Monday March 2nd, 2015

Duties for the week:

     AM Bus: Jacobson
                  Triner
                  Simson
     PM Bus: Hammond
                  Osborn
                  Sweet
     Lounge: Kenyon

Meetings/Reminders for the week:
 
   March 2nd, 2015- Monday- Cat in the Hat Visits from 10-11 am

   March 2nd, 2015- Monday- Spring Testing Meeting 3:45 in Ms. Warner's Classroom

   March 3rd, 2015- Tuesday- RTI

   March 3rd, 2015- Tuesday- 1st-5th Grade Teaming with Special Ed, Title 1, and ESL

   March 4th, 2015- Wednesday- Idaho Day

   March 4th, 2015- Wednesday- Eval Team

   March 4th, 2015- Wednesday- PTA Meeting 2:45 in Lunchroom

   March 5th, 2015- Thursday- Kindergarten Teaming with Special Ed, Title 1, and ESL

   March 6th, 2015- Friday- Math a Thon Money Due


Wednesday the 4th is Idaho Day. Here is a description, and a page with some ideas if you are interested:

Idaho Day

Idaho Day Resources

PTA is selling the new school shirts. They are awesome!

Hard to believe, but we only have three months of school left. Let's remember to look for positives, amongst all the instruction and interventions that students are trying to complete before Spring testing starts. This young lady is in third grade, from Mrs. Osborn's classroom. She was watching the video that the high school made, and she just got up and started dancing along. Remember these pictures when it gets stressful. Stay positive:

Friday February 27th, 2015

We had a great lunch on Thursday with Winnie Christensen. The library was so full, counted about 65 girls, that we had to bring in more chairs and tables!

She talked about how her college degree from ISU helped her, shared video clips with different dancing and music from different countries, discussed culture and diversity, and discussed the importance of graduating from high school and attending college. She concluded with a video of the most influential female Presidents and Prime Ministers from around the world. Some girls even asked for her autograph at the end. It was excellent:

Our kindergarten students in the after school program had a great STEM activity. They were discussing strategies and synergizing:

Thursday February 26th, 2015

Today is Spring Picture Day! Someone will come get your class when it is time. We will be trying to get everybody in pre/k-5th, in one day. Patience is greatly appreciated.

Please help remind students about the opportunity to win a bicycle, just by eating breakfast at school. Here is a post you can email families, and there are breakfast in the classroom pictures from Mrs. Lent's classroom as well:

Breakfast

We have a special guest coming during lunch. Winnie Christensen brought the first Miss Idaho Africa Pageant to Twin Falls. She will be speaking to fourth and fifth grade girls during lunch, in the library. She will discuss different cultures, the importance of graduating from high school, and the importance of going on to college. Here is a little about the pageant:

Miss Idaho Africa Pageant

Our custodian Terry had an emergency clean up during lunch on Wednesday. I looked over and saw that our secretary was covering for him. In true Harrison style, she jumped right in to help in the lunchroom. Thank you Mrs. Simmons!

Here are pictures from second grade students in PE. They had a super scooter for four students to sit on and maneuver. They were synergyzing as they discussed strategies and ideas to move it:

We have two friendship benches coming for the playground! Mrs. Jensen applied for a grant and she received it during the staff meeting on Wednesday. A big thank you to the CapEd Foundation:

Wednesday February 25th, 2015

Staff Meeting is after school in the library. Dr. Dobbs will be speaking and everybody is invited to attend.

Canyon Ridge athletes will be in the lunchroom during morning recess to talk with students about the upcoming baseball camp. I asked them to bring some equipment, like bats and mitts, to show students. Please help remind students about attending if they are interested.

We all can think of a student who has struggled with behaviors. We've been striving to recognize strengths and positive, like with our Caught Being a Super Husky recognitions. This article is a great reminder for giving students second chances, stepping back to understand more deeply, and not giving up on students:

Re-engaging with Empathy

I walked out of the lunchroom and saw these kindergarten students reading the second grade weather reports. Future scientists with inquiring minds! They were more interested in the reports, rather than going outside to recess:

This first grade student ate lunch and then spent recess applying for a job. Apply for a job first, then play!

