Hackberry Howl
Love-Serve-Care
Vol.5 No.14
PLC Week 2
Monday, October 7th--- 2nd Grade/5th Grade--RTI/SST
Tuesday, October 8th---Kinder/3rd Grade---PLC
Wednesday, October 9th---1st Grade/4th Grade --PLC
Thursday, October 10th---2nd Grade/5th Grade---PLC
Friday, October 11th----Kinder/3rd Grade-RTI/SST
Great Message From Jon Gordon-The Power is on the inside!
Two Coffee Beans Who Are Changing Their World
The minute I walked into PS6, an elementary school, in the South Bronx I knew it was a special place. Signs with encouraging messages and quotes adorned the walls. I felt the positive energy from the teachers and students and saw hope in their eyes. Students were engaged during my talk and asked brilliant, insightful questions afterwards.
I learned that while most of the kids were on reduced or free lunch and faced challenging circumstances at home, the school had provided a safe, nurturing and challenging environment for them to learn, grow and thrive. The school wasn't always like this but ever since Tiawana Perez, who started her education career as a school secretary, became the Principal she and her leadership team have created one of the best school cultures I've ever seen.
In talking with Tiawana Perez I learned that she was unwilling to let the circumstances and environment surrounding her school dictate their internal circumstances and expectations. While many educators in challenging environments feel powerless or stop caring, Tiawana and her staff were empowered to care even more and make a greater difference.
Unlike the carrot that gets weakened when put into hot water or the egg that gets hardened by it, Tiawana Perez was like a coffee bean who transformed her environment from the inside out. Just as the coffee bean transforms the water into coffee, she transformed her school culture into something completely different through her love, positivity, accountability and leadership.
Anthony Tucker is also a coffee bean who has refused to let circumstances define his life. He grew up surrounded by drugs and gangs and for years thought his only viable future occupation was to be a drug dealer. As he got older and saw his friends join gangs, die, or go to jail he knew he wanted more for his life and future. He didn't want a life and career that destroyed lives, neighborhoods and families. He wanted to be a leader that helped others prosper. His desire and path led him to become an educator and he's now an assistant principal at a preschool in the South Bronx.
Anthony has also written two children's books: A Rocky Start and Tied In, which teaches children how to tie a tie. He created a program at his Pre-K School that invites fathers to read to the students and also created mini libraries at playgrounds around the Bronx to encourage kids to read more.
After surviving his rough childhood, Anthony could have left his neighborhood but he decided to stay to be a role model for children. In doing so he's transforming his community like a coffee bean from the inside out.
It's easy to look around and say we don't have the resources we need to be successful. It's common for people to blame their circumstances and environment for why they haven't accomplished more. It's convenient to say that a lack of commitment from others is the reason for your lack of effort and results. But Tiawana, Anthony and other coffee beans like them demonstrate that you always have the power to create positive change.
You don't have to let your circumstances define you. You can define your circumstances. No matter how difficult the environment, you have the power to transform it.
Just like the coffee bean, the power is on the inside.
-Jon
Hackberry Happenings!
Monday, October 28th
- Jennifer and Domenica on campus for support with ELAR and Science-Conference Room
Dress: See Red Ribbon Week Dress-up days!
Jeans/dress/slacks/skirt/College Shirt/Team Shirt
Business Professional or Business casual Attire
Tuesday, October 29th
- PACK Meeting 4:00 PM
- Pre-K Planning 11:30 AM
- 2nd Planning 9:35 AM
- 4th Planning 10:20 AM
- 3rd Planning-1:05 PM
- Richardson out AM/Whitehead out PM
Dress: See Red Ribbon Week Dress-up days!
Jeans/dress/slacks/skirt
Business Professional or Business casual Attire
Wednesday, October 30th
- Kinder Planning 8:05 am
- 5th Grade Planning 11:05 am
- CIP Team Meeting 4:00 PM
- Picture Retake Day
Dress: See Red Ribbon Week Dress-up days!
Jeans/dress/slacks/skirt/Breast Cancer Awareness
Business Professional or Business casual Attire
(T-SHIRT are not Professional or Business Dress)
Thursday, October 31st
Dress: See Red Ribbon Week Dress-up days!
Jeans/dress/slacks/skirt
Business Professional or Business casual Attire
(T-SHIRT are not Professional or Business Dress)
Friday, November 1st
- Book Fair Preview
- Last day for Can Food Drive
House Party
- 10:00 am -PreKam
- 1:55 pm-Pre-Kpm-2nd
- 2:40 pm-3rd-5th
Dress: See Red Ribbon Week Dress-up days!
Jeans and House Shirt
Either the team House or our staff shirt of the year shirt otherwise you need to be in a business professional or business casual attire.
Howl Outs!
Del Valle howl to Geisler for including my classes In the animal presentation.
Del Valle howl to Sandra for my boo gram. Thanks for being an awesome friend.
Del Valle howl to Robinson and Whitehead for all of your support with our special friends in our classrooms.
Del Valle howl to Lawson. Thank you for setting up all of our parent conferences. You Rock!!!
Hatcher sends a howl to Thomas for covering my morning club time.
Hatcher sends a howl to Geisler for rocking parent/teacher conferences this week and staying late.
Hatcher sends a howl to Lawson and DelValle for writing our Grant.
Hatcher sends a howl to Brinlee for all you do for out LLI babies.
Hatcher sends a howl to Ratliff for all your hard work with The Story Book Pumpkins.
Hatcher sends a howl to Pre-K for being awesome Hallway-Mates.
