Thursday Thriller December 15

 Thursday Thriller

December 15, 2022

Photos from the Field

A couple of pictures from the RISE and Trooper Academy students competing against WA HI last Saturday.  Very cool to see the excitement, proud parents and comrade!!

This group was honored at the School Board Tuesday Evening for the "We All Belong Award."

Nuts-n-Bolts

1.  As you may remember, Garrison needed to switch from NEs to Fs so we were aligned with both Pioneer and WA HI.  Pam Jacobson,  guru of Skyward, helped with this transition.  This was her email that she sent on Monday. Just making sure you have seen it.  Not all gradebooks transition; there are still some NEs so I will follow up with you tomorrow.

Good afternoon Garrison teachers,

As you know, we have changed the default grade scale to reflect the removal of the NE grademark. Thank you to those of you who have already opened and updated your gradebooks.

This is a reminder that if you haven't already, please take time today to open each of your gradebooks in order to force a recalculation of the grade scale.  

If you have created a custom grademark group for your class, you may need to go in and add the 'F' grademark and remove the 'NE' grademark.  And, if you created a custom grademark group, you should be familiar with how to do that.

Thank you,

Pam

Pam Jacobson   

2.    If you are seeing this email: Vector Training, K-12 Edition Online Training don't archive or delete it.  You do need to do the online training.

3.    We will not show GNN on Wednesdays based on these results:

Please make sure to get your announcements to both Beth and me the day before. Thanks!

4.    Don't forget to write a sticky note or two to a colleague who has been a 'gift' to you through laughter, support, etc and leave it in their folder in the office. :D

5.  SHOUT OUT to SHANNON, STEPHANIE P and BETH for putting together a FABULOUS time at Quirk last Friday!  Laughter, mingling and terrific food made for a great evening!  THANK YOU!!

6.  We will keep updating the iReady lessons.  Multiple students have turned in cards and tickets.  If a student has completed their 8 lessons they can turn their card into the office where we are keeping them. 

7.  A little over 300 students were able to participate in the NO TARDY HOT COCOA celebration.  This was double what we had last month.  Whoop!!  Whoop!!

8. Have you added your CSAs to the calendar? Please do so before break.

9.  Our building will be housing Garrison Night School beginning in January. From 3:30-9:00PM our building is hopping with events and people.  PLEASE make sure your classrooms are locked.  I am going to ask Mike Kay for additional custodial help for our crew.  I am glad that our school can be the 'hub' for events.  We want to maintain our facilities and also keep things safe and secure.

10.  We will have "30 for 30" on Monday and Tuesday this next week.  I will mention this on GNN.

11.    Beginning in January, our "30 for 30" will be focused on 7th grade math students.  Then in February our 6th grade students.

12.  Book study participants:  Please make sure you are updating the Jamboard and your turn your Self-Care Challenge Monday.  If you are unable to complete these tasks, please let me know.

Something to Ponder

We have three more 'get-ups' before winter break!!Whether you’re spending your well-deserved break in the sun or snow, we (Scott and I) want to wish you the most relaxing festive season possible. Please allow yourself time to give yourself a pat on the back for all of your hard work and dedication this year. Happy holidays AND Merry Christmas!

Quote

When it snows, you have two choices:  shovel or make snow angels.

                                                                                                                       -unknown

Little Humor

Twas the week before winter break....

Calendar of Events

Friday, December 16    Flannel Friday!!!

Monday, December 19th -Happy Birthday, Kara!  Deck the halls!  Pull out your Ugly Sweaters, fuzzy socks, etc. or wear anything festive, red, green, white, sliver, gold, etc.!

Tuesday, December 20th - Coffee and donuts for staff :D, Garrison Swag Day!  Activity hour for iReady 2:30-3:30.  Scott will send out schedule and details. 

Thursday Thriller December 8, 2022

 Thursday Thriller

December 8, 2022

Photos from the Field

Fun bulletin board from our Sources of Strength crew as a reminder of all the good around us!

                                                    ☝

This right here is something FUN!!! Each one of you (teachers, secretaries, paras, cooks, custodians, etc) have a name on a card.  EACH one of you is a gift!  Between now and the 19th share on a sticky note how that person brings you joy, laughter, encouragement, etc. Then on the 20th you get to take your 'present' home and read all the nice things that colleagues have written about you!!!!

