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


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)


(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)


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



"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


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