Bear Tracks
November 4, 2016
A Note From the Principal:
Dear Bear Tavern Staff,
Dear Bear Tavern Staff,
If I ever run for president, I will not build my platform around foreign policy, immigration or the economy. I will build it around the idea of moving Halloween to the last Saturday of October, regardless of the date…
Full disclosure, I will never run for president. But, Halloween on a Monday definitely creates some challenges for elementary teachers and makes for a tough week.
But that’s OK. In fact, it may be helpful. I will never forget when I saw Grant Wiggins speak 8 years ago. Not just because it was in New Orleans, but because his ideas resonated with me a great deal. He talked about creating authentic tasks, because teaching skills in isolation is like doing drills in soccer practice all day, but never scrimmaging or creating game situations. He told the story way better than I could and laughed about a girl on his soccer team that, when asked why she didn’t perform the move that they worked on in practice responded, “it is way harder to do when someone is playing defense.”
Our ability to deal with stress, obstacles, setbacks and frustrations is an enormous modeling opportunity for our kids. Whether a room is triple booked by accident, a sink or water fountain isn’t working the way we want, a student (or grown up!) displays an ‘unexpected behavior,’ or any one of the hundreds of things that can go wrong in a week, it is so important to remember that students are always watching (and listening) and to ask yourself, ‘what would I do if my student handled this situation the way I am?’ I am going to try to do that this week and to try to bring an extra level of patience, gratitude and help to my problems and obstacles; even when I’m frustrated. Wish me luck. My challenge to you, is to give it a try and join me!
Happy Friday! Have a great weekend.
Sincerely,
Chris
Key Information:
American Education Week - The following letter went home this week CLICK HERE.
Security - It is really important that we work together to be very alert and keep the building safe and secure. Please do not prop doors to the outside of the building. Also PLEASE MAKE SURE THE CHAIN LINK FENCE (around the back perimeter) IS ALWAYS CLOSED. If you notice it open, please close it. Also, if there is a visitor in the building that does not have a visitor's badge, or that does have a badge, but whom you do not recognize, please ask if you can help them with anything. If you are not comfortable, call the office. Please direct anyone without a visitor's badge to the office to get one.
Pennies from Heaven - Piggy Banks will go home (along with letters of explanation) on Friday 11/4.
Veteran's Day & Operation Gratitude - Don't forget to think about creating Veteran's Day decorations and signs. Just let me, Lauren or Jo know if you have something and I'll facilitate hanging it up. Please note, we will NOT be on a special schedule on the 9th. This is the current guest list (click here). I am going to reach out to some of the children/grandchildren of the guests to see about 'thank you' letters for Wednesday. I'd like to make sure that the few students who read letters are good candidates (comfortable reading aloud to a group) and have a connection to a guest. That will be powerful. If you have a student on the list attached, and feel he/she will do a great job, let me know.
Email from Kayla Taylor, Director of Alumni Relations for Kappa Delta Pi, the International Honor Society for Education at TCNJ. Please see an invitation to support college students in an event at TCNJ. Click here to see email.
Upcoming Dates:
AFTERNOON ENRICHMENT/ACTIVITIES:
Monday- Bee Bots, Fyre Coding, Magic Glass, Martial Arts
Tuesday- Art Enrichment, Girls on the Run, Let me Run, Makey Makey Arcade, YMCA Hip Hop Dance, After School Title 1 Math Tutoring
Wednesday- Basketball Basics, Art Enrichment, Minecraft, After School Title 1 Writing Tutoring
Thursday-Girls on the Run, Let Me Run, Soccer Shots, TGA Tennis, Yoga
Friday- None
THE WEEK(s) AHEAD:
11/6 - DAYLIGHT SAVINGS - Set clocks behind at 2 am
11/9 - REGULAR SCHEDULE (No longer special event schedule) - Veteran's Day Ceremony at 9 am (ceremony will conclude around 9:30).
11/10 & 11/11 - No School NJEA Convention
11/14 - Grade Level Meetings
11/15 - SPECIAL EVENT PM SCHEDULE - Den Groups #BearTavernRocks
11/15 - GrandPals - Niefer
11/16 - Picture Retakes
11/17 - GrandPals - Miller
11/18 - Book Fair / Parent - Teacher Conferences (Early Dismissal Schedule)
11/18 - Dress like your favorite Literary Character Spirit Day
11/18 - Pre-School Collab Day
11/21 - Early Dismissal Schedule - Parent Teacher Conferences *PTO STAFF DINNER*
11/22 - Early Dismissal Schedule - GrandPals Niefer
11/22 - 1st Grade Thanksgiving Celebration 9-10:30
11/23 - Early Dismissal Schedule - K Thanksgiving Celebration 9-11
Article of the Week:
Quote of the Week:
BT Light on LITERACY
14 How-Tos For Teachers That Make Texts More Accessible For Students