Principal Walder's Tuesday Memo
For the week of September 3rd
Making a Commitment
My Dad always gave advice. Often times, unsolicited advice, but he was full of advice nonetheless.
At the end of college, I commuted from my folks' farm to Brookings. I distinctly remember one of these early mornings before I was headed back to SDSU for class. Dad was sitting at his chair at the kitchen table drinking a Diet Mountain Dew to give me the latest road report.
He also did the "Dad thing" and asked about my now-husband that I was just starting to date at the time. I giggled, glossed over details and started to head out the door, but before I left he reminded me "Kid, you know this only works if both of you give 100%. It can't be 50/50. It has to be 100% all the time."
Again, at the time, I didn't think much of it, but now I realize just how solid this advice was-- not just for a relationship, but for any time you have to work with others. With everything from friendships and relationships to the "group project assignment" during college, we all know what it is like to work with a partner(s) that doesn't give 100%.
Come'on you remember that group project scenario... you could just split the assignment 50/ 50, but then you don't all learn the content. Or you can be the person that cannot handle the organization of the PowerPoint presentation, so you redo the whole thing the night before the assignment is due because it doesn't quite fit the full points of the rubric. In this case, everybody got the same grade, but really only one person did the project. Nothing works in group projects or partnerships when everything is split or when one person has to take all the load.
As adults now, we all know our own talents and have honed our expertise. We all can contribute to projects and goals in our own way. Now as a team forming a goal, we all have to figure out what we are willing to commit to all the way... every day.
So, what it comes down to in the end, my Dad was right.
Each person involved needs to give their own 100% to make it work.
For our team at Legacy Elementary, we each have to decide what our 100% is going to be.
At the last teachers' meeting, I handed out a paper copy of Chapter 52: Go for the Gold by Dr. Kamphoff. You all also have the hardcover copy after our in-service.
Before Thursday morning read all four, short pages this week as I will be asking you for input about our building goal for the year. Page 301 includes four questions that are very individual. I am going to ask you questions like this for our goal.
The next morning, our Instructional Leadership Team will help finalize the goal based on each of your input on Thursday morning.
Legacy PLC Topic for the Week
- Frontline Review
- Teacher Observation Cycle Review
- Review: Full Observation, Round, and Quick Pictures
- Danielsen Components in each of the above
- Q and A on any
- Frontline Self- Assessment
Please bring your computer. We will be in the Meeting Room.
Dr. Walder's Schedule
Monday: NWEA Testing Window Open
- No School
Tuesday:
- 11:50- 12:40 2nd PLC in Meeting Room
- 12:45- 1: 35 1st PLC in the Meeting Room
- 3:30 IEP in Conference Room
- SLO Form 1 Due in Frontline -- See Dr. Warzecha with questions.
Wednesday:
- Out of the office all day for my sister-in-law's funeral
- I will be picking up and dropping off my kids for school. Please let me know via text to stop in if you have anything emergent.
Thursday:
- 7:40- 8:10* Note time* Tacher Meeting in Meeting Room
- 1:35- 2:25 3rd PLC in the Meeting Room
- 2:25- 3:15 JK/ K PLC in the Meeting Room
- 3:30 IEP in Conference Room
Friday:
- 7:30 Building Instructional Leadership Goal Team Meeting
- 9:20- 10:10 5th PLC
- 10:15- 11:05 4th PLC
- Bring Legacy Gold Classroom winners to Heather.
- 2:55 First LEGACY GOLD Drawing - Send students to Mr. Binde's Room
Contact Dr. Walder
Email: Samantha.Walder@k12.sd.us
Website: https://www.teaschools.k12.sd.us/
Location: Tea, SD, USA
Phone: 6058817381
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeaAreaLegacy/
Twitter: @swalder7