Jay's Journal

mertonint on Instagram
BLT notes from 12.16.19
Principals' Presentation from the Board Meeting 12.16.19
Family smore from 12.20.19

In case you wanted to know...

Here is the recipe for the beef we had at lunch on Thursday.

MISSISSIPPI POT ROAST

3 to 4 lb Chuck, roast

1 tbsp Pepperoncini, juice

1 packet Au jus gravy mix

6 Pepperoncini peppers, jarred

1 packet Ranch salad dressing mix

Half stick of Butter

Cook in crock pot 7-8 hours OR bake in oven roaster at 275 degrees about 5 -6 hours. Shred and serve on Kings Hawaiian rolls or over mashed potatoes.

It's like the old McDonald's add, "You deserve a break today", but more...
Here's the classic from 1982, the year I graduated from high school.

Here's the more. I encourage you to take a break from school during our Winter Break. You determine the days and the times, but take a break. Do something that you like alone or with family and friends. I promise, unless there's something really important, to not send you an email until Friday, December 27th. That's one week from today.

It is my honor, privilege, and joy to go to school with you all every day.

Happy Holidays!

Jay

#JustInspire

Take care of the kids. Take care of each other. Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell

Friday, December 13, 2019

Potential

The potential that our kids have is amazing. You all do many things to try to find that potential. In listening to the speakers and participants at SLATE this week, I realized quickly the amazing opportunities you provide all of our students. Your potential is amazing, too. I only hope that we can continue to build the culture and climate in Merton that allows your potential to be maximized which in turn will maximize the potential of our students. Let me know what I can do to help you realize your own potential. I'm here to support you and encourage you. Thanks for being willing to learn and grow every day!

Great things I saw this week...
Our NJHS kids setting up the gym for this week's concerts
5th grade team stepping up to help out when there was no guest teacher on Monday
The support you give our students throughout the day
Getting to see you on Wednesday afternoon when I returned from SLATE
The comments I heard about the concerts on Tuesday
The amazing things our kids are doing in electives
Great conversations about kids
The potato bar on Thursday
The gifts in the office
The PTO decorations in the lounge
The student volunteers and Carey, Becky, and Dan at the 8th grade girls basketball tournament
Matthew winning the Patriot's Pen Award. You have all had an amazing impact on him!

Name it. Claim it. Explain it.
Thanks to Holly and the 6th grade team for playing along.

Calendar

Please continue to review the Intermediate Special Events Calendar at our weekly grade level and specials meetings, too.

Friday, December 13th
Packers Day
Giving Tree gifts due

Monday, December 16th
Merry Red and Green Day
School board meeting 7PM

Tuesday, December 17th
Holiday/Ugly Sweater Day
PTO gift wrap and brunch

Wednesday, December 18th
Holiday Hat Day

Thursday, December 19th
Flannels and Fuzzy Socks Day!
Lunch on Jen and Jay!

Friday, December 20th
Polar Express Pajama Day!
Raffle day! (You will get a raffle ticket for each day that you participate in a dress up day! The more you participate the better your chances!)

Saturday, December 21st- Wednesday, January 1st
Winter Break

Thursday, January 2nd
School resumes!

Name it. Claim it. Explain it.
Thanks to Holly and the 6th grade team for playing along!

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

Learning to Learn Beyond the Test (from George Couros)

Inspiration is a guest that does not willingly visit the lazy.

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky,
composer

We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.

E.M. Forster,
writer

On the Path to "Purpose" (from George Couros)

The more I do, the more frightened I get. But that is essential. Otherwise why would I go on doing it?

Dame Judi Dench,
actress

5 Strategies for Improving Mental and Physical Health (from George Couros)

I think you should take your job seriously, but not yourself -- that is the best combination.

Dame Judi Dench,
actress

Change obstacles into challenges. You might have to step back and go a different direction, but you can achieve.

