Bear Tracks
March 31, 2017
A Note From the Principal:
Dear Bear Tavern Staff,
First off, enjoy a well deserved Spring Break.
I want each of you to know that I am dreading making the script for the Bear Tavern Basics this week. If you remember, the intent of our short video home on Fridays is to keep parents up to speed in a simple way, celebrating some highlights of the week and previewing upcoming events, etc.
I have no idea how to encapsulate all of the awesome things that happened this week in four minutes. Between Brian Lies visiting, our Reverend Caldwell success story (5th graders heard back from the Mount Airy Casino/Hotel!), the Princeton Symphony Orchestra, the Lenape presentation, the seemingly hundreds of guest readers that I saw on Twitter, this week's book voting and the cool things on tap for tomorrow, I'm in for a struggle. Not to mention all of the wonderful things that I have seen during observations this week and that quietly go on every single day!
We started last year talking about 'telling our story.' It is not bragging at all, but it is critical to share our successes and our hard work, not just with our families, but with each other. "Telling our story" is important on the school level, but also to grade level, department level and classroom level. If we share what we are doing, others can support us, learn from us and maybe expand an idea or help make it better. Please share items with me so that I can share things that I miss in Bear Tavern Basics, Bear Tracks, general communications, or even just for my own information. I can't be everywhere that I'd like to be sometimes and there are so many incredible things happening every day all around the building, please send me pictures or information about the things of which you are proud. It is not bragging, it is helping me and our entire building!
I think it is safe to say that we all could benefit from a break; but let's come back on the 10th recharged and ready to continue the amazing things that we have been doing; looking for the little extra ways to make our lesson more engaging and connected to the real-wold, or taking an extra few minutes to support and love a child who is struggling academically or emotionally. It is hard, tiring and draining work, but we have to strive for excellence. There is simply no other way to do it and our kids both need and deserve it.
I thought that our presenter on Monday was really insightful. Although she was talking specifically about Tourette's Syndrome, she talked about ADHD and indicated that every class is dealing with something, and we cannot control a child's behavior; we can only control our reaction to it. A quote in her presentation was, "we must see the child as in trouble, not the cause of trouble." Thinking about how we can adjust to help remove obstacles from students is indescribably important. Not taking behaviors or defects personally when they come from 6-10 year olds is critical, but also difficult. Even for the most experienced educator, this takes work and reflection. Let's work to support our students, and equally as important, let's ask for help, support and try new things in order to assist our students in finding success, even though it may look different than with other kids.
Thank you very much for all that you do. It is not easy and it takes an extra-ordinary effort to make a positive impact in the life of a child, no less a group of them. Some may even say it takes a SUPER HERO (pun intended!!!).
Get some rest over break, take some time to take care of yourself and 'power down' a bit. We are going to have an amazing day today.
Happy Friday and Happy Spring Break!
Sincerely,
Chris
PS - Check out the video at the bottom. It is is very fun and I guarantee your students will love it. It is called "Everybody's Got Questions" and it is about Science, curiosity and inquiry, but set to a rap. I will give you fifty cents if you can listen to it and not dance...even a tiny bit.
Key Information:
- From Mr. Suozzo - K-5 Staff: The third marking period ends on Thursday, April 13. Grades are due in OnCourse by 4 pm on Thursday, April 20. Report cards will be posted for parents sometime in the afternoon on Tuesday, April 25.
- UPDATE TO PARCC DATES - The PARCC implementation has been changed to the week of May 8 (M 5/8 ELA1, T 5/9 ELA2, W 5/10 ELA3, Th 5/11 M1&2, F 5/12 M3&4). This gives two more weeks of instruction, etc. More info to follow.
Upcoming Dates:
AFTERNOON ENRICHMENT/ACTIVITIES:
Tuesdays & Wednesdays - After School Tutoring; Art Enrichment
Tuesdays & Thursdays - Let Me Run (boys); Girls on the Run (girls)
Make up sessions:
4/11 - Yoga & Aerospace Engineering
4/13 - Yoga & Aerospace Engineering
THE WEEK(s) AHEAD:
Friday 3/31 - All-School Read Aloud (8:45 cafeteria)
Friday 3/31 - Spring Celebrations (K&1)
Friday 3/31 - Last day for Principal's Cabinet Items
SPRING BREAK 4/3 - 4/7
Monday 4/10 - Grade Level Mtgs.
Monday 4/10 - Wear BLUE for Autism
Tuesday 4/11 - Wednesday 4/12 - Kindergarten Orientation
Tuesday 4/11 - GrandPals (Niefer)
Tuesday 4/11 - Grounds for Sculpture (4-L/ 4-O)
Thursday 4/13 - End of 3rd MP
Thursday 4/13 - Principal's Cabinet
Thursday 4/13 - GrandPals (Miller)
Thursday 4/13 - Ground for Sculpture (4-B/ 4-VZ)
Friday 4/14 - NO SCHOOL (Good Friday)
Monday 4/17 - Faculty Meeting
Tuesday 4/18 - GrandPals (Niefer)
Wednesday 4/19 - Campfire (K & 1)
Thursday 4/20 - GrandPals (Miller)
Friday 4/21 - Pre-School Collab Day
Friday 4/21 - Den Groups (PM Schedule)