It's Gonna be May

Can you believe it?? May will finally be here next week! Let's go out with a BANG!

Worry

BY MADISYN TAYLOR Worry is an extension of fear, and can also set you up for attracting that which you don't want in your life. We have all had the experience of worrying about something at some point in our lives. Some of us have a habitual tendency to worry, and all of us have known someone who is a chronic worrier. Worry is an extension of fear and can be a very draining experience. In order for worry to exist, we have to imagine that something bad might happen. What we are worrying about has not happened yet, however, so this bad thing is by definition a fantasy. Understood this way, worry is a self-created state of needless fear. Still, most of us worry. One reason we worry is because we feel like we're not in control. For example, you might worry about your loved ones driving home in bad weather. There is nothing you can do to guarantee their safe passage, but you worry until you find out they have reached their destination unharmed. In this instance, worry is an attempt to feel useful and in control. However, worrying does nothing to ensure a positive outcome and it has an unpleasant effect on your body, mind, and spirit. The good news is that there are ways to transform this kind of worry so that it has a healing effect. Just as worry uses the imagination, so does the antidote to worry. Next time you find that you are worrying, imagine the best result instead of anticipating the worst outcome. Another reason we worry is that something that we know is pending but are avoiding is nagging us--an unpaid parking ticket, an upcoming test, an issue with a friend. In these cases, acknowledging that we are worried and taking action is the best solution. If you can confront the situation and own your power to change it, you'll have no reason to worry.

Week at a Glance

Sunday - Grades due by Midnight

Monday - MAP, Istation, and F&P End of Year Testing Begins

Bass Wedding Shower - 3:30pm

Tuesday - Nesloney, Short, Argueta at Principal Meeting all Morning

Wednesday - Boy Scouts at 7:40am to all students (5 min)

Thursday - Kinder to Dewberry Farms

Staff Prayer Time - 7am - TP room

National Day of Prayer - 7pm - VFW

Friday - Last Day to Have EOY T-TESS Meetings

4th Grade to AG Day at Fair Grounds

Birthdays

May 3 - Jennifer Short

MAP, Istation, and F&P End of Year Testing

You have the entire month of May to get this done. Tested grade levels, you should NOT do MAP testing until after STAAR.

EOY T-TESS Meetings

If you have not scheduled your End of Year T-TESS Meeting, those must be completed by Friday.

Morning Car Duty

I know I've said this before, but if you serve morning car duty your job is to OPEN DOORS.  Please make sure you're not just standing there, or talking with co-workers.  Please open car doors and greet children and families. Two teams last week did not do this.

PLCs

 There will be NO PLC this week but still morning duty.

Monday - Kinder and 5th on Duty
Tuesday - 1st & PreK on Duty
Wednesday - 2nd on Duty
Thursday - 3rd on Duty
Friday - 4th on Duty

Quote Shirts

Just ONE day left to get your Kids Deserve It quote shirt.  It says, "When you listen to a child you give them back their voice".  Get yours HERE.

Tell Your Story

This week's conversation is with elementary educator, Mike McGowen.

Blogs/Articles

Dogs in the Classroom Improve Learning Skills

School Teachers Bullied by Students

My Deafness

In Closing...

It's so weird to think that I'll be leaving at the end of the school year. Some days I wake up and don't believe it. I get a hug from a child, a parent says something, or I see one of you doing something funny and it hits me and hits me hard that I'm leaving.

The last 5 years in Webb have been some of the best of my career and you all have become family. Though change is hard, and change is sometimes needed, I am choosing to not worry (Just like the opening of this blog says).

I wanted you to know that I accepted a job as the Director of Culture and Strategic Leadership at TEPSA (Texas Association of Elementary Principal and Supervisors Association).  I'll be doing a lot of different things including running all their social media accounts, visiting schools, amplifying member voice, building membership, creating new partnerships, and more.  The next step is new and different for me, but one that I know God has directed my path to.

I will write a more meaningful letter to you all soon, but I am so excited to finish this year strong with all of you and make it the BEST ending to a school year EVER!

(and if you need a great new pop song to jam to, check out Taylor Swift's newest!)