Jay's Journal

mertonint on Instagram
Principals' Report from the School Board meeting 5.28.19

Family smore from 5.31.19

Today is Celebration Day. Please know that I'm just a text message away from either celebrating the great things our kids are doing today or to give you a break if you need one. It's a day full of activity and joy and smiles and high fives. Your attitude about the day will determine the altitude of the day. Let's make it the best Friday of the week!
Be the spark!
Jay
Take care of the kids. Take care of each other. Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell

Friday, May 24, 2019

Memorial Day

This weekend we celebrate Memorial Day. It's a day of honor and remembrance for the service of those who have served our country. Enjoy the weekend, and during those down times, remember all that you have done for our students, families, and each other. There are a lot of great things to remember, but I won't share mine here because I want you to think of your own. I encourage you to write them down as I would like this to be an agenda item for all of our grade level meetings this week. Anyone reading this blog should write them down, and if you aren't in our grade level or specials meetings, share them with me via email and I'll share them out, anonymously if you'd prefer, in next week's staff nuts and bolts.

Great things I saw this week...
Science presentations- the content, the presentations, and the behavior of the audience.
Building helicopters in Flight.
Book clubs and F&P testing with music in the background- Disney theme in one room and Metallica in another.
The individual attention I see all staff provide our students. You are amazing!
5th graders leaving for camp.
Jolie covering camp for Heidi and Heidi covering Jolie's classes.
Speaking with a parent about their child, their improved reading level, and being grateful for all of the teachers. #ProudPrincipal
Kids playing golf during PE. Merton may host the next US Open!
5th grade camp- the smiles, the sun, the water, the conversations, the sunburn.
6th grade portfolio conferences.
The kids behavior, despite the number of guest teachers in the building, has overall been pretty good.

Calendar
Intermediate School Special Events

Monday, May 27th
Memorial Day- No School

Friday, May 31st
Celebration Day

Wednesday, June 5th
8th grade Day Away
Culver's Night
8th grade dance

Thursday, June 6th
8th grade graduation 7PM

Friday, June 7th
Last day of school- Half day

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

(from Mindshift)

Immeasurable Impact (from George Couros)

If you only think about your own advancement, your own success, you run out of fuel pretty quickly. But if we believed in something bigger than ourselves, that kind of motivation is self-sustaining.

Elaine Chao,
US secretary of transportation

"Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today." – Will Rogers

If you're aware and you're high-energy, the ball will eventually bounce your way and you'll be able to make plays.

Jeremy Lin,
professional basketball player

Empowering Learning Through Student Strengths (from George Couros)

All creative people want to do the unexpected.

Hedy Lamarr,
actress and inventor of spread spectrum communication technology

It's so simple to be wise. Just think of something stupid to say and then don't say it.

Sam Levenson,
humorist

mertonint on Instagram

Family smore from 5.24.19

Keep making the days count. If you keep the kids engaged, they will perform for you, both academically and behaviorally. Greet the kids at the door every hour. Wish them a good morning or afternoon at the door as they leave your classroom. Be in the hallways, and be visible. Keep moving in your classroom. Have the kids move more in the classroom. You have two weeks to make a difference, and I know that you will!
Be the spark!
Jay
Take care of the kids. Take care of each other. Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell

Friday, May 17, 2019

Let's keep the focus on the learning!

Other than makeups, all MAP testing is now done. There should be only "normal" days left in the month of May. To make the remaining days count, instead of counting the days, let's keep the focus on the learning. I'm still visiting classrooms and seeing some amazing things. Kids are engaged in learning activities and stretching their thinking in creative ways. Kids are reading and writing and solving math problems. They're staying active in PE, learning new vocabulary in Spanish, making projects in Science and Social Studies, playing instruments and singing songs, and being more artistic then I ever was. The more engaged the kids are, the fewer issues we'll be dealing with in the weeks to come. I've seen this posted on the Twitters and Facebook and it couldn't me more true.

