It's July, and I hope you are still relaxing

Last weekend was the 4th of July.  Jen, Lauren, and I had a great lake weekend with a little golf mixed in with Lauren.  Above all, we got to hang out with family and friends and relax.  Are you making relaxation and reflection part of your summertime this year?  Are you spending more time with family and friends?  Are you spending time doing your favorite indoor and outdoor activities?  I sure hope that you are!  This summer it's more important than ever to take care of yourself and your loved ones.  Please continue to take time for yourself.  August will be here soon enough.

Calendar

Thursday, July 15th    6th/7th/8th grade Science team meets

Wednesday, July 21st    6th/7th/8th grade Social Study team meets/ School board meeting 6PM

Thursday, July 22nd    Summer School session 2 ends

Intermediate remodel update

Want to know the progress for your room?  Check out this spreadsheet that will be updated throughout the summer.  Thanks for doing this, Mary!  If you'd like to see photos of the process, check out this link.

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

(from Inspiring Quotes daily email from June 27, 2021)

"When we live our lives everyday, we're met with opportunities, and most of us don't even recognize them."-

Scarlett Johansson

(from Teacher2Teacher Team)

It's time to get back to Session 2 of Summer School.  Lauren stopped by to visit Jen and I this weekend and we're enjoying our time together.  I hope that you are having a chance to reconnect with your family and friends, too.

Jay

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

Checking in from Summer School

I hope that your summer has started out quiet and uneventful.  I'm checking in at the end of the first week of Summer School, and things are going well thanks to Dawn, Jen, our teachers, and our assistants!  With the demolition and construction underway at the Intermediate School, if you're looking for me just stop in to the Primary School office.  They'll be able to find me.  Below are a few pictures of the demolition so you can keep up with the repurposing of the "75 wing".

Choir room

Old 5th grade hallway

Dan's old room

5th grade office hallway

There's a window in my office

New office area

Old office demolition

Mirrored window in the cool down room

Want to know the progress for your room?  Check out this spreadsheet that will be updated throughout the summer.  Thanks for doing this, Mary!

Continue to relax and refresh this summer.  I'll share another email in two weeks.

Jay

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

You made it!

You made it!  You made it through a year that was guided by a pandemic.  You made it through a year of in person and virtual learning.  You made it through almost a full year of masks.  You made it through in person and Google meet conferences and IEP meetings and parent meetings and interviews.  You supported one another through good times and difficult times.  You made it through a year that was like no other.  And I couldn't be more proud to have gone to school with you every day.  It was a great year and I hope that you can look back and enjoy the view.  Thanks to George Couros for sharing these words.

Calendar

Wednesday, June 9th    Half day/ Last day of school

Thursday, June 10th    Sleep in, check in with family and friends, and enjoy.  Summer begins!

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

"I believe, every day, you should have at least one exquisite moment."-

Audrey Hepburn, actress

(from inspiringquotes.com)

"There are years that ask questions and years that answer."-

Zora Neale Huston

(from @woodard_julie)

"Whatever you do, the only secret is to believe in it and satisfy yourself.  Don't do it for anyone else."-

Keith Haring, artist, social activist

BLT notes from June 7th

During our BLT meeting on Monday, we discussed a few things which can be found in these notes.  Two things are important for today, the yearbook and ice cream adjusted schedule as well as determining a time for your grade level (5th grade) or curriculum (6th, 7th, 8th grade) flex day meeting for the summer.  The flex day needs to be scheduled by August 19th.  Please communicate your selected date with me.  And don't forget about packing up your classrooms!

8th grade graduation was amazing!

Thanks to Becky Oppermann for her creativity to pull off an fantastic ceremony.  Thanks to Barb for her impressive organizational skills, and for the idea for my message to the graduates and their families.  Thanks to Leah for her caligraphy on the diplomas.  Thanks to the 8th grade staff for being there for our kids, not just last night but all year.  Thanks to Jenny and Jon for their work so our 8th grade Choir students could perform.  Thanks to Jim, Mike, Jordan, and Kirk for their set up and tear down of the gym.  Thanks to Carey for coming in after to help Becky with reorganizing all of the stuff for next year.  I am always so impressed about how a team comes together for our kids.