This is located in the office!

Nuts-n-Bolts

1. Here are the spirit days beginning on Monday:

• Monday, Dec 12th- Merry Monday- Wear your PJs to school!
•  Tuesday, Dec 13th- Twinning Tuesday- Matching Day- match with a teacher, friend, or even group of friends!
•  Wednesday, Dec 14th- Whiteout Wednesday- wear white and create an indoor Blizzard!
•  Thursday, Dec 15th- Sports Day- Wear your favorite team or sports gear/jersey!
•  Friday, Dec 16th- Flannel Friday- Wear your flannel shirts, pants, etc!
•  Monday, Dec 19th- Deck the halls! Pull out your Ugly Sweaters, fuzzy socks, etc., or wear anything festive, red, green, white, silver, gold, etc!
•  Tuesday, Dec 20th- Hats and Swag Day...wear your Santa hats, antlers, beanies, etc. with your Garrison swag!

2.    GNN one answer survey.

3.    Last Saturday Mike Bertram took a team of students to the First Lego League Competition in the Tri Cities. These students came in the morning at 7:45 two days a week to prepare for the competition. Pretty cool what these students created!

4.      iReady seems to be going well!  Students have been excited to turn in their tickets!  Whoop!! Whoop!!  During iReady time, HEADPHONES are TO BE worn.  If you need headphones, we have 300 of them.  THANK YOU for your work in making this Wednesday schedule change!!! 

5.   The voice amplifier systems are working out great!  For those of you who have said, "I don't need it.  I have a 'teacher' voice."  Yes, you may have loud teacher voice.  However, this system is to help CLARIFY what you are saying.  Rule of thumb- when the volume is up and you hear your voice-the volume if up too loud (a few have said they don't like using their system because it echoes).  We should ALL be using these systems that were installed in ALL of our classrooms because this way all students have access to the clarity of your instruction. 

6.    Mid January middle schools will be launching PAPER (high school is launching this Friday).  Paper is a tool for all students to have access to a live tutoring 24/7.   All tutors have background checks and we get reports of all sessions.  Students can be supported in English, Spanish, or Mandarin. The link I shared is a brief synopsis.  We will have more information coming our way.  Just wanted to give you a heads up in case you hear talk about PAPER.

7.    Please add your CSAs to the calendar.

Something to Ponder

More GREAT information from Fostering Resilient Learners.   I learned that relationships can take on many different characteristics. I know.  I know...I'm late coming to the game.  For so long, I have painted myself as person who doesn't/can't form strong relationships with students or staff.  I had these feelings and thoughts echoed in the book "Many of us in the field harbored the belief that we must be everything to every student we work with and that is a daunting proposition indeed."

My form of 'relationship' begins with my routines and consistency.  Consistency builds trust.  Safe and healthy places are forms of building relationships.  Relationships don't have to be this loyal, deep bond.  It can merely be standing outside of your classroom each day welcoming students into class.  Students know they can count on you to be there. 

You may think you don't have a relationship with a student or colleague.  Remember all the little things you do daily; outside of your classroom door, assigned seating which sends the message you know the student and have a place for them, your available to meet with students during office hours, students being able to retake tests or receive extra help.  These are attributes that build a relationship. 

Sonja's Story is one that moved me.  I hope you find a gold nugget in Sonja's Story.

QUOTE

In relationships, the little things are the big things. 

-Stephen Covey

Little Humor

Credit goes to Mirk who shared this with me :D

You CAN handle anything!!

Calendar of Events

Friday, December 9th    Collaboration @ 1:00 in the Library

                                                                   4:00-6:00 @ Quirk

Happy Birthday to Steve on Thursday!!!  Happy Birthday to Kara on Monday the 19th!!

Thursday Thriller, December 1, 2022

 Thursday Thriller
December 1, 2022

New format or rather back to the blog format. :D  Scott is taking on a weekly newsletter to families and rather than having him do all the work :D I will do the Thursday Thriller.

Shout Outs!

Stephanie and Yajara have been doing an amazing job keeping the office afloat!  We will have a new addition to the secretarial staff on Monday, December 5th. Please welcome, Jennifer Finney.  She is coming with experience from Dayton!  We are looking forward to her arrival.