Great things I saw this week...
Golfing in PE.
Coding Ozobots and Dashes in Science.
Incredible book discussions in LA.
Sharing country research in Social Studies.
5th and 6th grade archery elective going strong.
Researching in Science classes. Do you know what a pangolin is?
The band and choir concerts. Our kids are so talented and Jonathan and Michael get the most out of them.
Continued focus during MAP testing.
Hand delivering teaching contracts.
A student sharing her animal research with me.
Read alouds in LA. I love listening in, too.
The excitement in a student who was selected to share her project with the class. She was really excited!
Students working hard on reading skill quizzes.
Excitement in signing up for Celebration Day field trips.
Working together with a student on their helicopter.
Watching a student handle a really difficult situation with maturity and understanding. It wouldn't have happened four years ago.
Kids working together on their math during Homework Club.

Calendar
Intermediate School Special Events

Monday, May 20th-Friday, May 24th
MAP testing makeup week

Monday, May 20th
BLT meeting 4:15

Thursday, May 23rd
#143day (In honor of Mr. Rogers- https://twitter.com/smgaillard/status/1127235025706061824)

Friday, May 24th
Jeans for Troops Day ($5 to Barb in support of the GIGo Fund)

Monday, May 27th
Memorial Day- No School

Friday, May 31st
Celebration Day

Wednesday, June 5th
8th grade Day Away
Culver's Night
8th grade dance

Thursday, June 6th
8th grade graduation 7PM

Friday, June 7th
Last day of school- Half day

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

Taking a moment to be kind (from George Couros)

"Every single thing you do matters. You have been created as one of a kind. You have been created in order to make a difference. You have within you the power to change the world."

– Andy Andrews, Author of the Butterfly Effect

How do we move from commiserating to empathy? (from Allyson Apsey)

The Present Moment is Our Friend (from George Couros)

(from a Facebook post by Jessica Johnson)

I've never really taken anything very seriously. I enjoy life because I enjoy making other people enjoy it.

Tim Conway,
comedian, actor, writer and director

(from Julie Woodard during #122edchat)

Once we realize that imperfect understanding is the human condition, there is no shame in being wrong, only in failing to correct our mistakes.

George Soros,
businessman, philanthropist and political activist

mertonint on Instagram

Family smore from 5.17.19

Last five day week?
I changed the sign on Main Street on Thursday morning. Here's what's on it.

What happened to the school year? As I changed the sign I realized that there is only one five day week left. Please take every opportunity to connect one more time with the kids and each other. Create lasting positive memories with them whenever you can. Keep your lessons engaging and creative, just like you've done all year. Let's support the kids and one another as we hit the home stretch of the school year. There is so much more that we can and will do together!

Be the spark!

Jay

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

Friday, May 10, 2019

Wednesdays

I remember quite a few years ago when we started our RtI Wednesdays. Initially it was something I would worry about all night, getting very little sleep and running on empty for the day. But now things have changed. I sleep pretty well the night before, but the nervousness creeps in about 8:30. Will the message resonate with the kids? Will the videos work? Will I have to redirect any students? Ultimately, though, one thing goes through my head- Will the kids be better people, or at least think about being better people, because of what I shared? I spend quite a bit of time on these, especially when I search for videos that will hopefully have a lasting impact. I share personal stories because I think it will help me better connect with the kids. I show my emotions, the whole gamut (Yes, I had to look up how to spell this correctly), and that's alright. The kids, and you, need to see me as a person, not just as a principal. I encourage you to do the same as their teacher.

Great things I saw this week...
The wonderful things our PTO did for us all week!
Coding and programming Ozobots and Dashes in Science.
Kids building kites in the Flight elective.
Monkey bread and smoothies in Foods.
The effort our students were giving with their writing in LA.
Kahoots in Spanish and in Math.
Making a DNA necklace.
Indoor wiffle ball practices and games.
The bands and the choirs. They are sounding incredible!
Making motors in Science.
Learning about soldiers from the Civil War.
The art display in the commons.
The behavior of our kids during the assembly.
Kids and Michael getting the commons ready for Grandparents Day.

Calendar
Intermediate School Special Events

Monday, May 13th-Friday, May 17th
MAP testing week

Tuesday, May 14th
Spring concerts

Wednesday, May 15th
Culver's Night

Monday, May 20th-Friday, May 24th
MAP testing makeup week

Monday, May 20th
BLT meeting 4:15

Monday, May 27th
Memorial Day- No School

Friday, May 31st
Celebration Day

Wednesday, June 5th
8th grade Day Away
Culver's Night
8th grade dance

Thursday, June 6th
8th grade graduation 7PM

Friday, June 7th
Last day of school- Half day

Tweets, quotes, and blogs
The Next Big Thing (from George Couros)

(Jen sent this to me. I think it should say Intermediate Schools.)

