Head U Gator News
Feb. 19, 2017
A grateful heart...
My heart is grateful for....
...Marnie and Jeanette, who brought the beloved snack cart AND a chocolate fountain for our benefit this week!
...our collective staff. Several things this week have just re-affirmed how special and talented our staff is individually, and how amazingly strong we are collectively! See paragraph below.
...Kami, for working very hard on learning depth and complexity strategies to use with her students, and for Allyson who has not only taught a GTU class but has mentored Kami with her new learning.
...Colleen for reaching out to parents of one of her students to work with them on the right placement for their student. Her decision to do so has created extra work for her, but she has done so cheerfully and willingly because she knows it's important for his well-being.
...Rion, for continuing to refine his classroom procedures to best meet the needs of his students. He has sought feedback, asked Jeanette to coach him through changes, worked with Evan Payne on a weekly basis, and then implemented changes that were suggested. First years are hard, and he's doing his with a smile and especially important, continuing to build relationships with students.
...Donna, who spoke up and helped me avert a disaster with some tutoring plans last week. While it is not typical for Donna to say negative things about anyone, she knew that my plan was not going to work for students and she didn't hesitate to say so. That's a great indicator of a healthy culture- when teachers and leaders feel free to say something when they know something won't work for students!
Collaboration's importance
This was in my parent newsletter this week:
We often get questions and even challenges about some of the fundamental pieces of LEAD 2021. One of the main drivers of LEAD 2021 is our Portrait of a Graduate, which has five behaviors we want our students to embody: Global connectedness, communication skills, collaboration, problem solving, and self-regulated learning. Here is a paragraph I read this week about the importance of collaboration:
Interdependence also has valuable long-term social benefits. The ability for people to work productively with others is an adult outcome that predicts whether a person will remain employed. A longitudinal study of over 10,000 high school students 10 years after graduation found that those who had been rated higher by their teachers on the ability to relate to others had achieved a higher level of postsecondary education and higher annual income than those rated lower on social skills, even when controlled for cognitive skills (Lieras, 2008).
So in other words, being able to work with others is a better predictor of future success than intelligence! That's why we incorporate so many opportunities for students to work together into our instruction.
Looking back and forward...
This year at Glenhope, I feel like I've reached another "educational Nirvana." That's not to say that there haven't been problems, or issues, but the synergy and enthusiasm from new and experienced staff members has been incredible. Last week, somebody remarked that we were so fortunate because we had such an excellent staff member at a particular position. My reply was, "we're fortunate because we have excellent staff at many positions!" When I think about the time we spent interviewing and looking for new staff last spring and summer, it truly was a HUGE undertaking. However, I feel that we together truly have created an amazing place to work and learn, and I feel so very blessed by each of you and your contributions.
Thank you for what you have and continue to do for our students, our campus and our community. Those days when you push to overcome the exhaustion, or the frustration, and make yourself a little better really do make a difference in so many ways. You, individually, are great. We, collectively, are unstoppable!
Plans for tomorrow:
Just a reminder that the "flip" of your day is time for you to meet with teams and plan for upcoming instruction, without having to plan for a sub. This is a great opportunity to look at data as well as devise plans for the next few weeks with your team.
For those of you going to SLES in the morning...It took me 40 minutes to get there from my house last week, so be sure and leave early enough to get there by 8:00.
Morning session (K-2), 8:00-11:15: Teachers will need to bring a non-fiction book of their choice. We'll be using it as part of the reading workshop that morning.
Afternoon session (3-5), 12:30-3:45: Teachers will need to do a little writing before they arrive that day. Our focus will be on expository writing, so please have teachers bring an expository piece of writing about someone they admire in their personal life OR an expository piece of writing about a person they admire within the context of Black history month. This piece does not need to have undergone lots of revision/editing, and it can be brief or long according to the teacher's wishes. It won't have to be shared with the whole group!
ASPIRE will be with other ASPIRE teachers, and specials with other specials teachers.
VALOR
Applications for VALOR (Vanguard Association of Learning, Observation, and Reflection) will be available in February. VALOR is a group of innovative teachers who commit to reading, learning, observing, and reflecting together. It provides teachers the opportunity to visit classrooms all over the district, be observed by peers based on group and personal goals, and receive individualized feedback from an instructional coach. The following is a list of specific information regarding the application process:
Applications (google form) will be due by 5 pm on Feb. 27. Applications will be scored by the VALOR leadership team. Scoring will be based on a rubric and input from campus principals.
Those selected to move on to the interview process will be contacted by a VALOR leadership team member, who will schedule an interview. The interview will occur on your campus during your conference period or after school.
Dr. Doughney will contact those who have been selected to be part of the 2017-18 VALOR class.
We hope to invite about 24-28 people.
Watch D.O.G.s (Dads of Great Students)
We will have a kick off meeting on February 25th, with the goal of having Watch DOGS in our building the first of March.
What are the goals of a WATCH D.O.G.S. program?
1) To provide positive male role models for the students, demonstrating by their presence that education is important.
2) To provide extra sets of eyes and ears to enhance school security and reduce bullying.
What do WatchDOGS do (while they are at school)?
During the day, WatchDOGS may read and work on flash cards with students, play at recess, eat lunch with students, patrol the school entrances and hallways, assist with traffic flow and any other assigned activities where they actively engage with not only their own students, but other students as well.
Many school principals have reported that the mere presence of a WatchDOG dad dramatically reduces reports of bullying. On the day of their participation, WatchDOG dads are given a brief review of their involvement and they wear an official WATCH D.O.G.S. t-shirt with a disposable ‘Dog Tag’ identifying them as a WatchDOG.
Here is a Today Show video about Watch DOGS....you only need to watch the first 5 minutes. The last few minutes are about a PSA Matt Lauer makes about fatherhood- cute, but not about WatchDOGS. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuY1W5bgCqs
Open House
Many of you incorporated other places to visit (library, computer lab, music, PE) in a list of activities to keep parents and students moving and that seemed to work well for many of them.
Hand Washing
Executive Functioning
Please take the time to join her Google Classroom by following this link to Google classroom: https://classroom.google.com/ Then use code ob860s to join the group. Feel free to add your great ideas to the intervention document. Shared learning and shared practice makes us better.
Calendar
Monday, February 20
Professional learning
Tuesday, February 21
Spanish
Wednesday, February 22
4/5 choir
Thursday, February 23
Good News 2:55-4:00
Friday, February 24
Spanish 2:55-4:00
Bowman Sports
Running club
Saturday, February 25
Watch D.O.G.S