Staff Memo
Nov. 22, 2013
Thoughts about Team/Data/PD Collaboration
To reiterate some expectations for collab, please send agendas and minutes to your team as well as Sheila, Melissa, Katherine, and me. Create an email group for your team and make it easy. Agendas should be sent about a day before collaboration so people can make plans about attending, etc.
What People Need is a Good Listening To
With Thanksgiving around the corner, many of us will be spending time with family and friends. This is a good time to continue to think about how we listen, really listen, to each other. The following comes from a book called One - How many people does it take to make a difference?
Listening is not just etiquette; it's a way of loving, honoring and respecting. It's a way of bonding and connecting. It's a way of sharing ourselves and our humanity.
Ways to listen with compassion, understanding, and intention:
Be present and give the speaker your full attention.
Show interest, be generous, encourage the speaker.
Listen with your heart as well as your ears.
Make it safe for the speaker to share his or her thoughts and feelings.
Listen to every word without interrupting or wishing to speak yourself.
When the speaker has finished, acknowledge what you heard without judging or correcting.
"I felt it shelter to speak to you."
~Emily Dickinson
Grade level materials money
Also, last year we decided not to purchase Bare Books for the entire school. If you want Bare Books, please use your grade level money to purchase them. Thanks.
Home Learning vs Homework
Locking Office After Thanksgiving
In order to keep office items secure, the office will be locked each evening when Sondra leaves and opened in the AM when Beth arrives. We are locking so files, materials, and inventory in the office is secure. With basketball and evening activities, our office needs to be locked so "guests" do not help themselves.
Looking Ahead
Monday, Nov. 25 Day 1
- Pledge - Coldren
- 3:10 Team 2 Collab
- 4:00 Math Study group in PD room or library
Tuesday, Nov. 26, Day 2
- 9:30-11:00 Budget Committee mtg - Lisa gone
- 2:00 Zachary's Trix Sticks Assembly in gym
- 3:10 Team 3 Collab
Wednesday-Sunday - Thanksgiving Break
Monday, Dec. 2, Day 3
- Pledge - Vadas
- 3:10 Team 4 Collab
Tuesday, Dec. 3, Day 4
- 7:30 Learning Leadership Team - PD room
- 1:00-3:00 Elem principals' meeting - Lisa gone
- 3:10 Data Collab - K
- 7:00 PTO Open Forum
Wednesday, Dec. 4, Day 1
- 9:30-2:00 Fourth Grade Choir field trip
- 3:10 Data Collab - 1
Thursday, Dec. 5, Day 2
- 8:00 Office meeting
- 2:00 Fourth grade Choir Concert
- 3:10 Data Collab - 2
- 5:00 CRES Christmas dinner at Stone Creek Dining
Friday, Dec. 6, Day 3
- CRES Spirit Day
- 10:00 Principal Focus Group - Lisa
- 3:10 Data Collab - 3
- 6:00-8:30 Dad's Club Movie Night