2-28-25

 Thanks to Michelle and Carrie for throwing the Caudill party for our students.  Motivating our students to read is important and the celebration included an author talk by Kate O'Shaughnessy.  

Thanks to Alex for running the Student Council Badminton Tournament.  The students had a blast.  

Speaking of Student Council, Colleen Morgan also had student council students busy selling hot chocolate before school on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.  Keeping students active and helping others is a great service model to have.  

How PE can build leadership in our students. 

https://www.edutopia.org/article/teaching-leadership-skills-4-pe-games

I am asking that starting on Monday we do not park in the two street spots that are on the left of our parking lot exit.  I have had numerous concerns shared with me about those spots being a blind spot for parents exiting our school at drop off and dismissal and I have to agree.  It is better to be safe especially when we have plenty of other parking spots.  

Coach Wolski is finishing an awesome chess season with a round robin tournament practice Thursday Night to crown a Benjamin Team Champion and then a final team tournament in Wheaton this weekend.  I appreciate his dedication to this team that requires late nights and weekends!

I am grateful for the work the science committee has done this year as we move closer to a final resource for our students.  We had a very successful meeting on Wednesday after school where input was shared and action steps were decided to get us to the finish line.  

Danielle and Angela will be splitting up the Book Club between Evergreen and Benjamin due to scheduling problems.  Our time for the book discussion will be March 5th right after school until the Superintendent Input meeting for staff at 3:30pm.  I will send the full March meeting schedule out later on Friday. 

Please remember to take the 5essentials survey when you have time.  Also team leaders, please let me know when the students in your grade are taking the survey if you have not done so already.  

Thanks to Margaret for getting out the monthly Newsletter.  Also Margaret was honored with a staff spotlight for her "service with a smile" I have to agree that the transition of Margaret into the secretary position has been very smooth and I have heard nothing but compliments on her initiative and her efficiency in task completion.  It doesn't hurt to have a great coach/mentor in Kim!  Way to go Margaret!

Thanks to Kim for getting our new digital report cards uploaded for parents.  Thanks to our special ed and EL staff for getting their student goal updates to the office for mailing.  

I am looking forward to the Institute day on Friday.  Thanks to Todd, Jana and Megan P who are all using their day to present to others.  A day dedicated to professional learning is so important to take advantage of.  Please try to put aside other tasks/responsibilities and focus on your personal growth.  

"You will never get any more out of life than you expect." -- Bruce Lee

"Slow down and enjoy life. It’s not only the scenery you miss by going too fast — you also miss the sense of where you are going and why." -- Eddie Cantor

Beware of no man more than yourself; we carry our worst enemies within us.

G. K. Chesterton (1874 - 1936)