Friday Focus - December 21, 2012

• We will be conducting a Code Red Lockdown drill once a month when we return.  If you do not remember the procedures for this, please refer to our Safety Handbook located in our CAB Conference.
• I am again going to remind everyone that placing objects in outside doorways to keep them open endangers all of us.  Please stop this immediately!
• The District has released a new video speaking about the Common Core State Standards.  This is a good preview about our next steps when we return, particularly relating to our implementation of the strategy of collaborative grouping.  We will be delving into this strategy beginning on our January 18th Planning Day.  You can view the video here - Defining the Core
• We have data chats scheduled for the week we return.  We are only expecting to meet with 3rd, 4th and 5th grades on those days as we hope that we will have our BAT 2 scores by then.  If those scores are not available, we will reschedule the data chats.  

Quote of the Week - "Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year." - Ralph Waldo Emerson.  Please enjoy your holidays with your family and friends.  Refresh and renew so that we come back in January, we are ready to pursue our goals with vigor and relentlessness.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Friday Focus - December 14, 2012

• Child Study on Monday.
• Holiday Shop continues through Wednesday.
• Super Citizens' Ceremony is on Tuesday.
• The Diversity Theater Holiday Show is next week.  We have two school performances, K-2 at 12:45 on Tuesday and 3-5 at 12:45 on Wednesday.  The performance for families is Wednesday night at 6:00 PM.
• Next Thursday will be our Holiday Colors Dress-up Day.
• Teachers, please make sure that you follow our procedures for behavior concerns in the classroom.  You must fill out a referral online if the behavior is so warranted.  Students should never be sent to the front office without contacting us first.   
• Based on observing the activity that we conducted at Monday’s faculty meeting and the results of that activity, it is clear to me that some teachers do not know what formative assessments are.  Here is a website with a great definition of what formative assessments are and what they are not - http://www.amle.org/publications/webexclusive/assessment/tabid/1120/default.aspx and here is a website with numerous examples of formative assessments - http://wvde.state.wv.us/teach21/ExamplesofFormativeAssessment.html  What I would like to see at our January 18 PLCs is a discussion at each PLC of how we are using formative assessments in our classrooms and presentations from teachers of some of these strategies. 

Quote of the week - "A wise man makes his own decisions, an ignorant man follows public opinion." ~ Chinese Proverb.  Sometimes we all have to do and/or say things that might not be popular, but, if we know in our hearts this is the right thing to do, we must always choose that path. 

Friday Focus - December 7, 2012

• There will be a faculty meeting on Monday at 2:15.  We will discuss Domains 3 and 4 of the Marzano Model and how you will be able to provide evidence in the elements in those Domains.  We will also hear from the Safety Department regarding our evacuation drill. 
• Falcon Express articles are due to Mrs. Olstein next Wednesday.  Please remember that the expectation is that each team contributes an article each month.  
• PLCs are scheduled for next Thursday afternoon.  Please see the email from Dr. Lewis with information. 
• Our Holiday Shop begins next Thursday in the Media Center and continues the following week.  
• Club pictures will be taken next Friday morning.  Please refer to the schedule sent out by Dr. Lewis.

Quote of the Week - "All evil done clings to the body." - Zen Proverb.  Are you consistently emitting positive energy into the universe?  Are all of your actions altruistic?  Are you living under the belief that "Our purpose is to help others...And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them..."? (Dalai Lama)  As we enter the holidays and offer "Happy Holidays" to each other, let's truly mean that we care about each other.

Friday Focus - November 30, 2012

• BAT 2 is next week.  We will be using a modified schedule from Monday through Thursday.  Please refer to the email that I sent on Monday.
• Interim Reports go home next Thursday.
• This is an interesting video - Changing Education Paradigms  You won't be able to watch it at school because it is on YouTube, but it is definitely worth your time (it's only 11 1/2 minutes long).  It is thought-provoking and humorous and I mean nothing by it except that it definitely gets you to think about our education system. 

Quote of the Week - "Happiness depends on ourselves." - Aristotle.  We cannot depend on others to make us happy.  We must discover this on our own.  If we rely on others to provide happiness to us, we will eventually be disappointed.  Find your own happiness and then share this with others. 

Wednesday Focus - November 21, 2012

• Our Honor Roll assemblies are next Monday.  Please see the CAB Calendar for the times
• An evaluation training is scheduled for next Monday afternoon in the Media Center.
• Birthday Table and Super Citizens' Ceremony are both next Tuesday.  
• Names for following month's Super Citizens are due to Mrs. Olstein next Friday.
• Teachers, here is a good site of reflection questions that you may find useful in preparing for your lessons - Marzano Reflective Scales  Please remember that the 41 elements are research-based strategies that you should purposefully plan for and utilize.  By no means is anyone expecting you to implement every strategy during a lesson.  As I stated at Monday's faculty meeting, please see me if you have any questions. 
• Please don't forget that money for the holiday party is due on Monday the 26th.  We still need at least 16 more people to pay in order to have the party. 
  

Quote of the Week - "Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more.  If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough." - Oprah Winfrey



And one more from one of my favorite singers, Al Green - "Be thankful for every moment."

And even one more - 

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don’t know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary,
because it means you’ve made a difference.

It’s easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who
are also thankful for the setbacks.

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings.

~Author Unknown