOULD LOVE YOUR HELP! Conor and Mike Braddock have a system and are ready to show other staff members the ropes; they want to pass the torch. :D Please email me if you are interested in helping.  There is a slide show, practice, a couple of students give speeches, and a lot more that I'm not sure about :D.  Conor and Mike can answer your questions.  Again, if you are interested please email me. 

 Something to Ponder

#BeACoffeeBean  We have choices on how we respond to situations. I have been the carrot and the egg but I have also been the coffee bean.  How do you respond to changes, things that do not make sense, students and/or colleagues that make you shake your head? 

This was a great 1:43 video that kicked my butt a little.  I hope that you will find a gold nugget and maybe have your butt kicked...only a little though. :D

Quote

"Make each day your masterpiece." -John Wooden

Little Humor

Calendar of Events

Fri, March 25th                    GC @ 7:30, Dismissal at 12:25, PD @ 1:00 in Tracy & Gonzalo's

                                                 rooms, 8th grade registration for high school 

Mon, March 28th                Fire drill at 9:50, Kim & Carina at PD 7:30 and again at 1:30

Tues, March 29th                Happy Birthday, Carina!!  Per. 3 7th and  8th grade band rehearsal                                                            Kim and Carina at Ad Council at 8:30, WWVEA Listening Session at 3:45                                                 in Room 161, 5th gr band recruiting concert from 1:00-1:45,
                                              WA HI Cheer at lunch

Wed, March 30th                Happy Birthday, Charlie! ReadyMath consultant here in AM, Collaboration
                                             Priority Teams: Math 6,7, ELA 8, SST 8, PE All, Electives as Determined

Thurs, March 31st                SEL Team at DO for training 8:15-11:15, ReadyMath Consultant in PM,
                                               Track meet at Garrison, District Choir Festival @ Garrison @ 7:00PM

Fri, April 1st                        Friday before Spring Break!!!!!

Mon, April 11th                New lunch menu kick off

Thursday Thriller

 Thursday Thriller

March 17, 2022

A few of our INCREDIBLE classified staff members!

Nuts-n-Bolts

1.  Students seem receptive to the Collective Commitments.  How is bell to bell and dismissal time for you going?

2.  Group pictures tomorrow.  Armida sent the schedule.  We will have to use the intercom AND call classrooms since the intercom doesn't work in everyone's room.  Thank you in advance for your patience.

3.  Thank you Agnes and Steve for getting our students WIDA tested!  Extensive test with many logistics.

4.    Please read chapters 7 &8 for collaboration Friday the 25th.  We will meet in Tracy and Gonzalo's rooms at 1:00.

5.    GOTR (Girls on the Run) met for the first time yesterday.  This a group that focuses on empowerment, believing in yourself, and physical health.  Becky Jo, Yaneth, Christy and Carina are the volunteer coaches. 

Something to Ponder

Many of you have an entry task or slide posted for students when they walk in the room.  Which materials they need, lesson objective, etc. What if in addition to the materials they need, they have an entry task or a Do Now?  The Do Now has four main points:

1. Posted in the same place every day so it becomes habit for all students. 
2. Completed without discussion from classmates or directions from you
3. Competed in 3-5 minutes and should require PAPER and PENCIL; written product.  This allows
        for you to check for understanding.

4.  Do Now/Entry Task should a) preview today's work or b) review a recent lesson

The purpose of an entry task/Do Now is to start the learning even before you begin teaching.  Below are pages copied from Teach Like a Champion 2.0.   

Again, many of you do entry tasks to set the stage for learning with getting their materials out and ready to go.  How can your entry task preview or review the day's lesson?

Hope you find a gold nugget. 

Quote

In lieu of St. Patrick's Day: "May your troubles be less, and your blessings be more, and nothing but happiness come through your door,"

Little Humor

Just a reminder now that masks are optional. :D

Calendar of Events

Thursday, March 17th        May the Luck of the Irish be with you

Friday, March 18th                             Happy birthday, Yaneth!  Group Picture day-Armida
                                                                sent the schedule.  It will be disruptive. Thank you
                                                                in advance for your flexibility.

