Thursday Thriller October 31st

 Thursday Thriller
October 31, 2024

Halloween Fun!

Nuts-n-Bolts

1.  FYI:  If you email both Nicole and me, one of us will respond. We both do not generally respond. Just wanted you to know that.  We do talk and share.

2.  Lockdown drill tomorrow. Remember we are not telling students or advertising when.  Nicole has sent a parent square notifying families that sometime this week we will have a drill, type of drill and why.

3.  Clubs-We are finding it difficult to catch students and adults to meet before school and/or lunch time due to supervision, practices with both Jazz Band and sports plus some students taking geometry arrive much later in the morning. What if we try a rotating class period schedule-with the exception of NJHS? They are all 8th grade students and it works for 2nd lunch with Jami E.  Our clubs are Latino, PAC, Sources and Green.  The biggest 'ugh' is that students may be in all of these clubs and how much class time are we talking about? WE ARE OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS.

4.  Election:  This topic is not just for Social Studies classes. In preparation for the election and whatever the outcome might be, fostering civil disagreements, one view is not right or wrong over the other, we must remain neutral and foster healthy dialogue. I'm sure you have already been doing this as the topic may or may not have come up.  I will focus on this message on GNN next week. 

5.  Hearing and Vision retakes will be Monday, November 4th between 9:00-11:00.

6.  Friendly Reminder:  When you are going to be gone, please share your sub plans with both Nicole and me.  It has been really helpful when there are no subs and we have to cover from within the building.  It is a quick print of plans and go. 

Finding the balance between over planning and not planning enough is difficult.  We know iReady lessons (Personal Pathways) is not a lesson plan. It can FOR SURE be a default when students have completed their other work. If one of you has a template you use for sub plans, could you share it?  Thanks

Something to Ponder

This blog by Dave Stuart Jr. is packed with practical insights! The title had me hooked: "Why We Start Class Well." Nicole and I often emphasize, "Go slow to go fast," and here, Dave demonstrates exactly that—sharing how he sets the tone for his classroom through consistent routines over 5-6 weeks. He even includes a short 3:39-minute video showing how he transitions students to self-govern effectively with simple, consistent practices.

 Key Highlights:

   - What makes a strong start to class?

   - "The Bell is the Boss" approach

   - Engaging students immediately with the day’s work

   - Handling hard-to-manage classes

   - Warm-ups that communicate intentional messages

This resonated with me for several reasons:

   - Student Ownership: Empowering students to take charge of their learning and use reflection to drive instruction is at the heart of building both student and teacher efficacy.

   - Time Management: Time is always a precious resource. Embracing “The Bell is the Boss” helps kick off class smoothly, even with challenging periods.

   - The Power of Quick Writes: Quick writes are a valuable tool for developing writing fluency and focus.

This blog includes valuable links and insights from Dave, a practicing high school English teacher actively implementing these strategies.

Hope you find a gold nugget in this week's Something to Ponder.

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"The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity"  -Amelia Earhart

Don't forget to try and 'spill' a little bit!  It will be worth it!

Thursday Thriller October 24, 2024

 Thursday Thriller
October 24, 2024

   

Just thought I would share some of the cool bulletin boards around the school showcasing student work.

When the IEP doesn't print, Chromebook is acting up-the IEP must still go on!

Nate made it work even from a student desk😅

Exciting News!  We just got word that two of our teams received honorable mention in the N{R student podcast challenge, that we entered last Spring!  You can find the list of Honorable Mentions here.

If you scroll down to the end (which is alphabetic) you will find two Garrison Middle School teams.  This is very cool because they received thousands of entries. 

You've Got to Be Joking Me – Evelyn Hess, Meredith Nelson, Aravis Sandven and Adalynn Behne, Garrison Middle School in Walla Walla, Wash.

Why the *BLEEP* Can't I Say That? – Jackie Wentz, Ya'el Cohen, Noah Garza and Jamie West, Garrison Middle School in Walla Walla, Wash.

Nuts-n-Bolts

1.    Shout out to Steve and Nicole M for coordinating Healthy Living Week! Tomorrow during each lunch there is a short assembly with Officer Klicker and K9 Daze. NOT REQUIRED to attend; this is just informing and inviting you. 

2.  If you have GNN announcements, please share with both Beth and me.  Beth is going to try and record GNN for Wednesdays and Thursdays on the Mondays.  This won't start until Nov.4th.

3. CERTS: Most of you have shared your goals in Eval. October 31st is the final day for submission

4. Activity Day tomorrow from 2:00-3:20.  As Nicole mentioned in her email, all students and yes, there will be exceptions (students in ISS, students who can't handle themselves during Activity Day) will get to participate.. December's activity day there will be a certain number of iReady lessons students will need to complete.

5. SPIRIT WEEK October 28-Nov 1:

  Monday-staff's color is WHITE.

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

FRIDAY

6. Your consistency in the hallways during passing time is AWESOME! THANK YOU! It is very noticeable and very much appreciated.

7.  Students MUST have a pass to go to the clinic. We are seeing rising numbers of students which is normal considering the time of year. However, if you could do a quick check first before sending that would be great-"Is it an emergency? Would a drink of water help?" would be helpful. You may not always have the time for this-we get it.

 If Violy thinks the student needs to see the nurse in the Health Center, she will send them.  We will ask Violy to send a quick email to the sending teacher to let them know she sent the student to the HC. 

