Great things I saw this week...
No snowmageddon on Monday!
ACT Aspire testing is all done! Thanks for the flexibility of our 7th and 8th grade teachers and a special thank you to Dawn!
Biztown Student Showcase at the School Board meeting.
STEM field trip for our 8th graders.
NJHS Penny Wars idea for #CaliforniaFires victims.
Cup stacking in 7th grade PE to relieve some stress.
Brian K. and his students really excited about Wisconsin Math Hoops (Ask BK about it.)
Flipgrid videos for book reviews.
Listening to Katie read "The Tell-Tale Heart" to the kids, and me (It's my favorite Edgar Allan Poe short story.).
Educator Effectiveness discussions with many of you (I really enjoy talking about the magic you all do in the classroom, and beyond, every day with our kids.).
Kids following me around at recess while I'm playing tunes out of my JammyPack.
Calendar
Intermediate School Special Events
Monday, December 3rd
Jay at SLATE after lunch
Tuesday, December 4th
Jay at SLATE all day
Thanks to Dave and Holly for covering my lunch and recess duty
Merton Tree lighting- 7PM
Wednesday, December 5th
Jay at SLATE in the morning (I hope to return close to 1:30)
Thanks to Michael and Dan for covering my lunch and recess duty
Thursday, December 6th
7th grade attends A Christmas Carol (all day)
Monday, December 10th- Friday, December 14th
NJHS Penny Wars
Tuesday, December 11th
Holiday Concerts (Band-5:30, Choir-7:00)
Monday, December 17th- Thursday, December 20th
Holiday Spirit Week
Tuesday, December 18th
Encore Choir and Jazz Band caroling (all day)
Wednesday, December 19th
Holiday brunch
Tweets, quotes, and blogs
If you knew... (from Allyson Apsey)
Exceeding Expectations (from Shelley Burgess)
Teaching Responsibility or Compliance? (from George Couros)
Our Kids Need You (from Tom Murray)
(from Dwight Carter's Facebook page)
Camp Fire All Kids Are Our Kids
Through my social media connections, I have come to know many principals from all over the country. In an effort to help support the Butte County Schools in their efforts to help out fire victims, please consider purchasing one of these shirts or sweatshirts.
If you had to lump humanity into two groups what would those groups be? In an inspirational speech, the late Randy Pausch asked his audience “Do you want to live your life as a Tigger, or an Eeyore?”
It is a fun, yet intriguing question.
Tigger is positive, energetic, fun, cheerful and confident. He always is trying to do his best, is up to try new things, keeps going even when he falls, and always sees the glass as being half full. We all know Tiggers.
Eeyore on the other hand is the opposite. Eeyore is usually gloomy, pessimistic, sarcastic, and never looks on the bright side. His glass is half empty and lacks confident. We all know Eeyores.
People and systems are going to let you down. Things and situations are not always going to go your way. We have no control over the actions of people that are in our lives. We have no control over the universe. But we do have control over who we are. I know that being a Tigger 100% of the time sounds daunting but being an Eeyore sounds unproductive and no fun.
In education we are constantly faced with students, parents, and other educators. I have had my fare share of run ins with Eeyores, but that is when my Tigger personality bounces into full effect. We must stay positive, cheerful, and confident. We need to show perseverance and bounce back from our failures.
Every educator has the choice when that alarm clock goes off each morning, are you getting out of bed as an Eeyore or a Tigger?
Be The One that who tries your best, is up to try new things, keeps going even when you fall, and always sees the glass as being half full.
Have a great weekend. Unplug from school at least one day. It's a great habit to get into (I know what you're saying, but habits are hard to start and even harder to stop.), but I'm working on it.
Be the spark!
Jay
Take care of the kids. Take care of each other. Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell
