Almost There!

Yep, only 3 and a half more days to make an impact on a child's education and life in 2015!  Let's make sure we make the most of this time.

Remember that behavior tends to pick up close to the holidays for a myriad of reasons.  Let's keep our expectations high, consequences in place, and let's make sure we come to school each and every day prepared and organized.  Love the kids lots, forgive easily, and remember that each day is a new day.

I spent the weekend in California this weekend and had the honor of getting to spend the day on Friday at my buddy's school (Adam Welcome).  Then I had two of my other Principal friends show up to observe alongside me.  It was a great experience to not only learn from one of my best friends, but also to see another school in another part of the country in action, and to pick the brains of a few amazing administrators.

It's always such a blast to share the things you guys are doing.  I love being able to time and time again talk about you and go out and gain some more ideas to help make me a better administrator and to hopefully help make our school the best it can be!

Lesson Plans

Before you leave on Thursday, please make sure you are prepared for when we come back in January.  There will be no work day and it is your responsibility to make sure you are prepared and ready to go.  Do not wait until last minute!  Lesson plans need to be done through the first two weeks of January.

Team Planning

This week team planning will take place only M-W.  Please bring your laptops and resources as we will be working on Benchmarks.

Monday - 5th Grade

Tuesday - 4th Grade

Wednesday - 3rd Grade

Birthdays

Joni Leonard - Dec 18th

Aaron Marvel - Dec 20th

Cewilla Thomas - Dec 22nd

Sandra Smith - Dec 24th

This Week's Important Dates

Monday - Staff Meeting 

Tuesday - Kim Holcomb will be on campus to work with Admin on RTI and Interventions

Wednesday - Christmas Shoes will be Delivered

Holiday Concert - 5:30pm - Webb Cafeteria

Thursday - Release at 12:00, Christmas Party at 12:30pm

Friday - No School/No Work!

Thursday

Thursday is a half day.  Please remember that we release at noon.  PLEASE have structures in place.  Do not think you can just "show a movie" this day.  You need a plan.  Work with your team and fellow teachers to really utilize this time well.

HERE is where you can find our lunch schedule for the day.  You MUST take your class down to get lunch, but if the kid doesn't want one they don't have to grab one.  I would suggest telling them to grab one and take it home with them.

Blogs/Articles

Homework: High Quality Learning or Act of Compliance?

Good is not Good Enough

Reading is Rewarding when there is no Reward for Reading

Walking Together

Rockstar Educators

Our final rockstar educators for 2015 are listed below!  Make sure you celebrate their awesomeness.

Karla Hinojosa - I have gotten to get to watch Karla in action a couple of times this year and I am consistently impressed by her work ethic and the way she is with kids.  She brings so many great connections to her students and the questions she asks them are top notch.  Her kids love her so much and it's just a reflection of how much she loves them.  I am so thankful that we have Karla here on our team.

Lauren Neutzler - What a ball of energy.  I love the crazy and creative ideas that Lauren comes up with to use in her classroom.  I love how she's not afraid to break a few rules and try something new.  Lauren is great for a good laugh or a need compliment.  Lauren also takes her love and care for her kiddos outside the school walls. She is a needed asset on this team.

Here's a little video to share!  Enjoy this week with your kids!  Work hard, keep high expectations, and love harder!

Be Someone's Blessing

We're almost there!  We've got 8 and a half more days to impact kiddos in 2015.

We're in that season of the year where it takes extra patience from everyone.  Especially with those students who tend to push our buttons the easiest.  The best way to have few discipline problems is to continue having engaging lessons. 

How do we have engaging lessons?  We have to be up, on our feet, and moving around the room.  We have to have excitement ourselves!  We have to build anticipation.  We have to be high energy.  We have to allow kids to collaborate.  

Discipline problems arise first when kids are bored or treated disrespectfully.  Take time this week to bring the energy up a notch and to find as many ways as possible to be up and out of your own seats.  In our walkthroughs this week we're going to be seeing how many times we see this, to see how it correlates to discipline!  Let's bring them our best!  They only get us a few hours each day!

