Memorial Day respect

I often think back to when I was in high school and the decisions I made for college and beyond.  Never did I even think once about joining the military and I regret that.  I think that I could have benefited from the structure for lots of aspects of my life.  But there are two people who did take the path of military life and they have had a significant impact on my life so I'd like to give them the shout out they deserve.
Howie Huerta-  United States Air Force graduate, retired
Howie is my best friend from high school.  He is one of those guys who can start up a conversation right where you left off, even if it's a month or two later.  While we were growing up, many who didn't know us, and some who did, thought that we were brothers.  I remember when he left for the Air Force Academy, I was invited by his family to see him off at the airport.  He served in the Air Force for 12 years, retired from active duty but stayed on standby reserves until 2014 , and now works in the private sector.  His military training prepared him for the leadership role he has in his current job (There's an inside joke that goes along with this "current job" comment, but that's between friends.).  I admire Howie for his service to our country, for his never ending friendship and support, and for the honor and privilege of calling him my friend.
Joseph Posick-  United States Navy, retired
Joseph is my dad.  Probably enough said, but the impact he has had on my life is undeniable.  He is the ultimate family man, pridefully speaking of his family whenever he has the chance.  He and my mom have been married for 55 years, have 3 kids and 5 grandkids, and are at family and kid activities without reservation.  Aside from family, my dad was the best at his job every day.  I can only hope to have and show the same effort he did while at work for his job or his church.  I know he is the reason that I was the president of our old church and am currently a principal.  He taught me the importance of treating everyone fairly while holding them accountable.  My dad served in the United States Navy during the Korean War.  I remember seeing slides shown in a carousel (remember those?) of his travels throughout the world.  My dad turns 80 September 25th and I just found out that he and I will be on an Honor Flight September 24th!  It will be my greatest honor to be able to share that experience with him.
Please find some time this weekend to honor those you know who have served our country.

(www.americanflags.com)

Calendar
Monday, May 30           Memorial Day- No School
Tuesday, May 31           Garden work after school- rototiller and garden preparation
Wednesday, June 1       A-team meeting 1:30-3:30
                                        Garden work after school- rototiller and garden preparation
Thursday, June 2          PTO meeting  1:00-2:30
                                        Garden work after school- planting time!
Friday, June 3               Celebration Day!

Tweets, blogs, and quotes
"Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow."- Ronald Osborn, teacher and writer
"Always do right.  This will gratify some people and astonish the rest."- Mark Twain, writer and humorist
"One of the greatest regrets in life is being what others would want you to be, rather than being yourself."- Shannon Alder, writer

(from PixTeller)

"You are not defeated when you lose.  You are defeated when you quit."- Paulo Coelho, writer
Who Wants a Job (from @awelcome and @KarlyMoura about teaching job skills to students NOW!)
"Life is bristling with thorns, and I know no other remedy than to cultivate one's garden."- Voltaire, writer and philosopher
Poking Holes in Your Pockets of Innovation (from @ajjuliani)
"The most splendid achievement of all is the constant striving to surpass yourself and to be worthy of your own approval."- Denis Waitley, writer and motivational speaker
5 Rules We Impose on Students that Would Make Adults Revolt (from @pernilleripp)
"If you're not reaching back to help anyone, then you're not building a legacy."- Germany Kent, media personality.
"There are no secrets to success.  It is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure."- Colin Powell, statesman
"Striving for success without hard work is like trying to harvest where you haven't planted."- David Bly, politician
"Do not wait; the time will never be just right."- Napolean Hill, writer
@mertonint on Twitter
#mertonint on Twitter
Merton Intermediate School Facebook page
Family smore for 5.26.16

In case you wanted some evidence of our Father/daughter dance from last weekend...

Have a great Memorial Day weekend!
Jay
Take care of the kids.  Take care of each other.  Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell, principal

Our last full week?

