Thursday Thriller
August 31, 2023
Shout outs!
Marco did a FANTASTIC job while Brent was out this week! THANK YOU, MARCO!!!
Steve and Nicole M. knocked out so many schedule changes while fielding many parent phone calls!
Janelle, Jazmin and Stephanie kept everything and everyone organized this first week!
Nuts-n-Bolts
1. AWESOME first three days of schools! Thank you, EVERYONE, for 'rowing in the right direction.' We agreed to teach the Collective Commitments and help to enforce them; we succeeded these first 3 days! Garrison is a GREAT TEAM!!!
2. Nicole sent ideas for Advisory and will follow up on Monday with additional options. We are asking that you go over the Collective Commitments (rules and expectations) again. We had a lot of students absent AND repeating our expectations WILL continue to pay dividends; pay it forward!
3. Tuesday morning is our first PAC (Principal Advisory Council) students will be a few minutes late to class. We are meeting in the library from 8:30-8:55. If they have math first period, we will send them at 8:50.
PAC STUDENTS: Emely Avendano-Fernandez, Jaden Gonzalez, Kiara Garcia, Vivienne Staples, August Hickox, Jaclyn Griffith, Cleo Martin, Stephany Gasaola Torres, John Garcia and Jackson Gear
4. On Tuesday, student athletes who have sports gear will be allowed to line both sides of the 7th grade hallway with their equipment. At 8:40, Eggart, Reid and/or Davin will open the locker rooms so students are able to lock up their gear. I will also explain this on GNN. Band can keep doing what they have worked out.
5. Nicole and I will begin doing walk throughs next week. Our goal for the next few weeks is to do them together so that we are calibrated on what we see and practice how we give feedback based on your style in accordance with the survey you completed. In addition, District Office personnel -Christy Krutulis, Director of Teaching and Learning, Barb Casey, Director of Special Education and Asst. Superintendent Chris Gardea will spend time in our buildings weekly. The purpose and goal is to see student learning, patterns of excellence and help Nicole and I observe overall school trends.
6. Tuesday begins the Math Diagnostic testing window. Students will take this assessment in their math class. The following week(Sept 11) students will take the ELA diagnostic in their ELA classes. The week of September 11th we will get to start in on the Personal Pathways math lessons in advisory on Wednesday. The following week we will start ELA on TUESDAYS.
7. Thursday we will have several subs in the building due to Co Teaching training at Sea Tech. We have some tremendous subs that keep coming back to Garrison. :D If these subs are taken, please consider requesting Katie Pitzer. I have had the pleasure of working with Katie. She is organized, motivated and came out the top teaching candidate from EWU. Don't hold it against her that her dad is Steve. LOL. In all honesty, my plug is NOT because she is Steve's daughter it is because I know she will do a great job!
8. September 15th is a half day. Just that reminder as you look at your daily plans. Nicole and I are creating all the content and will deliver it to you on a silver platter. :) In the afternoon, Mark Thompson will be speaking to staff from 1:00-2:00. Details to come.
9. The School Board wants to hear from Principals how the first week of school went. I will be sharing highlights Tuesday evening. I'd like to know what your thoughts are about our first week of school. Good, bad or A-ha's. Please email me!
10. We have 4 customers today and on Tuesday for After School Detention! Let's see how this goes.
11. We WANT your FEEDBACK! Please take this quick survey
SOMETHING to PONDER
Coming back to one of the slides we shared last week. A reminder for us that routines are predictable. Students not only do better but crave predictability and structure. Relationships are also foundational for student success. Garrison is ROWING in the RIGHT DIRECTION!
I was in Charlie's room during his 6th period class which is 8th grade social studies. A student mentioned something about a type of food. Charlie said if he ate that then it would be like Montezuma's Revenge! Another student said, "Montezuma's Revenge? That is the COOLEST GAME!" We got a good laugh and so did some students who knew what Charlie was referring to.
Calendar of Events
September 1st & 4th No School, Happy Labor Day
Tuesday, September 5th PAC Meeting 8:30 in the library, Math Diagnostic Testing begins in students' math class, Nicole and Kim will be at PD from 1:15-3:30
Wednesday, September 6th Collaboration 2:40-3:45 ELA and Math teachers we are excited to see the PLC Planners😊, Kim and Nicole meet with secretaries @ 3:30
Thursday, September 7th ELA, Math Teachers and Co-Teachers PD at SeaTech, 5th grade Orchestra Recruiting Visit
Friday, September 8th SEL/PBIS Team Meeting 7:30-8:30 Kim's Office
UPCOMING EVENTS
September 13th Students can begin working on Math Personal Pathways during advisory
September 14 Picture Day
September 15 Early Dismissal, Mark Thompson speaks to staff from 1:00-2:00