Good byes are not easy

Thanks to Barb for her 25 years of exceptional work for our school.

Thanks to Patrick for his 6 years of caring for our kids in Merton.

Thanks to Becky Pizzo for her wonderful classroom instruction and leadership with NJHS.

Thanks to Brian Vassak for his successful year sharing his love of Social Studies with our 8th graders.

We will miss you next year.

Daring Greatly

I'm nearly finished reading Brene Brown's book Daring Greatly.  I can't wait to read a bit of it every morning.  In her "Final Thoughts" section, she shares a quote from Theodore Roosevelt that seems to describe our 2020-2021 school year.  Maybe it will resonate with you in the same way it resonated with me.

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again,

because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause;

who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly...

You may not see yourself in this quote, but I sure do.  You give your best to our kids and each other every day, and that's why it's so great to come to school with you every day.

Have a great last day of school!

Jay

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

Celebrations

Can you believe that it's the first week of June?  Celebration Day was amazing.  Thanks to Matt and Justin for all of their efforts and organization.  Celebration Day is but one day, but I can honestly say that this was a Celebration Year!  You all did such a great job being in person and virtual teachers.  You care about our kids and each other.  You step up to help out.  You support our kids and each other.  We've celebrated each other.  I cannot begin to tell you how proud I am to go to school with you every day!

Calendar

Friday, June 4th  6th grade to Fireman's Park (PM)

Monday, June 7th  8th grade to Lisbon Park (12:30-4:00)

Tuesday, June 8th    8th grade graduation

Wednesday, June 9th    Half day/ Last day of school

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

"Simplify, slow down, be kind.  And don't forget to have art in your life -- music, paintings, theater, dance and sunsets."-

Eric Carle, writer, illustrator, designer

(Obvious to you.  Amazing to others.  by Derek Sievers from George Couros)

"They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night."-

Edgar Allan Poe

End of year procedures

Here is a document for end of the year procedures.  Please notice that our two flex days are now on the calendary.  Please let me know when you'll be meeting as a team/content area so that I can communicate that to Maria.  Included in this document are items from Jim regarding technology and Ron regarding building and grounds.  I'm happy to discuss these with you if you have any questions.

Educator Effectiveness

Thanks to all of you who have met with me or have scheduled your final SLO meeting.  If you haven't done so, please do so as soon as you can.  If you need to meet with me between noon and 2:00, a time that looks busy on my calendar, that is also an option.  I look forward to our conversations.

It's the last weekend of the school year.  Take time for yourself and your families and your friends this weekend.  Reach out and connect with someone you haven't connected with in a while.  I'll be doing that as I see some of my high school friends this weekend.  Relax and come back refreshed for our final two and a half days!

Jay

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

It's the final countdown?

Last Friday morning I read this post (On Counting Down the Days...Again) from Pernille Ripp.  This is a reposting of a 2017 post and the introduction really got me, especially this line...

"We can still be glad to have the chance to step away to recharge without notching the days."

Our kids are counting down the days.  You are counting down the days.  I'm counting down the days.  But that shouldn't be our focus.  Our focus should still be on the kids, on relationships, and on providing our kids a safe place to learn and connect with one another.

Calendar

Thursday, May 27th    NJHS induction  6PM

Friday, May 28th    No School

Monday, May 31st    No School

Tuesday, June 1st  5th grade to Fireman's Park (PM)

Thursday, June 3rd  Celebration Day

Friday, June 4th  6th grade to Fireman's Park (PM)

Monday, June 7th  8th grade to Lisbon Park (12:30-4:00)

Tuesday, June 8th    8th grade graduation

Wednesday, June 9th    Half day/ Last day of school

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

(from Mind/Shift)

"Education is about elevation.
Not only of our students but of one another.  Everything we do to create better opportunities for those we serve should be cheered on and learned from, but they don’t have to be replicated in every classroom as it is.  We all bring different strengths, passions, and talents to our classrooms, and utilizing them to provide great but varied experiences, is beneficial to learning."

