4-day weeks...I'm not quite sure what to make of them! Middle schoolers thrive in having set routines and a little hiccup in that routine can throw off our entire equilibrium. Nonetheless, we had a fantastic week full of events and celebrations! I'd like to first start off by recognizing our fantastic band program. As many of you may know, our 7th grade band was selected to perform at the Oklahoma Music Educators Association Winter Conference last Thursday! This is a HUGE honor as no Edmond middle school band has ever been chosen! They had the extraordinary opportunity to perform at the renowned Tulsa Performing Arts Center in front of the music industries finest! And trust me, they did not disappoint! Bravo to our AMAZING 7th grade band for taking on the challenge and exceeding everyone's expectations! Additionally, Heartland's own Andy Heitz received the "Exemplary Middle School Teacher" Award for his excellence in music education for 30+ years! How lucky our students are to have such incredibly talented educators teaching them!

Looking ahead, we have tons of events on the horizon! We are in the planning stages of many incredible activities that our students are sure to enjoy. Black history month, Edmond Honor Society, School Counselor's Week, Double Wolf Dare Week (DWDW)...just to name a few! And

Spring sports are now starting to organize. We only have a few weeks of winter sports left and your student will need to decide if they are going to participate in a sport in the Spring. I certainly encourage all our students to give it a try. Options will be... Golf, Tennis, Track, and Baseball. You should start to see information in the next few weeks regarding meetings and such. Team sports help teach adolescents accountability, dedication, leadership and many other skills. I highly encourage our students to give it a shot, even if they've never played!

Before I go, I'd like to thank our HPO and all of the parents that donated to the staff popcorn bar! It's always a great day when our HPO comes in to spoil our faculty and staff. It really sets the tone for a fantastic day! Thank you to all of our wonderful parents...your efforts never go unnoticed! I look forward to another phenomenal week here at the Heart! As always, should you have any questions, suggestions or ideas please feel free to reach out to our office!

WE ARE...HEARTLAND!

Respectfully,

Veronica Johnson

Principal, Heartland Middle School

405-340-2972

1. Both involve a process of growth and change. Just as popcorn kernels transform into fluffy popcorn when heated, learners also go through a process of transformation as they acquire new knowledge and skills.

2. Both can be unpredictable. Just as some popcorn kernels may not pop or pop at different times, learners can also have uneven progress or unexpected breakthroughs.

3. Both require the right conditions for success. Just as popcorn needs the right amount of heat and oil to pop, learners also need the right conditions to learn effectively, such as a positive learning environment, effective instruction, and opportunities for practice and feedback.

4. Both can be influenced by individual factors. Just as popcorn kernels may be different size, shape or moisture level, learners may have different learning styles, abilities or prior knowledge, which may affect their learning process.

I want to turn your attention to a foundational teacher in learning for a few of us and perhaps a new connection for others: Rick Wormeli is an American educator, author and speaker, who is well known for his work in the field of education. He is a teacher, consultant, and author of several books on education, including "Fair Isn't Always Equal: Assessing & Grading in the Differentiated Classroom" and "Differentiation: From Planning to Practice." He is also a popular keynote speaker and workshop leader, who helps teachers and administrators improve their practice through differentiated instruction, formative assessment, and classroom management strategies. He has been a classroom teacher for over 35 years and has been recognized as a National Board Certified Teacher, Master Teacher and recipient of the Milken National Educator Award. He has also been a regular contributor to education journals and magazines, and continues to be a leading voice in the field of education.

Earlier this month he visited Edmond. He reminded us there is much to consider and in time... August (if not before)... We'll all learn from him. Learning is like popping popcorn.

For your own popcorn, a YouTube video below or an ASCD article written by him. What will you choose?

Students are required to wear their student ID each and every day. All students have received their initial ID for the year. Students that do not have their ID are expected to print a temporary sticker badge to wear for the day. This should only be used in emergency situations. Students are allotted 5 free sticker badges per month and will be charge $1 for every badge thereafter until the end of the month. Students wearing a sticker badge will not have access to the snack bar and be last in lunch lunch line. I recommend purchasing a new ID for $5 if your student has lost their ID.

This is one of the district's many safeguards for our schools. IDs provide a quick glance of students that belong to our school, their grade level, and which parts of the building they should be in during the day.