Can you believe this was our last full week of school?  It seems like there is still so much to do and then something else gets added on.  As we continue to move forward, keep your focus on the kids and each other while here at school.  Keep having fun and keep learning.  The upcoming long weekend will be a great time to relax and renew for the final push.  Keep up with the engaging activities that I have witnessed all week and the kids will continue to perform for you.  If you need me, don't hesitate to email me and I'll be there as quickly as I can.

Calendar
Monday, May 23rd            MAP testing makeups in the STEM lab (9:00 and 1:30)
                                             School board meeting 7:30PM
Tuesday, May 24th             Taste It Tuesday ("Dip It" sign up)
                                             Final day of Homework Club
Wednesday, May 25th        Work Out Wednesday!
Thursday, May 26th          Jeans for Troops ($5 to wear jeans- Funds go to gigofund.org)
Friday, May 27th               PD day (Breakfast from the A-team!)
*Final Culver's Night is June 8th!  Please let me know if you'd like to be a guest server!

Tweets, quotes, and blogs
"The only way you are going to have success is to have lots of failures first."- Sergey Brin, computer scientist and entrepreneur
"It is not length of life, but depth of life."- Ralph Waldo Emerson, writer
"Mistakes are the growing pains of wisdom."- William George Jordan, writer and editor
A Class Finale They Won't Forget (from @ShellTerrell via Edutopia)
"Don't let reality get in the way of your dreams."- Anthony Liccione, author and poet
"It is not enough that we do our best; sometimes we must do what is required."- Winston Churchill, former British prime minister

"The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones."- Confucius, philosopher and teacher
"To talk well and eloquently is a very great art, but an equally great one is to know the right moment to stop."- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, composer
"Diligence is the mother of good fortune."- Miguel de Cervantes, writer
"The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear."- Socrates, philosopher
@mertonint on Twitter
#mertonint on Twitter
Merton Intermediate School Facebook page
BLT notes from 5.18.16 (Sorry that I didn't get these out to you yesterday!)
Family smore for 5.20.16

Wouldn't this be awesome?
My friend, LaQuita, shared this with my middle school principal's Voxer group.  She visited Dennis, another member of my middle school principal's Voxer group.  I would like to challenge us to do this next year.  We could even get it started this year!  The video link is only 1 minute long.  Now that you've watched it, what will it take?  Who's in?

#EdCampLdr (Yes, this is a repeat)
On Monday, July 11th, EdCampLeader will be happening in Sun Prairie, WI.  I know what you're thinking.  It's a Monday in July.  Why would I want to go to Sun Prairie and be inside all day?  Well, I checked with John Malan and he said it was going to rain all day on Monday, July 11th.  It is also an opportunity to connect with like minded educators as well as those who are not like minded.  You can stretch and learn.  The only thing it will cost you is gas money.  Breakfast and lunch are provided.  And there are door prizes, too.  Here is a link to registration.  If you have any questions, ask me!  You don't need to have a title to be a leader.  You are all leaders!

If you can't make #EdCampLdr...
How about this for an opportunity.  One of my friends, Jason Bretzman (@jbretzman), is initiating International #PatioPD day on Thursday, July 14th.  Here is a link to his idea.  I'd love to talk to you about this.  If someone would like to host, just let me know.  If no one wants to host, I'll be happy to host.  Let me know what you think.

Sometimes I don't get to be in classrooms as much as I'd like during the week.  This week was one of those weeks, especially Wednesday and Thursday.  Today will be much better as I have tours for our incoming 5th grade families all morning and the incoming 5th grade students this afternoon.  Showing off our school, and all that you are doing with our kids, is a highlight, whether in person or on Twitter, Facebook, or Voxer.  Take a deep breath today, soak it all in, and realize that we have an awesome responsibility that we do really well every day.  Don't be surprised if I walk into a classroom with some new friends just to watch you perform miracles.  I love my job, and I hope that you love yours, too!

Have a fabulous weekend.  I'm in the Father/Daughter dance at Lauren's recital this weekend.  We have three shows and yes, there will be pictures.
Jay
Take care of the kids.  Take care of each other.  Take care of yourself.

