Eagle News
2/24/14 - A Newsletter for the Haynes Bridge Staff
Happy Birthday!
March
3/3 - Marcie Connell
3/18 - Adam Cole
3/25 - Sharon Munzenmaier
3/27 - Calvin Shirley
3/30 - Pierre Fenelus
Dates to Remember
3/4 -Tuesday
- Leadership
- PTA Board Meeting
3/5 - Wednesday
- Grade Level Meetings
- Public Detention-Chang/Connell
- Basketball @ Haynes Bridge
3/6-Thursday
- Pre LGPE Concert
3/7-Friday
- Spring Pictures
- Rising 6th grade parent meeting
- Basketball at Webb Bridge
3/10 - Monday
Exceptional Children's Week
3/11 -Tuesday
- Leadership
3/12 -Wednesday
- Grade Level Meetings
- PALS Movie Event
- Detention - Hesford/Nigro
3/13 -Thursday
- Share IT Meeting
- Drama Club Talent Show
Principal's Points
Team,
I just want to reiterate how thankful I am to be part of our team. Everyone worked together and ultimately, we all arrived home. Some of our teammates are still recovering, mentally, so please lend a hand when you see someone that may need a pick-me-up. We debriefed with leadership tomorrow this week. If you have any input on what went well or what we need to improve upon, please send me an email with that feedback.
The good news is that we will not be required to make up the bad weather days. However, this did impact how much time we had to teach the units we were working on. If you have not already done so, please work out your calendars to determine what is essential for students to learn and where you can cut some things out.
Due to the days off, we have updated the TKES calendar. Mid-year conferences will be finished this week. We will begin our 3rd Walk-throughs the week of the 10th. You will have a different administrator than who has done your previous walk-throughs and formative observations. We will be observing for Standard 3 and Standard 4.
In order to make sure we are prepared for next week, we will be holding grade level meetings on Monday. Career day is Thursday and it is important we are all clear on the process for our day to be a success. Please plan accordingly and remind your colleagues.
Have you dreamed of being on TV? Well, here is an opportunity....see the note for 11Alive below.
To honor the Winter Olympics in Sochi 11Alive is planning an Olympic All Access Pass Newscast.
Date: Wednesday, February 12
Live Location: Wills Park, 11925 Wills Rd, Alpharetta, GA 30009 (exact location in the park TBD)
Arrival time: 4:15pm
Broadcast Time: 5pm – 6pm
Date: Wednesday, February 12
Live Location: Wills Park, 11925 Wills Rd, Alpharetta, GA 30009 (exact location in the park TBD)
Arrival time: 4:15pm
Broadcast Time: 5pm – 6pm
The more the merrier so please invite other organizations, friends, and family. Also, feel free to bring signs/banners/props that will be seen on-air!
Below is a link from when we took the show to the City of Dallas for the Summer Olympics.
http://dallas.11alive.com/news/news/129782-11alive-parties-dallas
Please let us know if you can attend so we can plan on how many people are able to join us! When you call, ask for Jenna Levetan or Erika Palmer.
Jenna Levetan, Producer, 11Alive News / WXIA-TV, Newsroom: (404) 873-9114
Weekly Team Time Assignments
Team Time Schedule
Monday
Math Challenge: Students will either solve a Valentine's or career themed problem on least common denominator or Pythagorean theorem according to their grade level.
Tuesday
Character Education Writing Prompt: Students will practice and improve their writing skills by responding to a writing prompt centered on career choices and compensation.
Wednesday
D.E.A.R., which stands for Drop Everything and Read; students will read a book they have checked out from the media center and participate in the "arrive at 25" program managed by our media center.
