2-16-2018

Why teens need a sense of purpose.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-teens-need-a-sense-of-purpose-1518264001?linkId=48022732

Thanks to Megan and Alex for working with their students to put on the opening day of STARBENGALS.  Also, thanks to everyone that got your coffee fix with them on Wednesday morning as they were extremely exited and happy while working on life skills.

Thanks to Colleen and Alex who are sponsoring the Student Council Valentine's Day dance tonight for our 7th and 8th grade students.  If you are looking to have fun and earn a few extra $ we could use another chaperone or two. 

Congratulations to Melissa L, Danielle, and April as her students put on a spectacular preview of the musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. The students singing, dancing and set-design was top notch!

Beautiful Cello Piece....come on...you have two minutes to listen!

Big props goes out to Tony, Frank and Tim for the excellent job they did with snow removal/salting.  They worked hard on Sunday to get our building ready and have been great all season with clearing snow and salting on top of everything else they do.  

Remixing with Credit

https://georgecouros.ca/blog/archives/8067

Good luck to Matthew as he takes a group of our students to the Illinois Grade School Music Association Contest this weekend.  This is a great experience for these students that will add to their musical development and appreciation.  

Free online course from Yale University - Introduction to Classical Music: Using a simple and enjoyable teaching style, this course introduces the novice listener to the wonders of classical music, from Bach fugues to Mozart symphonies to Puccini operas

https://www.coursera.org/learn/introclassicalmusic

Thanks to our SS and Math staff members as we continue to explore options with PD/Webinars/Trials and Pilots.   It is a lot of work to get the right resource for us to use with Our Curriculum. 

10 ways teachers are like Olympic Athletes

https://www.weareteachers.com/why-teachers-are-like-olympic-athletes-2/?utm_content=1517614026&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

I'm continuing to work on everyone's alternative and traditional evaluations, thanks for getting things to me in a timely manner.      

bottom level goals, check, mid level goals, check, ultimate goal, check, Angela Duckworth 2 minute goal video

Thanks to Dan and Matt Tylk for the great job they are doing with our girls basketball teams.  Encouraging skills, practice, effort and motivation they have kept spirits up despite mixed results on the court.

How your brain helps you win Olympic gold just as much as your body.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-02-scientists-brain-olympic-gold.html

Thanks to the science teachers for their input on their room colors and designs, who would have thought that yellow would be everyone's favorite color!

Congratulations to Michelle Fiorini who motivated 71 students including 41 7th graders to complete the Caudill Book requirements and will have a chance to Skype with and author and other fun events at the Caudill Celebration on Friday, February 23rd.  

Please take a few minutes of your plan or team time to review the emergency manual on our ALICE protocol.   The news events recently, emphasize the importance we play in providing as safe an environment as possible for everyone at school.  

"If everything is under control, you are going too slow." -- Mario Andretti

"If people don't occasionally walk away from you shaking their heads, you're doing something wrong." John Gierach

"Life is like a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving." -- Albert Einstein