Concerts and Conferences

It was an incredible week.  We had our concerts on Tuesday and conferences on Thursday.  The concerts were a celebration of our musicians and the conferences were, hopefully, a celebration of all of the great things you're doing with our kids and their families.  Thank you for your time, your energy, your efforts, your smiles, your tears, and your passion for our students, our families, each other, and for Merton.  I'm so proud to serve as your principal.

Great things I saw this week...
Kids working on hockey skills in PE.
Reforms research in Social Studies.
Positive thoughts about Forward Exam test prep (Be positive with this every day!).
The focus during Math tests.
Circuit training in PE.  Love how the students are learning this life long skill.
Learning about Science during Language Arts class.
Conversations with coaches and teaching staff to bring new ways of learning to our kids.
On a tour with a new family, the new students commented about how quiet it was and how much learning they saw our students doing (The students made that comment to me, not the parents.).
Getting outside for recess on Tuesday.  It was still cold, but we needed to be outside.
The excitement of Wisconsin Math Hoops.  Just ask Brian Klink.
I know I already mentioned this, but the choir and band concerts were amazing.
Our custodial crew did fantastic work setting up for and cleaning up from the concerts.
The conferences were amazing, you were all smiling at the end of the night, and so were our families.

Calendar
Intermediate School Special Events

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
Personalized Learning Opportunities for Students is a Team Effort (from George Couros)

(from Mindshift)

Why We Shouldn't Give 100% (from Jon Harper)

The Opportunity to Become Successful Learners (from George Couros)

(from Jeff See)

Restorative Recess (from Allyson Apsey.  So much of this looks like what we have in place for PBIS, but it also includes some SEL ideas.  Let's discuss this at our grade level meetings next week, so please read this in advance.)

It's the rough side of the mountain that's the easiest to climb; the smooth side doesn't have anything for you to hang on to.

Aretha Franklin, singer known as the Queen of Soul

(Jen shared this with me.)

Three Reasons to Love Middle Schoolers (from Psychology Today)

Never give up. And when you think it's impossible, just remember to say this piece of advice I got from a very wise woman: I did my best, and my best is good enough.

Hannah Beachler, first black woman to win an Academy Award for production design

(from Positive Promotions)

I Get to...(from Theresa Stager)

Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning.

Gloria Steinem, journalist, feminist and activist

Focusing on the Positive Possibilities for Our Students (from George Couros)

Honesty helps. You get a long way in life as far as I'm concerned. You tell the truth, ask for help, instead of saying I know what I'm doing.

Penny Marshall, actress and director March is Women's History Month

#mertonint on Twitter

#MertonProud on Twitter

Merton Intermediate School Facebook page

mertonint on Instagram

Family smore from 3.8.19

Relax this weekend.  Read a book this weekend.  Binge your new favorite show.  Watch a movie.  Go out to dinner with family or friends.  Keep the school work in the bag, at least for most of the weekend.  I give you permission to focus on the last part of John's quote below.  You need to have the energy for these next two weeks.  And if I owe you a GOOSE, don't forget to organize that with me.  You know who you are.
Be the spark!
Jay
Take care of the kids.  Take care of each other.  Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell