Friday Update
December 3rd , 2010
The December edition of “Educational Leadership” magazine focuses on the issue of The Effective Educator. I have always believed that good teachers can come in many different types. Some may be highly organized planners who get the most out of every school day while others may be creative artists who constantly capture their students’ imaginations to push them to be their best. Some teachers do both of those things well while most of us fall somewhere in between. In short, I believe that effective teaching is both a science and an art that combines good strategies within an environment that enriches and challenges our students. Effective teaching is most evident in clear learning results and the most effective teachers are constantly growing to show improvement.
There are a few key points in the “Educational Leadership” that are worth mentioning and that tie into my beliefs:
-Teacher effectiveness is now clearly tied to learning (results).
-The best teachers I have known are humbled by how much more they need to learn (improvement).
-Without exception, (effective) teachers define their role as doing whatever it takes to ensure their students’ success (results).
-The most effective teachers are the most eager to talk about their failures (improvement).
-Effective teaching must be in service of student learning (results).
-Great teachers possess many intangible attributes (art).
-Expertise does not happen by chance. It requires deliberate practice (science).
ducational Leadership - December 2010
Children remind us to treasure the smallest of gifts, even in the most difficult of times.
Allen Klein
Next week –
Monday 12/6 – Dress rehearsal for Winter Musical (switch lunches for 3rd and 2nd), 3rd grade PLC @ 10:50, 2nd grade PLC @ 1:40, Happy Birthday to Becky Drummond
Tuesday 12/7 – Winter Musical assembly at 9:00, Kindergarten PLC @ 8:30, EC PLC @ 12:30, Principals Meeting, Winter Musical and PTA mtg.
Wednesday 12/8 – 4th grade PLC @ 9:15, 1st grade PLC @ 12:55, Staff Meeting
Thursday 12/9 - Happy Birthday to Marilyn Barr, Staff meeting recap at 11:45 in auditorium, Noche Hispana at 6:00
Friday 12/10 – Festive Friday (3rd, 4th, office and administration), 5th grade PLC @ 10:00 , All Pro Dads Breakfast, Watch DOG – Bill O’Brien, Kiwanis Gathering for Core I & II, Kindergarten to Nursing Home
12/13 – 12/17
12/13 – Student Council speech practice at 9:00, 3rd grade PLC @ 10:50, 2nd grade PLC @ 1:40, Happy Birthday to Debbie Herrin
12/14 – Kindergarten PLC @ 8:30, EC PLC @ 12:30, Happy Birthday to Glenda Vaughn, Watch DOG – David Rhyne, Student Council Assembly for 2nd – 5th graders, SIT Meeting, Holiday Open House at Central Office
12/15– 4th grade PLC @ 9:15, 1st grade PLC @ 12:55, AP Professional Dev.
12/16– Watch DOG – Eric Blanks, Principals Meeting, 1st grade catered Mexican lunch
12/17– Festive Friday (5th , 2nd, 1st and PRT’s), 5th grade PLC @ 10:00, Watch DOG – Paul Scott, Core I & II Bowling (9:00-12:30)
FYI/Reminders:
-Please continue to remember those staff members who are dealing with personal illness or the illness of a family member.
-Please remember to wear your staff ID every day.
- Festive Fridays Continue this week – 3rd grade, 4th grade, Office Staff and Administration are invited to bring “goodies” to share!
- Lunch Bunch this week will be offered by Pizza Hut. Choices range from pizza to pasta to wings for $6.00. Please put in your order by 10:00 am on any day you would like to order.
Staff Stars
Fifth grade team - A wonderful start with literature circles.
Catherine Herko - Thank you for implementing essential questions.
Second Grade Team - Awesome job with implementing two standardized tests in November and continuing to teach! Way to Go!
Alicia Bailey - A super start with student council! The posters look great and we can't wait until elections.
Debbie Herrin & Testing team - Thank you for persevering through testing and make up testing.
Jennifer Cohn - Super job with parent conferencing last week.
Amy Trinkle - Thank you for being there when needed to help guide our students and parents.
Cornelia Hauhuth – Thanks for always stepping in to help out with a smile!
Joyce Wilson – Thank you for your always having a kind and guiding spirit.
Fourth grade – Thank you for your work to score your content writing papers.
Glenda Vaughn – Your leadership of our Hospitality Team has been awesome.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Friday, November 19, 2010
Friday Update 11-19-10
Friday Update
November 19th , 2010
Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for all the blessings in your life. I am thankful for so many things including: a wonderful wife and three beautiful kids, a hard working staff, students who love us no matter what, an office staff that rocks, music to soothe my nerves, a cool fall morning, Christmas is on its way. I urge you to find the blessings in your life and to acknowledge them. While no one’s world is ever perfect, we all can look for the “good things” to try to keep our glass half full.
“We are made wise not by the recollection of our past, but by the responsibility for our future."
~George Bernard Shaw.
Next week –
Monday 11/22 – Staff BBQ lunch provided by our Southwest PTA
Tuesday 11/23 - Watch DOG – Brett Todd
Wednesday 11/24 – No School – The building will be locked – enjoy the break
Thursday 11/25 - No School – Happy Thanksgiving!
Friday 11/26 – No School
11/29-12/3
11/29 – 3rd grade PLC @ 10:50, 2nd grade PLC @ 1:40
11/30 – Kindergarten PLC @ 8:30, EC PLC @ 12:30, Happy Birthday to Amy Hancock, AP Professional Dev., Focused Staff Training, PTA Board Meeting
12/1– 4th grade PLC @ 9:15, 1st grade PLC @ 12:55
12/2– Watch DOG – Rick MacDonald
12/3– 5th grade PLC @ 10:00
FYI/Reminders:
-The space in front of the annex sidewalk is no longer available for parking. It must remain open so that we maintain proper handicap access. We will put in a work order to have it properly.
