March 31, 2017

The Energy Bus Continues...

Rule 4: Invite People on Your Bus and Share Your Vision for the Road Ahead

I wish I could offer each of you an actual bus "ticket" right now to get on our bus!  Our shared vision is to make decisions in the best interest of our students.  This includes growing as professionals, learning new ideas and techniques, supporting one another, sharing what we do, caring about others, maintaining a positive environment/atmosphere, building relationships positive with our students, engaging our students in the learning and standards...

The list goes on and on... =)

The goal, at GVMS, is to have standing room only on this bus.  We cannot do this alone.  We MUST be a TEAM to get this done.  We must.  There is no other way!

What is a "transformational teacher"?  What are some ways that we can do this on campus and in our classrooms?  Check out THIS ARTICLE to for a quick read on 4 things that transformational teachers do, including creating constructive experiences, teaching artfully, teaching new ideas, and facilitating productive struggles with our students!

Wow.  Spring is HERE.  NOW is a fabulous time to review the rules, expectations and procedures in your classroom and on campus!  Thanks to our History Department, all students will be getting this and we need your help!  Sometimes our kids think that this is the end of the year- NOPE!  Please remind them that every day at GVMS counts!  Check out THIS ARTICLE on some great classroom management ideas!

NOW is a GREAT time to start having students explore the CAASPP Practice & Training Tests. This will help prepare them for the CAASPP summative that they will be taking in just over 8 weeks. CDE has just released the California Science Test (CAST) Training Test as well. Please go to www.fsusd.org/assessment and click on the green button "SBAC Practice & Training Tests" to access the site. Students and teachers can access as a Guest at school or home. Practice makes AMAZING!! =)

SUPER HERO SHOUT OUTS!

• SUPER shout out to our History Gurus, Dave F., Dave M., Sandy, Carol and Dustin, for sharing the PBIS rules and expectations with all of our students AND the high school A-G Requirements for all of our students!  SO AWESOME!!
• SUPER shout out to Sarj for working hard (and with TAs!) to empty our Connex box!  Say goodbye to it as it's leaving in June!!
• SUPER shout out to Heather T. Dalal, Alex, Kristy, Heather P., Lynn, Ken and Tom for even ENTERTAINING the ideas in our head for our fun faculty meeting coming up!  CANNOT WAIT!!!
• SUPER shout out to Diaz, Olvera, Fulton, Pereira, Silva, DeVries, Russell, Pozzesi, Rosa, Aida, Wheeler, Bates, Booker, Toll, Cloud, Silva, Green, Fulton, Montz, Peckham, Rice, Hafich, Farley, Mary Jane, Walker, Cherry, Phillips, Laffey, and Love for already writing GNRs!
• We have had 415 Good News Referrals for March!  We have had 1,579 TOTAL FOR THE YEAR!! KEEP THEM COMING!! **We had TWENTY SEVEN referrals in March so far =( These are for profanity, using force/violence, and disruption/defiance mostly coming from classrooms... boo.
• What to nominate a fellow SUPER HERO to be recognized at our next faculty meeting?  Click HERE!!  

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

*March 29-31 SWEEPS!

*March 28- Department Meetings

*March 29- Dine and Donate at Mary's Pizza Shack

*March 31- PTC Meeting in library

*April 4- Faculty Meeting in Library

*April 5- GOLD RIBBON WALK AND CELEBRATION!!

*April 6- CAASPP Training with Dalal!
*April 7- Staff Social at Sticky Rice after school

*April 3-7 SWEEPS!

*April 11- #lovemyschool day!

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

*May 1-19- SPCA Drive

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

March 17, 2017

The Energy Bus Continues...

Rule 3:  Fuel Your Ride with Positive Energy!

You can't share positive energy if you don't have it yourself.  Obviously.  Sometimes it's super hard to change our view point and then out attitude towards it.  Being grateful and positive floods our brain and body with positive endorphins and emotions.  While we cannot control the events in our life at all times (wouldn't that be awesome?!?) we CAN control how we perceive them and how we respond to them.  Our response to these events determine our next move! =)

We continue our focus on collaboration.  It's obvious that, in order to see our students and teachers succeed, we must cultivate a desire and environment for our staff and our students to collaborate with each other.  I know some of us struggle to find the time to collaborate with all of the other commitments we have going on, and how do we TRULY get our program and campus to blossom if we are just squeezing it in?  Here are some ideas that we can and must do to make it an even stronger process (Thanks Steve Trotter!):

1. Join Twitter. Currently, 13 of our teachers have a Twitter account, with several tweeting regularly. The tweeting allows us to share the great work they are doing in the work and it gives them access to the work of hundreds (if not thousands) of other educators and school leaders. Below are a few resources and graphics about the power of twitter. Check them out and PLEASE let me know if you need help with setting it up. I can help you in LESS THAN A MINUTE! I have a prize for the next 2 teachers to sign up that aren't already on Twitter! Find me @gvmsvikings  SEE INFO BELOW!!!

