Skyland Peek at the Week
Week of November 25-26
Gratefulness
Many people have joke that you have truly "broken me in" as a new principal between some CRAZY special education situations, personnel and parent issues, and of course an all day lockout. However, I can't even begin to describe to you how true the quote above is for me. Even with some of those big, crazy issues, the joys I experience in this job on a daily basis completely outweigh the struggles. Skyland, its students, parents, and especially you all have been one of the biggest blessing of my life. Thank you for letting me be a part of this incredible family.
I encourage you over this holiday season to look for the joy in every situation. Joy is an attitude choice, a way to live your life filled with gratefulness instead of grumbling. Happiness, on the other hand, is completely due to your "happenings," the ups and downs that life (and teaching) can throw as us. Happiness is awesome, but it can come and go with our circumstances. Joy, however, is a way we can chose to live our lives. It is a way we can look at every situation as a blessing. For instance, many of you are waking up this morning and wishing for one more day of Thanksgiving break and that we have 15 more school days until Christmas break, painfully counting down each one. I challenge you to instead chose joy and view these 15 school days as 15 days to make an impact in the lives of your students. Imagine the joy that will fill you, your students, your classroom, and this building if we all choose joy for these last 15 days before break!
Welcome to Teacher Mug Season!! :)
Reminders
Hallway Displays
Thank you!
K4/K5 Assistant's Meeting
The Twelve Days of Christmas Book Challenge
Want to help ensure our students are engaging in literature over the holidays? Submit your name to read a book for the 12 Days of Christmas Book Challenge. The challenge will be divided into two groups, K-2 and 3-5. We need 12 teachers to record themselves reading a book for each group. (Note: I am still working on the best platform to share the books. Flipgrid only gives you 5 minutes at max to record a video. I will let you know!) The teacher will need to pick a book to video record a read aloud. Feel free to add your own flair and even some stop and think questions as you're reading. At the very end, you will need to ask one age appropriate question about the book. Students will have a sheet where they will record the answers to questions. If they turn it in after Christmas Break, they will get a small prize and a few children from each group will win a token to the Bulldog Book Machine! Videos will be due after Thanksgiving Break once we get a solid list of readers and books.
Thank you for being willing to help with this idea! (Still working through the logistics and details, but if you sign up I will send you more information!)
Skyland Drama Club
School Request for Teachers
Full-time employees at your school who wish to request Change in Assignment Choice for their child(ren) to attend your school with them must complete the Change in Assignment School Choice Request form and submit it during the Monday, November 18, 2019 through Wednesday, December 4, 2019 CIA school choice lottery window. The CIA Request must be submitted during the Lottery Window for consideration of a full-time employee at your school bringing their child(ren) to your school with them.
Staff Christmas Lunch
You will still need to bring your class to lunch and make sure they are picked up on time. If your class goes to library during lunch times (10:30-12:40), Mrs. Sanford is going to do her lesson for your students in your classroom.
Jeans Passes
That being said...
I know that December is a tough and crazy month, so hopefully this will bring you a little Christmas joy!
Amazing Grant Opportunity!
This is a great opportunity to get some STEAM materials into your classroom! Last year they did not have many applicants, so your chances to receive it are high!
Greater Greer Education Foundation Grant
Don't let this opportunity pass you by! It is so worth it!
Let me know if your submit a grant --- There might be a JEANS PASS waiting on the other side! :)
Reminders from Mase
Reminders from Kenna
Please remind students to travel quietly in the hallways on Dec. 3-5 as both 2nd and 5th grades complete MAP testing.
PLC Reminders:
Thursday, 12/5-All K5-5: Balanced Literacy
Registration Link: https://pd.greenville.k12.sc.us/myPD.aspx?action=register&sessionid=164136
Tuesday, 12/17-Gr. 2-5: Using MC to create ELA assessments. Please bring standards and a current/upcoming unit. This will be a working session.
Registration Link: https://pd.greenville.k12.sc.us/myPD.aspx?action=register&sessionid=164137
Reminders from Katelin
- K5: Please remember to administer F&P to students as they begin to read. The latest date for you to enter scores into RAS is December 6th.
- On Track Reminder: Please e-mail me (K-2) or Caitlyn (3-5) if you fill out the google form to refer a student for On Track. Link - https://forms.gle/imxdwcYNKfZVJizn6
- Berry Bowl Wednesday: Our next Berry Bowl Wednesday will be December 4th. Be on the lookout for an e-mail about how to order!
- Balanced Literacy: We will be completing Balanced Literacy walk-throughs during the months of November/December to guide our Literacy PLCs in December. J
- Schedules: Thank you so much for all of your hard work during our scheduling PLCs and being willing to tweak them to match district guidelines as we prepare to dig deeper into the Balanced Literacy Framework. Please post your updated schedules on Google Drive and outside of your door by the time we come back from Thanksgiving break. Thank you!
Counselor's Corner - Reminders from Caitlyn and Chelsea
School Counseling Teacher Referral Form: https://forms.gle/F5K3UddCkTuf23dx5. Please continue to use this when needing to refer a student, or if a student asks you to come see Mrs. Grigg or Ms. Shepherd. 😊
Important Upcoming Dates
December (AKA JEAN-CEMBER)
2 - K4/K5 Assistant's Meeting, 12:30, Conference Room
3-6 - Kindergarten and 1st grade registration
4 - Staff Christmas Party
9 - PTA Meeting and Skyland Singers Winter Concert 6:30 pm
11 - PTA sponsored Staff Christmas Lunch in library (during your lunch time)
11 - Faculty Council
13 - BRHS Chorus, 9:15, 4th and 5th grades
16-19 PTA Santa Shop in Science Lab
17 - First Grade Performance 9 AM
18 - PD (CHANGE) 3:15 - 4:15 pm
20 - Skyland Singers Performance in Cafeteria (K-2 8:30 am; 3-5 9:30 am)
23 - Jan. 3 Winter Break! Have a Merry Christmas!
Happy Birthday
December
3 – Mase Garrett, Assistant Principal
14 – Melanie Pinckney, 4K
14 – Kim Coggins, Support Staff
16 – Debby Huff, 5th
Dates Stafford is super duper sad that she will be out of the building
12/4 - Principal Meeting
12/10 - Instructional Rounds at Duncan Chapel with Kenna
12/11 - New Principal Meeting (AM only)
12/17 - New Principal Meeting
Mrs. Stafford's Contact Information
Email: lstafford@greenville.k12.sc.us
Website: https://www.greenville.k12.sc.us/skyland/
Phone: 8643557210
Twitter: @leahcstafford