Keep planting those seeds!

About 20 minutes after I sent out last week's nuts and bolts, this quote came to me in an email from Heidy LaFleur.

The words have stuck with me all week.  Know that what you do each and every day has an incredible impact on our kids.  Keep planting those seeds!

Calendar

Thursday, April 29th  AHS Algebra placement test/ 5th/6th grade Forward Exam makeups (start at 8:45AM in room 124A)

Friday, April 30th  No school

Monday, May 3rd-Friday, May 7th    Staff Appreciation Week

Monday, May 10th    Full allotment of personal days has been allocated/ BLT meeting 4:15PM

Tuesday, May 11th  PTO meeting

Friday, May 14th  All budget orders are due!/ Full allotment of personal days has been allocated

Tuesday, May 18th    Band concerts  5:30PM and 7PM

Monday, May 24th    School board meeting

Tuesday, May 25th    Choir concerts 5:30PM and 7PM

Thursday, May 27th    NJHS induction  6PM

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

"You cannot improvise unless you know exactly what you're doing."-

Christopher Walken, actor

(from George Couros' blog Using Past Failures as Learning Toward Future Success)

"Say yes, take a chance, and sometimes it's terrific and sometimes it's not."-

Christopher Walken, actor

(from Pinterest/ Brewster Home Fashions- Macy's)

"A mistake is simply another way of doing things."-

Katharine Graham, business executive, newspaper publisher

(The video below puts this into perspective.)

(both of these are from George Couros' weekly email)

"Some questions don't have answers, which is a terribly difficult lesson to learn."-

Katharine Graham, business executive, newspaper publisher

"When I was a young guy, I knew everything.  Now I know very little.  I know less and less as the time goes on."-

Anthony Hopkins, actor, director, producer

"That's another great thing about getting older.  Your life is written on your face."-

Frances McDormand, actor, producer

EdCampElmbrook

If you didn't get to "attend" EdCampElmbrook last Friday, here's a link to the session board.  Although I didn't get to fully participate, there are some great sessions with notes and possible contact information of participants.  Trash or treasure!

May is right around the corner.  I can hardly believe it.  Can you believe it?  What I know is that we have a month left to foster learning and relationships with our students.  Keep connecting with our kids and let's keep planting those seeds!

Have a great long weekend!

Jay

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

Keep your focus!

Thanks for another great week.  I know as we get closer to the end of the school year it gets tougher to focus.  It's like getting to mile 20 in a marathon.  You've got 6.2 miles to go (Yes, every marathon is 26.2 miles.) and the finish line seems so far away.  Add to it the Forward Exam and the focus can stray even more.  The good thing about focus is this.  If you lose focus, take a step back and it seems to reappear, at least most of the time.  You know what this weekend is for?  It's for a return to focus so that these last weeks are as good, or better, than the other weeks of the school year.  Have an amazing weekend!

Calendar

Friday, April 23rd  Career Day (6th-8th grades only)

Saturday, April 24th  EdCampElmbrook (Click on the link if you are interested.)

Monday, April 26th  5th grade Forward Exam (Math)/ School board meeting 6PM

Tuesday, April 27th    7th/8th grade Forward Exam makeups (start at 8:45AM in the STEM lab)

Wednesday, April 28th  Jay out all day

Thursday, April 29th  AHS Algebra placement test/ 5th/6th grade Forward Exam makeups (start at 8:45AM in the STEM lab)

Friday, April 30th  No school

Monday, May 3rd-Friday, May 7th    Staff Appreciation Week

Monday, May 10th    BLT meeting 4:15PM

Tuesday, May 18th    Band concerts  5:30PM and 7PM

Monday, May 24th    School board meeting

Tuesday, May 25th    Choir concerts 5:30PM and 7PM

Thursday, May 27th    NJHS induction  6PM

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

"When people say, 'You can't teach an old dog new tricks,' it's not true, because you can reinvent yourself and learn new things whenever you want."-

Jonathan Van Ness, hairdresser, actor, writer, TV personality, podcast host

"You have to create little pockets of joy in your life to take care of yourself."-

Jonathan Van Ness, hairdresser, actor, writer, TV personality, podcast host

(from @miss_sarah_counselorlife)

"Nothing is ever the same as they said it was."-

Diane Arbus, photographer

"The thing that's important to know is that you never know.  You're always sort of feeling your way."-

Diane Arbus, photographer

7 Teacher Ideas for Supporting Students Who Aren't Doing Any Work (from WeAreTeachers)

Forward Exam

First of all, thanks to all of you for your efforts.  You created an environment for all of our students so that they had a greater chance to be successful.  But the environment isn't what allows our students a greater chance at success.  It's you.  Your efforts with our students on a daily basis.  Your lesson and unit planning.  Your collaboration with one another.  Thank you for all that you do, both those things that are seen and unseen.  You are amazing.

On a related note, please put all test tickets in my mailbox.  Please separate those students who are either virtual or need to do makeups.  As mentioned above, makeups will be on Tuesday, April 27th for 7th and 8th graders starting at 8:45 in the STEM lab.  Makeups will be on Thursday, April 29th for 5th and 6th graders starting at 8:45 in the STEM lab.  Any questions, please let me know.

National Junior Honor Society advisor

With Becky leaving her role, we're in need of an advisor for National Junior Honor Society.  Please email me if you are interested or would like to learn more.  Thanks for considering!

I wanted to end with a story that ended my day yesterday.  I see a group of 5th graders coming in from outside with Becky Frei carrying lunch bins.  I thought maybe they were just airing out the lunch bins, but no.  They were going to use the lunch bins to carry old library books that Becky was going to take out of the dumpster.  The idea was good but the task was too difficult, and smelly, to pull off.  It's just another example of what you all will do, or at least try to do, for our kids.

Have a great weekend!

Jay

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

Self-talk

I've noticed some of the conversations you are having with our kids, especially when it comes to staying positive and self-talk.  The thing is, I need to have this conversation with myself from time to time, and I bet you do, too.  Last Sunday night I was reading emails and the WeAreTeachers email, in cooperation with the Allstate Foundation, had this poster in it.  I encourage you to read this over, and maybe even share it with our students.

Calendar

Monday, April 19th  5th grade Forward Exam (ELA)/ Tornado drill at 2:30

Tuesday, April 20th  8th grade Forward Exam (Social Studies)

Wednesday, April 21st  All Staff meeting (Onward chapter 11)/ 6th grade Forward Exam (Math)

Thursday, April 22nd  7th and 8th grade Forward Exam (Math)

Friday, April 23rd  Career Day (6th-8th grades only.  Please see below.)

Monday, April 26th  5th grade Forward Exam (Math)/ School board meeting

Wednesday, April 28th  Jay out all day

Thursday, April 29th  AHS Math placement test

Friday, April 30th  No school

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

"To be who you are and become what you are capable of is the only goal worth living."-

Alvin Ailey, dancer, director, choreographer, activist

Recognizing Our Own Strengths and the Gifts of Others (from George Couros)

"Judge not for your flaws, but for your Triumphs!"-

Whitney Houston, singer, actor

To All the Tired Educators (from Pernille Ripp- She said what I have always wanted to say to all of you!)

"If you can't get out of something, get into it."-

Kris Kristofferson, singer-songwriter, actor

Can I Really Influence School Culture (from Todd Nesloney)

A-team Update:
County Updates on COVID: Northern Districts announcing to have “optional” masks for 2021-22. Questions coming to Merton about mitigation efforts for Summer School. Not seeing changes for summer school at this time. 

New BOE Member: Andrew Lehman, welcome. Thank you to Jennifer Neuman for her support, dedication, and commitment to our community school. 
Remodel Update: Moving along quickly. Be careful if in that area as it is under construction. Our BLT toured the space on Monday.
Buildings & Ground: Welcome back Jordan full time starting Monday! Glad to have him back and will be assisting with opening the buildings in the AM.
End of the Year Checkout for Staff: Expectations on what is needed to prepare for summer school, cleaning, room changes will be coming in the upcoming week(s). Discussion and decision that room clean-up/pack-up can begin on June 7. We want to have our days with students not signify an early ending. Each day matters.
2021-22 Staffing: At this time, building subs will not be hired full time. We will continue to re-evaluate. Open positions: 6th/7th or 6th/8th Science, 1st Grade -posted on WECAN, 3rd Grade - posted on WECAN, Intermediate School Admin Assistant. Gathering numbers for class sizes and needs of sections at the Primary School.

This was quite a week, and it certainly went by quickly for me. My goal of connecting with each of you individually fell terribly short. Well, there is next week! Thanks for all of your efforts and flexibility with testing and the unexpected changes that can occur with standardized tests. If you're wondering about makeup tests, I'll be working on those once our 5th graders have finished their tests on Monday, April 26th.

Now get ready for Friday, focus on the kids, and then enjoy the weekend!

Jay

P.S.- I'll be offline most of the weekend as we're celebrating my mom and dad's 60th wedding anniversary. Other than for pictures, my phone will be off most of the weekend. Thanks for understanding.

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

Time to reconnect

It sure was great getting to see you all again this week.  Can you believe that we're in the 4th quarter already?  That being said, if you need anything from me, either to help encourage a student or some time to talk about how things are going, don't hesitate to let me know.  I'd like to spend some face to face time with each of you over the next week to reconnect.  Stop on by or send me an invite so that we can catch up.  We can spend a few minutes together or as much time as you need.  I just want to see what I can do to help.

Calendar

Monday, April 12th  BLT meeting 4:15PM

Tuesday, April 13th  8th grade Forward Exam (Science)/ PTO meeting 2:30

Wednesday, April 14th  6th grade Forward Exam (ELA)

Thursday, April 15th  7th and 8th grade Forward Exam (ELA)

Monday, April 19th  5th grade Forward Exam (ELA)

Tuesday, April 20th  8th grade Forward Exam (Social Studies)

Wednesday, April 21st  6th grade Forward Exam (Math)

Thursday, April 22nd  7th and 8th grade Forward Exam (Math)

Friday, April 23rd  Career Day (6th-8th grades only.  Please see below.)

Monday, April 26th  5th grade Forward Exam (Math)/ School board meeting

Wednesday, April 28th  Jay out all day

Thursday, April 29th  AHS Math placement test

Friday, April 30th  No school

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

Innovation and Vinyl Records (from George Couros- really worth the read)

(from another of George Couros' posts)

Forward testing

Do you have any questions?  Test tickets will be delivered at least the day before testing.  Testing will be done in your home rooms.  I am going to reach out to all virtual families to find out if they are coming in for testing.  They will be joining me in the STEM lab (probably).  Here are the links to the schedules for testing.  Specials and electives will not be impacted.  Please remember that you need to complete this Test Administrator / Proctor Confidentiality Form if you are proctoring any portion of the test.

Career Day (6th-8th grade only)

This is a reminder about Career Day which will be held on Friday, April 23rd.  Career Day will happen during core classes so specials and electives won't be impacted.  Jackie will be providing more information soon.  You won't need to prepare anything for your classes but engaging in conversation with the students during the class period is strongly encouraged.

Well, the first week of the 4th quarter will be over today.  Do you have new updated seating charts?  Are there any students I need to speak to about being a bit behind with their work?  Would you like me to stop by to watch you try out something new so I can provide some feedback or discuss your reflection?  Just let me know and I'm more than happy to stop by.

Have a great weekend!

Jay

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