Eagles Update - Happy New Year!
January 11- 15, 2016
No Fear in the New Year - Jon Gordon
Updated for 2016
Fifteen years ago I looked out into the Atlantic Ocean on New Year’s Day with fear in my heart and uncertainty in my life. I had been fired from a “dot.com” company two weeks earlier with only two weeks of severance, no insurance for my two young children and only two months of savings in the bank. My wife and I had just invested every dollar we had and even took out a second mortgage on our home and $20,000 on a credit card to open what would be the first Moe’s Southwest Grill in Florida.
The restaurant was set to open January 13th and we had no earthly idea how we would pay our home mortgage and other bills since I planned on keeping my salary and job while my managers built the restaurant business. Now, it was New Years Day and I had no job, no salary and a restaurant opening that at worst would fail miserably or at best take a year to be profitable.
I thought of all this as I prepared to jump into the icy cold water-to take a symbolic plunge that this would be the year of NO FEAR. Regardless of the circumstances I was facing, this would be the year where I would trust and go for it. This would be the year I would be bold in actions and faith and humble in spirit. No longer could I do it alone. Now I needed a miracle and I decided to act as if my future depended on me and pray like it depended on God.
By jumping into the ocean I was declaring that no longer will I allow fear to cut off the flow of abundant and positive energy in my life. No longer will I allow fear to paralyze me. Instead of fear I would trust.
Now, fifteen years later, as I write this I am preparing to jump into the ocean once again on New Year’s Day. It has become my yearly ritual – to remind myself to follow my passion, live life to the fullest, surrender and to stay one step ahead of the fear that hovers around me. And as I take my leap into the ocean I want to invite you to jump in with me. Perhaps not in the ocean but in the depths of your mind. This jump doesn't necessarily require water but rather a leap of faith in your belief system and a shift in your mindset. The antidote to fear is trust and it is only a thought away.
No one is going to push you over the chasm of struggle to the life that you want. God will nudge you but you must take the leap. You must make this jump in your mind and then with your actions. You must make this jump with trust, determination and faith. After all, they don’t call it a leap of fear. They call it a “leap of faith” for a reason.
You will always feel fear. Everyone will. But your trust must be bigger than your fear. The bigger your trust the smaller your fear becomes. And the more you trust the more you become a conduit for miracles. I know. A consulting project presented itself out the blue and we were able to pay our mortgage. A check came in the mail, the right opportunities came our way and somehow, some way my family and I were carried. A year after the restaurant opened I started writing which eventually lead to me writing books, speaking and doing the work I do now.
Maybe 2015 wasn't a great year for you but I believe the New Year represents a fresh start and presents a new opportunity to create the life and career you want. All you have to do is jump in with all that you are and all that you wish to become. I wish you an amazing 2016 and I'm sending positive energy your way.
-Jon
P.S. People often ask me what happened to my restaurant. Well, thankfully I eventually opened 4 restaurants and sold them eleven years ago knowing it was time to focus 100% on writing. That was another big leap of faith that lead to me writing 12 books. Thank you for your support and for sharing this message with others.
Have you started 2016 with No Fear? Tell us about it!
Principal Spears
Head Over Heels for Teaching! (From TeacherpayTeachers via Facebook)
District Reading Benchmark- Tuesday, January 12th
Dear 3rd-5th Grade Teachers-Leaders:
On Tuesday, our students will take the Reading Benchmark and we want to make sure they demonstrate all the skills and knowledge they’ve gained this year. Please make sure that you speak to your students about the importance of taking their time and doing their personal best! You can help by setting up your classrooms to support testing and actively monitoring (walking around and ensuring students are on-task). Let students know that their scores will be compared to other schools in the district and we want to make sure QVE is at the TOP!
If YOU demonstrate it’s important- your students will understand it’s importance as well! Let’s kick butt and show the world all the hard work we’ve done this year! Good luck to all our 3rd-5th Grade Students!!!!
I’m pumped up ready for testing season!
Math DA Results
Fort Bend Education Foundation Grant Opportunity - Due by January 21st
Grant Applications are due January 21, 2016.
