It's Spring Break!

It's hard to believe that it's already Spring Break.  And then the week we get back will be the end of the 3rd quarter.  Holy smokes!  It's been an incredible year so far with its ups and downs and shoutouts and concerns. I hope that you can remember back to Wednesday's meeting and the 3-2-1 sheet I had you work on.  Did you finish it?  Did you share it with anyone?  It's not homework, but it might be something for you to think about doing while on a beach, in a car, or at your home over the next week, or not.  I don't want you to think that you have to do anything school related over break because you deserve time for yourself.  I hope that you are able to do something over break that brings you back focused on finishing the school year strong.

Calendar

Saturday, March 19th-Sunday, March 27th    Spring Break

Monday, March 28th    BLT meeting 4:15PM

Wednesday, March 30th    Grade level meetings 7:45AM/ 8th grade Forward Exam (Social Studies in the AM)

Thursday, March 31st    8th grade Forward Exam (Social Studies in the AM)

Friday, April 1st    8th grade Forward Exam (Science in the AM)/End of third quarter (It's not April Fools.  It's really the end of the quarter!)

April 4th-9th    Little Mermaid Jr. Musical Week!

Monday, April 4th    8th grade Forward Exam (Science in the AM)

Tuesday, April 5th    8th grade Forward Exam (Science in the AM)

Wednesday, April 6th    Building meeting 7:45AM

Thursday, April 7th    School performance of Little Mermaid Jr./ Little Mermaid Jr. 7PM

Friday, April 8th    Little Mermaid Jr. 7PM

Saturday, April 9th    Little Mermaid Jr. 2PM and 7PM

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

"Remember that there's always another way of seeing things: that's the beginning of wisdom."

John Barth, writer

"Words mean more than what is set down on paper.  It takes the human voice to infuse them with the shades of deeper meaning."

Maya Angelou, poet, writer, screenwriter, educator

(from Inspiring Quotes)

"I learned the value of hard work by working hard."

Margaret Mead, cultural anthropologist

"What people say, what people do, and what people say they do are entirely different things."

Margaret Mead, cultural anthropologist

(from Jethro Jones)

Less than 12 hours from now you will have a chance to put school away for a while.  As I mentioned on Wednesday morning, it's important to keep our students engaged all the way through the bell at 4:00.  If you aren't planned there's more of a chance that behaviors will make you look a bit like Mona Lisa above.  I'm heading to St. Louis and Nashville with Jen for the next few days and won't bother you unless something really major comes up.  I certainly hope that doesn't happen.  Let me know if I can be of any assistance today.  I'm here for you.

Happy Spring Break!

Jay

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

Write a new ending...

You probably know that I like Brene Brown's book "Dare to Lead".  I saw this quote from her recently.

"Write a new ending for yourself, for the people you're meant to serve and support, and for your culture."

Wow!  Imagine if you could start every day with where you are and not look back at where you've been.  As I think about all of your incredible work to make a difference with our students, both academically and socially, you should know it makes me think about the new ending you are writing for them for this school year.  You are helping our students to become better students and, more importantly, better people.  Think about the impact you are having with our students.  They might not thank you to your face today, or next week, or maybe ever, but know the impact you have each and every day.  You are writing an ending for each of our students every day that they didn't know was possible.  Thank you for creating so many happy endings!

Calendar

Friday, March 11th    PTO meeting 9:30AM/ PTO Saz's Fish Fry fundraiser at Western Lakes 4-8PM

Monday, March 14th    School Board meeting 6PM

Wednesday, March 16th    Content meetings 7:45AM/ PTO Culver's Night

Thursday, March 17th    Group pictures for the yearbook (Final schedule will be ready on Monday)

Friday, March 18th    Jay is at the NCAA Frozen Four in State College, PA

Saturday, March 19th-Sunday, March 27th    Spring Break

Friday, April 1st    End of third quarter (It's not April Fools.  It's really the end of the quarter!)

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

(from Inspiring Quotes)

Stuck in Your Head and Heart (from George Couros)

(from Jessica Cabeen, one of my middle school principal friends. Please take the time to watch this today!)

"Optimism is the one quality more associated with success and happiness than any other."

