January 27, 2017

What's your focus?  Do you need to adjust it?  Are we still focused on all students achieving, staying positive, coming to GVMS with our students best interest in our hearts?  About this time, I need to re-center myself and remind myself of my focus: student achievement, student engagement, supporting our staff, and always making decisions in the best interest of our students and staff.  What's YOUR re-center moment?

Sean Anchor argues that happiness inspires us to be more productive!  The more kindness you sow, your mindset will shift to live and lead a happier life.  That's his Ted Talk above =)

 #kindnessmatters Did you know that a smile, a kind word, a helping hand or a simple note of thanks on a sticky note can truly make someone's day?  These are SIMPLE acts of kindness that can be LIFE CHANGING for many on our staff.  Happiness researcher (yes, it's a real thing), found that if you perform random acts of kindness for two minutes a day for twenty-one days, you can actually retrain your brain to be more positive.  WHO IS IN WITH ME?!?!?!

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 Elizabeth for the Great Kindness Challenge that we would LOVE all year long!  Spread the love people!
• SUPER shout out to Kristy for the awesome chalk notes for each classroom!  Feelin' the love!!
• SUPER shout out to Laffey, Phillips, Matteson, McNamara, Farley, Husted, Rice, Marks, Love, Mansour, Booker, Morace, Russell, Wheeler, Peckham, Pereira, Cherry, Lucero, Rosa/Mimi, Robinson, Schwarzbach, Olvera, Morace, Toll, Kinder, Pozzesi, Walton, Phan, Patterson, and Bates for already completing Student of the Month for "Fairness"!  Control F allows you to see who has already been chosen!
• SUPER shout out to Mimi, Sarj, Susan, Michele R., Elizabeth, Ken, Don, Sue, Alisa, Kristy, Jamie, Kimberly, Lynn, Christine, Peckham, Christen, Rosa, Carol, Teesha, Heather1, Cristina, Lacey, Allison, Heather 2, and Julie for already writing Good News Referrals! Keep them coming and we CHALLENGE YOU to write at least ONE in January.  C'mon!  It's SUPER easy to find something nice to say about our kids here!
• We have had 194 for JANUARY already- SO AWESOME!!! Keep them coming!  Can't wait to see how POSITIVE and FABULOUS the rest of this year is!!! **We have had 8 referrals in January so far...
• What to nominate a fellow SUPER HERO to be recognized at our next faculty meeting?  Click HERE!!  

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

*January 31- Collab Meetings as determined by grade level
*February 2- GATE Fair at DO

*February 6, 7, 8, 9- 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 24- Parent Conferences 3:15-5:15
*February 24- Min Day., NAEP Testing., Academic Olympics (Whew!)

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

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

January 20, 2017

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!

Many teachers believe that reading is ONLY the "job" of any English Department or elementary teacher so check out THESE strategies for techniques for building reading strategies in ANY subject.  Reading is a skill that is needed in EVERY single subject and aspect of school (and life for that matter!)!

SUPER HERO SHOUT OUTS!

• SUPER shout out to Laffey, Phillips, Matteson, McNamara, Farley, Husted, Rice, Marks, Love, Mansour, Booker, Morace, Robinson, Schwarzbach, Olvera, Morace, Toll, Kinder, Pozzesi, Walton, and Bates for already completing Student of the Month for "Fairness"!  Control F allows you to see who has already been chosen!
• SUPER shout out to Kristy and Heather for helping Dustin and Dave M. submit their DonorsChoose.org project!
• SUPER shout out to Mimi, Susan, Michele R., Elizabeth, Ken, Don, Sue, Alisa, Kristy, Jamie, Rosa, Teesha, Heather1, Cristina, Lacey, Allison, Heather 2, and Julie for already writing Good News Referrals! Keep them coming and we CHALLENGE YOU to write at least ONE in January.  C'mon!  It's SUPER easy to find something nice to say about our kids here!
• We have had 84 for JANUARY already! Keep them coming!  Can't wait to see how POSITIVE and FABULOUS the rest of this year is!!! **We have had 6 referrals in January so far...
• What to nominate a fellow SUPER HERO to be recognized at our next faculty meeting?  Click HERE!!  

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

*January 24- IB Info Night here
*January 24- Department Meetings
*January 27- 6th/7th grade registration in class
*January 31- Collab Meetings as determined by grade level
*February 2- GATE Fair at DO

*February 6, 7, 8, 9- 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 24- Parent Conferences 3:15-5:15
*February 24- Min Day., NAEP Testing., Academic Olympics (Whew!)

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

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

January 13, 2017

About this time of the school year, I start asking myself if I am doing enough for our students and you all.  Have I spread the message of positive reinforcement, positive intentions, and changing the way we do things so that we always do things in the best interest of students?  Have I supported you all enough?  Have I made GVMS a better place for our students to be before they go to high school?  The questions go on and on and on....

We all must look at what we are challenged with and, if we see something in our selves, our classroom, our students, our school that we don't like, we must be the change that WE wish to see in our own world.  We must determine what we could do differently to bring about the change we want. The genesis of the change we desire must be rooted in POSITIVITY!!  Once we are ALL committed to making the positive and productive change, it will become habit!

Many have heard Albert Einstein's famous quote, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results".  Let's not do that =)

Who's got the HEART? 

YOU can make a DIFFERENCE! 

Many teachers believe that reading is ONLY the "job" of any English Department or elementary teacher so check out THESE strategies for techniques for building reading strategies in ANY subject.  Reading is a skill that is needed in EVERY single subject and aspect of school (and life for that matter!)!

SUPER HERO SHOUT OUTS!

• SUPER shout out to Lynn, Julie and Cristina for working with us on not going to camp and rescheduling for June 5-9!
• SUPER shout out to ALL that come to yard duty and meetings on time! With the exception of emergencies (please communicate with us!), all meetings have been put on your calendars way ahead of time!  Set a repeating alarm on your phone for yard duty please!
• SUPER shout out to Susan, Michele S., Michele R., and Brenda for organizing our new awards stuff!
• SUPER shout out to Don, Anita, Katherine, Lacey, and Heather for rolling with the punches when camp was postponed!
• SUPER shout out to Laffey, Farley, Husted, Booker, Morace, Toll, Walton, and Bates for already completing Student of the Month for "Fairness"!  Control F allows you to see who has already been chosen!
• SUPER shout out to Jason for checking to see what 6th grade needed due to the changes!
• SUPER shout out to Sue for the tech and updating our emergency tree for our faculty meeting!
• SUPER shout out to Kristy for sending out info for Donor's Choose! PLEASE DO THIS!!
• SUPER shout out to Heather P. for Donor's Choose project wording AND sending QR codes home with her kiddos to get the word out there even MORE!
• SUPER shout out to Mimi, Susan, Michele R., Cherry, Elizabeth, Ken, Don, Sue, Alisa, and Julie for already writing Good News Referrals! Keep them coming and we CHALLENGE YOU to write at least ONE in January.  C'mon!  It's SUPER easy to find something nice to say about our kids here!
• We have had 26 for JANUARY already! Keep them coming!  Can't wait to see how POSITIVE and FABULOUS the rest of this year is!!! **We have had 6 referrals in January so far...
• What to nominate a fellow SUPER HERO to be recognized at our next faculty meeting?  Click HERE!!  

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

*January 16- No School
*January 17- Leadership Meeting
*January 18- RHS Showcase for incoming freshman
*January 24- IB Info Night here
*January 24- Department Meetings
*January 25- Career Day
*January 26- Basketball @BGW
*January 27- 7th grade registers for 8th grade in History
*January 31- Collab Meetings as determined by grade level

*February 6, 7, 8, 9- BLOCK Schedule for Writing Test

*February 10- Makeup Writing Test

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

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

January 6, 2017

WELCOME BACK and HAPPY NEW YEAR!  We hope you had a relaxing, safe, and awesome break!  We are ready to tackle the rest of this school year focused on so many wonderful things!  

Here is a great pic (hard to see so click the link to take you directly to it) about 10 things every teacher should be able to do on Google Classroom, including manage multiple classes, invite co-teacher to a class, create a resource page, create quick exit tickets and polling (my FAV!!) and MORE! Check it out!

Please don't forget to read your small section (by department) for our meeting this coming Tuesday!

SUPER HERO SHOUT OUTS!

• SUPER shout out to Kristy for reviewing commitments and agreements with her students first day back!
• SUPER shout out to Sue for the awesome tech we will use at our meeting!
• SUPER shout out to Don for really utilizing Khan Academy with his kiddos!
• SUPER shout out to Liz and Jamie for wanting to be a part of Girls on the Run, coming to GVMS!!  So excited!
• SUPER shout out to Dalal and Sue for taking on MAP testing make ups!!
• We have had 20 for JANUARY already! Keep them coming!  Can't wait to see how POSITIVE and FABULOUS the rest of this year is!!! **We have had 3 referrals in January so far...
• What to nominate a fellow SUPER HERO to be recognized at our next faculty meeting?  Click HERE!!  

