Be that teacher

Borrowed from Jessica Johnson (@PrincipalJ)

I've seen and heard so many of you talking about kids this week.  You're talking about what you can do to help kids academically and behaviorally.  You're not talking about excuses or the things that we have no control over.  You're talking about what you can do when the kids are with us.  By the way, it's the only time with our kids that we truly have control over.  I urge you to keep talking about our kids with one another to find new ways to connect and support them.  You can do this.  I know you can.  And one day in the near future, one of the kids we talk about will come back and thank you for what you've done for them.

This is worth the 10 minutes, I promise

A number of my principal friends share our nuts and bolts with one another.  Joni Stevenson, principal from Idaho and a mentee of mine for the last couple of years, shared this video with her staff.  Please, please take the time to watch this video.  It shows the power that you have as an educator, the power that I see every day.

Great things I saw this week...
Building relationships in classrooms with group and individual conversations.
Kids reading, which meant I was reading, too.
Learning slope intercept form in math.
The focus on test prep which included some cheerleading by many of you.
Kids enjoying the outdoor weather. (You're more than welcome to join us at recess!)
Kids and staff jumping in to math pilots and learning in different ways.
Our discussions at grade level and specials meetings.
The use of our learning lounge.
Listening to our bands and choirs. (I saw them, too!)
Kids struggling with the math pilots, and then realizing how much they had learned.
I was copied on two separate emails from families celebrating what you do for their child.

Calendar
Saturday, March 3rd
EdCampElmbrook at Brookfield Central

Tuesday, March 6th
4:15  Homework Club

Wednesday, March 7th
7:00  School Board candidate forum

Thursday, March 8th
Grade level/ specials meetings
4:15  Homework Club
4:30  7th/8th grade invitation conferences

Friday, March 9th
Half day, noon release

• Important future dates
• March 9th- Half day, AM schedule, noon release
• March 12th- Strategic planning
• March 13th- concerts
• March 16th- Merton Art Show 4-7PM at St. John's church
• March 16th and 17th- band/choir trip
• March 19th- board meeting
• March 19th-31st- Forward exam (schedule under development)
• March 20th- Parent tech night
• March 22nd- 7th and 8th grade arena conferences
• April 12th- NJHS induction
• April 19th- High School Musical Junior
• 6th-8th see in the AM
• 3rd-5th see in the PM
• May 11th- Grandparents Day
• May 15th- concerts

Tweets, blogs, and quotes
The Critic in Your Head (from George Couros)

(from Math Education SmartBrief)

Convince Me (from George Couros)

(from Pinterest)

"Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start." — Nido Qubein

Pathway or Obstacle (from George Couros)

I've developed a new philosophy. I only dread one day at a time.

Charles M. Schulz, cartoonist

#mertonint on Twitter

#MertonProud on Twitter

Merton Intermediate Facebook page

Merton Intermediate Instagram page

Family smore for 3.2.18

I hope you enjoy Jump Rope for Heart and Hat Day today.  It was a great full week of school.  Thanks for all that you do for our kids every day.
Be the one!
Jay
Take care of the kids.  Take care of each other.  Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell