Head U Gator News
March 5, 2017
A grateful heart...
My heart is grateful for....
...groups this week...
...our ASPIRE teachers, who have graciously welcomed or will be welcoming, groups of visitors to our building who are in the process of establishing programs for highly gifted students around the state. Last week it was a group from Alvin ISD, and tomorrow and Tuesday it will be three teachers and a principal from Bryan ISD.
...our primary teachers, who are leading in acceleration for our students by allowing the fluid movement of students across grade levels. That work is providing to be extremely valuable because we have extremely low numbers of students in need of intervention (about 5-6 in each grade).
....our special ed team, who work seamlessly together. From all accounts, "it isn't like that everywhere!" I'm grateful for their commitment to their students, and their willingness to support each other in the process.
....our leadership team. I'm so thankful for strong support from Heidi, Marnie, and Jeanette. Their leadership and active participation in every facet of our school's life helps make us the strong community we currently are!
.....our teachers, for the work each of you is doing each day to try and meet individual needs of students, and your willingness to share with each other in order to improve upon your practices.
....our support staff, from the office to the library to the technician, who are each skilled and extremely important to our efforts. Providing the backbone of structure and functionality each day allows all of us to focus on instructional issues without distraction.
....our specials team, for their flexibility when meeting student's needs. Recently, we needed to modify a plan for a student and I proposed having him go to art 2X a week as part of the plan. I didn't even have to wonder if that would be a problem, because our specials teachers are all committed to doing what's best for each student as well.
Add all of that up (and I hope I haven't missed a group) and it creates a very powerful synergy, which I hope you are enjoying as much as I am. We've got some great things going on, and I can't wait to see where your leadership will take us in the future!
On a personal note.....
This weekend, we celebrated Devion's 10th birthday. Birthdays for adoptive kids can be very emotional days, with all kinds of negative memories and missing their birth parent. We were braced for outbursts from one or the other as they dealt with the emotions, jealousy over attention, etc.
We're getting better at knowing what works, and so we were pleasantly surprised and excited when we made it through a dinner with friends Friday night, regular Saturday sports activities, and then a birthday dinner with no outbursts. We had a really special dinner at Red Lobster followed by a celebration at home, and we got many thank yous and very sweet behavior.
I know that there will continue to be setbacks, but this weekend has so far provided me with hope that, as Jeanette has reminded me often, "Love wins!"
Open House
Many of you incorporated other places to visit (library, computer lab, music, PE) in a list of activities to keep parents and students moving and that seemed to work well for many of them.
Calendar
Monday, March 6
Math lab 2:55-3:45
Tuesday, March 7
Spanish 2:55-4:00
CMT 3:00
Wednesday, March 8
2:55-4:00 3rd grade choir
Thursday,March 9
2:55-4:00 Good News
2:55-4:00 Marimba Band practice
6:00-7:00 Open House ( no dinner this year!)
Friday, March 10
Spanish 2:55-4:00
Bowman Sports
Spring Break March 13-17