Obvious to you. Amazing to others.

Thanks for a great first week back.  After not being in classes very often the first four days, today I plan on being in each of your classrooms, and hopefully more than once.  Over break, or maybe it was early this week, I came across this video.  Please take a moment to view it.

(Obvious to you.  Amazing to others. by Derek Sivers)

So, since I've been in Merton, I've wanted you to all have the same opportunity that I do- a chance to see our teachers in action.  What you might consider obvious in your delivery or classroom management or building relationships could be amazing to someone else.  Brian has told us this again and again, we are our best resource.  As we close out the first semester, it would be great for you to visit someone else's classroom to see the amazing.  Can't get into a classroom because you're teaching at the same time, I know someone who would be happy to cover your class for you.

Calendar

Wednesday, January 12th    District meeting 7:45AM

Friday, January 14th    PTO meeting 9:45AM

Monday, January 17th    BLT meeting 4:15PM

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

Tuesday, January 25th-Friday, January 28th    Mid-year Educator Effectiveness meetings

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

Monday, January 31st    School board meeting  6PM

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

"You don't luck into integrity.  You work at it."

Betty White, actor, comedian

(from Inspiring Quotes)

(from Jon Gordon)

(from Inspiring Quotes)

(from Danny "Sunshine" Bauer's blog)

(from Inspiring Quotes)

Wednesday's building meeting

In case you wanted to review what we discussed on Wednesday morning, here's the link to the presentation that I shared.  I've also put together the notes from our "big topic" discussions which you can find here.  Please remember that our BLT will have our schedule ideas as the only topic for our meeting on Monday, January 17th.  If you have anything you want us to consider, please either connect with your BLT representative or me.

A-team update

*Staff feature information needs to be completed by all staff.  This is a way that we are highlighting all of our family members.  This information will be posted on social media and principal memos but only after receiving approval from the staff member.  Here is the google form that Maria sent to staff to complete during the December staff meeting (no need to complete a second time if you've already completed it once).

*COVID update- discussion regarding DHS and CDC recommendations following the new guidelines

*Building schedules are being drafted with staff input

*Summer School locations- first two sessions (June and July) at the Intermediate School, August will be at the Primary School.  More information regarding Summer School recommendations and due dates will be forthcoming.  Intermediate School will be cleaned following the July session of Summer School

*Monday, January 10th we will be communicating for staff to sign up for teaching Summer School

*Budget deadline to submit classroom supplies is January 31, 2022

This week seemed to go pretty quickly for me.  Maybe it was the same for you or maybe it wasn't.  I bring up this point as we think about how our students felt this week.  For some, getting back to school was amazing.  For others, they may have been nervous to come back for a variety of reasons.  Either way, both for our colleagues and for our students, check in on one another to see how they are doing.  We need to do our best to be here for one another.

Have a great weekend!

Jay

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