Galloping Gazette
A newsletter for the Faculty and Staff - Week of 10/14
Put Students First • Seek Growth • Be Open to Change . Do Great Work Together • Value Differences
"The honeymoon period is officially over." These are the words a colleague uttered as we debriefed and reflected on the first month of school. I've thought about those words since that conversation. It's true, staff and students have settled into the "routine" of school. For some, this comes with the expectation that behavior concerns will start to emerge or increase. For others it is the idea that adults start to feel the "stress" of the daily expectations involved with teaching and serving students. The idea of the "October Blues" have become such a norm that you can find all kinds of articles about it. As many of you know, I am a firm believer in mindset and the power we can have if we are intentional about our mindset. I choose to view October in a different way. I choose to be optimistic about the possibilities that lie ahead. I choose to embrace the challenges and respond in a way that aligns with my personal values, personal goals and the goals we have set as a school. I challenge each of you to do the same. Here's one step you can take:
Remain Positive
There will be days that challenge you and your students, no matter what. No one is immune to feeling defeated from time to time, and that feeling can spread if you allow it. As difficult as it might seem to remain positive in the face of challenges, you owe it to yourself and your class to turn negative feelings around. Take a deep breath and summon your powers of positivity. If you need a positive affirmation, just check out this little boy's for inspiration.
Congratulations!
Shout Outs...
- Francis, Thank you for being our "Popcorn Queen" this week! You're simply the best! Love, your 5th Grade Team
- Kim Jacobs for helping out in my classroom! Katie
- Amy, I could never thank you enough for all your patience with these kiddos. Katie
- Kindergarten team thank you for all the support and collaboration! Katie
- Tina and Patti for pulling some of my friends to help them with their letters. Katie
- Thank you for the gorgeous MUMS as the Booed gift ❤️. I will plant the flowers in my front yard. Adrian
Shout out to all math teachers for scoring the exemplars with such a short turn around. You guys are the best! Jenny
- Thanks to the fifth grade team for coming together and rocking our first expo. Truly a team effort! #bitmojisforallexpos Liz
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Thank you, Travis, for building an escape room for angles! The kids love it! Liz
- Shout out to Karen Ratner for jumping into Beach Bags this year! I’m so thankful for your help. Nicole
- Great job to my fifth-grade team for an awesome job making the Roller Coaster Expo a great hit with parents and students! - Donna
- Thank you, Travis, for your help with the Expo and setting up the Roller Coaster Virtual Reality for the parents. - Donna
- Amanda we have loved you being on the k/1/2 sped team! You have done an awesome job stepping in and completing what needs to be done, and always with a smile on your face. Sharon
- You made my day Patti Csenar! Thanks for always having such a HUGE HEART! Michelene
- Andrew Richardson helping me with the lights. You are awesome! Mercy
- Thank you Mercy for all of your help with SCA installation. Jackie and Ally
- Thank you Kelly for the yummy collab treats. Jackie
- THANK YOU Karen Ratner and Jennifer Pleasant for “holding the fort” down in the clinic for me when I could not be here! YOU are APPRECIATED so very much!!!! Jill
Schedule for upcoming weeks
**National Bullying Awareness Prevention Month**
** VA Disability History and Awareness Month**
** PLC- Math **
Monday, October 14th
- #GetthatMondaymotivation
- Remember to park in the bus area today. Trees being cut down out front.
- Virtual Learning Day for Students
- SPED Team Meeting 2:00
Tuesday, October 15th
- GOTR 3:00
- Last day to make changes to current election on VBCPS online enrollment platform through Benefitfocus
Wednesday, October 16th
- Robyn out of the building 8 - 12
- 11:00 2nd PLC
- 12:45 1st PLC
- 1:35 4th PLC
- GOTR 3:00
Thursday, October 17th
- 5th Grade Aviation Challenge @ Aviation Museum
- Earthquake Drill (AM)
- 8:30 5th PLC
- 9:20 3rd PLC
- 10:10 PreK/K PLC
- PTA Meeting 3:00
- School Planning Council Meeting- Library 3:00
- Navigating the Journey for Pre-K-12-VB Convention Center
Friday, October 18th
- Spirit Day - Pink Out for Cancer Awareness
Monday, October 21st
- #getthatmotivationmonday
- Watch Dog Dad Ismael Vargas
- Training for SIPPS Program 8:00-10:30 Room 15
- 5th Grade Jamestown Program 9:20-1:20
Tuesday, October 22nd
- GOTR 2:45
Wednesday, October 23rd
- Wear Orange for Anti-Bullying/Unity Day
- School Resource Officer and Security Assistant Day. Let's celebrate Mrs. Fantano to show her appreciation for keeping us safe at CFES!
- Colt's Corner School Store Open 7:50-8:20 Foyer
- Pre-K Field Trip to Hunt Club 9:30-1:00
- 11:00 2nd PLC
- 12:45 1st PLC
- 1:35 4th PLC
- GOTR 2:45
Thursday, October24th
- 8:30 5th PLC
- 9:20 3rd PLC
- 10:10 PreK/K PLC
Friday, October 25th
- Watch Dog Dad Rudy Sandoval
- Robyn out of the building 8:30 - 11:30
- 1st Grade Field Trip to Hunt Club 9:30-11:45
- Annual 5th Grade Egg Drop 1:00
- Kellam HS Feeder School Football Game 7:00
News and Notes....
- We have received a very large number of responses from parents about attending School Lunch Week. Due to the amount of people coming, students are not able to bring a friend to the foyer with them. An e-mail will be sent to the parents making them aware of this, but please help remind them before you go to lunch.
- Don't forget your Mandatory Employee Training is due the beginning of February :)
- A friendly reminder that any leave time is a 1 hour minimum, and then can be in 30 minute increments after that.
- The SCA is sponsoring "Socktober". They will be collecting new socks for those in need from Oct 15th-25th. There will be a box set up in the foyer.
- When you send someone to the office in the morning with a transportation change that is not theirs, please make sure you write on the note how the child normally goes home.
Morning Meeting Moment
Opportunities to Highlight Our Students' Citizenship and Celebration of Patriotism
Recognition of Outstanding American History Teachers (social studies teacher, grade 5)
American History Essay Contest (grade 5)
Junior American Citizens Contest (grades K-5)
Flag of the United States of America Contest (grade 4)
See link below for details.
Game Changer Moment
Student to Student Feedback!
This week our fifth graders rocked out their expo! The students along with their teachers worked diligently throughout the unit and the end PBL was outstanding. The quality was top notch and their confidence that they projected when they were sharing their deep knowledge was beyond impressive. However, I would be remiss, if I didn't bring up that a vital part of this was the feedback that our 4th graders gave our 5th graders. They gave constructive feedback which allowed the fifth graders to reflect and refine their presentations. We know that teacher to student feedback conferences are occurring daily. However, are we providing our students opportunities to practice giving and receiving feedback from their peers. Bravo to the 4th and 5th grade teachers for giving them this opportunity!