Raye Montague,
naval engineer who revolutionized the design process for naval ships, and US Navy's first female program manager of ships

Take Care of You (from Jon Harper)

What I didn't understand, all those years when I was waiting for my life to start, was that it had already started.

Lee Smith,
writer

Try the Door: Overcoming Groupthink (from Dave Burgess)

mertonint on Instagram
Family smore from 12.13.19

My 3
In my email on Tuesday morning, I shared a video from Joe Sanfelippo. Here it is again. Some of you shared your 3 with me. Some of you had your students share their 3 with you. If you wanted to know my 3, and even if you didn't, here they are.
1. Connecting with students and staff
2. Making Jen laugh
3. Stretching my thinking
I'd love to know what your 3 are.

Another 3
In reflecting on SLATE, I have 3 takeaways
1. Being able to connect with Tom Murray in person was an incredible opportunity. When you have a chance to connect with someone who makes you reflect on what you do and how you do it, you become a better person.
2. Realize that someone is always listening and watching, even if you don't realize it. Ask me about the sprinkles story if you want to learn more.
3. I get to go to school nearly every day with the best educators, and people, that I could ever come in contact with. I knew that you had everything under control and can't thank you enough for taking over the ship while I was gone.

Have a great weekend, and we've got this. Just take it one day at a time.
#JustInspire
Jay
Take care of the kids. Take care of each other. Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell

Friday, December 6, 2019

It's the hap, happiest time of the year

I love this time of the year in school. There is excitement for the upcoming holidays, but I also just love getting into your classrooms to see what's going on. This week I started by having an almost No Office Day (I had a couple of meetings) on Monday but for the most part I was in classrooms. It was great to see you get right back into the swing of things with the kids. There were reviews, and quizzes, and sharing, and reading, and active students in PE. The kids genuinely seemed to be happy to be back to school, too. I also noticed that our Giving Tree in the lobby had few remaining gift tags. We are so lucky to live and work in such a caring community. Every day that I come to school, I'm happy, but these few weeks before our Winter Holiday are always the happiest for me.

Great things I saw this week...
Kids getting a great workout in PE doing circuit training
Conferring with students about their writing or Math
The choir and jazz band at the tree lighting
Jeopardy in Social Studies (ask Carey)
The excitement the Kahoot music brought to some 6th graders
Getting to meet with teams again
Shoutouts during our staff meeting on Wednesday
Staff wearing new spiritwear items
The kids during our assembly, and some of the lollipop moments I heard about
The 7th graders all dressed up for their field trip, and the report of great behavior when they returned
Matt and Dave playing a little 2 on 2 basketball with some 7th graders after the field trip

Calendar

Please continue to review the Intermediate Special Events Calendar at our weekly grade level and specials meetings, too.

Monday, December 9th
Jay at SLATE conference after lunch
8th grade girls basketball tournament at Merton Primary

Tuesday, December 10th
Jay at SLATE conference (I could use someone to cover 7/8 lunch and recess- GOOSE pass!)
Dress up for Holiday concerts
Choir concert 5:30/ Band concert 7:00

Wednesday, December 11th
Jay at SLATE conference (I could use someone to cover 7/8 lunch and recess- GOOSE pass!)
Flannel and Fuzzy Socks Day!
8th grade girls basketball tournament at Merton Intermediate

Thursday, December 12th
6th grade Potato bar!
8th grade girls basketball tournament at Merton Intermediate

Friday, December 13th
Packers Day
Giving Tree gifts due

Monday, December 16th
Merry Red and Green Day
School board meeting 7PM

Tuesday, December 17th
Holiday/Ugly Sweater Day
PTO gift wrap and brunch

Wednesday, December 18th
Holiday Hat Day

Thursday, December 19th
Flannels and Fuzzy Socks Day!
Lunch on Jen and Jay!

Friday, December 20th
Polar Express Pajama Day!
Raffle day! (You will get a raffle ticket for each day that you participate in a dress up day! The more you participate the better your chances!)

Name it. Claim it. Explain it.

