Mustang Message
March 28, 2016
A Principal's Perspective
Some things I want to share I can't say any better or apply it to our school a different way than sharing what was written in the first place. I learn so much from Krissy Venodale's blog. What caught my attention this week is the notion of innovation. The title of this particular blog is Innovate is a Verb! Take note of the last sentence - Move like a verb! Let me share with you her blog post this past week. As you read it, think about how it applies to us as a staff at GP where innovation is part of our mission, our goal as we create lessons and opportunities for our students.
March 12, 2016
Innovate is a verb. It’s easy to talk about, far harder to do. Yet, it’s the DOING that matters most. The daily grind in the details of the ebb and flow of progress forward, bit by bit. It’s in the tiny microscopic changes we make that are often hard to detect until we zoom out, after a bit of time, and see the forward motion. There is this panic of “Oh my gosh every school needs a makerspace” when our schools are FILLED with the resources we have to make. Inside our kids and each other. When we move, things happen.
It’s not a 3d printer.
It’s not STEM, or STEAM, or WHATEVER set of letters you put together.
It’s not gathering followers on Twitter or calling one educator the “rockstar.”
It’s not in selling resources you’ve created for your own classroom.
It’s not buzzwords…
It’s not a bunch of facts regurgitated for a test.
It’s not so many things.
It’s really simple.
It’s the move from teacher as sole deliverer to teacher as facilitator.
It’s in sharing your message, openly with anyone who needs it.
It’s guidance, from teacher to kids, but also from kids to teacher. Reciprocal.
It’s pure. Raw cardboard, tape, glue, and real problems.
It’s too magical to standardize and too important to water down.
It’s measuring something because you need to make sure it fits, not because it’s question 4.
It’s using a 3d printer to create a prototype for a plant container to conserve water.
It’s the five year old with crayons, drawing a plan for a Rube goldberg machine.
It’s not boys or girls, rich or poor… it’s people. Human.
It’s a sparkle in the eye of the learner who is figuring things out for themselves.
It’s the pride in the imperfect work that shines like a diamond in the rough.
It’s the world and your connection to it.
It’s your heart and soul. And it moves. You, your students, the world.
That’s why talking about innovation will never work. Because the only way to move the heart and soul is to move.
Move like a verb.
Be Legendary - See the possibilities!
Donna
Morning Duties of the Week
Morning Assembly (7:30): Gibbs
Gym (7:20): Piscacek
Cafeteria (7:20): Bartosh/Matthews
Bus (7:20 - Buses/ Cafeteria after all buses arrive): Murphy
Parent Drop Off Traffic: Seagraves
Parent Drop Off: Leblanc & Cooper (Due to STAAR possibly change with Prukop scheduled for 5/2?)
Counselor Schedule: Small Groups
Librarian: GP
Week at a Glance
Monday: PTO Spirit Night - Texas Roadhouse 3:00-10:00
Tuesday: STAAR Writing 4th Grade
Wednesday: Hump Day Lounge Lunch (see below for more details); 2nd Grade Field Trip to Mayborn Children's Museum - Waco; Running Club 3:15-3:45
Thursday: SIT Meetings Group #4 (Simpson, Bahls, Reed, Piscacek); SIP Meeting 3:20
Friday: AGGIES Move Field Trip - 3rd & 4th Grade
Saturday, April 2nd: Mustang Rodeo 10:00-3:00
News & Notes
April Retention Process
• Submit names to reading and math specialist for retention consideration by Friday, April 22nd.
• Leadership team (counselor, administrator and specialists) will meet to review student data information.
• Leadership team (counselor, administrator and specialists) will hold staffing with teacher to discuss individual students.
• Retention Committee will meet with parent(s), teacher(s) and leadership team (counselor, administrator and specialists).
Campus Council Notes
- Cafeteria Lunch Seconds - For the month of April, students will not be able to get a second entree item. Students wanting a second side item such as milk, fruit, yogurt, etc. should select the item as they go through the line. Students wanting a cookie with their lunch that they brought should go through the line with their class.
- Hump Day Wednesday - If you ever talked with David Cain or Susan Wells you know the power of relationship building and making connections while eating lunch in the lounge. We don't want to take our positive, connected school team for granted. It does take effort and compromise to ensure positive relationships are built among staff members. To continue to build cross campus relationships, we are encouraging each team to make an effort to eat in the teacher's lounge once a week on Wednesdays. Of course, other days are good too! For our first lounge Wednesday (March 30th), wear your jeans and eat in the lounge. Great conversations, laughter, and lunch - all good!
- All professional staff will have a summative with Donna during the month of April. Please sign up with Deanne Holmes to get on the calendar. Each Campus Council rep received the summative survey. We are coming upon the end of our 5th school year, I want to visit with each staff member to discuss our first five years. Paraprofessional staff will also visit with admin through their evaluation's summative time in April.
Rodeo Updates
- If you would like to be a judge for the student cupcake wars, please e-mail me by Thursday, 3/24, noon. Judging will take place Friday, April 1st, after school.
- It is that time of year for Pie in the Face contestants! If you would like to be a pie contestant, please e-mail me by Thursday, 3/24, noon. Taking nominations for a fellow colleague???? Hmmm Pieing will take place Monday, April 4th, in Morning Assembly.
- We are not having a baking contest for adults. Instead the staff is being asked to provide a baked good (pie, cake, or cookies) to sell in the BBQ food line. If you bring cookies, please bring at least a dozen packed in groups of 3 in a baggie. Baked items need to be homemade and brought to the school Friday, 4/1. Please sign up in the office workroom and indicate what you would like to bake.
- We also need ticket sales for the day of the rodeo. If you would be interested in helping in this capacity, please sign up in the office workroom.
- Jeans???? Wear jeans the week after rodeo if you bake, help with ticket sales, go to KBTX at dawn, or be a contestant for Pie in the Face!
Mustang Yee Haws!
- Congratulations to Amber Madden for her recent wedding engagement!