You've Got A Friend in Stress!!! WHAT?!?

“You must learn to let go. Release the stress. You were never in control anyway.” 

― Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free

As you know, we are entering the last days...NO, not those last days.  I know many of you equate these upcoming testing days to the days written in Revelations but do know these days will come and go and we will survive.  I promise.

Now, for our new staff members let me just warn you...

PEOPLE WILL LOSE IT THIS WEEK!!! BE PREPARED!

I have always dreaded this time of year. People are emotional...it's the end of our time with students we've grown to LOVE and we are unsure of what the summer holds for them.  We are tired.  We are worried about students doing their best and showing what they know.  We are blorft! What is blorft? Take it away Tina Fey...

“I was a little excited but mostly blorft. "Blorft" is an adjective I just made up that means 'Completely overwhelmed but proceeding as if everything is fine and reacting to the stress with the torpor of a possum.' I have been blorft every day for the past seven years.” 

― Tina Fey, Bossypants

As we move through this week, let's work together and have each other's back.  Let's continue to have faith in the AMAZING work we have done this year and that our students will show what they know.  Let's remember that a test score should NEVER define who our students NOR define us as educators.  I really like this last quote on stress.  I believe in miracles...how about you?

“Each moment of worry, anxiety or stress represents lack of faith in miracles, for they never cease.”
― T.F. Hodge, From Within I Rise: Spiritual Triumph Over Death and Conscious Encounters with "The Divine Presence"

If you get 14 minutes alone, I'd love for you to see this TED Talk about how we need people in times of stress and that stress isn't a bad thing if we can learn to manage it...it's an interesting way to look at things!

Hope you've enjoyed your weekend and thanks for all you do!

Angela

Week of May 26-31

Monday, May 26

Memorial Day- No School!

Tuesday, May 27

• Jeans for a Cause $5 donation to participate
• 5th Grade PLC
• Water Day (4th: 1-1:30; 3rd: 1:35-2:05; 5th: 2:10-2:40)
• Quick Meeting After School for anyone willing to write letters for students to encourage for EOG (if parents didn't write letter for students)

Wednesday, May 28

• Hill Out (Harnett Leadership Business Day)
• 5th Grade Band Meeting in Auditorium at 2:15
• EOG Pep Rally at 2:30 (will release from Auditorium)
• Wear RED for Education Day and you can wear Jeans because we are proud to teach in the former Denim Capital of the World! (I am reaching but hey...it works.)

Thursday, May 29

• EOG Reading
• Staff may wear Jeans because you're all Geniuses!
• Hill's Summative with Monica Thompson from 9-11 (please pray for me...have not completed everything for this vital meeting yet)

Friday, May 30

• EOG Math 
• Staff may wear Jeans because you're all Smartie Pants!

Saturday, May 31st

• Awards Day at 9:00 (Cold Water Challenge to follow AND maybe the Donkey Kiss...Gaines have we found a cute enough Donkey yet?)
• Please dress nicely since we might see family members of students we've never seen since Awards Day is on Saturday. You can change to work in garden after Awards.
• Family Gardening time will be after lunches.
• Students will be counted present if they check out after 10:30. I will send an Alert Now but please add to any newsletters that you send out.  
• We will dismiss at 1:10 PM. If you want to leave after 1:30 PM, please submit your comp time as early as possible. You will need to submit paperwork for 2 hours and if you leveled books last weekend, just write that on the form.

There will be no open hours this weekend since we are working Saturday...You need to rest. We'll still have two weeks left.

I Told The Storm...

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."  Martin Luther King, Jr.

The above quote is one of the best quotes I've come across.  I liked it so much that I asked my friend to create a piece of artwork with the quote on it that I could hang in my office.  I felt that this quote was very appropriate at a time such as this.

I know the news I shared with you on Friday afternoon was not good news.  To know that three teachers will have to transfer to another Harnett County School is not easy to stomach.  It makes it easier to take knowing that everyone will still have a job unlike three-four years go when staff members were affected by the reduction in force (RIF) process.  That is a silver lining.

As I stated on Friday, this challenging news is difficult to take but we have to stay focused on the job at hand...give the very best we have to our students over the next four weeks.  The future will take care of itself.  Life goes on and things change...life is this way. Ten years from now, I promise you will not remember the details of this upheaval at EES.  What you, the staff, and students at EES will remember is the way we stuck together during this challenging time.  The students will remember that they really enjoyed their last few weeks of the 2013-2014 school year.  Let's stick together and provide the best educational opportunities these next few weeks.  I love each of you and I promise as I make decisions I will keep you in the know.

