Bear Tracks
May 11, 2018
Coming Up:
Friday 5/11 - 2nd Grade Publishing Party 10:30 am
Friday 5/11 - WHOLE CLASS THEME DAY
Friday 5/11 - Staff Appreciation BearBQ during lunches
Week of 5/14:
Monday 5/14 - Google Pioneer AR program (Media Center/Computer Lab) 2-5 grade [rotating all day]
Monday 5/14- Grade Level Meetings (staying in building working on placement)
Tuesday 5/15 - Richardson Auditorium 3rd & 5th Grade
Tuesdsay 5/15 - Special Reading "Hooray for Diffendoofer Day" for grades 3-5 (optional) in cafeteria at 3 pm
PARCC ELA - Wed. 5/16 - Fri. 5/19
PARCC Math - Mon. 5/21 & Tues 5/22
Wednesday 5/16 - PTO General Mtg 7:30 pm
Thursday 5/17 - Cartaino/Duncan/Whitman to Purple Cow and Village Park
Thursday 5/17 - 1st Grade to Zoo
Week of 5/21:
Monday 5/21 - Faculty Mtg
Tuesday 5/22 - Last day of PARCC!!! and Technology of Music Assembly (gym 1:30)
Wednesday 5/23 - Princeton Symphony Orchestra 5th grade 9:40
Thursday 5/24 - Overman & Loughlin FREC (trout release trip)
Friday 5/25 - Pre K Collab Day
Friday 5/25 - FIELD DAY!!!
5/28 - MEMORIAL DAY
Key Information:
- Ground Breaking (pond) - We will have a short groundbreaking ceremony Friday morning. Due to size constraints, we'll have Cislak's, Finnegan's and Shackleton's classes watch live (they were in the cohort that attended the PD and obtained the grant), but I want everyone to be aware. Work starts on Saturday!!!
- Special Reading - Before we start PARCC, I'll be doing a reading of Hooray for Diffendoofer Day, by Dr. Seuss. It will start at 3 pm in the cafeteria (3rd and 5th grade will be coming back from a trip). It is 100% optional, but I'd love it to be a bit of a 'pep rally' to remember and celebrate what is really important (but that we are also going to kick the PARCC's butt; because we CAN). CLICK HERE if you'd like to preview the book or read it to the class if you can't make it to the cafeteria.
- SGO's - Mr. Suozzo's communication indicated that SGO's were due 4/30. If you have assessments that are tied to universal screenings or grade level assessments, please enter your SGO as soon as the assessment is complete, but stay with the schedule of the assessment. If your assessment is 'in house' in your classroom, please work to complete it ASAP.
- Budget Reminder - Remember that 5/23 is the deadline for Ed Data (that is the generic stuff like classroom supplies and stationary, pens, etc...), 5/30 is the deadline for orders (that is the more fun classroom stuff - books, FUNdations stuff, resources, etc.). I am working hard to help the SpEd teachers to know that they will be doing next year, but no matter where you are think of the overall supplies you'd need wherever you are as a starting point. I'll put out assignments as soon as I can.
- Monday's GL Meetings - We'll be using that time to start the placement process. Let me know if you have any questions or need anything. I'll have STEM list for 3rd grade before Monday.
- BearBQ - Don't miss out, we'll be stationed outside at the picnic tables in the courtyard, but you can eat inside or outside. Stop by for some burgers (and other stuff), music and fun!
Article of the Week
Quote of the Week:
Note from the Principal:
Happy Friday!
In looking at the calendar for the 'upcoming events' part of Bear Tracks, something hit me. We only have 6 more Mondays for the 2017-18 school year! It human nature and I will not judge you if you just smiled or even did a dance in your chair while reading that.
But think about it... The school year is like one of those ultra marathons. We set goals for our students, develop relationships and we grind and work and toil and plan and assess and adjust and work... you get it. What we do is hard, but also magical to see how much our students can grow and change in a year. And the finish line is visible just over the horizon.
What can we do in the next six weeks to solidify the scenario that when a student is asked years down the road 'what teacher had a huge impact on you?', he/she has a hard time choosing because he/she had so many at Bear Tavern?
We have a finite amount of time left in this go round and we want to make it the best possible. Let's work hard to push aside the thoughts and focuses about who will be in what room next year, who has what amount of money in their budget, what child is coming to the grade next year and what is going on in another part of the building or district. Work to focus on the here and now and what we can do to build the strongest possible relationships with our kids and bring the absolute best out of them before we set them loose for the summer. Savor every minute we have left, because it will be over before we know it!
We have some amazing things coming up in the next few weeks. Don't forget to be present and enjoy them in the moment!
Have a great weekend.
Sincerely,
Chris