Glacier Ridge Gazette
August 18, 2023
October 27, 2023
PRINCIPAL MESSAGE
Fall Break
I was fortunate enough to take advantage of fall break last weekend. It is something that I am not typically able to do. As a principal, I don’t get the same days off as others, but in this case, I ended up taking the vacation days so I could have a 4 day weekend in order to rebalance.
For my break, I was able to go up to Michigan to spend some time near the water and view the beautiful fall colors. Who did I go with? I tried to get my family to come with me. My daughters just wanted to hang out with their friends. For some reason, long relaxing hikes in the woods taking in the beautiful colors of the trees were not as appealing as staying up late watching tv with their friends. So, I went by myself! And I LOVED IT.
I was grateful for the opportunity to refresh a little bit. I was able to give a little balance to my life by taking time to relax, while also getting a little bit of work done. What? Why would I do work while having the time off? “Just take the time for yourself and don’t even think about work,” people would say. Much like other professions, the work doesn’t stop.
So, for me, it’s about prioritizing versus balancing. Balancing means that everything get equal attention and all responsibilities and time need to balance. However, prioritizing means placing emphasis, time, energy, thought into the most important thing at that moment. Many people will use the phrase, “Just take something off your plate.” as a strategy for balancing. But ultimately, the tasks and responsibilities are still there, or you become less effective by just removing something. On the flipside, I can’t always let the tasks and responsibilities take over and not enjoy other components of my life. For example, I want to be a great principal. I also want to be a great dad, husband, and friend. However, I want to be a great advocate for my own needs, otherwise I won’t be great at any of those other things. This is not atypical for anyone these days that have responsibilities that pile up and demands coming from every direction. What happens as a result? STRESS!
After years of doing this stressful job, I’ve learned strategies that help me cope, while also being great in my personal life, too. One strategy is to prioritize instead of balancing. People often want balance in their life. I think it is impossible to have an exact balance of all the “things.” Instead, I need to prioritize. There are different things that I need to put my energy in at different times. Sometimes my work is important and I put more time and effort towards that. Other times, it is important to focus on family. Recognizing the priority in the moment helps me put my energy and time into that, while the other things take a back burner.
The analogy I use to prioritize is juggling. When you are juggling, you need to focus on all of the balls. However, you need to prioritize your focus on the ball that is coming down and you need to catch. The other balls are in the air. You can’t ignore them and you still need to somewhat pay attention, but they are not the most important. If you drop the ball coming down then the other balls are not applicable anymore because you are no longer juggling. I’ve learned to focus on the ball coming down.
This weekend, the ball coming down was my own well-being. I’m grateful that I was able to go by myself and I appreciate my wife for holding down the fort with the children. Ultimately, taking time for myself allowed me to be great at the other things. I still worked to keep up a little bit, but that was not the focus. I focused on myself. And don’t worry, I’ll encourage my wife to do the same thing when she needs it.
Think about all the directions you are pulled and see which ball is falling first.
Lastly, my thoughts are with those in Lewiston, ME.
Sincerely,
Pete Kurty, Ed. D
Principal
GLACIER RIDGE INFORMATION
Before School Reminder For Students
Students should not arrive at school prior to 8:55am. When walker students arrive, they should go right to the playground entrance doors to wait for the bell.
Why? We understand that students want to come play with one another and have the neighborhood camaraderie. There are no staff on duty prior to that time. As a result, there are often issues that arise that can spill over into school.
Please talk with your child about NOT coming to school to play prior to 8:55am. Students that still come to school early may be asked to come into the office.
Veterans Day
The students and staff of Glacier Ridge Elementary are excited for our annual Veterans Day Celebration.
This year our celebration will be held on Friday, November 10th at 9:25 AM. Veterans, as special guests of our Glacier Ridge students and staff, are invited to attend.
We will honor our veterans with an assembly, followed by a brief reception on the playground.
GRE students are encouraged to invite a family member who is a veteran.
In preparation for this day, we ask that anyone in our GRE family who would like to bring a veteran, please RSVP. This will allow us to properly plan for and recognize each of our guests.
RSVP to register before Wednesday, November 1, by completing this form.
PLEASE NOTE - Registration is necessary in order to plan appropriate seating and support.
Family members are welcome to attend along with our veteran guests;
however, seating may be limited for additional family.
*** For the safety of students and continuity of the daily arrival process, please do NOT arrive prior to 9:15. There will be buses and cars dropping off students prior to that time.
Operation Kids for Troops
Glacier Ridge Elementary School will be starting their annual collection of items for Veterans Day! We will be collecting: powdered drink mix, granola bars, baby wipes, toothpaste, toothbrushes, magazines, deck of cards, small toys (yo, yo, fidgets, etc.) and hard candy. Please bring items to the red and blue boxes in front of the Library from October 25th-November 9th. Also, we are looking for active military servicemen and servicewomen who are currently deployed overseas. If you have a family member or friend who is deployed, please email Mrs. Gould their APO address to gould_angela@dublinschools.net. Thank you for supporting our troops!
BIKER REMINDERS
We are glad that students are able to ride bikes to school in the morning. Please remind children to park their bikes in the bike racks. Otherwise they infringe on the playground space. Bikers should also adhere to bike safety and cross at crosswalks.
Colder Weather is Coming
It’s getting cold outside! GRE students LOVE going out for recess. We want them to stay safe and healthy. Please make sure your child leaves for school with outerwear appropriate for the day’s weather. Make a habit of checking the weather forecast and encouraging your child to wear a coat, hat, scarf and gloves on these colder days. Students are welcome to wear shorts while inside, but they MUST wear pants over them for recess during cold temperatures. Students must also wear a jacket that is appropriate for the temperature.