Week of May 19-23

*Observations Continue for Staff Not In TNL

Monday, May 19

• 3rd Grade PLC
• 4th Grade PLC
• Video Taping Begins for EOG SURPRISE VIDEO
• EOG Training at 3:30 in Media Center

Tuesday, May 20

• 5th Grade PLC
• PBIS Store (See Daily Newsletter for times)
• Yearbook Assembly at 2:30 (Students will be dismissed from the auditorium)

Wednesday, May 21

• Nothing extra scheduled

Thursday, May 22

• Nothing extra scheduled

Friday, May 23

• Enhancement PLC @ 1:30
• Summer Beach Party (see information sent out by Gaines/Dunkins)

Sunday, May 25

• Building Open 3PM-6 PM

The MOTHER of Blogs...this will be the shortest I've ever and will ever do!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen:

In honor of Mother's Day, I will do unlike I do every other day of the year...I will stick to the point and make it short and sweet.  I love each one of you and even on my few bad days...like the one I had this past Friday (btw. when I can share what's bothering me I will...I promise you'll see why I have been down some of the days). Thank you to all of my "mamas" at school who try to cheer me up and share affirming words with me. I LOVE YOU for it! Ok, check this clip out and have your tissues handy :)

See you tomorrow and I hope you've taken the time to let your mommies know how much you love them and also let those other important women in your life (those at work, church, neighborhood, family, etc.) know your appreciation.  Our days are numbered and sadly we don't know which number ours or theirs will end on so nothing is more important than the present!

Week of May 12-16, 2014

Observations and Summatives Continue

Monday

• Ms. Blue out of office from 11:15-1
• 3rd Grade and 4th Grade PLCs
• SIT Mtg after school in Media Center
• Roster Verification in Computer Lab at 3:30

Tuesday

• Science Day (see email sent out on Friday for details/ no enhancements)
• SWAG Night (please be at school by 4:30/ sign up for duty/wear black bottoms and white top OR dress like a celebrity...I am going to be Wendy Williams LOL)

Wednesday

• Advocate for Education Day (if not attending rally please think about hosting a rally in your town to help gain support of public education...info can be found on NCAE website).
• Optional Devotional Meeting in Conference Room at 7:30 AM
• Hill Out
• Gentry 2nd Graders Visit EES at 9 AM
• 5th Grade PLC (Test Training with Backus)

Thursday

• Nothing on my calendar....OMG!!!

Friday

• Nothing on my calendar...OMG!!!

Saturday

• Building will be open for a portion of day (probably 12-4:00)/ I will be practicing my dance for Principal Dance Off at school LOL...will not provide popcorn so bring your own if you want to see the show :)

I think that is it.  If you decide to come on Saturday to help sort books, you will receive lunch on the house or comp. time :)

Thanks for EVERYTHING you do for EES, for our town, our parents, for me, and for each other :)

Angela

Collaborate and Appreciate

This past Saturday my husband and I attended the first Education Summit hosted by NC Public Schools First.  We had the opportunity to hear from panelists devoted to school financial issues, retaining teachers, and innovative schools in NC.  During the discussions, we heard from Representative Rosa Gill.  One comment she shared with us was her thoughts regarding why educators get so upset when topics of pay, respect, or curriculum are discussed.  Rep. Gill, a retired educator, said " when you tie our love (subject area or grade level/ age of child) with our desire to impact the future...educators have a right to be passionate".

We also heard from David Kirp, a respected author, who researched schools who succeed when society tells us that shouldn't.  One of the major factors that successful schools do have in common is that they have staffs that collaborate.  As he went on to describe other characteristics of successful schools, many of those characteristics apply to our staff.  One thing he pointed out was that none of the schools who move from "hurtful" to kids to "essential to success" improved overnight.  Their improvement came over a period of time.  Continual progress moves things from bad to good to great.  I have been blessed to be present to see amazing things happen at EES over the past three years.  I appreciate each of you and even those who started the journey with us and are not here anymore.  I know that there are greater things to come. I know this because the heart has always been here.  The will has always been here.  Over the past three years we have just began to collaborate more strategically, in house and also outside our house, to improve our practice.  I believe that through these intentional collaborations we have strengthened our appreciation for our co-workers, the students we educate, and the community we serve.

As we begin our week long celebration of all everyone in this building does on a daily basis please know that it is a blessing to collaborate with each of you and I appreciate all you do.


Hope you enjoy this video...pretty funny. Reminds me of our Bonfire!

Week of May 5-9, 2014
Summatives and Evaluations Continue
Teacher Appreciation Week 

Monday

• 3rd Grade PLC
• 4th Grade PLC
• Committee Meetings at 3:45 (we will all meet in Media Center to discuss EOG, Boot Camp, and SWAG before breaking up for committee meetings; please make sure you have signed up on Google Doc if having meeting- see email sent mid week last week for link)
• Boot Camp Continues
• Massages for Staff in Conference Room

Tuesday

• Last Parent Reception 8-10 AM
• PEP Audit (I will pick up one PEP from each teacher Tuesday AM)
• 5th Grade PLC
• Hill Meeting in Lillington at 3:00
• Tutoring afterschool
• Ice Cream Social at 3:30 

Wednesday

• Devotion in Auditorium at 7:30 AM
• Breakfast for Staff
• Interview for PE Position at 11:30
• Coaching Collaborative Grant Meeting in EC/ LLI Room Upstairs at 2:30

Thursday

• Principal's Meeting (Hill out 7:45-1:30 )
• Mentor Meeting at 3:30
• Media Center Inventory (Gaines/ Dunkins will be coming to rooms to find materials checked out to you)
• Pizza Party IXL or AR Goal Achievers (Dunkins/ Gaines will be sending more info out)
• Sweet Treat for Staff

Friday

• Safety Patrol Field Trip (Blue, Hunt, and Jones Out)
• Staff Cookout (More details to follow)