February 24, 2017

One of the many empowering things I walked away from the leadership conference with was the desire we MUST have to make our teaching and learning with students PERSONAL.  I know with 170 or more students, this can be a MAJOR challenge and yet, can be the most important thing we do.  Can you name all of your teachers?  Do you remember that ONE teacher who took a minute or two to ask about your day, life, activities, grades, home life, weekend, etc?  I know you do.  Think about it.  Our students simply want to please us, whether they show it or not.  They want affirmation and for us to care.  Can you spare 2 minutes each day to get to know 4 different students each week?  Think about how empowering that would be for our kids! Sometimes, we can be the ONLY positive that they have that day.  Let's BE that positive for them!

Take a look at THIS ARTICLE for 7 Easy tips for building relationships.  Yes, the title says it's regarding EL students AND this applies to ALL OF OUR STUDENTS!!

It's exciting to see many teachers in FSUSD tweeting what's going on in each other's classrooms!  We LOVE to share what's going on at GVMS on Instagram, Twitter AND our Facebook page!  It's so fun!

Many teachers are posting what's going on in their classrooms AND they are encouraging other teachers to join in and get on TWITTER and share their classroom successes! When we all (everyone at GVMS) feel the need to get others on board, we are in a GREAT PLACE!  The best thing about sharing is that it breaks down the walls between our classes, departments, grade levels, and opening up the PROBABILITY for ALL OF US to take risks, try something new, and be creative to reach ALL of our students!!

I know that not everyone is on Twitter, and it goes deeper than that.  Look at the pic above.  More and more of our staff are reaching out and sharing other ways to collaborate ideas, share practices, laugh, hug, and encourage each other!  There are more and more of our teachers inviting other teachers into our classrooms to share feedback and help everyone grow!

I cannot seem to stress this enough:  We are GOING to become a 1:1 device school (yes, we are working on faster Internet as well!)!  Therefore, PLEASE take a few minutes out of your day to CLICK HERE enter to win a COMPLETE set of Chrome Books for your class.  It is Due MARCH 31, so don't waste time!!

PTC is working to see if they can cover the ENTIRE cost of the projects (along with the matching efforts of Google.org) for those that have put them on Donor's Choose.  We are using funds from the Spring Fling!

We have been taking care of the storage for all of the ones that we are getting from Donor's Choose and covering the licensing cost for all of these.  DO IT!  It's SO easy!!

Did you know?  We are at about 75% to becoming a 1:1 device school so that we can check out devices to students!  C'mon peeps!  Do a Donor's Choose! SUPER easy!!

Did you know?  The growth on our student's MAP RIT scores can indicate how they are going to perform on the SBAC in April!  We are going to ROCK the SBAC!!  Yay!

Did you know?  We have 15 projects going on Donor's Choose right now to SUPPORT student learning!  Make one too!

Did you know?  That while sometimes it's VERY challenging to focus on the positive, it IS there.  Just look a little harder and we can ALL see the positive!  Yep.  That is our school!  Isn't it a GREAT time to be a Viking!!

SUPER HERO SHOUT OUTS!

• SUPER shout out to all for helping with Science Fair judging and the Academic Olympics!  Much appreciated!
• SUPER awesome shout out to Sue, Allison, Tamia, Katherine, Tom, Kristy, and Tom for participating in PODs!  We know it was AH-MAZING!  We ARE doing these by ourselves next year and subs will be reserved for each member in the departments to do this as a team, without outside help!
• SUPER shout out to Kristy for organizing and leading all of the charge on the student iPad use!
• SUPER shout out to Christine and Elizabeth for all they handled while I was away!
• SUPER shout out to Jamie, Mimi/Rosa, Sue, Lynn, Alex, Elizabeth, Dustin, Cristina, Julie, Heather T, Allison, Barb, Ken, Kristy M., Katherine, Michele R., David O., Lacey, and Christen for already writing GNRs!
• We have had 168 Good News Referrals for FEBRUARY (maybe more but I haven't had the chance to check!) !!!!!!  Keep them coming!  **We had 26 referrals in February so far... =( 
• What to nominate a fellow SUPER HERO to be recognized at our next faculty meeting?  Click HERE!!  

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

*February 28- PBIS Training, Collab Meetings, RHS Registration
*March 1- District Choir Festival @ 7:00
*March 7- Faculty Meeting in Library
*March 8- NAEP Testing for 50 8th graders
*March 8- 6th Grade Orientation @ 5:30
*March 9- Student of the Year Board Meeting
*March 14- Open Forum with Superintendent after school!
*March 17- LAST DAY TO SUBMIT PTC RECEIPTS!!
*March 29- Dine and Donate at Mary's Pizza Shack

*April 24-May 12- Block Schedule for CAASPP test!

