Fabulous Four Celebrating the success of supporting their learners!
I'm still living on the high of the presentation of our third grade students on Wednesday afternoon. What a celebration to hear our students talk about themselves as learners - each so unique and special. I am so proud of how we cradle the budding self-expression of each of our students and rejoice in the growth we see. I felt humbled by their honesty and vulnerability in talking about themselves.
It was clear that our students are building a growth mindset. Students could easily articulate their areas of strength, where they had grown and what they wanted to improve on.
What resonated the loudest, was the pride and commitment our students have for the culture of their school. They could articulate their need to belong and participate in both their classroom community and the bigger community of our school. Not only could they speak to the rituals, they could talk deeply about the purpose and how those rituals ultimately have created this special place.
* Report Cards go home with students (hold report cards in office for those students who are on the list who have outstanding fees)
* Drums do not go home
Thursday:
Teacher Work Day
Staff Closing Circle 3:00 p.m.
Friday:
* Staff Backpacking Trip begins
Peek Into Classrooms
Guided writing instruction using Every Child a Writer resource.
Learning Target
Authentic assessment and immediate feedback - accountability
Transfer of learning... Look at the Teacher Appreciation card Lauren received from her student - this is the best, most authentic evidence of taking on the learning from direct instruction to authentic purpose and application for a student. So sweet and funny!
Math instruction
'Market Day' in Rebecca's Crew
The Power of Feedback
- Third Grade students anxious to read their letter from the portfolio panelists.
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly... who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly. -Theodore Roosevelt
I'm reading a new book, having been recently inspired after watching the author, Brene Brown, on Ted Talks. The book is Daring Greatly based on research dispelling the myth that vulnerability is a weakness and argues that it is our most accurate measure of courage. She explains that when we shut ourselves off from vulnerability, we distance ourselves from the experiences that bring purpose and meaning to our lives. I love it when a book crosses my path that supports me in a time I need it most.
I share the quote because it really resonated with me and our work in education right now, both at a district and national level. We are all in that arena, striving valiantly, and daring greatly.
More to share....
Last Wednesday the Leadership Team was invited to a forum to listen to Dr. Yong Zhao, author of World Class Learners. His message is aligned with our vision for creating learners for the future. Zhao says that to succeed in the global economy, students need to think like entrepreneurs. He has ideas for how to cultivate independent thinkers. There are more videos on Youtube if you enjoy this one. After listening to Yong Zhao present, we certainly were energized and we want to share his message with you!
* Please start creating lists at your grade level for assigning students to classes for next year. Then, come share them with me. When we have a final list, you can write next year's teacher on the report cards.
* Report cards will go home with students on the last day of school. The office will create a list of students who have outstanding fees and we will ask you to bring those reports to the office. Parents can get the report cards from the office when they come in to pay their fees. Please direct parents to the office.
* Parents unhappy with class assignments or with questions should be directed to me.
* I will provide you with an end of year check-out list soon. You will need to be signed off on this the last teacher work day.
* If you are planning a Crew get together that last week of school the office needs to know your plans.
*
Calendar
May 13 - 17:
Monday:
* MaryBeth's winter voyage rescheduled again!
* Brittany's Crew hike
Tuesday:
* RTI 7:15 a.m.
Wednesday:
* All School Meeting
* 3rd Grade Portfolio Showcase 1:30 p.m. Thursday: * Kindergarten field work to landfill
May 20- 24th:
Tuesday
* RTI meeting 7:15 a.m.
* Lost Coffee for staff 7:45 a.m.
Wednesday:
* Kindergarten leaves for Camp Elim
* 6th grade Portfolio Review
Leadership Team -
Decision making time and new roles and responsibilities for team members
The district is asking us to identify a teacher from every building who would participate at a district level for training and collaboration in each of the following categories:
* Curriculum & Instructional Leader (CIL)
* Quality Assessment Leader (QAL)
* Data Analysis Leader (DAL)
* Digital Age Teaching & Learning Leader (DATLL)
* Change Agents (must be administrator and BRT)
This isn't new - we did this last year. What's different - they changed the names and hence, the acronyms! I'm putting it out there to see if anyone has an interest in one of these roles/responsibility.
The 'vision' is that this teacher will attend a monthly training meeting at the district level (includes a stipend).
It would be important to have either a strong interest in the area or a budding expertise and you will have an important role in supporting colleagues to have deeper understandings and assist in implementation at a school level.
It makes sense that those folks involved in these leadership positions also have a role on our school Leadership Team. We need a few members of our school Leadership Team to remain, so that we have capacity to continue the momentum we created this year. Both Bill and MarySue will be leaving the team, so we will need at least two new members to the Leadership Team.
