Monday Memo
January 6, 2020
Great Things!
I hope you each had a relaxing 2 weeks away, and are ready to tackle 2020 with excitement and energy!
We had beautiful weather most of our break!
Our kindness ornaments were starting to fill up before we left for break! So fun to read them all!
We ended our last day of school before break with some awesome PD! I hope you learned a lot, and were able to take some great ideas and strategies away with you!
Challenge: The moment is as it is.....
I have chosen to continue our focus from before break for this week. As we return from winter break, let's practice embracing the moments as they come. Our kids will be excited to see us, and will also most likely struggle with some basic routines and expectations this week. Let's remember to accepts moments as they are and also our feelings. We got this!
Are you willing?
See Commitment picture below....
Dates to remember:
January 5: Happy Birthday Dan!
January 8: Happy Birthday Sarah B!
January 8: Flipped Faculty meeting-Library sign-in 4:15 p.m.
January 9: Happy Birthday Ellen!
January 11: Happy Birthday Laura E.G.!
Kindness Ornaments
Every staff member has an ornament on the wall near the front office. Grab a marker and take a moment to write something kind, something special, a talent or special quality, or why they are an important part of our HGECC family. Doesn't need to be long, just a few words, one word, or a short sentence to let them know how special they are. Let's fill up everyone's ornament by the end of the week.
*Markers are in a cup by the wish well board.
Nuts-n-Bolts:
*Announcements are uploaded and ready to go-Kim McN's p.m. kids will continue this week.
*We are scheduled for a faculty meeting this Wednesday at 4:15. This month will be a flipped meeting; the meeting will not be an in-person meeting from 4:15-5:15 p.m. (You will need to come by the library to sign in/exit ticket/etc on that date) Be on the lookout for an email coming out which will contain information continuing our focus on Disrupting Poverty and further information about our flipped meeting requirements.
*Teachers: please update and submit a hard copy of you class lists with students divided to me by end of day January 6th. Include what kids will stay with you or your TA if one of you is here, and what students will go out to other classes.
*If you are willing, we are still in need of some volunteers to help with childcare on Wednesday from 2:00-3:00 over the next 6 weeks. The sign up sheet is on my window outside my office. We are looking for 2 each week to help with this.
*Websites are due to be updated by end of the day January 17. Please email me to let me know you have done this.
*January book shelving duty: Caiti
Speech and Language Tip of the Week:
We all work with kids whose families speak Spanish in the home. Try and learn a few new Spanish words to label some common objects (toys, colors, animals, clothing, etc.) in your classroom or some common actions (sit down, walk, give it to me) or questioning words (what is this, who is that, do you like that). This will not only help us to communicate a little better with some of our kids, but it will also help us to build better relationships.
Fine Motor Tip of the Week:
Stencils
Stencils are a great activity to challenge kids’ fine motor skills. They have to work hard to stabilize the stencil, visually track the stencil border, and use small finger movements to trace the detailed borders of the stencil. There are several packs of stencils in my room if you would like to borrow them.