The Bailey Times
September 24, 2018
REWARD SCHOOL
Bailey Station has been identified as a REWARD school again for the 2017-2018 testing year!!! We exemplified student success in achievement and growth!!
Update on the Playground!
Thank you for helping to make this happen!
Principal's Blog: What's In Your Suitcase?
What's in your suitcase?
I just finished watching a TED Talk on celebrating introverts and what they bring to the table both in our personal life but also in our school life. It was refreshing to hear that introverts should be celebrated because I have for 58 years tried to push myself to not be as introverted as I am. I will be honest, I don't particularly care for social gatherings that require me to talk to everyone and be happy and full of great information to share....So, you may be wondering why are you a principal? Lord only knows why I have been put in this position, but I do the best I can! I will also be honest and say that I have grown to love being a principal and pushing myself in ways that I would have never done if I stayed in the classroom. I feel as a principal I can offer teachers something that an extroverted leader may not be able to offer. I listen and I listen well! I have found that most extroverted people listen but they do not listen well. Now, they will say they are listening, but if you are an introvert you can tell they are not! I notice all body language, cadence in the voice, changes in speech patterns to denote that you are thinking about something else while you are trying to listen to me! As a leader listening without putting your "spin" on what someone is saying is how you can grow people to want to step out and take a chance...that their idea is worthwhile and it is their idea and NOT the extroverts spin on their idea! Does that make sense? I love extroverts, don't get me wrong! They are some of my best friends and my husband is one and I love him dearly. But, in saying that, I think as a society we tend to push those that are quiet and introverted to be like their extroverted friends and when we do this we miss out on some of the most talented and creative souls that have so much to offer but may not step out and do so when always pushed to be someone they are not.
At school last year, we talked about storytelling...telling our own stories which are so important as we build relationships with our students. In looking for something on this subject, I ran across a TED talk about introverts and it fit so well into why we need to tell our stories that I thought I would share. At the beginning of the TED Talk, Susan Cain talked about what was in her suitcase as she was going to camp for the summer. Her suitcase was full of books which are her passion. At the end of her talk, she asked that we take a moment to examine what we have in our suitcase and take it out every once in a while and share with others because we all have so much to share. So I started thinking about what would be in my suitcase? My suitcase would be filled with fabric, quilting magazines, sewing instruments, books on creating things, mystery books, magazines like PEOPLE (I do love gossip stories), my kindle, stationary, lots of pens, markers, pencils, my calendar (knockoff Erin Condren) with all the trappings for marking up my calendar, essential oils, pictures of my kids and family, and my dogs if they would fit in the suitcase! My husband said he would bring the following in his suitcase; me, kindle, his favorite pair of shoes, guitar to play, firewood and essentials to make a fire, bourbon, and cigars! Oh, how we are different! In fact, he looked at me like I had two heads when I asked him what he would put in his suitcase which is exactly what I expected. The funny thing is that my husband who is an extrovert freely shares and talks about what is in his suitcase and all of what he said fits him and what he shows the world. On the other hand, many people know I love quilting, sewing, and reading but I do not share my work but on rare occasions and it is something that I love doing but never really have the time to devote to on a regular basis!
It was refreshing to hear what Susan Cain felt was important about those of us who function as introverts and that in the school we are always pushing our kids to work in groups, which is fine, but we should also celebrate working alone and thinking deeply which cannot be done when you have five or six kids all talking at once! I think balance is the key to helping our introverted children. They need to be pushed, but at the same time, they need to have quiet time as do our extroverted kids so that they can learn to think through things, build up their perseverance, and learn to follow through with everything that is asked of them in the classroom.
Her TED talk is excellent if you would like to take a moment to watch it!
Bailey Station Elementary Vision and Mission Statements
Our team is hard at work and we have had several discussions about where our school is today and what we think are important values for us. We will be meeting again in October and from this meeting, we hope to have some information to share with all of you so that we can get your input and thoughts as we put together our final version with staff and parent approval. Please take the time to give us your thoughts and to make sure our vision and mission is something that we can look at every day to guide our teaching in the classroom.
