Mark's Monday Morning Memo
November 28, 2016
HEF Grants
I've got great news to share. Gatewood received three grants from the Hopkins Education Foundation totaling $12,069! One grant was written by Billy Barringer and is titled, "The Heart Zones Grant." This grant allows Billy and other physical education teachers to purchase heart rate monitors. These heart rate monitors are non invasive and are worn just like a bracelet. The hear rate monitors allow for easy data collection as well as real time feedback for the students. The second grant I wrote and it is titled, "Using Robotics to Engage Students, Develop Leaders & Enhance Social and Emotional Learning." My hypothesis to to use robotics to engage and develop positive leaders with some of our more active students. The third grant was written by the district and it's purpose is to create a flexible classroom to support teacher instruction and student learning. Many schools expressed interest in being considered but Gatewood was selected and Justin Ingham's classroom was identified to be this prototype classroom. He'll be working to identify instructional and learning needs and we'll be purchasing furniture and equipment to help meet these goals. We'll keep you updated on the progress of this grant project. Congratulations Gatewood!
Former Gatewood Gator Pays It Forward
Last Monday, November 21, 2016, former Gatewood student Marisa Bingham met with and shared with our seventy-six 5th graders. She delivered a lesson about not limiting yourself, giving to others, and paying it forward. This is the second year Marisa and her parents have visited and they reached out this year to do this again. Thank you to Lisa Schmid for organizing this inspiring visit and project. Here is a link to a KARE11 story on Marisa and this project.
http://www.kare11.com/life/woman-donates-to-students-hoping-they-pay-it-forward/354672357
Professional Development
The December 8, 2016, two hour late start professional development will be delivered EdCamp style. We will come together that morning, identify topics that people are interested in learning more about, create a schedule, and let staff members design their learning. You can come to this session with an idea in mind of something you'd be willing to share or offer an idea about something you are interested in learning more about. The district professional development day on Friday, December 9, 2016, will include PLC time and will have a focus on math for classroom teachers and other support teachers.
MESPA Board Meeting
I will be out on Friday, December 2, 2016, presiding over a MESPA Board meeting at the TIES Building in St. Paul.
Lounge Clean Up
Thank you for stepping up to sign-up and help keep our lounge clean. The other morning I walked in and it was sparkling, welcoming, and clean! There still are slots available this year for you to do your part in keeping our lounge clean. Thank you.
Thanksgiving Break
I hope you had a great Thanksgiving break and got to spend quality time with friends and family. In the next three and a half weeks until winter break, I hope you are able to slow down, enjoy yourself, and find ways to reduce stress. These are busy weeks and we need to be at our best for each other, our students, and Gatewood families. I had an amazing visit to New York City, one that I will cherish forever. Here are a few photos from my visit. I documented my adventure with more picture on Twitter and Facebook.