-Please continue to remember those staff members who are dealing with personal illness or the illness of a family member.
-Please remember to wear your staff ID every day.
Staff Stars
Heidi Lee – Thanks for the amazing energy you show in the classroom
Thanks to Loren Burke who graciously volunteered to switch workdays so she could help with the Southwest-Holy Family Thanksgiving Outreach Program on Monday.
First grade PLC team - Awesome job with creating calendar for teaching math objectives week by week and looking ahead to common assessments!
Betsy McGhee - Great social skills lesson on how to apologize
3rd/5th Grade Tutors - A great start this week!
Bunny Coates - A great job with teacher THINK ALOUD with read aloud text
Joyce Wilson - Super job with teaching ways to represent a number through song!
Jan Barr - Great story map graphic organizer
November 19th , 2010
Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for all the blessings in your life. I am thankful for so many things including: a wonderful wife and three beautiful kids, a hard working staff, students who love us no matter what, an office staff that rocks, music to soothe my nerves, a cool fall morning, Christmas is on its way. I urge you to find the blessings in your life and to acknowledge them. While no one’s world is ever perfect, we all can look for the “good things” to try to keep our glass half full.
“We are made wise not by the recollection of our past, but by the responsibility for our future."
~George Bernard Shaw.
Next week –
Monday 11/22 – Staff BBQ lunch provided by our Southwest PTA
Tuesday 11/23 - Watch DOG – Brett Todd
Wednesday 11/24 – No School – The building will be locked – enjoy the break
Thursday 11/25 - No School – Happy Thanksgiving!
Friday 11/26 – No School
11/29-12/3
11/29 – 3rd grade PLC @ 10:50, 2nd grade PLC @ 1:40
11/30 – Kindergarten PLC @ 8:30, EC PLC @ 12:30, Happy Birthday to Amy Hancock, AP Professional Dev., Focused Staff Training, PTA Board Meeting
12/1– 4th grade PLC @ 9:15, 1st grade PLC @ 12:55
12/2– Watch DOG – Rick MacDonald
12/3– 5th grade PLC @ 10:00
FYI/Reminders:
-The space in front of the annex sidewalk is no longer available for parking. It must remain open so that we maintain proper handicap access. We will put in a work order to have it properly.
-Please continue to remember those staff members who are dealing with personal illness or the illness of a family member.
-Please remember to wear your staff ID every day.
Staff Stars
Heidi Lee – Thanks for the amazing energy you show in the classroom
Thanks to Loren Burke who graciously volunteered to switch workdays so she could help with the Southwest-Holy Family Thanksgiving Outreach Program on Monday.
First grade PLC team - Awesome job with creating calendar for teaching math objectives week by week and looking ahead to common assessments!
Betsy McGhee - Great social skills lesson on how to apologize
3rd/5th Grade Tutors - A great start this week!
Bunny Coates - A great job with teacher THINK ALOUD with read aloud text
Joyce Wilson - Super job with teaching ways to represent a number through song!
Jan Barr - Great story map graphic organizer
Monday, November 15, 2010
Friday Update - 11-12-10
Friday Update
November 12th , 2010
I hope that you all had a good weekend. The intent of inviting James Lucas to our staff meeting last week was to try to ease some fears about how the new Zone 7 elementary school will affect Southwest. While it did seem to help to explain the process, I know that we all still have many unknowns. That is a fact that we can not do anything about. Our job for now is to do our best to serve the students that we have now and to let the other things about next year take care of themselves. There are no guarantees in life and we simply have to “live in the present.” Thank you for all that you do every day for our students.
"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass...it's about learning how to dance in the rain." Anonymous
Next week –
Monday 11/15 ––3rd grade PLC @ 10:50, 2nd grade PLC @ 1:40, Happy Birthday to Tiffany Larson
Tuesday 11/16 - Kindergarten PLC @ 8:30, EC PLC @ 12:30, Happy Birthday to Pat Taylor, SIT, Winston Salem Symphony Strings for 4th and 5th grade
Wednesday 11/17 – 4th grade PLC @ 9:15, 1st grade PLC @ 12:55, Happy Birthday to Terry Zimmerman, 3rd grade puppet show, 4th grade to Heritage Theater (will leave @ 10:00)
Thursday 11/18 - Watch DOG – Eric Blanks, Principals Meeting, Spanish Club, PBIS Meeting, Honor Roll Celebration @ 10:00
Friday 11/19 – 5th grade PLC @ 10:00, Watch DOG – Randy Patton, 1st grade Thanksgiving Feasts, 3rd grade to Children’s Theater (Fausch, Marceron, Sunderman, and Vaughn gone from 9:15 – 11:15; Winters, Rosenberger, and Drummond gone from 11:15 – 1:30)
11/22-11-26
11/22 –
11/23 – Watch DOG – Brett Todd
11/24– No School
11/25– No School – Happy Thanksgiving!
11/26– No School
FYI/Reminders:
-The space in front of the annex sidewalk is no longer available for parking. It must remain open so that we maintain proper handicap access. We will put in a work order to have it properly.
-Please continue to remember those staff members who are dealing with personal illness or the illness of a family member.
-Please remember to wear your staff ID every day.
Staff Stars
-Tonya Grisette and Wende Powell and Beth Bowser - Great job with your book genre graphs!!!!
-PLC facilitators - Thank you for your work to keep our discussions focused on learning.
-Sarah Baldwin - Great job with our United Way campaign during a tough budget year.
- Mr. Mabry – Thanks for your waiting and making sure a teacher made it to her car safely one evening.
-Amy Hancock – Thank you for representing Southwest well as our Teacher of the Year.
-Melissa Stone – Nice job with your centers and writing lesson.
