Team Thomson News & Notes
Week of: January 20, 2020 #ThomsonRocks
Important Information for You!
Report Card Comments-Early Parent-Teacher Conferences
As you are working to complete report cards, please remember that the comments are truly as, if not more, important to parents as the actual grades. As a parent, I can tell you this is true when I get Elena's report card. She does very bright girl, so the comments help me understand who she is at school far more than the grades do and I have always appreciated when her teachers have taken the time to write specific comments about her. So, please be sure that you have written comments that are specific to students and include a positive along with anything that needs to be addressed. Remember the 'sandwich method' you might have learned in college...sandwich a potentially negative comment between two positives.
Also, this is the time to be thinking about Early Parent-Teacher Conferences and working to get these scheduled. We will be talking about this a bit more at our staff meeting this week, but as you are working on report cards you might want to be making your list.
One last report card schedule reminder:
Mon., Jan. 20- No school for students/Teacher work day
Tues., Jan. 21- Grades due by 4:00 p.m. Please remind Anna of duplicates needed.
Wed., Jan. 22- Anna prints report cards/office copier not available. Teachers should review report cards and sign all report cards.
Thurs., Jan 23- Report cards sent home at the end of the day
Santa Came to Thomson
Upon return from the winter break a new chrome cart was discovered in the office..you may have noticed it in the teacher's lounge. Have ideas as to how it can be utilized? I am all ears! Take a moment to share your thoughts with me in the next week.
CAP-Challenging Academic Potential
This week, on January 22nd, Mrs. Halabicky will be holding a parent meeting for the CAP program at 6:30 p.m. in the Hahn library. For those new to the district, the CAP program is for students in grades 1 through 6 that excel in academics. Students can be nominated for this program by their parents and/or teachers. I encourage each of you to look around your classrooms and think about those students that are doing very well, those that school comes easy to, or those that have already met benchmarks for the year. These are the students that you should be nominating for CAP. Teacher nominations are due by January 31st and you can get nomination forms from the office.
Valentine's for Vets
Congressman Dan Kildee is once again hosting 'Valentine's for Vets' drive for Michigan Veterans. As we all know, and research is proving, expressing gratitude and appreciation not only makes the recipient feel better, but it also brings joy to the giver/sender. What a great, fun art project...making Valentine's cards for our Michigan Veterans! If you would like to participate, please have your cards to the office by Friday, January 31st so I can have them sent in by the February 5th deadline. They will then be distributed at the Aleza E. Lutz Veterans Hospital on February 10th which is National Salute to Veterans Patients Week.
Spending Cut-off & 'Big Ticket' Wishlists
The deadline for classroom general fund spending will be January 31st. I will then have until the end of February before the spending cut-off for the district takes place. So, if you have a 'Big Ticket' request that you would like to be considered, please email me before January 31st. I will then take all the requests and see what I can do.
Additionally, if you have a building level idea, please submit that as well. The spending cut off does not include PTO money. Additionally, please note that our PTO voted last week to add up to another $200 to your PTO classroom accounts. Anna and I will be letting you know how much is being added to your PTO accounts by January 31st.
Reminder...What's the Best Ways to Start Your Day!
Remember way back in December when we reviewed the work of Marcia Tate? Do you remember the three things you can do to start everyday off right? Remember when we made commitments to doing two to three of these each day? Just in case you need a little reminder of those three strategies to start everyday off on the right foot:
- Greet Every Student at the Door (and with a smile)
- Play Music (during arrival and throughout the day when appropriate)
- Start the Day with a Positive
Also, remember to laugh and have fun with your students...laughter really is the best medicine. It reduces stress, makes you happy, and will make you live longer.
Quotes Worth Reading
Kids deserve an excited adult. They need someone who's ready to explore and laugh with them all day-someone who's looking for those magic moments, full of high fives coming down he line with energy radiating all around. Our kids have far more issues to deal with at home than many of us realize. School is their safety net, their safe place, their one true home. They want and need us to come to school every day, ready to surround them with love, encouragement, and hope.
Leave your problems in your car. Take a deep breath and focus on the positive. Find hope. Kids need the best you. Step out and be your best every single day. Be awesome! The kids deserve it!
-From the book: Kids Deserve It! Pushing Boundries and Challenging Conventional Thinking
Bond Information
Congratulation Jenni!
Saturday Snow!
Do ONE Thing and Make a Big Difference!
Challenge Two: Give THAT STUDENT a compliment everyday this week. It has to be genuine and different each day. Are their shoes on the right feet, did they comb their hair today, write their name correctly on their paper, did they clean up their lunch area? Surely you can find something positive about them!
Note of Thanks!
Sorry, I don't know why the pictures won't turn.
Celebrations & Announcements
Birthdays This Week: Julie VanEvery, January 19th and Kay Tessner, January 20th...Happy, Happy Birthday to you both!
Thank You To: Megan C., Erin, Karla, Julie, Sarah, Christine, Megan R., Sara, Keegan, Jenni, and Suzanne for all helping to plan Family Reading Night! There is lots of truth to the saying 'many hands make light work' and the meeting and planning last Wednesday morning was a wonderful example. Thank you to all who are helping make this family event a success!
Important Upcoming Dates:
- Monday, January 20th-No School-MLK Day and Records Day-Records/Report Cards Can be completed at home.
- Tuesday, January 21st-Grade Due at 4:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, January 22nd-Staff Meeting, 7:35 a.m. (Agenda: Field Trip, Curriculum Meetings/Planning, Crisis Team Review); Report Cards will be Printed for Teachers to Review and Sign; CAP Parent Meeting, 6:30 p.m. at Hahn
- Thursday, January 23rd-Send Report Cards Home; ALICE Drill; DK/K Curriculum Meeting, 4:15-6:15 p.m. for All DK and K classroom teachers-I hope you will all be able to attend as curriculum discussion and decisions are made/part of these meetings.
- Friday, January 24th-Leadership Meeting, 7:15 a.m.
- Week of January 27th-PLC Week
- Monday, January 27th-PTO Meeting, 6-7:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, January 28th-Data Day for 4 Person Teams
- Wednesday, January 29th-Data Day for 3 Person Teams
- Thursday, January 30th-Elementary Principals Mtg. (Natalie), CMC 4-7 p.m.
- Friday, January 31st-Trading Post; Teacher CAP Nominations are due; Valentine's for Vets are due to the office.
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