One class at a time

Saturday morning, I read this latest post from Pernille Ripp, One Small Thing.  Pernille has a way to put into writing her reflections that make me think, and maybe this post will make you think, too.  I won't share my reflection on her post in writing, but I'd be happy to speak with you in person about your reflection if you are interested.

Great things I saw this week...
No snowmageddon on Monday!
ACT Aspire testing is all done! Thanks for the flexibility of our 7th and 8th grade teachers and a special thank you to Dawn!
Biztown Student Showcase at the School Board meeting.
STEM field trip for our 8th graders.
NJHS Penny Wars idea for #CaliforniaFires victims.
Cup stacking in 7th grade PE to relieve some stress.
Brian K. and his students really excited about Wisconsin Math Hoops (Ask BK about it.)
Flipgrid videos for book reviews.
Listening to Katie read "The Tell-Tale Heart" to the kids, and me (It's my favorite Edgar Allan Poe short story.).
Educator Effectiveness discussions with many of you (I really enjoy talking about the magic you all do in the classroom, and beyond, every day with our kids.).
Kids following me around at recess while I'm playing tunes out of my JammyPack.

Calendar
Intermediate School Special Events

Monday, December 3rd
Jay at SLATE after lunch

Tuesday, December 4th
Jay at SLATE all day
Thanks to Dave and Holly for covering my lunch and recess duty
Merton Tree lighting- 7PM

Wednesday, December 5th
Jay at SLATE in the morning (I hope to return close to 1:30)
Thanks to Michael and Dan for covering my lunch and recess duty

Thursday, December 6th
7th grade attends A Christmas Carol (all day)

Monday, December 10th- Friday, December 14th
NJHS Penny Wars

Tuesday, December 11th
Holiday Concerts (Band-5:30, Choir-7:00)

Monday, December 17th- Thursday, December 20th
Holiday Spirit Week

Tuesday, December 18th
Encore Choir and Jazz Band caroling (all day)

Wednesday, December 19th
Holiday brunch

Tweets, quotes, and blogs
If you knew... (from Allyson Apsey)

Exceeding Expectations (from Shelley Burgess)

Teaching Responsibility or Compliance? (from George Couros)

Our Kids Need You (from Tom Murray)

(from Dwight Carter's Facebook page)

#mertonint on Twitter

#MertonProud on Twitter

Merton Intermediate School Facebook page

mertonint on Instagram
Principals' Report from 11.26.18

Family smore from 11.30.18

Camp Fire All Kids Are Our Kids

Through my social media connections, I have come to know many principals from all over the country.  In an effort to help support the Butte County Schools in their efforts to help out fire victims, please consider purchasing one of these shirts or sweatshirts.

Here is a link if you are interested, and I appreciate your consideration.

The following is from my friend, Ryan Sheehy, a principal in California who wrote "Be the One".

If you had to lump humanity into two groups what would those groups be? In an inspirational speech, the late Randy Pausch asked his audience “Do you want to live your life as a Tigger, or an Eeyore?”

It is a fun, yet intriguing question.

Tigger is positive, energetic, fun, cheerful and confident. He always is trying to do his best, is up to try new things, keeps going even when he falls, and always sees the glass as being half full. We all know Tiggers.

Eeyore on the other hand is the opposite. Eeyore is usually gloomy, pessimistic, sarcastic, and never looks on the bright side. His glass is half empty and lacks confident. We all know Eeyores.

People and systems are going to let you down. Things and situations are not always going to go your way. We have no control over the actions of people that are in our lives. We have no control over the universe. But we do have control over who we are. I know that being a Tigger 100% of the time sounds daunting but being an Eeyore sounds unproductive and no fun.

In education we are constantly faced with students, parents, and other educators. I have had my fare share of run ins with Eeyores, but that is when my Tigger personality bounces into full effect. We must stay positive, cheerful, and confident. We need to show perseverance and  bounce back from our failures.

Every educator has the choice when that alarm clock goes off each morning, are you getting out of bed as an Eeyore or a Tigger?

Be The One that who tries your best, is up to try new things, keeps going even when you fall, and always sees the glass as being half full.

Have a great weekend.  Unplug from school at least one day.  It's a great habit to get into (I know what you're saying, but habits are hard to start and even harder to stop.), but I'm working on it.

Be the spark!

Jay

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

Thank you!