Here are first grade students in a Title 1 intervention group learning about adjectives. Even high students attend an intervention group:

Here are fourth grade students completing an online assignment from the new reading curriculum, about identifying text evidence in passages. They were highlighting text and discussing clues and evidence:

Kindergarten students in Mrs. Goodwin's class have the opportunity to read their library books to the class after they have read with their families:

The Spelling Bee was great to watch. The three ladies did a great job using their voice. Here is our fourth grade winner:

Tuesday February 24th, 2015

The Spelling Bee starts at 6pm, at Roper. We have three young ladies who are very excited, and they will represent Harrison very well.

This article is long, but a great resource with several ideas for how to increase and include more opportunities for students to be actively engaged with activities that target speaking and listening in the classroom. Collaborative conversations and activities has been a focus this year with the new reading program, and this gives students more opportunities to practice vocabulary and skills across all content areas. Students have been learning to include evidence, arguments, sequencing, and more. The focus with the article is English language learners, but strategies listed would be helpful for all of our students. 

Classroom Talks

After school students recently toured the CSI Wind Energy program. What a great opportunity to expose students to a future STEM career posibility:

Wind Energy

Here are pictures with classroom buddies!

Classroom Buddies

Great reminder, and perfect to share with students:

Monday February 23rd, 2015

Duties for the week:

     AM Bus: Goodwin
                  Taylor
                  Moore
     PM Bus: Anderson
                  Lancaster
                  Kenyon
     Lounge: Osborn

Meetings/Reminders for the week:

   February 23rd, 2015- Tuesday- RTI

   February 24th. 2015- Wednesday- Eval Team

   February 24th, 2015- Wednesday- Spelling Bee 6 pm at Roper

   February 25th, 2015- Wednesday- Staff Meeting and Dr. Dobbs

   February 26th, 2015- Thursday- Spring Pictures

   February 26th, 2015- Thursday- Lighthouse team at 7:50 am

The Wednesday staff meeting is for all staff members. Dr. Dobbs will be discussing the upcoming Supplemental Levy.  Everybody is invited to attend, not just certified staff. This is a perfect opportunity to ask any questions that you have about the levy. We will start at 3:45 in the library. Here is the agenda for the staff meeting:

1. Dr. Dobbs and Supplemental Levy
2. Upcoming Title 1 Family Nights in March and April- MaryAnn and Melissa

Student led conferences are quickly approaching. All of our students K-5th have leadership notebooks. Those are perfect to include with conferences, and it was very impressive to watch upper grade students use them during Fall conferences as they led their own conferences. Student led conferences are a great way for students to reflect on their personal goals, reflect on progress, share strengths, and identify areas to strengthen. Here is a great article about student led conferences, and it goes perfectly with developing leadership:

Student Led Conferences

Here is a thought to start the week:

Friday February 20th, 2015

Here is a post with pictures from the week. From telling time in third grade, to measurement with non-standard units, leadership integrated though out, and more:

Pictures This Week

PTA picked up Culver's ice cream after school. Please remind students about picking up garbage after school, and not creating more work for the custodians. Picking up trash is a proactive and responsible choice to make. The freezer is full and ready:

Thursday February 19th, 2015

With the secretary gone Thursday and Friday, patience is greatly appreciated in the office.

Today is the staff potluck during lunch. 

All of our students have potential, and where they are now does not determine their future. How we view our students matters. Here is an article about this:

Believe Students Can

A big thank you to PTA! We have new shirts, and they look awesome. They are on display in the office window. We have two Title 1 family nights coming up, and the first one in March will have the shirts available for students to purchase:

All of our students are so kind, and they love to help others. Here are two students reading by the office:

Wednesday February 18th, 2015

Please help remind students about the PTA activities: math-a-thon and Culver's ice cream on Friday.