*May 23- Nightmare on Puberty Street Assembly- Assembly schedule!

February 17, 2017

SQUIRREL!!  If ANYONE has been with me for more than 20 seconds, you KNOW I get very distracted.  I like to think it's because I am multi-tasking but, sometimes, my brain is just all over the place.  I really loved THIS ARTICLE about the art of managing middle school students!  It really focuses on TWO key items: Distraction and RELATIONSHIP.  I can't stress this enough that the relationships we have with students is CRITICAL to their success!  CRITICAL!  Take a minute to read...it's an easy one =)

Did you know?  We have written over 1,061 Good News Referrals to date this year! YAY!

Did you know?  Our suspension incidents have gone from 33 last year to date to 16 this year to date and suspension days from 89 to 37!  

Did you know?  We are at about 75% to becoming a 1:1 device school so that we can check out devices to students!  

Did you know?  We have almost 100% of our staff/students on Google classroom, making it even more effective for teachers and students and parents to stay on top of assignments!  

Did you know?  The growth on our student's MAP RIT scores can indicate how they are going to perform on the SBAC in April!  Yay!

Did you know?  We have 15 projects going on Donor's Choose right now to SUPPORT student learning!

Did you know?  That while sometimes it's VERY challenging to focus on the positive, it IS there.  Just look a little harder and we can ALL see the positive!  Yep.  That is our school!  Isn't it a GREAT time to be a Viking!!

Yes, if we find a pot of gold, we will share =)

SUPER HERO SHOUT OUTS!

• SUPER shout out to Karen for all of your help last Friday in the library for testing!
• SUPER shout out to all for helping with Science Fair judging and the Academic Olympics!  Much appreciated!
• SUPER shout out to Christen for sharing what she got from the Google Training!  HERE it is again!
• SUPER shout out to Carol, Sue, Heather T., Elizabeth, Karen/Annette, Dustin, Dave M., Jason, Dalal, Heather P., Jamie, Kimberly, Kristy, and Barb for already completing your nomination for Student of the Month for Responsible!  Control F allows you to check if a student has already been chosen!  DUE FRIDAY FEBRUARY 24!!!
• SUPER shout out to Jamie, Mimi/Rosa, Sue, Lynn, Alex, Elizabeth, Dustin, Cristina, Julie, Heather T, Allison, Barb, Ken, Kristy M., Katherine, Michele R., David O., Lacey, and Christen for already writing GNRs!
• We have had 168 Good News Referrals for FEBRUARY ALREADY!!!!!!  Keep them coming!  **We had 26 referrals in February so far... =( Boo.
• What to nominate a fellow SUPER HERO to be recognized at our next faculty meeting?  Click HERE!!  

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

*February 20- No School

*February 22-24- PODs for Science/Math
*February 23- Parent Conferences 3:00-5:00
*February 24- Min Day., Academic Olympics (Whew!)
*February 28- PBIS Training, Collab Meetings
*March 1- District Choir Festival
*March 7- Faculty Meeting in Library
*March 8- NAEP Testing for 50 8th graders
*March 8- 6th Grade Orientation
*March 9- Student of the Year Board Meeting
*March 14- Open Forum with Superintendent after school!
*March 17- LAST DAY TO SUBMIT PTC RECEIPTS!!
*March 29- Dine and Donate at Mary's Pizza Shack

*April 24-May 12- Block Schedule for CAASPP test!

*May 23- Nightmare on Puberty Street Assembly- Assembly schedule!

February 10, 2017

We are currently reading Fostering Resilient Learners and Chapters 5/6 really speaks to us about what we are doing as a site!

Chapter 5- When in Doubt, Shut Your Mouth and Breathe

That simple piece of advice is a "pause" button for our decision making process.  If we give our students and ourselves the gift of the pause button, how many "lid flips" do you think we can prevent?  Although none of us is perfect- there will still be times when we descend to our downstairs brain- the more we pause, the closer we get to creating and sustaining a safe environment to nurture our students' development.  By giving ourselves permission to breathe before we act and to allow our thoughts and emotions to connect, we are more apt to make an intention choice instead of a reactionary.  (I need someone to remind me of this!!)

Chapter 6- IT IS NOT ABOUT YOU!

Everything we say to and do with our students and families must be done solely for their benefit, not our own.  It's NEVER about us.  I REPEAT: It's not about you!  Ask yourself:

What is my role? Who am I working for? What is about to drive my behavior?