Keeping the kids engaged

The opportunities for learning here in Merton are quite impressive.  I'm not going to name the opportunities for two reasons- the list is long and I'll more than likely forget something.  I know last week that I told you not to count the days remaining but to make the remaining days count.  It can't be any more important than right now.  Make sure the students are engaged, and show that you are engaged, too.  They can tell.  If you act like you don't care, they will act like they don't care, too.  Then the only thing you're doing is dealing with behaviors.  Those are the longest and most trying days for me.  If the learning activity isn't working, make sure that you have a backup activity waiting in the wings.  In these final days, those backup activities can be just the thing to get the students back on track and keep your day more positive.

Calendar
Monday, May 16th            Interviews 4:15PM
Tuesday, May 17th            Rachelle's shower 8:00AM
Wednesday, May 18th      Staff meeting with Ron 7:45AM
                                            Culver's Night 4:00-8:00PM
                                            BLT meeting 4:15PM
Thursday, May 19th         A-team meeting 1:30-3:30PM
Friday, May 20th              4th grade transition 1:00-2:15PM

Tweets, quotes, and blogs
"You were not born a winner, and you were not born a loser.  You are what you make yourself be."- Lou Holtz, athlete and coach
"When we fail, our pride supports us; when we succeed, it betrays us."- Charles Caleb Colton, cleric and writer
"Try to keep your mind open to possibilities and your mouth closed on matters that you don't know about.  Limit your 'always' and your 'nevers'."- Amy Poehler, entertainer

(from @TedHiff- real name, Ted Huff)

"If you want to gather honey, don't kick over the beehive."- Dale Carnegie, writer and lecturer
"Some of us will do our jobs well and some will not, but we will all be judged by only one thing--the result."- Vince Lombardi, coach
"The only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks."- Mark Zuckerberg, entrepreneur

(from Jen- She's always thinking of me and you!)

"You live but once; you might as well be amusing."- Coco Chanel, fashion designer
"Just when you think it can't get any worse, it doesn't--it gets better."- Stuart Hacking, writer

(from Pinterest)

"Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle."- Napolean Hill, writer
@mertonint on Twitter
#mertonint on Twitter
Merton Intermediate Facebook page
Presentation for student assembly 5.11.16
Presentation for staff meeting 5.11.16
Family smore for 5.13.16

Do you like TED Talks?
If you like TED Talks, here is a website that helps you create a lesson around a TED Talk.  My good friend Geniene, of Kentucky and 10000 day celebration fame, shared this link on Twitter.  Might be something fun to try out this month.

3 reminders
#1.  Please be in the hallways before and after school and during any passing times.  Being visible helps our students make better decisions.
#2.  Fire drill some time this morning.
#3.  Please be in the hallways before and after school and during any passing times.  Being visible helps our students make better decisions.

I hope you can stop by after school tonight.  I'll be there until 5:20 and then it's off to Father/Daughter dance practice.
Have a great weekend.
Jay
Take care of our kids.  Take care of each other.  Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell

May- 20 days to make a difference

Are you making the days count or are you counting the days?  It's 12 words that can make a difference for our kids and for you.  One of my pet peeves in when I see a countdown of school days on a white board or on Twitter.

What message does that really send?  Changing the message about the final days of school will have an impact on student engagement and behavior.  If you want to  have a sign in your classroom, why not try this one? (I made this in Google Drawings.  If you'd like a copy, let me know.)

Calendar

Wednesday, May 11th     Final RtI Wednesday 8:00-9:15

                                           PTO provides lunch for all!

The focus of my student assembly on Wednesday, May 11th.

Friday, May 13th             Fire drill by Merton Fire Department (time unknown)

                                           PTO provides desserts for all

PLC Conference

I'm looking for anyone interested in attending a PLC conference August 17-19 this summer.  Here is a link toThis is an excellent opportunity to learn more about Professional Learning Communities and the ways that we can bring this structure to our school and district.  If you have an interest, please see me by Monday of next week.  Don't be surprised if I stop by to talk to you about joining me.

