Friday Update 3-19-10

Friday Update
March 19th, 2010

I shared with you at this month’s staff meeting that the central office administration had shared some information about stress. This year has been especially stressful and we are going into our most stressful time of every school year. In order for all of us to be “the best” for our students (YES, me included), we must be mindful of our own stress levels and how to handle it in healthy ways. The tips below were part of the information that was shared with principals.

Find Ways to Dispel Stress
• Get time away. If you feel stress building, take a break. Walk away from the situation.
• Talk it out. Sometimes the best stress-reducer is simply sharing your stress with someone close to you. The act of talking it out – and getting support and empathy from someone else – is often an excellent way of blowing off steam and reducing stress.
• Cultivate allies at work. Just knowing you have one or more co-workers who are willing to assist you in times of stress will reduce your stress level. Just remember to reciprocate and help them when they are in need.
• Find humor in the situation. When you – or the people around you – start taking things too seriously, find a way to break through with laughter. Share a joke or funny story.

“Teaching is painful, continual and difficult work to be done by kindness, by watching, by warning, by precept and by praise, but above all, by example.”
-John Ruskin


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Next week
Monday 3/22 –3rd grade PLC @ 12:10, Grades 3-5 testing window begins, SAT, Sagebrush Night, Volunteer Committee Mtg. @ 3:00

Tuesday 3/23– Kindergarten PLC @ 8:50, Specialists PLC @ 9:30, PBS Mtg., Board of Education Mtg., Noche Hispana

Wednesday 3/24 – 1st grade PLC @ 10:20, EC PLC @ 12:00, 4th grade PLC @ 12:55

Thursday 3/25 –2nd grade PLC @ 11:05, 5th grade PLC @ 1:40, Watch Dog – Sean Eller

Friday 3/26 - End of quarterly testing, Admin. Team Mtg., Kindergarten to SciWorks

Week of 3/29-4/2
(3/29) Snow Make-up Day (students at school - No Tutoring), Tech 21 Cohort Training 3:15-4:15
(3/30) Teacher work day
(3/31) Teacher work day
(4/1) Spring Break
(4/2) Spring Break/ Holiday

Duty Schedule
*Breakfast –Weiss, Aikins, Sereika, Letoutneau

FYI/Reminders
-The 2010 TWC Survey is on-line at http://www.ncteachingconditions.org/ - look for more information from Pateah East about how we can earn incentives for our school.

-The Teacher Notification of Intent web site is ready! The link is now up and available to teachers via the Employees page of the WS/FCS web site. All full-time teachers need to complete an intent form (we have a different process for part-time teachers). The deadline is April 16th.
-Just a reminder that if you would like to make a contribution to the FCAE campaign fund please see Terry Zimmerman, Pateah East, or Kathi Lawrence

-The RJM Financial Southwest Golf tournament is scheduled for Friday, April 9th at Salem Glen Golf Club. We are still seeking players, teams, sponsors as well as donations for the raffle. During the next three weeks, students may pay $1 to have their name put on a “golf ball” that will be used to decorate the hallway. Please send your collection envelopes to Cathy Weiss daily

- If anyone has any extra ziploc sandwich bags or paper towels in their classroom that they would be willing to donate to the health room, they would be greatly appreciated.

- Thanks for the “goodies” we have been enjoying for Friday lunches. Just a reminder for the last week:
March 26th – Administration, 1st grade teachers and PRTS

-Please remember that next week is the designated week for the Social Studies lessons on the Census. If you recall, Debbie shared some resources with you at our last staff meeting.

Staff Stars
Sandra Garcia – Thanks for helping with a difficult conference. You are amazing and so caring. It is a pleasure to have your presence in conferences.
Nellie Broyhill – Thank you for your work to line up substitutes and lunch for our extended PLC/Planning days.
Kim Skinner – Thank you for always greeting our guests with a smile.
Science Festival crew – Great job with the festival!
School Improvement Team – Thank you for representing your colleagues well.
Brooke DiSorbo – Thanks for being an advisor on all things "Animal Safari" related! Thanks also for keeping all your notes from last year!
Heidi Lee and Nicole Skinner – Thank you for sharing some great math stuff and following in the "spirit" of our recent PLC! :)
Jennifer Cohn – You have been a great addition to the kindergarten team. Keep up the good work!
Erika Coffield, Patty Overby & Donna Williams – Thank you for the ways in which you work with our students who need that extra push.