GCIS Friday Focus 1/8/2016
Be the Key to Our Success!
My #oneword
I know I challenged each of you to think about the #oneword that will inspire you to be the best you can be in 2016. It's been fun seeing these posted in your rooms, hearing how you are challenging students to think of their #oneword, and tweeting your #oneword out so others can encourage you towards greatness this year as we head into 2016.
This was a very hard task for me because there are so many fantastic words out there to pick from. I'm guilty of hearing everyone share out their words as I started to think, "Oooh I love that one!" Or, "maybe I should switch mine to this one." Either way I landed on Inspire. I found myself always coming back to this #oneword and new it was the one.
When you walk into my office you probably notice that I have a variety of encouraging messages throughout that have a purpose for me both professionally & personally. One of my favorite encouraging messages I have in my office is of the picture I posted. I love the aged look to it, along with the powerful definition of the word inspire.
Oprah once said, "Surround yourself with only people that are going to lift you higher." I totally agree with her. When you surround yourself with others that have similar passions and drive as you, it becomes contagious and infectious! What I have described, I believe holds true about inspiring messages. I purposely fill my office with a variety of these messages because they inspire and encourage me to bring that passion and drive I need daily for our school community.
What I love about this challenge of identifying that #oneword, is that it allows us to begin to share our story, or at least part of it for this next year. Behind every #oneword is a powerful message and story waiting to be told. I encourage you to be bold and share that story. Share it with your team. Share it with your family. Share it with your students. With the players you coach. Your PLN and whoever else you want to share it with. What is it about that #oneword that has so much pull for you? How might that #oneword be transformational for you this next year?
Pulling Together
This short, but powerful movie teaches us a lot about how and why a team functions, the support needed from each other to reach our goals, and how we CAN and NEED to develop INTERDEPENDENCE from each other through our times of strength and weakness! We all are unique, we all approach things differently, and we all connect in different ways. I want to celebrate that, embrace it, and figure out ways we can build upon each others strengths to create our path.
I know I am challenging you to think differently about things related to instruction and authentic learning for students. And this work can be challenging. In order to get there, we need to fly together! We got this!
Weekly Duties
Special thanks to all the duty teachers and your efforts to keep our spaces in the morning and afternoon safe! Please let me know if there is anything that we may need to adjust.
What's Happening This Week!
Monday: 1/11
- 4th grade F&P testing
- IEP Mtg. 3:15pm
Tuesday: 1/12
- GCIS Learning Sessions
- Educational Rounds (Admin Team & Coaches)
Wednesday 1/13
- 11:00 mtg w/ 6th Grade
- Collaboration
Thursday 1/14
- F&P Testing 6th
- Lunch Dates
Friday 1/15
- F&P Testing 5th
- Associate Mtg 2:00pm in MC
Special Shout Outs!
- Shout out to the Associates for their hard work outside for recess! The snow can be a struggle the first few days back and I appreciate your willingness and patience with students! Your reminders and warnings will pay off! Keep going Strong!
- I wanted to give a Shout Out to our lunch ladies. My lunch dates the other day went on and on about how much better our food is than last year in a different building! One gal even said "Shhh, don't tell my mom this, but this is even better than hers!" I had to giggle at her cute comment and jump up and down because our LUNCH LADIES DO ROCK!
- I wanted to give Connie a Shout Out for her hard work with the students that struggle the most with reading! Thanks for working your tail off to support our students and teachers with meeting their needs, all while making learning and reading fun!
Snapshot from PD & Learning on Wednesday
January 2016 Professional Development Calendar
I know a lot of teams liked talking with Julie G and I have a meeting set up over break to talk about getting her back at GCIS to help! Looking forward to taking you where you are at and supporting you with our great team members! Remember we are wanting to meet your needs in a differentiated approach to learning. Thanks again for being open and honest with your feedback as we move to a PBL environment!