Thursday
Career Day-(Students will have the opportunity to listen to speakers from various career backgrounds during their team time classes)
Friday Finish
Students should be given time to complete their assignments
To view the specific assignments for this week's team time click the link below:
Assessment
Media/Technology Support
ONE-Did you know you and the students have 24/7 access to our databases? The passwords for the databases can be found on the media center page by clicking on Database Passwords. This page is password protected but the password is very easy to remember- EAGLES
TWO-Are you receiving wonderful projects from your students? Please share wonderful student work so students and other teachers can see the exciting, rigorous, and innovative work that is being done in our classrooms. Send to Jes O’Kelley okelley@fultonschools.org anything, including papers, posters, Prezis, Powerpoints, videos, models, artwork, and digital projects. She will return the projects to you quickly. We need work from every content area, and we would like as much as we can get! Send anything and everything you have. Click here is a sneak peak at the website!
Professional Development
Teaching Quote of the Week:
"The future of the world is in my classroom today, a future with the potential for good or bad... Several future presidents are learning from me today; so are the great writers of the next decades, and so are all the so-called ordinary people who will make the decisions in a democracy. I must never forget these same young people could be the thieves and murderers of the future. Only a teacher? Thank God I have a calling to the greatest profession of all! I must be vigilant every day, lest I lose one fragile opportunity to improve tomorrow."
--Ivan Welton Fitzwater
Upcoming PD:
“Student Website Design” 3/14, 1:00 – 2:00PM, Room 84
More to come soon!
Thought of the Week:
It's not too late to watch some PD videos on PD360! The contest runs through this week- watch for Mrs. Karp's emails for motivation and encouragement!
I have been reading the forum discussions on Teaching Ahead a lot lately, and have found a lot of useful food for thought. It is refreshing to read teacher's opinions and ideas on a number of different topics that impact our teaching everyday. From thier website-
"Teaching Ahead, an interactive project jointly developed by Education Week Teacher and the Center for Teaching Quality, is designed to bring greater exposure to the ideas of standout classroom educators on the future of their profession. Each month, selected teacher panelists will be asked to respond to and discuss key issues in education policy and instructional practice. The discussions are intended to help inform the national conversation on the direction of public schools."
You can find them here: http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/teaching_ahead/
Look on the right for a menu of panel discussions.
Useful Resources:
A lot of great lesson plan ideas and resources- all free. http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/
Extra Help
Snowpocalypse? Snowmageddon? SnowJam?
How are you feeling about last week’s weather-related events? Did it make you a little anxious to drive the roads to the school today- the same roads you had to carefully maneuver on Tuesday night? Maybe you’re having bad dreams about those hours you were separated from your own children, unable to get to them. Maybe you’re questioning the school district’s, governor’s, or mayor’s response to the storm? Do you feel out of sorts? Fuzzy headed, exhausted, muscle tension, or headaches? You’re not going crazy. We experienced a traumatic event.
What you’re feeling is normal! The trip home Tuesday (and Wednesday) took a huge emotional toll on many of us. It might have even taken a physical toll. The good news is, after a traumatic event, most of us get back to “normal” eventually. It just takes time. Here are some things that might help your coping:
-- Share your story. Call and friend, family member or have lunch with a staff member to tell them about what happened to you. If you’re not a talker, write it out in a journal or send an email to someone you love.
-- Plan for if/when it happens again. After a traumatic event, part of healing is making sure you feel safe or better prepared next time. Pack a bag in your trunk, add more people to your child’s pick up list, talk about preparedness with your family, buy an extra cell phone charger, put a bag of sand in your trunk- whatever you need to do to assure yourself you’re prepared if it happens again.
-- Get lots of rest, eat well and exercise. You know, basic self-care things. All these things help restore your energy, clear your mind, and help your brain process what you went through.
-- Get back to your routine. This makes the event feel like just that, an event. It’s not a part of our every day lives. Thank goodness!
If you feel like you’re not getting back to “normal” or having trouble carrying out your daily responsibilities, reach out for help. You have 2 amazing counselors, a social worker, and a caring admin team at your disposal. We can direct you to resources for support. Also- don’t forget about the Employee Assistance Program- the free number you can call for counseling and emotional support. It’s 1-800-854-1446. You are part of a great team!