20 degrees or below with wind chill - all recesses will be indoors
21-25 degrees with wind chill - lunch recess will be indoors, short recess will be outdoors
26 degrees with wind chill and warmer - all recesses will be outdoors
Lastly, it is a good reminder to put your child's name in their respective winter attire. A simple task of putting names in coats and on sweatshirts helps get them back to their owner.
For more information on the districts WINTER WEATHER PROCEDURES, please click this link: https://www.dublinschools.net/domain/84
Erica Kelley Memorial Planning
We would like to offer our heartfelt condolences on the loss of Miss Erica Kelley. Her unwavering commitment as a Classroom Teacher and Gifted Intervention Specialist in Dublin City Schools will live on indefinitely.
There are multiple ways that we’d like to honor Miss Kelley over the course of this school year; we’ve been taking our time with the planning, so that we can be thoughtful and truly memorialize how much we loved and appreciated her.
Wishtree: Miss Kelley’s favorite book was Wishtree by Katherine Applegate, so we will be planting a tree in her honor this Fall through the generosity of the Ahlum family. To go along with the theme of a “Wishtree”, we will be gathering wishes from students, parents, staff, and friends to plant in the roots of the tree. You are welcome to stop by our Wishtree table during the two GRE Fall conference nights (October 18th and 26th from 4 - 7:30) to write down your own wish. Or, if you’re unable to come in person, please mail a written note to Glacier Ridge (gdovin_michelle@dublinschools.net), noting - Attn: EK Wishtree. Please submit any mailed wishes by October 26th.
Light-Brite: The giant Lite-Brite was a passion project for Miss Kelley and her students. This will become a permanent fixture at Glacier Ridge and will be installed outside of the library. One of Miss Kelley’s former students, Gavin Wolf, will be making a plaque to denote the importance of this creative space and to let students continue to benefit from the creative mind of Miss Kelley.
Butterfly Bench Sculpture: Miss Kelley was one of the originators of the GRE butterfly garden. A butterfly sculpture bench is tentatively planned (pending donations) to be purchased and installed in the Butterfly Garden that meant so much to Miss Kelley.
Memorial Service: A service will take place on May 6th at Glacier Ridge to dedicate the tree and the butterfly sculpture bench. More details to come.
In addition to your written wishes, and if you feel so inclined, you can make a donation to help fund these memorial projects to:
Venmo: @GlacierRidgePTO (Attn: Erica Kelley Memorial)
Checks can be made out to: Glacier Ridge Elementary PTO (memo: Erica Kelley Memorial)
Thank you in advance for your contribution; you can send checks into the school office or Venmo payment by November 30th, 2023. Of note, November is the cancer awareness month that highlights Neuroendocrine Cancer, which is the form of cancer that took Miss Kelley from us far too soon.
Sincerely,
Pete Kurty, Angela Gould, Michelle Gdovin, Kiley Wilkins, and Halie Miller
Erica Kelley Memorial Team
SIGN UP & VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Tiger Student Announcements
Would you like to start your day saying “Hello!” to everyone at Glacier Ridge in the morning? Are you in 2nd thru 5th grade? Then sign up to read the morning announcements! If you would like to find out more about this opportunity and sign up to be a Tiger Student Announcer then go to this link via SignUp Genius: GRES Tiger Student Announcements
Glacier Ridge Student Greeter Team
Parent/Guardian Volunteer Background Check
SECURE VOLUNTEER BADGE - Dublin City Schools takes the safety of our students and staff seriously and requires a background check for all volunteers interacting with students. In order to attend field trips or volunteer in the classroom, you much go through the background check process. The process is free and easy and takes only a few minutes to complete. This is required for any parents or caregivers wishing to volunteer with students.
GRE EVENTS
Upcoming GRE Events
Nov. 5th Daylight Savings
Nov. 7th No School, Professional Development Day
Nov. 15th PTO Meeting - Virtual
Nov. 16th 5th Grade BizTown Field Trip
Nov. 22-26th Thanksgiving Break
DISTRICT UPDATES
FALL MAP STUDENT DATA
The MAP assessments give us the ability to measure student achievement and academic growth across time. Students participate in the MAP Reading and MAP Math assessments three times a year (grades 1-8). Fall MAP results are now visible to parents in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. Please follow the steps below to find your child's fall MAP results:
Choose a Student
Tap on More
Tap on Assessments
For additional information about MAP, please visit https://www.dublinschools.net/Page/2976.
From the City of Dublin
BOO from our crew to you! Make the most of your Halloween and follow these important safety tips – https://youtu.be/ykb0I7QH2BU
Fright-less fun was had at the 2023 Halloween Spooktacular! Thank you to the many families and friends who enjoyed a gourd-time with us! If you made it to Coffman Park, please fill out our post-event survey: https://bit.ly/408Ls4L
Dublin is participating in the National Drug Take Back event on Saturday, Oct. 28, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Dublin Justice Center. This is a free drive-thru event to safely dispose of potentially dangerous, expired, unused and unwanted prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Learn more https://bit.ly/3s8LGa5
GRE CONTACT INFORMATION
Attendance
If your child will be absent from school, please email our attendance line at gres_attendance@dublinschools.net.
Glacier Ridge Elementary
Email: glacierridge_info@dublinschools.net
Website: https://www.dublinschools.net/Domain/18
Location: 7175 Glacier Ridge Boulevard, Dublin, OH, USA
Phone: 614.733.0012
Twitter: @greDCSD