twitter.com/7WoI8E0eok

2. #GVMSOBSERVEME: We will be talking about #Observeme at our next staff meeting. The concept is a simple one based in getting authentic feedback from colleagues and visitors. Outside of your class, hang a #observeme sign (I've placed an example in your mailbox) outside of your classroom with 2-3 goals you are working on and what some feedback on. I am working out one for our office too.  I know this is a leap of faith for many of you but the feedback can be powerful for both you and the observee. We know some of you may express fear of having parents or random visitors giving you feedback. We have seen some signs where staff simply wrote "Dear Colleagues, welcome" or "District Staff, welcome" in order to make it known that you are looking for feedback from certain people. =)

3. FlipGrid: Over the break, I am going to explore this powerful, visual medium to collaborate with other staff or even with students. I will keep you posted on the results!

We would LOVE for everyone to use it, share it and show off their classrooms!  It's SO easy and we have so many teachers doing AMAZING things!  Check them out at #gvmsteachers and SPREAD THE LOVE!!  More and more of our staff are reaching out and sharing other ways to collaborate ideas, share practices, laugh, hug, and encourage each other!  Share your hashtag!  Share your handle name!  
Follow US on Twitter @gvmsvikings and a few others @mstollgvms @MrsMansour @lynnlaffey @mckennamathsci @knitaholic2006 @kindersue @mrcloudhistory @clucerogvms @MikasaDiaz @gvmscounselor @AnitagrGreen  @DavidFu40855060   @kmxnamara12000

Things that make you go hmmmmm.....

Though I am not turning 43 (YET!) I did read this article thinking WOW.  We STILL do some of these things.  Really?  Have we not come SO FAR and yet, still need to work on some things?  Please read THIS ARTICLE and see what we/you can eliminate from your practice.  Can we stop keeping technology out of the classroom?  Can we stop sending kids out without really getting to WHY they are acting out?  Can we stop the blame game? Can we stop keeping what we do during the day a secret and share it through blogs, social media and more?

NOW is a GREAT time to start having students explore the CAASPP Practice & Training Tests. This will help prepare them for the CAASPP summative that they will be taking in just over 8 weeks. CDE has just released the California Science Test (CAST) Training Test as well. Please go to www.fsusd.org/assessment and click on the green button "SBAC Practice & Training Tests" to access the site. Students and teachers can access as a Guest at school or home. Practice makes AMAZING!! =)

SUPER HERO SHOUT OUTS!

• SUPER shout out to Kinder for the "pi Day" fun! 
• SUPER shout out to Kristy for taking kids on a field trip on a SATURDAY!!
• Thank you to Sue for sharing the dashboard link!  https://www.caschooldashboard.org/#/Home 
• SUPER shout out to Olvera and Love for taking projects and kids to District Science Fair!
• SUPER shout out to Rochelle for the STEM presentation! 
• SUPER shout out to Diaz, Olvera, Fulton, Pereira, Silva, DeVries, Russell, Pozzesi, Rosa, Aida, Wheeler, Bates, Booker, Toll, Cloud, Silva, Green, Fulton, Montz, Peckham, Rice, Hafich, Farley, Mary Jane, Walker, Cherry, Phillips, Laffey, and Love for already writing GNRs!
• SUPER shout out to Heather and Dalal for taking Honor Society to UC Davis and to Rochelle and Teesha for going with them!
• We have had 314 Good News Referrals for March!  KEEP THEM COMING!! **We had TWENTY FIVE referrals in March so far =( These are for profanity, using force/violence, and disruption/defiance mostly coming from classrooms... boo.
• What to nominate a fellow SUPER HERO to be recognized at our next faculty meeting?  Click HERE!!  

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

*March 20-24- Spring Break 
*March 29-31 SWEEPS!
*March 29- Dine and Donate at Mary's Pizza Shack
*April 5- GOLD RIBBON WALK AND CELEBRATION!!
*April 3-7 SWEEPS!

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

*May 1-19- SPCA Drive

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

March 10, 2017

The Energy Bus Continues...

Rule 2: Desire, Vision, and focus move your bus in the right direction.

Our thoughts are magnetic.  What we think about, we attract.  What we think about expands and grows.  Are you thinking about the positive things that are going on in your classroom and with your students?  Stop thinking about what we don't want and start to focus our energy on what we want: successful, happy, healthy, cared for, safe, positive, energetic (the list goes on and on) students AND work place! =) 

Whatever word you want to call it (sharing, collaborating, stealing, etc) it MUST continue to grow.  There are SO many things, strategies, ideas, and lessons we can gain from one another and keeping our "doors" closed to each other is not working.  Check out THIS ARTICLE for some interesting ideas to make this happen.  We, at GVMS, must continue to #listen, #learn, #grow #observe and #share!