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

"A challenge only becomes an obstacle when you bow to it."- Ray Davis, writer
Try: A Little Word Becomes a Big Gift (from Edutopia)
"The future cannot be predicted, but futures can be invented."- Dennis Gabor, electrical engineer and physicist

10 Teaching Strategies for Amazing Learning in May (from Hack Learning)
"We must walk consciously only part way toward our goal, and then leap in the dark to our success."- Henry David Thoreau, writer
9 Things We Learned About Teacher Appreciation (from Remind.com)

(from Pinterest)

"It's not what you achieve, it's what you overcome.  That's what defines your career."- Carlton Fisk, baseball player
"Change means that what was before wasn't perfect.  People want things to be better."- Esther Dyson, journalist

"Getting the right people in the right jobs is a lot more important than developing a strategy."- Jack Welch, business executive
"Achieving success is a challenge, but so is struggling, so you may as well choose success."- Rob Liano, writer and consultant.
"Don't let someone else's opinion of you become your reality."- Les Brown, motivational speaker
@mertonint on Twitter
#mertonint on Twitter
Merton Intermediate Facebook page
Family smore for 5.6.16.

Scholastic Book Fair link (May 25th-27th)
There is a coupon code to enter.  Times are from 11AM-7PM at the Holiday Inn Pewaukee.

#EdCampLdr
On Monday, July 11th, EdCampLeader will be happening in Sun Prairie, WI.  I know what you're thinking.  It's a Monday in July.  Why would I want to go to Sun Prairie and be inside all day?  Well, I checked with John Malan and he said it was going to rain all day on Monday, July 11th.  It is also an opportunity to connect with like minded educators as well as those who are not like minded.  You can stretch and learn.  The only thing it will cost you is gas money.  Breakfast and lunch are provided.  And there are door prizes, too.  Here is a link to registration.  If you have any questions, ask me!  You don't need to have a title to be a leader.  You are all leaders!

Thanks for a great week.  I enjoyed seeing all of you dressed up and having fun with the kids and each other.  Next week, the PTO and Merton families will be recognizing you and all that you do for our kids and our schools.  Enjoy the weekend, have a great Mother's Day, and get in some down time.  I know you'll be back on Monday, ready to make the days count for the kids.
Jay
Take care of the kids.  Take care of each other.  Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell

April showers bring May flowers...

I'm sure that all of you remember this joke- If April showers bring May flowers, what do Mayflowers bring?  The answer- Pilgrims!  Now think about it.  When was the last time that you had a good laugh, I mean a really good laugh.  Mine was driving with Lauren.  She is a pretty good driver and hopes to get her license on her birthday, June 1st.  The picture to the left (complete with her Justin Bieber t-shirt from the concert) was a shot I took without her knowing while driving our Acadia.  She honestly wanted nothing to do with driving "the big truck", but she did a great job.  You might even be able to notice that she's smiling while she's driving.  We laughed about how fast she was driving, how close she was to the gas pump, and ended with her telling me that driving "the big truck" was easier than driving her car.  The best part, and the one that made me laugh the hardest, is the picture on the right.  Lauren pulled the Acadia into the garage and said, "I park better than mom!"  It made us laugh because Lauren has issues parking in parking lots with no one around, but for some reason it was easier parking in the garage.  I hope that if you didn't laugh this week at school that you find something to laugh about today.

Calendar
It's Staff Appreciation Week!
Monday, May 2nd             College/Team Up Day (Wear your favorite team gear!)
                                            Charity kickball game  5PM
Tuesday, May 3rd              Comfy Day (Does this really need an explanation?)
                                            Staff recognition awarsd in the Little Theater at 8:15
Wednesday, May 4th         Star Wars Day (May the 4th be with you!)
                                            Mrs. Hemmer visits 9:00-12:00
                                            A-team meeting 1:30-3:30PM
Thursday, May 5th            Cinco de Mayo (Taco bar for lunch! Sign up here.)
Friday, May 6th                 Thank You Day (Give a note to a colleague or colleagues and wear your                                               jeans!)

