Sunday Shakedown
Weekly Memo for Washington Elementary
Principal Post
"Schools shouldn’t prepare kids for a world that doesn’t exist. In real life, citizens aren’t rewarded extrinsically for being good citizens. You don’t get a bonus check for paying your taxes on time. Cops don’t pull you over and hand you a $50 gift certificate for going the speed limit. Nobody throws you a pizza party for not firebombing your neighbors. In real life there are many things we do simply because they’re the right things to do. Does anyone remember the adage “Virtue is its own reward”? For our children’s benefit, we should bring it back into vogue."
I think I was concerned because it sounded like he assumes adults and children are developmental equals. He also assumes that all children arrive at the doors of our school having all the prerequisite skills. Wouldn't it be easy if children arrived already intrinsically motivated to succeed? Or, if children already experienced positive and negative consequences that teach what is acceptable or not? I believe, in childhood, reinforced behavior is how we develop. In fact, I'd venture to say all human behavior is caused by reinforcement. It just so happens that when you do good, you feel good. For some that's all it takes. You know I am not an advocate of reward systems for all. I am a supporter of finding what each child needs to succeed. However, our currently reality is that children are arriving to us lacking an achievement orientation and internal regulation, among other skills and dispositions. This is leaving the work to us. As I reviewed the definition of the word "educate" the following were all definitions I found:
- to give intellectual, moral, or social instruction
- develop mentally, morally, and aesthetically
- to bring out and lead forth
- to enlighten, inform and foster
- to instruct or teach a skill or subject and provide information
We have this most important work ahead of us...moral, intellectual and social instruction. I am regularly reminded that education is not for the faint of heart...but it is for the open-hearted. May your heart always be open to the children you educate.
Thanks, celebration and appreciation:
- Thanks to Laura, Dena, Catherine and Megan for the CICO work. This is important work!
- Thanks to Leadership team for your thoughts and great service to the school.
- Thanks to Vicki and team for their hardwork on Friday.
- Thanks to all teams for great collaborative work on Friday
- Prayers for the Heller family
- Thanks to Judy McSwain who subbed for Amy this week-welcome back Amy
- Hooray all staff has been hired! No vacancies now!
- Thanks to Stephanie Edwards for her service to our school and her passion for our kids. Your tender heart and hard work will be missed. We wish you well!
- Hooray for tailgate day on Wednesday
- Thanks to our great PTA for the classroom monetary donations
Week of Oct 9-13
Faculty Meeting @3:45
Tuesday:
Wolf at the ASC for training
9:00 LCD Informance Celebration of Learning (remember to wear African attire if you wish)/6:00 evening performance
Wednesday:
Tailgate Feast
2:15 Fire Drill
Thursday:
DRA and Writing scoring conferences Details to come
Friday:
Club day 3
Shasta at GWES
Gift of Reading during RATS
Wolf at Leadership academy 10:30-1:00
Growth and achievement measures do in TNCompass-make sure you have signed before you leave
A look ahead:
Picture retakes Oct 24
LCA and LCB on fall field trips OCt 25
October birthdays with the principals 26
Run Walk a thon Oct 27
Bookroom Update:
The library is getting rid of some old science kits and models that have not been used in recent years. Some of them might be useful in your classrooms. If you would like to look through them before we send them to surplus, you are welcome to take whatever you want. They are in the Book Room on the table (you’ll see it when you go in).
Some items are under the table. Please take what you want BEFORE the end of the day Monday, Oct. 9. After that, the materials will be boxed up for surplus.
Kim Bradley has prepared a tutorial for how to use the bookroom and search for materials in there.
For Your Information:
- Your pledge form will need to be turned in to your school level coordinator by Friday, October 13.
· Door prize drawings for those who contribute will be held later today and on Friday, October 13.
· PLEASE consider being a Caring Gift donor, pledging a small percentage of income through 26 payroll deductions over the course of a year. The impact you’ll see in your payday will be small, but the difference you will make in someone’s life will be huge!
· Anyone who donates to United Way during this year’s campaign can take part in a jeans day on Friday, October 13.
· PLEASE NOTE: If you are donating to the United Way for the very first time, please “LET US KNOW” this in Box 3 of your form.
- Remember our dedication to 2 positive parent contacts a week. This can be note, email, or call. The power of depositing in a parents' emotional bank account is critical to a supportive relationship.
PTA closet
Professional Learning
https://drive.google.com/a/k12k.com/file/d/0Bz4pwkANLjvoRzdyWFJDamxYUjg/view?usp=sharing