The Gator Tales
The weekly staff newsletter for Glenwood Elementary School
Week of September 3
This week at Glenwood
Tuesday, September 4- BEST FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL EVER!
Wednesday, September 5- SECOND BEST DAY OF SCHOOL EVER!
Thursday, September 6- THIRD BEST DAY OF SCHOOL EVER!
Friday, September 7- FOURTH BEST DAY OF SCHOOL EVER!
A SCHOOLOGY COURSE TITLED ASSESSING STUDENTS IN SCHOOLOGY
Grateful Gators!
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A HUGE kudos to Marykay for being so on top of things and prompt with EVERYONE, especially with such a big school and so many new faces to help out!! Jillian Blaine
Vicky and Keith Storm!!!! They have worked so hard to get everyone’s last minute jobs ready for Open House. No matter how frazzled the teachers have been, they have maintained a positive attitude and smile!!! You guys are the BEST!!! Caitlyn and Jessica
"Kudos to all of the Glenwood staff that has welcomed me with such open arms this week! I am looking forward to working with ALL of you guys!" Allison Harder
A big thank you to Stephanie Marshall and Jason Hinson for preparing materials for Team LIFT. We're lucky to have dedicated members of the team!
Thank you Alexa Ambrose for sharing materials with her colleagues. Fifth grade is lucky to have you! John McFarland did an outstanding job presenting as our Schoology Champion. Thank you for stepping up! Tony Trovato
Kudos to Dina, our schoology champion, for her patience, guidance, and enthusiasm for our new program. Kudos to our custodians for all your hard work to make Glenwood look so awesome for the start of our new school year! Diane Dykes
The Fourth Grade Team ROCKED goal setting and planning! So glad that we came together with all of our strengths and got so much done for our kids. Thanks and congrats to everyone else who has made the school and classrooms beautiful and ready for next week! Jen Malit
Kudos to everyone on the 3rd grade team for being so welcoming and helping me get adjusted!! Kudos to Marykay for working so hard to make sure I got some chromebooks! Corie Olenych
Kudos to DINA DREISTADT, SARAH STAIE, and KAYLA VANWERKHOVEN for being my Tech Supporters!
Kudos to DIANE DYKES for lending me her FISHY rug!
Kudos to PAM JONES for always smiling and being so helpful.
Kudos to MARYKAY for zipping around the building in record time to rescue us.
Kudos to WILL FEREBEE for volunteering and setting up classrooms.
Kudos to DINA DREISTADT, KIM KENNEDY, MEGHAN MATHEWS, WILL FEREBEE, JENNIFER SANTIAGO, JULIE WHITE (and hubby), JASON CLARK, PAM BUCHARDT, JESSICA PALMER, KELLI DAVENPORT(and hubby), and JASON HINSON for signing up to donate blood at our 12th ANNUAL BLOOD DRIVE in Loving Memory of a former Gator Mom, Renee' Gregory. Paula Gee
Kudos to Paula Gee for giving me a lesson on the copiers! Mary Stacy
Kudos to my awesome team for welcoming me with open arms, and generosity with their time, knowledge, expertise, smiles, and humor. I’m home. Sandi Hankinson
Thank you to our wonderful PTA for their assistance in getting our Library Learning Commons ready for when our Gators arrive. I couldn't have done it without you!
Tammie Soccio
"Kudos to Mrs. Vickie and Mr. Keith for being so hardworking, timely, and understanding!! You guys are AWESOME!" Allison Harder
Big thank you to Amy Doss, Josh Cake, Scott Thietje, and Kate Craven for helping me dismantle the giant wall of tables and furniture in my room on Monday. Thanks for lending your muscle! Jessica Denham
Kudos to the Schoology Champions (Kayla vanWerkhoven, Dina Dreistadt, Lindsey Recine, John McFarland, Kim Kennedy, Tammie Soccio, and Tara Pfeifer) for working with their grade levels and getting them Schoology ready! Caroline Altman
Upcoming Important Dates and Events
Friday, Sept. 21- Fifth grade trip to Oceana Air Show
Five Reflective Questions to Encourage a Growth Mindset
1. When I start to feel like quitting, what will I do in that moment to persevere?
This might be the most powerful question on the list. When people decide exactly how they will respond to a difficulty in advance, they are far more likely to push through in the face of the challenge.
2. What are my thoughts telling me about how successful I might be at learning this skill? If these thoughts are limiting to me, how might I think differently?
Lots of kids are thinking thoughts that are self-limiting. "I'm not good at math" for instance. It's helpful to think of phrases that are filled with belief and resourcefulness to replace the negative thinking. Teachers can help students find the words for this.
3. What am I saying or doing to myself that is holding me back?
There are many things that can undermine a growth mindset. Excuses, justifications, worries, perfectionist thinking, thought patterns, past failures, etc. It's important to recognize what unhelpful beliefs students need to overcome.
4. What would I want my teacher to say to me when he/she sees me taking a risk, trying hard, or pushing through mistakes to pursue this goal?
This question is helping to shift the perspective to expecting success. When I try hard, good things happen. My teacher will say this to me, and that feels good.
5. Imagine how you will feel when you accomplish something that is really challenging. Describe that feeling.
Again, this one is beginning with the end in mind. Getting a picture of success is so important. Humans are the only creatures on the planet with imagination. We can experience the whole range of emotions through our minds. Visualization is extremely valuable. It teaches the brain to expect success.
When gymnast Mary Lou Retton won her first gold medal, a reporter asked her, "How does it feel to win gold?"
She replied, "Just like it's always felt."
"But this is your first gold medal?" said the puzzled Packers reporter.
"Yes, I know. But I've experienced this moment thousands of times in my mind," she explained.
The power of belief cannot be understated.
~ Davidgeurin.com