Jay's Journal: Impact

You make an impact every day. The thing is, the impact can be good or bad, and sometimes we don't know until much later. Heidi shared something with me Tuesday morning that to me wasn't a big deal, but to Cameron, her son, it was. This year I'm outside for student pickup in our parking lot nearly every day, playing music out of my JammyPack, stopping traffic (either because of my bright yellow jacket or my elf hat, you decide), waving, smiling, and wishing everyone a great afternoon. Cameron stopped by yesterday and as he walked across the parking lot, I greeted him, took off my glove, and shook his hand. No big deal, right? Well, Heidi spoke to me Tuesday morning and told me how impressed Cameron was that I took off my glove to shake his hand. And Heidi thanked me for that. It's just a little thing that made an impact on a great young man. Sometimes the things that we take for granted and do without thinking are the things that can have the greatest impact.

Great things I saw this week...
Our custodial staff getting everything ready for our holiday concerts.
Stress relieving activities in health.
Kids really engaged in read alouds.
Students sharing their math test scores, with smiles!
Listening to students discussing political cartoons in Social Studies.
Students talking through examples in math, struggling and supporting one another.
Ask Brian K. about Wisconsin Math Hoops. The kids are so excited!
Students nervously preparing for their concerts.
The band and choir concerts were amazing!
The sing along at the assembly on Wednesday.
The PTO decorating the teachers' lounge
7th and 8th grade basketball tryouts
The excitement of the students trying out for Mary Poppins Jr.
3 on 3 lunchtime basketball tournament

Calendar
Intermediate School Special Events

Monday, December 17th
Holiday Spirit Week- Merry Red and Green Day
BLT meeting 4:15
School board meeting 7:00

Tuesday, December 18th
Encore Choir and Jazz Band caroling (all day)
PTO brunch and wrap
Holiday Spirit Week- Holiday/Ugly Sweater Day

Wednesday, December 19th
Holiday Spirit Week- Holiday Hat Day

Thursday, December 20th
Holiday Spirit Week- Flannel and Fuzzy Socks Day

Friday, December 21st
Holiday Spirit Week- Polar Express Pajama Day
Raffle! (You'll get a ticket every day that you participate in our dress up days!)

Saturday, December 22nd-Tuesday, January 1st
No School- Winter Break

Wednesday, January 2nd
Back to school!

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

Tomorrow is the most important thing. ... It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday.

John Wayne,
actor

Arrogance Leads to Irrelevance (from George Couros)

The sea and wind can at the same time convey my neighbor's vessel and my own.

Jean-Baptiste Say,
economist

Growth Mindset: Learning Like A Skater (and failing like one too)

(from AJ Juliani)

Ditch That Textbook Digital Summit (from Matt Miller and Dave Burgess. A great chance for professional development on your own time.)

(from @woodard_julie)

Have you ever wanted to connect your classroom with another classroom? Check out empatico.org for some opportunities. (suggestion given me during #satchat this weekend)