(from George Couros)

(I got this from Jen.  Just seemed appropriate for this week.)

Dear Teacher: Heartfelt Advice for Teachers from Students

(This pertains just as much to me in working with all of you, too.  As we get closer to the end of the year, the advice from these kids seems even more important.)

Rest is Essential to Growth (from George Couros)

(I got this one from Jen, too.)

With masks being optional, please consider using this language when speaking with our students

I know it is easy to say, "it is not required" or "you don't need to wear a mask."  However, this is being interpreted to our parents not respecting their choice of having their child wear a mask.  So when asked, a better response is "it is a choice that families make so please respect what your family asks you to do."   We know that words matter and I know all of you have true intentions.  It was never anyone's intention to overstep a parent's wishes.  Thank you for pausing when asked, and if we can please respond with it being a family choice.

End of year procedures

Here is a document for end of the year procedures.  Included in this document are items from Jim regarding technology and Ron regarding building and grounds.  I'm happy to discuss these with you if you have any questions.

Educator Effectiveness

Thanks to all of you who have met with me or have scheduled your final SLO meeting.  If you haven't done so, please do so as soon as you can.  If you need to meet with me between noon and 2:00, a time that looks busy on my calendar, that is also an option.  I look forward to our conversations.

Thanks for a great week.  With a change to how we do school on Monday night, it was great to see you all come together and support all of our kids and each other.  The weekend is nearly upon us, and it's a four day weekend at that.  Unless there's something urgent, you won't be getting any emails from me.  If you need me for anything, send me a text or an email or a Vox and I'll get back to you when I check my phone.  It's a Fox Lake weekend for us and I plan on fishing, golfing, and relaxing.  I hope you can find a way to be in your happy place this weekend, too.

Jay

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

Sometimes it's best to look in the mirror

Not too long ago, I heard a quote that went something like this.

"Sometimes it's better to look in the mirror than it is to look out the window."

I reflected on that quote after receiving an email on Wednesday.  Sometimes I don't think things all the way through.  I have an idea, see where I want it to go, and then hope that it works.  I don't think about how it might fail or how it might impact someone adversely.  I tend to see how it might impact someone positively.  That's pretty short-sided thinking.  No one is like me, nor should they be.  One Jay is enough.  (I know that you are all nodding your head right now, and that's okay.)  I look out the window and see what I wish I could have.  Instead, I should look in the mirror and see what I have and reflect on what I can do to make that better.  This year we haven't had enough staff meetings where we could get to know one another better.  I'll need to be better at making time for all of us to meet more regularly.  We will need more staff meetings next year because we'll be working with different groups of people and also some new people.  We need to get to know each other better so that we can be better for each other and for our kids.  I look forward to finishing the year strong, but I still have an eye on the future and a better Team Merton.

Calendar

Monday, May 24th    School board meeting

Tuesday, May 25th    Choir concerts 5:30PM and 7PM

Wednesday, May 26th  Use the time as needed

Thursday, May 27th    NJHS induction  6PM

Friday, May 28th    No School

Monday, May 31st    No School

Tuesday, June 1st  5th grade to Fireman's Park (PM)

Thursday, June 3rd  Celebration Day

Friday, June 4th  6th grade to Fireman's Park (PM)

Monday, June 7th  8th grade to Lisbon Park (12:30-4:00)

Tuesday, June 8th    8th grade graduation

Wednesday, June 9th    Half day/ Last day of school

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

(uki--uki.deviantart.com)

"Everyone is having a harder time than it appears."-

Charles Grodin, actor, writer, talk show host

End of year procedures

Here is a document for end of the year procedures.  Included in this document are items from the Jim regarding technology and Ron regarding building and grounds.  I'm happy to discuss these with you if you have any questions.

