Jay's Journal

Principals' Presentation to the Board from 4.23.18

Family smore for 4.27.18

If you are interested...

Back To School Grant from Meemic

As the title of this week's blog states, "Can it already be May?" It's great that it's almost May, but good grief, it's almost May! I have no idea how many days of the school year are left (and please don't tell me) but I know that there is so much more that I need to do for you and the kids and there is so much more for you to do for each other and the kids. To quote High School Musical Jr., which was awesome, by the way- "We're all in this together!"
Be the one!
Jay
Take care of the kids. Take care of each other. Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell

Friday, April 20, 2018

You are amazing

As I reflect on the last two weeks, I must admit that you amaze me. Despite changes for next year, you still come to school, every day, and give it your best effort. The kids probably don't even know all of the things you are dealing with, personally and professionally, because you still are here every day for them, and for each other. I appreciate all of you who have come to me with concerns or questions instead of feeding the rumors and assumptions. One of our colleagues reminds me, often, what it really means when we assume things. Please come to me with any concerns or questions that you have as we move forward with this school year and prepare for the next school year. Thank you for your passion, your effort, and your desire to be here for our kids and each other.

Calendar
Monday, April 23rd
4:30 Volleyball games @ Stone Bank
6:30 School Board meeting

Tuesday, April 24th
IEP Power Day
4:15 Homework Club

Wednesday, April 25th
7:15 volleyball practice

Thursday, April 26th
Grade level and specials meetings
4:15 Homework Club

Friday, April 27th
7:15 volleyball practice

Important dates
May 11th- Grandparents Day
May 15th- concerts
May 24th- Half day career event
June 1st- Celebration Day
June 5th- 8th grade Day Away
June 6th- Awards assembly and 8th grade graduation

Great things I saw this week...
Robots in 5th grade.
Reading all over the building.
Snow piles, in April, and the kids having fun at recess.
Kids interested in their Social Studies projects.
Intramural volleyball during 7/8 lunch.
Dave having a blast with liquid nitrogen. Ask the 7th graders about the onion.
The excitement of the kids in preparation for their first musical.
A guest teacher on Wednesday telling me how fantastic she thinks our school and students are.
More snow to make the snow piles even higher.
The kids did a nice job during the play, and the cast, crew, and directors of High School Musical Jr. were just plain awesome!
The "new" Kwik Trip up the street has 6 donuts for 99 cents!

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

Every "Best Practice" in Education Was Once an Innovation (from George Couros)

"Don't worry about failures, worry about the chances you miss when you don't even try."

Jack Canfield

"Chance favors only the prepared mind."- Louis Pasteur, 1822-1895, French chemist and biologist

True happiness consists not in the multitude of friends, but in the worth and choice.

Ben Jonson,
playwright and poet

"Remember that happiness is a way of travel, not a destination."- Roy M. Goodman

Change your opinions, keep to your principles; change your leaves, keep intact your roots.

Victor Hugo,
poet, novelist and dramatist

When I Realized I Would Be OK... (from Pernille Ripp)

"Don't persuade, defend, or interrupt. Be curious., be conversational, be real. And listen."-

Elizabeth Lesser

Family smore for 4.20.18

Maybe you'd be interested in...
Summer Spark, a PD opportunity at University School of Milwaukee on June 11th and 12th. I'm presenting, and I know someone who can get a deal for you on registration. Please let me know if you are interested.

Enjoy the Spring weather this weekend. Get outside, breathe in the fresh air, soak in the sun, and find family or friends to hang around with for a few hours. You deserve some "away time" from school.
Be the one!
Jay
Take care of the kids. Take care of each other. Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell

Friday, April 13, 2018

Changes- none are easy

This week, each of our grade level teams was impacted by at least one change. These changes are not easy and were not made impulsively. Each move was made with a great deal of thought and reflection. It's difficult to change teams as relationships have been built, but with these changes comes an opportunity for individuals and teams to get better. We can't, however, forget about what comes before us the rest of this school year- our kids. Your current team has the opportunity to finish strong for each other and the kids, and I encourage you to do all that you can for them and for each other. Know that I will be there to support you through the rest of the year as well as through the transition that is soon to come.

Great things I saw this week...
The kids, and you, got right back to learning on Monday.
The seriousness of the kids doing their makeup Forward Exams.
Michael and his work with NJHS and the induction ceremony.
All staff who pitched in to help out with Homework Club and the NJHS ceremony.
The 5th graders creating golf holes for Spheros.
Brian V. joining in the 5th and 6th grade recess.
The band and jazz band during before and during the NJHS ceremony.
The choir singing the National Anthem at the NJHS ceremony. (Did anyone record that? WOW!)
The behavior of the kids during the tornado drill. John said he was highly impressed by our 8th graders and that they were the best he has seen for a drill.
Small group LA instruction in the Learning Lounge.
Barb being Barb with NJHS certificates and the fun we had on Tuesday.