Hatcher sends a howl to the second-grade team for always being flexible and doing what is best for all of our kids!!!
Geisler howls at Del Valle for being an awesome planning partner.
Geisler howls at Lawson for being a great team leader.
Geisler howls at Hatcher for being so supportive during parent conferences.
Geisler howls at Cervantes and Hardeman for killing it!
Head howls to Measles for being constant support no matter what! First grade and this campus are forever grateful for you.
Head howls to Olsson and Vieira for bringing donuts in the weeks past.
Head howls to everyone in K-1 carline for pulling together when the rain comes down!!!
Head howls to Whitehead for always checking on us!
Head howls to everyone helping in the cafeteria....it is not an easy job and you all do it so well.
Head howls to the staff for making it through a hard week of behaviors and parent teacher-conferences.
K.Mart to Ashley Parker for doing a great job in 3rd grade! You are making a great teacher! The kids and school is blessed to have you! Keep rocking it!
K.Mart to Ripple for loving your job and thinking out of the box! Your heart is beautiful and I'm so excited to have you on our team! You have the best ideas and I love your enthusiasm!
K. Mart to Measles for being an awesome sidekick in cheer club! We've had some great laughs already! Can't wait to show our stuff at the first Parent Basketball Game! It's gonna be amazing! ;)
K.Mart to Robinson for being a great resource for these kids. I appreciate our friendship as well! :*
K.Mart to Sandra for braving the cafeteria to sell Boo-Grams!
K.Mart to Richardson for having your buddy with Team Impact come and speak to the kids. It was such a great message.
Connolly howls to Measles for taking the time to help grow my guided reading skills, change up my stations, and problem-solve my class management using Class Dojo! You are so appreciated!
Connolly howls to Olsson for checking in with me every day and making me feel so loved!
Connolly howls to Vieira for helping me survive the week.
Connolly howls to Head for answering all the questions and reminding me to stay positive by looking at the little victories!
Zaidi Howls to all those teachers, specialist admin, general staff and sped staff that help and care for our sped population. You Rock Big Time!
Ratliff howls out to Tamra for helping me with Operation Replace the Reese's and morning Pumpkin Duty.
Ratliff howls out to Officer Ramirez, Sylvia, and Ana for helping with the Pumpkin Judging.
Ratliff howls out to Ana for help with the Pumpkins all week. I appreciate it!
Bonner howls to Richardson and Whitehead for being the best bosses ever!
Bonner howls to the 5th-grade team for being the best!
Bonner howls to Ratliff for organizing the Storybook Pumpkin contest. It was amazing!
Bonner howls to Ripple for taking care of my kiddo every day after school.
Bonner howls to Shroeder for going above and beyond and for her great ideas!
Ripple howls to K. Martin for always being so encouraging no matter what is happening in third grade. Also thank you for helping me reach out to parents and encouraging me to love on them more.
Ripple howls to Parker for working so hard and jumping in the middle of some craziness. We are so grateful for you.
Ripple howls to Lopez for her help with math, she is rocking it!
Ripple howls to Richardson and Whitehead for bringing in Whatley and coaching, eager to receive the help and thankful to have leaders who care about us being better at our craft and our well being.
Ripple howls to Stoney, Masai, and Sawhney, thanks for checking in on me throughout the week. Love you guys. YEAYUH!
Ripple howls to Robinson for talking to every difficult student and contacting their parents, you have a difficult job and thanks for loving the students.
Ripple howls to Measles for helping with our special friend in 3rd grade.
Rogers howls to Biggs for helping me word an email to parents!
Rogers howls to Moya for coming to the rescue on Friday and helping me with a few conferences! You are the best!
Rogers howls to Sandoval. I missed you this week!
Rogers howls to Schroeder for helping us with LE3 materials.
Finch HOWLS to the entire 5th-grade team for supporting each other.
Finch HOWLS to Stoney for always being a phenomenal co-teacher. I love how seamlessly we work together.
Finch HOWLS to all teachers for having data and student-led conferences this week and still keeping everything going. I learned so much.
Finch HOWLS to Masai for being my happy morning partner and finding coverage when conferences overlapped. Red house rocks! ️
Finch HOWLS to Measles for a great coaching conference. I’m excited to learn more about guided reading stations and to get to demonstrate the deep thinking we do with novels.
Finch HOWLS to Garces for being a beast and delivering all those candy grams with a smile!
Finch HOWLS to Bonner for just being the amazing glue that continues to keep us on track with love and support!
Finch HOWLS to Marta and Beulah for being my sounding board on some of my friends.
Finch HOWLS to Lackey for rocking the bus checklist every day and finding that fishy faces work.
Flores howls to Rogers for all you are doing to keep our team on track during PLC, planning, and life! You’re truly the glue that holds us all together. Thank you so so much for everything you do.
Flores howls to Schroder for collaborating with me on a Reading Log inventive program. Your ideas are always realistic and easy to implement. I am so thankful for you this year!!
Stephen HOWLS to Sandra for her tolerance of my constant "Have your ordered..." questions!
Stephen HOWLS to Sylvia for being the best multitasker and greeter in the state!
Stephen HOWLS to Carol for ensuring Snap-shot day went well and everything was captured!
Stephen HOWLS to Stoney for his work with several families that needed additional guidance and support!
Contact Information:
Email: Srichardson@littleelmisd.net
Cell Phone: (940) 391-3864
Jill Whitehead
Email: Jwhitehead@littleelmisd.net
Cell Phone: (903) 456-4004
Sandra Garces
Email: Sgarces@littleelmisd.net
Cell Phone:(214) 682-6339