Tweets, quotes, and blogs
The Willingness to Start (from George Couros)

What seems today inconceivable will appear one day, from a higher stand point, quite simple and harmonious.

Max Planck,
theoretical physicist, Nobel Prize winner who discovered energy quanta

(from School Leadership 2.0)

It is better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret.

Jackie Joyner-Kersee,
track and field athlete, Olympic medal winner

(from AJ Juliani- I found this interesting. We should try to find activities in the zone of adaptation.)

I believe there is nothing more disturbing than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept!

Ansel Adams,
landscape photographer, environmentalist

mertonint on Instagram
Lollipop moments assembly presentation
Family smore from 12.6.19

Holiday staff brunch and gift wrap

Once again, our amazing PTO is providing a brunch for us on Tuesday, December 17th. Not only that, but they are also doing our gift wrap for us. If you're like me, if the PTO doesn't wrap my gifts, wrapping isn't going to happen.

We've got two more weeks of learning before our Winter Break. Keep on engaging the kids. Keep smiling. Keep encouraging one another. Keep finding time for your family and friends. Keep finding time for yourself. Have a little fun with the next two weeks as we dress up and eat way too much. We've got this!
#JustInspire
Jay
Take care of the kids. Take care of each other. Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Happy Thanksgiving!

This week's nuts and bolts is a short one, just like the week. I'm sharing this week's #principalsinaction challenge with you. No blogs. No quotes. No tweets. Just this challenge.

Calendar

Please continue to review the Intermediate Special Events Calendar at our weekly grade level and specials meetings, too.

Wednesday, November 27th- Sunday, December 1st
Thanksgiving Break

Tuesday, December 3rd
Village of Merton Tree Lighting

Wednesday, December 4th
WIN Wednesday 8:00-9:15

Thursday, December 5th
7th grade field trip

Monday, December 9th- Saturday, December 13th
8th grade girls basketball tournament at Merton

Monday, December 9th- Wednesday, December 11th
Jay at SLATE conference

Tuesday, December 10th
Band/Choir concerts

mertonint on Instagram
Family smore from 11.26.19

Happy Thanksgiving!
#JustInspire
Jay
Take care of the kids. Take care of each other. Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell

Friday, November 22, 2019

Kindness continued

Although last week Wednesday was National Kindness Day, I think you would all agree that it's important to be kind every day. What does kindness look like to you? It really does look different for everyone. It can also be somewhat dependent upon what you're going through or what the person "receiving your kindness" is dealing with, too. I challenge each of you, in the kindest way possible, to keep spreading kindness with our students and each other. Kindness kindles kindness!

Two really important items for you
1. Please do me a favor. The safety of our students, and each of you, is increased when you get into the habit of locking your doors and using the safety latch that is on each door. Please return to this habit. It is the expectation that you use this safety latch at all times. Any questions, don't hesitate to ask.
2. What do you have in your guest teacher folder? Do you have class lists? Do you have attendance and lunch count slips? Do you have your schedule? Do you have contact information for Barb and the tech department and me? Do you have classroom procedures for drills including the locations your class goes for each of the drills? Do you have important student medical information? Do you have anything else in your folder? Please make sure you have all of these items, and if I've forgotten anything that you feel is important, please let us all know!

Great things I saw this week...
Kids working hard both days of Homework Club
Kids helping out with blankets for disabled adults
Guest teachers being supported by you all (and Maryann was back!)
A great lunch on Wednesday organized by our 5th grade team
The flexibility of our PE department with the play happening in the Primary School
The discussions I overheard or sat in on that weren't about curriculum but about the choices we make in life
A really great family meeting to move a student from one level of math to another
The behavior of the audience during Seussical Jr.
SEUSSICAL JR. (The kids, Carey, Michael, Jackie, and Mrs. Kohnert!)

Calendar

Please continue to review the Intermediate Special Events Calendar at our weekly grade level and specials meetings, too.

