Mustang Message
February 15, 2019
A Principal's Perspective
Malala Yousafzai was born in northwestern Pakistan, where her father was a school owner and was active in educational issues. Malala spoke out against the Taliban. She spoke out in favor of education for women and children. In retaliation, the Taliban boarded her bus and attempted to assassinate Malala as she was returning home from school. She survived gunshots to the head, but underwent several operations. In 2014, she was the co-recipient of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize. She was 17 at the time which made her the youngest-ever Nobel Prize laureate. Accepting the Nobel prize, she thanked her father, mother and her teachers. In particular, she thanked her teachers who inspired her to believe in herself and to be brave.
We realize the importance of our voice when we are silenced. As you know, I attended the Raise Your Hand Harvard Principal Leadership conference this week. Raise Your Hand was started by Charles Butt, the chairman and CEO of HEB, to support public schools. Charles Butt is a voice for public education. At the conference, we were able to meet with our legislators. Our representatives are listening to our voice to find out how the state of Texas can better educate our students. It was exciting to share our GP stories with our representatives. I am planning to follow up with issues that are important to me as an educator such as adequately funding public schools, eliminating the recapture, Robin Hood, practice (Recapture is the #2 budget item for our district. Number 1? Payroll), protecting teacher retirement, addressing the rising cost of health care for educators and to fund preK. Those are my items that I have been advocating. The district also has legislative priorities. If you have a particular issue that you want to share with your representatives, I encourage you to voice your opinion. This legislative year will shape public education for the future of Texas. Your voice does matter!
Be innovative - Design the possibilities!
Donna
Morning Duties for the Week
Gym & Morning Assembly (7:20-7:45): LeBlanc
Word of the Week: 2/18 halfheartedly; 2/25 warmhearted
Tuesday Book Share: LeBlanc & Walton
Gym (7:20-7:45): Parr
Parent Drop Off Direct Traffic (7:20-7:55): Williams
Parent Drop Off Car Doors (7:20-7:55): Sullivan & Eddy
Cafeteria (7:20-8:00): Eppes
Bus (7:15 - 7:55 Buses/ Cafeteria after all buses arrive): Bartosh
Counselor Schedule: 1st Grade
Librarian: GP
Week at a Glance
Monday: Staff Development Day (see agenda below); Six week progress reports due by 8:00 am
Tuesday: BRAVE; 2nd Grade OPAS (leaving at 8:45 & returning by 11:45 ; Lunch will be in classrooms for 2nd grade); 4th Grade- Lunch with Principal @ 12:30
Wednesday: 4th Grade Writing Practice STAAR
Thursday: Data Team Group #4 (Wilson/Parr, Lindner/Rhine, McMurray/Eddy, Kieschnick/Peterson, Piscacek/Anderson); Secure the Building Drill (Lock Down); Tech Time: 3:30-4:15 (see info below)
Friday: K-4th Math Meetings during conference (math data analysis and next steps); Fab Fridays in February: Frito Pie in science lab
News & Notes
Ice Cream: The cafeteria will be selling ice cream on Fridays for 60 cents. This will start next Friday. There will be three flavor choices: mini ice cream sandwiches, strawberry sundae cups and birthday cake frozen yogurt cups. Students can pay with cash or charge to their account if they have money on their account. Please communicate with your parents about ice cream in the cafeteria. I will also send out a parent email.
ProEthica #3: If you missed the February faculty meeting and need to make up the ProEthica #3 session, Kathryn will send out a date to put on your calendar.
Book Fair Stats: Total sales: $15,912.62; Cash profit: $3,679.72 All for Books Donations from families/coin drive - $410.74, which allowed us to purchase 34 new books for the library!
Empty Bowls, Jr.: Mark your calendar! Saturday, March 2nd, from 11:00-1:30 the Empty Bowls, Jr. in support of our local in-school food pantries will be held at Allen Honda. Come by enjoy a bowl of soup and receive a student, hand-crafted bowl. Suggested donation of $10.
Grandfathering: Our third graders zoned to River Bend Elementary will have the opportunity to continue 4th grade at GP. The district will send letters to parents so that parents can indicate where they would like their 4th grader to attend school next year. Timeframe: Feb. 18th-March 1st.
Tech Time: To provide additional opportunities for comp time and for tech learning time, we are offering a tech time for Feb. 21st. Same incentives apply: Jeans on Monday, Feb. 25, if you attend. Sonic for the team if 100% attend (If someone is absent, attendance will be for team members that are on campus that day.). Lunch in May for attendance at all 4 Tech Times! Topic: Play and Learn! Vicki will be sending out an email with more information.
Staff Development Agenda
Link to Register: https://goo.gl/h7aoe9
7:45-8:15 Breakfast (McDonald's Parfaits, Sausage Biscuits, coffee and juice)
8:15-9:00 SPED Presentation on Discipline Data for CSISD9:00-10:30 Essential Questions - Presentation from C&I
10:30-11:30 -Science Data Look
11:30-12:45 Lunch on Your Own/TELPAS Calibration Meeting for Identified Teachers & ProEthica #2 (January Faculty Meeting) Makeup in conference room (lunch provided)
12:45-3:15 Grade Level Instructional Planning
3:15 Bridal Shower for Chelsey Eddy
CSISD Campus SUB Incentive
The district has outlined a campus sub incentive plan to hopefully decrease the sub demand across the district. Please see proposed plan below. The plan will begin in January
Each month, campuses will have an opportunity to earn $1,000 for the highest rate of staff attendance
Sick leave and district required activities are excluded
There will be a winner for both Elementary (PK-4) and Secondary (5-12) each month
Campus staff will have input on how to use the money - get creative!
Happy Birthday
This Week Birthdays:
Ruth Matthews, Feb. 19th
Allison Ross-Carroll, Feb. 23rd
Josh Rhine, Feb. 24th
Mustang Yee Haws!
Congratulations to Janelle Walton! Her daughter and her husband are expecting a baby boy in April! This will be the first grandbaby!
Congratulations to Coach Sullivan, Kristy's husband, and his CSHS Cougars for their first ever DISTRICT 19-5A CHAMPIONS for CSHS BASKETBALL!!! 13-1 in district 34-2 on the season!!!