Principal Walder's Monday Memo
For the week of April 15th
It's Patriots' Day- Marathon Monday!
To commemorate the battles of Lexington and Concord, the first battles of the Revolutionary War, many states recognize the third Monday of April as Patriots' Day. And since 1897, the third Monday in April is the date of the annual running of the Boston Marathon. A coveted marathon that now requires either a phenomenal marathon qualifying time (or a few charity-earned spots), the Boston Marathon is one of the most challenging road courses in the world. For 26.2 miles, thousands of well-trained athletes maneuver the course through whatever weather comes through Boston in April (sometimes rain, sometimes 80 degrees and hot sun).
Although I've never ran the Boston Marathon, I have ran quite a few road races over the years. The training and running of any race is an apt analogy for the school year.
1) Set a Goal: In training for a race, runners set out to run 26.2 miles at once by race day.
In school, teachers set the goal for every student to grow at least one full grade level by the end of the year.
2) Scaffold Practice: In training for a race, runners create and follow a plan to build the athletic capacity of a runner's lungs and muscles. Runners end up running at least (if not more) than the length of the final race length EACH WEEK during training.
In school, teachers create pacing guides, write lesson plans, and meet student needs every day to scaffold to the end of the learning continuum for their grade level.
3) Scaffold a Resilient Mindset: Any long distance running magazine will tell you that training is about supporting building a resilient mindset to surpass the difficult challenges miles. Through rain, snow, and crazy temperatures, runners are outside putting in the miles to build resilient muscles and resilient mindsets. Or if they are training South Dakota, they are on a treadmill without changing scenery putting in the miles!
In school, teachers support learners in building their reading levels and math competencies through creative, fun learning opportunities.
4) Run the Race: When runners head out to run the final race, the final 26.2 miles are the Victory Lap. All of the miles completed over training add up to many hundred-- many more than just the race. Some runners cross train with yoga or pilates, others run fartleks and wind sprints in between their long runs. No matter, when they lace up that final day, they all run the final race course together. They all run the same 26.2 miles.
In school, teachers complete the final assessments of the school year for report cards to show just how far the students came. It is where students finish and how far they came that matters.
Mile 20 is not almost there
These "you're almost there" people have obviously not seen the miles the runner put into this training. Runners keep going until the finish line. The may not have the race that they had trained for that day, but runners are tough characters.
BUT, when people start telling you, "you're almost there" somehow those last few miles seem like THE LONGEST MILES you've ever ran. Or when the treadmill flashes to let you know that you've almost met your time goal, the last 60 seconds seem like AN ETERNITY.
STILL, runners can change that mindset. They know that the last 3.1 of the half is just like the dozens of 5ks they have run before. They know that they can keep positive and (possibly) run a negative split if their mind is in it!
When it comes to schools, the greater school community can't possibly see all the AMAZING lessons teachers guide students through each day or the long-lasting inspiration that teachers bring students every, single day. A report card and a test score are the final written reports to sum up the year.
Although we are close to the end of the school year, do not mark the last days down. Do not put a countdown on the board or wall. (For some students, you bring the only normalcy and regularity they have in their lives and summer is not the time of fun many of us knew as kids.) Instead, celebrate the time you get to spend with your students and use every lesson to build future greatness for the students. Even though the weather will start to get nice, don't let the "summer itch" get to YOU or YOUR students! Treat the last 6 weeks like the first 6 weeks.
SHIFT YOUR mindset to set the tone for your students, because... our Kids Deserve It!
Dr. Walder's Schedule
Monday:
- 10:30 Individual Teacher Meeting
- 1:20- 2:05 1st PLC in Mrs. Westhoff's Room
- 2:10- 2:55 Kindergarten PLC in Mrs. Snell's Room
- 4:15 Meeting at DEC
Tuesday:
- 9:30- 10:15 4th Grade PLC at Mrs. Rhead's Room
- 10:20- 11:05 3rd Grade PLC at Mr. Westhoff's Room
- 12:30 Leave for meeting at CHS
- 3:35 Girls on the Run at Legacy
Wednesday:
- 9:00- 9:30 JK PLC
- 12:30- 1:15 2nd Grade PLC in Mrs. Underberg's Room
Thursday:
- 7:40 -8:05 Book Study in Mrs. Deibert's Room
- 3:35 Girls on the Run at Legacy
Friday:
- No School
PLC this week:
Please bring your computers and your end of the year schedule.
Contact Dr. Walder
Email: Samantha.Walder@k12.sd.us
Website: https://www.teaschools.k12.sd.us/
Location: Tea, SD, USA
Phone: 6058817381
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeaAreaLegacy/
Twitter: @swalder7