Cardinal News
Were Stronger Together 1/4/16
Week at a Glance
This Week:
Enjoy your students and the beauty of the job!
Monday
- Todd @ FHES
Tech with T & 3rd Grade
Tuesday
- Todd @ FHES
- Emergency Drill
- PLCs
Wednesday
Rice w/ Abernathy @ 8:30am @ FHES
PLCs
Dental Clinic
Thursday
- Tech with T & 1st Grade
- Dental Clinic
Friday
Have a pleasant day.
Next Month:
FHES New Years Resolution
Before we left for winter break I placed a note at the bottom of the last bulletin's "Week at a Glance" area. I asked you to pull out your purpose and reflect. So how is it going? Have you found some new inspiration or are you asking yourself what is Rice talking about? No matter which your answer is; it's time for change and for us all to do what we are called to do as educators. There is no exception to this.
Now for all of my faithful Forest Heights colleagues lets move forward.
At the start of every year, many people make New Year’s Resolutions in hopes of improving their lives and becoming better people. Unfortunately, most people fail with these resolutions. However, there are a small group of people that make the change and improve their quality of life for the future. I believe that we can be in that small percentage as we move forward with purpose.
You didn't ask for my opinion, but in my opinion resolutions are only as good as the intention you put into making it. So I've decided to let our FHES team know where they really stand. Good or bad, doesn’t matter, I resolve to some honest, caring, constructive developmental straight talk so that we can get our single mission accomplished. For those still a little confused. . . Our single mission is to move children forward academically.
- What is your plan?
- Did you make it positive and obtainable so that you can be successful?
- Mean what you say and only say what you mean. Then put it on paper!
Here are some easy ideas to set some New Year's Resolutions with students in your classrooms:
- Create a way to keep your area neat and stick to it
- Set short and long term goals for students and review progress frequently by charting progress to goal and have short term celebrations together
- More positive feedback to students from the teacher and students to each other
- Set a no arguing procedure - then give students 3-5 ways to handle conflict and have students role play each
Side Note...
If you are not here to make a difference in the life of a child then there is no need for a FHES New Years Resolution. Instead consider that maybe this is not the place for you to spend 7.5 hours or more per day. Please view the video below. It takes a different perspective to the above stated.
I could go on and on but there is more work to do with kids.
Post Video Reflection
Now as an administrator this area can be a bit different and even tricky. There are ways to get staff off the wagon, but all good administrators know that developing talent is always better than finding new unvetted talent. So I am here to say that if your 7.5 hasn't mattered this far on the ride...it' not okay, but can be forgiven if you decide to make it count from this point forward. Put your foot over the side of our little red wagon and help us up the hill to academic success for children.
Effective PRAISE
Over the Break...
Classroom Organization and Cleanliness
Has your class space looked like this lately?
No More Mess - Lighten up the on the messy and get heavy on the clean
Then to top it all off; over the break, I received an email from a district office employee that contained a magazine article about how environments can affect student performance. Wow...I have to agree that it can play a part. Our schools MOY assessments coming in at about 25-30% proficient fits our school environment of about 25-30% cleanliness. I decided to put examples for you and for you to share with your students on what their classroom should look like.
- Teachers do you have vibrant charts and learning spaces for your students?
- Can a boy or girl be inspired by the pride you take in your space?
- Teachers can you be inspired by your teammates areas?
- Can you inspire your teammates and peers?
Let's work together and tell your neighbors when they are crossing over into the unteachable areas. It's EASY to let go and reach the dark side. We have to regain our composure and be ACCOUNTABLE.
What can we do to get a "Clean and Inviting Classroom" ?
IDEA: Coaching From Wrong To Right
Old method: A student repeatedly disrupts class and is sent to the office, in-school suspension or even home.
New method: A student is disruptive and the class gathers in a circle to talk about what happened and why — and what should be done.
The intent is to change the school culture by focusing on the cause of certain behavior and those harmed, rather than just responding to broken rules and punishing the offenders. It originated in the criminal justice system as “restorative justice” and has been used for years in school districts in several states.
Schools reported in the end "restorative justice" built relationships and insight into student perspectives. Although this could not be implemented in 100% of the incidents; when time and situations allowed it cut down on similar types of incidents reoccuring in the classroom.
Mystery Science
Free for the remainder of the school year.
Thought for the week
Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored."
-- Aldous Huxley
We're Stronger Together!
Know your Purpose (EVERYDAY)
Principal Lucretia Rice
Email: lrrice@gaston.k12.nc.us
Website: http://www.gaston.k12.nc.us/Domain/22
Location: 1 Learning Place, Gastonia, NC, United States
Phone: 704-866-6079
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/forestheightselem?ref=hl
Twitter: @msprincipalboss