Students can stop by the HC during passing periods for a quick hello. Mariana reminds students they can't be late. If a student says they are late because they were at the HC and do not have a pass, they need to be marked TARDY. If we see a pattern, which we do have about 3-4 students in this category, they won't be allowed to stop

8. Friday, Nov. 1st - Half Day, 'speed dating' and the afternoon is all teacher directed.  Fourth period is longer due to lunch schedules. 

9. CERTIFICATED STAFF:  This was an email from Mindy Meyer.  Please let me know or her if you are interested.  Thank you!  As we prepare for negotiations we are convening a certificated employee committee to review current contract language and process around evaluation. Keith Swanson recommended you as  WWVEA members who would be excellent thought partners in this work. 

The committee goals include recommendations on the following: 

1. reviewing and updating current contract language

2. analyzing OSPI and WWPS evaluation requirements 

3. aligning revisions with 2022 Danielson Framework updates

4. connecting SGG updates into evaluation processes

The committee will consist of the following from WWVEA's membership: 1 elementary teacher from each building, 1 middle school teacher from each building, 3 high school teachers, 1 non-classroom teacher.

The committee will also have an administrator from each level - elementary, middle and high school - along with Keith and myself.

Attached is the committee's charge and additional details. 

The district will green sheet you at curriculum rate and provide clock hours. We anticipate 4 meetings for up to 1.5 hours per meeting with .5 hours of preparation time per meeting.

Here are the meeting dates and times - 4:00 - 5:30 pm in the Board Room on:

October 29, 2024

December 3, 2024

January 14, 2025

February 11, 2025

Dr. Mindy Meyer | Director of Human Resources

364 S Park Street, Walla Walla, WA  99362

509.526.6713 | mmeyer@wwps.org

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These ARE popits.

These are NOT popits!  Backpack checks are good to have!

ME: "Isella, why do you have these in your backpack?"

Isella: "I thought they were pop-its until my mom told me what they were for."

Thursday Thriller October 17, 2024

 Thursday Thriller

October 17, 2024

Tuesday, our Garrison Families gathered for a cultural potluck. Though attendance was smaller than expected, everyone who joined had a wonderful time. Each family contributed a dish, along with the recipe and a brief explanation of its cultural significance. We're already looking forward to our next cultural event in February.

Nuts-n-Bolts

1. CERTS: Do you have your goals completed and uploaded?  Nicole and I receive notifications which we will go in and approve.  October 31st is the deadline admin needs to approve goals.  

2. ALL: Linked on the HUB is a schedule for ALL meetings, agendas, half days, end-of-quarter celebrations, etc. Next week we will be having an End-of-Quarter celebration that all students will get to participate in on Oct. 25th.  Nicole and I APPRECIATE your patience and flexibility as your class schedule of plans has been altered this week. The lessons we teach students on how to be good humans are so important! 

We did create the HUB as a 'one-stop-shop.'  Yes, it is easier to send an email asking us to 're-send' information. However, please use the resources first. If you can't find what you are looking for, we are here to help and support you. 

3.  ALL: Hearing and Vision testing for all 7th grade students will be taking place on this Monday. We will call students down alphabetically to room 115 between 9:00-11:30.

Violy has placed TESTING CARDS in your mailbox. These cards have to be handed out FIRST period to students. 7th grade only.  Students are going to have to hold onto these cards because we will not get all 167 7th graders tested during first period.  I will announce this on GNN. We are going to call students down using the intercom.  Not ideal but we are going to try it this way. 

4. ALL: Healthy Living Week coming up next week.  Activities will be during both lunches next week. Thanks to Steve and Nicole M for the planning!

5. ALL: Most 7th and 8th grade students who have IEPs are in Academic Support class during 5th period with Nate, Nate, and Tati. If you need help with assignments or want extra support for a student, please let the Academic Support team know. They'll make sure students get the help they need in class.

6.  CERTS: Students are diligently working through their iReady lessons! We might have discovered something that motivates them to complete their work! Please remember that Accountable for Learning (AforL) is intended for students who aren't participating in class, even after repeated reminders. I'm unsure if AforL is appropriate for students who simply don't finish a lesson during advisory. While there are exceptions, I generally advise against not completing lessons during advisory. Ultimately, the decision is yours.

7. ALL: Here is our schedule for Activity Day next Friday, 10/25:

8. The GNN Club students have filmed for Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. The students have some great ideas.  

9.  Have you spilled lately? 

Please make sure and 'spill' so we are able to try new ideas, problem solve and grow!  THIS is why we need to 'spill'

Something to Ponder

I used GEMINI versus ChatCPT.  I liked Gemini better because it wasn't as 'clinical' so to speak.  Gemini was more personable within the first draft. ChatGPT I had to do three drafts. 

Podcast Spotlight: The Power of Feedback

Have you ever wondered if feedback truly makes a difference in student achievement? In this insightful podcast, Nat and Tom explore the transformative power of feedback and how it can drive student learning. They emphasize that the key isn't just giving feedback, but ensuring students actively use it to improve.

Key Takeaways:

• Relationship Matters: Effective feedback hinges on trust between the giver and receiver.
• Timing is Everything: Tailor feedback to the amount of time students have to act on it.
• Focus on Learning: Shift feedback from task-oriented to learning-focused.
• Teach Self-Assessment: Empower students to become their own feedback experts.
• Leverage Peer Feedback: Use low-risk examples to foster peer assessment.
• Quality Over Quantity: Prioritize feedback that sparks critical thinking over simple instructions.

Ready to Teach Feedback?

The podcast authors have created two lesson plans to help you introduce feedback concepts to your students.

Feedback Lesson 1 

Feedback Lesson 2

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"Commitment is staying loyal to what you said you were gonna do long after the mood you said it in has left you."  -Harvey Specter