Thursday March 10th, 2016

Today is a day full of fun learning!

Here is a quick read about the importance of our work, our calling as educators:

Your Legacy

Please help remind students and families that we have early dismissal tomorrow at 1:10.

We have the 3rd quarter sharpen the paw in the afternoon, and our Spring Title 1 family night event from 5-6:30. If you've read any books similar to Teach Like a Pirate, today fits perfectly. Learning should be fun and engaging. Sharpen the paw is as uncommon as they come, and usually one of our best days for attendance:

Wednesday March 9th, 2016

There is a staff meeting after school in the library, and we will start at about 3:50.

Please help remind students and families about the Title 1 family night on Thursday.

This is an interesting article. It's long and probably one to come back to later. Leader in Me is mentioned. There are also several items mentioned that relate well to our school and what we have been focusing on. Academic achievement, test scores, and going to college are important. In addition, there are so many behind the scenes items that are also essential, and we have been including them with learning. This includes social and emotional learning and skills, leadership, learning about famous leaders and their lives, persistence and not giving up, goals, and making a plan. We not only want our students to attend college, but also to persevere and finish.

Here are a few quotes from the article:

"instilling a set of social and emotional skills and attitudes in their students would be the key to getting them to and through college."

"We know a ton about what it takes for kids to be college eligible, [like] the level of knowledge you need to do well in a college course,” said Jimenez. “What [that knowledge] can’t tell you is if your class is at eight in the morning, are you going to be able to get up and get to class? Are you going to seek help when you need it? That’s where the social-and-emotional-learning conversation is starting to take off—there are plenty of kids who are eligible but not ready.”

"identifies five essential aptitudes: self-management, self-awareness, responsible decision-making, relationship skills, and social awareness."

"The idea is to make every child a leader by assigning each a role in running the school.
“They call the buses, they do the announcements, they water the plants,” said Kimberley Cummins, the school’s principal. “They truly think I just come in and unlock the doors.”

Here is the article:

When Social and Emotional Learning are Key to College Success


Funny thought for the day:

Tuesday March 8th, 2016

We have on site Leader in Me coaching today during block times. This is provided with our grant. If you aren't a certified staff member, feel free to join any grade level team if you are interested,

The student lighthouse team members will be eating lunch with the coach as well, so we can learn and plan with his suggestions.

Today is also 'wear a college shirt' day. Try to acknowledge students in the hall and offer a brief encouragement about college. We want students to be having and hearing those conversations.


We have a family note going home this week, and the office will make copies:

Front Page of Family Note

Back Page of Family Note- With Upcoming Dates


Here is the final list of activities for Sharpen the Paw on Thursday afternoon. It's an awesome line up of opportunities!

3rd Quarter Sharpen the Paw Activities

This week is busy and so is next week, but students are so excited for all the fun learning opportunities! Remember to step back and smile at all the positives, and for helping to create smiles for kids who need that in their lives:

Monday March 7th, 2016

Duties for the week: 
     
     AM Bus: Lent
                  Osborn
                  Enders
     PM Bus: Warner
                  Kenyon
                  Triner
     Lounge: Mason
 
 
  Meetings/Reminders for the week: 

   March 7th, 2016- Monday- Student Lighthouse Team- 8:20 am

   March 7th, 2016- Monday- Spelling Bee at Roper- 6:00 pm

   March 8th, 2016- Tuesday- On Site Leader in Me Coaching for all certified staff, during block

   March 8th, 2016- Tuesday- Wear College Shirts Day

   March 8th, 2016- Tuesday- 5th Grade to visit Robert Stuart- 9-10:30

   March 9th, 2016- Wednesday- Eval Team
 
   March 9th, 2016- Wednesday- Choir singing in Boise at Capitol. 

   March 9th, 2016- Wednesday- Staff Meeting

   March 10th, 2016- Thursday- 21st Century grant site visit from state department

   March 10th, 2016- Thursday- Sharpen the Paw for 3rd Quarter- 1:30-3:30

   March 10th, 2016- Thursday- Title 1 Family Night 5:00-6:30

   March 11th, 2016- Friday- Classified Staff Meetings

   March 11th, 2016- Friday- End of the 3rd quarter, no Kindergarten, and early release 1:10


Habit of the week/Classroom leading morning announcements:

    Enders- Habit 4: Think win-win

On Monday we will have Principals from around Idaho visiting our school for a Leader in Me coaching. It's a small group and we will have a coach, John Flokstra, from Franklin Covey and Leader in Me. 

Then on Tuesday, the coach will be just with our staff. This includes all certified staff. Classified and supporting staff are invited to attend. Here is the schedule:

Tuesday on Site Leader in Me Coaching

A big thank you to Ms. Warner for creating an awesome Move a thon video! Innovation and leadership, and the video is great. We went back and forth between two dates. The date for the move a thon is Tuesday March 15th, during block times. Please share with students and families:

Move-a-Thon Video

All week is the National School Breakfast week. All students who eat breakfast can enter the drawing for a basketball or volleyball. 

The staff meeting agenda this week:

1. New York Life representative

2. Imagine Learning- Lori Piccolo


The 3rd quarter classified staff meeting on Friday will have these options for times. We have set times to assist with PRC and Preschool schedules, with other classified staff welcome to attend any of the times that fit best for them. Let me know if you have anything you would like added to the agenda:

1. PRC- 8:15

2. Preschool- 9:00

3. Any- 10:45


We have several great pictures this week. We had dancers from Nepal and Iraq, technology integration, super heroes, and more! 

Pictures This Week

Great Reminder:

image source: Sam LeDeaux

Friday March 4th, 2016

It's a Friday Fun day. Super Hero Day! We also have the caramel apple sucker sale today.

Today is also Idaho Day. The theme this year is heroes!

Idaho Day

The Book Fair is coming!  Title 1 Family Night is coming! Both images below would be great to share with families:

If students don't have something to wear today, please send them up to the office to pick out a super hero sticker to wear. We have an assortment of stickers so every student can participate. Could even be a hero of kindness:

Thursday March 3rd, 2016

Please remember that the Spelling Bee at Roper is Monday night. We have two great students who would love the support if you are able to attend.

Please help remind students about Friday Fun Super Hero day tomorrow, and the caramel apple suckers that student leaders will be selling.

This article has a short video that would be great to watch. We have preschool and Kindergarten students on iPads almost daily, and chromebooks with Kindergarten this year. This article mentions coding. Technology is just a possible tool to utilize, a device, and students are still working towards the same standards and end goals. This article and video mentions literacy, global learners, following directions, writing, leadership, helping others, engagement, technology integration, and coding. It sounds like Harrison! Great idea:

First Grade and Coding- Hack the Classroom

Saw this and thought it was very relatable. Not sure we have anybody left that hasn't cried this year. You all do amazing things and make a big impact in the lives of our kids:

Wednesday March 2nd, 2016

Today is the birthday for Dr. Seuss! Here are 5 thoughts from him:

5 Lessons in Life From Dr. Seuss

Restorative justice practices blend very well with Leader in Me. We have been striving to incorporate the skills, and avoid traditional discipline consequences if possible. Students have to reflect, make a plan, apologize, make a wrong right again, and more.  It is harder and more time required at times, but the results are that students are growing and in class learning. Student achievement increases, and we are developing the whole child. There is a short video with the article below:

Restorative Justice Practices

Education for students isn't always the same, it's equitable. Every student is unique: