Mustang Message
September 30, 2019
A Principal's Perspective
As the principal, glimpses and snapshots of campus happenings make me so proud of the GP staff! As I reflect upon the week, I am thinking about the great things happening at our school. Just normal, everyday things that each staff member does to create a successful, enriching, positive learning environment for our students.
- Teachers collaborating in data team and C^2 to look at data to make instructional decisions for future lessons and for planning small groups and student interventions.
- A classroom that has applied a GTKY Circle in academics as they ask students to choose an answer by relocating to a section of the room. As soon as the two groups are formed, a talking piece is given along with the direction of the circle. Students take ownership as each share their reasoning to the academic question posed. Students indicate connections by signaling. Students are listening intently to each other. At the end of circle time, students continue to discuss the book at a deeper level all while making connections. This was student led and the students were so in to the academic conversations!
- Grade levels diving in to learn about MAP testing, fluency and reports. Teachers using the reports in their data team meetings to make instructional decisions about a struggling student.
- Teachers jumping in to learn MAP fluency with an I can do this attitude!
- Teachers working with the counselor and specialists to problem solve a situation.
- Staff members working together to address a behavior concern.
- Teachers thinking about how they can reach a parent for an important, much needed parent conference.
- Going the extra mile by creating an operating room to engage students as they conduct sentence surgery to reinforce grammar and writing skills.
Thank you for making the everyday extraordinary for our students!
Donna
Social Committee Information
News & Notes
Social Committee: Please see Social Committee Smore below for updated information about the GP Social Committee. Dues for professional staff: $25 and paraprofessional staff: $15.
- Everyone that has their dues turned in by the end of the day on Friday, October 11th, will be entered into a drawing for a gift card to Starbucks AND wear jeans on Wednesday AND Thursday October 16 & 17th.
- The team that has all members paid in full by the end of the day on Monday, October 28th, will receive a Sonic drink on Thursday, October 31st. This will be for all teams with 100% paid.
Restorative Practice Consultant Visits to GP for 2019-2020: Tuesday, October 29, Tuesday, January 28 & Tuesday, March 31
Grading Guidelines: https://docs.google.com/document/d/14vQq3R33xv0gLBxdvQKXBIm-Wphm7cijJvwtmFChH2w/edit?usp=sharing
Club Sponsors: Please let me know if you are planning to supervise/coordinate a student club this year. Please advise on meeting dates and time.
Poster Maker: We are in the process of purchasing a new poster maker that can make posters with a professional quality and print for indoors or outdoors! We are also purchasing a computerized die cut machine. Whoop!
Lock Down Drill: Please review handbook and emergency card to know what to do when we go to lock down on Monday. The consultant advised when practicing to move a desk to block the opening of the door. This lock down we will not practice going outside. In the future, we will designate where the intruder will be and advise on action to take. Please remember that we always lock and prop our doors during the day so that we can move to an emergency situation quickly.
Fourth Grade: Lunch with the principal will begin on October 22nd.
Happy Birthday
This Week Birthdays:
Angela Dusek, Sept. 30
Shirley Wesley, Oct. 5
Mustang Yee-Haws
Staff Shout Out:
I finally received feedback from my Tell Me Something Good link in my email signature line! Two messages were submitted:
- I love how much our staff is like a family when somebody leaves they want to come back!
- Coach Epting saved the day when I had to leave unexpectedly for a family emergency. She stepped right in and kept the gym moving and the kids safe. I really appreciate her willingness to do whatever is needed and her positive, friendly attitude.
From a Staff Member:
"Today while I was in the 2nd-grade pod I listened in on Mrs. McMurray conferring with a group of students about their upcoming student-led conferences. Mrs. McMurray explained what a student-led conference was and then asked the students some of the things they would like to share with their parents. She then gave each student his/her conference folder. The first item in the folder was a sheet that the student is able to write a note to his/her family. Mrs. McMurray then asked the group what kinds of things they might write in their note.
Student 1: What a student-led conference is.
Student 2: That we are doing this so Mrs. McMurray doesn't get stressed out.
LOL...Kids are so intuitive."
Parent Shout Out: My daughter,_________, is in ...1st grade. She absolutely loves Motor Lab! Thank you so much for supporting the connection between physical and mental health and academic readiness. And most of all, giving the kids a space to play and learn! I teach in the Health and Kinesiology department at A&M, and my co-workers and I wish that students of all ages had access to a space like Motor Lab.
Science and ELA Together? Yes! Check out the sentence surgery going on in 3rd grade this week! From Danielle Galow: "A huge shout out to "Dr. Lindner" :) for having this great idea and bringing it to life. (pun intended :)"