Staff Memo
May 3, 2015
4th Grade Track Meet
And of course it's important to remember; nothing runs like a Roadrunner.
Meeting Our New Families from SCE
- May 11 5-7 Students with IEP's and their families
- May 18 5-7 All SCE students and their families
What Fills You with Wonder?
Mustache Monday came around. Meg bought big old mustaches for her class. Melissa bought mustaches and mustache necklaces for the office staff. Kids came bursting through the doors with all kinds of crazy mustaches. We laughed, we smiled, we stopped for a moment and had a moment with the kids.
Tuesday Quack games ensued. I got to almost every room and heard laughter and saw kids having fun playing a game with their classmates and teacher. The final Quack Off had everyone laughing, even those as they got out-quacked. Once again, we stopped for a moment and shared a moment with the kids.
By Wednesday, I noticed staff smiling and laughing more. I sensed a spirit of reduced tension. Kids wiggled and waggled in the gym. Laughter was everywhere.
Thanking Thursday was almost my favorite day. As I carried big pieces of rolled up bulletin board paper into each room, the kids grinned and anticipated working together to create something to be shared with the CRE community. Teachers asked them to write their thanks in all kinds of ways. I watched our students linger in hallways as they looked at the gratitude expressed by so many.
By this point in the week, I was very aware of how the staff seemed more at ease, were laughing with the kids, were smiling and joking. I don't know about you, but I felt like I needed that week to help remind me that our job is to help kids learn and grow. Testing took a backseat to the wonder I felt as I watched Spirit Week transform a school.
Fun Friday and the Balloon man. Kids were filled with wonder as they watched him twist those balloons into all kinds of creations. They played a game where they had to keep balloons from hitting the floor or the shelves. 125 kids all playing one game together. It was awesome. The Snack Attack Food Drive brought us cart loads of food. And watching the kids lined up on the wall outside eating Kona Ice, all laughing, talking, interacting, smiling, and enjoying each other capped off the week.
I was filled with wonder at how something so simple could transform an intense atmostphere related to testing into a week of joy.
What fills you with wonder? Let me know. I'd love to add it to our staff memo. There are no specificaitons. Short, long, school related or not. Anonymous or owned. What fills you with wonder? Let me know.
Upcoming PD Revisions/Reminders
- Friday, May 8 @ 7:35 - Staff Meeting in the library - SIOP with Danielle Riego and Mindset Survey
- Wednesday, May 13 @ 7:30 Voices of Diversity book study
Looking Ahead
Monday, May 4 Day 2
- Teacher Appreciation Week begins - our PTO will once again outdo themselves
- Pledge/MOS - Cook
- 3:10 Collab Team 2
Tuesday, May 5 Day 3
- 12-3 Elementary Principals' meeting
- 3:10 Collab Team 3
- 7:00 Last PTO Open Forum
Wednesday, May 6 Day 4
- 2:00 Project Aces - put your walking shoes on - dress casually
- 3:10 Collab Team 4
Thursday, May 7 Day 1
- 8:00 Office meeting
- 3:10 Collab Team K
- 5:00 Fourth Grade Track Meet at FHS
Friday, May 8 Day 2
- 7:35 PD - SIOP and Mindset Survey
- 3:10 Collab team 1
Monday, May 11 Day 3
- Pledge/MOS - Roth
- 3:10 Collab Team 2
- 5-7 Spec. Ed. Transition Night for families from SCE
Tuesday, May 12 Day 4
- 9:45 Admin meeting - Lisa gone
- 1:30-2:00 Fire drill
- 3:10 Collab Team 3
- Rain date for 4th Grade Track Meet
Wednesday, May 13 Day 1
- 7:30 Voices of Diversity book study
- 3:10 Collab Team 4
Thursday, May 14 Day 2
- 8:00 Office meeting
- 3:10 Collab Team HA
- 4:10 Collab - EC
Friday, May 15 Day 3
- $1 Hat Day
- 3:10 Collab Team K