August 25, 2017

We continue our mission to Teach LIKE A PIRATE!  What's the secret to becoming an even better teacher?  IMMERSION.  It's felt by students and those around us without even knowing it!  Be ALL THERE!  Are you the life guard or the swimmer?  The life guard sits above the pool and supervises whereas, the swimmer joins in and takes part of the action (Page 13-16).  So...WHICH ONE ARE YOU??

Check out our goals for the first 6 weeks....(stolen from Jas!)

Teachers are experts on curriculum and pedagogy, but parents are the experts on their own children- how they absorb information, what makes them happy, how they show when they are upset, and what comforts them.  During the first 6 weeks, we can create a climate of respect, trust, and collaboration with these valuable education partners.  Here are three main goals to focus on:
Help parents feel welcomed and valued:  show that you're excited to work with their child!  Reassure them that their opinions, interests, and family culture matter to you! As a parent yourself (as most of you are!!), you know that it's SUPER important when a teacher has a welcoming demeanor and shows that she/he wants to be a part of your student's education! 
Welcome parents to play an active role: Begin sending the message that you want parents to visit the classroom, send notes (including electronic ones!!), reach out to you, etc to let them know what is going on with their student!
Build community among families:  You can help parents get to know each other!  When parents share positive relationships, they're more likely to get their children together outside of school, take part in school life, and seek help if their student needs it!

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!

• SUPER awesome shout out to Sue and Kristy for working so hard to ensure that our students were able to participate in the eclipse on Monday!  
• SUPER shout out to all who support it and took our students to see it, in spite of the clouds =)
• SUPER awesome shout out to all who have made the first full week AWESOME!  We love seeing you all take risks, try new engaging techniques, building relationships and more!  We have heard so many positive comments!
• SUPER awesome shout out to History for reviewing the agenda for the last week with our students so that they know what's up!
• SUPER awesome shout out to English for having students become digital citizens!
• SUPER awesome shout out to Ryan's class for making the entrance to the class always awesome!!
• SUPER awesome shout out to Amy and Elizabeth for making the Student Store a success!
• SUPER awesome shout out to Math Department/Sue for putting the after school Math Boot Camp together! AND with a FLYER!!!
• SUPER awesome shout out to Kristy and Josiah for after school 
• SUPER awesome shout out to Sue, Elizabeth, Dalal, Dustin, Lacey, Katherine, Amy (subbing for Sandy!), Lynn, Ken, Don and Margret for writing our very first 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!

*August 30- Back to School Night
*August 31- MS Principals visit @GVMS

*September 1- Site Council nominations due

*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
*September 27- All Things Tech Night at GVMS
*September 29- Superintendent Visit/PTC Meeting

August 18, 2017

Just like we covered during our retreat and during our first faculty meeting, SHOW YOUR PASSION!  You got into this profession for your passion for your subject matter or particular concept, your passion for KIDS and your passion to work with people!  Let it SHOW.  Let your students know what MOVES you, what you CARE about, and what makes you YOU!

Let's keep the MOMENTUM going and practice kindness always!  From talking about what makes someone kind, to writing the best thing that happened to them on a daily basis, HERE are some easy ways to practice kindness!  Let's make it a HABIT!!

Many of you have or will be getting replacement or new devices.  Please have them labeled with your NAME, ROOM, and have the students sign them in and out each time they are being used.  We have been able to charge those students that damaged our devices once we know who they are.  We will have to do this until we actually become a 1:1 device school and can sign them out to students all year.   We are so close...

SUPER HERO SHOUT OUTS!

• SUPER awesome shout out to Allison, Elizabeth, Don, Nate, Sarj, Carol, Alisa, Julie, and Lynn for coming out to cheer our students on for the first day of school!
• SUPER awesome shout out to the PE Dept for making a classy first impression!
• SUPER awesome shout out to ALL who have made the first THREE days AWESOME!  We love seeing you all take risks, try new engaging techniques, building relationships and more!  We have heard so many positive comments!
• SUPER awesome shout out to Sue, Elizabeth, Don and Margret for writing our very first GOOD NEWS REFERRALS!  Let's get this party started!!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

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

*August 21- KC/CL at Admin Meeting here in E202

*August 25- 9:00 PTC General Meeting in library

*August 30- Back to School Night

*September 1- Site Council nominations due

*September 4- No School/Labor Day

August 15, 2017

WELCOME BACK!  We are SUPER excited for another great school year!  We can't WAIT to see all of the "PIRATE" leadership taking place in your classrooms!  Take a risk, embrace change, be positive, radiate enthusiasm!   

ARE YOU READY?  (stolen from Jeff Kubiak cause we loved it!!)

Just like that: School.  Is. HERE!  Some of our NEU (No Excuses University) planning has already started and others are about to begin.

Are you ready?

For 180 days of awesomeness, fun and laughter?

Are you ready?

For ALL kids to be included, loved, cared for, and noticed?

Are you ready?

To be visible, honest, intentional and kind?

Are you ready?

To make a difference for EVERY SINGLE CHILD? No. Matter. What.

Are you ready?

To have a student-led classroom?

Are you ready?

For failure, re-learning, unlearning and growth?

Are you ready? 

To connect with peers, admin, friends and family positively??

Are you ready?

To show up?  EVERY DAY.

Are you ready?

To empower, advocate, play, and inspire?

Are you ready?

To reflect every day so that kids run back to GVMS and NOT run away?

Are you ready?

For changes in behavior that you don't understand but to connect, accept, love and support?

Are you ready?

To be ALL IN, NO EXCUSES, POSITIVE, for every child, end of story and end of complaining??

So tell us.  

Are. You. Ready?

Because WE ARE.