March Madness

For me, March Madness brings up two thoughts- NCAA basketball tournament time and the three quarter mark of our school year.  It's the end for NCAA basketball teams, but not for us.  We still have the responsibility of keeping the learning going for our students and ourselves for the next three months.  We'll have a break the last week in March, but we can't look to that yet.  We have too much to accomplish with our kids, too much to learn, too many relationships to keep fostering and building and growing.

Great things I saw this week...
Jim's work with our 5th grade basketball tournament.
Our 5th grade community projects are awesome.
Condensation can crushing in Science.
Discussing our kids' MAP results.
Learning about the ALEKS math program.
Read alouds in LA.  What great modeling of reading and thinking about reading.
5th grade choir working on their parts, even with me as their guest teacher.  They sounded awesome!
Students using padlet in 6th grade to share their book suggestions.
It's 3:40 on a Wednesday afternoon, and our 8th graders are laser focused on their long write in LA.
"Your grade is a negotiation." Dave Wagner, 2.28.19, 11:05AM
The effort our kids give on assessments.
The amazing conversations I hear you have with students and one another.
The bands and choirs are sounding amazing!

Calendar
Intermediate School Special Events

Saturday, March 2nd
#EdCampElmbrook
PTO Trivia Night

Monday, March 4th
Primary Principal interviews

Tuesday, March 5th
Rehearsal schedule for concerts
Concerts  5:30 and 7:00

Wednesday, March 6th
Primary Principal interviews

Thursday, March 7th
Conferences  4:30-8:00

Friday, March 8th
Katie's shower  8AM

Tuesday, March 12th
Primary Principal final interviews

Wednesday, March 13th
WIN Wednesday

Friday, March 15th
Art show 4:00

Tweets, quotes, and blogs
The Past Preparing Our Students for the Future (from George Couros)

(from Danny "Sunshine" Bauer)

Leadership Starts With You (from Tom Murray)

Don't worry about the overall importance of the problem; work on it if it looks interesting. I think there's a sufficient correlation between interest and importance.

David Blackwell, statistician, mathematician and first African-American inducted into the National Academy of Sciences February is Black History Month

(shared by Jeff Kubiak)

The Connection Between Consumption and Creation (from George Couros)

#mertonint on Twitter

#MertonProud on Twitter

Merton Intermediate School Facebook page

mertonint on Instagram

Family smore from 3.1.19

The last two weeks are perfect examples of what happens when we let kids lead.  Some many of you have provided guidance and suggestions, but the National Junior Honor Society induction ceremony, the Student Senate carnival, and 5th grade community service projects were student driven activities that made me one proud principal.  Thanks for all of you who helped with these students and their work.  I am so appreciative of your work and their work.
Be the spark!
Jay
Take care of the kids.  Take care of each other.  Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell