Monday Memo
January 8-12, 2018
Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties. -Helen Keller
Like most years, the two weeks off of work seems like such a huge amount of time as it is lingering out in front of me but then passes quicker than a blink of an eye as I am living it. Regardless, I am happy to report that once I recovered from the flu, I had a fabulous break. I slept, cooked, cleaned, shopped, reorganized, played games, reflected, saw movies and spent time with family. While there is never enough time to get everything done, I was careful to balance my days so that as I look back on them, I can feel like I spent enough time with all of my goal/priorities/responsibilities and have no regrets. However you spent your time, I hope that you feel the same and are able to come back re-energized, refreshed, focused and ready to help each of your students reach their learning goals.
As everyone else is setting goals for the new year, we are currently in the middle of the goals we professionally set for ourselves. As you reflect on the ones you set at the beginning of the year, how are you progressing? What is the next step that you need to take? If you have already reached that goal, what new goal will you set for yourself? Please let me know if I can help you in any way.
Tuesday will be such an exciting day as our students return to us. While most children will be able to jump back into your routines without skipping a beat, some will struggle. Never underestimate the value of reviewing your processes, routines, and rules. The time you invest in reviewing your expectations will be well worth the time you save in dealing with discipline. In addition, we normally have several new students join us for the spring semester. This review will also help them as they transition to a new school and your learning community.
If you haven't done so already, please be sure to write a thank you note to the PTA for wrapping our Christmas gifts. I don't know about you, but receiving that gift of time at one of the busiest times of year is always a special treat for me. Regardless, notes of appreciation from you goes a long way with them, and they always pass your cards around at the board meeting to share with each other.
Another important task is to register for the waiver day training. If you haven't already done so, please take care of that today. We will have a sign-in sheet printed out by the tie you arrive tomorrow.
Make today count!
JL
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Action Items
- Register for Jan 8th PD by EOD Jan 7th
- Complete and sign budget worksheets by EOD Jan 10th
- Review available assessment data and plan for grade level I & E Block (intervention & extension) by EOD Jan 12th
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Warm-Up Wednesdays
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Shoparoo
Did you know that each week I give out jeans passes to the three highest scoring staff members on Shoparoo? I know that many of you have already joined, but if you haven't, it is not too late. Simply go to www.shoparoo.com to create your account. Please feel free to push this information out to your parents as well.
Congratulations to Krista Daniel, Barbara Peebles and Jennifer Little for being the highest three staff contributors to Shoparoo this week!
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Focus for 2017 - 2018
In order to help all children achieve their personal best, McGowen teachers and staff will:
- Knowledgeably speak about our current practices that contribute to McGowen becoming a Level 2 Certified High Reliability School.
- Engage in collaborative team planning and lesson design that addresses the four essential questions of a PLC.
- Present lessons in such a way that students understand and can speak knowledgeably about posted learning and language targets.
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Remind for Staff
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Happy Birthday!
January
Laura Garro - 10th
Renata Sanchez - 10th
Gail Fein - 13th
Lisa Pedersen - 15th
Jean Possehl - 16th
Holly Bianchetta - 19th
Krystina Ticehurst - 24th
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APPRECIATIONS
- A-Team - Thank you so much for covering for me the week before the break. -JL
- Jaime, John, Rachel, Sadie & Makenzie- Thanks for staying late for an ARD! I appreciate all of your hard work to prepare for it! SL
- Peebles- Thanks so much for being so diligent about new registration and keeping an eye on our numbers! SL
- Haas~ I appreciate you more than you know for sharing your little pieces of construction paper with us for our gingerbread glyphs! It’s the little things!!! ~KT
- Thank you to my team and everyone that was so understanding with my inability to work the last four days, due to the flu. I am so grateful for your support and flexibility. I am glad I get to do ³life² with you all! - Michelle C.
- Jenny S. - Thank you for the great hand cream! So sweet of you to think of me! - Michelle C.
- Laurie L. & Lisa B. - It was such a treat to get out of bed to a gift from you. You are too kind and generous. I was really blown away. Thank you so much my sweet friends! - Michelle C.
- My team - What can I say? Thank you just never seems sufficient, but I am so grateful for your love, kindness, and generosity. I love you all! -Michelle C.
Sylvia - Thank you for making sure I did what I needed to do and always keeping me in check. Thank you, also, for being my delivery person!:). I appreciate you so much! Love you! - Michelle C.
Lori and Jen M. - Thank you so much for always being so willing to jump in and cover my duty (and sometimes in a moment¹s notice). I love y¹all! -Michelle C.
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Bad Dude
Join us in recognizing Jean Possehl as this week’s Bad Dude! Jean has worked tirelessly collaborating with both Shiela and Michelle to prepare dyslexia referrals, test all of our students and participate in all of their 504 meetings! She always comes prepared and can speak knowledgeably about the individual needs of the students she serves.
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Important Pay Day Information
Due to the holiday breaks, paydays are slightly different. Here are dates so you can plan accordingly.
- Nov 15 (includes extra stipend)
- Nov 30
- Dec 15
- Dec 22 (Dec 31 check paid early)
- Jan 12
- Jan 31
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McKinney ISD's Vision, Mission and Beliefs
Any time we have an idea, concern, solution and/or comment, this is the filter through which we should speak. Let's help each other live up to our vision, mission, and beliefs.
Vision:
We are a cohesive, diverse community providing engaging learning experiences for all.
We will provide engaging learning experiences so students can become effective communicators, quality contributors and socially responsible citizens.
Beliefs:
- Partnerships between students, parents, community members and staff are foundational to educational success.
- Positive school culture and a safe environment foster growth.
- Everyone has inherent value and deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.
- Learning is an active process requiring engaging tasks and engaging minds.
- Relevant and authentic experiences ignite continuous, deeper learning.
- Meaningful relationships enrich learning.
- Confidence fuels risk taking and higher achievement.
- Financial stewardship ensures a tomorrow for education.