Thursday is Thanksgiving.  It provides a day of focus for all of the things for which I am thankful- my family, my health, my friends, and the opportunity to serve all of you and the kids every day.  As I reflect on the past couple of weeks, I've seen the staff come together for celebrations and condolences, for laughter and for tears, and for successes and challenges.  Until you have an opportunity to really reflect on your day to day life, you don't really realize how good you have it.  Take a moment, or an hour, or a day this Thanksgiving break and reflect on your life.  I encourage you to put together a column of successes and struggles from this year.  Fold it in half and then put it away until Sunday afternoon.  Then look only at the successes side.  Focus on those great things from your life both in and out of school and let that be your guiding force for the next four weeks.  I promise that it will bring more great things for you.

Great things I saw this week...
The care you have for our kids.
The care you have for each other.
Mindfulness activities in LA.
Human growth and development in 5th and 6th grade.
Smiles, even in trying times.
Jackie's shower this morning.
PTO pies!

Calendar
Intermediate School Special Events

Wednesday, November 21st- Sunday, November 25th
Thanksgiving Break

Monday, November 26th
BLT meeting  4:15PM
School Board meeting

Friday, November 30th
Half day- AM schedule

Tuesday, December 4th
Merton Tree lighting- 7PM

Thursday, December 6th
7th grade attends A Christmas Carol (all day)

Tuesday, December 11th
Holiday Concerts (Band-5:30, Choir-7:00)

Monday, December 17th- Thursday, December 20th
Holiday Spirit Week

Tuesday, December 18th
Encore Choir and Jazz Band caroling (all day)

Wednesday, December 19th
Holiday brunch

Tweets, quotes, and blogs
A powerful letter to a family (I found this on Facebook and just had to share it.)

The Great Teacher Myth (from Pernille Ripp)

Maybe who we are isn't so much about what we do, but rather what we're capable of when we least expect it.

Jodi Picoult, writer

Exhausted Educator, I See You (from Beth Houf)

#mertonint on Twitter

#MertonProud on Twitter

Merton Intermediate School Facebook page

mertonint on Instagram

Family smore from 11.20.18

Camp Fire All Kids Are Our Kids

Through my social media connections, I have come to know many principals from all over the country.  In an effort to help support the Butte County Schools in their efforts to help out fire victims, please consider purchasing one of these shirts or sweatshirts.

Here is a link if you are interested, and I appreciate your consideration.

Happy Thanksgiving.  Travel safely.  Unplug.  Reconnect with family and friends.  Take at least one day off from school work.
Be the spark!
Jay
Take care of the kids.  Take care of each other.  Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell

Aspire to be better

Thanks to all of you for your efforts in making the Aspire test as successful as possible.  Staff members stepped up, again.  The students were focused during their testing time.  Dawn and Jim were available and solved a myriad of issues.  Thank you, every one, for a great week.  I'll see you all on Monday, and make today the best Friday of the week!

Great things I saw this week...
Watching kids learn about air in Science.
Lots of reading.
Wonderful read alouds.
Students taking on the role of basketball coach in PE.
Oil pastel drawings in Art.
Discussions about the Bill of Rights in Social Studies.
Kids talking to me about struggling in Math, and that's a good thing.  That means they're learning!
Great thinking in Engineering Olympics.
Sitting with 5th graders at lunch and listening to them talk about...the books they're reading!

Calendar
Intermediate School Special Events

Wednesday, November 21st- Sunday, November 25th
Thanksgiving Break

Monday, November 26th
School Board meeting

Friday, November 30th
Half day- AM schedule

Tuesday, December 4th
Merton Tree lighting- 7PM

Thursday, December 6th
7th grade attends A Christmas Carol (all day)

Tuesday, December 11th
Holiday Concerts (Band-5:30, Choir-7:00)

Monday, December 17th- Thursday, December 20th
Holiday Spirit Week

Tuesday, December 18th
Encore Choir and Jazz Band caroling (all day)

Wednesday, December 19th
Holiday brunch

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have these because we have acted rightly.

Will Durant, historian

(from Jessica Johnson's staff blog)

The length of your education is less important than its breadth, and the length of your life is less important than its depth.

Marilyn vos Savant, columnist

Good multiplies when focused upon. Negativity multiplies when focused upon. The choice is ours: Which do we want more of?

Julia Cameron, writer The path to truly new, never-been-done-before things always has failure along the way. It's supposed to be hard. Regina Dugan, businesswoman and technology developer

#mertonint on Twitter

#MertonProud on Twitter

Merton Intermediate School Facebook page

mertonint on Instagram

Student assembly presentation from 11.14.18

Family smore from 11.16.18

Camp Fire All Kids Are Our Kids

Through my social media connections, I have come to know many principals from all over the country.  In an effort to help support the Butte County Schools in their efforts to help out fire victims, please consider purchasing one of these shirts or sweatshirts.

Here is a link if you are interested, and I appreciate your consideration.

Thanks in advance to those of you who will step up today in my absence.  I appreciate each of you.  Enjoy the weekend, and I'll see you on Monday!
Jay
Take care of the kids.  Take care of each other.  Take care of yourself- John Gunnell

You are doing your best, and I notice!

As last week wound down, I received an email from a friend of mine, Pernille Ripp, that contained her latest blog.  Please take a moment to read it.

Good Enough

Hold this message close, especially on the tough days.  Celebrate the great things you are doing for your kids and each other.  I'm proud to work with you!

Great things I saw this week...
Our 7th and 8th grade choir singing the National Anthem before the Bucks game.
Students helping each other with the Inventor program.
Students reflecting on their work from the first quarter.
Girls basketball teamwork, with Mr. Budisch officiating.
The book fair and all the work Jen and the volunteers did to make it a success.
Conversations with students and staff, with the students reflecting on their choices without any prompting or suggestions.
All of the jeans on Wednesday.
Watching an intervention, the smile on the student's face, and the confirmation that it's the people and not the programs.
The ebb and flow of a class that allows for students to get refocused and back to work.  (They are kids, after all, and you all get it.)
Listening to you all discuss the #GoodNewsCallOfTheDay students, and realizing that there are so many more who could be called. (So why not pick up the phone?  I've got bracelets for you!)

Calendar
Intermediate School Special Events

Monday, November 12th
7th/8th grade Aspire testing

Wednesday, November 14th
WIN Wednesday
7th/8th grade Aspire testing

Thursday, November 15th
7th/8th grade Aspire testing
Arena family/teacher/student conferences

Wednesday, November 21st- Sunday, November 25th
Thanksgiving Break

Monday, November 26th
School Board meeting

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

Immersed in the Present With an Eye on the Future (from George Couros)

Crushing Goals (from Kristen Nan)

(taken from Jessica Johnson's Friday Focus)

My #Sidehustle: Facts and Fallacies (from Allyson Apsey)

(from The Teacher Next Door)

Good multiplies when focused upon. Negativity multiplies when focused upon. The choice is ours: Which do we want more of?

Julia Cameron, writer

Rethinking Balance (from George Couros)

Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.

Truman Capote, writer

#mertonint on Twitter
#MertonProud on Twitter
Merton Intermediate School Facebook page
mertonint on Instagram
Family smore from 11.9.18 (more photos to add after Veterans Day celebration)

Today is one of my favorite days because...
it's all run by the kids (with some significant help from Michael and Andrea).
it's an incredible show of support for our veterans.
it shows so many people what our kids are really like.
it shows how much you have done to help our kids realize what's important in life.
I see so many smiles from students, their guests, and their families.
I get to share it with my mom and dad.
it shows that you get what's important in our school- the kids and teaching them more than just academics.
Be the spark!
Jay
Take care of the kids.  Take care of each other.  Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell

Full week focus

After a three day weekend, I noticed you came back with a focus on the kids.  That's not to say that you weren't focused before.  It's just that sometimes we need to hit reset and jump back in with both feet, focusing on our kids' success.  On Monday alone, I witnessed three specific instances of staff connecting one on one with students, providing support, suggestions, and the needed nudge to do better.  I honestly think that one of them didn't even know that I noticed.  That's the focus that I'm talking about.  The focus I saw reminds me of Seabiscuit (not that any of you are horses), how when he got his blinders he was the best that he could be.  There are times when you have your blinders on, too, and don't even know I'm in the room or in the area.  That's some awesome focus, and I'm so glad that you accept me into your classrooms every day.  I really wish there was a way you could visit each other's classrooms to see what I get to see every day.  If only someone could take over your class so that you could do that.

