The Tiger Times
Week of August 28 - September 1
Hello Tiger Family!
Happy Sunday everyone,
Before we jump into our news, we know that many of our families and friends have been impacted by the hurricane that hit parts of Texas this weekend. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those and all families that are without food and shelter this morning.
Whew! The first week went by in a flash and did you do it right! I made a point of asking as many students as I could Friday how their first week went and their responses were enthusiastic and joyful. We each had an opportunity to impact that and I want to thank you for each and every time you chose to make that impact a positive one. When our kids go home happy, it helps strengthen the relationships we have with parents and our community. You made a difference!
I also tried to say to as many of your faces as I could how proud and impressed I am with how you handled dismissal. You turned a "problem" into a "puzzle" and came up with a solution that really WORKS! Staff that wasn't even on campus Friday afternoon ALL commented that they heard how great it went. Parents noticed the improvement and your hard work - we heard from them in the carline Friday, on Facebook and I've received emails stating the same. This is another instance where we had an opportunity to communicate something about Timberline to our community and WOW! did you communicate something powerful!
A teacher spoke to me Friday after school and said she was unclear about the "I can..." statements and wanted to make sure she was on the right track. She understood why having them ready Thursday for the team to work from was important but because she was unclear about what they were supposed "be" exactly, when a question was asked about them the first week, it was a little stressful. I want to thank this teacher for coming and speaking directly with me and for assuming no negative intent on our part. These are two of the norms we all agreed to on August 8th. Because she came to me, I was able to reach out to other teachers Friday and help clarify. Because she stuck to those norms, we've adjusted the CLT Agenda for Monday to include Q&A about the "I can" statements. And because she came to me, I'm able to say this to all classroom teachers-
I apologize if the timing of reflecting on "I can..." statements caused you to feel stress or anxiety when all you should have been feeling was accomplishment and happiness. And I apologize if enough clarity wasn't provided when we talked about expectations Wednesday before school started. We will provide additional clarity. I can tell you this is much more about tweaking what we're already doing and not some "new thing" you have to do. We'll of course ask each other questions about the work we do. All current research says this is THE way we grow as professionals. Our "Why?", "What if?" and "How?" questions and slow thinking are powerful tools that we'll use to reflect on -not evaluate -our work this year.
Proud to be your principal,
Shelley
Back to School at the Lighthouse!
Important Dates
8/28-9/1 Please continue with all hands on deck for dismissal. We will likely have some rainy weather in addition to regular Week 2 dismissal and need everyone's help.
8/28 CLT - We will meet in the Learning Commons immediately following dismissal. Please plan to stay until 4:30.
8/29 5th Grade PLC 2:15-3:30
8/30 Happy Birthday Magdalena Malanowsk and Magdalena Bailoni! What are the chances of that? :)
8/30 4th Grade PLC 2:15-3:30
8/31 3rd Grade PLC 2:15-3:30
8/31 K-5 iPad Exchange Day (Daniela will sending details!)
9/1 Kona Ice Summer Reader Celebration
UPCOMING!!
9/4 Labor Day Student & Staff Holiday
Timberline Tiger Expectations
I know it feels like it's taking 5 times longer to get things done but THANK YOU for stopping and consistently expecting students to follow the stated TES Expectations. I especially loved seeing teachers stop and have little "mini-lessons" by the posters in the hallways. Because consistently establishing these expectations campus-wide is something you communicated to be a high priority this year, we will continue supporting you in taking the time needed to do this in Week 2! If you are finding challenges in establishing these expectations, please reach out to get ideas or support!
Morning and Dismissal Duties
Arrival, Lunch and Dismissal Reminders and Ride Changes
- Car Drop Off team is shutting it down and coming in at 7:40. Students will come through the office to get tardy slips. We'll discuss ways to streamline breakfast at CLT Monday. Send ideas with your team leads!
- By now, all teachers should have confirmed how their students get home on the spreadsheet. Beginning tomorrow, all ride changes will be sent to you by email at 2:30. See your grade level's tab at the bottom to see your ride changes.
- If there is a permanent ride change that needs to be made to our Master Get Home spreadsheet, please contact Britt or Shelley to make this change.
- On PLC days, Specials will take care of getting kids where they're supposed to be if there are ride changes for your grade.
- If a student's parent sends a note to class about a ride change, it will be important that the office gets this information before 2:00 so it can be included on ride changes email.
- Lunch with Parents is starting Wednesday, August 30th. Parents will check in through the office.
- LaLa asked that all breakfast trash be placed in hall by 9:00 a.m. She also asked if grade levels could go ahead and select the Lunch Leaders.
- Beginning Monday, August 28th, calls regarding a child's snack, forgotten books, inform you of ride changes, etc. will not be put through during instructional time. Parents will be asked to call back during your conference or email you if they need to speak with you regarding their child.
- Beginning Monday, August 28th, we will only have car riders dismiss to the cafeteria from their classrooms and PreK to their spot at 2:45. Walkers, daycare and bus riders will dismiss at the bell. Kinder and First, please check in with Nicole if you need to troubleshoot this.
REMINDER! Tiger U is coming soon!
- Why?
- What if?
- How?
Please read the article, "Collective Teacher Efficacy: The Effect Size Research and Six Enabling Conditions", before our first Tiger U on September 11th. By reading the article ahead of time -by flipping a part of Tiger U- we will be able to honor our hard end time of 4:30.
Eye of the Tiger!
Ariel - For doing a workout in a dress and heels in order to connect with a student and help them have a better day!!! - Daniela
Stephanie and Lacey, thank you for keeping such a positive outlook even though you're up to your armpits in third graders right now! You did it! -Shelley
If you had anything to do with dismissal duty this week - sending kid names to the cafeteria, reading and finding kids in the cafeteria, organizing kids in the holding spot, running kids out, manning the crosswalk, getting kids that weren't car riders where they needed to be, thank you, thank you, thank you!! Each of you helped prove that what seems impossible, isn't. A special woohoo to Cones 1-7 (you know who you are :) Not only do you get those cars loaded like you're a pit crew at the Indy 500, you are ambassadors of charm for every parent that comes through...plus you look incredible sweaty!! Marie-France and Kimberly, you built more "why" in the last few days than I thought possible. You took situations when parents could have gotten angry and turned them into opportunities to build relationships. Maria and Yolanda, you kept our office above water at dismissal even with 13 things coming at you sideways. Muah!-Shelley
Paula, thank you for expecting that, of course, our 2nd grade Tigers can meet to discuss ideas for our school!! -Shelley
Sunshine Committee, thank you for being the light Friday morning. That little gesture was very thoughtful and appreciated. Y'all are fantabulous :D -Shelley
To group C, day 5 in CALA for outstanding leadership during fire drill. Sra. H. is very proud. - Camille
Family, keep those Eye of the Tigers coming! I know beyond a doubt that amazing acts of kindness are happening in our school every day...we need al the eyes we can get!
Ways and Where the Tigers Tell Our Timberline Story
Email: firstname.lastname@gcisd.net
Website: http://www.gcisd-k12.org/Domain/2032
Location: 3220 Timberline Drive, Grapevine, TX, United States
Phone: 817-251-5770
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TESleads/
Twitter: @TimberlineNews