11-21-25

 Clubs have been very active lately and I want to thank all club sponsors for providing opportunities for engagement in prefered activities so far this year.  Thanks to Kerry, Nicole J, Marisa, Joe, Angela, Michele D, Megan D, April, Danielle, Stephen, Michelle F,  Devin, Lam, Jessica, Alex, Colleen, Megan P, and Josh 

Basketball has been exciting with two home games this week.  As always, Dan and Matt have been coaching up the players on the sideline and Nicole did a great job getting the Dance and Cheer Team ready for their first half-time performance!

NJHS also helped support the basketball game with Jessica and Jen H supervising concessions for the students to run.  

Our Potluck meals are special not only for the great food but for bringing our staff together for great conversations and laughs.  Thanks to everyone for participating and to Lauren for organizing it.  

With my blog coming more irregularly this year...I want to say congratulations to Hannah who got married a couple of weekends ago!  She does a great job with our PE students each day and as a member of our Benjamin Family I know we all wish her the best.  

The new Trimester has started, thanks to Marisa, April, Stephen and Sherry for starting round two of their specials classes.  

Thanks to Kim for organizing grades and getting Report Cards ready for their digital upload to Powerschool. 

Interesting article on how phones and social media are affecting teenagers inside and outside of school.

https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/65913/is-performing-emotions-online-making-it-all-meaningless

Thanks to Margaret for her help to make sure  Turkey Day went smooth as silk this week.  The kids enjoyed seeing Dr. McGill carving the turkey!

Thanks to Carrie for carrying the load in the library this week while Michelle is out.  

The PTA met this week and talked about the great job the schools did with the Fun Run this year.  They will be donating $3000 to the 6th grade outdoor ed trip.  I will get more updates on the money raised and other possible donations soon. 

Ms. Molley from the PTA, will be here serving Hot Chocolate to 5th, 6th and 8th grade lunches today as part of the Fun Run prizes that was earned. 

Thanks to Angela for presenting at the Learning Meeting this week.  The know your students data and the executive functioning presentation was insightful and a good reminder of the obstacles that some of our students and ourselves have to deal with.  

 We have had several students that have required each of our Math Teacher to have conversations with parents about placement.  I want to thank them for their flexibility and extra effort to make sure the students are placed appropriately and being challenged.  

5 movement based Social Studies Activities

https://www.edutopia.org/article/movement-social-studies-class

I want to thank Lauren, Dan and Collen for a successful Learning Walk this week with Dr. McGill and myself. Lessons were collaborative, included high interest topics and hands on learning.  I will be out of the building for a bit today with a Kindergarten Learning Walk and High School Articulation.  

I want to wish everyone a great week off and hope you enjoy Thanksgiving with family and friends.  You deserve the rest and relaxation.  

• "After a good dinner, one can forgive anybody, even one's own relations." —Oscar Wilde

"Most of the shadows of this life are caused by standing in one’s own sunshine." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and the new.

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882)

11-7-2025

 Our Chess Team is underway......with two former students as Coaches.  Devin Larimer and Lam Truong have come back to Benjamin to guide our students through this chess season.  Welcome a-board.  Chess Board that is.

The first night of Parent Teacher Conferences have gone swimmingly!  Thanks to Kim for manning the office and Margaret and Kim for ordering the nourishment to keep you powered up throughout the night.  These are important nights to build relationships and communicate with parents about being partners with us in their child's success.  

Data meetings happened today and I am glad that Dr. Salamone could join us to help answer some questions.  Thanks to Nicole for running these meetings.  

15 tips to align your teaching with Brain Science.  

15 Tips to align your teaching with Brain Science

Sarah Anderson has been doing a great job with "check-in check out".  I appreciate her care and concern for her students as she individualizes their needs.  Her list of students is going to increase starting next week with additions from the data meetings.  

Basketball and Dance/Cheer  are underway.  I enjoyed watching our home games this week.  NJHS was also on the job ...selling concessions to a hungry crowd with profits going to charity.  

Wrestling Club is also underway with the team participating in their first meet at Hubble Middle School.  I appreciate Joes dedication as the team has grown in participant since last season.  

Between my Learning Walks with Dr. McGill and getting into my formal observations I have been in a lot of  classrooms this week.  From beat making in Mr. Lewis's room to first grade kiddos doing letter sounds to Ms. Harvel's Cereal Box presentations and everything in-between I have been very impressed with the level of engagement of our students.  

Mrs. Smith and myself will be presenting our SIP plans at our board meeting this Monday.  I will also be presenting our plan to you at our Institute Day on November 14th.  

I appreciate Sherry Anderson's willingness to have parent volunteers in her room helping as she had celebrations for the Day of the Dead in her classes.  

As we celebrate school Psychology week I am very happy that we have Dr. Huenecke as part of our team. His dedication to our students and staff is unmatched and his ability to connect with people is invaluable.  

Thanks to Colleen and Alex for helping student council host the Pumpkin Contest.  Here are the winners and some other great pumpkins.  

Mrs. Choate and the Art Club students are making great progress with their Mural.  It looks...Grrrreat!  Sorry wrong cat....a Bengal not a tiger.  

I am looking forward to our Institute Day on November 14th.  It will be filled with learning, from Science and EL presentations to a captivating review of our school improvement plan and a ride on the Magic School Bus.  Just kidding...Magic School presentation...not a bus.  

"Unhappiness is best defined as the difference between our talents and our expectations." -- Edward de Bono

A conference is a gathering of important people who singly can do nothing, but together can decide that nothing can be done.

Fred Allen (1894 - 1956) 

The secret of success is sincerity. Once you can fake that you've got it made.

Jean Giraudoux (1882 - 1944)