3-8-2019

Thanks to Greg for doing a great job with the IAR presentation on Wednesday.  I will have information to you next week on how we are going to divide the extra time from having 5 tests this year instead of 6.

Newspaper article on how a pilot PE program in some of our neighbor high schools might change the way students participate in PE.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/elgin-courier-news/news/ct-ecn-u46-independent-physical-education-st-0308-story.html

Please make sure you are supervising how the students are treating their computers.  In year one with our new devices  Greg has seen students putting stickers on their devices, masking tape, coloring in the thinkpad letters with a sharpie marker, along with other writing and damage.  The week before spring break I am going to go on a lunchroom tour where I talk about the IAR, taking care of their computer and also remind them about safe computer use, not putting a VPN on their computer etc....

Questions teachers should ask before implementing a new idea.


Thanks to Jen and Lynette for having a Teen Decision speaker in to talk to the 8th grade students this week and next.





Melissa, Danielle and April are working hard going into tech week and the home stretch before the Newsies performance on March 15th and 16th.  I am looking forward to seeing the student performances.

How letting students choose their own seats in class can make a difference.
https://www.edutopia.org/article/optimal-seating-plan-letting-your-students-choose-emelina-minero



Field trips and reward trips are the order of the day.  Wheaton Academy, Chocolate Factory and Enchanted Castle are the destinations.  Thanks to Melissa L, MJ and 8th grade team for organizing these outings for our students.



Good luck to Matt Tylk, Dan B, Andrew and the girls basketball team as they started the basketball playoffs Thursday night and possibly into the weekend.

Help your brain get stronger.  10 tips
https://www.fosteringresilientlearners.org/blog


We have a lot going on next week with the School Board Meeting on Monday, 175th Anniversary planning committee Tuesday, Early Dismissal with Sexual Harassment overview on Wednesday, PTA and EL Parent Night on Thursday and Newsies on Friday and Saturday.  All these moving parts represent a lot of people working hard for our school district! 



I have non-tenure evaluations complete, working on Tenure and am waiting for Alternate evaluations to be turned into me.  Please make sure that you are checking in with me next week.  It is always great to get to observe and give feedback to great teachers.

6 ways to challenge gifted and talented students.
http://www.ascd.org/publications/newsletters/education-update/apr16/vol58/num04/Six-Strategies-for-Challenging-Gifted-Learners.aspx

The "Soups On" Celebration was possibly the best feast we have had this year.  Thanks to Ellen and Kim for organizing, Melissa for adding some soup, salad and Chilli from Hawthornes BY and everyone who brought in soups, sides and deserts.  Special shout out to Judy B for bringing in the Red Lobster biscuits, they were the talk of the building yesterday!



Congrats to Megan P for getting another Donors Choose project funded with some great low seating.


She also found this link to these printable posters for Women in Stem
https://womenyoushouldknow.net/downloadable-stem-role-models-posters/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=socialflow


A lot of you know that I listen to podcasts a lot, Here is a link to a pretty great one on leadership from the Tim Ferriss podcast with author Jim Collins.
https://tim.blog/2019/02/18/jim-collins/

We are travelers on a cosmic journey. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share. This is a precious moment,a little parenthesis in eternity. __ in “The Alchemist” (1988)