If you are interested in a leadership role in one of these district teams and serving on the school Leadership Team next year, please let me know.
Outdoor Learning Environment Workday
Thanks Lauren and MarySue for your leadership!
Peek Into Classrooms
Ms. Linda's students filming their tour of our building - note the script...in Spanish!
First Graders exploring dirt
Sixth grade exploring sound waves...
Sixth graders exploring algebra with manipulatives through a new math resource program
An anthropologist proposed a game to the kids in an African tribe. He put a basket full of fruit near a tree and told the kids that who ever got there first won the sweet fruits. When he told them to run they all took each others hands and ran together, then sat together enjoying their treats. When he asked them why they had run like that as one could have had all the fruits for himself they said: ''UBUNTU, how can one of us be happy if all the other ones are sad?''
'UBUNTU' in the Xhosa culture means: "I am because we are"
Updates on EL Network and ....
My recent blog post, 'Ponderings of a Principal', was to communicate to parents some of the changes going on and to invite them to participate in our important rituals that come at the end of the year. You may not have read the blog post and that's fine. However, there was some information there that I do want to make you aware is transpiring around Expeditionary Learning.
I haven't heard 'for sure'...as in no formal communication - but was told in a round about way that we won't receive the extra funding I requested to join the EL Network. I have no information about whether Fox Creek received funds, but I do know that they are moving forward with implementing Expeditionary Learning at their school and will be joining the EL network. A few teachers from Fox Creek will be participating on our 3rd grade portfolio panels. I don't know today the future of our relationship together down the road.
The parent group from Renaissance calling themselves ELOBK12 did a visit to Cresthill Middle School and had an exploratory conversation with the principal regarding a future middle school option for EL. I guess that was all it took to spark the interest of that principal. So, now Cresthill is at the front end of exploring EL as a possible pathway moving forward (not in partnership with the ELOBK12 group). The principal has hired our Debbie Rabideau to support him in his exploration.
I've initiated setting up dialogue between the principals of Fox Creek and Cresthill Middle School and myself. I think it's critical that there is some system thinking and collaboration.
I have great passion for Renaissance and feel there is a lot at stake. Communication isn't coming to me from the district level - so I'm setting out on a journey to find out for myself. What I find out, I'll share with my crew.
I know it's incredibly hard to not have an emotional response to the decisions being made around us. Especially difficult when we have no information about how the decisions are being made. It would be so easy to be hurt - no recognition or acknowledgment from the district level of all the hard work and dedication you each extend every day. I would ask that we stand together and do what is so hard...let our light shine. Let our light shine because these decisions do not define us. We are Crew - always. I used the picture at the top of the blog because it reminded me of all we are and have created - together. It's all going to be okay.
Tell Survey - It's all good stuff
It wasn't too long ago I asked you to take the TELL survey (a survey that CDE requires we take every two years which asks questions on topics ranging from school safety to school conditions). I know it's a busy time but I wanted to share the results with you.
Last week, some of us spent our Wednesday afternoon professional development time getting a license to drive an activity bus. We spent time the week prior doing the written portion and then hit the road... not everyone who 'trained' is featured in the video, but it will crack you up... Thanks Lisa for the video and thanks to all of you newly certified bus drivers....Josh, Kenny, Tyler, Neil, Lindsey, Lisa, and Julie...and me!
The Teachers on the Bus Go Round and Round...
Calendar
It's becoming a challenge to make sure the calendar is correct this time of year as we have to make last minute changes and additions. When in doubt, consult the front office.
It is fast approaching the time of year when all of you are making plans for your Crews for the end of the year. Please make sure the office knows your plans. The office will also have a master list of what people are doing. Please consult that list so that we don't have Crews overlapping with facilities.
May 6 - 10:
Tuesday:
* NO RTI meeting
* 4th grade leave for the Sand Dunes
* SAC meeting
Wednesday:
* All School Meeting
* 3rd Grade Portfolio Showcase 1:30 p.m.
* 6th Grade Hunger Banquet 6:00 p.m.
* NOTE: 6th grade Closing Ceremony is TUESDAY, June 4th at 6:30 pm. and not Wednesday evening.
Congratulations Melissa!
This is Angelina Jenae. 7lbs, 4 oz. Born 4/30/13 at 10:54 p.m.
Elisha's sweet Emerysn Rose
A Peek Into Classrooms...
Second graders putting work into their portfolios
Some a little more organized than others.... :)
Reader's Theater in first grade (the headbands identified their character) MaryBeth debriefed with them afterwards about how they collaborated to decide on parts...it wasn't easy for them!
Guess what kids are doing in music?
Brittany and Lauren were out running the practice 5K Run with Girls On the Run