November 12th , 2010
I hope that you all had a good weekend. The intent of inviting James Lucas to our staff meeting last week was to try to ease some fears about how the new Zone 7 elementary school will affect Southwest. While it did seem to help to explain the process, I know that we all still have many unknowns. That is a fact that we can not do anything about. Our job for now is to do our best to serve the students that we have now and to let the other things about next year take care of themselves. There are no guarantees in life and we simply have to “live in the present.” Thank you for all that you do every day for our students.
"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass...it's about learning how to dance in the rain." Anonymous
Next week –
Monday 11/15 ––3rd grade PLC @ 10:50, 2nd grade PLC @ 1:40, Happy Birthday to Tiffany Larson
Tuesday 11/16 - Kindergarten PLC @ 8:30, EC PLC @ 12:30, Happy Birthday to Pat Taylor, SIT, Winston Salem Symphony Strings for 4th and 5th grade
Wednesday 11/17 – 4th grade PLC @ 9:15, 1st grade PLC @ 12:55, Happy Birthday to Terry Zimmerman, 3rd grade puppet show, 4th grade to Heritage Theater (will leave @ 10:00)
Thursday 11/18 - Watch DOG – Eric Blanks, Principals Meeting, Spanish Club, PBIS Meeting, Honor Roll Celebration @ 10:00
Friday 11/19 – 5th grade PLC @ 10:00, Watch DOG – Randy Patton, 1st grade Thanksgiving Feasts, 3rd grade to Children’s Theater (Fausch, Marceron, Sunderman, and Vaughn gone from 9:15 – 11:15; Winters, Rosenberger, and Drummond gone from 11:15 – 1:30)
11/22-11-26
11/22 –
11/23 – Watch DOG – Brett Todd
11/24– No School
11/25– No School – Happy Thanksgiving!
11/26– No School
FYI/Reminders:
-The space in front of the annex sidewalk is no longer available for parking. It must remain open so that we maintain proper handicap access. We will put in a work order to have it properly.
-Please continue to remember those staff members who are dealing with personal illness or the illness of a family member.
-Please remember to wear your staff ID every day.
Staff Stars
-Tonya Grisette and Wende Powell and Beth Bowser - Great job with your book genre graphs!!!!
-PLC facilitators - Thank you for your work to keep our discussions focused on learning.
-Sarah Baldwin - Great job with our United Way campaign during a tough budget year.
- Mr. Mabry – Thanks for your waiting and making sure a teacher made it to her car safely one evening.
-Amy Hancock – Thank you for representing Southwest well as our Teacher of the Year.
-Melissa Stone – Nice job with your centers and writing lesson.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Friday Update 11-5-10
Friday Update
November 6th , 2010
We have two new Southwest Elementary staff members to welcome to our family. Please welcome them as they begin their time with us next week.
Mrs. Betty Pendley will start half days next week as our new Data Manager. She has worked as an assistant and technology facilitator at Clemmons Elementary School.
Mr. Bart Rodden has been hired as our new Lead Custodian. He is coming to us from Meadowlark Elementary and will be joining us in a few days.
Children seldom misquote. In fact, they usually repeat word for word what you shouldn't have said. ~Author Unknown
Next week –
Monday 11/8 –– 3rd grade PLC @ 10:50, 2nd grade PLC @ 1:40, Watch DOG – David Seibert
Tuesday 11/9 - Kindergarten PLC @ 8:30, EC PLC @ 12:30, Watch DOG – David Rhyne, Happy Birthday to Erin Gough, Staff Meeting, White Elephant BINGO (6:00 – 7:30), Report Cards Go Home
Wednesday 11/10 - 4th grade PLC @ 9:15, 1st grade PLC @ 12:55
Thursday 11/11 – No School – Happy Veterans Day!
Friday 11/12 – 5th grade PLC @ 10:00, Watch DOG – Ray McDowell, Last Day of Book Fair
11/15-19
11/15 – 3rd grade PLC @ 10:50, 2nd grade PLC @ 1:40, Happy Birthday to Tiffany Larson
11/16 – Kindergarten PLC @ 8:30, EC PLC @ 12:30, Happy Birthday to Pat Taylor, SIT, Winston Salem Symphony Strings for 4th and 5th grade
11/17– 4th grade PLC @ 9:15, 1st grade PLC @ 12:55, Happy Birthday to Terry Zimmerman, 3rd grade puppet show, 4th grade to Heritage Theater
11/18– Watch DOG – Eric Blanks, Principals Meeting, Spanish Club, PBIS Meeting, Honor Roll Celebration @ 10:00
11/19– 5th grade PLC @ 10:00, Watch DOG – Randy Patton, 1st grade Thanksgiving Feasts
FYI/Reminders:
-The space in front of the annex sidewalk is no longer available for parking. It must remain open so that we maintain proper handicap access. We will put in a work order to have it properly.
-Please continue to remember those staff members who are dealing with personal illness or the illness of a family member.
-Please remember to wear your staff ID every day.
- Thank you for your work to get report cards ready. Please remember to follow up with communication with those students below grade level
Staff Stars
2nd grade teachers – Thanks for a great job testing!
5th grade – Great PLC today!
Wende Powell – Thank you for your work with 2nd grade enrichment
Kathi Lawrence and Peggy Isenhour – Nice work with your guided reading groups
Vanessa Menendez and Sandra Garcia – Thank your for always being willing to translate whatever and whenever needed!
Marilyn Barr - Great use literacy graphic organizers for predicting/inferring
Nicole Skinner - Effective use of THINK ALOUD with teacher read aloud text and student friendly division picture strategy that helped your students
Dawn Garlow - Creative Alliteration Sentences/Illustrations
Joyce Burnette - Wonderful writer's dialogue thinking through the step by step actions
Amy Tilley - Hats off to you for trying Hand Up/Pair Up/Share cooperative learning structure
Cristen Leteourneau - Creative Spanish interactive powerpoint focusing on directional words
Catherine Herko - Awesome job empowering your fifth grader writers to write poetry
Lauren Hagler - Effective job with the cooperative fraction to decimal to percent activity
Katie Chamra - Great job with cooperative learning activities in fourth grade - thanks for being focused on the needs of your learners
Donna Williams - Wonderful fundations instruction with your students
Bunny Coates - Super job with guided reading decoding strategies!
Nellie Broyhill, Debbie Herrin, Cornelia Hauhuth - Hats off to you for opening up our buildiing each morning!
November 6th , 2010
We have two new Southwest Elementary staff members to welcome to our family. Please welcome them as they begin their time with us next week.
Mrs. Betty Pendley will start half days next week as our new Data Manager. She has worked as an assistant and technology facilitator at Clemmons Elementary School.
Mr. Bart Rodden has been hired as our new Lead Custodian. He is coming to us from Meadowlark Elementary and will be joining us in a few days.
Children seldom misquote. In fact, they usually repeat word for word what you shouldn't have said. ~Author Unknown
Next week –
Monday 11/8 –– 3rd grade PLC @ 10:50, 2nd grade PLC @ 1:40, Watch DOG – David Seibert
Tuesday 11/9 - Kindergarten PLC @ 8:30, EC PLC @ 12:30, Watch DOG – David Rhyne, Happy Birthday to Erin Gough, Staff Meeting, White Elephant BINGO (6:00 – 7:30), Report Cards Go Home
Wednesday 11/10 - 4th grade PLC @ 9:15, 1st grade PLC @ 12:55
Thursday 11/11 – No School – Happy Veterans Day!
Friday 11/12 – 5th grade PLC @ 10:00, Watch DOG – Ray McDowell, Last Day of Book Fair
11/15-19
11/15 – 3rd grade PLC @ 10:50, 2nd grade PLC @ 1:40, Happy Birthday to Tiffany Larson
11/16 – Kindergarten PLC @ 8:30, EC PLC @ 12:30, Happy Birthday to Pat Taylor, SIT, Winston Salem Symphony Strings for 4th and 5th grade
11/17– 4th grade PLC @ 9:15, 1st grade PLC @ 12:55, Happy Birthday to Terry Zimmerman, 3rd grade puppet show, 4th grade to Heritage Theater
11/18– Watch DOG – Eric Blanks, Principals Meeting, Spanish Club, PBIS Meeting, Honor Roll Celebration @ 10:00
11/19– 5th grade PLC @ 10:00, Watch DOG – Randy Patton, 1st grade Thanksgiving Feasts
FYI/Reminders:
-The space in front of the annex sidewalk is no longer available for parking. It must remain open so that we maintain proper handicap access. We will put in a work order to have it properly.
-Please continue to remember those staff members who are dealing with personal illness or the illness of a family member.
-Please remember to wear your staff ID every day.
- Thank you for your work to get report cards ready. Please remember to follow up with communication with those students below grade level
Staff Stars
2nd grade teachers – Thanks for a great job testing!
5th grade – Great PLC today!
Wende Powell – Thank you for your work with 2nd grade enrichment
Kathi Lawrence and Peggy Isenhour – Nice work with your guided reading groups
Vanessa Menendez and Sandra Garcia – Thank your for always being willing to translate whatever and whenever needed!
Marilyn Barr - Great use literacy graphic organizers for predicting/inferring
Nicole Skinner - Effective use of THINK ALOUD with teacher read aloud text and student friendly division picture strategy that helped your students
Dawn Garlow - Creative Alliteration Sentences/Illustrations
Joyce Burnette - Wonderful writer's dialogue thinking through the step by step actions
Amy Tilley - Hats off to you for trying Hand Up/Pair Up/Share cooperative learning structure
Cristen Leteourneau - Creative Spanish interactive powerpoint focusing on directional words
Catherine Herko - Awesome job empowering your fifth grader writers to write poetry
Lauren Hagler - Effective job with the cooperative fraction to decimal to percent activity
Katie Chamra - Great job with cooperative learning activities in fourth grade - thanks for being focused on the needs of your learners
Donna Williams - Wonderful fundations instruction with your students
Bunny Coates - Super job with guided reading decoding strategies!
Nellie Broyhill, Debbie Herrin, Cornelia Hauhuth - Hats off to you for opening up our buildiing each morning!
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Friday Update 10-29-10
Friday Update
October 29th , 2010
Thank you for your efforts during first quarter!!!! Enjoy your weekend.
“Enjoy the little things for one day you may look back and realize they were the bigger things.”
Robert Brault
Next week –
Monday 11/1 –– 3rd grade PLC @ 10:50, 2nd grade PLC @ 1:40, Jump Rope for Heart (Kindergarten and 1st grade) 2:30-4:00
Tuesday 11/2 - Kindergarten PLC @ 8:30, EC PLC @ 12:30, Happy Birthday to Gwen Nolting, P.E. in auditorium (Voting in gym), Principals Meeting, Focused Staff Training
Wednesday 11/3 - 4th grade PLC @ 9:15, 1st grade PLC @ 12:55, Jump Rope for Heart (2nd and 3rd grades) 2:30-4:00, Book Fair Begins, Flu Shots Offered at Central Office
Thursday 11/4 – Jump Rope for Heart (4th and 5th grades) 2:30-4:00, Technology Workshop - Skype, AR Recognition
Friday 11/5 – Watch Dog – Matt Hubbard, 5th grade PLC @ 10:00, Happy Birthday to Loren Burke, All Pro Dads Breakfast
11/8 – 11/12
11/8 – 3rd grade PLC @ 10:50, 2nd grade PLC @ 1:40, Watch DOG – David Seibert
11/9 – Kindergarten PLC @ 8:30, EC PLC @ 12:30, Watch DOG – David Rhyne, Happy Birthday to Erin Gough, Staff Meeting, White Elephant BINGO (6:00 – 7:30)
11/10– 4th grade PLC @ 9:15, 1st grade PLC @ 12:55
11/11– No School – Happy Veterans Day!