Great things I saw this week...
We all got right back to learning after the long weekend.
Parent meeting on Monday, and the family is so happy they're in Merton.
Lego robotics presentation at the board meeting on Monday. (Thanks, Becky, Landon, and Dominic!)
The choirs and the bands are sounding better every day. (Not that they sounded bad before.)
Conferring happening in LA while students are reading picture books and finding craft moves.
Partner work in math class and listening to the students help each other understand the new program and concepts.
Encore choir singing Halloween songs to our 5th graders.
Students making sure to include others in their discussions during class.
A teacher telling me, "I wish you had been here 20 minutes ago!" (Don't forget to invite me in if you have something awesome you'd like me to see.)
5th graders all dressed up for Biztown.
Mr. Teofilo here all week working with and connecting with our kids.
The effort of our students during pre-assessment and on demand writing.

Calendar
Intermediate School Special Events

Monday, November 5th- Friday, November 9th
Book Fair

Wednesday, November 7th
Jeans for Troops Day ($5 to wear jeans. Money goes to Veterans charity)

Friday, November 9th
Veterans Day Celebration

Monday, November 12th
7th/8th grade Aspire testing

Wednesday, November 14th
WIN Wednesday
7th/8th grade Aspire testing

Thursday, November 15th
7th/8th grade Aspire testing
Arena family/teacher/student conferences

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

(from Jessica Johnson's memo to staff)

Wanting to reform the world without discovering one's true self is like trying to cover the world with leather to avoid the pain of walking on stones and thorns. It is much simpler to wear shoes.

Ramana Maharshi, Hindu sage

Are we preparing students to be chefs or cooks? (video from AJ Juliani)

Starting with Positive Assumptions (from George Couros)

Couch to Happiness (from Allyson Apsey)

(from @valentinasel via MindShift KQED)

What hurts the victim most is not the cruelty of the oppressor but the silence of the bystander.

Elie Wiesel, Nobel laureate and Holocaust survivor

Iceberg Moments #KidsDeserveIt (from Todd Nesloney)

(from Sylvia Duckworth)

How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.

Annie Dillard, writer

#mertonint on Twitter
#MertonProud on Twitter
Merton Intermediate School Facebook page
mertonint on Instagram
Family smore from 11.2.18

I am so impressed with each of you every day.  I walk into classrooms and see the kids focused on learning, either independently or in groups.  You have conversations about kids and families and what we can do better for them.  You never give less than your best.  So not only am I impressed, I am honored and humbled to work with you every day.  I'm looking forward to another great week next week, and please invite me in if you have anything extra special planned.  I love watching you teach!
Be the spark!
Jay
Take care of the kids.  Take care of each other.  Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell

How can I help?

Jen and I have found a new show to watch.  No, it's not in the Bachelor series.  It's New Amsterdam, the story of a public hospital in New York City.  The main character, Dr. Max Goodwin, played by Ryan Eggold, is the new medical director at America's oldest hospital.  He is trying to rebuild the hospital and remove all of the bureaucracy so that the doctor's can focus on the patients.  Dr. Goodwin uses a line often in each show- "How can I help?"  It honestly reminds me of all of you when we speak about our kids.  We work together, come up with a plan, and put it into effect.  We all have our part in the plan, including me.  So, how can I help?

Great things I saw this week...
It's a short week, and you and the students were focused on learning right away on Monday.
There were some pretty cool crazy hats.
I love the honest, open conversations during our BLT meetings.
The flag football tournament had some great action and a fired up audience.

Calendar
Intermediate School Special Events

Saturday, October 27th
EdCamp Walker's Point
(Please consider attending, even if for only half of the day.)

Friday, November 2nd
End of 1st quarter

Tuesday, November 6th
7th/8th Aspire testing

Wednesday, November 7th
7th/8th Aspire testing

Friday, November 9th
Veterans Day Celebration

Tweets, quotes, and blogs
The Value of "Not Having a Choice" (from George Couros)

(from George Couros' The Innovator's Mindset)

How radical love transformed a school (Hamish Brewer's TEDxChristchurch. Hamish is a relentless principal I'm proud to call my friend. This is worth 16 minutes of your time, I promise.)

