THE FLIGHT RECORDER
Statesville Road Elementary's Weekly Staff Newsletter
Principal's Point to Ponder
Even though we are the most intelligent species on earth, there are several things that as humans we cannot do by ourselves. We cannot scratch that one spot on our back without someone's help. We cannot learn to ride a bike without someone's help. Try to make yourself laugh by tickling yourself -- it just doesn't work -- if you want to laugh, you need someone else to do the tickling. One day, really smart humans figured out they could not do everything by themselves, so they created what we know today as organizations. High functioning organizations never accomplish goals by individual efforts alone. In school organizations, there is a reason we work on grade level teams. There is a reason TAs are paired with teachers and grade levels. Schools are not run by just the principal--there is a reason the role of the assistant principal exists. There is a reason new teachers have mentors. The crux of the matter is this: we are better when we work together. One old cliche says two heads are always better than one. So this week, when you feel like giving up, when you have done all you know to do, or when you are symbolically trying to scratch that spot on your back, find another person to help you do the work. Remember that what YOU can't do alone....,WE can do together. It's the only way we will reach our goals.
INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGY OF THE WEEK
In Ms. Snow's media classes last week, students engaged in word races that integrated classroom concepts, vocabulary, and sight words into media instruction. Just the simple act of putting kids in teams and promising to declare a winner for a task increases engagement exponentially. Kids love to compete and all of them want to win! What can you do this week to promote a little friendly competition in your classroom?
Kudos / General Reminders / Expectations
- Kudos to Janet McAfee for being voted Statesville Road Elementary's Teacher Assistant of the Year! You rock! There is a rumor going around that you might soon seek your teaching certification .... or, did I just start that rumor??? :)
- Kudos to Wood for praising one of his students for greeting other teachers in the hallway as they entered the building. Mr. Wood discusses Turbo's Tips during character ed, and praises the students for their effort. Great job!
- Kudos to the 3rd grade and 1st grade teams for making strides in literacy planning. Your preparation, engagement, and follow through do not go unnoticed!
- Kudos to Hall for your work with various individuals and teams. You received a high complement from B. Hasaan from the zone office last week. Keep up the good work!
- Kudos to Lee, McCarthy, Freeman, Digh, and Thrower for participating in the teacher focus group during our Magnet Schools of America visit. You represented our magnet theme and our school well.
- Kudos to all staff for your preparation and execution of solid, integrated, and IB themed instruction during our visit. Remember, IB is not something we do at certain times, it is who we are as a school. Every minute of every day is the only time for IB instruction.
- The Book Fair is set up in the Media Center this week. Snow will work with the special area team to make sure all classes get a chance to go through the book fair this week during their normal special area time.
- Real Men Read is this Friday: If you have not given Lungarini a book (from last month) please do so before Friday.
- Heads Up: Common Assessment #5 will be given March 30, 31, and April 1. 2nd Grade: please have your lit and math assessments uploaded into SchoolNet by Thursday, March 26th. For grades 3-5, the Mock EOG is being input for you by Hall. Please thank her for this...it's a lot for 3 grade levels with 2-3 tests each!
- Heads Up: Third Quarter ends March 31st. Arpril 2nd is the last day to post report card grades.
Monday, March 16, 2015 (Day 3)
- 7:30am - 8:30am: Teacher Assistants Meet with Patterson in the Nest
- 7:55am : Monday Morning Meeting
Tuesday, March 17, 2015 (Day 4)
- 7:30am - 8:30am: Teacher Assistants Meet with Patterson in the Nest
- Tuesday Folder: Send home school newsletter (Will be in your boxes no later than when you arrive Tuesday morning.)
Wednesday, March 18, 2015 (Day 5)
- St. Patrick's Day...jeans are OK if you have on a green shirt
- 3:30 -- Think Tank Meetings (all staff meet in media center first). The Ron Clark attendees will meet as a ThinkTank during this time. All other ThinkTanks will meet as normal. If your usual grade level chair is part of the Ron Clark group, please send a different grade level rep to the Instructional Culture ThinkTank.
Thursday, March 19, 2015 (Day 1)
- 6:00 - 8:00 : Book Fair Family Night
Friday, March 20, 2015 (Day 2)
- 8:00 - 8:30: Real Men Read