Holiday Mail For Heroes! If your class would like to participate please have all cards back to Mrs. Tesreau by Oct. 18th so that I can get them to Central Office! The details are in the PDF below!
TETC Conference Nov. 28th - 30th
Do you use technology in your classroom? Interested in learning more? Apply to attend the Tennessee Educational Technology Conference. If selected to attend, your registration, accommodations, travel expenses, and meals (not provided by the conference) will be reimbursed. Your classes will be covered by a sub paid for by the district. You will carpool with other attendees and room with one other person. Applications will be accepted through Sept. 27th. To apply to attend the conference complete the form HERE. Learn more about the conference here.
Apple Operating System Updates - Please Hold
Apple will be releasing new operating system updates for both laptops and iPads later this month. Please DO NOT run these software updates on your school issued devices. We have many programs and must test to be sure that everything works correctly with these new platforms. Once we can verify, we will let you know that it is okay to run these updates.
Also, as an FYI, we will be BLOCKING these updates on student devices.
CEF Grants will be picked up by Mr. Kelsey on October 5th!!! Please make sure that you have let me sign your grant!
Grant Opportunities - Don't forget to complete a grant! They have lots of money to give away!!!!
- Teacher Grant Opportunities – Both the Collierville Education Foundation and the Collierville 20th Century Club are currently accepting applications for classroom grants. Click on the links below for additional information. If you plan to apply, please be sure that you have completed the steps required by Collierville Schools.
Coffee Chats 7:45 -8:45
If you would like to host a coffee chat please let me know and get on the calendar.
Take a moment and read through the articles or blogs that I have looked at this past week! Maybe one will be of interest to you!
Please look over the calendar as dates change and meetings change all the time!
Month at a Glance
Tuesday, Sept. 25th
Data Meeting with Data Team and Board 9:00 - 11:30 in Room 200
Wednesday, Sept. 26th
Out all day
Thursday, Sept 27th
Faculty Meeting 7:30 - Tier II Intervention Training
Friday, September 28th
D2D will be at school looking at Math
Wednesday, October 3rd
Visit from our author Mr. Schu
2nd/3rd grade 9:15 - 9:45
4th/5th grade 10:00 - 10:45
Coffee Chat - Moore and Cook 7:45 - 8:45
Thursday, October 4th
Faculty Meeting @ 7:30 in the library - Dionne Cole and Sheryl Johnson
Friday, October 5th
Student Council Induction Ceremony
October 8th - 12th
Fall Break
Monday, October 15th
Out 1/2 day PM
Wednesday, October 17th
Principal's Meeting Out of Building
Thursday, October 18th
Leadership Meeting @ 7:45 in the library
Friday, October 19th
Bailey Bear Boogie
October 22nd - 26th
Red Ribbon Week
Monday, October 22nd
Vision Team Meeting @7:45 in library **This is a change**
Tuesday, October 23rd
Out of the Building All Day
Thursday, October 25th
Faculty Meeting 7:30 Learning Coaches PD on Academic Feedback
October 29 - Nov. 2nd
One for Books
Thursday, November 1st
Faculty Meeting 7:30 Bullying/Suicide Presentation by School Counselors
Tuesday, Nov. 6th
Book Fair Preview for Teachers
5th Grade Biz Town
Wednesday, Nov. 7th
Principal's Meeting - Out of the building
5th Grade Biz Town
Thursday, Nov. 8th
Open House 6:00 - 7:00
Book Fair 5:00 - 7:30
PD and Popcorn
Monday, Nov. 12th
Veterans Day Program 2:00 in Gym
Wednesday, Nov. 14th
Run Club Awards 8:15 in Gym
Thursday, Nov. 15th
PTA Bingo Night 6:00 pm Cafeteria
Friday, Nov. 16th
Kindergarten Pow Wow and Feast 2:30 Cafeteria
Nov. 19th - 23rd Thanksgiving Holiday
Thursday, Nov. 29th
Faculty Meeting @ 7:30 Library on Tier 1 Instruction