Friday, August 30

Wink's Words

This week has been awesome. Here's proof. Who would've ever thought car pick up could have been completed on the first day by 4:07 and by 3:41 on the second day?  Nothing is impossible if we can identify our goals and put tremendous effort into the defining details and working the plan to get it done.  Great job to all!!!

I came across this blog by Jeff Delp, a principal from Arizona. Hope you enjoy his message in seeing the possibilities in every kid that we come into contact with.

Do You Assume the Best?

Last, I want to tell you how proud I am of you in your first week. Your organization in laying the foundation for discipline has been very good. Please remember to continue to teach, model, practice and praise behavior expectations all next week. We must make these expectations become a habit.

Upcoming Events

Date	Event	Information
Fri, Aug 30	College Dress	You may wear jeans if you have a college shirt. DoNut Fret Breakfast in the Staff Development room at 7:15 a.m.
Mon, Sep 2	Labor Day	No School
Tue, Sep 3	Leadership	Leadership Meeting from 4-5 in the staff development room
Thu, Sep 5	College Day    Open House 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. (See your grade level leader about how we will do this.)	All staff may wear jeans and college gear. Breakfast is in the cafeterias from 7:30 – 8:00. Parents will visit the rooms from 7:30 – 8:00 to see samples of current student work.  AP’s will discuss this with their grade levels. Title 1 Parent Meeting will be in the gym from 8:00-8:30
	Boy Scouts	Boy Scouts will be here to meet with 1st - 4th grade boys during PE and have a sign up in cafeteria 2 from 7:00-8:00 p.m.
	Early Voting TRE	The Tax Ratification Election will take place in the foyer from 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Mon, Sep 9	Faculty Meeting	We will meet in cafeteria 2 from 4:00 – 4:15 to review our crisis plan.  Please bring your books.
Tue, Sep 10	Parent Contact	Please contact every parent with a positive about their child. (Phone, email, letter, etc.)
Thu, Sep 12	Fire Drill	We will have a fire drill at 9:00 a.m.

The Heart of our Work

Sign Language

Reading is Thinking!

Left:  Reading is Thinking. As I walk through classrooms, I am very impressed to see our GAN embedded in our instruction. Here are some cool anchor charts from the 3rd & 4th grade hall.

Right:  Look at the cool idea that Jacqueline Hooton (3rd grade) is incorporating sign language into her classroom management.  What a neat way to get students to communicate without talking?

  

Haley Van Sandt (4th grade) came up with a fantastic idea to incorporate writing and reading into assigning jobs for her class.  To be a helper, the students have to complete an application. (That is a real-world 21st century skill!)  Here are the links to the application and spreadsheet that she uses to keep up with the students' 1st choice and 2nd choice.
Classroom Job Application
Spreadsheet to Manage Job Assignments

Celebrate our Growth

Cari Traylor Celebrations

• Dina Rash is doing a great job reinforcing math fluency by using math flash cards in the restroom line.
• Emmy Rivers has some outstanding student writing showcased in the hall where students had to tell what the world would be like without numbers.

Adra Barnes Celebrations

• Lindsey McFaul has been awesome for having such a positive attitude and stepping up to help her 1st grade teammates.
• Jamie Clair's enthusiasm and willingness to get 100% of herself to her students has been outstanding. 
• Terri Dickson and Vickie Spearman have done a fantastic job supporting teachers and struggling students with any need that arises.

Gina Treadway Celebrations

• Amber Watson has been very creative in helping our kindergarten team come up with solutions to challenging problems.
• Paula Robison has been awesome.  She has come in and taken charge even though she is currently working as a volunteer.

Who or what do you want to celebrate?
Add your celebrations in the comments.  Remember celebration is the fuel of improvement.