9-27-2019

Dr. Woell, Tim and myself attended a DuPage ROE Safety meeting to focus on common templates for what we call our Crisis Manual.  Next week we will compare our manual with the model manual and will bring updates to a learning meeting in the future.



A big thank you for the job that Marcia and Jignasa do everyday, between testing for hearing and vision, dealing with sick students, paperwork, pe injuries and more, I'm sure we all appreciate the job they do for our schools. 

Why schools should be organized to prioritize relationships.
https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/53091/why-schools-should-be-organized-to-prioritize-relationships?fbclid=IwAR2Mfpq0euAnjAB_Q_KlKCVfYVdtfpSD0DVlUnSY8OA_GPnTYGUkgUS5zoo

I was able to attend the home cross country meet this week.  What an outstanding job Bill and Courtney do coaching our young runners.  Thanks to Nicole and Kim for helping out and working the meet.



I was able to walk around with some of our school board members and see the awesome teaching that was taking place in our building.  Thanks to Lyn, Jim, Sherry, April, Bill and Melissa F for welcoming us into their classes.
 

The VB team got to compete at WCCH last night against Leman.  What a great opportunity for our girls and what a great picture of our current players and our former players!  Thanks to Kerry and Dan for making it happen.


Mark your calendars, our IAR testing dates are 4-7, 4-9, and 4-15.  Our plan is to add the ISA science test to the testing window if possible for 5th and 8th grade.  I believe that they are expanding the testing to two units.  More information to follow. 

Ted Talk by Tristan Harris on the distractibility of technology and how it can be designed for human value.  This video is from 4 years ago and technology changes fast, but I think the message still holds up. 

Good luck to Mr. Turek and the band students who will be trying out for ILMEA Honor Band at Vandercook school of music on Saturday. 

Thanks to everyone who prepared for the grade level data meetings yesterday.  Problem solving together is the way we can see student success. 



It's Rube Goldberg time.  Thanks to Sherry for leading these student creative teams. 



3 ways teachers can give students more weight to student voice.
https://www.educationdive.com/news/3-ways-educators-can-give-weight-to-student-voice/562481/

9-20-2019

I want to thank Jessica for putting on the STAR training for us on the 11th.  It definitely helped teachers familiarize themselves with the new look that Renaissance rolled out.

The feast yesterday was fit for a 175th anniversary celebration!  thanks to Ellen and Kim for organizing and for everyone who brought in all of the wonderful dishes.  The office has a supply of toothpicks for everyone that still has corn caught in between their teeth!

Concrete ways to help students Self-Regulate and Prioritize work.
https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/53132/concrete-ways-to-help-students-self-regulate-and-prioritize-work


It's good to have Angela back in the  swing of things as she has been busy helping teachers and students with tech related projects this past week!

Thanks for everyone's cooperation when it came to the Photo this morning.  I hope everyone has time to stop by our celebration of the 175th anniversary this Sunday from 1-4 right here at BMS. In addition to the ice cream, historical stations and races we are thinking about having a Robert Benjamin hairstyling competition.


I appreciate everyone taking time on Wednesday to talk in subject area meetings.  The time we spend in collaboration ensures a high level experience for all of our students.

Cool resource from our Social Studies Vendor, TCI  10 great films to integrate in our SS lessons.
https://www.teachtci.com/10-best-history-films-social-studies-teachers-can-integrate-into-their-lessons/

The Problem Solving Team was in action again Thursday morning, working together to address staff concerns to help our students.  Thanks to everyone for  using data and strategies to progress monitor our students who need help.  Just a reminder we have data meetings this Thursday.

Melissa and I have been getting in classrooms and seeing some great teaching.  It is so awesome to be able to see so many talented teachers bringing their diverse talents together under one roof!  Don't forget to set up your observation, get your growth goals written and turn in forms 1 and 2 for alternatives by October 1.

Video with a powerful message but on a tough topic (the importance in schools staying safe in the time of school shootings) and is very difficult to watch. (graphic content) I don't say this very often, but some of you may choose not to watch this one.   Sandy Hook Promise.

Mark your calendar for October 29th we will be on a double afternoon assembly schedule for the 3 screen assembly for Red Ribbon Week.

After attending the PTA meeting last night I am reporting to you that we are getting trounced in staff membership by Evergreen. let's get those numbers up!  Best $5 you will spend.



Thanks to Chris, Melissa F, Lauren G and Sherry for being willing to host college and high school student observers this year.

We will be setting up PTA Amazon wish lists for teacher teams like last year.  More information to follow.

Brings "Searching for yourself" to a new level.


We will be hosting a Northwestern Accelerated Weekend November 16th and 17th at Benjamin Middle School.  If you are interested in getting information on being a site coordinator let me know.

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead and go where there is no path and leave a trail." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

9-6-2019

Lauren D and Melissa L have been working overtime to make sure the 175th celebration goes off without a hitch.  Please mark your calendars for Sunday, September 22nd from 1-4pm.  The more staff there the merrier!  Come help celebrate 175 years of an awesome school district!

This Wednesday is an early student release day.  We will be working on some STAR Training, growth goals and tech integration.

Ten ways to create a great classroom culture. 


Betty did a great job presenting about power points on Wednesday.  I know I learned a lot!

I was able to give Kathy H her employee of the month award at lunch yesterday.  I know that our LMC and Bookfair wouldn't be the same without her.

Teenage brains are elastic.  Good article.
https://www.edsurge.com/news/2019-08-26-teenage-brains-are-elastic-that-s-a-big-opportunity-for-social-emotional-learning?utm_campaign=site&utm_content=share-91

Big shout out to Ellen T for getting the electronic sign board running with all of our club announcements.

I have been so impressed with our teaching assistants again this year.  The flexibility, understanding and knowledge they each possess adds so much to our classrooms, students and school.  Thank you!

10 things to do when a student says "I got nothin" 


Thanks to Debbie L and the PST team for informing and preparing for the new special ed law which requires even more preparation and advanced notification in their documentation, reporting and communication.  You guys are the best!

I am very excited that many teachers on cycle have started to schedule growth meetings, pre-observations and observations with me.  As a reminder growth goals and alternative forms are due October 1. 

Read this interesting article. It gives 13 concrete examples of effective feedback teachers are giving students. 
https://www.teachthought.com/pedagogy/13-examples-of-better-feedback-for-learning/

Thanks to the tech liaisons for attending their monthly meetings, reporting back to teams and helping to problem solve tech problems.  You are a valuable part of our tech support. 

Speaking of tech support, I love how Danielle has been taking so much initiative to start the year off helping so many people!  Thank you!

Doing things differently can bring great results.  What are you going to try in your classroom?

 

Thanks to Jessica for organizing yesterday's 5th grade aimsweb testing!

Thanks to Cheryl W and Lora A for organizing last weeks insurance support and answering so many staff questions on the new health insurance!

Some Tech websites for everyone.  Check one out over the weekend!

Just a reminder to staff that Janice and Lisa  are here to support any grant opportunities you choose to pursue.  Whether that is crowdsourcing like Go Fund Me or specific grants, they are there to help. 

Thanks to Tim for fixing the Laminator.