Calendar
Monday, April 16th
7:15 volleyball practice
4:15 BLT meeting

Tuesday, April 17th
8:55-9:40 cover Brian F.
4:15 Homework Club
5:20 volleyball games at Lake Country

Wednesday, April 18th
12:22-1:03 Social Studies
4:00 Culver's Night (I'm serving from 6:00-8:00!)

Thursday, April 19th
Grade level/specials meetings
10:30 6th/7th/8th grade see HS Musical Jr. play
1:45 5th grade sees HS Musical Jr. play
4:15 Homework Club

Friday, April 20th
7:00 High School Musical Jr.

Saturday, April 21st
2:00 High School Musical Jr.
7:00 High School Musical Jr.

Important dates
May 11th- Grandparents Day
May 15th- concerts
May 24th- Half day career event
June 1st- Celebration Day
June 5th- 8th grade Day Away
June 6th- Awards assembly and 8th grade graduation

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.

Edith Wharton,
writer

Can you follow this "learning norm"? (from George Couros)

The fear of becoming a "has been" keeps some people from becoming anything.

Eric Hoffer,
writer and social critic

Hold Your Tongue (from Pernille Ripp)

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world."- Anne Frank, 1929-1945, Dutch diarist

"Isn't it nice to think that is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?" — L.M. Montgomery

A Way Out (from Pernille Ripp)

Invention, strictly speaking, is little more than a new combination of those images which have been previously gathered and deposited in the memory; nothing can come of nothing.

Joshua Reynolds,
artist

The "Push" That Comes With Being Valued (from George Couros)

It has been quite a week. I was impressed by two things. One was the professionalism that you all showed during our discussions on Wednesday. The other was the kids, both on the "stage" and in the bleachers, during our NJHS assembly yesterday. Thank you for Wednesday and for being with our kids yesterday. When we raise our expectations for the kids, they can step up to them, without a doubt. Keep those expectations high for the next seven plus weeks, and the kids will come through. I just know that they will.

Have a fantastic Friday and a wonderful weekend.

Be the one!

Jay

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

Friday, April 6, 2018

Morning's on break

I truly hope that you had a relaxing break and that you are ready to be back together for the kids. Jen, Lauren, and I have enjoyed our time in Florida but I'm ready for a return to school. I was able to spend time reading, running, and reflecting on the school year so far. That also allowed me to contemplate our final quarter of the school year, celebrate the things we have done well and try to determine ways to do some things better. I look forward to seeing you all on Monday morning. Let's meet the kids outside and welcome them back!

Calendar
Monday, April 9th
7:15 volleyball practice

Tuesday, April 10th
8:55 cover Brian F.
4:15 Homework Club
4:30 volleyball games at Merton

Wednesday, April 11th
8:00 All staff meeting
8:45 Student assembly
1:15 A-team meeting

Thursday, April 12th
Grade level meetings
2:00 National Junior Honor Society induction
4:15 Homework Club

Friday, April 13th
7:15 volleyball practice at Primary School
1:30 Future Ready Schools in Brookfield

Tweets, quotes, and blogs
Empowering Purpose (from George Couros)

(from @woodard_julie)

Back to School Meemic grant application
The 30-Second Book Talk (from Pernille Ripp)
First, Learn Their Story (from Jon Harper)

The Process is the Product (from George Couros)

Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.

Confucius,
philosopher and teacher

Who Keeps You In Line? (from Pernille Ripp)
Innovation Does Not Happen in Isolation (from George Couros)

Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference.

Jane Goodall,
primatologist and anthropologist

I was fortunate to spend an entire week with Jen and Lauren in Florida. The weather was awesome but the chance to be together was even more important. I also was able to read a couple of books while getting sunburned on the beach. The favorite book I read was The Operator by Robert O'Neill. Mr. O'Neill is the Navy SEAL who fired the shot that killed Osama bin Laden. That story was only one chapter of the book. The rest of the book is the reason I loved the book. It is the story of someone who has an undying desire to do his best, all of the time. He relies on his own intestinal fortitude and never give up attitude as well as the belief that his father has in him to be the best. One line sticks out in the book that reminds me of our work together. It was "stolen" by Mr. O'Neill from one of his troop's commanders- "Nobody ever worked for me. They worked with me." The Navy SEALs rely on each other to accomplish their mission. No one person is more important in any mission. If one SEAL fails in their part of the mission, another SEAL must step up or the mission will fail. The same is true of our work with each student we come in contact with every day. Remember that. Our students rely on us on our good days and bad days and on their good days and bad days. The work you do with our kids and each other cannot go underestimated or underappreciated. Thank you for working with me every day to make our school and district the best it can be for our kids.

Be the one!
Jay
Take care of the kids. Take care of each other. Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell

Thursday, March 29, 2018

What is our story?

In the midst of proctoring the Forward Exam, I read this post from George Couros called Change the Story, Change the Culture. I've linked it in case you want to see what I was thinking about. We have a 10 day break from the regiment of school starting on Friday. When you are in one of those reflective modes, think about these three questions.
1. What is my story?
2. What is my classroom story?
3. What is our school story?
The first one is just for you. What are some of the common themes when we discuss our classrooms and our schools? What's something that we should be really proud of? What's something we need to improve upon? There's extra credit if you reflect in a blog post, say a GOOSE pass for the post voted on as best by your colleagues. Are you up for the challenge?

