Jay's Journal

Merton Intermediate Instagram page

Family smore for 5.25.18

Mirrors, windows, and doors
Every other Tuesday night I help co-moderate a Twitter chat called #PIAchat (PIA stands for PrincipalsInAction). This week we discussed reflecting on our school year. If you have a moment, you can check out the thread to the chat here (You'll just need to search for the May 22nd chat in the link and possibly sign up, but it's worth it.). If you don't want to read through the thread, could I ask you a favor? Reflect on your year, or maybe just your day or last hour of the day, by thinking about a mirror (What did you do?), a window (What did you provide to others?), and a door (What opportunities did you create?). I'd love to hear or read your thoughts.

Have a great Friday, and relax over the Memorial Day Weekend!
Jay
Take care of the kids. Take care of each other. Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell

Friday, May 18, 2018

How was your aim?

The goal is not always meant to be reached, but to serve as a mark for our aim.

Joseph Joubert,
essayist

The quote above really caught my attention. As the minutes in the day go by, and the days of the week go by, I've noticed that although my aim is high (you can pick the topic), I might not always get there. I've had visions of having a school where students and staff respect one another all the time. For the most part, it's true here in Merton. But there are days, or times of the day, where than might not always be the case. The goal is mutual respect, and that's also the aim. Aim is a personal thing that needs to be adjusted a variety of times during the day. Jen shared this video (it's at the end of the article, which is also good) with me about teenagers. I think one reason was so that I understood Lauren better. The other was to give me a better perspective on teenagers. After all, teenagers aren't just mini-adults. They are teenagers. As you can continue to read this week's nuts and bolts, you'll notice a lot of quotes. Maybe you'll relate to the quote above, or maybe not, but hopefully one of the quotes will resonate with you.

Calendar
Monday, May 21st
8:00AM BLT meeting

Tuesday, May 22nd
5th grade at camp
8:50 cover Brian F.
4:15 Homework Club

Wednesday, May 23rd
5th grade at camp
8:30 Parents' United?

Thursday, May 24th
5th grade at camp
Half day career day
Specials meeting
2:00 A-team meeting
4:00 Opioid Awareness at Swallow
4:15 Final Homework Club

Friday, May 25th
Jeans for Troops Day ($5 to wear jeans. Money collected goes to military veterans)
3:00 5th grade HG&D

Future Dates
Monday, May 28th- Memorial Day (No School)
Friday, June 1st- Celebration Day
Tuesday, June 5th- 8th grade Day Away and dance
Wednesday, June 6th- Awards assembly and 8th grade graduation
Thursday, June 7th- Last day of school (half day)

Great things I saw this week...
See this below from one of our new families on Facebook.
"New to this school coming from St Joe’s and Brighton in Kenosha county. Two other great schools. Merton Schools and staff are outstanding. Clean school, well kept, friendly, class and sports options. Real food and healthy options for lunches. The list goes on! Singing that was actually really great and enjoyable. (Not just parent requirements lol). Looking forward to my sons program tonight."
Sphero and ozobots in Science
Students creating multimodal books in LA
Custodians going above the call of duty for concert setups and tear down, even though they were shorthanded.
The concerts on Tuesday night were amazing!
I continue to visit classrooms and you continue to keep the kids engaged. Keep it up!

Tweets, quotes, and blogs Thriving Through Adversity (from George Couros)

(from @SylviaDuckworth)

Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?

Mary Oliver,
poet

Only by self-respect will you compel others to respect you.

Fyodor Dostoyevsky,
writer and philosopher

(Thanks to Jen for sending this my way. I also think "month" could be substituted for "week".)

"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these." — George Washington Carver

Deliberate with caution, but act with decision; and yield with graciousness, or oppose with firmness.

Charles Caleb Colton,
cleric and writer

What, after all, has maintained the human race on this old globe despite all the calamities of nature and all the tragic failings of mankind, if not faith in new possibilities, and courage to advocate them.