Saturday, March 19th                        Happy Birthday, Chad Hulett!  29 right?! LOL

Monday, March 21st                          Students nominated for AVID will be interviewed between
                                                                9:00-1:00

Tuesday, March 22nd                        Megan Free, ReadyMath Consultant, here all day   

Wednesday, March 23rd                    Collaboration, Priority Teams: SST 6, Sci 7, ELA 6
                                                                Math 8, SST 7, Elective Teams as Determined

Friday, March 25th                            GC @ 7:30 in Agnes' room, Speed Dating through classes,
                                                                8th grade registration, students called alpha order
                                                                Chapters 7 & 8 for "We All Belong" training @ 1:00

   

Thursday Thriller

 Thursday Thriller

Shout Out to our CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES!!!! 

This is the week we celebrate you!!!!

Gladys, Armida, Kara, Reggie, Mary, Alex, Yaneth, Stephanie, Rubi, Yajara, Sara, Brooke, Brent, Marco, Ian Moffit, Ian M, Ruben, Will, Katie, Alicia, Cody, Rigo, Maria, Meg, Nathan, Tobi, Krystal, Fahima, Janet V (Gear Up) Annie (kitchen), Erika (kitchen) 

Nuts-n-Bolts

1.  Tuesday, March 15th 8th grade students will go on their Field Experience trip to WA HI.  This will be in the morning.  Terri, Stephanie and Mike Bertram have worked out the logistics.  Mike and Stephanie plan to make a video to explain everything in detail.  Please remind your 8th grade students that on Tuesday morning they are to report to their GST class.

2.    Carina and Kim will be around to science classes (coming up with a schedule) to roll out our Collective Commitments in person. It will be Wed-Friday next week.  The CC's will be put into place on Monday the 14th.  In person explanation to reinforce the 'why' will be Wed-Fri March 16-18; schedule coming.  Will is editing the CC video.   When it is ready, we will send you a link that needs to be shown FIRST THING MONDAY MORNING IN FIRST PERIOD.  THANK YOU REGGIE, CONOR, JEN, AGNES and CARINA for being both out of control and in control middle school students. :D

3.    Review:  Classroom Exclusion forms are in!  After redirecting a student and intervening, if a student is still disruptive, non-compliant, etc. then send them out for a classroom exclusion.  If you feel the student will not get to the office with the exclusion form, call 1900 and someone will come escort the student to the office to process with counselor and then to SSR.  We will call home, explain what happened and let the parent know that the teacher will be contacting them at the end of the day.  Student will be assigned lunch detention or further consequences.

#1 Classroom Exclusion (CE) meet with counselor -student is out for that class period and serves a lunch detation.  Counselor calls home to give parent/guardian the run down AND STATEL THAT THE TEACHER WILL CONTACT YOU AT THE END OF THE DAY TO EXPLAIN FIRST HAND THE SITUATION.

#2  CE for SAME CLASS - Same directions as in #1.  2. When counselor calls home they will say it is the second time with this same teacher therefore this warrants a conversation with teacher, counselor and student to come up with a plan 3.  Teachers calls home to give parent first hand knowledge.

#3 CE SAME class -ADMIN

****If a classroom exclusion presents itself to be more than a talk with the counselor, it will be moved to admin right away.  Our goal is to mitigate the issue, problem solve and come up with a plan BEFORE administration is involved. 

4.  March 25th is our "We All Belong" training.  We will discuss Chapters 7 & 8-Develop Dispositions for Dignity and Shape a Culture of Belonging.

5. March 25th we will 'speed' date through classes. :D

6. @gms.troopers on Instgram! Our ASB will be posting Garrison highlights. Agnes and Kara have turned off the comments section. ASB students will clear it with either Agnes or Kara before uploading.