This Week's Video

Lesson Plans

Lesson Plans are due through the rest of 2015.

Team Planning

Please make sure that you are bringing Istation and MobyMax data (as well as the most recent Unit Test data; if you have it) to each meeting.  This is not optional.

Monday - 5th Grade

Tuesday - 4th Grade

Wednesday - 3rd Grade

Thursday - 2nd Grade

Friday - Kindergarten

Becky Harrison

Becky Harrison will be here on Wednesday. She will only need to meet with Grades 3-5.  She will also visit 5th grade classes to see instruction taking place.

BUT all Teachers will need to provide me with the following by TUESDAY at 5pm.

1.  Reading data-  STAR reading levels, and Fontas & Pinnell. Each reading teachers list of the 5 students they are concerned about going into second semester

2.  Math reports (from MobyMax) that give us data for each student showing gains or losses.  Each math teacher listing the 5 students they are concerned about going into second semester.

3.   Istation data for every class.  Summary report that show each month.   All grades

Science Lab

The science lab will be utilized by the following grades on the following days.  Over the next few weeks we'll be getting a more in depth schedule if other grade levels would like to also use it.

Monday - 5th Grade

Tuesday - 5th Grade

Wednesday - 4th Grade

Thursday - 3rd Grade

Friday - OPEN

Family Holiday Night

Please remember that this holiday night on Tuesday evening, is not optional.  We've been advertising it with you since early September.  I know there is a Jr. High Band Concert that night too, but that doesn't start until 6pm and the High School one doesn't start until 7pm.  

This is a huge fundraiser for PTO, and our kiddos will love seeing all of us there.

Please see me if you have any questions.

This Week Important Dates

Monday - Fire Drill and possibly Lockdown Drill (will warn for both)

Tuesday - Bilingual Vertical Meeting (3:15pm)

Family Holiday Night 5-8pm

Wednesday - Becky Harrison on Campus

Watch DOGS Information Meeting at Brule at 6:00pm

Thursday - Campus Visit from Central

Friday - Nesloney off Campus

Blogs/Articles

What Little Boys Hear When We Tell Them To Be A Man

Thankfulness Can Transform Your Life

How to Give Words a Positive Boost

The "Best Christmas Ad Ever"

Rockstar Educators

Gloria Wilkinson - Gloria came to us this year from High Point Elementary.  I am so thankful we have her here.  Gloria has a depth of concern for her students that you don't see every day.  Gloria has continually pushed herself to step outside of what she's always done.  She's incredibly intelligent and comes with a wealth of instructional knowledge.  I love every time I get to interact with Gloria.  She has an awesome sense of humor and great laugh.  If you haven't spent time with Gloria, I challenge you to stop by and just chat with her for a few minutes.  She's a gem and one I am thankful to have learned from this year.

Susan Brak - Susan has been with Navasota.....well....for a while! haha!  I have loved watching her fire get sort of re-lit.  She's always trying to learn technology tools even though she's the first to let you know she isn't comfortable with tech.  She is advocating for her kids every day.  She pushes herself, sometimes ragged. But she's always real.  She's always honest.  I've watched her struggle and even doubt herself this year, even though I see someone who is exceptional.  Susan can always make you laugh and takes time to build others up and remind them of how awesome they are.  Take some time this week to let Susan know how great she is!

Everyone is dealing with a battle none of us know about.  Everyone is experiencing heartache, loss, doubt, loneliness, something.....sometimes the holidays are just as hard on some adults as it is on kids.  Take time this week to get to know those around you.  Take time to ask them how they're doing, and then listen.  Learn about them.  Hug them.  Smile at them.  Let's take time this week to remind each other how much we matter to each other.  Be someone's blessing.  And when someone recognizes you, let me know.  I'd love to honor them in some way.

I saw this video on Facebook this week, and it melted my heart.  I hope you enjoy it as we enter this week, ready to tackle it full on, and love every child, regardless of the damaged hearts or struggles they bring.

(get your tissues ready before you start the video below)