Jane Addams,
social activist

Each generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it.

George Orwell,
writer and journalist

There are many things that seem impossible only so long as one does not attempt them.

Andre Gide,
author

A happy life consists not in the absence, but in the mastery of hardships.

Helen Keller,
writer and social activist

Merton Intermediate Instagram page

Family smore for 5.18.18

I hope you remembered to wear jeans and a sweatshirt today.
See you all soon.
Jay
Take care of the kids. Take care of each other. Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell

Friday, May 11, 2018

Reflecting on our year

Believe it or not, I'm a pretty reflective person. It happens a lot while I'm running, or walking the halls, or driving around. Every day I think back on many different things to see what I can celebrate and what I need to do better tomorrow. This week has been overly filled with reflective moments, some of celebration and some of wanting to do something completely different the next time. Why is it that I tend to focus on the things I should do better? Why can't I just celebrate the good once in a while? Maybe you feel the same way. If you do feel like I do, let's find something to celebrate together next week.

Great things I saw this week...
Everybody wearing their baseball shirts on Monday.
Monday's softball game with the smiles from kids and staff.
Staff "taking one for the team" to be with our kids while the rest of us played or coached.
Wiffle ball games during PE and at recess.
Spheros, Vex robots, and all things creation in Science classes.
Kids reading and gaining background information for documentaries.
A text message to share a huge gain in MAPs so that I could let the student know how proud I am of him.
Getting closer to the end of MAP and F&P testing for the year.
The individual and small group attention you give our kids every day.
More volunteers than I can remember for starfish and frog dissections.
The pride Jen has in our book fair.
Michael and the kids getting ready for Grandparents' Day.
#1 all time- Dan suggesting a collection for an 8th grader, and the staff filling an envelope to make sure his graduation is something that he will remember. Thanks, Dan!

Calendar
Monday, May 14th
End of year EE meetings start

Tuesday, May 15th
4:15 Homework Club
5:30 Spring Concerts

Thursday, May 17th
Grade level and specials meetings
4:15 Homework Club

Friday, May 18th
1:30 Family tour

Future Dates
Monday, May 21st- BLT meeting (8AM)
Tuesday, May 22nd-Thursday, May 24th- 5th grade at camp
Thursday May 24th- Career Day (8:30-11:30)
Monday, May 28th- Memorial Day (No School)
Friday, June 1st- Celebration Day
Tuesday, June 5th- 8th grade Day Away and dance
Wednesday, June 6th- Awards assembly and 8th grade graduation
Thursday, June 7th- Last day of school (half day)

Tweets, quotes, and blogs
Saying "Yes" to Yourself (from George Couros)

The great man does not think beforehand of his words that they may be sincere, nor of his actions that they may be resolute -- he simply speaks and does what is right.

Mencius,
philosopher

Keep Your Head Up and Keep Creating (from George Couros)

(from Pinterest)

Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.

John Steinbeck,
writer

Surviving the Home Stretch (from Dan Tricarico via Dave Burgess)

The secret of living a life of excellence is merely a matter of thinking thoughts of excellence.

Charles Swindoll,
pastor

7 Things Most People Don't Know About Teachers (from AJ Juliani)

"I think you have one time around. And I don't know what's going to be in existence in six months or a year. So, I think that you're here on earth to make some kind of contribution...But, I'm impatient. I suppose, I would hope everybody would be impatient."

Robert Kennedy, 1925-1968, American politician

Kids are not better at technology than adults (from George Couros)

You have to be absolutely frank with yourself. Face your handicaps; don't try to hide them. Instead, develop something else.

