R-E-L-A-X

We've made it.  Spring Break is upon us.  Your efforts, and the efforts of our kids, has been fantastic.  Now it's time to relax.  But when you relax, it doesn't mean that you stop learning.  Find a good book.  Check out Twitter.  Over Spring Break, Jen, Lauren, and I will be checking out 5 different colleges.  Jen and I have a lot to learn about when it comes to helping Lauren select the right college for her.  Between visits, we'll have plenty of time to relax and enjoy one another's company.  I have a book or two I want to read, and I know that I'll be checking out Twitter from time to time.  But the most important part of the next week will be having a chance to relax.  I'll be refreshed and ready to get things going again on April 18th.  I'm sure that you will, too.

Great things I saw, and heard, this week...

• Snap circuits in Science
• 7th and 8th graders writing poems
• Students teaching their classmates in math
• The focus of our students completing Forward Exam makeups.  Their positive attitude continues!
• Students working together with partners or in groups, even when they weren't with their best friends.
• The way you continue to engage students right up until Spring Break.  Keep them learning and they'll keep on behaving.
• Writing and researching and collaborating in Language Arts and Math
• A phone message from Jim thanking the volleyball teams for all of their help this week in setting up the gym
• Our custodians setting up the gym for the NJHS induction ceremony
• Floor hockey in PE
• The flexibility of our staff with changing schedules and Forward Exam makeups
• Conversations at the copy machine in the morning
• Discussions about the voting age in Social Studies
• The kids at the NJHS induction ceremony.  You have done amazing things with all of our kids and these students are examples of that.  Here's the video that was shown during the ceremony.

Calendar
Friday, April 7

• I'm out all day.  College visit with Lauren and Jen.

Saturday, April 8- Monday, April 17

• Spring Break (Have fun, learn a little, relax a lot)

Tuesday, April 18

• Severe weather week (Tornado drill one day this week, depending upon weather.)
• 7:15-8:30  volleyball practice
• 4:15-5:15  Homework Club

Wednesday, April 19

• RtI/PLC Wednesday 8:00-9:15
• Staff meeting at 8:00 sharp

Tweets, quotes, and blogs
Preparing Kids for Jobs that Exist Now (from George Couros)

Empty Kids into the Gift Shop (from Dave Burgess)

(from @matthew_arend on Twitter)

What We Ask of Our Students and What We Do (from George Couros)

(from Pinterest)

On Parent Assumptions and Fear of Change (from Pernille Ripp)

(from Pinterest)

Innovate Together (from George Couros- There's a terrific poem in this blog.)

@mertonint on Twitter

#mertonint on Twitter

Merton Intermediate School on Facebook

Merton Intermediate School on Instagram

Family smore for 4.7.17

Back to School grants
I know we just got to Spring Break, but here's an opportunity through Meemic Insurance for back to school grants.  It's an easy process and takes little time to complete.  Here is the link if you are interested.

Practice what you preach
Today is one of those days when I'm practicing what I preach.  I'm putting family first.  Lauren, Jen, and I are visiting UW-Oshkosh, our second college visit.  Ron is in the district and can help with any big issues that arise.  If you want to have some fun on the last day, it would be awesome if you stopped down during lunch or recess to hang out with the kids.  Many of them are taking family trips while others will be staying around Merton.  They might not admit it, but they will miss us.  Having some fun at recess or just sitting with them and enjoying lunch would mean more to them than you can imagine.
Be the one!
Jay
Take care of the kids.  Take care of each other.  Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell