Tomorrow is a Snow Day!

On Saturday morning, I woke up with a sense of calm.  It had been a long week for me, and for us all.  The full week before Winter Break is always a long week for all of us.  When I woke up, Jen was already up and watching the news.  It was 6AM, early for us to be up on a weekend.  After just a while, we decided we'd seen enough of the news so I suggested watching Ted Lasso.  Who could have known that it would be the Christmas episode (Season 2, episode 4)?  I sat watching, tears streaming down my face for the last 10 minutes or so, and you might too, as three different circumstances unfolded.  If you have a chance, I encourage you to either watch that episode, or the entire series, this Winter Break (Full disclosure.  There is some raw language not suitable for our kids or the kids we teach.).  May one of these three scenes bring you joy this Holiday season.  Some might say that Ted Lasso exudes toxic positivity but I disagree.  Ted Lasso exudes looking for the positive in what might not be considered positive.  It's really all in how you decide to look at it.

Thank you!

As I think back on this short week, I was impressed by our students but I was even more impressed by you.  You continue giving your 100% every day.  The 100% you have "in the tank" might be different every day, but you certainly give the 100% that you have.  And then you offer to cover a class, ask if there is something you can help with before or after school, and find a way to smile when you're in classes with our kids.  You amaze me and make me want to be just a little better today than I was yesterday.  I'm proud to go to school with you every day!

Calendar

Wednesday, December 22nd    Staff meeting 8AM in the Learning Lounge/ Polar Express Pajama Day

Thursday, December 23rd-Sunday, January 2nd    Winter Break

Monday, January 3rd    School resumes

Wednesday, January 5th    Building meeting 7:45AM in the Learning Lounge

Wednesday, January 12th    District meeting 7:45AM

Wednesday, January 19th    Content meetings 7:45AM/ PTO Culver's Night

Friday, January 21st    Half day (AM classes)/ MLSS meeting 12:15-3:15

Monday, January 24th    Professional Learning Day

Wednesday, January 26th    Grade level meetings 7:45AM

Monday, January 31st    School board meeting

Wednesday, January 26th    Grade level meetings 7:45AM

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

(from @woodard_julie via MindShift)

4 Ways To Not Let Others Dim Your Light (from George Couros)

(from Inspiring Quotes)

"We cannot become what we want to be by remaining what we are."

Max De Pree, business executive, writer

"Wonder and knowledge are both to be cherished."

Stephen Jay Gould, paleontologist, evolutionary biologist, writer

(from Teacher2Teacher Team)

A laugh to end your week (I promise that it's worth it the 4 minutes!)

Stranger at the gas station video

As I finish this while watching the Rams and the Seahawks on television, I've been asked again what I'm doing.  The answer tonight was always "school work".  I was answering emails, scheduling phone calls with families, and putting final touches on our nuts and bolts.  Tomorrow night I'll be doing no school emails.  Lauren and I are going to the Bucks games with some friends.  I've promised Jen no school emails for Thursday.  We'll be going to Fox Lake to be with Jen's family.  Friday will be another day of no school emails as we clean our house and get ready to host my side of the family for Christmas Eve.  Saturday is Christmas Day, so that's another no school email day.  Plus, the Packers are playing.  That's four days in a row of no school email, and that's alright.  When I get around to school emails on Sunday, or maybe not until Monday, I'll just settle in and get to work.  I encourage you to take the same time off from school emails.  In fact, I would suggest taking even more time off.  I promise to not send you and emails before Monday the 27th.  If something really important comes up that can't wait, I'll text you or I'll text someone who can text you.  Our school emails will still be there when we get to them, whenever that might be.  Take some time away from school, reconnect with your family and friends, relax, do something you enjoy, and come back refreshed and invigorated for 2022.  Take some time off.  You deserve it.

Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, and a relaxing Winter Break!

Jay

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

Make the moments count

I titled this week's nuts and bolts on Monday or Tuesday.  I honestly can't remember which day it was but I did know I needed a title.  It came to me as I was thinking about a quote that goes something like "Don't count the moments.  Make the moments count."  Today is one of those days where we can make the moments count.  We can make them count for our students.  We can make them count for one another.  A friend of mine, Dwight Carter (@Dwight_Carter on the Twitters), has a tag line that he uses often- "Make it a great day...or not.  The choice is yours."  I urge you, I encourage you, to make today a great day for our kids and each other.  You are here at school today and have the chance to make yet another amazing impact on our kids.  Don't let this chance go wasted.  I have watched you this week be here for kids, and each other, even at times when it's been really difficult.  When you are in front of our kids, you are creating and guiding learning activities that have an amazing impact on our kids.  Every day you have another opportunity to make an impact and today is no different.  I am honored to be your colleague.  I am honored to be your principal.  Now let's make sure to make this the best Friday of the week!

Calendar

Monday, December 20th    Happy Holiday Outfit Day

Tuesday, December 21st    Flannel and Fuzzy Socks Day/ PTO Staff Brunch

Wednesday, December 22nd    Polar Express Pajama Day

Thursday, December 23rd-Sunday, January 2nd    Winter Break

Monday, January 3rd    School resumes

(Next week I'll include calendar items for January.)

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

(from Inspiring Quotes)

"The most perfect technique is that which is not noticed at all."

Pablo Casals, cellist, conductor, composer

(from Teacher2Teacher Team)

3 Questions to Help Reduce Your Worry-load (from Allyson Apsey

"There are two kinds of people: the ones that need to be told and the ones who figure it out all by themselves."

Tom Clancy, writer

(from @woodard.julie via MindShift)

3 Ways Schools Condition Students (from George Couros)

(from Inspiring Quotes)

"You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough."

Mae West, actor, playwright, screenwriter, singer

(from Inspiring Quotes)

"I'd rather risk an ugly surprise than rely on things I know I can do."

Helen Frankenthaler, painter

(from George Couros)

"You should never be proud of doing the right thing.  You should just do the right thing."

Dean Smith, basketball coach

As the day progresses, if you need anything from me, don't hesitate to text or message or email me.  My calendar, as of right now, is pretty open today so hopefully you'll see me in your classrooms a bit more than earlier this week.  I had one student ask me yesterday at lunch why we were having school today and the Primary School had off.  I gave him this answer- "We are lucky that our teachers have remained pretty healthy.  The Primary School has been hit hard by teacher illness which means there aren't enough available teachers for each classroom.  That's the reason."  The student is one of those who can keep asking questions, but this answer seemed to stop those questions.  After lunch, I walked around and saw "school as usual" in all of your classrooms.  Students were reading, writing, and doing school work.  You were teaching and facilitating and guiding and mentoring like you always do.  You, and the kids, may not have liked the decision but once you were back in your classroom you and the kids got right to the reason we're in school- to learn and to build relationships.  One of my former coaches, Coach Luther, had these four letters on his bumper and on t-shirts- MTXE (Mental Toughness, Extra Effort).  He lives that to this day.  I know that today is going to take mental toughness.  I know that today is going to take extra effort.  And I believe in each of you.  Coach Luther used to say this to us as well- Your attitude impacts your altitude.  When we're in front of our kids, especially, let's keep our attitude positive.

We've got this!

Jay

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

How's your focus?

I hope that you enjoyed the first few days of our 12 days before Winter Break.  More is on the horizon, including a lot of food!  Hopefully these "fun" days have been a bit of a mental break or pick me up or maybe both.  As we get closer to break I want you to think about your focus and how it can, and should, be different at different times of the day and week.  When we are here at school, let's keep our focus on our kids and each other.  When we aren't here at school, please shift your focus, as much as possible, on yourself and your family and friends.  If you can shift your focus, and I'm giving you permission to do so, you'll find that you might have just a little more energy for your area of focus.

Calendar

Friday, December 10th    PTO meeting 9:45AM

Monday, December 13th    BLT meeting 4:15PM/ Blue Christmas Day (wear blue)

Tuesday, December 14th    Wear Red and Green

Wednesday, December 15th    Grade level meetings 7:45AM/ PTO Culver's Night

Thursday, December 16th    Lunch on Jen

Friday, December 17th    Ugly Sweater Day

Monday, December 20th    Board meeting 6PM

Wednesday, December 22nd    Building meeting 7:45AM

Thursday, December 23rd-Sunday, January 2nd    Winter Break

Monday, January 3rd    School resumes

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

"One can sometimes do good by being the right person in the wrong place."

G.K. Chesterton, writer, philosopher, critic

(from George Couros' blog post)

"One of the greatest and simplest tools for learning more and growing is doing more."

Washington Irving, writer, essayist, historian, diplomat

(from SylviaDuckworth.com)

"Stop making excuses, you're the only one stopping you."

Issa Rae, actor, writer, producer

(from George Couros' blog post)

"Success is a moving goal post.  You celebrate in those moments and then look at what's next."

Issa Rae, actor, writer, producer

(from Inspiring Quotes)

(from Inspiring Quotes)

5 minute check ins

Thanks to you all for this week's 5 minute check ins!  I was able to meet with each and every one of you.  Sometimes we exceeded the 5 minutes, but I really enjoyed the conversations and look forward to our 5 minute check in next week.  Next week let's highlight a student or personal success and, if we have time, discuss next steps for a challenge you're facing.

Student Showcases return in January

Starting in January, the Student Showcase will be returning to our School Board meetings.  The Intermediate School will be showcased in January and March.  If you would like to participate, please let me know.

Expense Reimbursements

Before any purchases are made, you need to go through Skyward for approval from me.  Check requests after the fact are no longer being accepted.  Please see me if you have any questions or concerns.

A-team update

-2022-2023: 1st grade new furniture; 5K flooring updates

-Building schedules are beginning to be drafted with teams at the Primary and Intermediate Schools.  This is tied to staffing and ESSER funds

-Electronic signs- getting bids now

-Emergency procedures- discussion on unplanned needs to be ready/ communication, ability to read the fire board, etc.  Updating Emergency plans over Winter with numbers updated

-Fitness room use- All staff will be added to have access to the front door and the fitness room.  Hours for the card reader are 6AM-9:45PM.  Tentatively effective January 1st

It's been a long week and a great week.  We had excellent concerts on Tuesday night.  Michelle, Heidi, Dan and I had two wonderful interviews for a Math Interventionist on Wednesday, and today is Flannel Friday!  Weekend plans for me include going to the Fireside Theater with my family, a first for me.  All I know is I'm hoping to enjoy the weekend with my family and some friends so that I can come back focused on the kids and you for the last full week of the calendar year.

Let's make it the best Friday of the week!

Jay

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

The time is now...

I so appreciated your time on Wednesday morning.  As I moved about the school throughout the day I saw you all working diligently with our kids.  The learning continues in each of your classes every day.  The only difference now is the added focus on the one thing, the Forward Focus that you have for your students and their continued success.  As I sat down at home on Wednesday and read through some emails, I got to one from AJ Juliani (look him up if you're interested) that quotes a speech from Theodore Roosevelt, a speech that Brene Brown also references in her book Dare to Lead.  Here is the speech.

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."  I appreciate the work that you do every day and look forward to meeting with you weekly to share in the successes of our students, to work through the struggles, and to be just a little bit better today than we were yesterday.

Calendar

Tuesday, December 7th    Dress Your Best for the Winter Concerts (Band 5:30/ Choir 7:00)

Wednesday, December 8th    District meeting 7:45AM

Friday, December 10th    PTO meeting 9:45AM

Wednesday, December 15th    Grade level meetings 7:45AM/ PTO Culver's Night

Monday, December 20th    Board meeting 6PM

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

(from Jolene Castanon on Pinterest)

"What is done cannot be undone, but one can prevent it happening again."

Anne Frank, diarist

(from Jolene Castanon on Pinterest)

"It is December, and nobody asked if I was ready."

Sarah Kay, poet

Next week starts our 12 days before Winter Break.  It starts on Tuesday with Dress Your Best for the Winter Concerts.  And by popular request, Jen and I (but mostly Jen) will be preparing lunch for you.  I'll send out a reminder on Monday regarding what to expect next week.  I'm looking forward to returning to our Winter tradition.

Thanks so much for a great week.  If you haven't signed up for your 5 minute check in with me, please do so as soon as possible.  As with you, my calendar fills up pretty quickly.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Jay

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