In the Middle Newsletter
September 4-7, 2018
Principal Ponderings: Connections
Tomorrow marks the first opportunity of one hundred eighty that we have to make connections with our students and fellow staff (if you happened to be at Meijer today you'd could have started making connections with roughly half the student population of Lakeshore Middle School). Take time this week to make genuine connections with people. Ask questions that solicit answers that yield meaningful responses. Two of my favorite questions are "what are you looking forward today?" and "what is one positive that you have had today?" Normally, the latter will likely be something to do with no homework, but every once in a while there is a response that will provide some insight into who that person is and what they value. Enjoy the day!
Administrative Items
- Your presence in the hallway will be greatly appreciated as much as possible this first week to help guide students and provide positive reinforcement on student behavior.
- 6th grade cafeteria tours-Lancers 9:30, Lakeshore, 9:55
- Back to School Nights: 6th, September 5, 6:00-7:30; 7th/8th, September 6, 6:00-7:30
- Picture Day: Friday, September 7
- Share the cafeteria video with students prior to eating lunch on day one
- Share the new LMS PBIS Behavior Matrix with students. It is also in their handbook.
- Student schedule changes must be completed before end of the day Friday.
- NWEA Testing: I'll be around to discuss with TEAMs regarding scheduling of NWEA testing times. This will be more of a gathering of information from you given my unfamiliarity.
- Pre-inquiry meetings will take place of September 24. I'll send you an invite if you are on the observation schedule.
Important Dates
9/4: 6th grade cafeteria tours
9/5: 6th grade back to school night, 6:00-7:30
9/6: 7th/8th grade back to school night, 6:00-7:30
9/7: Picture Day!
9/10: Board Meeting, 5:30, LMS Library
Instructional Strategy
FollowingFollowing @_AndyJacks
The idealistic honeymoon of the first few days wears off and sometimes what follows is frustration about some students. When the reality of our mission sets in, remember why you decided to be an educator in the first place. Every child has value and is worth our full effort.
3:22 PM - 2 Sep 2018
Resources Worth Sharing
What I'm Reading
Everybody, Always by Bob Goff
This is Bob Goff's second book after a wildly successful first book, Love Does. In this book Mr. Goff speaks about Becoming Love in how we love others who are different than us, don't have the same perspective as us, or seem to live in a different world than we do. It has a spiritual theme to it so when Bob asks God who he should love and when the answer is simple, Everybody, Always. I'll have it in my office if you wish to give it a read.