Room assignments

As I mentioned Wednesday morning, you will have your room assignments for next year by the end of next week.  I have been thinking about this, and I know you have as well, since we discussed teaching assignments for next year.  In working with Ron and Jim, we are going to make some improvements to a couple of classrooms (carpeting and technology, in particular).  5th grade classrooms will be downstairs while 6th, 7th, and 8th grade classrooms will all be upstairs.  I've made a plan that places all content teachers are all near one another.  I'll be speaking with individual teachers before sharing the entire plan with staff next week.

Educator Effectiveness

Thanks to all of you who have met with me or have scheduled your final SLO meeting.  If you haven't done so, please do so as soon as you can.  If you need to meet with me between noon and 2:00, a time that looks busy on my calendar, that is also an option.  I look forward to our conversations.

Park trips

As we look toward trips to Fireman's Park or Lisbon Park, please make sure someone from your grade level team completes the green form found in the office prior to Tuesday, May 25th.  If you want to share this lunch form with families if they'd like to have the food service make a lunch for their child, please feel free to do so.  The lunch staff needs them at least one week prior to your trip.  Thanks!

Well, you've nearly made it through the last full week of school.  I'm looking forward to the weekend as I'll be fishing in a fundraiser with my brother on Saturday and then golfing with high school buddies on Sunday.  Saturday night will be spent on the patio with Jen as we enjoy all of the work she's done, including the new lighting.

Have a great weekend!

Jay

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

It's the middle of May...

It's the middle of May and what I know about the middle of May is that you never really know what's going to happen.  I saw this on Tuesday and just had to share.

(from skreened.com)

It made me giggle because it's how I feel sometimes in May.  What am I supposed to be doing?  What is most important?  How can I make sure that all of our classes are covered?  Who has crossing guard duties?  Have I visited everyone's class this week?  Did I remember to charge my jammypack?  I put "parent meeting" in my calendar, but who is the parent I'm meeting with?  Did I remember to record the announcements and send them out?  Do I have enough pictures for the smore?  And all of this just happened on Thursday.  I know you know what I mean.  It's the middle of May, and it's my favorite time of the year!  Let's enjoy May while it's here!

Calendar

Friday, May 14th  All budget orders are due!/ Full allotment of personal days has been allocated

Tuesday, May 18th    Band concerts  5:30PM and 7PM

Wednesday, May 19th    7:45 meeting in the Little Theater of gym

Monday, May 24th    School board meeting

Tuesday, May 25th    Choir concerts 5:30PM and 7PM

Wednesday, May 26th    7:45 meeting in the Little Theater of gym

Thursday, May 27th    NJHS induction  6PM

Friday, May 28th    No School

Monday, May 31st    No School

Tuesday, June 8th    8th grade graduation

Wednesday, June 9th    Half day/ Last day of school

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

"Change your perspective.  Shift your focus from missed opportunities to exploring new opportunities!"-

XiXi Yang, journalist, media personality, entrepreneur

Learning from the Inspiration of Others and Yourself (from George Couros)

"The biggest challenge I've had to overcome is not just finding success, but rather finding success without compromising who I am."-

XiXi Yang, journalist, media personality, entrepreneur

End of year procedures

Here is a document for end of the year procedures.  Included in this document are items from the Jim regarding technology and Ron regarding building and grounds.  I'm happy to discuss these with you if you have any questions.

Next week is our last full 5 day week of the 2020-2021 school year.  Can you believe it?  You probably noticed in the calendar above that we're meeting as a staff next Wednesday.  I have some homework for you to do for that day.  You need to come to the meeting with 5 positive things/thoughts/memories from the school year, either about school or not.  They must be written down in some way.  I will remind you next Tuesday so that everyone comes prepared.  Thanks in advance for playing along, and if you have more than 5 positive things, that would be awesome!

I sure hope that you can enjoy your weekend.  Get outside.  Work in the yard.  Go for a walk.  Ride your bike.  Visit family and/or friends.  Leave your school work at school.  Plant some flowers.  Clean your garage.  Check out a state park (You do have a state park sticker.).  Go for a bike ride.  Whatever it is, find something to do that takes you away from school stuff, even if for just a little bit.

Jay

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