Friday, November 22nd
Seussical Jr. 7PM

Saturday, November 23rd
Seussical Jr. 2PM and 7PM

Tuesday, November 26th
Half day- all school attending Mr. Roger's Neighborhood (No letter day)

Wednesday, November 27th- Sunday, December 1st
Thanksgiving Break

Tuesday, December 3rd
Village of Merton Tree Lighting

Wednesday, December 4th
WIN Wednesday 8:00-9:15

Thursday, December 5th
7th grade field trip

Monday, December 9th- Saturday, December 13th
8th grade girls basketball tournament at Merton

Monday, December 9th- Wednesday, December 11th
Jay at SLATE conference

Tuesday, December 10th
Band/Choir concerts

Name it. Claim it. Explain it.
Thanks to Heidi for playing along last week, and for sharing the math resource. Here's are new one for the week.

Tweets, blogs, and quotes
A Great Question to Ask Students Every Day (from George Couros)

The Benefit of "Sticking With It" (from George Couros)

We All Have Weak Spots (from Allyson Apsey)

(from George Couros)

Asking for Help Too Earl Rather Than Too Late (from George Couros)

(from MindShift)

You'll never know everything about anything, especially something you love.

Julia Child,
chef, cookbook author

mertonint on Instagram
Principal Presentation from School Board meeting 11.18.19
Family smore from 11.22.19

Today is a No Office Day for me. I'll be out of my office starting at 8:30 and in your classrooms as soon as I'm done with the announcements. If you've got something you'd like me to see or be a part of in your classroom, send me a text or email or direct message on Twitter and I'll join you as soon as I can. I can hardly wait for my time in your classrooms tomorrow!
Don't forget to wear blaze orange or camouflage or flannel!

#JustInspire

Jay

Take care of the kids. Take care of each other. Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell

Friday, November 15, 2019

November- a month of gratitude

November, which apparently this year is the first month of Winter, is also the month of Thanksgiving. I am so thankful for so many things- my health, my family, all of you, our school community, my friends- but I don't often show it. I need to be better at that this month, and I will be better at that this month. I encourage you to take some time to notice the things for which you are grateful. Focus on those positives as we move through November. It's the perfect time to be thankful.

Great things I saw this week...
Dave blowing up and burning stuff in Science
Some awesome girls basketball action
6th grade Thankful Thursday
The kids were pretty awesome during the assembly
Listening to you laugh and relax on Wednesday morning
Our school report is pretty amazing!
The 7th and 8th graders taking Aspire testing seriously
Kid conversations during our grade level meetings
#CardiganDay on Wednesday
Kids blogging and commenting on the blogs of their classmates

Name it. Claim it. Explain it.

Calendar

Please continue to review the Intermediate Special Events Calendar at our weekly grade level and specials meetings, too.

Friday, November 15th
Food drive ends

Monday, November 18th
Lunch provided by the district due to our excellent report card!
BLT meeting at 4:15PM
School board meeting 7PM (Anyone want to do the Student Showcase?)

Tuesday, November 19th
Jay at Living as a Leader all morning

Wednesday, November 20th
SEL meeting all day
Culver's Night 4-8PM

Thursday, November 21st
Seussical Jr. (School performance at 10:30/ Evening performance at 7PM)

Friday, November 22nd
Seussical Jr. 7PM

Saturday, November 23rd
Seussical Jr. 2PM and 7PM

Tuesday, November 26th
Half day- all school attending Mr. Roger's Neighborhood (No letter day)

Wednesday, November 27th- Sunday, December 1st
Thanksgiving Break

Tuesday, December 3rd
Village of Merton Tree Lighting

Thursday, December 5th
7th grade field trip

Monday, December 9th- Saturday, December 13th
8th grade girls basketball tournament at Merton

Monday, December 9th- Wednesday, December 11th
Jay at SLATE conference

Tuesday, December 10th
Band/Choir concerts

Tweets, quotes, and blogs
A Moment of Gratitude (from George Couros)

There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.

