Mustang Message
February 19, 2018
A Principal's Perspective
The new GP teachers discussed the article Find Your Marigold. See blog link: https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/marigolds/ I received an email from one of our new teachers, Callie Craigen, who shared her thoughts about the marigold effect and Greens Prairie. Please take time to read her e-mail below. This was shared with her permission.
"Wednesday at our New to Greens Prairie meeting, Tracy and Leslie shared with us a familiar article about Marigolds and Walnut Trees. The article described how farmers use marigolds to help grow their crops, by providing shelter, encouragement, and promoting healthy growth. It also describes how farmers do their best to plant their crops away from walnut trees, as the walnut trees are toxic to other plants. The walnut tree inhibits the other plants growth, causes them to wilt, and ultimately kills the neighboring plant. As we finished reading the article we discussed how lucky we are to work with so many marigolds in our school. How the staff, as a whole, continually works together to make Greens Prairie a positive learning environment not only for the students, but also for us as teachers.
With the contents of that article filling my heart, I walked into my third NTU follow up day. We spent the morning at College View High School, discussing the many opportunities that CSISD has put in place for students in our district, and taking a tour of the beautifully (and naturally) lit campus. We were then asked to write down two or three things that we would like to talk about in the afternoon’s Ed Camp styled meetings. When we arrived for the afternoon session, we were given the choice to go to about four different groups. In the first group I went to about communication, several of the other first year teachers expressed their struggles with the communication between partner teachers, mentor teachers, and even administration at their schools. At one point, one of the fellow teachers turned to me and said “Do you feel this way too?” - in a split second I honestly replied, no. I then went on to tell her that our school is filled with “Marigold” type people. That I am surrounded day in and day out with co-workers who have become like a family to me. That we check-in on each other when we are sick, we support each other’s crazy ideas, we send each other encouraging emails (Thankful Thursday), and we do so many things as a group - even simple things like eating lunch together in the lounge. Most importantly, we welcome the challenges that we are given each day because we know that we have each other - an incredible support team, a strong and supportive administration, and a genuine heart for the growth of one another in all aspects of life.
Yesterday, my heart broke for those other teachers who are struggling to find their marigolds, to find their strengths, and to ultimately find their place where they will flourish. However, yesterday I was reminded of just how thankful I am that I was given the opportunity to start my teaching career at a school like Greens Prairie. A school where I have been pushed to meet my potential, given challenges and received the support to overcome them, shown love and compassion from everyone on campus, given grace, and ultimately found a group of people who are simple “my people”.
Thank you for everything you have done for me this year, and everything you will do in the years to come. Thank you for being the marigold that has sheltered, encouraged and grown me this year."
Grateful for you always,
Callie Craigen
Thank you for being a marigold campus where we do encourage, support, and nurture each other! When the author states, "Make the effort. It's worth the trouble.", I think that applies to all of us as well. To make the effort because it is worth the trouble of being a marigold school where our students' thrive and our staff bloom!
Be Innovative - Design the possibilities!
Donna
Morning Duties of the Week
Gym & Morning Assembly (7:20-7:45): Miller
Gym (7:20-7:45): Lindner
Parent Drop Off Direct Traffic (7:20-7:55): Wilson
Parent Drop Off Car Doors (7:20-7:55): Bingaman & Grant
Cafeteria (7:20-8:00): Prukop
Bus (7:15 - 7:55 Buses/ Car Drop Off after all buses arrive): Matthews
Counselor Schedule: - Classroom observations, 3rd grade test anxiety, PreK, & 4th grade transition meetings
Librarian: PC
Week at a Glance
Monday: Staff Development; Six weeks progress reports due by 8:00 am
Tuesday: Imagineers Art Club @ 7:30 am; 3rd grade STAAR Interim Testing 8:15-9:15 & 12:45-1:45 in 1st - 4th grade pods; GP Tech Training 3:30-4:15
Wednesday: Attended tech training on Tuesday? Wear jeans!; 3rd grade STAAR Interim Testing 8:15-9:15 & 12:45-1:45 in 1st - 4th grade pods; TEA representative on campus to observe how the students interact with the online testing; Donna out at the HEB/Harvard Annual Raise Your Hand Conference
Thursday: Data Team Group B; 2nd Grade Hard Hats Field Trip; 3rd grade STAAR Interim Testing 8:15-9:15 & 12:45-1:45 in 1st - 4th grade pods; REACH & Chess Club 3:15-4:15; Donna out at the HEB/Harvard Annual Raise Your Hand Conference
Friday: Data Team Group A; 3rd grade STAAR Interim Testing 8:15-9:15 & 12:45-1:45 in 1st - 4th grade pods; Donna out at the HEB/Harvard Annual Raise Your Hand Conference
News & Notes
- Ready to TWEET in February? Tweet happenings in your classroom 3 times during the month of February and wear jeans on Tweet Monday, 2/26! Don't forget to use the hashtag #SuccessCSISD and the handle @greensprairie Share your story of the great things happening at GP!
- Please register for the Feb. 19 staff development day at the link below: http://eduphoria.csisd.org/wshop/default.aspx?cid=5073 SPED and CAMP will have a different registration link from Central Office. Agenda & Location of Meetings: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pM0OQDBWAhSBiI8jiXNYTbXCV-nvgDoQtx-dDnqj0b8/edit?usp=sharing
- If you are working with Michelle Prukop on the TELPAS online calibration process on February 19th, we will have a working lunch on that day. Please go to link https://tinyurl.com/y8yzjswd to order your lunch. This is for identified teachers needing to complete the online TELPAS calibration process.
- New student registration for next year will begin March 1st! The elementary schools in CSISD will be hosting a Future Family Welcome Night on Thursday, March 8, 2018 from 6:00-7:30. I would like to meet with grade level leaders for each team on Wednesday, February 28th, at 3:30 to plan what our school will be doing for our future families.
Mustang Yee Haws!
Happy Birthday:
Ruth Matthews, Feb. 19
Allison Ross-Carroll, Feb. 23
Joshua Rhine, Feb. 24