Greatness Grows Here
Live Oak Community, Vol. 1 Ed. 7
Put First Things First
Doctor's Note:
In honor of Valentine's Day and the whole concept of "Iove", I'd like to focus on the idea of "relationships" and care and compassion this edition.
This is significant time spent talking about rigor and relevance in education these days, that sometimes we forget what is at the core of anyone successfully moving forward, and that's relationships!
I had the opportunity to hear keynote speaker Dave Weber:http://daveweber.com/ speak recently to a room full of educational leaders.
His latest book (of which I purchased) highlighted these 3 concepts:
1. Words impact relationships
2. Relationships impact culture
3. Culture impacts results
We influence or impact our culture (home or school) through our:
1. Words
2. Actions
3. Attitudes
He suggests that, "we are killing our society because we're killing our relationships by becoming stone throwers and stick slingers".
So what does this mean for schools and our home relationships? Relationships matter in order for our students to succeed. We teach and influence people after all, not data. We can't lose the heart of education, which needs to begin with the idea of "hearts first". We (humans) have a deep desire to connect and belong, a desire have relationships. He also suggests that "Rigor and Relevance Without Relationships = Rebellion!" A powerful concept for sure.
So as we partner together for the betterment of our students and for their leadership and academic success, let's all pause and reflect on our current relationships. I challenge all of us to examine relationships with our family, school to home partnership, teacher to student relationship, and our overall commitment to being kind to one another. We have the ability to modify our behaviors to help others around us, what a neat opportunity we are provided to change lives for the better!
Think Win-Win
Everyone can win...
Restorative Discipline
Years of research on discipline has showed us that punitive discipline rarely changes behavior, we've learned when people are restored they change! At Live Oak Elementary and throughout our District Restorative Practices are used. Below is an excerpt from "Time to Think," which provides examples of Restorative questioning techniques (feel free to use at home with your student).
Time to Think: Using Restorative Questions
Restorative questions are a tool used to process an incident of wrongdoing or conflict. When a situation has occurred, the person(s) who has created the conflict takes some time and answers questions such as the following: What happened? What were you thinking about at the time of the incident? What are your thoughts now? Who was impacted by your actions, and how? How will you repair the harm? The questions focus on the incident, and allow the person to think about how his/her actions affected others. It encourages empathy, accountability, expression of feelings and thoughts, and problem solving. Restorative questions are also answered by those who were impacted by the incident, to help them process their feelings and determine what they need to make things right.
We understand that, "Hurt people hurt people!"
http://restorativeworks.net/2012/01/time-to-think-using-restorative-questions/
Be Proactive
You're in charge...
Sixth Grade Valentine's Day Dance
Begin with the End in Mind
Have a plan...
Every Friday morning between 7:30 - 8:15 AM, PTA will be selling Spirit Wear in the student drop off area.
REad Across AMerica Activities
1. Monday February 29 – “Fox In Sox”, wear crazy socks! Participants have a chance to enter a raffle for a new
2. Tuesday March 1- “Thing One Thing Two” Twin Day! Participants can enjoy a “Read In” in the MPR during their lunch. Bring pillow and blanket.
3. Wednesday March 2- Guest Readers 8:30am-9:30am. Students get “caught reading” will receive a raffle ticket for a new book.
4. Thursday March 3- Teachers will read to their Buddy Teacher’s class at 1:50pm- 2:15pm.
5. Friday March 4- Hair-do’s from Who-ville! Crazy Hair Day!
Synergize
Together is better...
GATE and Curriculum at LOE
As you know, Live Oak Elementary and the Fallbrook Union Elementary School District implement the Common Core Standards. In order to support full implementation of these deep and content-rich standards, the Fallbrook School District utilizes research-based resources and curriculum. California Treasures, Ready by Curriculum Associates, EdCaliber, and Saxon are just a few of the resources used to facilitate rigorous instruction and practice programs in our classrooms. Our district has also teamed with math experts from the University of Irvine to customize the Irvine Math Project, which focuses on conceptual, procedural, and relational knowledge in a systematic and purposeful way. We have also teamed with the University of San Diego to build a strong STEM program at not only LOE, but at all of the elementary schools in Fallbrook. In addition to these resources, our students also enjoy several web-based programs that support reading and mathematics. Our kids will do GREAT things!
GATE students have been enjoying many activities this trimester! In December, we had a Service Learning Project where students collected over 600 cans that were donated to the Fallbrook Food Pantry to support families in need. Currently, students are meeting bi-weekly at lunch to discuss progress on their Leadership and Literacy Colloquium projects that will be unveiled on March 18th in the MPR. Book Club has also met to begin discussion of their first novel, Walk Two Moons, and both the Invention Club and the Lego Challenge Club have been meeting once a month after school. We have STEM activities planned for the Spring, and two more after-school art opportunities in April and May. Go Falcons!
Student Lighthouse
Kindergarten Peer Observation and Learning Day
Arts in the Park
This year's event will take place:
Sunday, April 26, 2015
11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Live Oak Park in Fallbrook
The crafts your school provided were a success last year and we welcome you to join us again. As always, this family fun day will include hands-on crafts for children of all ages in addition to local entertainment and enriching activities.
You can also help us tremendously by advertising the event in your newsletters and encouraging principals and teachers to promote the activity with their classes and even attend or help as a volunteer. If you would like more information from me, email at drstoewer2015@gmail.com.
LOE Family Board game night
Anti bullying Club
Art class
The art program at Live Oak Elementary School, funded through LOE PTA, brings four
unique art lessons to each student at LOE. The curriculum is multimedia, multicultural,
and standards-based, and the program is both artistically and academically comprehensive, providing students with exposure to both master and contemporary artists and artistic techniques and styles through lessons specially designed to reflect the academic curriculum.
At the heart of the program is a credentialed, professional art teacher that communicates directly with classroom teachers on her lesson design and follow-up, and guides students in their learning of, experimentation with, and appreciation for ART!
Our students have the opportunity to use different mediums in each lesson, and they paint, print, stamp, and sculpt as they learn about both master and contemporary artists.
Third graders learn about scale and perspective and are inspired by Georgia O’Keeffe as they create enormous chalk pastel flowers; first graders explore the pop art of Wayne Thiebaud and make “puff paint” cupcakes; and sixth graders learn about monochromatic color schemes as they paint their own versions of Japanese artist Hokusai’s “Great Wave”.
GATE students have a special opportunity to make unique works of art after school as well. Recently, these students are learning about the work of glass artist Dale Chihuly and making their own colorful “glass” sculptures!
Teachers, students, and parents are excited about this art program! The revitalization and of the arts in our schools today is essential, and Live Oak Elementary is a proud supporter of the arts!
Coding and tech club
Sharpen the Saw
Balance feels best....