Go!

Did you see what I did there?  The title's of my last three blogs, including this one, are- "On your marks...", "Get set...", and "Go!"  There are two reasons.  One is the start of the school year and the other is because of the Olympics, in particular track races.  The start of our school year is much like an Olympic track race, but with a twist.  Olympic track athletes prepare for years for one opportunity to be the best in the world for one race.  You prepare for a lifetime for the kids who look up to you each and every day to lead them in learning.  I am so excited for the school year to get underway, to see the kids come in ready to learn, and to continue learning along with them and with you.  I am so ready to get this year started!

Calendar (agenda from Ron with more specifics)
Wednesday, August 17th       Jay's at PLC conference in Milwaukee/ You have time to do what you need in your classrooms or with your teams
Thursday, August 18th          Jay's at PLC conference in Milwaukee
Friday, August 19th               Jay's at PLC conference in Milwaukee
Monday, August 22nd           Social Studies curriculum work
Tuesday, August 23rd            7:30-8:00      Breakfast in Primary School
                                                8:00-10:00    District kickoff
                                                11:00-11:30  Intermediate Staff meeting (Little Theater)
                                                *agenda of meeting will be sent out next week
                                                Lunch on your own/ Grade level meetings with me
Wednesday, August 24th       8:00-12:00    5th grade mentoring program
                                                (Thanks Heather and Megan!)
                                                11:00-4:00    Prepare your rooms for Open House
                                                4:00              Staff pictures/ PTO provides subs
                                                4:40-7:00      Open House
Thursday, August 25th          F&P testing or collaborative work time
Wednesday, August 31st       F&P testing or collaborative work time
Thursday, September 1st      First day of school!

Final class schedule

I believe that I had shared this with all of you at some point last year, but I thought I would share it again here.  Just click on the title above for the the final schedule.

(from Pinterest)

Team meetings

As you look at the calendar above, please get together with your team to find a time to meet with me either on Tuesday, August 23rd or Wednesday, August 24th.  I am trying a new extension called Calendly to assist with setting up meetings.  Here is a link to give you access.  Click on the "clone" 30 minute meetings for my availability before September 1st.  The other 30 minute meetings option begins on September 1st.  I'll still have my calendar on my door, too, but this saves you some steps (unless you want to be fitbit friends, then you can come to the office to check).  At the meeting next week we'll set our times and dates to meet for the year, discuss Educator Effectiveness, PBIS, Family Information Night, and talk a bit about how we will help our teams become more like PLCs.

(I made this with Google drawings during JEDI training)

Thanks to Leah and many of our National Junior Honor Society students, this is now on the wall in the commons.  We need to keep this in mind for your kids, and for ourselves.  Take what you've learned the last two days and take a chance with implementing some of this with your students, and each other.  I can't wait to see what we can do with our kids all year long.

See you all next week.

Jay

Take care of the kids.  Take care of each other.  Take care of yourself.