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
*January 9-13- 6th grade at Science Camp

*January 10- Faculty Meeting *NOTE DATE*

*January 11- Kris Corey here to visit
*January 13- Honor Roll, Perfect Attendance Rally Schedule

*January 16- No School
*January 18- RHS Showcase for incoming freshman
*January 24- IB Info Night here
*January 25- Career Day

*February 6, 7, 8, 9- BLOCK Schedule for Writing Test

*February 10- Makeup Writing Test

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

December 15, 2016

Happy holidays from us to you!  We hope that you have a restful, relaxing, rejuvenating and safe holiday season with family and friends.  We know it's been a stressful time and there may be more along the way.  We encourage you to take a break, take care of yourself, and come back ready to focus on all things positive and about our kids.  

As we come into more and more classrooms (less lately and we apologize 

=(   ....hoping that will change when we return!!), knowing what you want to focus on, we are noticing a shift in objectives that needs to take place in some areas.  We are going to review THIS ARTICLE in chunks so that we can effectively frame lesson objectives to student mastery and not student activities!  PLEASE read over the break if you get the chance!  Super Easy read and a hard copy is in your mail box.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

*January 3, 4- MAP Testing for English

*January 5- Makeups for English
*January 10- Faculty Meeting *NOTE DATE*

*February 6, 7, 8, 9- BLOCK Schedule for Writing Test

*February 10- Makeup Writing Test

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

December 9, 2016

The December challenge within the district (on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook) is #sparkle and, no, I didn't hand pick it, though it's RIGHT up my alley!!  #Sparkle stands for: Spreading Positive Actions Regarding Kind Loving Encounters! As each person spreads some "Sparkle", they are paying it forward, which causes a chain reaction that spreads positivity! 

Have you seen these #sparkle acts around campus?  Have you had a #sparkle moment yourself?  SPREAD THE #SPARKLE, especially when it comes to our kids!  From the students that are picking up garbage, to the ones that are helping a friend with their homework, to the ones that are bring in toys and cans for those less fortunate...There are #sparkle moments EVERYWHERE! You just have to look! =)

As we come into more and more classrooms (less lately and we apologize 

=(....hoping that will change next week!), knowing what you want to focus on, we are noticing a shift in objectives that needs to take place in some areas.  We are going to review THIS ARTICLE in chunks so that we can effectively frame lesson objectives to student mastery and not student activities!

We are moving our Honor Roll/Perfect Attendance/Sports Assembly to Friday, January 6, 2017!  This will be to recognize grades, perfect attendance, cross country team, basketball teams, and our football team. Please note that award levels have changed slightly and will include prizes, certificates, and raffles!!  Schedule is coming soon!

3.0-3.4 Honorable Mention

3.5-3.9 Honor Roll

4.0 Principal's Honor Roll

SUPER HERO SHOUT OUTS!

• SUPER shout out to Alex for sharing Seesaw from the CUE conference!  Such a fabulous experience and to Dalal for sending out how to Hyperlink documents!
• SUPER shout out to Christen for creating an easy sheet for SPED goals/accommodations!
• SUPER shout out to Dalal, Josiah, Aubry, Dustin, Dave F., and Sandy for participating in the PODs this week!  We are so THRILLED that you took advantage of this and enjoyed it!  We LOVE collaboration!
• SUPER shout out to Dan for an awesome Winter Concert!
• SUPER shout out to those that helped during the music assembly with crowd control!
• SUPER shout out to Olvera, Love, Bates, Toll, Nitto, Booker, Kinder, Walton, Vargas, Russell, Wheeler, Schwarzbach, Morace, Robinson, Mansour, Diaz, Farley, Hafich, DeVries, Laffey, and Mimi/Rosa/Kristy for completing their Student of the Month for Most Dedicated!  "Control F" lets you know who has already been chosen.
• SUPER shout out to Booker, DeVries, Farley, Kinder, Marks, Matteson, Cherry, Nitto, Periera, Perriatt, Walton, Rice, Schwarzbach, and Vohs for writing Good News Referrals this month already!  I challenge EVERY staff member to write one in December!  It makes our kids' day and makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside!!
• We have only had 27 for DECEMBER! Keep them coming!  Can't wait to see how POSITIVE and FABULOUS December is!!! **We have had 19 referrals in DECEMBER so far =(.  It's been a busy month =(
• What to nominate a fellow SUPER HERO to be recognized at our next faculty meeting?  Click HERE!!  

