GRE Staff Newsletter
For the week of September 9, 2019
Dear Team,
Why is it that short weeks can feel longer than a five day week?! Luckily, we had some beautiful weather this weekend to help us catch our breath. Hopefully, as you wrap up final beginning of the year assessments you will start to feel like you are in full swing and moving forward.
This week I had the opportunity to learn from colleagues yet again. As I sat in a meeting earlier in the week, I was faced with news that maybe wasn't was I was hoping to hear. As the overwhelm started to creep in my colleague reminded me that I don't have to do this work alone. While I took a few minutes to panic about how I might possibly do more work than I was, my colleague pushed me to recognize how I was feeling, and then moved me into the solution brainstorming I needed to get to. Together we brainstormed the work that needed to take place and how we were going to get there. We scheduled follow up meetings and came up with a plan. When I left I felt lighter, having had the chance to share what I was concerned about and then being coached into a solution focused mindset. I came back to the building and directly worked on this area each day and while we haven't carried out the solutions to the problem yet, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
I've always felt like I am a good problem solver. That I can look at the wide spectrum and narrow in on what needs to happen to make it better. This week I was reminded that sometimes I can't do that work alone. There is nothing wrong with asking for help, or admitting that you can't find a way to make something work. In those moments, you are real, you are reflective, and you are getting better at the work. One of my favorite Focus 3 phrases is "doesn't matter, get better". I say it often and should probably put that on a t-shirt. As I look at some of the issues I've heard over the last week I have stopped to reflect if I'm making the problem better or worse and if I've got my mind set to "doesn't matter, get better". I'm committed to being a problem solver by being solution focused and keeping my energy on making the best decisions for kids every day. I hope you'll join me as I continue to get better at admitting when I need help and asking for it, at being solution focused, and at keeping my mindset on lifting others up when they need it!
Here's to an awesome week!
Kate
News to Share
2. Data teams continue this week! Wahoo! Click here to find the agenda for our time together. Be sure you bring a Chromebook with you. Make sure you check the agenda so you know what information you need to bring with you. Did you turn in your paperwork? If not, make sure you get that finished.
3. Remember our Data Dive can be completed during a PLC time in September or we will be in the STEM Hub the last Tuesday of the month. We ask that you bring a high, medium, and low BAS assessment so that we can work on how this assessment should guide your instruction. To schedule your Data Dive before the last Tuesday of September, just email Katie and Kate a time you would like to meet as a PLC, otherwise we will see you there!
4. We have a staff meeting on Tuesday beginning at 7:30. You can find the DRAFT agenda here. Please come prepared with a writing utensil and a few ideas for a reading mini lesson.
5. PAC met on Tuesday. You can review our meeting notes here-the bulk of our meeting was preparing for data teams and waiver day. We meet again next Tuesday and I will provide a DRAFT agenda in next week's newsletter for that meeting. Please see a member of PAC if you have any questions.
6. Here are the DRAFT Waiver Day agendas. I've done a seperate agenda for each "group". These are DRAFT agendas so please take care to check it again closer to the 16th. I'm really hoping to provide a more personalized day of learning-if you have an idea and don't see it, please let me know!
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, September 10th-D Day; Staff Meeting 7:30; 2nd Grade Data Teams (8-12)/1st Grade Data Teams (12-4)
Wednesday, September 11th- E Day;
Thursday, September 12th- A Day; PTO Meeting 6:30
Friday, September 13th- B Day; Select One Star Student of the Week; SLC Data Teams (8-12)/Kindergarten Grade Data Teams (12-4); Happy Birthday to Beth Heizer and Stefanie Plowman!
Upcoming Events
September 16 No School (PD Day)
September 19 Parent Teacher Conferences
September 22 Big Nut Strut
September 27 2nd Grade Lehner’s Farm; Mumkin orders due