3-24-2023

 Bravo to Melissa, April, Danielle and the theater club cast and crew for three tremendous performances last weekend.  

Please make sure you follow Greg's directions of logging into your IAR account so you can check for the accuracy of your student roster (and so you know your login).  Do this today!!!!!  Also we will have scratch paper, graph paper and headphones in the office you can pick up starting today.  It will also be there the Monday we get back rom break.  Greg will also be delivering testing tickets on the Monday after break. Finally, I am planning on talking with the students during lunch before testing begins about the importance of giving their best effort, sleep etc....

I want to really thank, Kerry, Jessica, Michelle D, Megan P, Lauren and Jen H for all the hard work they have put into the ELA Resource adoption committee.  Special thanks to Danielle for all of her assistance in running this committee.  

Mark it in your calendars May 19th is set for our all school picnic and NJHS Charity Fest.

Why having fun is the secret to a healthier life.  

Speaking of NJHS, Jen H and Jessica did a tremendous job running the dodgeball tournament this week.  There are many things that go into organizing any event with students and parents and I am very happy they were on top of it. 

I want to thank Tim, Frank and Isidro for all of the help lately with the set-ups.  Making sure our events are set up and ready for staff and students and then tore down so the space can be used again is an important part of our school running efficiently. 

Creating videos to check literacy analysis in middle school.

https://www.edutopia.org/article/literary-analysis-middle-school-via-videos

Thanks to Chris for continuing to do a fantastic job of working with our students to produce the BB300 three times a week.  

Data meetings continue to be a place where important discussions happen about helping kids.  I am so grateful for the collegiality and willingness to work together as a staff towards a common goal.  

Curiosity and the limitations of assumption.  

https://www.fishphilosophy.com/curiosity/

Thanks to Nicole, Dan and Matt T for speaking and presenting at the Sports awards Wednesday Night.  I am so grateful to have such great coach role models for our student athletes.  

Thanks to Kim for making  gluten free banana muffins from the left over bananas in the lounge.   Such a nice gesture for our staff.

10 powerful ways to end your lesson. 

https://www.edutopia.org/article/10-powerful-ways-to-end-your-lessons

Please take  look at the spring sports supervision that Dan sent out.  We have all 8 spots still open for all three home track meets.  Make some extra $$$$ and get a chance to see our compete in our track meet!

There are 5 kinds of clutter which one is filling up your life?

https://blog.ed.ted.com/2021/11/29/there-are-5-kinds-of-clutter-which-one-is-filling-your-life/

 I hope everyone uses the break to get some rest and do something you enjoy.  See you in a week!

"You see, the problem in life isn't in receiving answers. The problem is in identifying your current questions. Once you get the questions right, the answers always come." -- James Redfield

The purpose of life is to fight maturity. Dick Werthimer

The first half of our lives is ruined by our parents, and the second half by our children. Clarence Darrow

 

3-17-2023

 Looking forward to the theater club production of Mary Poppins today and Saturday.  Congratulations to  Melissa, Danielle and April for all of their hard work to make this happen. Working hard on  Direction, choreography, sets and props not to mention engaging and motivating middle school students result in an excellent end product.

Thanks to Tim, Frank and Isidro for their  help and assistance in getting the gym ready and all of the help with sound and lighting.

Thanks also goes out to Bill and Joe for all of their help with the sets, Night Vision and muscles come in handy to get the scene changes done correctly and quickly!

10,000 hours ...I mean 20 hours to learn a new skill.  See below:

https://blog.ed.ted.com/2019/01/03/dont-have-10000-hours-to-learn-something-new-thats-fine-all-you-need-is-20/ 

Jen H and Jessica did a great job organizing the bake sale fundraiser. Selling yummy treats to students while making money for charity is a double victory. 

 

I appreciated the honest conversations I had with the ELA team during the subject area meetings on Wednesday.  

Classroom Management focused on boundaries instead of rules.

https://www.edutopia.org/article/classroom-management-boundaries 

Thanks to the lunch supervisors and subs for a great job day in and day out.  Also thanks for checking the lunch duty coverage schedule to make sure it works.  

Thanks to Coach Mejia  for coming in this year and coaching our chess team!

How to reduce guessing during testing sessions

https://www.edutopia.org/article/how-reduce-guessing-during-testing-season

Thanks to Josh K for continuing to do a wonderful job with our Maker Space Kiddos!

Of all the money that e'er I spent
I've spent it in good company
And all the harm that ever I did
Alas it was to none but me
And all I've done for want of wit
To memory now I can't recall
So fill to me the parting glass
Good night and joy be with you all

Oh, all the comrades that e'er I had
They're sorry for my going away
And all the sweethearts that e'er I had
They'd wish me one more day to stay
But since it falls unto my lot
That I should rise and you should not
I'll gently rise and softly call
Good night and joy be with you all

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

3-10-2023

 Good Luck to Coach Tylk, Coach Baker and the varsity girls basketball team as they end their season in the conference tournament this Saturday.  The girls defeated Harvest Christian Thursday night 31-25.        

                                                              

Thanks to Greg Martin for organizing the Tech Advisory Committee Meeting on Tuesday Night.  Also thanks to all the staff, parents and students that attended.  It was a good relaunch for future tech planning to come.

Theatre club cast and crew are pumped up for their field trip to see Fiddler on the Roof at Wheaton Academy today.  Seeing the older kids perform is always motivating to our kiddos with their musical coming up.  

Speaking of Theatre club…Friday, March 17 is opening night with a performance at 6:30 pm and 2 performances on Saturday, March 18 at 2:00 & 6:30pm.  There will also be a special preview performance of Mary Poppins for the school and visiting 4th graders, Friday, March 17 from approximately 9:15-10:30 am.  We will be on a double morning assembly schedule.

Recently, we have had 8th grade go to Top Golf and 5th grade go to the movies as reward trips.  Rewarding the students that are meeting and exceeding academic and behavioral expectations is important.  

Thanks to everyone for participating in the IAR training on Wednesday after school.  I am thinking of some ideas to motivate kids to do their best.  Thanks also goes out to Greg for putting the training together and to Kim G. for getting everything set up in our database to be ready for that day.   

Shout out to Kerry Kuhn for being a recipient of a cooking grant.  She will be working with her students on functional goals related to following steps and measuring.  What a great opportunity for her kids.

Big thanks goes out to Joe H. for stepping up to coach our track team.  I know we have a great staff that will be there to support him in his first year in this position.

Please do the 5 Essentials Survey if you have not done so already.  

Thanks to Megan Dusing for chaperoning some select 8th grade students to the WCHS Leadership Summit where they got to meet with student leaders from Leman, Winfield and WCCHS.  

Some Google Arts & Culture fun (for you or your students):

Play with Google Arts & Culture 

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“If anyone were to ask your students if you love teaching and enjoy your time with them each day, what would they answer?”

― Todd Whitaker