January 28, 2011

Staff Meeting - Friday morning's staff meeting begins at 8am with a team builder provided by our 2nd grade team and treats from our 5th grade team.  Fran Gorde will be here from 8:05-8:20 to talk about our Employee Assistance program and Dr. Brad Buck will be speaking from 8:20-8:35 to staff about ITBS administration.  Only staff who administer the ITBS assessment will need to stay. 

Thanks A-Latte - I've placed the box and slips in the teacher's lounge.  Please stop in and recognize one of your colleagues by writing down a "kudos" for them.  In addition to having a name drawn, I'd like to begin including the kudos on the FWR.  A nice way to recognize a colleague who is working hard/smart during these winter months!


Conference Sheets - After Friday, Paula will make a copy of all conference sheets and place them in your box.  Teachers need to schedule conferences for parents who did not sign up over the past two weeks.  You may assign and call parents of their time OR you may call parents and offer times.  Bottom line - all parents need a time and the times need to be communicated.  When all conferences are scheduled, please turn in a copy to Paula that indicates it is a final copy.

Assessment Data - Friday is the last day to enter DIBELS!  You winter assessment data should be emailed to Lyndsay, Leslie and I when you complete your assessment data sheet.  Many of you are using the Excel sheet I created at the beginning of the year.  If you or your team is not using this and would like to - please see me.  It makes it easier to compare grade level data for your team.

Speaking of Assessment - If third, fourth and fifth grade teams would like additional support with using MAP assessment data should let me know.  We have not spent much (if any) time on this as a group so I'd (and Leslie would too!) be happy to assist anyway I can in using the data to drive instruction and helping teachers differentiate.

Valentine's Party - We will run an early out related arts schedule on Thursday, February 10, in order to accommodate for our 2:30p Valentine's parties.  Please ensure your parents are aware of the date/time of the party and any other communication that goes along with the party for your classroom/grade level.  What response would I get from a listserv email to parents of "No sweets, please"?  I'll wait to try that next year. :-)

PTO Update - On the Border will be hosting a "Maple Grove Elementary" night on Monday, February 7th.  You should be getting information about it from PTO soon to help promote it with parents.  Our PTO (and us in turn) will receive 10% of sales that evening so join us and promote it with your parents!  Mark your calendards...the PTO will be hosting our Spring Carnival at Maple Grove on Saturday, April 10th from 2-4 pm.

Cover Me winner for this week is Sara Harvey. Your check is in the mail though. Sorry - I don't babysit.  Previous winners better cash in before it warms up!!  :-)

Monday - Rescheduled BLT Mtg (8am)	Monday, Feb 7 - SPED Mtg (8am) - MGE's On the Border night
Tuesday - 5th Grade TI (8am) - 1st-2nd PLC (8am) - PLC+ K-AM; 3rd-PM	Tuesday, Feb 8 - K-2 PLC (8am) - District Technology Mtg (AM)
Wednesday - 2nd Grade TI (8am) - 3-5 PLC (8am) - Early Out PD (Bldg: Prob Solving)	Wednesday, Feb 9 - 1st Grade TI (8am) - 3-5 PLC (8am) - District Language Arts Mtg
Thursday - District Admin Mtg (AM-Barry/Marron)	Thursday, Feb 10 - Character Council (8am) - Valentine Party (2:30-3:15)
Friday - Rescheduled Problem Solving Core (8am) - MAP ends - Barry absent 2-5pm	Friday, Feb 11 - Teacher Work Day - Elem Admin Mtg (PM)

Final Thoughts for the Week

...where I keep talking/typing and you 

don't necessarily have to continue listening/reading. 

Okay...so you're probably wondering why I posted this video and what, if anything, it has to do with school, education, learning or...well, anything!  This video was one of the top 10 shared/viewed videos last week (poor, poor, girl) on the web so I've now seen it on the nightly news, while waiting to get my teeth cleaned at the dentist and forwarded from friend...and I just keep thinking..."How come she doesn't see that big pool of water?? Hello!!! Was something she was texting that important to block out everything else around her!!"   Then I thought...hmm...where has my focus been lately?  I feel like I've been entrenched in my office the past week with the blinders on trying to get 'stuff done' and have neglected the big-picture - kids, classrooms, teachers, parents, home, etc.  I talked to almost everyone this summer before school started and asked the question many time - "How do you balance work (parents, students, colleagues, papers, emails, meetings, etc.) and life outside of work?"  It's important that we find a way!!  If we focus too much on just one thing (texting in the case above), we lose out on the big picture.  February 1st is approaching and it may be a great time for all of us...me included...to check our surroundings and determine if we are in balance.  Otherwise...we may all end up wet....or worse - all over the web.  ;-)

He who balances and laughs, lasts

Doug