We would LOVE for everyone to use it, share it and show off their classrooms!  It's SO easy and we have so many teachers doing AMAZING things!  Check them out at #gvmsteachers and SPREAD THE LOVE!!  More and more of our staff are reaching out and sharing other ways to collaborate ideas, share practices, laugh, hug, and encourage each other!  Share your hashtag!  Share your handle name!  Follow US on Twitter @gvmsvikings and a few others @mstollgvms @MrsMansour @lynnlaffey @mckennamathsci @knitaholic2006 @kindersue @mrcloudhistory @clucerogvms @MikasaDiaz @gvmscounselor @AnitagrGreen @DavidFu40855060

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!!

No Excuses is COMING to Fairfield-Suisun and we WILL be there!  We opened it to Leadership and then decided we wanted GVMS to TAKE OVER this awesome opportunity for creative, collaborative, and caring PD with one another!  This two day event will focus, reiterate, and reinforce what we, at GVMS, already believe: All students can succeed!  Let me know ASAP if you want to attend July 31 and August 1 at RHS (local!) and counts for Buy Back for next year!!  All our newer teachers:  This is an AWESOME opportunity!!  All not so newer teachers: This is an AWESOME opportunity!

SUPER HERO SHOUT OUTS!

• SUPER shout out to Brenda, Michele S., Susan, Michele R., and Christine for an awesome registration night on Wednesday!
• SUPER shout to Sarj for help with the set up for registration!
• SUPER shout out to Lynn and her Robotics crew for their awesome presentation at Thursday's Board meeting!
• SUPER shout out to Lynn, Rosa, Mimi, Aida, and Christine for attending the board meeting!
• SUPER shout out to Kristy and Ken for their parent info night on Thursday!
• SUPER shout out to Dan Peckham for another fabulous music performance!
• SUPER shout out to Diaz, Olvera, Fulton, Pereira, Silva, DeVries, Russell, Pozzesi, Rosa, Aida, Wheeler, Bates, Booker, Toll, Cloud, Mary Jane, Walker, Cherry, Phillips, Laffey, and Love for already writing GNRs!
• SUPER shout out to Dalal for attending the Coach 4 Success training!
• SUPER shout out to Heather Toll for being the very first to retweet #observeme to invite others into her class!  Keep those tweets coming!  We WANT to continue the sharing and the learning!
• SUPER shout out to the English and History Department for being willing to share Chrome Books for NAEP Testing!
• We have had 188 Good News Referrals for March and it's only been EIGHT DAYS!!! KEEP THEM COMING!! **We had TEN referrals in March so far, for profanity and disruption/defiance... 
• What to nominate a fellow SUPER HERO to be recognized at our next faculty meeting?  Click HERE!!  

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

*March 14- Open Forum with Superintendent after school!
*March 17- REU Band here from RHS!  Assembly schedule coming!!
*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!

March 3, 2017

Many of us are reading The Energy Bus (YAY!) so we have decided to dedicate the next few blogs to the 11 steps and great quotes that are coming from this super easy read =) and can be very positive and up-lifting....

Rule 1: You are the driver of your bus!  Think of your vision for your life, your work, and your family.  Write it down.  Commit it to memory.  Don't wait until a crisis for some of us to change.  Our thoughts are powerful because they are loaded with energy.  If they are positive, our energy is positive.  And it spreads!  It's contagious and spreads to our colleagues and definitely to our students!  Drive the positive bus!

I know that not everyone is on Twitter and we would LOVE for everyone to use it, share it and show off their classrooms!  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!  Share your hashtag!  Share your handle name!  Follow US on Twitter @gvmsvikings

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 have 1114 Good News Referrals for this school year!  So Awesome!

Did you know?  We have 14 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 Olvera, Pozzesi, Aida, Booker, Toll, Mary Jane, Walker, Cherry, Laffey, and Love for already writing GNRs!
• SUPER shout out to Dan Peckham for an awesome choir performance at RHS on Wednesday!
• We have had 251 Good News Referrals for February! We already have 24 for March! Keep them coming!  **We had TWO referrals in March so far... =( 
• What to nominate a fellow SUPER HERO to be recognized at our next faculty meeting?  Click HERE!!  

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

*March 7- Faculty Meeting in Library
*March 8- NAEP Testing for 50 8th graders
*March 8- 6th Grade Orientation @ 5:30
*March 9- Robotics Presentation and Student of the Year Board Meeting
*March 10- Staff Social at Sticky Rice!  JOIN US!!
*March 14- Open Forum with Superintendent after school!
*March- REU Band here from RHS!  Assembly schedule coming!!
*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!