It seems that we might be back to normal.  Educating students is so much easier when there is a plan to follow and you can execute the plan.  Kinda of impossible to have a plan when we only had a chance to execute it one out of the five days we had planned on.  Thank you for being flexible and for embracing the crazy that happens when events have to be made up.  Since this is the last week of February, I want to share a clip with you about how I would like for people to teach about famous African Americans.  In the past, I would read a sentence or two about famous black inventors each morning to highlight achievements of important African Americans.  This month, I did not.  There were two reasons for this...(1) the snow kinda cut into the time I would have spent pulling materials to do so and (2) it would go against everything I preach to the staff at EES.  I tell you to integrate and make things relevant for our students.  Why should you wait to discuss famous African American writers, musicians, inventors, etc until February when you could integrate them into your science, social studies, and music lessons?  So to practice what I preach, I leave this to you to do.  Celebrate the contributions of all Americans and especially those that traditional text books leave out (women, Asian American, Native Americans, African Americans, etc).  The school board request the information each year in February but I'd love to submit a list of things we do all year to celebrate African Americans as well as other Americans next year!

How amazing would it be if we featured famous Americans throughout the year and helped it be relevant by stating Because of them, you can do/be this?

Week of February 24-28, 2014

Monday

• 3rd Grade and 4th Grade PLCs
• Dental Van Visit: some students will participate in this screening and will be called for throughout the day.
• Vertical Planning After school: Please report to Media Center for whole group activity before splitting up into same groups from last month.
• Jeans for A Cause Makeup Day (we will have one more to make up for 2/14)
• State of Erwin Address: Please attend this event.  I expect every certified staff member will be there unless I hear from you via email. 6:30-7:00 PM Erwin Town Hall
• I will be out of building for Learning Focused Administrator training but can be contacted via email and cell.

Tuesday

• 5th Grade PLC
• PBIS Store Visits: Please ensure you have helped students count money before sending them to store.
• Meeting at 7:30 AM for tutoring informational meeting in Mrs. Hill's office
• Club Pictures in the auditorium
• Mr. Troutman Retirement Party at BOE Building 3-5 PM
• RtA Assessments

Wednesday

• Learning Focused Meetings with AES for those interested (please email Hill if interested in attending)
• CU Program in Auditorium from 1:30-2:30 for 4th and 5th graders
• RtA Assessments
• All grades updated in PowerSchool

Thursday

• Spelling Bee at CU: Depending on whether our winner rides the bus with us or not, we will be sending our winner off with a celebration. More information to come but please feel free to make posters and signs to help with the send off.
• RtA Assessments
• Tail Waggin' in Media Center

Friday

• Read the Most Coast to Coast: Students and Staff may wear Pjs to school but can not wear bedroom shoes.  More information will be sent out regarding various activities that will take place during the day.
• County Payday
• RtA Makeup Assessments

I hope everyone has a great week and thanks for all you do! Remember, WE ARE ERWIN!!

No Child Left Out!

Mrs. Lee, Ms. Dunkins, and I have been at the No Child Left Out Conference since Thursday evening and we are very excited about the things that we have learned here.  Today, before we leave, we have to create an action plan to bring home to ensure that all we have learned doesn't go to waste.  Don't worry!  This doesn't mean that you will have more to do.  This just means that we are going to move a little closer to GREAT! 

One quote that I encountered in a workshop was "If the corn doesn't grow, nobody ask what's wrong with the corn".  Now for some of you, you are totally confused by this quote.  What does corn have to do with our students.  Well, corn grows from one kernel, one seed.  If a farmer plants the corn and it doesn't grow, farmers don't start their problem solving thinking with the corn being the reason.  No, the farmer looks at what they did.  They look at their plan and see if they provided enough water.  Was there enough water?  Did they plant it deep enough?  Did they protect the seed from damage?

I believe we need to do more of this in our job as educators.  Let's focus on what we are doing and less on what our students are bringing us (that we can do little about).  I am excited about all the great things we can do between now and June 10, 2014.

This week's video clip is about why we should not stress about the EOG or the RtA process.  If we teach like our hair is on fire everyday...If we give our best everyday...If we teach our students how to problem solve and how to persist even when they face a hard task or challenging fete...OUR STUDENTS WILL SHOW GROWTH AND/OR PASS THE END OF GRADE TEST.  Let's look at what we the farmers (ALL THOSE WHO WORK AT ERWIN) are doing and not the condition of the corn kernels (OUR STUDENTS).

Can't wait to see ALL of you on Monday :)

Angela

This Week...
Monday

• 2nd nine week meetings with Hill continue
• 3rd and 4th Grade PLCs
• Diversity Meeting after-school from 3:30-5:30 in Media Center (Hunt will be available to watch teachers' kids in computer lab and help them complete homework)
• Parent Diversity Workshop from 6-7

Tuesday

• 5th Grade PLC
• Crisis Management Mtg in Lillington for Backus and Blue
• Grant Opportunity Mtg for Bagby, Hill, and Lopes in Hill's Office at 11:15
• Award's Day at 1:30

Wednesday

• PBIS Store (please see daily newsletter for more information)
• 2nd nine weeks meetings with Hill continue

Thursday

• 2nd nine weeks meetings with Hill continue
• Movie for IXL/AR reward students
• Think Smart Tutoring Open House from 5:30-6:00 in Media Center

Friday

• 2nd nine weeks meetings with Hill continue
• Enhancement PLC

Are You Ready For Some Football? Weekly Update for 2/3/14

I am working on this weekly update while my family is watching the Super Bowl around me so I am going to make this super short...get it SUPER? Anyway, I am hoping that we can get back to normal this week.  I am going to ask that everyone try and be flexible this week as we adjust to missing 4 days of school last week.  I hope we get no more snow (don't tell my daughter I said that).

Anyway, this week's video is an inspirational one about never giving up.  I believe this video would help you engage some of your male students who LOVE everything football. Hope you enjoy! Go Seahawks!

Week of February 3-7, 2014
National School Counseling Week
Welcome Ms. Jones!
Monday

• 3rd Grade PLC/ Planning
• 4th Grade PLC/ Planning
• Committee Meetings After School: Everyone meet in Media first for Relay for Life announcement. Committees meeting are: Social and Science Olympiad.

Tuesday

• 5th Grade PLC/ Planning
• RtA Passages

Wednesday

• Spelling Bee at 1:30
• RtA Passages

Thursday

• Hill out at Principal's Meeting (AM)/ No Child Left Out Workshop in SC (PM)
• M. Lee and Dunkins out in PM (No Child Left Out Workshop in SC)
• RtA Passages

Friday

• Hill, M. Lee, and Dunkins Out All Day (No Child Left Out Workshop in SC)
• Jeans for A Cause
• RtA Passage Make Up
• Valentine Social for Relay for Life Afterschool 3:15-5:15