Audrey Hepburn,
actress

And What Do We End With? (from Pernille Ripp)

Merton Intermediate Instagram page
Student assembly presentation from 5.9.18

Family smore for 5.11.18

Yesterday, one of our colleagues asked me how I do all that I do every day as a principal. What I do pales in comparison to what each of you do. You are a teacher, and if you were to write a list of all of the duties you actually do every day, what would you put on the list? I won't even start as my list would not be inclusive enough or as accurate as the list you would make. What I do know is that your love of kids would be at the top. I witness it every day and am so impressed by what you do for and with our kids. The kids and families might not tell you enough how thankful they are for all that you do, but know that they are. And know that I am thankful, too. You live the words that ends every weekly nuts and bolts- Be the one.
Jay
Take care of the kids. Take care of each other. Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell

Friday, May 4, 2018

Staff Appreciation Week

Staff appreciation week is a big deal to me. You should all be recognized and appreciated every day. Although I think you all should be recognized for your work with our kids more often, sometimes what we hear more is what we don't want to hear. Our PTO recognizes all that you do and they are amazed by it every day. They speak to Mike and I at PTO meetings, but it's also those conversations in the office, outside, or in the community that let us know just how much they appreciate you. The PTO is a microcosm of our school community. They are the vocal ones who aren't afraid to speak up and tell others about the great things you do for our kids and our school. When you see our families on Monday afternoon, please thank them for recognizing you. I know that what the PTO has planned is a disruption to an already busy May, but the disruption is for a really good cause- YOU!

Great things I saw this week...
Student led book discussions in LA. There were some great comments.
The roller skating unit sure looks like fun. With me it would just be funny.
PTO's leadership with Staff Appreciation Week.
Kids playing baseball and kickball at recess.
Staff conversing about all sorts of things.
The kids doing their best to stay focused with the change in weather (Thank goodness!) and the time of year.
Classes going outside for learning.
We had a really good fire drill (Under 1:30 for a 2 story school is really good).
Our cafeteria staff smiling even when they run out of certain food items for the kids (Please be diligent about the lunch counts. They have an impact on our 5th and 6th grade lunch.).
Kids working in pairs to study for an upcoming test. Their conversations were really good.
I really enjoyed our grade level and specials meetings on Thursday. Your care and concern for our kids, and each other, is amazing!
"Emergency" BLT meeting after school to discuss best way to handle next week's goofy schedule.

Calendar
Monday, May 7th
It's Shorts Day!
8:55 Round 2 PE interviews all morning
2:30 Staff appreciation activity (7th/8th grade tentative adjusted schedule with 5th hour)

Tuesday, May 8th
4:15 Homework Club

Wednesday, May 9th
8:15 Staff meeting (Staff recognition awards)
8:40-8:55 WIN assembly (No adjusted schedule)
1:15 A-team meeting

Thursday, May 10th
Grade level and specials meetings
4:15 Homework Club

Friday, May 11th
Grandparents'/ Special Persons' Day in the AM

Future Dates
Monday, May 14th-Thurday, May 17th- Scholastic Book Fair
Tuesday, May 15th- Spring Concerts (Band at 5:30/ Choir at 7:00)
Tuesday, May 22nd-Thursday, May 24th- 5th grade at camp
Thursday May 24th- Career Day (8:30-11:30)
Monday, May 28th- Memorial Day (No School)
Friday, June 1st- Celebration Day
Tuesday, June 5th- 8th grade Day Away and dance
Wednesday, June 6th- Awards assembly and 8th grade graduation
Thursday, June 7th- Last day of school (half day)

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

There is no more miserable human being than one in whom nothing is habitual but indecision.

William James,
philosopher and psychologist

Start Again Tomorrow (from George Couros)

Creative activity could be described as a type of learning process where teacher and pupil are located in the same individual.

Arthur Koestler,
writer and journalist

When No One Else Is Watching (from Todd Schmidt)

I wish that we worried more about asking the right questions instead of being so hung up on finding answers.

Madeleine L'Engle,
novelist

Your Local Expertise (from George Couros)

"Leverage Worry and Fear" (from George Couros)

Be not afraid of greatness: Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.

William Shakespeare,
poet, playwright and actor