Team Thomson News & Notes
#ThomsonRocks Week of: November 11, 2018
Important Information for You!
Parent Teacher Conference Follow-up
I know that Parent-Teacher Conferences can sometimes be a little nerve racking as you prepare report cards, student work, paperwork, and get everything in your head that you want and need to share with parents...but I also have to say that there was such a positive excitement in the air the last two days. I hope that you enjoyed your time meeting with parents. Also, don't forget that, while most of our parents were able to make it during conference times, we always shoot for 100% of all parents having either an in-person or phone conference. If you are having trouble reaching a parent, please let me know.
Again, thank you for all your efforts this past week and throughout the year to make our parents feel welcome and part of their child's education. As one parent came into the office to share, "I just had the best parent-teacher conference! I hope they are all this nice." Kudos to you all!
November is Bully Prevention Month & World Kindness Day!
November is Bully Prevention month and Davison is choosing to focus on a Kindness Campaign. As a building we kicked off our acts of kindness prior to intersession when we did small random acts of kindness for each other as part of the 'Mystery of the Diamond', but now it is time to really kick it up a notch.
If you remember last year we celebrated World Kindness Day by writing Cardinal Compliment Cards. Well this year, we will celebrate World Kindness Day on Tuesday, November 13th!
The goal is that that every student, parapro, playground monitor, teacher, administrator, secretary, custodian, and support staff take a moment to share a kind word with someone else in the form of a Cardinal Compliment...however remember Superintendent Lieske challenged each and every one of us...that means ALL staff members... to write at least one Cardinal Compliment card to a student (current or past) each day of the week. I will have a basket full of Cardinal Compliment cards on the desk in the main office for you to grab as needed. If you need help with addresses for past students, please let me know and I will help you get them. Can you imagine the power this holds?
Additionally, Davison Community Schools is hosting a #CardinalKindness social media movement where kids, staff, parents, and community members are being encouraged to post random acts of kindness. Also, if you do post an act of kindness don't forget the #ThomsonRocks...you never know when a 'prize' might pop us as a Twitter challenge. This ‘Kindness Campaign’ will run the week of November 12th through the 16th. However, we hope that the effects last long after November 16th!
Family Math Game Night
This Thursday night we will host our second family involvement activity of the year with our Family Math Game Night. While this is an event that all certified staff must attend, any parapros that are interested and willing to work should see me right away as your help is always needed and appreciated. Thank you to Sara H. and Emily and all others who have helped with the planning and organizing and to Michelle B. for getting a jump start of the bagging of all the student take home bag.
Cardinal Code Focus of the Week: Bus Safety
The Cardinal Code focus for this week is Office. Please intentionally reteach the Cardinal Code for the arrival and dismissal focusing on:
- Walking quietly to and from the bus...quiet in the hall and staying on the yellow line once outside.
- Sitting 'seat to seat, back to back, backpack on your lap' while riding.
- Listening to your bus monitor and/or driver.
Thank you for intentionally revising and reteaching the Cardinal Code focus of the week..as you can imagine, bus safety is extremely important and needs to be reviewed by you even though you may not be on the bus with the students.
Don't Forget to Notify the Office If....
We know that sometimes at conferences...or maybe during drop off or pick up...or maybe in an email, parents mention things to staff that the office may not be AND need to be aware of. Anytime a parent mentions something to you that makes your ears perk or your eyes focus a little more, please take this as a sign to let the office know. Some things might include:
- Anything having to do with medical...new or a change...meds, allergies, etc.
- Bus tags or no backpack
- Absences
- The moved!
Even if it seems minor, please let us know. This helps to ensure safety and that we have accurate records. Thanks for your help.
Literacy Essential 1, Deliberate, research-informed efforts to foster literacy motivation and engagement within and across lessons.
This week we focus on Bullet 5 which states: uses additional strategies to generate excitement about reading and writing, such as book talks and updates about book series. The teacher avoids attempting to incentivize reading through non-reading-related prizes such as stickers, coupons, or toys, and avoids using reading and writing as “punishment” (e.g., “If you can’t listen, I’m going to send you to sit and read in the library”.
As you watch the video in the link below consider the following:
- How do you build excitement for reading or how could you?
- How do you introduce new books/authors to your students?
- How are you making reading fun and something the students want to do?
- How do 'sell' reading?
- Can you ever think of a time you used reading as 'punishment'? (As much as I hate to say it, I can...but I can also say, that ended early in my career due to a smart friend asking me why would I ever make writing a punishment.)
Quotes Worth Reading
"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted."
-Aesop
"Together we can change the world, just one random act of kindness at a time."
-Ron Hall
"Carry out a random act of kindness with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you."
-Princess Diana
Thomson Elementary
#ThomsonRocks
Home of the Thomson Teddies!
And..
Where Kids Come First and Futures Begin!
Email: nmiller@davisonschools.org
Website: www.davisonschools.org
Location: 617 East Clark Street, Davison, MI, United States
Phone: 810-591-0911
Celebrations & Announcements
Birthdays: Jim Bass, November 13th...Happy Birthday to You!
Don't forget...You need to be keeping a running total of your classroom total Cool to Care items. Please keep them in your classroom as a reminder for students until the tables are set up the week before Thanksgiving.
A huge 'Thank You' to Christine, Cheyl, and Anna P for working the welcome/parent satisfaction survey table during conferences.
Important Upcoming Dates:
Week of November 12th-PLC Week
Tuesday, November 13th-Lockdown Drill; Child Study Day; FLU Shot Clinic in the library from 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. for any staff member, please sign up on the Google Doc that Michelle Edwards included in her email...if you need help, let me know.
Wednesday, November 14th-Staff Meeting, 7:35 a.m. (Agenda: Holly and Angie-SE and ELL, Jason-McKinney Vinto)
Thursday, November 15th-Family Math Game Night, 5-7 p.m. (Certified staff should plan to be here from 4:30-7:15 p.m. as one of our five contractual evening activities)
Friday, November 16th-GISD Elementary Principals Meeting 7:30-11:00 a.m. (Natalie)
Monday, November 19th-PTO Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, November 20th- Number Talks Learning Lab; PTO Pals, General Admin Meeting (Natalie)
Wednesday, November 21st-Leadership Team Meeting, 7:15 a.m.
Thursday, November 22nd-Happy Thanksgiving, No School
Friday, November 23rd-Happy Black Friday, No School
Week of November 25th-PLC Week
Tuesday, November 27th-DK All-day ACC Day at the Williams Property
Wednesday, November 28th-Staff Meeting, 7:35 a.m. (Agenda: Holiday Plans, Field Trips Presentation of Representatives of the Williams Property)
Thursday, November 29th-Elementary Principals Meeting (Natalie); CMC Meeting 4-7 p.m.