#mertonint on Twitter
#MertonProud on Twitter
Merton Intermediate School Facebook page
mertonint on Instagram
BLT notes from 10.22.18 (visible only to Merton employees)
Family smore from 10.24.18

(from historicimages.com)

Yes, that's me, coaching basketball in 1992!  Just wanted you to have a giggle before a great day of collaborating and learning together.  Strangely, I got the picture after getting a phone call from my mom.  Our pastor's son found it on ebay, called our pastor who called my mom who called me.  It's a weird story, and one that I'll be sharing with the students during our November WIN Wednesday assembly for two reasons.  The first is the story of how far things can go around the internet.  The second is a story for you and me to remember.  Look at that little boy sitting on the floor, intently looking at me.  He is watching my every move and listening to everything I'm saying.  Our students and our own children are like that with us every day.  What they are seeing and hearing from us is a model to them.  Have you ever had a student or your own child say something you say everyday?  Sometimes it can be funny and other times it's down right scary.  There are times I think back to my coaching days in the 1980s and 1990s and wonder what I was thinking.  I was an animated coach, to say the least, but was my way the best way.  We had successful teams, winning conference championships and quite a few games, but maybe we could have been better if I coached differently.  I have the opportunity to coach here once in a while, and I really enjoy it.  My coaching tactics have changed, thankfully, and I'm not as tough with the officials (I'm sure my reaction above was to a call I felt should have gone another way.) as I used to be.  But I still coach with the same fire I had before, I just go about it a bit differently.  The same is true about how I "principal".  I've had to make changes over my almost 17 years as an administrator.  I have learned things, tried them out, and either kept doing them, adjusted them, or done away with them altogether.  I have seen the same from all of you as teachers, and today is an opportunity to learn new things.  Seize the day and make it a powerful and positive learning experience so that when the kids come back on Monday, you'll be ready to greet them and challenge them with something new.  They'll be looking at you just like the little boy on the gym floor looked at me.

Be the spark!

Jay

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

Ever been surprised?- Here's a challenge

Today, a district of 800 or so students surprised nearly every staff member with lunch.  Sound unique or different?  Not really, but here's the twist.  (For context, I'll only be talking about our Intermediate School.  The Primary School was doing the exact same thing, just with smaller, less independent students.)  The staff, instructional and custodial, were all called by me to the office over the PA at 11:30.  The directions were simple.  There is a volunteer outside your door.  Grab your coat, leave your lunch, and meet in the front lobby.  I wish I had my phone out to capture their looks.  My memory will have to do, but it's certainly something I won't forget any time soon.

Once they all gathered, I told them to board the yellow bus, enjoy your lunch, and I'll see them at 1:00.  The looks of dismay and uncertainty and wonder were amazing.  They boarded the bus and didn't look back.  That was where the fun began!  Eighteen volunteers, one substitute, and I were now in control of 400 kids for 90 minutes, and boy were we up for the challenge.  We also had the assistance of two amazing instructional assistants, our secretary, our nurse, our cafeteria crew, and our head custodian.

The students were amazing.  These middle school students at first thought that something was wrong.  I walked into the 5th and 6th grade classrooms to let them know that the teachers would be back at 1:00.  We had just sent them out for lunch.  The 5th and 6th graders continued with their classes while the 7th and 8th grade students finished up their classes and headed to lunch at 11:44.  I had nine cafeteria and recess supervisors for 7th and 8th grade lunch and things went pretty well inside.  There is always an issue or two of something getting airborne, but we took care of that quickly.  Recess was great as the sun came out just in time.  Indoor recess would have made the 90 minutes much less enjoyable so we were all thankful for the sun.  The 7th and 8th graders came in for their 5th hour classes and the nine volunteers took over classes, which became study halls.  I visited each room, reminded them of our study hall expectations, and headed back to the cafeteria for the next lunch hour.

The 5th and 6th graders were all eating when I arrived thanks to our head custodian's assistance.  We headed outside for recess, which had a few minutes of light sprinkles, but there wasn't any way I was going to bring them inside.  The volunteers eagerly agreed with me.

At 1:00, the bus returned with the staff and the day resumed like any normal day.  Fortunately, I had a chance to eat a corn dog for lunch while I covered a Geometry class.  They were taking a quiz so I was able to write this blog post.

Why did we do this?  We did it to show the tremendous appreciation we have for what our staff do for and with our kids every day.

I would be remiss if I didn't thank our school board, our superintendent, our school psychologist, and Mary Iwanski.  They planned this whole thing for our staff and pulled it off without anyone knowing.  Could you pull this off?  Why not give it a try.  If you're willing to take the risk, reply to this blog or connect on Facebook or Twitter.  A little risk went a long way in showing our staff how much we appreciate all that they do for our students.  You can do it!