Eagles do you have an innovative idea that will improve student learning in your classroom or on our campus? Submit this idea to the FBISD Education Foundation!
Teachers may apply for grants up to $1,500.
Elementary School Sites may apply for grants up to $2,000.
Secondary School Sites may apply for grants up to $3,000.
Please visit Grant Programs/Application at http://www.fortbendisd.com/foundation to apply!
Why QVE?
About a year and a half ago I was moving back home from Louisiana. I went to the Fort Bend Job Fair with my list of schools that I wanted to talk with. Growing up in the Quail Valley community, I knew I wanted to meet with QVE. I did not know much except for the “facts” you find online about any school. I met a teacher that was so kind and welcoming and introduced me to Mrs. Spears. While Mrs. Spears asked me questions, she sat across from me eating a hot dog. J It made me so much more comfortable and felt it showed a relaxed side and it wasn’t a tense feeling like I had felt with other schools I met with that day.
Now a year and a half later, I have seen so much growth in our school. There is so much to appreciate and recognize at our campus, from EVERY staff member to the 7 Habits that we incorporate daily. Every teacher on this campus is motivated to make sure every student is successful. Of course, teaching can be challenging, but there is always such a positive feeling and so much support from other staff members that those challenging times are easier to overcome. The students have so much enthusiasm and eagerness to learn more and to do more with the 7 Habits. This plays such a big role in them carrying on life-long skills even after they leave our school.
Being part of QVE is so special. It is a welcoming, supportive, and caring environment to both the students and staff members. This is not a job for me to come to everyday. I look forward to seeing and working with my students and my co-workers every single day.
Rebecca Moragne
Updates from AP Strutton
Attendance
As the district continues to stress the importance of attendance tracking accountability, I wanted to take the time to say Thank You and recognize how great QVE is doing. We were almost 100% taking attendance and completing it on time last week. I challenge everyone to keep up the great work and take attendance at 10:00 a.m. every day. We need to make sure we are marking attendance accurately marking absences and tardies when applicable. As a campus can we be 100% this week? I know we can!
Office Referrals
In the month of December we had 22 office referrals. Each month we continue to improve from last year. It is important that we continue to communicate and stress QVE expectations as well as enforce all school procedures. It is important that ALL Leaders model the behavior that we want to see. If we see an issue that needs to be addressed we need to do so respectfully and immediately. If we ignore an issue it will become part of the culture. Keep up the good work and thank you for everything you do!
Let's make it another great week!
Jason Strutton
January Birthdays
January 13th
Jason Strutton
January 24th
Shelley McKinnon
January 28th
Dianne Briggs
What's Happening at QVE in January?
1st Grade – Lounge Upkeep
January 11th
- Staging Stem/3rd Grade 11th – 22nd
- QVE Wellness Committee Meeting 3:30
January 12th
· PLC for Pre-K - 2nd
· PLC Lead Meeting at 3:30
· Reading Benchmark
January 13th
- Garden Club Meeting 3:30
- Chick-Fil-A Spirit Night 5:00-8:00
January 14th
· 2nd Grade Dance Tryouts 3:30
January 18th
· Martin Luther King Day/No School
January 19th
- PLC for ELA/SS
- FBISD Bowling Teams Bowl 6:00
January 20th
· Committee Meetings 3:30
January 21st
- Grant Applications Due
January 25th
· GEMS/GENTS Meeting 3:30
January 26th
· PLC Math/Science
January 27th
· SLT 3:30
January 28th
- Team Leader 3:30
January 29th
· Synergize Celebration 2:30
· Potluck – 1st Grade Team
From Ms. Rodriguez
Mix-It-Up at Lunch on Thursday!
On Thursday, January 14th, QVE will celebrate Mix It Up At Lunch Day!!!!
Mix It Up at Lunch Day is a national campaign launched by Teaching Tolerance over a decade ago, Mix It Up at Lunch Day encourages students to identify, question and cross social boundaries.
Please take time to speak to your students about this activity and WHY we are doing it before they go to lunch on that day.