Tweets, quotes, and blogs
"The man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder."- Thomas Carlyle, writer and historian
"Whatever it takes to finish things, finish.  You will learn more from a glorious failure than you ever will from something you never finished."- Neil Gaiman, writer

(from Pinterest)

"If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself."- Henry Ford, industrialist
6 Reasons Running a Marathon Is Like Being an Educator (blog co-written by @awelcome and me)
"You are too important to the bigger picture to just fall off the canvas."- Johnnie Dent, writer

(from PixTeller)

"Beginning in itself has no value.  It is an end which makes beginning meaningful--we must end what we begin."- Amit Kalantri, writer
"If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary."- Jim Rohn, entrepreneur and motivational speaker
Are Teachers Architects or Masons (from @ajjuliani)
"One important key to success is self-confidence.  An important key to self-confidence is preparation."- Arthur Ashe, tennis player
#mertonint on Twitter@mertonint on Twitter
Merton Intermediate School Facebook page
Family smore for 4.29.16.
Principals' Board presentation 4.25.16

#semicolonEDU
Please find time to read this powerful blog, The Semicolon and The Nerdy Teacher.  It was written in July of 2015, but the message is something that we can all learn from.  The semicolon is a punctuation mark that signifies a pause in a piece of writing.  Sometimes in life we need to take a pause, too.  If you have a chance, take some time to speak with a student, colleague, or family member about how their day is going.  Just a little time, and someone to listen, might be all that they need.

A new Monday tradition?  Let's do this again!
64.  What's so important about the number 64?  It's the number of hours some of our students go without hearing something positive from an adult between the time they leave us on Friday and the time we see them again on Monday.  Try to say something positive to our kids today, and then greet them, individually, with a positive on Monday.  In fact, let's greet the kids at the doors Monday morning to get their week started out right!

I hope that you have a wonderful weekend with family and friends.  I'll be running a half-marathon in Eau Claire with some principal friends who have never run a half-marathon before.
Jay
"Take care of our kids.  Take care of each other.  Take care of yourself."- John Gunnell (@gunnellAP)

Do your best...Be your best!

The first quote from this week really hit me- "Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else."- so I made it the focus of my first thoughts instead of putting it in the "quotes" section.  The quote is from Judy Garland, singer and actress, and probably most famous for her role as Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz".  How often have you compared yourself to someone else?  It may provide you a goal for a short time but the only person you can really compare yourself to is yourself.  Other people don't look like you, don't think like you, and don't have to deal with same things that you have to deal with.  I can only compare what I do today with what I did yesterday while still deciding what I will do better tomorrow.  Let's all be first rate today!

Calendar
Monday, April 25th          School board meeting 7:30PM
Tuesday, April 26th          Yogurt bar
Wednesday, April 27th     Workout Wednesday

Celebration Day t-shirts for staff
All staff should provide Barb with their size for a Celebration Day t-shirt.  You will get the color of the grade level you represent for the day.  Those going between grade levels or not assigned to a grade level will get purple!  If you have any questions, don't ask Barb, ask me!

Tweets, quotes, and blogs
"Who we are in the present includes who we were in the past."- Fred Rogers, TV personality
And That is Enough (blog from @Jonharper70bd)

(from PixTeller)

"Your inner strength is your outer foundation."- Allan Rufus, writer
How Will You End Your Year? (blog from @JohnBerray via @burgessdave)
"Take action.  Success is not guaranteed, but inaction will guarantee failure."- Ken Poirot, writer

(from Pinterest)

Don't You Dare (blog from @ajjuliani)
"Beyond your wildest imagination, there is something worth working for."- Gordon Attard, enterpreneur

(from PixTeller)

"The speed of your success is limited only by your dedication and what you're willing to sacrifice."- Nathan Morris, financial coach and writer
"What you have to do and the way you have to do it is incredibly simple.  Whether you are willing to do it, that's another matter."- Peter Drucker, management consultant and writer

(from Pinterest)

"Problems are only opportunities in work clothes."- Henry Kaiser, industrialist
"Tomorrow is the only day in the year that appeals to a lazy man."- Jimmy Lyons, musician

@mertonint on Twitter
#mertonint on Twitter
Merton Intermediate School Facebook page
BLT notes from 4.18.16
Family smore for 4.22.16

Back to School Meemic grants
Please see this flyer with information about a 3 question grant for back to school supplies from Quill.com.

