The Roar
October 5, 2015
"A mind stretched by an new idea can never be returned to its original dimension." ~ Oliver W. Holmes
Chatham's Chattering
Saturday I had my first day of learning in the Aspiring Principal Program. While I gathered lots of great information and important insight, the part that resonated with me the most was about the significance of teams. Taken from The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni, 2002, we discussed such good points that I thought I would just share with you. As many of us are new team members this year, we cannot underestimate the power of building and sustaining effective teams.
Point 1: Attaining Competitive Advantage
It is not…
• Financial Performance / Curriculum and Instruction
• Strategic Strategy / Strategic Initiatives and Priorities
• Technology / Technology …
. . .that is the ultimate competitive advantage of organizations.
What brings about ultimate competitive advantage in an organization is:
Team
Teamwork
Team Learning
What do we mean by competitive advantage? For us at Harbins it is are we doing everything we can, as effectively as we can, in order to provide our students with the highest level of learning possible?
“If you could get everyone rowing in the same direction, you could dominate any industry, in any market, against any competition, at any time.”
If we are rowing in the right direction . . . together we will change the lives of the children we serve.
Point 2: Behaviors of a Truly Cohesive Team
• They trust one another.
• They engage in unfiltered conflict around ideas.
• They commit to decisions and plans of action.
• They hold one another accountable for delivering against those plans.
• They focus on the achievement of collective results.
The characteristics of a highly effective team are depicted in the graphic below. What do you think?
Have a wonderful week, team. :-) I am so glad I am a team member with you.
Communique
On November 3, 2015, Gwinnett voters will be asked to consider continuing the E-SPLOST (education special purpose local option sales tax).
Who is Making IT Happen?
- Thank you, thank you to Gina Stegeman and Karen Taylor for all you did to help make our classroom move seamless. You went above and beyond for me and for the students!
- Brittny Thorne - Thank you for all you do for your students. You are an awesome teacher and they are lucky to have you. Thank you for your flexibility and patience with me and with our students.
- Sally Manaois, you know your students and their teachers so well. We can literally speak charts, cards, and labels into existence when you are around. You also know just the right time to place your delicious chocolate chip cookies on our desks! Thank you for your dedication (to the students and to us)!
Dates That Lunch Monitors Are Not Available and Teachers Will Need to Eat in Cafe With Their Class
October 9th & 23rd
November 3rd & 13th
December 10th
January 8th & 26th
February 5th & 22nd
March 4th & 21st
April 18th & 28th
May 12th
Vision Cohort 7
Vision Cohort 7
The Offices of LA , MA, and SC are partnering to offer professional development that promotes a workshop model classroom and encourages cross curricular reading and writing. Our learning topics this year include the Gradual Release of Responsibility, the craft of reading and writing, and learning through inquiry. K-5 classes will have a STEM focus; Participants with at least 80% attendance will earn two PLUs; participants with 100% attendance will receive copies of all professional and mentor texts used in their grade level class during the Vision sessions.
When: 8:00 - 12:00 on the following Saturdays: Oct. 24, Nov. 14, Dec. 5, Jan. 9, and Jan. 30.
Where: Peachtree Ridge High School
Participants must register in the PD&E tool no later than October 9. Participants should register for the section number appropriate to their grade levels.
K– #21383
1st gr– #21384
2nd gr- #21385
3rd gr- #21386
4th gr- #21387
5th gr- #21388
A Note about LA pilot from the district
Thank you for your participation in the recent language arts instructional materials review and pilot process. The selection of materials to support our AKS is a very important part of our instructional work, and your teachers and you have played a critical role.
As a status update, I wanted to share with you that the pilot has ended without a recommendation to take to the Board for instructional materials adoption. That being the case, we certainly recognize that there is still a need for instructional materials for Language Arts, and therefore want to assure you that we will continue to aggressively investigate other resources that would be a good fit to meet the needs of our students.
Please thank your pilot teachers for their important role in this process, and for maintaining the excellent instruction that is a hallmark of Gwinnett classrooms as we continue our search.
IMPORTANT - District Assessments & Gradebooks
Q12 Engagement Survey
If you have not done so, please dig through your email and locate this survey. An update was provide via email last week.
Community Helpers
eCLASS Fall Course Offerings
Leadership Academy Conference for 2015-16
Each grade level will have a daylong leadership conference which consists of 5 sessions. The students will rotate through all of the sessions. (Number order of the habit does not impact the order in which students attend sessions.)
Teachers will stay with their classes. They will have a planning period during their regular specials time. The specials teachers will assist with each session during specials.
Split class lists are attached.
No data notebook, pencils, or devices are needed. Only passports are needed. J
Begin to move to the cafeteria in the following order. Classes will enter through the “exit doors” of the cafeteria. 8:20 Anderson/ Fryer/ Wilson 8:22 Bell/ Florey Split classes should join class for Kick off Session
Chairs will be labeled for classes.
Technology Reminders
- Technology coaching is open to all teachers, either through lessons with students, or for you during planning time. I would love to help you plan for successful technology integration in any way that I can, including model lessons, co-teaching, observing, or working during your planning time. Click here to access the technology coaching schedule and sign up for an available time.
- The 2nd 9 Weeks lab schedule will be available on Friday, October 2nd at 3:15 PM. It covers dates from October 13th to December 18th.
- When leaving a computer lab, please remember to LOG OFF of computers, keep the computers open, and turn off the projector. Thanks for your attention in making the labs easier for the next class to use.
- Don't forget to turn off your projectors when leaving your classroom.
- When in doubt, fill out a ticket.
- Are you not receiving notifications when someone shares a document with you in Google Drive? Click here for directions on how to forward your harbins.org email to your GCPS Lotus Notes email.
Classroom Spirit Award
ABCD Awards
Please send your nominations to Chatham by October 20, 2015, for recognition of staff members who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that teaching and learning at Harbins are at the highest levels.
Roar Deadline
If you want to add something to the Roar, it must be sent to Montine by noon on Thursday of each week. If not turned in by Thursday at noon, it will have to be entered into the following week’s Roar. Thanks for your help!
Leaders in Learning
A Chrome file has been shared with each teacher, please go in to list your Leader in Learning each month when Montine sends out the notification email.
Staff Birthdays
October
Jennifer Samples 10/6
Amanda Grundlock 10/6
Georgia Quinland 10/11