On this day at QVE, we will ask students to move out of their comfort zones and connect with someone new over lunch. It’s a simple act with profound implications. Studies have shown that interactions across group lines can help reduce prejudice. When students interact with those who are different from them, biases and misperceptions can fall away.
Please see email from Ms. Rodriguez for directions on how it will go.
As always, thank you for all you do!
National No Name Calling Week
New “Open Carry” law takes effect on Jan. 1
On January 1, 2016, a new law passed in the 84th Regular Legislative Session (House Bill 910) will take effect in Texas that allows citizens to openly carry a firearm within certain lawful restrictions. You may be familiar with the acronym CHL, which stands for Concealed Handgun License. This will be replaced with License to Carry (LTC), which includes both concealed and open carry licensing.
As parents and community members, it is important to be aware of the changes in the law, as well as how law enforcement and the community should work together. A citizen with a license to carry may openly carry a handgun if the handgun is in a holster either on their belt or in a shoulder holster. If the openly carried handgun is not carried in either one of those fashions, the person is in violation of the law. In addition, it is also a violation of the law if the license holder intentionally displays the handgun in plain view of another person in a public place, other than simply being carried in a belt or shoulder holster.
Businesses have the option to restrict License to Carry holders by placing signage in accordance with *Texas Penal Code, Sec. 30.06, Trespass by Holder of License to Carry Concealed Handgun, and Sec. 30.07, Trespass by License Holder with an Openly Carried Handgun at the entrances of their business.
It is important to note that carrying a firearm “on the physical premises of a school, or any grounds or building where a school-sponsored activity is being conducted,” is a violation of the law (Third Degree Felony). It is NOT a defense to prosecution that the person possessed a license to carry.(1)
The FBISD Police are sensitive to the fact that some people might see citizens openly carrying firearms around school campuses and be alarmed. If you are alarmed by the actions of an individual openly carrying a firearm, or are suspicious of their behavior, please don’t hesitate to call the FBISD Police Department. You should be prepared to tell the dispatcher why you believe the person is suspicious and what actions they have taken that may have caused you concern. Officers have the legal authority to ask a person who is openly carrying for identification and their License to Carry permit to ensure they are in compliance with the law.(2)
Officers should respond to those calls for service with the understanding that the individual is likely a law-abiding citizen. We want to interact with license holders in a courteous and respectful manner. I would ask license holders to understand that if you choose to openly carry, it is possible that an uninformed citizen may call the police and you may be approached by a law enforcement officer. If so, please do not reach for your firearm or hide your hands. Please be understanding and comply with the officer’s requests to provide a form of identification and your LTC permit.
The Fort Bend County Sheriff Department will be posting information videos at FBCSheriff.org and on YouTube at FBCSOTexas. I encourage you visit these sites as law enforcement in our community is committed to keeping our students and residents safe.
David Rider
FBISD Chief of Police
Twitter: @FBISDChiefRider
Team/Collaborative Teaching
Greetings Team!
We are excited to learn that many of you are interested in Team Teaching! Like any form of collaboration, successful collaborative teaching requires planning and preparation, especially if it's going to benefit student learning.
Team/Collaborative teaching should not be used as a way for one teacher to sit behind the computer and catch up on work/email while the other teacher is left to instruct additional students. Instead, it should be used as a way to integrate the strengths of multiple viewpoints in a synthetic endeavor that no single member of the project could have completed independently. It also provides an expanded number of teaching styles that may connect with more student learning preferences. I love this idea and am currently looking at ways we can pilot this with different subjects on our campus.
In order to ensure this is done in a way that supports students success, please do the following:
Make sure you have planned the lesson with the teacher you would like to team with and place in your lesson plans.
Inform an Administrator of your plans to team teach so that s/he can provide input and pose questions to ensure the collaboration is a success.
The room arrangement and organization should successfully accommodate all students. All students should be able to fit comfortably in the classroom and there must be enough resources for everyone.
Both teachers should be actively engaged. There should be no one sitting behind the computer.
Please see video below for more ideas! If you have thoughts on how we can make this work on our campus for next year- let's talk!