Best week of the year!

This was the first week of the school year.  It was also the best week of the school year.  You all know that my mantra is "best day ever" or "best year ever".  It is our challenge, every day, to give our best to the students and one another.  That's a daunting task.  Imagine that each day is better than the day before.  Although that is a great goal, let's be real.  It probably isn't going to happen.  There is one part of your day, however, that I know you can say was better than the day before.  Let's build off of that.  Celebrate that part of your day and then choose another part of the next day that will be better than yesterday.  You can do it and so can I.  So, this week was the best week of the school year.  But I must say, I'm sure we can make next week the best week of the year, too.

Calendar
Monday, September 7th                  No School- Labor Day
Wednesday, September 9th             First RtI Wednesday- 8:00 meeting/ 9:15 to classes
                                                          (adjusted schedule is here)
Thursday, September 10th               Principals' Chat from 3:00-3:50

Tweets, quotes, and blogs
"I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies, for the hardest victory is over self."- Aristotle, philosopher
"It takes a lot of courage to show your dreams to someone else."- Erma Bombeck,  humorist
Mark Flynn's latest blog from the South Sudan (This is the epitome of a servant leader!)
Zondle, a web tool to add game-based learning to teaching (from Flipboard)
12 Conversation Starters on What Parents Want Teachers to Know (from @Joe_Mazza via edutopia)

"You can't climb the ladder of success with your hands in your pockets."- Arnold Schwarzenegger, actor and politician

Marigolds (from Mary Iwanski via Katie Francoeur on Facebook)

"Let me tell you the secret that has led to my goal: My strength lies solely in my tenacity."- Louis Pasteur, chemist and microbiologist

Embrace the Shake (10 minute TEDtalk by Phil Hansen that I'll be sharing with the students next week.  No limits and be creative are the themes.)

"Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about what they do."- Nelson Mandela, political activist and former president of South Africa

"Develop success from failures.  Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success."- Dale Carnegie, writer and motivational speaker

@mertonint Twitter feed

#mertonint Twitter hashtag

Merton Intermediate School Facebook page

Family smore for 9.4.15

Positive family contact

I know that you remember the challenge that I gave you to start the school year- Make a positive family contact every day.  You can't believe what it does for the student, the family, and yourself.  Carve out 5 minutes a day and you won't regret it.  Here is a part of an email I received last night after one of you sent an email to a mother.

Wow!!!

Thank you so much for sharing that with us. "Johnny" has a very soft spot for kids with special needs. This is a proud mom moment here.

Can you please forward your message to Mr. Posick? I think he'd be very proud of "Johnny". 

Thank you again. 

"Johnny's mom"

Assembly today

At the end of the day today, we'll be practicing our assembly procedures but, more importantly, we'll be celebrating the start of the school year and a good first week of school.  Please sit with your homeroom class and if you don't have a homeroom class, adopt one!  Everyone should be sitting with our students.  I'll be introducing new students and all staff.  It will be a fun way to end the week.

Have a great long weekend.  Relax, sleep in, hang out with family and friends, and just enjoy yourself.  Anything you need to do will be at school when you get back on Tuesday.

Jay