Brian Tracy

(from @teachergoals.  Our students' families can do this and so can we!)

(from Todd Nesloney)

"Find out who you are and do it on purpose."

Dolly Parton, singer-songwriter, actor, businessperson

Thanks for your time and suggestions both Wednesday and Thursday as we work to finalize the Forward Exam schedule.  There are still some moving pieces that I will be working through over the weekend.  I tried, with the help of Maria, to make sure that our students are taking each content test with their content teacher.  We were able to do that.  What I messed up was not thinking about the musical week or April 4th-8th.  My apologies, but with the help of our BLT Thursday morning we were able make an adjustment that will be beneficial for our students taking the Forward Exam and all involved with the musical.  Once I share the schedule again on Monday I welcome any feedback you might have.  Regardless of the schedule, we need to make sure we provide the best opportunity for success for our students.  I'm confident that our students will be successful because of all of your effort and the effort of our students.  We've got this!

Thanks for a great week!  We've got one more solid week of school before Spring Break with a few NCAA basketball games sprinkled in.  Keep the kids engaged and it will help the kids behave as we know they should.  Have a great weekend, and #GoBadgers!

Jay

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

How do you set limits?

As I was thinking about what to write this week, I came across this email from Pernille Ripp.  I am a subscriber to her blog which means I get an email every time she posts something new.  This week's is called "Ideas to Try to Lessen Your Workload".  It's definitely worth the time to read.  I use a version of some of her ideas for myself and have found they have helped me to better use my time, both at school and at home, as well as to allow time for myself while I'm at home.  I also thought what Mary shared with us in our mailboxes on Tuesday has a powerful message.  Thanks for these monthly messages, Mary!  Here is Mary's message again if you don't have it with you.

Setting limits, and abiding by the limits you set for yourself and others, provide you a better chance of taking care of yourself so that you can take care of others.

Calendar

Friday, March 4th    Half day noon release (AM classes)/ MLSS meeting 12:15-3:15

Saturday, March 5th    EdCampElmbrook (Here's the link if you are interested!)

Tuesday, March 8th    Spring Band concert 6:30PM

Wednesday, March 9th    District meeting 7:45AM

Friday, March 11th    PTO meeting 9:30AM/ PTO Saz's Fish Fry fundraiser at Western Lakes 4-8PM

Monday, March 14th    School Board meeting 6PM

Wednesday, March 16th    Content meetings 7:45AM

Thursday, March 17th    Group pictures for the yearbook

Friday, March 18th    Jay is at the NCAA Frozen Four in State College, PA

Saturday, March 19th-Sunday, March 27th    Spring Break

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

"If you miss the present moment, you miss your appointment with life."

Thich Nhat Hanh, Vietnamese Buddhist monk, activist

(from Inspiring Quotes)

We Don't Have to Learn from Every Tough Lesson (from George Couros)

(from Inspiring Quotes)

"Only those with tenacity can march forward in March."

Ernest Agyemang Yeboah, writer, teacher

A-team updates

*We discussed staffing and will be speaking with the staff following Spring Break

*Summer School locations

    June- Intermediate

    July- Primary

*PTO updates for March 11th- Conferences, report cards, group pictures March 17th, Forward Exam in April, Merton Arts Night feedback, Little Mermaid, Jr. April 7th-9th

*Social Studies curriculum update

Conferences

As you reflect on conferences last night, and two weeks ago, think about these two things- Who do you wish you had spoken with and who do you need to follow up with?  If there are families you wish you would have seen, make a list and reach out to them.  If there are families you need to follow up with, make a list and schedule a time to reach out to them.  I met with a family last night and set a date to follow up with them, and I put it in my calendar, too.  I had many conversations with families and they were amazed, and thankful, about how well you know their children.  Thank you!

It's a half day and hopefully you are wearing jeans and a sweatshirt today.  Once the students leave at noon, you have time for grading, lesson planning, and whatever you need to move into the final trimester of the year.  Can you believe that we're two-thirds of the way through the school year?  I can't either.  I decided to include the link to our smore this week and will try to continue this practice moving forward.

Have an amazing Friday and a great weekend!

Jay

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