September 1, 2017

We continue our mission to Teach LIKE A PIRATE!  The next key component is RAPPORT!  Rapport is incredibly important because it helps create buy in.  Model the behavior you want from your students...let your hair down and get playful!  Put a premium on making your class fun.  Over and over I have asked our GVMS staff: Would YOU really and truly want to be a student in YOUR classroom?  If the answer is STILL no, take a long hard look at WHY??

So....start interacting with our students as human beings, not just subordinates.  Our kids can tell the difference between real and fake interest.  (pages 19-32)

THANK YOU for taking the leap of faith at Back to School Night on Wednesday!  We know it was such a change and some good/some bad aspects.  While we like the concept, we have some kinks to work out!  We are looking at a hybrid model for next year with a little more structure, but some serious fun to it too.  Please give us your productive and constructive feedback HERE!  Check out some of the AWESOME stations, rotations, activities and set up we had going on around our campus to keep the parents and students engaged, even at Back to School Night!!

Seems like a no brainer...ALL relationships matter.  The ones between collegues here, the ones at home, the ones with our students.  HERE are 4 benefits to building positive relationships with students including higher academic achievement, less behavior issues, and more.  Even when we get frustrated with students and they challenge us...take a deep breath, a step back, and pause for a moment to remember: WE ARE THE ADULTS.  WE are the ones who need to act like it and we have no idea what may be going on in the lives of our students outside of GVMS.  

We are starting to work on our application to become an official No Excuses University (NEU) school at GVMS!  SUPER EXCITING!  Remember, this is the belief and philosophy that every student has the right to be educated in a way that prepares them for college and that it's OUR responsibility to create six systems that make college a reality (http://noexcusesu.com/about/).  Sure, not every student will want to go to college, and it's our job to just prepare them for that option should they so choose!  We have such a POSITIVE critical mass that we are excited to do this!

SUPER HERO SHOUT OUTS!  KEEP THEM COMING!  We love the "I Noticed..." and will add as many as we can!
Click HERE to add too! 

• SUPER awesome shout out to Kristy for the way she greets her students daily with a high five! ~ Ken
• SUPER awesome shout out to Dave F. for getting into it with the morning announcements! ~Don
• SUPER awesome shout out to Jacob for making awesome connections with staff and students all across our campus! ~ Carol
• SUPER awesome shout out to Dave F. for always being willing to led out his chrome books! ~ Dalal
• SUPER awesome shout out to our campus monitors and staff on the yard for being on top of things at all times! ~Don
• SUPER awesome shout out to our English Department for lending a hand and checking in on one another!  Thank you for helping me get back on my feet!  You all are awesome! ~Aubry
• SUPER awesome shout out to the Admin for checking in on everyone daily and saying "have a great day!" ~Katherine R.
• Super awesome shout out to Ryan for prepping for his absence, training his students, and ensuring they were awesome for the sub!  Way to go already! ~Sue
• SUPER awesome 
• SUPER awesome shout out to Kristy, Dalal, and Heather for sharing her creative "techy" ideas to all staff for BTN! ~ Sue, Admin, and EVERYONE! 
• SUPER awesome shout out to gen ed teachers for meeting the needs of our TAP students, making them feel safe, comfortable, and LOVED! ~Christen
• SUPER awesome shout out to Sue for getting everything ready for the Math Boot camp!  
• SUPER awesome shout out to the LADIES of our math department 6-8 for agreeing to be a part of the Math Boot Camp!  You Rock!
• SUPER awesome shout out to Sue, Mimi, Rosa, Cristina, Tamia, Kristy, Peckham, Julie, Heather P., Christen, Allison, Heather T., Elizabeth, Dalal, Dustin, Lacey, Katherine, Amy (subbing for Sandy!), Lynn, Ken, Don and Margret for writing our 144 AUGUST GOOD NEWS REFERRALS!  Let's get this party started!!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

*Wednesdays are College Days
*Mondays/Fridays are GVMS Spirit Days!
Spirit Wear Order forms are in your mailbox! Due Sept 29!

*September 4- No School/Labor Day
*September 8- Spring Perfect Attendance/Honor Roll Awards during lunch!
*September 12- September Faculty Meeting
*September 12-14- English PODs
*September 13- Dine and Donate at Mary's
*September 18- First MAP Test Administered
*September 19- Leadership Meeting
*September 22- Progress Reports Due/Student of Month Names due!
*September 26- Department Meetings
*September 26- District College Fair at FHS at night
*September 27- All Things Tech Night at GVMS
*September 29- Superintendent Visit/PTC Meeting