Mustang Message
March 22, 2019
A Principal's Perspective
I would like to share a few pictures this week that captures the essence of our Mustang mission.
The first two pictures are in honor of World Down Syndrome Day. What a great day that recognizes the beauty of each person while also celebrating our differences all at the same time!
The second group of pictures capture our tech learning. Building a culture of professionals growing and learning together allows us to implement best practices, innovative instructional strategies and promote student engagement while also providing a safe place for us to take risks as we apply that new learning in our classrooms. Yesterday we learned about the many instructional ways that the Dash Robot could be used in the classroom besides just coding. The Dash Robot is visiting another class to share a poem. Third graders have been writing poems in their ELA classes.
Finally, the last set of pictures is from today. Crystal Allen, the children's book author that visited 3rd and 4th graders this year, came back to GP to recognize 15 students. She provided a pizza lunch complete with a cookie cake for these students. Crystal affirmed each writer by sharing what they did in their story as good writers do in published stories. She also affirmed each writer with specific feedback on their story. What was powerful about each conversation was the willingness of the student to stand and openly accept positive, specific feedback and praise for their story. What a wonderful celebration of writing! See author's Strikewriter's website highlighting our students' writing.
Be innovative - Design the possibilities!
Donna
Morning Duties for the Week
Gym & Morning Assembly (7:20-7:45): Reed
Word of the Week: 3/25 interminable, 4/1 hoax, 4/8 cantankerous, 4/15 surroundings, 4/22 meteorologist, 4/29 headquarters
Tuesday Book Share: Reed and Slade
Gym (7:20-7:45): J. Rhine
Parent Drop Off Direct Traffic (7:20-7:55): Lindner
Parent Drop Off Car Doors (7:20-7:55): C. Anderson & Neidig
Cafeteria (7:20-8:00): Eppes
Bus (7:15 - 7:55 Buses/ Cafeteria after all buses arrive): Prukop
Counselor Schedule:
Librarian: GP
Week at a Glance
Monday: Report cards sent home; School Improvement Planning Team Meeting @ 3:30 in library; Attend Tech Training on Thursday, March 21st? Wear jeans!
Tuesday: 4th Grade Lunch with the Principal @ 12:30; Campus Council @ 3:30 (Link for Grade Level Leaders to Enter Items: http://tinyurl.com/yxsrgxgq )
Wednesday: Lunch Lounge Wednesday (Wear jeans AND a GP shirt if you are eating in the teacher's lounge on Wednesday.)
Thursday: Data Team Group #2 (Rhine/Brice, Galow/Williams, Gilpatrick/Neidig, Miller/Owen, Bingaman/Sullivan), Author Visit - 2nd Grade 8:15-9:15; Kinder 9:30-10:20 & 1st Grade 2:00-3:00; Future Family Night 6:00-7:30
Friday: Cupcake Wars Judging at 4:00 in Science Lab/Pod
Saturday: Mustang Rodeo! 10:00-3:00
News & Notes
- School Improvement Planning, SIP, Dates: March 25, April 30 and May 8 Our meetings are from 3:30-4:30 in the library.
- Method Students: Please ask your method student to park in the back parking lot to make room for parents and guests.
- Lunch Lounge Wednesday: There are many benefits to a family eating together. As a school family, when we take the time to eat together it builds a positive school culture. We get to know each other outside of the classroom. Lunch Lounge Wednesday is a great way to visit, connect, de-stress and even laugh while eating lunch. This is a day to wear jeans AND a GP school shirt if you eat in the teacher's lounge on Lunch Lounge Wednesdays. Positive work environment, strong school family and jeans! Win-Win-Win!
- VIPS Luncheon: Our VIPS Luncheon is on Wednesday, April 17th, from 11:00 - 1:00 in the Science Lab. We are very fortunate to have so many wonderful volunteers and this is a great way to show them our appreciation. Please think about your volunteers and invite them to the luncheon. Who do you invite? Parents, grandparents, friends of GP, etc. that have volunteered in your classroom, set up the science lab, sorted papers at home, made class copes, put together Monday folders, helped with reading groups, chaperoned a field trip, room moms, etc... Please send out invitations to your volunteers. The invitations are in the front office on the back counter. Please include your name, lunch time, and additional notes to make the invite as personal as you wish.
Let's Rodeo!
- Baking: The staff will not be asked to bake this year. Instead of baked goods the PTO will use other prizes for the Wheel of Sweets. Food trucks will also provide dessert options for families.
- Volunteer: We will need staff support in volunteering to sell tickets at the ticket booth the day of the rodeo. We also need judges for the cupcake wars. That will be Friday, March 29th, at 4:00. Sign up sheets for ticket sales and judging are in the office workroom. We will provide a jean incentive for participating to celebrate rodeo!
- Pie in the Face: We will have Pie in the Face jars ready for change beginning on Monday. In Morning Assembly we will announce staff members that have the most change day to day. We will end on Friday with a few final staff members that have the most change in their jars. These staff members will be part of the teacher auction where families can bid to have their child pie the staff member on the following Monday. Please let me know as we get down towards the final jars if you need to pass on this activity. On that Monday, Pie Day, you will be able to go home to shower and change if needed.
- Communication: Please communicate with your parents to invite their families to the rodeo. Talk it up with your students as well. Mustang Rodeo is truly a wonderful GP family event not to be missed!
- Check out the KBTX Video: Thank you Charla and Joshua for making their 8th appearance on the KBTX Morning Show during spring break.
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:
Stephanie Bell, March 27th
Amber Neidig, March 27th
Stephanie Weber, March 29th
Tami Seagraves, March 31st