Taking time to reflect on the answers to these questions helps us ensure that what we are doing is for our students' benefit.  

There is NO PRIZE for "winning" an argument with a student.  Shouldn't even get that far!

Almost 100% of our staff is already using (addicted to? =)) Google Docs and all things Google in the classroom!  Thank you!  HERE are 10 MORE awesome and surprising ways that you can use Google Docs in the classroom to support your instruction and our students!

What makes a happy teacher?  What are some things that happy teachers don't do?  Whether it's taking on too much, to expecting perfection, check out some of these things that they don't do so we don't make the same mistakes and we can be one of the HAPPY ones!

SUPER HERO SHOUT OUTS!

• SUPER shout out to Kristy for sending the Mindfulness exercises out for block schedule!
• SUPER shout out to Heather for adding all of the important info on our website!
• SUPER shout out to Sue for the plickers activity!
• SUPER shout out to Lynn, Jason, Julie, and Tamia for helping with yard duty on Tuesday! 
• SUPER shout out to Carol, Sue, Heather T., Elizabeth, Karen/Annette, Dustin, Dave M., Jason, Dalal, Heather P., Jamie, Kimberly, Kristy, and Barb for already completing your nomination for Student of the Month for Responsible!  Control F allows you to check if a student has already been chosen!
• SUPER shout out to Jamie, Mimi/Rosa, Sue, Lynn, Alex, Elizabeth, Dustin, Cristina, Julie, Heather T, Allison, Barb, Katherine, Michele R., David O., Lacey, and Christen for already writing GNRs!
• We have had 124 Good News Referrals for FEBRUARY ALREADY!!!!!!  Keep them coming!  **We had 5 referrals in February so far... =( Boo.
• What to nominate a fellow SUPER HERO to be recognized at our next faculty meeting?  Click HERE!!  

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

*February 13/20- No School

*February 22-24- PODs for Science/Math
*February 23- Parent Conferences 3:15-5:15
*February 24- Min Day., Academic Olympics (Whew!)
*March 14- Open Forum with Superintendent after school!

*April 24-May 12- Block Schedule for CAASPP test!

*May 23- Nightmare on Puberty Street Assembly- Assembly schedule!

February 3, 2017

Check out THIS LINK to get involved in the Paradigm Challenge, to help teach our youth how to change the world!  What a great writing project, STEAM/STEM project and it comes with lesson plans and a chance to win MONEY!!!

We offered once and will offer now to purchase this for anyone interested.  Many have already started reading it and it's an easy ready!  This book give 10 things we can ALL do to fuels our life, work, and teams (home, school and more!).  As super heroes, we could ALL benefit from easy ways to stay focused on the positive and support each other!

SUPER HERO SHOUT OUTS!

• SUPER shout out to Dalal for creating our AWESOME MAP testing board!  Check it out and see AND PROMOTE all of their growth!  YAY!
• SUPER shout out to Sue for helping SV with their math direction and for making sure the MDTP went smoothly!
• SUPER shout out to Heather for adding all of the important info on our website!
• SUPER shout out to our History Department for all the help with registration and the Effective school 
• SUPER shout out to our entire English Department for working with us on the scheduling =)
• SUPER shout out to David O. and Kristy for bring the Marine Institute to GVMS!
• SUPER shout out to Dalal for ALL of the awesome work for the GATE fair!  It was beautiful!
• SUPER awesome shout out to Lynn for coming to the GATE fair and bringing the fun robots!!!
• SUPER shout out to Jamie, Mimi/Rosa, Sue, Lynn, Katherine, Michele R., David O., Lacey, and Christen for ALREADY writing GNRs for FEBRUARY!!!
• We have had 205 for JANUARY - SO AWESOME!!! CAN WE BEAT THAT IN FEBRUARY!!!???  Keep them coming!  **We had 34 referrals in January so far... =( Boo.
• What to nominate a fellow SUPER HERO to be recognized at our next faculty meeting?  Click HERE!!  

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

*February 6 & 7- BLOCK Schedule for Writing Test- schedule coming!

*February 9- Teacher of the Year Board Meeting
*February 10- Makeup Writing Test in library
*February 13/20- No School
*February 22-24- PODs for Science/Math
*February 23- Parent Conferences 3:15-5:15
*February 24- Min Day., NAEP Testing., Academic Olympics (Whew!)
*March 14- Open Forum with Superintendent!

*April 24-May 12- Block Schedule for CAASPP test!

*May 23- Nightmare on Puberty Street Assembly- Assembly schedule!