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!