Anchor Weekly
A newsletter for Alta Vista Staff~Week of May 14, 2018
Don't Forget! Next Week's Calendar
- STAAR Math (Gr 3-4, Retest 5th) on Monday, May 14
- STAAR Reading (Gr 3-4, Retest 5th) on Tuesday, May 15
- Possible visit from TEA Education Commissioner on Wednesday, May 16
- STAAR Science (Gr 5) on Wednesday, May 16
- NO Faculty Meeting on Wednesday, May 16 (tentative)
- 2nd Grade Field Trip on Friday, May 18
Coming Up: District Testing (Following Week), RtI Follow Ups with Maynard (5/21), EOY LPACS (5/22)
STAAR Schedule Changes
- No specials on Monday & Tuesday.
- 2nd grade will need to go to lunch at 3rd grade's time (11:15, 11:17, 11:20, 11:23-sit at your regular table) on Monday & Tuesday
- Regular lunch and specials schedules on Wednesday EXCEPT for 4th & 5th grade; they need to switch lunch (4th grade lunch at 12:00, 12:03, 12:05, 12:07; 5th grade lunch after STAAR) and specials schedules (4th grade specials at 10:15; 5th grade specials at 2:10)
Interventions & Tutoring
Triads!
Our last triad meeting will be Wednesday, May 23.
Here is the form: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GozHheMZBfDDS6CIttHxmps0HyK52LiiEaLXdSVvsAE/edit?usp=sharing
The focus is Content Knowledge & Expertise. Here are some "Look Fors:"
Teacher uses content and pedagogical expertise to design and execute lessons aligned with state standards, related content and student needs.
• Content knowledge in multiple contexts
• Objectives linked with other disciplines
• Anticipation of misunderstanding tied to techniques
• Thinking/Higher order questions
• Real World
From Your Captain
As the year wraps up, remember the importance of keeping students engaged. Please work especially close with those students in danger of failing.
Conscious Discipline
Keep it going...just be a STAR and BREATHE!
Field Day Schedule
Pre-K and Kinder 8:20-9:20
Grade 1 9:25-10:25
Grade 2 10:30-11:30
Grade 3 11:35-12:35
Grade 4 12:40-1:40
Grade 5 1:45-2:45
Summer Camp for GT/High Achieving Students
Ignore the Critics; Do the Work
(Excerpt from The Power of Positive Leadership by Jon Gordon)
Positive leaders don’t lead because they want recognition or enemies. They lead because there is something they must do, build, create, transform, and change. They lead because it’s who they are and what they are meant to do. However, with leadership comes scrutiny, praise, critics, and attacks. A leader could find a cure for cancer and would still have some people criticize them for it. There was even once a leader who transformed the world by feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and loving the unlovable, and yet he was killed for it. If you are a leader, expect to be attacked. Positive leadership doesn’t mean you won’t be criticized. It means you have the grit and belief to overcome it. Positive leaders don’t lead in a tranquil sea of positivity, but through the storms of adversity and negativity.
Leadership is knowing that the critics will criticize you while still saying what needs to be said and doing what needs to be done. History doesn’t remember the critics. It remembers the one who withstood criticism to accomplish something great.
In our modern social-media–driven world, you will have more fans and critics than ever. The keys are: Don’t let praise go to your head and don’t let critics into your head. Be so invested in your craft that you don’t have time to listen to the naysayers. No time for negativity. You’re too busy creating the future. If I would have listened to the naysayers and critics, I would have stopped working on my craft years ago. I want to encourage you to never let the opinion of others define you and your future. Your identity doesn’t come from what the world says about you. It comes from who you are on the inside. Your work, leadership, and mission are too important to allow others to define your destiny.
No matter what anyone says, just show up and do the work.
If they praise you, show up and do the work.
If they criticize you, show up and do the work.
If no one even notices you, just show up and do the work.
Just keep showing up, doing the work, and leading the way.
Lead with passion.
Fuel up with optimism.
Have faith.
Power up with love.
Maintain hope.
Be stubborn.
Fight the good fight.
Refuse to give up.
Ignore the critics.
Believe in the impossible.
Show up.
Do the work.
You’ll be glad you did.
True grit leads to true success.
- Jon Gordon