7.    Monday is our first day of optional mask wearing. :D Many of you will choose to keep wearing your mask as will some of our students. The plastic dividers have been removed from the cafeteria tables; there is more and more hope on the horizon!

8. Thanks for welcoming Rubi! I heard many of you come into the office, introduce yourself and welcome her! WE HAVE THE BEST STAFF!

9. Good Luck to Beth, Terri and Janet as they travel with 8th grade students to EWU to compete in the National History Day competition!!! LONG day but so worth it for the kids! THANK YOU and GOOD LUCK!!

Something to Ponder

Reflecting on our Collective Commitments and thinking specifically about the Bell to Bell/Not lining up at the Door and I saw this:  Sermonizing Ritual.  I don't necessarily go looking for articles sometimes I think they find me and for good reasons.  Dave Stuart Jr. talks about Brian Sztabnik's Sermonizing Ritual -summarizing and adding value for the last 2-3 minutes of class. 

Here it is:

What it is: For the last 2-3 minutes of class, high school ELA teacher Brian Sztabnik takes a crack at explaining the lasting significance of today’s lesson: how a centuries-old poem speaks to today; how a mechanically-sound sentence is a thing of simple beauty; how essay-writing teaches us to explore ideas.

That’s it.

What it targets

Sermonizing targets the Value belief, and also helps with Credibility. It also has a strong likelihood to influence Credibility.

To get the greatest bang for your buck, explain the WHY or SO WHAT of a lesson using all the colors of the Value palette — not all in one day, but all in, let's say, a two week period.

(Laughably imperfect examples of) What it looks like

Quote

"If speaking is silver, then listening is gold." -Turkish Proverb

Little Humor

Maybe we should have watched this video first, discussed and THEN came up with our Collaborative Commitments.  This teacher has some INCREDIBLY valuable strategies.  She does teach bell to bell AND the Quiet Coyote is BRILLIANT!!

Calendar of Events

Fri, March 11th                        Whoop! Whoop!! Enjoy your day off!

Mon, March 14th                    Collective Commitment Video shown in 1st Period, Optional
                                                    mask wearing, MS Band Festival @ 6:00PM

Tues, March 15th                   8th Grade students report to their GST class for field trip to
                                                    the high school, Kim will be out of the building

Wed, March 16th                    7:45 School Links training for counselors, admin, Yaneth
                                                    and Alex, Sped team meet with Carina & Kim during 
                                                    collaboration, Priority Teams: Sci 6 & 7, ELA 7, Sci 8
                                                    SST 8, PE all, Elective Teams TBD

Thurs, March 17th                Orchestra concert combined with Pioneer @ Pioneer 7:00PM

Fri, March 18th                    Happy Birthday, Yaneth!  Sports and Club/Group photos today

Sat., March 19th                    Happy Birthday, Chad H! Good luck to Beth, Terri, Janet &
                                                    8th graders as they travel to EWU for National History
                                                    Day Competition!

Tues, March 22nd                Megan Free, ReadyMath consultant will be at Garrison

Fri, March 25th                    Students dismissed at 12:25, Speed Dating Classes, "We
                                                All Belong" training, Chps 7 & 8

 Thursday, March 3, 2022

Photos from the Field

I tried taking a picture but it just wasn't good enough so Maraya took a selfie with her group.  If you were wondering, that is a cow's heart that will be dissected tomorrow in Stephanie's class.

Juliet and team in robotics

Sanding, hammering, power tools students were busy in shop!

Nuts-n-Bolts

1.    We will have our new secretary starting on Tuesday.  Rubi Lopez Sanchez!! She was a Garrison Trooper herself.  We are pretty excited to have a full secretarial staff. :D

2.    Monday, March 7th- 8th grade students will be participating in Freshmen 101.  Steve is the lead on this.  THANK YOU to him!  He has worked behind the scenes on logistics.  8th grade students will remain in their first period class to attend FR. 101.  Again, Steve is the lead and has classes covered and logistics taken care of.

3.    March 15th our 8th graders take their field trip to WA HI.  Remember this was the field trip that was planned for Jan. 14th but was canceled.  We have the permission slips from that field trip which we will use so we do not need field trip requests (this was noted in January).  Terri, Mike Bertram and Stephanie are the leads on this field trip.

    a. 8th grade students will report to 1st period.  Attendance taken
    b. 8th graders will then be called down by GST class which also coincides with the bus they ride.  They will place their backpack in Bertram's  extra classroom (there is a system planned so this runs smoothly.)
    c.  Students who are not attending will be in the library supervised by subs.
    d.  Stephanie, Mike and Terri have the logistics' and will communicate out to you.

4.    Conferences next week.  Our interpreters on Thursday have lunch from 11:30-12:15.  If you have Spanish speaking conferences during this time, they need to be rescheduled.  Please ask Armida or Yaneth for assistance.  If you are adjusting your conference times due to unforeseeable circumstances, SEE KIM.

5.    Our new bathroom procedures will be implemented on Monday. Carina made a video that explains the procedures and WHY we have new ones.  SHOW IN GST TOMORROW, FRIDAY, March 4th.

6.    GC will gather together next week, take the input for the Jamboards, discussion and sharing out from yesterday's staff meeting to solidify the CC.  Once this is done, we will make a video, posters whatever needs to be made so communication is consistent and systematic.

7.    If you have any announcements for our GMS Family Newsletter, please send those ASAP.  This will be sent to families on Tuesday afternoon.

8.    We have tentatively put June 16th on the calendar for our in person 8th grade recognition.  WA HI Commons -the new and approved Commons will be our location.  The gyms at WA HI were unavailable.  Carina and I will need guidance as this will be our first time doing the 8th grade recognition.  8th grade students will tentatively go to the YMCA on Wednesday the 15th.  8th graders do not come to school on Friday nor Monday's half day (I would really like to know how many students will show up on Monday the 20th LOL).

Something to Ponder

Engaging students within your lessons is still something many of you have inquired about; different strategies and technique especially with spring right round the corner. 

 I listened to an interview with  Marcus Luther, a current high school English teacher on  Cult of Pedagogy.  He talks about how his gallery walks offer affirmative feedback from student to student, 'bell to bell' teaching and aligning his core beliefs within his everyday teaching.  

While bell to bell offers a sense of urgency, does the urgency and how you teach align with your core values as a person?  His goal is to create a classroom space that is in alignment with his core values.  Sometimes I notice a chasm growing between the values I present to students and the actual way time is spent in our classroom.  Prioritizing our values of generosity and community as a classroom meant investing the time to make those priorities a reality. 

When Marcus does the gallery walk activity with his students, it is only affirming feedback.  Here are his examples:

I thought this was one idea teachers in any content could use. This is the right time of the year for classes that have been together because the community of your students has already been formed. 

I hope you find a gold nugget in either listening to the podcast or looking at the written steps of how Marcus Luther implements this process.

Quote

"Before anything else, preparation is the key to success." - Alexander Graham Bell

Little Humor

Playing a good song on my Jammy Pack let's me see myself like this:

AWESOME

However, the reality is more like this:

Dance

Calendar of Events

Friday, March 4                        Happy Birthday, Sean!  Garrison Swag day!

Saturday, March 5                    Happy Birthday, Christy!

Monday, March 7                    GC @ 7:30 in Agnes' Rm, Happy BDAY Armida & Caleb!
                                                SPIRIT DAY-THROWBACK DAY

Tuesday, March 8                    WIDA Testing PLEASE READ AGNES' EMAIL 1st-3rd periods
                                                        Conferences 4:00-7:30PM
                                                    SPIRIT DAY -CELEBRITY DAY

Wednesday, March 9                Collaboration after school, SPIRIT DAY -JERSEY DAY

Thursday, March 10th            Conferences 8:15-3:30

  Friday, March 11th