Hackberry Howl
Vol. 2 No. 38
THIS TRAIN IS ALREADY MOVING!
This is what I know...
We have learned so much from Tom about How to Love, How to serve, and How to care for our students, parents, community and more so for each other. As we embark on this new journey together we must continue to challenge each other to continue with these values. The true test of a leader is when they leave, everything they have done and implemented still functions at a high level. This WILL hold true for Hackberry. Nothing will change in this, we will still stand firmly on Love, Serve, Care and I look forward to walking through this new journey with you!
Keep Howling!
-SR
Countdown the 10 BIG Ideas from the Carpenter!
#1 Life and Success are About What You Choose to Believe
It’s not what you believe when things are going well. It’s what you truly believe when things are really going wrong.
Via The Carpenter: A Story About the Greatest Success Strategies of All:
“You can! You can choose to see it! Life and success are about what you choose to believe. It’s easy to believe things will be great when everything is going well, but the true test of your faith is what you believe when you are facing insurmountable challenges.
The late and great Nelson Mandela said it best: ‘I am fundamentally an optimist. Whether that comes from nature or nurture, I cannot say. Part of being optimistic is keeping one’s head pointed toward the sun, one’s feet moving forward. There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could not give myself up to despair. That way lays defeat and death.'”
Recommended Reading
Developing Effective Learners
Jensen argues that although chronic exposure to poverty can result in detrimental changes to the brain, the brain's very ability to adapt from experience means that poor children can also experience emotional, social, and academic success. A brain that is susceptible to adverse environmental effects is equally susceptible to the positive effects of rich, balanced learning environments and caring relationships that build students' resilience, self-esteem, and character.
Drawing from research, experience, and real school success stories, Teaching with Poverty in Mind reveals:
* What poverty is and how it affects students in school;
* What drives change both at the macro level (within schools and districts) and at the micro level (inside a student's brain);
* Effective strategies from those who have succeeded and ways to replicate those best practices at your own school; and
* How to engage the resources necessary to make change happen.
Too often, we talk about change while maintaining a culture of excuses. We can do better. Although no magic bullet can offset the grave challenges faced daily by disadvantaged children, this timely resource shines a spotlight on what matters most, providing an inspiring and practical guide for enriching the minds and lives of all your students.
Quote of the Week!
Article of the week:
Howl Outs!
Richardson HOWLS to all my testing administrators for helping to ensure the STAAR test went smooth!
Richardson HOWLS to HOWLS to KARLA AND CAROL for making sure lunches were served and they did so with a great big smile!
Richardson HOWLS to Sanders for helping out front on a rainy day!
Richardson HOWLS to Snook and Mitchell for their help out front!
Saltiness HOWLS to Mathews for the amazing BROWNIES! SO GOOD!!!
Richardson Howls to Swartz for all his help to ensure testing went great!
Richardson HOWLS to Zaidi for handling all make-up test!
Mr. Swartz howls out to Mr. Richardson for doing the howl on a weekly basis. He always seems to know what to write and does it so it's easy applicable for our school.
Mr. Swartz howls out to Ms. Karla and Carol for serving lunch daily this week.
Mr. Swartz howls out to Coach Anderson for doing a tremendous job filling in for Ms Burzynski.
Mr. Swartz howls out to Ms. Phan and Ms. Granados for their hard work and dedication to our ELL students and completing the massive amounts of paperwork at this time of the year.
Mr. Swartz howls out to Ms.Vanessa for always bringing a smile back to the students when they come in for a nurse visit.
Mr. Swartz howls out to Ms. Northcutt for battling through her sickness this week and making sure we had plenty of help for STAAR.
Mr. Swartz howls out Ms. Sylvia who always seems to find enough subs each and everyday.
Mr. Swartz howls out to Ms. Robinson for always finding time to listen and she gives great advice.
Mr. Swartz howls out to Ms. Brodsky for helping with DRA's in kinder.
Webber howls out to Mr. Swartz-- Where to even begin, Thank you so much for your service, your heart, your guidance, your leadership, your fairness, ! Thank you for everything you've done for HB, we are going to miss you so much! Stay close! Thank you!! )-:
Lecrecia gives a howl to Tom for always having coffee ready in the morning daily! Thanks for 3 great years at Hackberry!
