January is now in the rearview mirror and we're heading face-first into February. This February/March time tends to be the most difficult. There aren't many scheduled breaks that allow the students to rest and recharge. They just have to put their head down, persevere, and weather the storm until we hit Spring break. If you should have a student struggling be sure to remember that warmer weather and Spring are just on the horizon. Spring sports organization meetings are happening and we are looking forward to getting back outside! Baseball, track, golf and tennis are on the agenda for this Spring and I'm looking forward to cheering our teams to victory! Please remember, if you have a 7th or 8th-grade student who is playing a Spring sport and has not participated in any other sports this year - they will need to have a physical on file prior to starting practices or tryouts.

Can I take a moment to reflect on how amazing the snow was last Monday? In all the years that I have lived in Oklahoma, I don't think that I've ever seen seen such big, beautiful snowflakes. More importantly, I was so wonderful to see our students faces light up with excitement as they looked out the window and watched the snow come down. It was a great reminder that our students are just big kids and still get excited about the little things! Some of our students were able to get out into the snow and make a snowman! We had the opportunity to go through a remote learning day this past week. Hopefully, that day was easy to navigate for your student. As you can imagine, most of our Heartland teachers have been through that several times but we do have a few who were doing that for the first time. It can be a journey for sure. It was good to see your students participating in the question-and-answer sessions on Google. I did find it funny when teachers would ask if there were any questions and inevitably someone would say -- "I'm only on here because my mom made me." Two things with that, 1) go mom! and 2) I know the feeling!

If you've watched any local news you know that the weather for next week looks - intriguing! We may get some sleet, snow and ice and you better believe it's going to be downright cold! Nonetheless, there is a possibility for some inclement weather but it's too early to tell. Please be sure that you are stay connected to the local news and follow EPS and Heartland Middle school on social media for the latest for school closures. I ask that you make sure your student has their Chromebook handy as who knows if we'll have any remote learning opportunities in the weeks to come.

As always, should you have any questions, ideas or suggestions please feel free to reach out to our office. Let's have a fantastic week, Thunderhawks!

WE ARE...HEARTLAND!

Respectfully,

Veronica Johnson

Principal, Heartland Middle School

405-340-2972

1. Both involve a process of growth and change. Just as popcorn kernels transform into fluffy popcorn when heated, learners also go through a process of transformation as they acquire new knowledge and skills.

2. Both can be unpredictable. Just as some popcorn kernels may not pop or pop at different times, learners can also have uneven progress or unexpected breakthroughs.

3. Both require the right conditions for success. Just as popcorn needs the right amount of heat and oil to pop, learners also need the right conditions to learn effectively, such as a positive learning environment, effective instruction, and opportunities for practice and feedback.

4. Both can be influenced by individual factors. Just as popcorn kernels may be different size, shape or moisture level, learners may have different learning styles, abilities or prior knowledge, which may affect their learning process.

I want to turn your attention to a foundational teacher in learning for a few of us and perhaps a new connection for others: Rick Wormeli is an American educator, author and speaker, who is well known for his work in the field of education. He is a teacher, consultant, and author of several books on education, including "Fair Isn't Always Equal: Assessing & Grading in the Differentiated Classroom" and "Differentiation: From Planning to Practice." He is also a popular keynote speaker and workshop leader, who helps teachers and administrators improve their practice through differentiated instruction, formative assessment, and classroom management strategies. He has been a classroom teacher for over 35 years and has been recognized as a National Board Certified Teacher, Master Teacher and recipient of the Milken National Educator Award. He has also been a regular contributor to education journals and magazines, and continues to be a leading voice in the field of education.

Earlier this month he visited Edmond. He reminded us there is much to consider and in time... August (if not before)... We'll all learn from him. Learning is like popping popcorn.

For your own popcorn, a YouTube video below or an ASCD article written by him. What will you choose?

Students are required to wear their student ID each and every day. All students have received their initial ID for the year. Students that do not have their ID are expected to print a temporary sticker badge to wear for the day. This should only be used in emergency situations. Students are allotted 5 free sticker badges per month and will be charge $1 for every badge thereafter until the end of the month. Students wearing a sticker badge will not have access to the snack bar and be last in lunch lunch line. I recommend purchasing a new ID for $5 if your student has lost their ID.

This is one of the district's many safeguards for our schools. IDs provide a quick glance of students that belong to our school, their grade level, and which parts of the building they should be in during the day.