Holmquist News & Notes
October 19 - October 23
Kimberly's Message
Positive Refelction from Our Teachers
Coincidently, I have the habit of refreshing my memory from notes and a book I bought on word choice (Choice Words, How Our Language Affects Children's Learning, Peter H. Johnson.) Ideas from these resources are focused on how to appropriately communicate with students, purposely choosing words that positively impact children's language and academic success. As a teacher, I make sure that whatever I say creates an environment that encourages students to freely communicate with me. I am watchful and look for signals and cues which indicate students' disinterest thus backing up from a meaningful, active participation. Though hard sometimes, it's worth all the effort to readjust and bring the student back on board. Once again, I always find myself freely responding to your important messages because they have a lasting impact on my teaching now and in the future.
Mr. Tadesse
What a nice video!
Today, I noticed Ms. Dennis was trying to put together a spreadsheet with Microsoft Word... I asked her if I could help her (it was between the 2 Pre K classes). I told her I preferred Excel (easier to manipulate), asked her how she wanted it to look and made it for her. She was so happy!
Ms. Dennison
I changed my words to positively impact a student by giving kid-friendly examples. I informed a student today that everyone gets mad at other people, but she has to stay true to who she is and not let some of her classmates get to her. You said that to me before (last year in fact) J Her classmates want to see a show and I informed her, “don’t give them a show” and I told her that the best part of practicing self-control would be seeing some of her classmates look disappointed and even surprised when they have not successfully set her off.
Ms. Nyan
Humming bird Staff of the Week
Humming bird Class of the Week
Motivational Quote
Weekly Calendar
EDC 39
Staff Meeting - 3:40 p.m - ALL STAFF
Content Meeting
Tuesday, October 20th
EDC 40
Principal Cohort Meeting at Holmquist at 8:30
Principal Talks - Melanie and Belinda at 9:30 in Parent Center
Science Specialist Meeting
Wednesday, October 21st
EDC 41
Wear pink and jeans to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month
STAAR ALT CTC 8:30 - 10:30
ABC Meeting - 3:40
Thursday, October 22nd
EDC 42
Report Cards Go Home
Principal Meeting
Wellness Meeting - 3:40
FAME Meeting - 3:40
ART - 4:00
Friday, October 23rd
EDC 43
A Honor Roll Breakfast - 8:05 - 8:35
1st Grade Awards - 8:40 - 9:10
2nd Grade Awards 9:20 - 9:50
ILT Meeting - 1:30
Saturday, October 24th
Fall Festival 9:30 - 12:30
PLC - 8:10 - 9:10 - Smart Goals
Monday - Kinder
Tuesday - 1st
Wednesday - 2nd
Thursday - 3rd
Friday - 4th
Shout Outs
- A special thank you to every staff member for your well wishes on Boss's Day- Kimberly, Melanie, Belinda and Kelli. We really appreciate you!
- Mrs. Bourda, Mrs. Carter, Ms. Spellicy and Mr. Tadesse for being proactive in
motivating our 4th grade bus riders at dismissal,
- Brian for offering an additional grade book training this week
- Belinda and her committee for organizing our 1st Hummingbird store of the year
- Melanie and Kelli for facilitating another great week of PLC
- Shout out to Robin Waak for letting the Pre K classes take their initial Istation tests in her computer lab. We were left off the testing schedule so we are very appreciative! Ms. Dennison
- Amy Walker-helping esl out with a scheduling snafu so kids could receive intervention
· Ms. O for hitting the ground running with her new class
· All teams that made sure their pearson records were backed up
· Ms. Galeano and Ms. O. for staying after school and getting report cards up and ready on time for their first time in 2nd grade
Ms. Walker for just being an all around sweet person.
Belinda and Melanie for doing recess duty and Kelli for helping out during cafeteria duty
Mr. Endsley for helping at the Hummingbird Store and being flexibility.
Grade level teachers and block teams for being flexibility
Work-Life Balance is a Myth by Jon Gordon
It’s a phrase we hear often. But I don’t think it really exists. At least not in the way most "experts" talk about it.
I, like most people, have never been able to balance the scales of work/life on a day-to-day basis. Rather, I’ve come to realize that the dance between work and life is more about rhythm than balance.
There is a rhythm to life and there is a season for everything.
For me, there is a time to work hard and a time to rest. There is a time to be on the road and a time to be at home with my family.
My wife and I look at our year as whole and we plan our schedule according to the seasons of our life knowing I’ll be slammed in August, September and October and slower in December and July.
We plan for when I’ll be working and when I’ll be more engaged with the family.
You can do the same.
You may have a different rhythm and your seasons may be shorter or longer than mine but you can look at your life on a weekly, monthly, and yearly basis and schedule times to work hard, recharge, renew, play, and engage with your family/friends/significant other.
However, regardless of your rhythm and work schedule I want to encourage you to fully commit to your seasons.
People tell me all the time that they feel guilty that they are not at home with their family when they are at work. And to make matters worse they also feel guilty that they are not working when they are at home.
A double dose of guilt is a recipe for misery.
Instead, when you are working hard realize this is your season to do so... and also make plans for time to recharge, renew and spend quality time with the people you love.
When you are working, commit fully to your work. When you are home with your family or significant other, commit fully to engaging with them and enjoy your personal time.
By understanding your rhythm, planning and committing to the seasons of your life you may not achieve perfect work-life balance but you will create a flow and rhythm that makes you happier, more productive and... less guilty.