Redbird Roundup, Vol. 9
Friday, October 11, 2019
Our Mission and Vision
Norris Middle School prepares all students for their future by providing a safe, caring, and diverse school environment that maintains high expectations, academic excellence, and respect for all. Success, achievement, respect…It’s a Redbird thing!
La Escuela Secundaria Norris prepara a todos los estudiantes para su futuro ofreciendo un entorno escolar seguro, atento y diverso que mantiene altas expectativas, excelencia académica y respeto para todos. Éxito, logro, respeto…Es una cosa de los Redbirds!
Principal's Greeting
Happy Friday Norris Staff!
Fall is finally here, the weather is changing and we are almost done with first quarter! Next week we look forward to our Student Led Conferences.
We will begin our next coaching cycle on October 21. We will still focus on learning goals, and I'll update you on our progress at our October 28 NAC meeting.
Fall sports are also wrapping up this week and we'll begin girls swimming and boys basketball.
Have a great weekend!
Dr. Carr
October 14-October 18
Monday, October 14: Grades due
Tuesday, October 15: VILS PD with Newman by Teams
Wednesday, October 16: UNO Exploration Day for 8th graders from 9:30-12:30 p.m., Conferences from 4-7:30 p.m.
Thursday, October 17: Report for Duty at 8 a.m., Emergency Response Training for Coaches at 10:00 a.m., Team Leaders Meeting at 10:30 in room 129; Conferences from 12:30-7:30 p.m.
Friday, October 18: Non-duty day
Staff Introductions
Charli Cochran
Name: Charli Cochran
How many years have you been teaching/in education? This is my 4th year
What is your favorite thing about Norris Middle School? The people I work with and the students.
What is the funniest thing you have ever seen a kid do? A sstudent making skinny pig noises to my animal and saying it was okay because he is his father.
What is the best thing that happened to you this week? Harner giving me a candy bar, plus the school giving me pizza. I'm all about free food.
Would you rather go 30 days without your phone or an entire lifetime without dessert? I'd say go without phone. I dont know where it's at half the time anyways.
What TV show would you binge watch if you had the time? The Office, and I make time.
What’s the farthest you’ve ever been from home?
What would you sing at karaoke night? No Scrubs or Fresh Prince theme song.
This is my 4th year
Jared Good, 7B Math (and he's getting married this weekend! Congrats!)
Name: Jared Good
How many years have you been teaching? This is year 7
What is your favorite thing about Norris Middle School? I consider the teachers here to be my second family, and many have definitely stepped up in that over the last few years
What is something we would never guess about you? In my college days, I joined the Hawaiian club, participated in their yearly luau, and even ran for treasurer.
What is the best thing that happened to you this week? I get to marry my best friend on a mountain where we first said I love you. I may or may not be married by the time you read this!
What website/app do you use most often? Instagram, gotta do it for the Gram always
What would you sing at karaoke night? A thousand miles by vanessa carlton, always gets the people going.
Is a hotdog a sandwich? Why or why not? Meat between carbs, that is a sandwich all day long in my book.
Up Next Week in the Redbird Roundup
I do three staff introductions each week. You'll be getting an email from me with questions. Even if you have done it before, please participate and do it again! Please respond and include a picture by Thursday! I will do the first week.
Up next: Stacie Denning, Teresa Faris, Cody Kotrous, and KC Knutson.
Wellness Word to the Wise
The body's internal rhythms entrain to the external rhythms of music, like when you go to the sea and you start breathing slower and your heart rate slows down and starts moving closer to the rhythm and pace of the ocean. It's the same with music, especially reggae, says Frank Lipman, MD.
Powerful Practices
Craig Fuller Wows the Band
Faculty Workshop
Using Seesaw
Six Step Vocabulary
Reading Stations
#kindofabigdeal
Norris Staff and Students Seen and Heard
National Junior Art Honor Society Field Trip
Veronica Switzer Recognized
Congrats Cross Country!
NLT Bake-off for United Way
Final Thought
Grit. Resilience. Toughness. Endurance. These are all the things we need right now. We are busy, tired, overwhelmed, stressed, and it's tough to see the other side. Just as we seek to foster grit in our students, we also have to nurture it in ourselves.
I implore you to hold onto two things: Hope and grace. Hope that things will get better, and hope that what you do is so incredibly powerful and impactful. Don't ever forget how big your job is, and how meaningful it is.
I also beg you to hold onto grace. Grace with others, because we don't always have great days, and grace with yourself. You're not expected to be perfect, or on all the time, or involved in everything. Do what is right for you. I personally stepped away from two committees earlier this year because I wasn't going home happy and my heart wasn't there. I can tell you that now, even though I'm not perfect every day, I feel much better.
Last, always go back to your why. Why are you here? Why do you teach? Why do you choose to work with kids? I hope the following long weekend gives you some time to refresh and reflect. You are so incredibly important to our school community, and the work you do is invaluable.