2-3-2023

 Just a reminder that the copy machines will be unavailable today (Friday).  Please use plan/team  time on Monday to get trained on the new features.  

Jen V and her 8th grade health students used some of their healthy cooking time to make some food for our local firemen for all that they do to serve our community.  

5 Fish Philosophy ways to avoid burnout.

https://www.fishphilosophy.com/avoid-burnout/

Thanks to Marquitta and Kim A. for the informative presentation on Wednesday.  Please make sure you check your check and get those time sheets turned in on time.   

This evenings basketball games were exciting and Varsity came away with a win.  The girls showed great sportsmanship and persistence.   

Thanks to Nicole for running the data meetings and to everyone for the important conversations around students and data.

Here is a summary of the break menus from Daniel Pink's "When" book as discussed at Wednesday's learning meeting. 

• Vigilance breaks — “brief pauses before high-stakes encounters to review instructions and guard against error.”
  • “Vigilance breaks can loosen the trough’s grip on our behavior. As the doctors at the University of Michigan demonstrate, inserting regular mandatory vigilance breaks into tasks helps us regain the focus needed to proceed with challenging work that must be done in the afternoon.”
• Restorative breaks — “If you’re looking for the Platonic ideal of a restorative break…consider a short walk outside with a friend during which you discuss something other than work.”
  • Something beats nothing — “One problem with afternoons is that if we stick with a task too long, we lose sight of the goal we’re trying to achieve, a process known as ‘habituation.’ Short breaks from a task can prevent habituation, help us maintain focus, and reactivate our commitment to a goal.” “DeskTime claims to have discovered a golden ratio of work and rest. High performers, its research concludes. work for 52 minutes and then break for 17 minutes.”
  • Moving beats stationary
  • Social beats solo
  • Outside beats inside — “Nature breaks may replenish us the most. Being close to trees, plants, rivers, and streams is a powerful mental restorative, one whose potency most of us don’t appreciate.” — Note: If this interests you, check out the benefits of forest bathing.
  • Fully detached beats semidetached — “Relaxation breaks (stretching or daydreaming) eased stress and boosted mood in a way that multitasking breaks did not. Tech-free breaks also ‘increase vigor and reduce emotional exhaustion.’”

Kerri has a great new bulletin board out in the hall to honor our February students of the month. Make sure you  check it out

Make sure you get any steam camp proposals to Greg.

Reflect Much?  You should!

https://www.edutopia.org/article/consistent-teacher-reflection-tips

Thanks to Greg for trying to coordinate our tech needs for our two ELA pilots with HMHC and Amplify.  

Please remember to take the 5Essentials survey when you have time. 

Using "Expert" Groups in your classroom

https://teacherthrive.com/expert-groups-cooperative-learning/

Thanks to Betty for continuing the Access testing for our EL students.

Megan P was celebrating World Read Aloud Day by using scholastic voice to have authors Claribel Ortega and Christina Gonzales read to her students.  

"The secret is planning your work and working your plan. If you don't know where you are going, how will you know when you arrive? You can't stumble upon your destination." -- Jack White

"May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds." -- Edward Abbey

In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.

Martin Luther King Jr.