11/12– 5th grade PLC @ 10:00, Watch DOG – Ray McDowell, Last Day of Book Fair
FYI/Reminders:
-Please continue to remember those staff members who are dealing with personal illness or the illness of a family member.
-Please remember to wear your staff ID every day.
Staff Stars
Cristen Letourneau – Thank you for offering your time and help to 5th grade teachers during testing
Brian Vest and Sherry LeCompte - Nice job with the readingeggs.com website.
Robin King, Sylvia Green and Gwen Nolting - Excellent job using a wide variety of activities within the same lesson.
EOQ testers and helpers - Thank you for helping our testing go as smoothly as possible.
Tiffany Larson and Pat Taylor - Great job with your varies learning centers.
Sherry Marceron - Thank you for staying tuned into your student's situation.
Cathy Weiss and Maria Vernon- nice job making candy apples with Robin King's class!
Sandra Garcia and Amy Trinkle – Thanks for your help with the Holiday Family Support
Anne White-Thanks for taking your quarter test children under your wing!
October 29th , 2010
Thank you for your efforts during first quarter!!!! Enjoy your weekend.
“Enjoy the little things for one day you may look back and realize they were the bigger things.”
Robert Brault
Next week –
Monday 11/1 –– 3rd grade PLC @ 10:50, 2nd grade PLC @ 1:40, Jump Rope for Heart (Kindergarten and 1st grade) 2:30-4:00
Tuesday 11/2 - Kindergarten PLC @ 8:30, EC PLC @ 12:30, Happy Birthday to Gwen Nolting, P.E. in auditorium (Voting in gym), Principals Meeting, Focused Staff Training
Wednesday 11/3 - 4th grade PLC @ 9:15, 1st grade PLC @ 12:55, Jump Rope for Heart (2nd and 3rd grades) 2:30-4:00, Book Fair Begins, Flu Shots Offered at Central Office
Thursday 11/4 – Jump Rope for Heart (4th and 5th grades) 2:30-4:00, Technology Workshop - Skype, AR Recognition
Friday 11/5 – Watch Dog – Matt Hubbard, 5th grade PLC @ 10:00, Happy Birthday to Loren Burke, All Pro Dads Breakfast
11/8 – 11/12
11/8 – 3rd grade PLC @ 10:50, 2nd grade PLC @ 1:40, Watch DOG – David Seibert
11/9 – Kindergarten PLC @ 8:30, EC PLC @ 12:30, Watch DOG – David Rhyne, Happy Birthday to Erin Gough, Staff Meeting, White Elephant BINGO (6:00 – 7:30)
11/10– 4th grade PLC @ 9:15, 1st grade PLC @ 12:55
11/11– No School – Happy Veterans Day!
11/12– 5th grade PLC @ 10:00, Watch DOG – Ray McDowell, Last Day of Book Fair
FYI/Reminders:
-Please continue to remember those staff members who are dealing with personal illness or the illness of a family member.
-Please remember to wear your staff ID every day.
Staff Stars
Cristen Letourneau – Thank you for offering your time and help to 5th grade teachers during testing
Brian Vest and Sherry LeCompte - Nice job with the readingeggs.com website.
Robin King, Sylvia Green and Gwen Nolting - Excellent job using a wide variety of activities within the same lesson.
EOQ testers and helpers - Thank you for helping our testing go as smoothly as possible.
Tiffany Larson and Pat Taylor - Great job with your varies learning centers.
Sherry Marceron - Thank you for staying tuned into your student's situation.
Cathy Weiss and Maria Vernon- nice job making candy apples with Robin King's class!
Sandra Garcia and Amy Trinkle – Thanks for your help with the Holiday Family Support
Anne White-Thanks for taking your quarter test children under your wing!
Friday, October 22, 2010
Friday Update 10-22-10
Friday Update
October 22nd , 2010
The Smile
By - Karen Kimbrell
On the first day of this school year, I noticed a boy sitting in the back of my classroom, expressionless, apathetic, and unmotivated. He quickly became a child that consumed a lot of my thought time. He never smiled, He never interacted with his classmates, He looked and acted the same every day - expressionless and unmotivated. I went to his 3rd grade teacher and she said "Yes, that's John. He'll be that way all year." He attempted little of his work, he seldom raised his hand, and his facial expression never changed. I think that is what grabbed me the most - he was flat emotionally all day, every day. When you would hug him or show any kind of affection, he showed nothing in return. He was just "there". As the school year progressed, it was obvious to the class that he was different, but they just ignored him, They knew what he was like from being in previous classes with him, but I didn't want this year to be like every other year. One day this past February, I was teaching at the overhead and I looked right at him and he smiled at me! I was so stunned and elated everything stopped! I stood there a moment and went over to him and threw my arms around him. He didn't react to the hug, but he smiled! The first change in his expression I'd seen all year! Now its May and a few more things have happened, He's interacting a little more with his peers, he's completing some of his assignments, and he's realized that he's good at reciting poems - so he recites quite often! But the biggest thing is that he feels a connection with me. Shortly after "the smile," I returned to my classroom after car duty, only to see John vacuuming our classroom, He said in a very shy voice, "I want to help you." I was sick last week and out of school 4 days, I went to my front door and he had made me a card. It said, "Miss Kimbrell, the Bestest teacher in the whole world, I hope you fill better rill soon." That little card is why I teach school and love what I do. It is because of all the little Johns that sometimes need more than the 3 R's. By the way, while on my journey with John this year, I've come across some readings on a syndrome called "Aspergers" which I think he may have. It's a very high functioning form of autism and quite interesting.
