June 1, 2012

Play this while you read Friday Flash

because we're Walkin' On Sunshine..oh yeah...

 Feel the Power

Wow! What tremendous energy and enthusiasm was present in our school community this week! A very powerful ending to a wonderful year! I know I wasn't alone feeling joy, appreciation, pride and a heart overflowing with the sense of accomplishment that comes from a job well done. 

We have all developed the habit of mind to reflect as we come to the end of a journey. As I reflect tonight, I'm reminded that the importance of reflection is not to strive for perfection, but to seek for constant improvement. As we reflect over this past year, dwell on your personal growth, the growth you facilitated for students, and the incredible community we created together.

There isn't one of us who was present at the All School Drum Circle and Closing Ceremony who didn't feel the power and belonging of our very special community. What an intense and meaningful experience to share that together. All I could think of was...I am so proud and so honored to belong to this community.

Bravo!

Calendar

Plans for our last day together, Friday June 1st:

* 8:30 a.m. Moving 

* Flip-flop the classrooms in the second mobile

* Move Brittany to a different classroom

* Give Mary a hand in boxing up her things

* Move items away from the openings between classrooms in fifth grade and first grade so the opening can be enclosed over the summer

* 9:00 - 11:30 a.m.  Kindergarten teachers/literacy specialists meeting with Kindergarten parents

* Cleaning up rooms

* Write a draft goal for next year with the assessment you will use to measure your success. I am not sure whether Halogen will let you post them yet, but you could save it in a word document and cut and paste it into Halogen in the fall.

* Turn in your student writing exemplars you selected for each of your genre studies this year and the rubric you created to assess them.

* Check out list

* 3:00 p.m. Coming together for an Appreciation Circle for Mary

Important dates for beginning next year:

Staff backpacking trip: July 27th - 29th 

New teachers report Wednesday, August 1st.

All teachers report Thursday, August 2nd.

We will meet as a staff on the morning of Thursday and Friday (Aug. 2nd and 3rd) and you will have the afternoons to work in your classrooms.

Listening Conferences Monday and Tuesday, August 6th and 7th

Staff Backpacking: July 27th - 29th

Please let me know if you will be participating. If you aren't certain, I still want you to let me know that you are interested. If you already let me know, please tell me again, as I didn't write it down! Opps!  I will be emailing those who are committed and interested in July with details.

Funny things kids say...


Andrea shared these with me:


After school, the week before Portfolios.  Mr. Neil was telling Sibria and Miles, very happily, that he was on Sibria's Portfolio Panel. Miles groaned. 
Mr. Neil asked, "Isn't that good news?"
Miles answered, "That wouldn't be good because then I have to learn things from my sister..."


Ian P. was working on his math in the conference room - he needed a quiet place to get his test done.  When Ms. Lauren came to pick him up, she asked, "Did it help to work in here?"
Ian answered, "Not really.  Those girls never stop talking."  ("Those girls" is a reference to Julie and me!)

Peek Into the Life of our School:

All in the last two days of school...

I regret that I don't have a picture featuring everything wonderful that happened this week. As I put this together this evening, I haven't been able to collect pictures from others. I was also so bummed that my Ipad went dead towards the end of the day today. Murphy's Law in action?

 My Ipad powered off just as I was trying to get a photo of students in Mr. Neil's Crew deep into a strategic game of chess!

Oh, how I wish I had pictures of our All School Drum Circle, Closing Ceremony, the hikes that took place, the Reader's Theater from Ms. Jill's Crew, Mr. Bill being handed the cow bell during the Drum Circle and so much more! I also should have gotten a picture of the intense activity in the front office!

How does Pam juggle all the challenges of the creative process?

Fifth graders finishing up art projects and 
assessing their growth with a rubric.

Ms. Dee works with a small group during math.

Third graders present their poetry from their genre study.

Second graders proud of their performance assessment!

Ms. Wendy supports students as they develop their posters
demonstrating their learning.

Second graders sharing their posters 
about tornadoes during their Expedition.
Second graders also used this as a service learning opportunity creating packets that included plans 
for an emergency in tornado conditions.

Dana supporting first grade writers. 

First graders adding writing work to their portfolios.
Mary Beth ozzing with pride.

Kindergartners adding work to their budding portfolios....with a little help from Ms. Kathy!
Not an easy task to get the work behind the right tab!

Fourth graders writing reflections for their portfolios.

Fifth grade students engaged in the creative process
 of illustrating and publishing their picture books  
- their last genre study.

Ms. Rebecca modeled and worked alongside her students
 creating her own picture book.
The sticky notes contain feedback to her from students.

Fifth grader produced his picture book on an Ipad.

Mary Sue's Crew deeply involved in their last author study.

Fifth graders checking on the baby birds in the nesting boxes.

Fifth grade students researching to determine what unidentified bird is nesting in one of the boxes.

Noreene looking mighty proud of her purchase 
from Mr. Bill's Market Day!

Whir of activity during Mr. Bill's Market Day.

Celebrations after Portfolio Showcases 

Pam constructing the base for the Totem Pole art project 
done by 4th graders.
(Her Crayola Grant project)

Hanni's second grader's share their portfolio's 
with parents on the last day of school.
What a great closing activity!

Sarah's second grader entertains his crew with 
his magic card tricks!

Kona Ice treats for all!

Even the big kids (that's Ms. Lisa in the snazzy hat!) 
loved their Kona treat!

Doug makes all the circus tricks look easy!

Mary Beth shows her first graders that she's a jumping wonder!

Lauren sent me this picture taken on the

hike that Third Grade took today....

There are rattlesnakes in those hills!

T-shirt signing all day long!






6th grade hike to St. Mary's Glacier
Josh sent me these pictures...they are incredible!

Our oh-so special Mr. Cody

Lisa listens to Cody and takes the challenge of
 "glissading"!

Solo at the top of the world!
Love this photo!

What an incredible photograph!

Look really close and you see the hikers
at the edge of the snow.

Staff end of the year party was a blast!
Thanks Julie for hosting a great time!
This Crew knows how to have fun!

Farewell for the summer!

Bill blowing a kiss!

Hands down...we have the 
best school ever!



Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. 
Margaret Mead 

Anytime you can walk in another person’s shoes, 

the world is a better place.

Anthony Bourdain

Today I ate lunch with two kindergarten students. 
We counted the number of days until 
we would be back together...
61 days.
Enjoy every one of those days 
doing something that brings you joy!


I'll miss you!
Deborah