Beverly Sills,
operatic soprano

Why Teachers Are So Excited About the Power of Sketchnoting (from Katrina Schwartz)

A perfect life is a contradiction in terms.

Swami Vivekananda,
Hindu monk, teacher of philosophy

(from Jen- she gets my humor)

The Feedback of Failure (from George Couros)

The Simple Secret to Happiness (from Ryan Estis)

mertonint on Instagram
Student assembly presentation from 11.13.19
Family smore from 11.15.19

Spoiler alert! This is a tear jerker!

I realized that when I saw this video, a video about laundry detergent, that I needed to share it with you. I'll let you figure out my why after you've seen the video. If nothing else, it has made me rethink many of my interactions with students, staff, families, as well as my own family and friends. Enjoy!

The Good Experiment

Socks

I know what you're thinking. Jay's lost it. The last part of our nuts and bolts is about socks? Take a moment to read this blog by Dave Burgess, Putting on Socks. I can guarantee you that I'll be sharing this with our kids as we get ready for the Forward Exam. It's all about socks.

Have a great weekend! I hope that you get a chance to relax and refresh for the last full school week of November.
#JustInspire
Jay
Take care of the kids. Take care of yourself. Take care of each other.- John Gunnell

Friday, November 8, 2019

Engaged or empowered?

This quote from George Couros hit me right between the eyes last Friday morning.

I wonder how it impacts you? It makes me think about the opportunities we provide our students and the opportunities that you are provided by our school and district. Do our kids feel engaged or empowered? Do you feel engaged or empowered? No need to formally answer the questions, but please reflect on ways that we can better empower kids and ways that I can better empower you.

Sorry, but there are two sections that I can't fully complete this week due to CPI training. Next week, "Great things I saw this week" and "Claim it. Name it. Explain it." will return. Thanks to Carey for playing along last week!

Calendar

Please continue to review the Intermediate Special Events Calendar at our weekly grade level and specials meetings, too.

Friday, November 8th
Jay at CPI training
Veterans Day ceremony

Monday, November 11th
Jay is out in the AM for a doctor's appointment
7/8 Reading ACT/Aspire

Tuesday, November12th
7/8 Writing ACT/Aspire

Wednesday, November 13th
WIN Wednesday
8th grade Health field trip

Thursday, November 14th
7/8 English ACT/Aspire

Friday, November 15th
Food drive ends

Monday, November 18th
School board meeting 7PM (Anyone want to do the Student Showcase?)

Thursday, November 21st
Seussical Jr. (School performance at 10:30/ Evening performance at 7PM)

Friday, November 22nd
Seussical Jr. 7PM

Saturday, November 23rd
Seussical Jr. 2PM and 7PM

Tuesday, November 26th
Half day- all school attending Mr. Roger's Neighborhood

Tweets, quotes, and blogs
Don't Put Yourself in Others' Shoes (from Allyson Apsey)

But out of limitations comes creativity.

Debbie Allen,
actress, dancer, choreographer, director, producer

(from Modern Learners)

A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.

David Brinkley,
journalist, newscaster

Enjoying Moments that Matter (from George Couros)

The next step beyond failure could be your biggest success in life.

Debbie Allen,
actress, dancer, choreographer, director, producer

mertonint on Instagram
Family smore from 11.8.19

"Personal and Authentic" by Tom Murray

This is a blogpost written by George Couros about a book that Tom Murray has written. If you have the chance to read the post today or over the weekend, I encourage you to do so. I'm not trying to sell Tom's book to you, but if the blogpost captures your attention and you would like the book, let me know. Maybe we can do an informal book chat about it.

Well, two things were reinforced for me this week. The first- you are an amazing staff that can run the building without me. That makes me feel great. The second- you really know our kids and their academic abilities and you want to work with our families to make sure that their kids are doing their best and learning all that they are capable of learning. I tell my PLN about you all of the time, and it's difficult for me to find many things to say that aren't amazing. Keep up the great work for our kids and with each other. I am proud to be your principal!