A challenge for each of you...
I know that it seems like a long way off, but I'd like to discuss one activity that we will take part in during our May 27th PD day.  I want you to take a chance, try something new, or change up the way that you do something in your classroom with kids.  But that's not it.  You need to bring your "innovation" with you to share with others.  Maybe it's an artifact from a student or a visual or who knows what else.  Any questions, don't hesitate to vox me.  Come on!  You can do it!

And one more challenge that's even more important then the innovation challenge.
64.  What's so important about the number 64?  It's the number of hours some of our students go without hearing something positive from an adult between the time they leave us on Friday and the time we see them again on Monday.  Try to say something positive to our kids today, and then greet them, individually, with a positive on Monday.  In fact, let's greet the kids at the doors Monday morning to get their week started out right!

Have a great weekend!
Jay
Take care of our kids.  Take care of each other.  Take care of yourself.

The benefits of testing- more time to read!

I bet the title of this week's blog caught your attention.  Testing is something that we are required to do, a mandate from the state or federal government.  Testing is going to take our students a lot of time and it takes away from your instructional time, a chance to be creative and engaging.  On the flip side, I see the opportunity for our students to also have more time to read.  You might be able to model reading, too.  Let's look on the bright side.  I'm sure that you all have a book you've wanted to read.  This might be the perfect opportunity.

Calendar
Monday, April 18th         Screening for 6th grade position ("All day")
                                           BLT meeting 4:15-5:15PM
                                           Kickball game at Hartland-Lakeside  4:30PM
Wednesday, April 20th    A-team meeting 1:30-3:30PM
                                           Culver's Night  4:00-8:00PM
Friday, April 22nd           Katie Welnetz visits for lunch
                                           (Please stop in to meet our newest School Board member.)
                                          Student Senate Carnival 5:00PM

Tweets, quotes, and blogs
"Be not afraid of greatness.  Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them."- William Shakespeare, playwright and poet
"Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance."- Coco Chanel, fashion designer

(from PixTeller)

"Individual commitment to a group effort--that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work."- Vince Lombardi, coach
"Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision...It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results."- Andrew Carnegie, industrialist

(from PixTeller)

"I speak to everyone in the same way, whether he is the garbage man or the president of the university."- Albert Einstein, theoretical physicist
"Respect yourself, and others will respect you."- Confucius, teacher and philosopher
An Open Letter From an Asperger's Mom to a Teacher (from CPI newsletter- I thought this was an awesome way to honor National Autism Month)
"To become a master at any skill, it takes the total effort of your heart, mind and soul working together in tandem."- Maurice Young, rapper and producer
"Know who you are, and be it.  Know what you want, and go out and get it."- -Carroll Bryant, writer
@mertonint on Twitter
#mertonint on Twitter
Merton Intermediate School Facebook page
Family smore for 4.15.16

Google Innovator Program
I got an email this week that has information about a program through Google.  I thought that some of you might have an interest in learning a little more about it.  Here is a link to a Q&A session that will occur on Tuesday, April 26th.  This is no pressure at all, just sharing an opportunity.

National Junior Honor Society
Yesterday was a fantastic day of celebration, and you and the kids all looked awesome!  Thanks to Heather and Megan for all of their work getting this organized.  Our custodial staff all chipped in to get everything ready.  Your flexibility and understanding to help make the day so special for our inductees is greatly appreciated.  Here's a picture Mary took of the celebration.

Did you see the weather forecast for the weekend?  Get out and enjoy it with family and friends.  I know I will!  Remember, take care of our kids, take care of each other, and take care of yourself.

Jay