Lessonplanspage.com/inspiration
“If you see a friend without a smile; give him one of yours.” Proverb
***Due to popular demand – we will have DOUBLE STAFF JEANS WEEK 10/25-10/28!!!!***
Pay $2 per day to wear jeans to support Southwest United Way
Next week –
Monday 10/25 –– 1st grade (Atkins, Barr, Jones, and Kreger)to Natural Science Center, Crain and Sutcliffe to Bethabara, 3rd grade PLC @ 10:50, 2nd grade PLC @ 1:40, Happy Birthday to CarolAnn Rosenberger, 3-5 Math EOQ
Tuesday 10/26 - Watch DOG – Eric Blanks, Kindergarten PLC @ 8:30, EC PLC @ 12:30, Miller and Freshwater to Bethabara, PBIS Meeting, Happy Birthday to Wende Powell, Bunny Coates, and Janet Sunderman, 3-5 Math EOQ
Wednesday 10/27 - 4th grade PLC @ 9:15, 1st grade PLC @ 12:55, AP Professional Dev., Chadwick and Stone to Bethabara, Make-ups for Math EOQ
Thursday 10/28 – Watch DOG – Dave Miller, Dease to Bethabara, End of Quarter, Skate Night, Make-ups for Math EOQ, 5th grade PLC @ 10:00
Friday 10/29 – No School for Students
11/1 – 11/5
11/1 – 3rd grade PLC @ 10:50, 2nd grade PLC @ 1:40, Jump Rope for Heart (Kindergarten and 1st grade) 2:30-4:00
11/2 – Kindergarten PLC @ 8:30, EC PLC @ 12:30, Happy Birthday to Gwen Nolting, P.E. in auditorium (Voting in gym), Principals Meeting, Focused Staff Training
11/3– 4th grade PLC @ 9:15, 1st grade PLC @ 12:55, Jump Rope for Heart (2nd and 3rd grades) 2:30-4:00, Book Fair Begins
11/4– Jump Rope for Heart (4th and 5th grades) 2:30-4:00, Technology Workshop - Skype, AR Recognition
11/5– Watch Dog – Matt Hubbard, 5th grade PLC @ 10:00, Happy Birthday to Loren Burke, All Pro Dads Breakfast
FYI/Reminders:
- Great job with your PLC's this week. Please remember to keep your discussions focused on student learning and instruction. It is easy to get taken off the path by issues, but please keep focused.
-Staff may take Annual Leave on October 29 unless there is a required workshop or end of quarter “things” to finish.
-Please continue to remember those staff members who are dealing with personal illness or the illness of a family member.
-Please remember to wear your staff ID every day.
Staff Stars
Mr. Hayes ~ great job keeping parents informed with the phone calls!
Mrs. Hauhuth willingness to do whatever with a smile!
Kindergarten teachers had a great PLC meeting on differentiation strategies in math!
Mrs. Barnes reading with each child!
Dianne Phillips – Best wishes on the job at Clemmons Middle
Angela Kreger – Great job with your centers.
Debbie Dosek – Thank you for always having a smile to offer.
Mitzi Dease – You have done a great job with your class on SOARing improvements.
Glenda Vaughn – Thank you for your hospitality leadership.
Heidi Lee – Your good deed to the Southwest parent did not go unnoticed.
Brooke DiSorbo/Robin Vance – Thank you for working together to help your student get through a tough time.
Susan Twyman – Thank you for your work to revive peer mediation.
October 22nd , 2010
The Smile
By - Karen Kimbrell
On the first day of this school year, I noticed a boy sitting in the back of my classroom, expressionless, apathetic, and unmotivated. He quickly became a child that consumed a lot of my thought time. He never smiled, He never interacted with his classmates, He looked and acted the same every day - expressionless and unmotivated. I went to his 3rd grade teacher and she said "Yes, that's John. He'll be that way all year." He attempted little of his work, he seldom raised his hand, and his facial expression never changed. I think that is what grabbed me the most - he was flat emotionally all day, every day. When you would hug him or show any kind of affection, he showed nothing in return. He was just "there". As the school year progressed, it was obvious to the class that he was different, but they just ignored him, They knew what he was like from being in previous classes with him, but I didn't want this year to be like every other year. One day this past February, I was teaching at the overhead and I looked right at him and he smiled at me! I was so stunned and elated everything stopped! I stood there a moment and went over to him and threw my arms around him. He didn't react to the hug, but he smiled! The first change in his expression I'd seen all year! Now its May and a few more things have happened, He's interacting a little more with his peers, he's completing some of his assignments, and he's realized that he's good at reciting poems - so he recites quite often! But the biggest thing is that he feels a connection with me. Shortly after "the smile," I returned to my classroom after car duty, only to see John vacuuming our classroom, He said in a very shy voice, "I want to help you." I was sick last week and out of school 4 days, I went to my front door and he had made me a card. It said, "Miss Kimbrell, the Bestest teacher in the whole world, I hope you fill better rill soon." That little card is why I teach school and love what I do. It is because of all the little Johns that sometimes need more than the 3 R's. By the way, while on my journey with John this year, I've come across some readings on a syndrome called "Aspergers" which I think he may have. It's a very high functioning form of autism and quite interesting.
