November 11, 2011

Friday Flash, November 11, 2011




Calendar

Week of November 14 - 18th:

* Book Fair Week!

Tuesday, 15th:

* RTI meeting 7:15 a.m.

*Thanksgiving Lunch with family visitors

* Book Fair Family Night: 4:30 - 8:00 p.m.

Wednesday, 16th:

* Professional Development 1:30 p.m.

Week of November 21 - 22nd (short week):

Tuesday, 22nd:

* RTI meeting 7:15 a.m.

Wednesday - Friday: 

* Celebrate with friends and family!

Nice to Know

Our REA (Renaissance Educational Alliance aka: PTO) is undergoing some organizational changes. The name will also be changed to R PTO. Our old label was just too confusing for folks. I'll let you know what the organizational changes are as the work is done. There is an evening work session and an all day work session on Saturday, November 19th. Big commitment of time for our parents in leadership roles.

In addition, the fundraising committee is hard at work organizing our spring fundraiser: Life Is Art. We need to decide what our financial needs are as a school. Please provide your input to me as we are thinking about that. Likely, budget reductions will impact decisions about where our funds are needed. In the meantime, we are looking at aspiring to have a cart of computers or Ipads in every classroom (lofty goal!). To do so, we are going to have to help our community know how we use digital tools FOR learning. Our parents didn't grow up with digital tools as learners and are unclear about how we are doing that. It would be so helpful if you would highlight and think about ways you can 'show' this through your blog to parents. More about that when we have our professional development together. We can share how we are doing that on Edmodo!

As you know, Marci needed to reduce her time at Renaissance this year. The special education department is supplementing our needs by providing an educational assistant. We have hired Wendy Maier and she will start November 21st. More about Wendy next week!

Love and Logic

9 Essential Skills: Skill #6

Setting Limits With Enforceable Statements

Limits are set when the adult says:

"This is how I'm going to run my own life."

for example: "I'll be listening to those who raise their hands."

Limits are enforced when the adult does not engage in arguments about the limits.

For example: "So when will I be glad to listen to you?"

                        " Thanks."

Ineffective Technique                                                    Love & Logic Technique

Please be quiet. It's time to begin.                              I'll be glad to start as soon as you show 

                                                                                           me that you are ready.

Don't sharpen your pencil while I'm talking.            I allow people to sharpen pencils when

                                                                                          I am not giving directions.

Keep your hands to yourself.                                      Feel free to stay with us when you can

                                                                                          keep your hands to yourself.

Featured Folks

Authored by Lauren Gunn

Andy and I out exploring fall colors

Here are some things about me: I grew up in a small ski-resort town in the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. At the University of California, Irvine, I double majored in Women’s Studies and Global Cultures (with an emphasis in Hispanic/Latino cultures) and minored in Education. I studied abroad in Granada, Spain for a summer, and someday I hope to become fluent in Spanish.

My family is something I value most. I have a close relationship with my parents, two brothers, and extended family. I married my best friend and high school sweetheart. Andy is my more adventurous half, who has inspired me to be a risk-taker, dirt bike rider, and enjoy the adrenaline of skydiving. His latest endeavor has been building and competing in a grassroots racecar series, and so now I am the proud wife of a racecar driver. Together, we enjoy the outdoors, spending time with our two cats and two dogs, and trying new things.

Music has been an inspiration throughout my life. With my mother being a skilled pianist, I grew up singing alongside the piano. The broadways musicals of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Rodgers & Hammerstein continue to be my favorites. I have taken vocal lessons in high school and college to support my love of musical theater and choir. How special that my mother had a piano in her first grade classroom and I enjoy the same privilege!

Working at Renaissance has been a true blessing and journey of growth. I came to Renaissance, working as a kindergarten educational assistant. I was so inspired that it prompted me to get my teaching license and master’s in education at the University of Denver. It has been a dream to return to Renaissance and work alongside such an incredible staff with the common vision and passion for education, first in fifth grade and now in third grade. As a life-long learner, I am never content and always striving for better.

In my free time, I love to read, take pictures, scrapbook, do yoga, hike, camp, and explore Colorado. I have never been so touched as I was participating in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. I plan to climb my first 14ner next summer. I don’t like to eat pickles or fish. I love the quote “To the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may be the world.” Lastly, I hope that I can inspire a future generation of learners.

