Mustang Message
January 15, 2018
A Principal's Perspective
I read a recent Facebook post from David Cain, a former GP art teacher. Take a look at his post on the impact of a teacher.
"The timing was perfect for a little life lesson. I went to HEB this morning to pick up some over-the-counter cold medication. When I went to check out I noticed the tall , good-looking, young man with glasses waiting for me was new to the store, but somehow familiar. I can't remember how he broke the ice, but he asked me if I was a teacher. I said I did teach, but I was retired. I was still a bit puzzled; he introduced himself as Ali. A bell went off. I asked him if he had gone to Rock Prairie and it turned out he was an ESL student in my third grade classroom. He remembers me teaching him math that year. He reached out with a big smile and said "You made a huge difference in my life." He's now a junior at A & M. I thanked him as I left and thought how much that encounter lifted me, as did the smile and wave from a mom (I couldn't remember her name) on the way out, followed by a smile and a wave from a woman driving a firetruck through the parking lot. Sometimes, when you're filled with self-doubt or sadness, good things happen. Teachers-- always remember that over the long haul you do change lives for the better. Hang in there and believe in what you're doing." David Cain, Facebook Post January 7, 2018
January rings in a new year. Many of us make resolutions and goals for the year. As an educator, the new year also provides an opportunity to reflect upon the first semester as we prepare for the second half of the school year. I read an article entitled, Questions to Ask Yourself as the School Year Winds Down. The article centered around reflecting in May about the school year. See link:
https://www.edweek.org//tm/articles/2017/05/09/questions-to-ask-yourself-as-the-school.html
As I read the article, I thought it was also perfect as a reflection tool mid year. Take a look at the questions posed in the article.
Five Questions to Ask Yourself Near the Year's End
The month of May sometimes feels like a stumbling stagger toward the finish line. It can also be a time to reflect. Before the rush of the school year recedes into a hazy memory, give yourself 15 minutes to ponder these five questions. Grab your computer, or scrounge up a pen and notebook, and jot down your responses. Talk about them with a friend, family member, or colleague you trust. Or take a long walk, some evening when you’re not too worn out, and give yourself a little time to ponder.
1. What have you taught? This means a lot more than the bulleted content outlined in the standards. What have you taught the children in your care this year, by your words or example, about how to be a human being in the world?
2. What have you learned? What do you know now that you didn't in August about children, teaching, and yourself?
3. What have you done well? Teachers tend to be hard on ourselves. Don't gloss over your strengths and successes, large or small.
4. What do you need to work on? Not a single teacher in the entire world has had a flawless school year, so don't beat yourself up for the ways you may have fallen short. But think about what you can change or learn to better meet your students' many needs. Seek out resources on teaching English-language learners. Resolve to speak more kindly to the children in your class, even when you're frustrated. We still have a little time left to make those changes.
5. What impact did you have beyond your own classroom? Teacher leadership doesn't have to happen on a grand scale to be significant. If you led a professional development session at your school, gave your grade-level team an idea for a project, or gave a new teacher a little reassurance and wisdom right when she needed it most, your influence extended beyond your own students.
The article's questions along with David's student encounter reminds us of the potential impact that we have on each of our students and colleagues. We have opportunities before we reach that finish line in May! CSISD's vision for Success each life...each day...each hour takes on greater significance as we plan for the 2018 spring semester with the limited time we have with our students. As we consider these questions in a new year and look for the possibilities and opportunities that we have with our students this semester, we can take to heart Davids words, " always remember that over the long haul you do change lives for the better. Hang in there and believe in what you're doing."
Be Innovative - Design the possibilities!
Donna
Morning Duties of the Week
Gym & Morning Assembly (7:20-7:45): Littlefield
Gym (7:20-7:45): Seagraves
Parent Drop Off Direct Traffic (7:20-7:55): Brice
Parent Drop Off Car Doors (7:20-7:55): Galow & Eddy
Cafeteria (7:20-8:00): Tutt
Bus (7:15 - 7:55 Buses/ Car Drop Off after all buses arrive): Matthews
Counselor Schedule: - PreK
Librarian: GP
Week at a Glance
Monday: Staff and Student Holiday
Tuesday: Report cards sent home - including STAAR School Report Card; Faculty Meeting - Professional staff that still need to complete their GOOGLE Scavenger Hunt (see Vicki Murphy)
Wednesday: K & 4th switch CAMP; CSMS orchestra for 4th grade @ 10:30; Cafeteria November/December Ice Cream treats available to classrooms that won the dojo points for their grade level. Contact Casey to schedule your class treats.; PTO Taco Bar Luncheon in Science Lab
Thursday: ELA meeting 4th grade; CSISD Elementary UIL, BRAVE 3:15-4:15
Friday: SIT 4th Grade; ELA meetings K-3rd grade
News & Notes
- Official 100th Day of School - Tuesday, February 6th.
- Like to bowl? Want to bowl for free and represent GP at the CSISD Bowl-A-Thon for Jr. Achievement? The Jr. Achievement Bowl-A-Thon is on Saturday, February 3rd, at Grand Station Entertainment. Register at the following link to be on the GP team: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdSm0sFtH1hEj_i89L44AHpVbKydYhLIutX5NafxK9OXnGnNg/viewform
- Do you tweet on Twitter? CSISD now has #SuccessCSISD to tell our story to the College Station community about the great things happening at our schools and in our classrooms. Take time to tweet at #SuccessCSISD and @greensprairie to share what is happening in your classroom. During the month of January, any teacher that Tweets to #SuccessCSISD and @greensprairie (you can put your news on both district hashtag and school handle) three times during the month of January can wear jeans on Tuesday, January 30th! Jean TWEET Tuesday! Note: Create your tweet. At the end of your tweet add the #SuccessCSISD and @greensprairie so that your tweet can be tweeted in both places. You can also post your tweet on the GP Facebook, your class page, and/or Instagram. You can go to Twitter to check out tweets for CSISD and Greens Prairie. Paraprofessionals can tweet to participate or if their teacher supervisor tweets three times that will also qualify for Jean TWEET Tuesday!
- The 21st annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom March will be on Monday, January 15, 2018. The march begins at 10:00 am from Sadie Thomas Park and will conclude and Kemp/Carver Elementary School. As in years past, there will be a short program in the gym at Kemp.
February 19, 2018 - DRAFT - Staff Development Overview
Please remember that this is a draft. Agenda items can change.
Morning
- Writing strategies across content
- Dyslexia Screener in CSISD (K & 1st)
- STAAR benchmark writing analysis (4th)
- Classroom data analysis (K, 1st, 2nd-4th ELA)
- Number sense; Problem solving process; Classroom data analysis (2nd-4th Math)
Afternoon
- Grade level team instructional planning
Mustang Yee Haws!
Happy Birthday:
Amber Magnuson, January 5
Megan McMurry, January 5
Carrie Knight, January 9
Alyssa Salazar, January 16