Mustang Message
October 11, 2019
A Principal's Perspective
As educators, we have all heard about the fall and spring slump. We even affirm new teachers that what they are feeling this time of year is normal for all of us. Checkout the blog link: https://thecornerstoneforteachers.com/truth-for-teachers-podcast/beat-october-blues-regain-enthusiasm-teaching/ to discover how to beat the October blues. The author of the blog, Angela Watson, states, " I want to spread the word: if you’re feeling completely discouraged right now and don’t know how you can possibly make it until June, that is completely NORMAL." In the blog she gives educators 3 reasons why October can be a challenging month during a school year. But she doesn't leave it at that! She gives us 3 strategies to beat the October blues! Check it out!
Donna
News & Notes
Social Committee: Please see Social Committee Smore below for updated information about the GP Social Committee. Dues for professional staff: $25 and paraprofessional staff: $15.
- Everyone that has their dues turned in by the end of the day on Friday, October 11th, will be entered into a drawing for a gift card to Starbucks AND wear jeans on Wednesday AND Thursday October 16 & 17th.
- The team that has all members paid in full by the end of the day on Monday, October 28th, will receive a Sonic drink on Thursday, October 31st. This will be for all teams with 100% paid.
KBTX Pledge of Allegiance: Each weekday morning, KBTX features a classroom to say the pledge. Our students have the opportunity to be filmed for this segment of the morning show. KBTX will be on campus Thursday, October 24th, beginning at 7:45 in the cafeteria. They will stay until all interested classes are done. I am thinking 7:45-10:30. If you would like for your class to participate, sign up at the following link. https://forms.gle/CqYLV1kYM989VY7B7 Once I have all interested classes and preferred times, I will send out a schedule. I will provide the permission slips required by KBTX.
Recess Cabinet 1st-4th: The new recess cabinet is not the sturdiest. When opening the cabinet, use the double doors not the top. Secure the lock in one of the front loops to secure during the day. Last grade level, lock the cabinet when all equipment is put away. Last grade level, please make sure all equipment is put away.
Chrissy's Closet: Clothing drive will be Saturday, October 19th from 8-11am at College View High School (please enter off of Timber Street). As Chrissy's Closet is working to meet the needs of CSISD families, they are creating a food bank. Families that shop at Chrissy's Closet will be provided with five food items representing all food groups. Chrissy's Closet is needing seed money to start this endeavor. I have encouraged all CSISD principals to help by having a jean day for Chrissy's Closet. Jeans and supporting Chrissy's Closet as a CSISD family??? Yes! How??? Pay $5 or more as a donation and wear jeans the entire week of October 21-25th! The cost of a Starbucks drink can help provide the start up funds for a food pantry at Chrissy's Closet. How awesome is that??!!! If interested, please pay $5 or more to Casey by Friday, October 18th.
Room Moms: If you do not have a PTO room mom, please let me know. The PTO is working hard to make sure that every classroom teacher has a room mom.
Professional Development Monday, 10-14-19, & Tuesday, 10-15-19
Monday, 10-14-19
-Parent conference day
-All Paras - Conscious Discipline Workshop in room 201 at 8:30
-Paras work in classrooms after lunch
-School Day: 8:00-3:30
-1 Hour - Lunch on your own
-Turn in list of completed parent conferences to Ballard when 100% done.
-Turn in list of student names that have not attended a parent conference to Ballard by -Friday, October 25th. Admin will follow up to schedule conference.
Art & Music: See link for PD information
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eF-v-xca4mvs4Sl1IHSrfbwWt7sOSD2z/view
Tuesday, 10-15-19
-School Day: 7:30-3:30
-Breakfast Tacos: 7:30-8:00
All Professional Staff (classroom teachers, SPED, CAMP, Specialists, Admin):
C&I Performance Assessment PD: 8:00 Begin work with assigned group (See chart below for group. Group can decide location. ) Please note: Each grade level can view the modules together and then break up by content assignment to complete planning.
PD Module can be found in:
-CSISD Professional Learning: All Staff
-Folder: Curriculum & Instruction PD
-Folder: October 2019 Performance Assessment (Elementary)
-Also see email from Jeff Mann
Instructional Planning
Priority - planning centered around Performance Assessment assigned to grade level
When Complete - grade level instructional planning
Incorporate MAP data when planning
Explore resources - HMH, LLI, Math
-2nd-4th - Data Meeting with Molley Perry at 1:00 in cafeteria (45 Minutes)
-1 Hour - Lunch on your own
Happy Birthday
This Week Birthdays:
No birthdays this week.
Mustang Yee-Haws
Staff Shout Out:
Congratulations to the kindergarten team. They enjoyed lunch at the Pebble Creek Country Club this week as the champions of the 9 Hole Golf Tournament in August.
I was reading my email before school started and I noticed an email from a parent. I could see it was about morning traffic. Sighing because normally an email is not good news about the traffic, I was so happy to read the following email. Talk about putting a pep in your step to start the day with an atta boy! Thank you Tim Suel for starting the day off on a positive note with the music playing, students helping and yes even some dancing! I did correct the parent to give due credit to our astounding music teacher!
Email from parent: "We are on our third kid....that means this is the third time we have dropped off a kid for school. Typically this particularly duty falls on my wife. It is not fun waiting in traffic and all that goes with that. However, I am a huge fan of the drop off this year. With the music going loud, we roll down the windows and get excited about the drop off. It is really cool that there are students out there to greet us and open the door. Thank you for actually making drop off fun for both the students and the parents."