Anyone can become an inventor as long as they keep an open and inquiring mind and never overlook the possible significance of an accident or apparent failure.

Patsy O'Connell Sherman,
inventor of Scotchgard stain repellent

(from Holly Clark, and made me think of each of you!)

Every once in a while, a new technology, an old problem, and a big idea turn into an innovation.

Dean Kamen,
engineer, businessman and inventor of the Segway vehicle

mertonint on Instagram
WIN Wednesday presentation from 5.8.19

Family smore from 5.10.19

If your room is warm, feel free to open your windows to let some fresh air in. Please don't open them all the way, just for security purposes. If you open a window, please make sure that you close the window before you leave for the evening. Thank you!

Take a moment and look this over...

(from Matt Miller of "Ditch That Textbook")

As you looked this graphic over, how many times did you see yourself? I only saw myself once, but I realized that there were other arms of this graphic that could be added. Here are some examples. The student who joined the armed services. The student who was an Olympic champion. The student who became a parent, and then moved so that their children would come to Merton. The student who received a full academic scholarship and is now a successful engineer. The list goes on and on. The students you have today in class will all become something truly incredible, and it will be because of you and what you do every day. Never forget your impact, and make sure to bring it everyday. You are truly amazing and I'm honored to work with each of you every day.

Be the spark!

Jay

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

Friday, May 3, 2019

Empathy

Before the marathon on Satuday, I was putting my feet up and going through emails. Adam Welcome, my friend from California was doing the same thing, so I guess that makes it alright. Anyway, I read a blogpost from George Couros entitled "Leading with Empathy." Please take a moment to read it now.

Leading with Empathy

Pretty powerful stuff, isn't it? Let me mention that it's not only the students who need us to be empathetic. The adults we work with need our empathy, too. Do you know what "that student" is going through? Do you know what your colleague is going through? Maybe it's time to take a breath and find a way to have a conversation that could be what truly makes a difference in that person's day, or maybe their life. It all starts by listening to understand instead of listening to respond, and realizing that you might be the first person who has actually listened to "that student" or colleague all day long.

Great things I saw this week...
Indoor tennis and wiffle ball due to our wonderful weather.
Lots of reading.
Bikes are here from our PTO grant.
Building telegraph machines in Science.
Forward Exams are done!
NJHS Leadership Camp activities upon return.
Overall, the kids did well with 9 guest teachers in the building on Wednesday.
Students discussing options for book clubs.
Great discussion by math partners while working on area problems.
Seeing Katie and Eva (Katie's daughter) at school.

Calendar
Intermediate School Special Events

Wednesday, May 8th
WIN Wednesday- final assembly (All staff are expected to attend and sit with their homerooms.)

Thursday, May 9th
PTO meeting 2:30PM

Friday, May 10th
Grandparents Day

Monday, May 13th-Friday, May 17th
MAP testing week

Tuesday, May 14th
Spring concerts

Wednesday, May 15th
Culver's Night

Monday, May 20th-Friday, May 24th
MAP testing makeup week

Monday, May 27th
Memorial Day- No School

Friday, May 31st
Celebration Day

Wednesday, June 5th
8th grade Day Away
Culver's Night
8th grade dance

Thursday, June 6th
8th grade graduation 7PM

Friday, June 7th
Last day of school- Half day

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

The only people with whom you should try to get even are those who have helped you.

John Southard,
technology planner and academic administrator

(seen at the start of the OKC marathon)

Our fingerprints don't fade from the lives we've touched.

Will Fetters,
writer and producer

(shared by Brady Farr in Voxer #principalsinaction group)

What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.

Albert Pike,
attorney, soldier and writer

(Jen found this for me)

I'd rather lose all my stuff than lose myself, because I've done that before, and that feels way worse.

Constance Wu,
actress

(from Dave Schmittou)

“It’s work ethic. Over and over and over again, it just comes back to work ethic … How much do you care about your ability to be able to look yourself in the mirror and say, ‘I worked hard today’?”

Ron Howard | 1954 - | American producer, director & actor