8-30-24

Curriculum Night was a great success and such an important night of parent and teacher communication and relationship building.  Please remember to continue this communication and relationship building throughout the year to best help our students.  

I appreciate April organizing the Club information table Wednesday night, so much good information for parents. 

It's crucial to be intentional with the types of math questions we ask and the patterns in which we ask them. Thoughtful questioning can make all the difference!

Michelle and Carrie did a great job with organizing our scholastic book fair this week.  Thanks to the ELA teachers for taking time out of your class to bring your students down to the bookfair and encouraging them to read.

Thanks to Angela and Danielle for doing such a great job with their newsletter this week, if you have not taken the time to read it please do so.  One video in their newsletter that I am asking everyone to watch is below.  We will be using this as a basis for our learning meeting next week.  

https://youtu.be/hJP5GqnTrNo?si=1KdxGv1o4fxWYVV1

I appreciate Angela running the sub training on Thursday.  Subs are an integral part to our schools running smoothly.  Speaking of Subs, thanks to Solly for setting up and problem solving our Red Rover System.  This has been a very successful launch thanks to her hard work. 

Danielle, Sarah Smith, Todd, Dr. Salamone, and Angela have all been helping some of our new teachers to get curriculum set-up, secured and/or purchased.  I really appreciate everyone working together towards this common goal.  

If you have completed summer curriculum work, please get it turned in soon.  

Kim has been her normal rock-star at the beginning of the school year.  I appreciate all of the help she has provided everyone with powerschool, class lists, scheduling changes and many other beginning of the year tasks.  

I love the Specials Team efforts on the "Welcome"  Bulletin Board in many languages.  What a great way to greet our diverse community of learners.

Please make sure we are keeping alive our common language of  What is a Benjamin Student ("I'm loving the extra signage in the 7th grade hallway) Please make extra efforts at the beginning of the year to recognize this model behavior in your students and hand out  Fish Slips to recognize it. 

Conflict resolution strategies that all teachers can use with their students. 

 

Thanks to Todd for showing the 5th grade team  our new Everyday Speech program.  I was able to sit in on this and it looks very engaging for our students.

If you have not done so already please make sure you get your PTA Membership form and $6 dues in and get your social fund $$ to Lauren.

Thanks to Nicole for attending the DuPage ROE Truancy Zoom meeting on Thursday.  She will continue to help me make attendance a priority for our families this year.  

"Never argue with stupid people.  They will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience"  Mark Twain

"If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything."  Mark Twain

"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect"  Mark Twain

8-23-24

 Thanks to everyone for a great start to the school year. I have popped in to many classes and have been impressed with the student engagement I have seen.  

Please remember to finish your mandated trainings that are assigned.  Please reach out to Solly if you have any questions or problems.  

Thanks to Dr. Woell for a great opening day and doing the work behind the scenes to prep us for a great year.  

How to communicate effectively!

Thanks to April for spearheading the What is a Benjamin Student? theme.  The posters that are hanging up in the hallways are great visual reminders.  April also shared the in an email for use via google links. I will be talking with all students on Monday through the PE classes.  Getting their insights and opinions on how we run our school.

Don't forget to join the PTA, they are a great organization that do a lot for our school!  Also, Friday is the PTA back to school night from 6pm-8pm right in our upper lot.  Come meet the PTA and get some dinner at the food trucks.  

Just a reminder that we have Curriculum Night on the 28th from 6:30pm-8pm.  Please use this a time to share your curriculum/expectations and set a great first impression with parents.  I have shared the student schedule that they can fill out in your HR's and parents can pick it up there that evening.  I will also send the Curriculum Night letter out to parents tomorrow.  

Thanks to Matt, Dan, Bill, Joe and Megan for getting our fall sports season off to a great start.  Tryouts and first practices are always a great place to start off setting a positive tone with high expectations for the season.  

I have renewed our scholastic magazine orders and will be sharing the online code for your student access. You will also receive 10 paper copies of each issue.  These have been great for current events and engaging extension learning activities that align with curriculum standards. 

Please get your social fund $$$ to Lauren.  Also, thanks to Lauren for organizing this each year.

Thanks to Joe for presenting our ALICE safety protocol at the learning meeting on Tuesday.  

Thanks to Michelle and Carrie for getting the book fair ready for next week.  Please stop by and put a book request in for parents to see and possibly purchase for you. 

Thanks to our teaching assistants as we settle into the new school year.  Flexibility in moving schedules and establishing positive relationships with the students they support is key during the first couple weeks of school.  

Thanks for all the tech support that Greg, Vanessa, Angela and Danielle have been providing to start off the school year.  

"The easiest way to increase happiness is to control your use of time." -- Daniel Kahneman

"If we will be quiet and ready enough, we shall find compensation in every disappointment." -- Henry David Thoreau

"Status Quo always delivers on the promise." -- Ian Anderson