In the Middle Newsletter
Week of September 10-14, 2018
Principal Ponderings: Balance
There is tired and then there is first week of school tired. The first week of school is always an interesting time of year. As much as we try to plan ahead, prepare documents, etc. there are things we can't do until we are in the moment. I appreciate all of you in handling the first week of school items with patience and compassion. What may seem like minor items to us are mountains to a middle school student. I encourage all of you to take some time this week to reflect on a positive first week, do something you enjoy during the summer months as the sunshine and warm temperatures are dwindling, and recharge for Monday morning. Life is never going to be balanced 100%, but it is incumbent upon us to make balance a priority. If you do not take care of you then you will not be able to attend to those who are counting on you.
Administrative Items
- NWEA testing will start next week for the 6th and 7th-grade students
- First late start is Wednesday, September 12. We will begin at 7:20. Agenda to follow
- Emergency drills will begin next week. Information to remind you of procedures will be sent out to you at the beginning of the week.
- As students are either sent or ask to come to the office, they are asked to sign in if they will be staying for a period of time. It is a great help to Tammy if she can see who signed in and may still be in the office in case of an emergency drill.
- Reminder to share lesson plans and Classrooms with Allison and me. You can turn in a reimbursement for any planbook associated costs.
Important Dates/Events
9/7
Picture Day
9/10
Admin Meeting, Swegles/Arend @ CO, 1:15-2:43
Board Meeting, 5:30pm
9/11
Region 5 MEMSPA meeting, Swegles out of building 8:45-10:00
Instructional Strategy
"Remember that a person's name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language." Dale Carnegie, author of How to Win Friends and Influence People
Resources Worth Sharing
Tweet of the Week
What I'm Reading
I've been following Jimmy Casas on Twitter for years and when I learned he was publishing a book it was an automatic on my summer (now fall) reading list. I just started last night and only got through page 9 before nodding off to sleep but here is one quote that I think will sum up the book going forward and it goes for every individual in our building, staff and students alike. "We must remain vigilant that our words and deeds add to our school culture in a positive way rather than negate it." I know that this starts with me, but it doesn't end there. I'm looking forward to what follows and as always it will be in my office library when I'm finished (which "should" be in less than a week).