One of my favorite captures as a photographer

Authored by Marci Murray - 

I was born in Wheatridge, Co. and grew up in Golden, as did my parents…and their parents ~ I am a true Pioneer (and even qualify for the license plate)!  Matt (my amazing husband of 23 years) and I have been blessed with an awesome family.  We fostered over 40 beautiful children and have five children of our own.  We are close to being empty nesters and have Kiana and Morgan, both 17, at home.  Our oldest son, Josh, lives in Denver. Jessica married a year ago and lives in Laramie, Wyoming with her husband where they attend the University of Wyoming.  Our youngest son, Jeremiah, is in his second year at the Colorado School of Mines.  Home is 40 acres 12 miles south of the tiny little ‘town’ of Strasburg.  I wake up to and beautiful views and fresh clean air…oh, and 2 cats, 3 dogs, and an ever-changing number of chickens! 

I always knew (well, after a fleeting dream of becoming a truck driver) that I either wanted to become a teacher or a nurse.  With three little ones to care for, we decided that the shift work that came along with being a nurse would not mesh well with family life.  So, I began taking classes, one at a time, to earn my degree.  I have a BS in Behavioral Science from Metro, and my M. Ed. in Education from Regis.  My doctorate(s) continue to be a work in progress, however, I’m not sure I will continue on that journey.  That door remains open…Teaching is my passion and I have been living that passion for 10 years now (this is my 5^th year at REMS).  I am constantly in awe of the wisdom of children and often wish I could see things through their eyes!  Teaching continues to bring me joy, and even with all its challenges, there is always something to smile about at the end of the day!

When I’m not teaching I love to travel.  Matt and I spent three weeks in Nicaragua this summer and fell in love with the people.  We hope to go back soon! 

When I am not on the go I love to take pictures, read, garden (a new endeavor), hike, and fly-fish! 

Peek Into the Life of our School

Community of learners!
It sure was evident by the posts on our Edmodo site that learning together is powerful!

Thanks for making the effort to use Edmodo while we see if it is a tool that will prove to be meaningful. I know with my own experience, initially, I have to be very intentional about the tool, and then it gets easy!

Thank you to all the teacher leaders who have been sharing and presenting!

Some learners prefer quiet spots...

others like to sit in groups.

All School Meeting:
A Ritual that builds community,
builds leadership,
and matters to kids.

Neil, you did a great job preparing your crew to lead the meeting!

Grooving to the music at All School Meeting

All School Meeting...a fun place to be!

During my lunch with kids on Wednesday, once again they shared resounding enthusiasm for our All School Meetings. They love it! It warms me to my toes to see our students embracing the leadership role of facilitating our meetings and coming together as a whole school crew.  The kids told me that one of their favorite parts of All School Meeting is the sharing component. They love to see what other crews are learning in their classrooms. Think about what you have going on and be sure to network with the crew leading ASM to fill the 'sharing' slot.

Diana...your passion is contagious!
Everyone is excited about the Book Fair!

Challenge by choice

Doug finds ways to add challenge to the climb for kids...
climb blindfolded!

Happy Parent Volunteers -
They know they are Crew!

Thought to Ponder



I got this excerpt from the Two Writing Teachers Blog
http://twowritingteachers.wordpress.com/
(Jill suggested it in her Edmodo post)

“Find a need and fill it.”

— Henry J. Kaiser

At the end of the day I want to believe if  I found needs and filled them, then the day was a success. Then I start thinking about all of the needs I found, but didn’t fill and I feel, well, I feel inadequate. If I think a little more, then I realize there were needs I didn’t even notice. The ones I was too busy to take in, and I feel disappointed.

What I’m learning and what I’m trying to accept is my little is enough. Right now there are high demands on teachers and quite often, at the end of the day, we can leave school wondering if what we are doing is enough. We can wonder if this is really how we should spend our time day in and day out. Despite all of the chaos I believe it is. Our little makes a difference. When I place my little next to yours and next to his and next to hers, it makes a difference. We make a difference together. As a team. Working toward a goal of changing lives through teaching writers. Just fill one need and know you make a difference.

As we let our own light shine we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love

Have a great weekend!