#JustInspire

Jay

Take care of the kids. Take care of each other. Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell

Friday, November 1, 2019

Quarter 1

The first quarter is officially over. As a basketball coach, this was a time to reflect and make any changes that might make the second quarter better. Sometimes the changes are small and sometimes they're pretty big. I'm reflecting on student interactions, family interactions, and staff interactions and realize that I need to be better. I need to be more "there" in all of these interactions. I think I'm doing better with my use of technology, but I still have more work to do there. I need to be more proactive than reactive when interacting with families. Although I consider the phrase "no news is good news", I know that's not always the case. I need to make more time for our interactions at any time of our school day. Before and after school times are always best for me but that's not necessarily the same for you. Please let me know how I can be better at our interactions so that we can both be better for our kids, each other, and ourselves.

Great things I saw this week...
Completed pallet to project projects
Mock trial in Social Studies
Snow on the playground on Tuesday
NJHS meeting on Wednesday
PTO breakfast
Watching kids learning and watching you all facilitating the learning
MAP Math data meeting with 5th grade
Your concern for all of our kids and putting plans in place for them with anticipated follow through
Snow on the playground on Thursday
Halloween Hideout games in PE
Kids dressed up for Biztown

Claim it. Name it. Explain it.
Thanks to Michael for playing along last week.

Calendar

Please continue to review the Intermediate Special Events Calendar at our weekly grade level and specials meetings, too.

Monday, November 4th
Food drive begins
7/8 Science Aspire testing

Tuesday, November 5th
Jay at CPI training all day
Grades due at 8AM
9AM-1PM Free 10 minute massages, stress tips, and wellness screenings
8th grade Manufacturing field trip

Wednesday, November 6th
Jeans for Troops ($5 to wear jeans. Funds go to GIGo Fund.)
Jay at CPI training
7/8 Math Aspire testing

Thursday, November 7th
Jay at CPI training
Arena style conferences

Friday, November 8th
Jay at CPI training
Veterans Day ceremony

Monday, November 11th
7/8 Reading ACT/Aspire

Tuesday, November12th
7/8 Writing ACT/Aspire

Wednesday, November 13th
WIN Wednesday
8th grade Health field trip

Thursday, November 14th
7/8 English ACT/Aspire

Friday, November 15th
Food drive ends

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

The gain to the winner is always less than the loss to the loser.

Ian Fleming,
writer, journalist, British naval intelligence officer

Is it Transformative to the Learner (from George Couros)

I am only a sparrow amongst a great flock of sparrows.

Eva Peron,
former first lady of Argentina

How Was Your Day (Better than I first thought) (from Jon Harper)

Connection (from Hans Appel- I see so much of all of you in this post)

You shouldn't change what you are in the search for success.

Sissy Spacek,
actress

mertonint on Instagram
Principals' Report from the 10.28.19 board meeting
Family smore from 11.1.19

Thanks for a great week and I look forward to see how our 2nd quarter gets started on Monday. Please tweet out or send me pictures from your classes as I'll be at CPI training for 4 straight days and won't be able to visit with the kids or you.

#JustInspire

Jay

Take care of the kids. Take care of each other. Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell

Thursday, October 24, 2019

You deserve a break!

Sometimes, three days make a full week. This was certainly a full week, and we still have some learning and planning to do today. I'll have the chance to connect with many of you today and some of you are at conventions so I won't see you until next week but we'll all be learning and planning something today. I'm going to encourage you to try something this long weekend- take a day off from school stuff. Spend the day taking a hike or hanging with family and friends or binge watching your new favorite show or reading a book. Sometimes it's that day away from work that gets you all fired up for the week to come.

Great things I saw this week...
Students and staff participating in spirit days
Taco lunch by the 7/8 team
Holly sharing about the brain with 5th graders
The testing environments for our kids
Halloween themed activities in PE
7th grade boys helping to bring gym mats from the Primary to the Intermediate during the windiest of times (One almost even got airborne!)
8th graders in cooking, and I get to taste test!
5th grade interviews and all of the volunteers that came in to interview our kids

Name it. Claim it. Explain it.
Thanks to Becky for playing along last week. Here's the one for this week.

