Team Thomson News & Notes
#ThomsonRocks Week of: June 2, 2019
Important Information for You!
Stay the Course
Only 15 more days to make a difference! As the school year winds down it is even more important for us to keep our kiddos focused. I want to give a big shout out to teachers who are working hard to continue to present lessons and "talk" with kids about expectations. While the focus is on using every bit of learning time until the last day of school, please know that I understand and appreciate the work teachers are doing with students. Continue to hold high standards for student behavior but expect that there will be some excitement and kids will be a little more chatty as we approach summer break. Some of that excitement may actually be anxiety because some kids will miss the school connection where adults may be more attentive to their individual needs.
Stay the course regarding expectations, interactions, daily schedules as much as possible, and relationships. Provide reminders, review and reteaching throughout the next few weeks. Take time to use class circles to problem solve and keep your classroom team together. Students will remember you most for the feeling they have when they leave your classroom for the summer. You are a professional and you do make a difference in the lives of children!
Promotion Cards
Promotion cards are being generated and should be in mailboxes on Tuesday of this week. Please read the memo that is included with your cards as this will help in providing the information that principals are looking for when placing students. I would like for all cards to be turned in by Friday, June 7th as I need to get kindergarten promo cards to their respective buildings and would like to begin working on placements for 2019-20.
Are You Interested?
On June 24th and 25th, there is a Literacy Essentials training in East Lansing that is going to be very good. The goal of this training is to take a team and make school implementation decisions with some of the best literacy leaders (including Nell Duke) in the state guiding school teams. Megan is not able attend with me, so I wanted to reach out of each teacher to see if one or two of you would like to attend with me. If you are interested in learning with some of the best, please let me know right away. If you would like to read more information on the training or some of the trainers please follow this link... https://www.smore.com/hg91u.
Kindergarten Field Trip Reminders
Staff may wear appropriate hiking clothes on the day of their class field trip, including jeans if they would like. In case you missed the email from Sara Howes:
Reminder that this week is field trip week. Buses will be loading at 8:45am on your day and will return around 11:30, except on Wednesday when they load at 9:30 and return around 12. We will be eating snack at the property so please make sure that everyone has one. Also please Please have your kids divided up and assigned to a chaperone.
I am including other information from Megan Berry (the property and field trip expert):
Activity: Students will be learning about different animal homes inside with Rebecca.
Hike: Students will hike trail around KMEC collecting pictures of plants and animals that live in or near a pond. Hike will be led by Casey or Corey. The mosquitoes have been bad, you may want bug spray.
Bathroom/Snack/ Craft: Students will be allowed to use the bathroom in the pavilion. Snacks will be provided by Thomson Teachers and teachers will facilitate craft, materials/ instructions provided by Davison Township Parks & Recreation. We found that the kids finish the snack and use the bathroom before it is time to switch and we teachers needed a filler.
Craft- Not all insects are bad for gardens, some are pollinators and some eat insects that harm the garden plants. Students will make an insect hotel by collecting 20-30 small sticks (pencil size is best) and use yarn to tie sticks in a bundle. Leave enough yarn or use 2nd piece to make a loop to hang the bundle. Once home, kids can hang the insect hotel by a garden to provide a home for good insects. The yard is full of sticks for the kids to collect and staff will provide pieces of yarn.
5D+ Observations and Final Evaluations
I have a three more observations to finish this week and then I will begin the evaluation process. Please watch for information from Anna or me regarding final evaluation meetings. Eric Chorley has been working on the data that he can run and as I receive it, I will get you a copy for review. Remember where available three years of data is used.
Cardinals Nest & GSRP Visits
On Monday and Tuesday of this week, students from both the Cardinal's Nest and GSRP will be visiting. Each group that comes will visit a classroom, the library for a story with me, and the playground. Other than the hallways, these visit will hopefully have little impact on most classrooms.
Quotes Worth Reading
"Wherever you are and whatever you do, do it with love."
-Rumi
"What you stay focused on will grow."
-Ray T. Bennett
Celebrations & Announcements
Birthdays: Happy Birthday to both Wendy Lockery and Jenni Galbreath, both celebrating their birthday on June 7th...Happy, happy birthday to you both!
If you haven't already, please rsvp for Lori's Retirement by Tuesday, June 4th. There is a sign up in the lounge and will help with the planning of food, drinks, and desserts...thanks!
Important Upcoming Dates:
Week of June 3rd-PLC Week
Monday, June 3rd-Promo Cards will be printed and handed out; Williams Property Field Trips; GSRP Classrooms Visit Thomson
Tuesday, June 4th-Williams Property Field Trips; Cardinals Nest Visits Thomson
Wednesday, June 5th-Staff Meeting, 7:35 a.m. (Agenda: Data Review); Williams Property Field Trip; Festival of Flags Parade
Thursday, June 6th-Williams Property Field Trip; General Admin. Meeting (Natalie)
Friday, June 7th-Promo Cards Due; Lori's Retirement Party, 6:00 p.m.
Monday, June 10th-DHS Graduation, 7 p.m. at the Dort Federal Event Center
Tuesday, June 11th-KRA Training
Wednesday, June 12th-KRA Training; DAE Graduation, 7 p.m. in the DHS Auditorium
Thursday, June 13th-Elementary Principals Meeting (Natalie)
Friday, June 14th-Field Day
Wednesday, June 19th-Staff Meeting, 7:35 a.m. (Agenda: Year End Celebration); Half-Day for Students; Half-day Records Day for Staff; Summer Scoop, 5:00 p.m. at Cardinal Stadium
Thursday, June 20th-Half-Day for Students; Half-day Records Day for Staff; End of Year Luncheon at Hahn beginning at noon
Friday, June 21st-Half-Day for Students; Half-day Records Day for Staff; Check-out will beginning at 1:30 p.m. or sooner if an announcement is made.
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