Burchfield's Bulletin
February 27-March 3 (School Days 115-119)
Gratitude
Second, I am so thankful for the people who made the extra effort to make the events of the last couple of weeks so successful. I want to start with teachers of academic content. Your attention to the detail of assessment results is showing for most. When you see what needs to be done from monitoring and then adjust your instruction, students benefit beyond belief. Thanks so much for doing the hard work. I know the results of your work and the work of our specialists and instructional paras will be so rewarding. I am also thankful for the teachers who went above and beyond to make the performances at CHS and the Talent Show great successes. You pulled it together so gracefully. There are a lot of people behind every great performance and I appreciate you one and all.
Speaking of great performances, I have to say that the Talent Show was so incredible. It was hard to believe for many that the talent was from elementary students. Best one I've ever seen anywhere!! For those who were not in attendance, there will be room for you next year. We are already making plans for a different venue. "Packed house" is an understatement.
Finally, I want to say thanks to the goal team leaders who led your team in the Formative Goal Update last week during Goal Team meetings. I will be finalizing that update this week. If you have further comments to make, it is not too late. I hope it gave your team the opportunity to be reminded of our CIP goals, objectives, and strategies we have committed to. By the way the teams should have representation of each grade level team. Please share with your teams the strategies that need attention.
PBIS
I hope that everyone will do their very best to make sure the incentives and encouragements that can be shared with students are. It is so easy to get frustrated with students who do not conform or comply with our desires in class ad throughout the building. There are a couple of extremely important things that everyone of us need to get beyond.
1) Children are not all alike. Not every child has a teacher for a mother. Not every child has parents that are confident in your parenting skills. Not every child will behave the way you want them to because it is not "natural" for them.
2) Many children come to us with legitimate disabilities or inabilities that make compliance almost impossible without a strong relationship and a strong sense of love from their teacher. Their are children who need help not constant reprimand or chastisement for their indiscretions. I know it is extremely hard to overlook wrongs but there must be a way to teach for change rather than punish for change.
3) Children need to want to be where they are. We have to make our classrooms the only place they want to be during school. What plans did you make for this week that are going to encourage, entice, and energize your students to want to come to school and learn from you?
Everyone needs incentives to do the right thing everyday. I hope that you will join me to find ways to encourage others in this journey called life. We never know what an encouraging word can do for someone. If you need the encouraging word, you be the one to start the positive trend by giving the encouragements and it will return to you 10 fold.
It is that time of year...
We must make sure to keep our eyes on the whole playground.
We must make sure to keep our eyes on the whole cafeteria.
We must make sure to keep our eyes on the whole classroom.
We must make sure to keep our eyes on the students throughout the lines in the hallways.
We must make sure to keep our eyes on the students coming and going to restrooms with or without their class.
We must make sure to keep our eyes on the unsupervised children in the hallways that are on a mission.
We must make sure to keep our eyes on visiting adults throughout our building - badges or nametags are a must.
Calendar Updates
This Week:
Monday - 3rd Grade Reading CCA; RTI: Pronger, Mickels, Neel
Tuesday - 3rd Grade Math CCA; PTO Spring Creek Fundraiser Night & Free Dress with Donation
Wednesday - ARD: Stevens/McNeill, Price, Fritz/Massey, Coleman; Leadership Team Meeting
Thursday - 5th Science CCA; Regional Spelling Bee; Elementary School of Choice Lottery Opens
Friday - Spring Pictures; PTO Movie Night
Next Week:
March 6 - 5th Reading Benchmark; ARD Day: RTI’s; DEIC Meeting; PTO Board Mtg.
March 7- 5th Reading Benchmark; ARD
March 8- ARDS; STAAR Training during Staff Meeting
March 9 - ARD; FLS McDonald's Field Trip; Elementary Open House/Fine Arts Night
Important Upcoming Dates:
March 12 - Daylight Saving Time Starts
March 13-17 - Spring Break
March 20 - Return to Work; First Day of Spring
March 23 - 2nd Grade to Russell Art Farm; CEIC Meeting for Members
March 25 - Relay for Life Garage Sale
March 28 - 4th Grade STAAR Writing; 5th Grade STAAR Math
March 29 - 5th Grade STAAR Reading
March 31 - KG Field Trip to Zoo
Duties, Birthdays, and WatchDOGS
Duties
da Vinci Hall: Burross
Escher Hall: McPherson
Gym: Griffin & Price
Birthdays
Feb. 27 - Bonnie Verreault, March 1 - Nicki Earnheart, March 2 - Megan Burross
WatchD.O.G.S.
Mar. 3 - Joseph Green