Mustang Message
September 13, 2019
A Principal's Perspective
I want to thank you for your conversations on Tuesday, your implementation of Restorative Practices and for allowing the RP consultants to visit your classrooms. What an awesome day! I have never had a guest write the Mustang Message. As I visited with Alan Krenek, one of the Restorative Practice consultants, I encouraged him to write down his thoughts about his visit so that I could share with you. So, I am debuting my first guest author for the Principal's Perspective. I believe his words affirm our GP mission that we have for our students and campus.
Mustangs!
I want to begin this Mustang Message with a sincere, “Thank you!” I left GPE Tuesday with my bucket overflowing (: As someone who travels from district to district, campus to campus, classroom to classroom, you quickly realize all are not created equally. It only takes a few seconds to feel the love a school possesses or the lack-there-of. From the smiles of the front office staff to the greeters at morning assembly to the beautifully decorated halls and walls, GPE is in a league of its own. The parents of your students can rest assure that when it comes to Greens Prairie Elementary, their students are being received everyday by staff that possess the upmost concern for their child’s education and wellbeing. Blessed are the students that fill your classrooms! There is no doubt, GPE is “all in” when it comes to ensuring that all students leave each day, not only with a great education, but with experiences that will remain with them a lifetime.
I thoroughly enjoyed spending my day visiting with all of you. The conversations we had yesterday demonstrated to me how intentional you all are about ensuring that you are doing everything possible to connecting before content. The intentionality Mrs. Bairrington and Mrs. Ballard put into ensuring that Tuesday was productive and fun spoke volumes about the mission at GPE! A very big “Thank you” to those of you whose classroom I was able to enter. Circling with you and your scholars had me gushing at dinner about all the fun I had. I hope you enjoyed it as well.
Walking the campus, I saw many wonderful things taking place. It was evident that an emphasis is being placed on classroom connections. Classrooms with Treatment Agreements, Zones of Regulations stations, and Circle Guidelines posters abound are telltale signs that you all are on the right path and doing what matters! Keep up the phenomenal job!
Enjoy your weekend, you earned it. Education is an amazing profession! Those who have never done it will tell you it’s easy, but we know better. The weight of tomorrow is in our hands today, and because of the work you are doing, our tomorrow will be a better place. Thank you so much for taking the time to ensure that every child is seen, heard, and loved! God bless you all.
Respectfully,
Alan Krenek NEDRP
Donna
Social Committee Information
News & Notes
United Way Campus Campaign Champion: United Way, Chrissy's Closet and the Brazos Valley Food Bank are three nonprofit organizations that the district supports. The United Way Campaign is Oct. 14-Nov. 4th. If you would like to be our campus rep to be the liaison to the district and the United Way, please let me know.
Campus Council: Our first Campus Council will be Tuesday, Sept. 17th, at 3:30 in the conference room. This is a chance for me to meet with grade level leaders to discuss concerns/ideas from your team to improve GP campuswide. Grade level leaders, please talk with your team and complete agenda items needing to be discussed at the following link: https://forms.gle/ypuwfD7MsW9AYKcTA
Tech Time: Professional Staff: Attend a Tech Time session on Monday, 9/16 or Monday, 9/23, to learn more about Schoology. Please note, the sessions are the same. Two sessions are offered to provide a day convenient for you. Paras attend Tech Time on Wednesday, 9/18. Attend any session to receive new tech knowledge AND receive a sonic drink & wear jeans on Wednesday, 9/25!
Copy Counts: August Copy Stats: Total Copies Made: 83,420; Color Copies: 8,298 Total Copy Costs: $1,917.54 Copy Budget Tip: Please make sure your copy default is set to black and white and not color. If default is set to color and you print a black/white copy, we get charged for a color copy.
Education Foundation Grants: Have a great, innovative grant idea to implement in your classroom? Foundation grants are due Wednesday, 9/25. Link: https://givetokids.csisd.org/programs/teacher-grants/application.html
Student Enrollment Stats: May 2019 - 751; September 2019 - 555
Happy Birthday
This Week Birthdays:
Kristen Kieschnick, Sept. 16
Taylor LeBlanc, Sept. 21
Mustang Yee-Haws
Parent Shout Out: Shared from a GP Parent: "Her exact words: “Mom, they all know how to get us going and motivated in such a cool way and they make learning so much fun! Even the coaches here are kind.” ... She [student] has also expressed (DAILY) how much she is loving being back at GP! ... It [being back at GP]has been MORE than a blessing. [Student] is a totally different child this year and has a different outlook on school, peers, even being active…and so much more. She said the thing she loves most about GP is that everyone is free to be themselves, free to love what they want to love, not like what they do not want to like and everyone is so encouraging and kind.
My heart is full and we are feeling super thankful and blessed."
Staff Shout Out: This morning a parent stopped me at duty and wanted me to know how much she LOVES having the 4th-grade students help with duty and how helpful they are! Thanks, Tim, for bringing this idea to GP and implementing it with so much excitement and enthusiasm from the kids! It also makes the morning duty of teachers less stressful! :)