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

*December 5-15- MAP Testing for Math
*December 13- December Department Meetings
*December 14- Band Performance at Solano Mall

*December 15- STAFF Holiday Celebration at Cast Iron AFTER SCHOOL!!

*December 16th- Hot Cocoa Bar and Holiday Breakfast from KC, CL, and PTC!

*January 3, 4- MAP Testing for English

*January 5- Makeups for English
*January 10- Faculty Meeting *NOTE DATE*

*February 6, 7, 8, 9- BLOCK Schedule for Writing Test

*February 10- Makeup Writing Test

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

December 2, 2016

The Friday before Thanksgiving Break (at 5:22 to be exact ;)), we were notified that we have been selected to apply for the CA Gold Ribbon Award (formerly known as California Distinguished School Award)!!  This is an AMAZING honor and a TESTAMENT to YOUR hard work!!  WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU ALL!!  And....the application is due Monday 12/5 😆.  True story. Though most of it was completed over the break, we have more to do.  We are applying in the area of Technology and the implementation we have at GVMS through Google Classroom, blogs, newsletters, emails, websites, Remind, social media and more.

Congrats to Kevin, who submitted his voluntary separation papers in order to RETIRE at the end of this year!  You have made a difference in some many people's lives and we apprecaite you!

It's always a challenge before major breaks and holidays to keep students focused and engaged.  Check out these 4 strategies to energize and focus our students in the classroom!  Our students need this even more today with all of the distractions of social media and more.  Easy to follow and makes your job MUCH easier!

During our recent PBIS Workshop, we realized that using the "check in-check out" idea was BRILLIANT to greet students at the door before starting class!  It makes them KNOW that you care, you are saying hi, noticing the look on their face and more.  Take ONE minute before class starts to just be by your door as our kids walk in to notice them.  Just notice and say WELCOME to class!  It's going to be a great day!! 

We are moving our Honor Roll/Perfect Attendance/Sports Assembly to Friday, January 6, 2017!  This will be to recognize grades, perfect attendance, cross country team, basketball teams, and our football team. Please note that award levels have changed slightly and will include prizes, certificates, and raffles!!  Schedule is coming soon!

3.0-3.4 Honorable Mention

3.5-3.9 Honor Roll

4.0 Principal's Honor Roll

While Hour of Code is coming December 5-11, MANY of our classes are already coding on a daily, if not weekly, basis!  This is a fantastic opportunity for students to learn programming skills and more!  Sign your class up HERE and check out all of the different options for students!!

SUPER HERO SHOUT OUTS!

• SUPER shout out to Jamie, Rosa, Mimi, Annette/Karen, Elizabeth, Ken Cristina, Alex Tamia, Dave F., Don, Alisa, Sue, Lynn, Kristy, Dalal, Katherine, Kevin, Dave M., Jason, Lorraine, Dan P., Lacey, Julie, Heather1, Christen, Sandy, Allison, Sarj, Carol, Rochelle, and Barb for writing Good News Referrals this month!  I challenge EVERY staff member to write one in December!  It makes our kids' day!!
• SUPER shout out to all for writing GOOD NEWS REFERRALS! We have had 159 for NOVEMBER! Keep them coming!  Can't wait to see how POSITIVE and FABULOUS December is!!! **We have had 16 referrals in NOVEMBER sent to the office mostly for disruption/defiance =) and see the graphs for more info!
• What to nominate a fellow SUPER HERO to be recognized at our next faculty meeting?  Click HERE!!  PLEASE!!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

*December 5, 8, 9- PODs for English/History

*December 5-15- MAP Testing for Math

*Decemeber 6- Faculty Meeting in Library

*December 7- Evaluat'd Training for Probs in library

*December 7- Winter Concert (day and night)

*December 8- Basketball here versus BGW

*December 15- STAFF Holiday Celebration at Cast Iron AFTER SCHOOL!!
*December 16th- Hot Cocoa Bar and Holiday Breakfast from KC, CL, and PTC!
*January 3, 4- MAP Testing for English
*January 5- Makeups for English
*February 6, 7, 8, 9- BLOCK Schedule for Writing Test
*February 10- Makeup Writing Test