Lecrecia gives a HOWL to Stephen for smooth STAAR week and breakfast and lunch for during STAAR!
Lecrecia gives a HOWL to Mrs. Woods for being a home bound teacher for one of our students who is really sick!
Lecrecia gives a HOWL to Mrs. Northcutt, Karla, and Mrs. Martin for showing up to work when they were not feeling their best! This week during STAAR!!
Sanders sends a huge howl to Mr. Swartz, for leading by example, for inspiring us to think bigger than ourselves and for creating a culture of true love, serve and care. It will be hard to continue without you, but hopefully we can move forward with all your teachings.
Mr. Swartz howls out to the first grade for a super field trip. I heard lots of great things from the kiddos and parents!!! Super job!!!!!
Mrs. Colon and Mrs. Scaife send a howl to Mrs. Measles for helping us with morning dut
Mr. Swartz howls out to Coach Lamb for filling in and doing an incredible job in PE.
Mr. Swartz howls out to Ms. Melchi, Ms. Connely, and Ms. Holguin for another wonderful job tutoring and helping with testing this past year.
Mr. Swartz howls out to Ms. Warren for taking on a third grader who needed a quiet and different setting to finish out her STAAR test.
Mr. Swartz howls out to Ms. Diaz for making a difference each day with all our students. She redirected one of her little friends in the hallway so the testing environment was not disturbed.
Mr. Swartz howls out to Ms. Mitchell and Ms. Snook for helping with car duty in the morning since we were short handed in the front car line.
Castilla gives a big howl to Mrs. Webber for the pipe cleaners. Thank you! It made my classroom activity a success.
Castilla gives a big howl to Mrs. Cruz for ALWAYS having a great attitude and smile when handling the front office.
Castilla gives a big howl to Mrs. Lay for taking the time to care for me when I was a little sick.
Tammie gives A big howl to everyone who provided food and served us during testing.
Anna HOWLS for the awesome lunches we had during testing day and to Karla and Carol for serving us with a SMILE!!
Patty Granados-I would love to give a shot out to the most amazing principal, Tom. I was fortunate enough to work with Tom at Oak Point for a few years and knew the minute I met him that he was going to be an amazing person. Tom was always so supportive, caring and always went above and beyond for the staff as well as for the kids. You have made an impact on many of us including myself and I will miss you a lot. Wishing you the best in your new adventure.
Karla sends a SCREAMING HOWL to Mr. Swartz for being such as awesome leader at Hackberry Elementary for the past 3 years. He will be greatly missed but I am proud of him for chasing his passion! I am jealous for students and staff at Pilot Point as they have won the lottery!
Karla sends a HOWL to Hackberry staff for making secretaries day last week very special! Thank you!
Karla sends a HOWL to Mrs. Measles for changing out my April calendar to May in my office. I am spoiled around here! LOVE IT :))
Karla sends a HOWL Myers, Mathews and Measles for helping with preparations of Kelsey's shower. I can't wait to meet Emma Loree!!!
Measles howls to Ruth for letting some of her 5th graders help out with our oobleck!
Measles howls to Masai for graduating on Friday! WOOHOO!
Rogers howls out to Ms. Thomas for allowing 4th grade to borrow water colors for our math project this week.
Hackberry Calendar
Monday, May 15th
-6:30pm-School Board Meeting (Please come and support our ALI-I and ALI-II members)
-2nd Grade PLC 7:30 am
Tuesday, May 16th
3rd Grade PLC 7:30 am
Kinder PLC- 1:50PM
Pre-K-AM and PM Awards
Faulty Meeting 3:15-4:15
Wednesday, May 17th
Fire Drill 2PM
4th Grade PLC 7:30 am
Kinder Awards-8am
1st Grade Awards-9am
2nd Grade Awards-1:30pm
Thursday, May 18th
Lobo Leadership and Student Council @ Six Flags
5th Grade PLC-7:30am
3rd Grade Awards-8am
4th Grade Awards-9am
2nd Grade LINK training @ Zellars
Friday, May 19th
1st Grade PLC-7:30am
Wonder Club Pizza and Moana 10AM in the gym