Calendars
Next week is Spring Break so I won't have any office hours. You should take some time off, too!
Monday, April 9th
Classes resume
7:15 volleyball practice

Tuesday, April 10th
9:00-9:45 cover Brian F.
4:15 Homework Club
4:30 volleyball games

Wednesday, April 11th
8:00-9:15 All staff meeting
1:15 A-team meeting

Thursday, April 12th
Grade level/ specials meetings
2:00 NJHS induction
4:15 Homework Club

Friday, April 13th
7:15 volleyball practice
2:00 Future Ready meeting in Brookfield

Important future dates
April 19th- High School Musical Junior

6th-8th grades @ 10:30AM
3rd-5th grades @ 1:45PM

May 11th- Grandparents Day
May 15th- concerts
May 24th- Half day career event
June 1st- Celebration Day

Great things I saw this week...
Lots of students reading in class.
Read alouds in class, and hearing Sarah K. reading in Spanish.
Gallery walk in Math class to solve Algebra problems.
8th graders staying focused on their testing.
The flexibility of our students and staff during Forward Exams.
Students creating Sphero golf courses.
Visiting Egypt using Google Expeditions.
Play practice (You seriously need to watch a practice when we get back from break!).
Students saying thank you for ice cream sandwiches.
Mike doing an amazing job in Heidi's room.
The work Jim and Dawn did for Forward Exams.

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.

Nelson Mandela,
activist and political leader

Purpose-Driven Learning (from George Couros)

It is impossible for anyone to begin to learn that which he thinks he already knows.

Epictetus,
philosopher

Can We Make Lesson Plans More Than Compliance Plans? (from A. J. Juliani)

Family smore for 3.29.18

Do you know what happens after the third quarter of Wisconsin football games? The players hold up four fingers and the PA blares Jump Around.

When we get back, it will be the 4th quarter. Our focus needs to be better. Our effort needs to be better. Our engagement with our students and each other needs to be better. We need to be better. I encourage you to find time in the next 10 days to refresh, renew, recharge, and relax so that we have our full attention on each and every day of the 4th quarter. There's a good chance I'll be doing a little Jump Around next week and I'll be ready for an awesome finish to the school year.
Be the one!
Jay
Take care of the kids. Take care of each other. Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell

Friday, March 23, 2018

Testing week

Great job this week with testing. It's a stressful time for everyone, whether you want to admit it or not. I appreciate the effort that you put into test preparation over the past few weeks, but the preparation goes way beyond that. It's what you do every day to connect with our kids- the big things and the little things. The connections are more than just academic. The connections are relationship building. The connections are setting expectations, and holding the students, and yourself, to those expectations. The connections are working together with colleagues to bring lessons to life. Remember those things most of all. They are the reasons that our kids perform the way that they do. Thanks to all of you for guiding our learners every day!

Great things I saw this week...
The Forward Exam got off to a great start.
Spheros in 5th grade Science.
Barb is back!
6th graders sharing their film festival at the School Board meeting.
Our Parent Tech Talk on Tuesday night with over 50 in attendance!
8th graders making super balls in Science.
Mike is doing a great job with Heidi's kids.
The flexibility of staff with our wacky schedule this week.
The student pride while putting their poetry presentations together.
Martica and Andrea working with our staff, and chipping in to proctor the Forward Exam or cover a class.
Our volleyball teams had their first games, and did pretty well.
7th and 8th grade family conferences, and the dinner the PTO prepared for them (Face to face meetings with families are the most impactful, in my opinion, so thank you to all who have had family conferences and continue to have family conferences.).
Kim stepping in for Matt as he was presenting at a national conference in Nashville.
Forward testing is over for 6th and 7th graders, and they enjoyed an ice cream sandwich to celebrate!

Calendar
Tuesday, March 27th
7:15 volleyball practice
4:15 Homework Club

Wednesday, March 28th
1:15 A-team meeting

Thursday, March 29th
Grade level and specials meetings
Leaving for Spring Break at 4:15PM (You should, too!)

Important future dates
March 30th- April 8th- Spring Break
April 11th- WIN Wednesday
April 12th- NJHS induction
April 19th- High School Musical Junior

6th-8th grades @ 10:30AM
3rd-5th grades @ 1:45PM

May 11th- Grandparents Day
May 15th- concerts
May 24th- Half day career event

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

Helping Someone Get Better or Showing Them You Are Better? (from George Couros)

One never goes so far as when one doesn't know where one is going.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe,
writer and statesman

3 Conversation Shifts in Education (from George Couros)

It is the same with people as it is with riding a bike. Only when moving can one comfortably maintain one's balance.

Albert Einstein,
theoretical physicist

(from Math Education SmartBrief)

Relationships, Risk-Taking, and Innovation (from George Couros)

(from Pinterest)