Calendar
Please continue to review the Intermediate Special Events Calendar at our weekly grade level and specials meetings, too.

Thursday, October 24th
PD day- No students

Friday, October 25th
No School

Monday, October 28th
School board meeting

Friday, November 1st
End of 1st quarter

Monday, November 4th
7/8 Aspire testing

Tuesday, November 5th
Jay at CPI training all day
8th grade Manufacturing field trip

Wednesday, November 6th
Jay at CPI training
7/8 Aspire testing

Thursday, November 7th
Jay at CPI training
Arena style conferences

Friday, November 8th
Jay at CPI training
Veterans Day ceremony

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

The automatic things you do are basically those things that keep you from doing the better things you need to do.

Bill Murray,
actor

Spend More Time Planting Seeds and Less Time Measuring Vines (from Jon Harper)

Well it's hard to be yourself, it's the hardest job there is.

Bill Murray,
actor

A somebody was once a nobody who wanted to and did.

John Burroughs,

naturalist, nature essayist

(shared in Dave Burgess' blog post)

mertonint on Instagram
EdCampWalkersPoint sessions
Family smore from 10.23.19

In thinking back on the three day week with kids, there is so much I am thankful for. I'm thankful for kids being respectful and owning their behavior. I'm thankful for the conversations we have about the kids, both concerns and celebrations. I'm thankful for the chance to drop into your classes at any time to see you learning with our kids. I'm thankful for the honest way you speak with me about things that may not be easy to talk about. I'm thankful for so many of you sharing the great things going on in your classroom and in our school. Thank you for all that you do for the kids, for each other, for our school, and for me.
#JustInspire
Jay
Take care of the kids. Take care of each other. Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell

Friday, October 18, 2019

Keep on learning

This week I had my first meeting at Leadership camp, formally known as "Living as a Leader". There were interesting discussions, thought-provoking questions, and a chance to connect with leaders from a variety of businesses, and not one was education. Just like when I attend conferences or learn on Twitter or Voxer, I was amazed at the similarities of being a leader regardless of the type of business. We share one common denominator- we work with people and people are as varied as the types of jobs they do. It really is fascinating.
Our facilitator is Cindy and she also happens to be my coach. You've heard this before- everyone needs a coach- and I'm ready to do all that I can to learn from her about being a better leader. I know I will be doing a lot of reflecting and I may need some of you to be guinea pigs for me as I try out new ideas and practices. You will be able to help me learn what works for us as a school and what doesn't work for us as a school. I guess you could say that you are going to help me continue to learn, so thank you in advance. As educators it's important for all of us to keep on learning.

Great things I saw this week...
Building hot air balloons in 5th grade
Lauren joining in during football in PE
Great pride put into video book discussions
Listening in on conversations during book clubs
Kids really focused during Math work time, even for a guest teacher!
Putting plans together for our kids before conferences and during conferences
Kids thanking me for being in the crosswalk at student drop off and student pick up
The patience you have with our students, and more than just on the outside
Thinking of ways to meet SEL needs as a grade level
Seeing you eat together before conferences

Calendar
Please continue to review the Intermediate Special Events Calendar at our weekly grade level and specials meetings, too.

Saturday, October 19th
EdCampWalkersPoint 8:00-3:00

Monday, October 21st-Wednesday, October 23rd
Red Ribbon Week

Monday, October 21st
Team Up Against Drugs (wear your favorite team gear)
Taco Lunch
BLT meeting 4:15

Tuesday, October 22nd
Turn Off the Lights on Drugs (wear all black)

Wednesday, October 23rd
Put Drugs to Sleep (wear pajamas)

Thursday, October 24th
PD day- No students

Friday, October 25th
No School

Monday, October 28th
School board meeting

Name it. Claim it. Explain it.
Not sure that anyone claimed the "spooky" picture from last week. Here's this week's!

