October 19, 2012

Upcoming dates to note:

• TODAY: Staff celebration in the library at 8:00am
• TODAY: PBIS Assembly (3-5 @ 2:10p; K-2 @ 2:50p) EARLY OUT SCHEDULE
• Fri: Rick Wormeli workshops and teacher workday
• Oct 22: PT Schedule opens online (through Nov 2)
• Oct 22-25: Reading week (see Pam's email)
• Oct 25: K/1st PLC+
• Oct 26: Harvest Parties! (2:30-3:15p) EARLY OUT SCHEDULE
• Oct 26: Related Arts PLC+
• Oct 31: PD will be focused on using iPads in the classroom

Friday - No kids on Friday (did you know that?) as many of you are engaged in the Rick Wormeli workshop(s) and/or working in your classrooms. If attending the Wormeli workshop, sign-in's will be at the location. I will not be in the district all day but Diann is available at x6658. Also on Friday, Berg Audio will be in the building to complete annual maintenance on the projectors. It shouldn't take very long in each room but just wanted to give you a heads-up.

Progress Reports in PowerTeacher may begin to be entered this coming Friday during the teacher workday. The timeline for progress reports is below. Reminder: if you have parents who do not have access to the internet, you must print off their child's progress report statement and send home with the student on Friday, November 9th.

• PS closed to parents: Oct 18
• Related arts teachers enter information by Nov 5
• PS opens to parents: 4pm on Nov 9

Bench Press Board - As students change benchmark levels in your classroom, please update the "Bench Press" board by moving the sticky note. You would also do the same when you have new students move in to the building or leave the building. It will be fun to watch the board change through out the year.

The Parent Portal for Online Conferences will open this coming Monday. An email will be sent out to parents via the list serve and with a link to the directions and portal. If you have questions that cannot be answered, be sure to send them to Paula or I.

Our First Snow Contest will happen again this winter. Farmer's Almanac has it happening sooner-than-later so place your guess here by November 2nd. I'm guessing 2014. ;-) If my memory serves me right, Melissa Grimm won last year!

Boss's Day Thank You

Having survived my 3rd Boss's Day with the staff at Maple Grove, I am grateful for the daily blessings, celebrations and chuckles you all provide me. I truly feel my job is to get the right people on the bus and help everyone find the right seat (...and yes, some of you sometimes have to have the assigned seat right behind me :-). And then, I drive. It is not me being cliche when I tell you, parents and the community that we have assembled the best staff possible for our students at MGE. You make good decisions. You put in the time and hard work. Your teams make great data-driven decisions. You provide that individualized feeling and sense of belonging to each child and parent. You do all of it each and every day...and I check my rear-view mirror, attempt to provide the correct stops (resources, time, support)  and smile. 

Finally...I ran across a blog article by Scott Williams that made me think of each of you. My additional thoughts are in italics.

If you want to be Surrounded By The Best, you must embrace these three things:

• 1. It’s your responsibility to develop your team and give them opportunities to be the best. The best leaders maximize the potential of those they lead…  they put their people in the best position to win.) I smile when I look at the team we have assembled over the last two+ years. 
• 2. You have to give those that are “The Best” room to fly, dream big and try new things. Learn from Google [as they] allow employees to spend twenty percent of their time to work on their own project, independent of their workgroup. Google believes that no one should leave in order to pursue their personal passions. Letting employees do this results in over twenty percent of Google’s new product launches has stemmed from these personal projects. I look at what you've independently done with Skype in the Classroom, Project Based Learning, Cooperative Teaching, iPads, Flipped Math classroom, etc., and then how you share the successes and watch it grow naturally.
• 3. You must openly embrace that best will not only be sought after, but sometimes the best will leave and take those best practices other places. This one is tougher. With boundary changes being approved at the next Board meeting, I know that team members (teachers & associates) will be leaving us to join other building(s). It comforts me to know we are spreading our knowledge, our experiences, our leadership to other buildings, staffs and ultimately, affecting more kids in a positive way. 

Not related to any of the above, but it wouldn't be "Boss's Day," without a Michael Scott reference...