Students in Mrs. Miller's 4th grade class created a newsletter for February. Students integrated technology and leadership skills that they had learned, with writing skills:

February Newsletter

Tuesday February 17th, 2015

Duties for the week:

     AM Bus: Warner
                  Enders
                  Moulson
     PM Bus: Miller
                  Porter
                  Simson
     Lounge: Taylor

Meetings/Reminders for the week:

   February 17th, 2015- Tuesday- RTI

   February 17th, 2015- Tuesday- 1st-5th Grade Teaming Meetings

   February 18th. 2015- Wednesday- Eval Team

   February 18th, 2015- Wednesday- PTA Math-a-Thon Math Tests in Rooms

   February 19th, 2015- Thursday- Kindergarten Teaming Meeting

   February 19th, 2015- Thursday- PTA/Staff Pot Luck

   February 20th, 2015- Friday- PTA Culver's Ice Cream $1.00- vanilla and chocolate


Trauma in children can have a big impact on learning and the school environment. The following article is a great reminder of stepping back and looking deeper. Here are a few quotes from the article that caught my eye, as they reminded me of our students:

“Not all of our kids have stories that make the news. But all of our kids have a story.”

“If you have a kid who fails a test, you don’t just say, ‘Well, you’re stupid.’ You say, ‘What didn’t you understand? ... or we need to go through this one more time.’

"The idea isn’t to excuse bad behavior, Forrester and others who advocate this type of approach say. Instead, they say it’s about trying to understand if there’s something underlying a child’s actions and, if so, to respond more effectively, to help him heal and change his behavior."

“We’re looking for people to understand, when they see a kid, rather than asking, ‘What’s wrong with them?’ we want them to know to ask, ‘What’s happened to them?’”

Trauma in Children

We had fantastic Valentine's Day parties! Here is a post with several pictures.

Valentine's Day Parties

We had a great Talent Show on Thursday! A big thank you to all the staff members who attended. Here are pictures:

Talent Show

Here are additional pictures posted on the school website. Our after school program is very lucky to have a partnership with the U of I extension program:

Pictures This Week

Here is a great thought for all of us. It doesn't matter what your position is. You matter to students. Your role is a very important piece of the puzzle:

Friday February 13th, 2015

We had a great lunch for our January student leaders. A big thank you to Chick-fil-A. You have to love hearing how the 7 habits have helped at home. One student said she knows they have helped, because she is nicer to her dog! Another young lady said she gets up earlier to feed her dog, to help her parents.

Please email me any pictures from your Valentine's Day parties. Every classroom had not only really fun activities, but also several family members helping.

Thursday February 12th, 2015

The talent show is tonight at Roper, and the program will start at 6pm. It really is a great event to attend. We have students who are really talented, and this allows them to shine. It is also the culmination of a senior project, and he has been working hard to plan and prepare.

Valentine's Day parties are after lunch. We can make it through the day, just remember the Kindergarten teachers who pretty much have a party all day long. Students are definitely excited! Let us know in the office if you need anything for the parties, or Valentine's Day cards.

Instead of punishments and consequences, striving for a proactive approach can create big results. We have had several students make big changes this year, and we have others continuing with goals to improve. Here is an article about the benefits of the The Leader in Me program:

Global Leadership and Behavior

Here is a picture from fourth grade Science block. Students were taking a virtual field trip to different zoos! Students were researching and looking for key details:

Here is a picture from robotics in the after school program:

Wednesday February 11th, 2015

Staff meeting is after school in the library.

Read Like a Hawk is at 7:30, at Canyon Ridge.

This thought encompasses so many options our students and staff have embraced and utilized this year. Choice and voice are two powerful tools, for both students and staff.