Tweets, quotes, and blogs
The First Time We Ask (from Pernille Ripp)

You cannot force ideas. Successful ideas are the result of slow growth.

Alexander Graham Bell,
inventor, scientist

(from Brent Coley)

Educator or Liberator? (from Matt Renwick)

Instant gratification takes too long.

Carrie Fisher,
actress, writer

A Few Words From a Student Changed My Perspective (from Matt Johnson)

mertonint on Instagram
Family smore from 10.18.19

Staff PTO grants
Don't forget about staff PTO grants. This link will take you directly to the form. I'm not sure of the deadline, but getting a grant request in sooner rather than later is a great idea!

Keep on learning
You may have noticed that this part of our nuts and bolts has the same title as the blog. The reason for this is that while on the Twitters on Wednesday night participating in the #BeTheOne chat, I came across a free learning opportunity that doesn't even require you to leave your home or your pajamas. It's called the Teacher Success Summit and you can find the link here. Just go to the link and register. It's that simple. There are many great speakers who will share ideas with you that you can then share with us. I'm registered and look forward to participating. Maybe I'll "see" you there while I keep on learning.

Thanks so much for all of your efforts this week with scheduled conferences on conference night as well as the unscheduled conferences and phone calls that you have had leading up to last night. The families appreciate the emails, but the phone calls and face to face conversations are where it's at!
#JustInspire
Jay
Take care of the kids. Take care of each other. Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell

Friday, October 11, 2019

Prioritizing time

This week was not a normal week for me. Maybe the same was true for you. I had a meeting in Madison, guest taught, and slept on the roof on Tuesday. I had an all day SEL meeting and a family vaping forum on Wednesday. I had grade level meetings, an A-team meeting, and a strategic planning meeting on Thursday. And who knows what today will bring. The schedule I had this week was because of decisions I made and meetings that were scheduled. When I wasn't in meetings or guest teaching, I visited classrooms. But I'm behind on my feedback to you, and that's okay. I can't go back and change my decisions. I chose how I was going to use my time. Today is a new day and I will have meetings and responsibilities, but I also have the opportunity to choose how I use the time that is unplanned. My plan, as it is with any school day, is to get into classrooms, connect with you and the kids, and provide feedback to at least three of you. This means there is a good chance I won't respond to emails as quickly as I'd like, but the priority is you and the kids in your classrooms. Emails will be there when I sit down to eat lunch or after you and the kids have left for the weekend. I ask you to think a bit about how you prioritize your time. This weekend I encourage you to prioritize the time with those who are in front of you or alongside you. The school work will be there when you get back to school on Monday.

Calendar
Please continue to review the Intermediate Special Events Calendar at our weekly grade level and specials meetings, too.

Tuesday, October 15th
Living as a Leader coaching session 8:00 (Jay)
Twitter tutorial 4:15 (Library)

Wednesday, October 16th
Twitter tutorial 8:00 (Learning Lounge)
Culver's Night

Thursday, October 17th
Requested family conferences

Friday, October 18th
PTO Fall Fest

Saturday, October 19th
EdCampWalkersPoint 8:00-3:00

Monday, October 21st-Wednesday, October 23rd
Red Ribbon Week

Monday, October 21st
BLT meeting 4:15

Thursday, October 24th
PD day- No students

Friday, October 25th
No School

Monday, October 28th
School board meeting

Name it. Claim it. Explain it.
Thanks to Michael for playing along last week.

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

Looking Inward to Move Onward (from George Couros)

Failure is a part of success. There is no such thing as a bed of roses all your life. But failure will never stand in the way of success if you learn from it.

Hank Aaron,
professional baseball player, right fielder

Graphics for Trauma-Informed Schools (from Allyson Apsey)

I Am Reminded (from Pernille Ripp)

from tenor.com

The Pursuit of Excellence in the Creation Process (from George Couros)