Owl Notes
July 2019
Don't just fly - SOAR
I don't know about you, but I can't believe that it's time to start thinking about returning to work. I hope that you have taken time over the summer to detach from work and refresh your mind and your love for teaching. I read a quote the other day, yes from Jon Gordon, that says " We don't get burned out because of what we do. We get burned out because we forget WHY we do it." That quote resonated with me. When I allow myself to get bogged down in the scores, the reports, the conferences, the behavior challenges, etc...I experience burn out. I allow myself to get sidetracked and forget WHY I do what I do. I don't know about you, but I CHOSE this profession a LONG time ago and if I were to go back, I'd choose it again time after time. Yes, it is so much harder now than when I started, but at times I wonder if that's because I'm older than when I started. I find, however, that when I get out of the rut of scores, data crunching, etc...I realize how much I LOVE my job. . Yes, there are still challenges, struggles, hurdles to overcome, but those mountains are much easier to scale when I know WHY I am climbing them. As we come back to work, I want to encourage you to bring your why, put it in a prominent place in your room, and when all those outside things start dragging you down, return to your why. You chose this profession, whether recently or sometime in the past, and if you are still here, you are still choosing this profession. I want us to remember that this year, to focus on positivity. This is the year of POSITIVE! How we talk to our students, how we talk to each other, how we talk to ourselves, and how we feel about our job. This year, I ask you to join me in LOVING your job and CHOOSING to face each day with a positive attitude.
THIS IS THE YEAR TO INSPIRE...Who will you inspire and what will you inspire them to do?
Welcome new staff/staff changes
First - Maria Zavala - a familiar face coming home - Bilingual teacher
Second - Virydiana Valdez - Bilingual teacher
Third - N. Raya - Bilingual teacher
Fourth - Maria Hernandez - Bilingual teacher
Special Ed - Tanica Emmanuel
Paraprofessional - Charlotte Martin (familiar face with us last year and now permanent)
Dyslexia/RtI - Kim Mize - making us her permanent home
RETURNING TO WORK
August 7 - Teachers return to work/Teddy Bear Tea
August 8 - Meet the Teacher
August 9 - All paraprofessionals return to work (no exchange day)
Staff Development Week
With one day less this year and the addition of a morning at ORHS, we are really short on staff development time this year. Please note that we will not have near as much "planning" time during these few days as we've had in the past.
BRING YOUR FAVORITE SCHOOL SUPPLY TO SHARE
FOCUS FOR 19-20
*Guided Math in the classroom
*Units of Study in Reading and Writing
*Implementing technology into the learning environment
YEAR OF GROWTH
SEPTEMBER -
10 - after school - celebrating successes
26 - during conference - informal asessment of the whole class
OCTOBER
15 - after school - chunking content
31 - during conference - examining similarities and differences
NOVEMBER -
12 -- after school - guided math
DECEMBER -
10 - after school - generating and defending claims
JANUARY
14 - after school - organizing students to interact
30 - during conference - acknowledging adherence to rules and procedures
FEBRUARY
11 - after school - use of physical movement
27 - during conference - understanding students' background and interests
MARCH -
17 - after school - asking in-depth questions of reluctant learners
26 - during conference - technology in the classroom, not jut a station
APRIL -
14 - after school
30 - during conference
PLANNING FOR THE YEAR...
7 - Staff Development Starts
7 - Teddy Bear Tea
8 - Meet the Teacher
14 - School starts for students
SEPTEMBER
2 - Labor Day Holiday
19 - Title One/Parent Information Night
OCTOBER
4 - Fall Pictures
9 - ORHS Homecoming Parade
11 - Storybook Character Day/Early Release
16 - Bosses' Day
17 - Fall Family Night
25 - Boosterthon Kick Off
NOVEMBER
5 - Boosterthon Fun Run
8 - Third grade program
11 - Staff workday
21 - Group Pictures/Retakes
25 - 29 - Thanksgiving Break
DECEMBER
12 - Fourth grade program
19 - Winter parties/Early Release
20 - Jan 5 - Winter Break
JANUARY
6 - Staff Work Day
7 - Staff Development
20 - MLK Holiday
25 - CISD Health Fair
FEBRUARY
3 - 7 - Counselors' Week
5 - Author visit
14 - Donuts with Dad/Valentine's Day Parties
17 - School holiday/staff inclement weather day
21 - Go Texan Day/Luncheon
28 - Spring Fling Pictures
MARCH
5 - First grade program
6 - Early Release Day
9 - 13 - Spring Break
APRIL
1 - Kinder graduation pictures
4 - CISD Job Fair
7 - STAAR writing
10 - School holiday
23 - ExplOREtorium Night
MAY
1 - Second grade program
4 - 8 - Teacher and Nurse Appreciate Week
8 - Muffins with Mom
11 - STAAR Math
12 - STAAR Reading
22 - Fun Day/EOY Parties
25 - Memorial Day Holiday
26 - Kinder Graduation
27 - Fourth grade graduation
28 - Last day of school/early release
29 - Staff work day