To any of you who coach (Amber, Nate, Nate, Reggie, Ruben, Charlie, Yaneth), oversee an after school program, club (Stephanie, Mike Bertram, Roger, Terri, Robin, Alex, Beth, Babett, Tobi-during her lunch on Wednesday, Agnes, Kara, Sue, Jami ,Jen, Christy) or volunteer(Jami and Sydney's book club) beyond your contracted time you are making a world of difference for students!  Yes, some of this comes with a stipend for sure.  However, for some students the 'extra' is what gets them up in the morning. For a lot of staff, now is not the time in your personal/professional lives that you can do more THAT'S OKAY! You are giving what you can.  Putting all these pieces together makes Garrison a pretty fabulous place!

Nuts-n-Bolts

1.    Friday, December 9th is a half day.  We will meet in the library from 1:00-2:15.  You are then free to work/collaborate from 2:25-3:45.

2.    4:00-6:00 on Friday, December 9th is our staff gathering at Quirk. Hopefully, Reggie and his sweater will make an appearance AND Charlie has another speech for us.  We had fun last year and we are hoping to have as much or more this year.  Shannon, Stephanie P and Beth are putting the details together.

3.    Thank you for a great first day of iReady School Wide.  While I was not present for it, word on the street was it ran pretty smoothly.  Thank you GC members, counselors and office staff for getting materials ready and helping out. Send me an email or GC members to offer any feedback.  While it is only the first one, if something was glaringly out of place or totally wrong we want to fix it. 

4.    No GNN on Wednesdays.  If you have something that needs announcing, please send it to both Beth and me.  Beth and her students take care of Fridays while I take care of M,Tu and Th.

5.    Our District has an Employee Assistance Program that is WONDERFUL!  Here is the newsletter for November.  You never know when you may need help or someone to talk to you. 

6.      I created a SHARED drive for photos.  Inside the Garrison Pictures folder are three folders.  One for 6th, 7th and 8th grade.  We will use the photos for the end-of-year slideshow for 8th graders.  What makes the slide show incredible is if we can capture pictures of students from 6th-to 7th-to 8th grades so that during the 8th grade recognition we can see pictures from 6th through 8th grades. Feel free to put pictures you have captures into these folders.  Thank you!!

7.  Counselors are going to be calling down students for brief moments to check in with them.  The goal is to get through their case load by the end of the semester.  The point of it is to check in to see what is going well, involvement in clubs, activities, sports, how are the grades, concerns? Very brief touch points.  We will do our best in the office to be efficient with the call slips.  We are asking that when the call slips are delivered to please read when to send the student(s).  Thank you.

8.  FYI...Robin is overseeing the 8th grade students in the after school "30 for 30."  I will be making phone calls to families letting them know that this is NOT optional.  If a student is in sports, they can come after their season ends.  I got word from the big guy at the DO that we aren't messing around.  Identified students WILL BE coming since we are offering transportation.  M, Tu and Th from 3:30-5:00 with transportation and a snack. Just keeping you in the loop.

Something to Ponder

Fostering Resilient Learners is the book study some of us are participating in.  The last section was on Self-Awareness.  Key take away was regarding your own mission statement. "Students and their families come at us in many challenging ways.  From the little ripples to the larger swells and breakers, they present to us a variety of stressors and levels of intensity that can throw us off balance.  How can we stay true to who we are and ensure that no matter what hits us, we will stay faithful to our internal identity?"  

What will you hold true to in times of adversity or when a student's behavior resembles a tornado?  I will be the first to admit that there have been MULTIPLE, unfortunately, times that I have regretted my actions and responses to student, parent and staff 'tornadoes.'  Luckily, through the years I have mellowed out...a little LOL.   My mission statement is When people talk with me they feel heard, my actions and character precede me before I enter the room and that I can help bring out the best in every student, parent and staff member that comes in contact with me. 

What is your mission statement and true north?

Quote

"Nothing will work unless you do."  -John Wooden

Little Humor

This video clip is 1:49.  I laughed pretty hard beginning at 1:26.

Upcoming Birthdays and Celebrations

Birthdays

Robin       December 2
Gonzalo    December 6
Steve        December 15
Kara         December 19

Celebrations

Katie Grant finishes her student teaching on Dec. 9th!!!
Garrison Staff Gathering at Quirk from 4:00-6:00 on December 9th

**If you know of any upcoming celebrations, please send them to me.  Also, if you don't want your birthday listed please let me know.