#GrowTheGrove
December 5 - December 9
PrinciPAL's Corner
I hope this finds you well on a Monday afternoon in anticipation of week ahead.
I want to first start with a salute to our Choral and Band programs, and their great performance last Thursday. From watching the video of the performance, to hearing positive feedback from the performance, Mrs. Huestis and Mr. Wantuch's programs represented Cedar Grove well! Board Member, David Robinson, even sent an email on Friday highlighting the performance and how impressed and proud he was of the two programs and everyone involved for the successful evening. Kudos to the directors, those who helped with coverage, and the students for a great evening. I am proud of you all.
On Friday of last week one of our bus drivers, Linda Lafferty of Bus 359, was injured in the bus parking lot . She is doing well, all things considered, but she will more than likely be out of work for some time. Mrs. Rogerson will be sending out information soon that will give us the opportunity to help out in some way once she is allowed to leave the hospital. Please keep her and her family in your thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery.
This Wednesday, please come hungry to school. Our wonderful PTA is providing us breakfast from the Bagel Dock of Shallotte. They are also providing our students who had Perfect Attendance and who made the Honor Roll with small gifts of appreciation, ranging from school wrist bands to ear buds and/or water bottles. If you see any members of our PTA, please be sure to thank them for their continued support of Cedar Grove.
Do not forget, our Instructional Coaches will be here on Wednesday of this week to meet with you all regarding your Check-In data. Please plan on attending these meetings to discuss the data. These meetings do take the place of PLCs on Thursday.
As an FYI, Ms. Holloway will be out of the office tomorrow and I will be out of the office on Thursday.
I look forward to seeing you all this week and visiting classrooms.
Important Reminders
Monday, December 5
- Lesson Plans Due
Tuesday, December 6
- Grade Level Meetings - On your own
- WBHS Show Choir Holiday Show - 9:00 - 9:30am - Gymnasium
- For those interested, please report to the gym by 8:45am
- BT Meeting - 2:55pm - Maykish's Room
Wednesday, December 7
- Bagel Dock breakfast in the PLC Room, courtesy of the PTA
- PLC Meetings - Planning - Meet with Instructional Coaches to review Check-In Data.
- SLT Meeting - 2:50pm - PLC Room
Thursday, December 8
- Student Support Meeting - 9:15am - Location TBD
Upcoming Dates to Remember
Friday, December 16
- Finally Friday Schedule
"Learning more requires a commitment to doing better, and becoming the best version of ourselves...Make the committment to be more intentional about creating a culture that welcomes students, teammates, and everyone who enters your learning space. Let them know you see them, value them, and appreciate them."
- Ken Williams, "Ruthless Equity".
Weekly Athletics
Girl's & Boy's Basketball
Thursday, December 8 @ South Brunswick - Girl's at 4:00pm, Boy's immediately following the conclusion of the girl's game
Wrestling
Thursday, December 8 vs South Brunswick - 4:00pm
(Harmon - Crowd Control)
This is a new season and we need coverage! Please go in and look at the home events and sign up for coverage. If you did not sign up for any fall events, we strong encourage you to help out during winter athletic events!
Staff Highlights
- Mrs. Zell was recognized this past week in the "Cape Fear Voices The Teen Scene" for her and her student's contributions to the literary publication. Editor Gerald Decker recognized her for the development of her program here at Cedar Grove and the amazing writers she has. Deputy Superintendent Molly White also recognized Mrs. Zell for her support of the community publication and the opportunity to open the door for students who have a passion for writing. You can read more in the December Edition of Cape Fear Voices/The Teen Scene.
Weekly Survival Tip - Time
According to researchers, valuing time over money is an essential key to our well-being. People who prioritize time over money end up working fewer hours and have more time to engage in activities that they find enjoyable. In other words, we should consider slowing down and savoring the pockets of time that we have to our biggest extent possible. Additionally, "passing the hours working (although productive) does not translate into greater happiness. Spending time with loved ones does, and a shift in attention toward times proves an effective means to motivate this social connection" (Mogilner, 2010, p.1352). Over time, I have had to really focus on time over work, especially when I am at home with my family. While there maybe days, nights, and weekends where I can't afford to not work, I have been able to make subtle shifts in how I spend my as it relates to school work and it has made a difference in my overall level of stress in this position and in my family life.
Consider the following invitations as it relates to time and your well-being. Don't schedule yourself during all off your available hours. Leave time for the people and the things you love (including yourself). I promise, it has begun to make a difference for me.
- Allow yourself time: Allow 10 extra minutes in the morning so you are not feeling rushing. Resist the snooze button and get up to enjoy a little extra time to yourself in your morning routine (I am really trying to focus on this).
- Schedule time: Schedule time doing something that brings you joy, 30 minutes to one hour. Walk, read, workout, go for a swim. Find a time where you can fit this in. I am trying to go to the gym for at least 30 minutes a night, at max one hour, to relieve some stress, reset, and get healthy during the process.
- Be present at times: As often as you can when you are with friends and family, be present rather than working. This one hits me hard as I oftentimes find myself working while watching a movie with my family. Put the phone away, stop working, as much as we possible can. While sometimes it may be inevitable, be mindful of your presence with others and the focused time you spend with them.
- Check your time: Review your calendar and consider what may be essential vs. nonessential. What could you cancel or postpone? Use the bonus time to do something you love. Also, committe to leaving work each day at a specific time.
- Use wait time: Be productive with your wait time. Read a book, complete a crossword puzzle, listen to a podcast, or read an article. Be intentional with what you keep around you for those times you have an extended period of waiting. Choosing to do one of the latter instead of spending it online can have a positive effect on your brain and make you feel better.
I look forward to hearing about the changes you make this week regarding your use of time. Have a great week!