10-16-2015

I want to thank Karen O who has done an amazing job starting with last Friday and going back to every teacher institute or School Improvement Day, of setting up and providing both Benjamin and Evergreen with snacks and drinks as well as meeting the needs of our speakers and administrators.  Her attention to detail on meeting everyone's needs is unmatched and appreciated!

Thanks to Keriann for providing the school board with a comprehensive overview of our athletic program on Tuesday night.  Her use of students(via GoPro camera footage) was a great addition the board appreciated.  Here is the video:

Information and Resources on how to empower students through Digital Storytelling Projects.
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/empowering-students-through-multimedia-storytelling-michael-hernandez

I'd like to thank the Melissa L, Nicole, Christine, Lauren D, Jim and Mark B for not only meeting with me monthly during our Leadership meetings, but for leading your teams and this building on a daily basis.  I could not do my job without you during yours.

I was amazed to see the dedication and collegiality that took place Wednesday after school on our early release day.  Teachers discussing their ideas and concerns about their content area as well as departments getting their hands "dirty" and digging into curriculum across grade levels really reinforced for me how special this school district is.  Thank you to all Benjamin staff members!

Great Image on principles of great digital citizenship.

Congratulations to Matt T, Doreen, Bill and Rich as they led their teams in the first round of the playoffs yesterday.  It was exiting to watch our home teams play hard hard and put their skills and sportsmanship to use as they represent our school.

Thanks to Alex and Colleen for continuing to coordinate the magazine sale activities.  Today is Bingo and the Limo Lunch for students that earned it.

If you only read one thing in the blog this week....then you're fired...JK:)....then read this:
What we can learn from Carly Rae Jepsen and the Harvard Baseball Team
http://georgecouros.ca/blog/archives/5694


On October 30th we will have our three screens assembly for students and our Drop Everything and Read event.  We will be on a double assembly schedule with 5th and sixth grade being pulled first for the movie and 7th and 8th grade participating in reading activities(more to follow).  Then the 7th and 8th will watch their movie and 5th and 6th will participate in the DEAR.  I will need to pull the 5th and 6th grade a little early for their film showing so we finish the complete program on time for the end of the day.

Please encourage students to join our chess team.  I would like to have our Chess Team built back up in the tradition it once was.  It will begin on Thursday at 6:00pm in the multi-purpose room.  we will make announcements but any push into making chess a "cool" experience would be appreciated.


How awesome will the musical this year be...I am excited to see what Mrs. Lamantia , Mrs. DeChristopher and the Benjamin Theater Club do with Fiddler on the Roof.  In the great TRADITION of what they have done in the past I am sure it will be spectacular.