Lessonplanspage.com/inspiration
“If you see a friend without a smile; give him one of yours.” Proverb
***Due to popular demand – we will have DOUBLE STAFF JEANS WEEK 10/25-10/28!!!!***
Pay $2 per day to wear jeans to support Southwest United Way
Next week –
Monday 10/25 –– 1st grade (Atkins, Barr, Jones, and Kreger)to Natural Science Center, Crain and Sutcliffe to Bethabara, 3rd grade PLC @ 10:50, 2nd grade PLC @ 1:40, Happy Birthday to CarolAnn Rosenberger, 3-5 Math EOQ
Tuesday 10/26 - Watch DOG – Eric Blanks, Kindergarten PLC @ 8:30, EC PLC @ 12:30, Miller and Freshwater to Bethabara, PBIS Meeting, Happy Birthday to Wende Powell, Bunny Coates, and Janet Sunderman, 3-5 Math EOQ
Wednesday 10/27 - 4th grade PLC @ 9:15, 1st grade PLC @ 12:55, AP Professional Dev., Chadwick and Stone to Bethabara, Make-ups for Math EOQ
Thursday 10/28 – Watch DOG – Dave Miller, Dease to Bethabara, End of Quarter, Skate Night, Make-ups for Math EOQ, 5th grade PLC @ 10:00
Friday 10/29 – No School for Students
11/1 – 11/5
11/1 – 3rd grade PLC @ 10:50, 2nd grade PLC @ 1:40, Jump Rope for Heart (Kindergarten and 1st grade) 2:30-4:00
11/2 – Kindergarten PLC @ 8:30, EC PLC @ 12:30, Happy Birthday to Gwen Nolting, P.E. in auditorium (Voting in gym), Principals Meeting, Focused Staff Training
11/3– 4th grade PLC @ 9:15, 1st grade PLC @ 12:55, Jump Rope for Heart (2nd and 3rd grades) 2:30-4:00, Book Fair Begins
11/4– Jump Rope for Heart (4th and 5th grades) 2:30-4:00, Technology Workshop - Skype, AR Recognition
11/5– Watch Dog – Matt Hubbard, 5th grade PLC @ 10:00, Happy Birthday to Loren Burke, All Pro Dads Breakfast
FYI/Reminders:
- Great job with your PLC's this week. Please remember to keep your discussions focused on student learning and instruction. It is easy to get taken off the path by issues, but please keep focused.
-Staff may take Annual Leave on October 29 unless there is a required workshop or end of quarter “things” to finish.
-Please continue to remember those staff members who are dealing with personal illness or the illness of a family member.
-Please remember to wear your staff ID every day.
Staff Stars
Mr. Hayes ~ great job keeping parents informed with the phone calls!
Mrs. Hauhuth willingness to do whatever with a smile!
Kindergarten teachers had a great PLC meeting on differentiation strategies in math!
Mrs. Barnes reading with each child!
Dianne Phillips – Best wishes on the job at Clemmons Middle
Angela Kreger – Great job with your centers.
Debbie Dosek – Thank you for always having a smile to offer.
Mitzi Dease – You have done a great job with your class on SOARing improvements.
Glenda Vaughn – Thank you for your hospitality leadership.
Heidi Lee – Your good deed to the Southwest parent did not go unnoticed.
Brooke DiSorbo/Robin Vance – Thank you for working together to help your student get through a tough time.
Susan Twyman – Thank you for your work to revive peer mediation.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Friday Update 10-15-10
Friday Update
October 15th , 2010
In a school as large as ours there will inevitably be situations big and small involving either students or staff. How we handle those issues is as important as anything that happens in our school. Supporting each other through tough times and through various issues that we face is part of what can make a school outstanding and also what can tear a school apart. Our professional responsibility requires us to have appropriate discussions about our students and about each other. I expect all of us to follow this guideline no matter where we work in the school. Sometimes situations involving school personnel can not be discussed or explained. That is just how it is. Southwest has always been an awesome school in terms of having a family atmosphere. One way we can help keep it that way is to be kind to each other and to support each other. We all need support and positive words to be our best.
“The best thing to give to your enemy is forgiveness; to an opponent, tolerance; to a friend, your heart; to your child, a good example; to a father, deference; to your mother, conduct that will make her proud of you; to yourself, respect; to all men, charity.” Benjamin Franklin
Next week –
Our 2010 Southwest United Way campaign is underway. Please see the hard copy donation form in your mailbox or you can use the electronic submission form from the United Way email on Wednesday.
Don't forget staff jeans days next week ($1 per day to Nellie). Student/staff hat day ($1) is Friday, Oct 22.
Monday 10/18 –– Watch Dog – Brett Todd, 3rd grade PLC @ 10:50, 2nd grade PLC @ 1:40, Happy Birthday to Heidi Lee, 1st grade (Wilson, Lawrence, and Tilley) to Natural Science Center
Tuesday 10/19 – Kindergarten PLC @ 8:30, EC PLC @ 12:30, SIT Meeting
Wednesday 10/20 - 4th grade PLC @ 9:15, 1st grade PLC @ 12:55, Picture Retake Day
Thursday 10/21 –PTA Speaker – Joyce Kohfeldt @ 7:00, Watch Dog – Chris Cowen, 3rd – 5th grade End of Quarter Reading Test
Friday 10/22 – TGIF, 5th grade PLC @ 10:00, Watch Dog – Jon Marzano and Corky McClellen, West Players Reading Day, Community Helper Day for Kindergarten classes in auditorium, Reading Make Up Testing, “Hat Day” for United Way
10/25 – 10/29
10/25 – 1st grade (Atkins, Barr, Jones, and Kreger)to Natural Science Center, Crain and Sutcliffe to Bethabara, 3rd grade PLC @ 10:50, 2nd grade PLC @ 1:40, Happy Birthday to CarolAnn Rosenberger, 3-5 Math EOQ
10/26 – Watch DOG – Eric Blanks, Kindergarten PLC @ 8:30, EC PLC @ 12:30, Miller and Freshwater to Bethabara, PBIS Meeting, Happy Birthday to Wende Powell, Bunny Coates, and Janet Sunderman, 3-5 Math EOQ
10/27– 4th grade PLC @ 9:15, 1st grade PLC @ 12:55, AP Professional Dev., Chadwick and Stone to Bethabara, Make-ups for Math EOQ
10/28– Watch DOG – Dave Miller, Dease to Bethabara, End of Quarter, Skate Night, Make-ups for Math EOQ
10/29– No School for Students
FYI/Reminders:
*** On Friday, Oct. 22 they are going to be paving the front parking lot so everyone needs to plan to leave school by 3:30!!
