Mustang Message
January 23, 2017
A Principal's Perspective
This week I had the opportunity to be a 3rd grade student at College Hills Elementary. I appreciate the faculty welcoming me! I have been thinking about what I can take away from this experience as a principal. I would like to share my ahas with you and what I want to remember as an educator. My experience as a student was a very positive one. This experience confirmed our work not only in CSISD but at GP as well. Below are my general thoughts - just things that crossed my mind from the perspective of both a student and an educator.
- New students are nervous when coming to a new school! I was nervous too!
- Consistent procedures reinforced and followed by all are important to move efficiently and safely throughout the building while maximizing instructional time.
- Morning Assembly is an opportunity to build community and foster a positive, school family.
- Students have definite opinions about indoor recess. They want a chance to move or do something different.
- District initiatives/expectations are implemented at other schools too, such as station work, Workshop, Conscious Discipline, CHAMPS, and student opportunities to talk/share in class.
- Conscious Discipline is most effective when utilized by all staff across the campus. Use of CD language fosters comfort, understanding, and consistency of expectations.
- Tone matters when talking with one student individually, a class or in a large group. Tone can positively build a class family.
- A passion for teaching students and the joy of being a teacher are conveyed during instruction, walking down the hall, student interactions, staff interactions, etc.
- An effective team of professionals matter! Students notice when a team works together. They notice when the team enjoys the work that they do together by laughing, helping each other, collaborating, and/or sharing.
- Having time to think before I respond or talk with my partner helps me to collect my thoughts.
- Students need to talk during a lesson.
- Through their words and actions, students can also foster a risk taking learning environment.
- When it is not time to go to the bathroom, it is amazing that all of a sudden you need to go to the bathroom.
- It is difficult to sit criss-cross applesauce when you are 50! The circulation is not what it used to be!!! :)
Be Innovative - Design the possibilities!
Donna
Morning Duties for the Week
Morning Assembly (7:20): Littlefield
Gym (7:20): Hastings
Cafeteria (7:20): Fortner (switching weeks with Helfeldt)
Bus (7:15 - Buses/ Cafeteria after all buses arrive): Magnuson
Parent Drop Off Direct Traffic (7:20-7:50): Henry
Parent Drop Off Car Doors (7:20-7:50): S. Rhine & Michelson
Counselor Schedule: Kinder/PPCD/PreK/Lifeskills
Librarian: PC
Week at a Glance
Tuesday: GP Tech Training 3:30-4:30
Wednesday: Lounge Wednesday (see below); Tech & Specialists' Support Office Hour
Thursday: Posible Snow Enrichment Day depending on weather and temperature. SIT #3 (Grant, Lutz, Lake, Michelson, Lindner/Anderson, Brice/Prukop, Wilson/Henry) - SIT will be rescheduled if Snow Day is scheduled for this day; Reach 3:15-4:15
Friday: Possible Snow Enrichment Day depending on weather and temperature. ELA Meetings K-4; Note ELA meetings will be rescheduled if Snow Day is on this day
News & Notes
- We are watching the weather forecast carefully with an eye on the temperature in preparation for Snow Day. If the temperature is not conducive to a successful snow day, we will make the decision to move the date to Thursday, January 26th, or Friday, January 27th. Please stay tuned!
- It is that time of year again - Lounge Wednesday! We know that eating together provides opportunities to get to know each other better, laugh, share stories while building our GP team. If you eat in the lounge on Wednesday, wear your jeans and a GP shirt. Relaxed, comfy, and great company during lunch - can it get any better?
Mustang Yee Haws!
- Welcome back Michel Piscacek and Chris Parr! We have missed you! Thank you to Heather Rasmussen and Callan Anderson for doing a great job subbing for their classrooms.