Tuesday February 10th, 2015

Students owning their learning is important. Here are a few tips to help students achieve this:

Empowering Student Learning

Here is a great reminder, and it fits well with our school goals:

Monday February 9th, 2015

Duties for the week:

     AM Bus: Lancaster
                  Garcia
                  Coleman
     PM Bus: Fullmer
                  Anderson
                  Standley
     Lounge: Triner

Meetings/Reminders for the week:

February 9th, 2015- Monday- 5th Grade Visits Robert Stuart- 8:50-10:50 am

February 9th, 2015- Monday- School Improvement Grant/Training- 8 am

February 10th, 2015- Tuesday- RTI

February 11th. 2015- Wednesday- Eval Team

February 11th, 2015- Wednesday- Staff Meeting

February 12th, 205- Thursday- Lighthouse Team

February 12th, 2015- Thursday- Principal's Lunch with Monthly Student Leaders and Student Lighthouse Meeting

February 12th, 2015- Thursday- Valentine's Day Parties

February 12th, 2015- Thursday- Talent Show- Roper- 6pm

February 13th, 2015- Friday- No School- Teacher Practical Application Training Day

February 16th, 2015- Friday- No School- Presidents' Day


This week not only has Valentine's Day, but also the 100th day of school! 

Monday is a training day for teachers. We will have K-2nd in the morning, and 3rd-5th in the afternoon. This will also include resource teachers, ESL, Title 1, and our instructional coach. This is paid for by our school improvement grant money. The topics include writing, assessments, performance tasks, and other information to help prepare for the SBAC Spring test. We will have several guest teachers in the building.

Here is the staff meeting agenda. Please sit with your classroom buddy partner, upper grade teacher with a lower grade teacher. This will help with both the instructional coach planning and the chromebooks. Upper grade teachers have jumped head first in the fire this year with online assessments and integrating technology in the classroom, and they are a very helpful resource for lower grade teachers. 

1. WIDA/ESL students- Khrista
2. Instructional Coach Planning- Mary
3. Chromebooks/Hands On Quick Tips to help in the classroom- Melissa

It's that time of year. Students are practicing recorder songs, and they are so dedicated! Friday afternoon, it was so impressive to see students in the hallways reading so intently with their buddies. Here are a few pictures that have been posted on the school website:

Pictures This Week

Friday February 6th, 2015

Have a great Friday!

As we end School Counselor Week, this picture sums up our appreciation for Mrs. Jensen:

Thursday February 5th, 2015

Here are the winners from the Spelling and Geography Bees. This post would be great to share with students. Thank you to all the teachers who attended to support students! We also had a nice turnout of families who attended. A big thank you Mrs. Miller for coordinating the Spelling Bee, and Ms. Reese for coordinating the Geography Bee!

Spelling and Geography Bees

PTA meeting is at 6pm in the library.

Our Leadership Day announcement has been posted on the Leader in Me website, and this would be great to share with families:

Leadership Day

Wednesday February 4th, 2015

Spelling bee is after school in the library.

Something new this year is classroom buddies. Here is Ms. Porter's Kindergarten class and Ms. Hammond's fifth grade class reading to each other. Kindergarteners loved reading to the big students:

After school students have been preparing for the geography bee with National Geographic. They started the final bee on Tuesday, and will finish this week. These were the top three students. The questions were challenging at times, but students persevered and were very respectful towards their peers:

Tuesday February 3rd, 2015

Tuesday is our once a month grade level teaming meeting with resource, ESL, and Title 1. Patience is greatly appreciated.

We started the breakfast in the classroom program on Monday.  One kindergarten student was very excited, and said he comes to school because of the food. That comment is a good reminder of why we are trying to ensure that students have access to breakfast.

Breakfast in the Classroom

Here is a handout to families about the rewards of reading at home. You could send the link via the email distribution list for families in your classroom:

Reading 

Leadership lessons in the classroom and at school can be extended to home. This article matches similar stories we have heard from our families this year:

Leadership at Home 

A big thank you to our wonderful playground paras! They started a compliment board in the staff room.  This is a great way to let staff know how much they are appreciated.