-Mr. Squire has left Southwest and will not be back. Our lead custodian position has been posted and will be filled ASAP. Thank you to the other housekeepers and the sub, Ms. Nicholson, for helping to keep things as normal as possible.
-Staff may take Annual Leave on October 29 unless there is a required workshop or end of quarter “things” to finish.
-Please continue to remember those staff members who are dealing with personal illness or the illness of a family member.
-Please remember to wear your staff ID every day.
Staff Stars
Martina Nicholson – Thanks for doing such a wonderful job cleaning the 5th grade pod – it has been magnificent!! The trash can liners have been changed, bathrooms cleaned, etc…. very nice!!!!
Nicole Skinner – thanks for inspiring others to try class games for play a few times a week.
Aaren Brown – Great job trying out new technology
Amy Tilley – Thank you for helping others grow in technology
Mary Jane Everhardt - Awesome technology support for everyone
Melissa Stone – Your creative language arts centers were nice
Amy Trinkle - Great job sharing with parents about bullying Tuesday night
Nellie Broyhill - Wonderful support with wheelchair on Thursday
Joyce Wilson - Held Parent Conferences for each student in her room - 100%!
Janet Sunderman - Awesome belief in your students and support for them
Eugenia Ivey - Wonderful job connecting with parents and providing resources
Monique Jones – Great writing and peer conferencing lesson.
October 15th , 2010
In a school as large as ours there will inevitably be situations big and small involving either students or staff. How we handle those issues is as important as anything that happens in our school. Supporting each other through tough times and through various issues that we face is part of what can make a school outstanding and also what can tear a school apart. Our professional responsibility requires us to have appropriate discussions about our students and about each other. I expect all of us to follow this guideline no matter where we work in the school. Sometimes situations involving school personnel can not be discussed or explained. That is just how it is. Southwest has always been an awesome school in terms of having a family atmosphere. One way we can help keep it that way is to be kind to each other and to support each other. We all need support and positive words to be our best.
“The best thing to give to your enemy is forgiveness; to an opponent, tolerance; to a friend, your heart; to your child, a good example; to a father, deference; to your mother, conduct that will make her proud of you; to yourself, respect; to all men, charity.” Benjamin Franklin
Next week –
Our 2010 Southwest United Way campaign is underway. Please see the hard copy donation form in your mailbox or you can use the electronic submission form from the United Way email on Wednesday.
Don't forget staff jeans days next week ($1 per day to Nellie). Student/staff hat day ($1) is Friday, Oct 22.
Monday 10/18 –– Watch Dog – Brett Todd, 3rd grade PLC @ 10:50, 2nd grade PLC @ 1:40, Happy Birthday to Heidi Lee, 1st grade (Wilson, Lawrence, and Tilley) to Natural Science Center
Tuesday 10/19 – Kindergarten PLC @ 8:30, EC PLC @ 12:30, SIT Meeting
Wednesday 10/20 - 4th grade PLC @ 9:15, 1st grade PLC @ 12:55, Picture Retake Day
Thursday 10/21 –PTA Speaker – Joyce Kohfeldt @ 7:00, Watch Dog – Chris Cowen, 3rd – 5th grade End of Quarter Reading Test
Friday 10/22 – TGIF, 5th grade PLC @ 10:00, Watch Dog – Jon Marzano and Corky McClellen, West Players Reading Day, Community Helper Day for Kindergarten classes in auditorium, Reading Make Up Testing, “Hat Day” for United Way
10/25 – 10/29
10/25 – 1st grade (Atkins, Barr, Jones, and Kreger)to Natural Science Center, Crain and Sutcliffe to Bethabara, 3rd grade PLC @ 10:50, 2nd grade PLC @ 1:40, Happy Birthday to CarolAnn Rosenberger, 3-5 Math EOQ
10/26 – Watch DOG – Eric Blanks, Kindergarten PLC @ 8:30, EC PLC @ 12:30, Miller and Freshwater to Bethabara, PBIS Meeting, Happy Birthday to Wende Powell, Bunny Coates, and Janet Sunderman, 3-5 Math EOQ
10/27– 4th grade PLC @ 9:15, 1st grade PLC @ 12:55, AP Professional Dev., Chadwick and Stone to Bethabara, Make-ups for Math EOQ
10/28– Watch DOG – Dave Miller, Dease to Bethabara, End of Quarter, Skate Night, Make-ups for Math EOQ
10/29– No School for Students
FYI/Reminders:
*** On Friday, Oct. 22 they are going to be paving the front parking lot so everyone needs to plan to leave school by 3:30!!
-Mr. Squire has left Southwest and will not be back. Our lead custodian position has been posted and will be filled ASAP. Thank you to the other housekeepers and the sub, Ms. Nicholson, for helping to keep things as normal as possible.
-Staff may take Annual Leave on October 29 unless there is a required workshop or end of quarter “things” to finish.
-Please continue to remember those staff members who are dealing with personal illness or the illness of a family member.
-Please remember to wear your staff ID every day.
Staff Stars
Martina Nicholson – Thanks for doing such a wonderful job cleaning the 5th grade pod – it has been magnificent!! The trash can liners have been changed, bathrooms cleaned, etc…. very nice!!!!
Nicole Skinner – thanks for inspiring others to try class games for play a few times a week.
Aaren Brown – Great job trying out new technology
Amy Tilley – Thank you for helping others grow in technology
Mary Jane Everhardt - Awesome technology support for everyone
Melissa Stone – Your creative language arts centers were nice
Amy Trinkle - Great job sharing with parents about bullying Tuesday night
Nellie Broyhill - Wonderful support with wheelchair on Thursday
Joyce Wilson - Held Parent Conferences for each student in her room - 100%!
Janet Sunderman - Awesome belief in your students and support for them
Eugenia Ivey - Wonderful job connecting with parents and providing resources
Monique Jones – Great writing and peer conferencing lesson.
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