Monclova Primary
Weekly Bulletin
Events for Week of February 17 - February 23
Monday, February 17
President's Day - No School
Tuesday, February 18
Grade Level Release AM - 2nd Grade; PM - 3rd Grade
Wednesday, February 19
Grade Level Release AM - Kindergarten
MAPS Sky Zone Spirit Night - 4:00 - 8:00 pm
Thursday, February 20
AWAKE Shirts/jeans
Staff Meeting - 7:30 am - SOAR Committee will present POG - bring laptop
Principal/Director Meeting - 12:00 - 3:00 (Betsey out)
Friday, February 21
Announcements
Thank you:
Mrs. Birkemeier for the TON of work you put into organizing our Healthy Heart Week. Activities for staff and students were top notch. You always keep our personal health a priority!
Mr. Buehrer for your time and effort spent with 3rd graders administering the TGRG alternative assessment with 100% success rate!
Reminders:
Take advantage of AW's YMCA partnership. Beginning Feb. 18 - April 2, you can take classes at the YMCA that will only be open to Anthony Wayne employees. Classes will be every Tuesday and Thursday and include Total Body, Cycle Together and Strength Train together. To sign up email: wellness@anthonywayneschools.org see Fay with any questions.
ONLY 2 WEEKS LEFT, YOU'VE GOT THIS!
Here is a message from the district Wellness Committee:
The Wellness Committee is sponsoring a month long challenge designed to encourage you to boost your daily consumption of water. To maintain a healthy level of hydration, the general recommendation is the 8 by 8 rule: 8 ounce glass of water 8 times a day.
LETS WIN THIS MONCLOVA! Don't get down and quit if you have missed a day, we need 80% completion for the month and then you can turn in your coaster to Fay.
Frogtown Exotics will be returning the week of March 2. Each class will get a 45 minute classroom lesson, there will be no whole grade presentation before the classroom lessons. We won an AWEF grant to cover a portion of the costs and MAPS is covering the remainder.
Don't forget your 3 hours of parent conferences that need to be completed by the end of the year. Now is the time to meet with parents of students that are struggling, don't wait until the end of the year.
Upcoming Events:
President's Day/No School - Feb. 17
Staff Meeting/AWAKE Shirts/jeans - Feb. 20
Teacher Match - Feb. 24 - High School Media Center
Spring Pictures - Feb. 26
Frogtown Exotics - March 2 - 6
Kindergarten Parent Night - March 5
Daylight Savings Time - March 8
Board Meeting - March 9
Words of Wisdom and Action..............................
In the spirit of a "Love" holiday, I thought this to be appropriate and something we can all relate too! As she states, not the end all be all but it goes a long way. It gives me great pride to see the love you show and give your students each day! Happy Valentine's Day!
Allison Behne
Issue #605I love you. These three simple words can change attitudes, build confidence, and promote self-worth. And, when believed, change a person’s trajectory. I witnessed the power of these words early in my teaching career when a guest teacher spent the day in my classroom while I was out for a training. Andree Halden, a well-known retired kindergarten teacher from our district, accepted the opportunity to work with my students for the day, and I have to admit, I was secretly happy to have a day away.
That year I had 24 students, and the varying needs and personalities mixed with numerous teaching demands were topped with a student who consistently displayed extremely challenging behaviors. It was almost too much. Each morning I gave myself a pep talk about how that day would be different, but within two minutes of this child entering the room, a power struggle ensued. His daily behaviors included throwing his book bag, shouting, taking others’ belongings, running, kicking, and frequent bursts of “I hate you!” The class (and I) came to expect his behavior, and even learned strategies for dealing with physical and verbal outbursts. So when I learned I needed to put in for a guest teacher so that I could attend a training, I was more than willing to do so.
I spent ample time preparing to be gone and, in my plans, included a list of strategies Ms. Halden could use when working with the most difficult behaviors. I fully expected to return the next day to a lengthy note from her and a request to be removed from my list of guest teachers.
The opposite was true. I returned to a short note that said the day had been great. The only mention of the student in question was an empathetic comment:
George had a rough start to the day but nothing we couldn’t handle. As soon as I told him I loved him and we would get through it together, things got better. Poor child, he must have a lot going on to be full of such anger. What a sweetie.
I remember the moment I read her note like it was yesterday. “I love you.” That is one statement I had never said to George. That is one emotion he had yet to feel from me: love.
I am not going to say that from that moment on, everything was perfect and all challenging behavior ceased, because that certainly isn’t true, but I can say that that was the turning point for George, me, and the entire class.
Love has the power to heal, comfort, and unite. It can be life changing.