Summer is ANYTHING but quiet here at EES!

This will be a quick post to update you on what's happening on the home front.  I have decided to look at them under two headings: EASY and DIFFICULT.


So here goes:

Easy

1. Getting postcards/ books out to students: We've had probably about 30 postcards returned (10% of student body); Not too happy about that but it's better than nothing!
2. We were 44th in the state for collecting books for GIVE 5, READ 5.  If you only look at schools with 350 students or less, we were 5th in the state for the number of books collected at 4th for the number of books we collected per student. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THIS VISION.
3. Checking out at the county level. THANKS AGAIN FOR EVERYONE COMPLETING WHAT THEY OWED ME IN A TIMELY FASHION.
4. Reading your suggestions for the upcoming school year.  Thank you for sharing your ideas with me! I appreciate it.
5. Please welcome Mr. Caro to our staff!!! He will be replacing Mrs. Roberts as our ESL teacher!

Hard

1. Losing three classroom teachers! The county decided to transfer the last three hired (no input from me).  Ms. Hewlett has been transferred to AES and Ms. Jados & Mr. Miller have been transferred to HES.
2. Losing our Art teacher.  Ms. Lopes has been transferred to OHS. I DIDN'T SEE THIS COMING!
3. Having to move staff around and try to be as creative as possible.
4. Not knowing about enhancements...therefore no schedule...therefore hard to move forward...

I am including a hilarious clip to help you get back to your happy place....

Zora and I LAUGH so hard at this! I need to practice rapping this summer!

Now, on to what everyone wants to know.  This is the tentative list of teacher assignments for the 2014-2015 school year.

3rd Grade

Hayes

Johnson

Parker

Skulsky

4th Grade

Callanan

Dunkins

Licary

5th Grade

Cowan

Lee

Manship 

Moore

If you have questions about why I moved some, please feel free to ask me.  I have spoken to all involved in moves and they are OK...I promise!

I do need to know if you want to stay in your own room or move to another location.  Currently, I am planning on having planning rooms for each grade level and placing all teacher desks in those rooms and giving each department money to decorate and furnish as you wish (that is if PTO approves this) and these rooms are where you'll be when students are not in their rooms.  The classrooms will be a place where students decorate and own.  You will be treated as the professional you should be with shared office space.  I will have EC, ESL, enhancement, etc. spread among those rooms as well.

So, please let me know your wishes by completing the form linked below (only for classroom teachers).  I WILL ENCOURAGE YOU NOT TO MOVE BECAUSE WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT NEXT YEAR HOLDS!!!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1anAtf-GOp1MgcqhkadjvZsG86GayyFYmqgsW0JFu5RU/viewform?usp=send_form

Please do not plan to begin working on your room until after July 21st.  More information on an exact date will be sent later.

Please take time for you this summer and remember to READ...READ...READ!

Angela

By the way...

Please put the following dates on your calendar.

• July 23-25: Leadership Team Summit at CU (only for staff who've signed up to participate)
• August 15: Optional Teacher Workday
• August 18: Mandatory Teacher Workday/ Convocation in AM
• August 19: Home Visits
• August 20: Reading Workshop PD at EES (Mandatory for all certified instructional staff)
• August 21: Open House
• August 22: Learning Focused Day #3 at AES for Staff Who've Attended Day 1 and 2 in June (Excluding Early Adopters)
• August 25: FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL :)

Speak Life!

And the count down begins!  On Thursday, June 12 at 12:30 PM we will complete the 2013-2014 school year!  And, wow...what a year it has been!  I want to extend a HUGE thank you to each of you for not getting distracted by all of the noise and commotion and staying focused on on our students.  Although they don't express it often, for many of them we are their safe harbor.  A place where they can go and know that they are loved, appreciated, and will be kept safe.

For the next eight weeks some of our babies will be without the"comforts" our school brings to them.  We can keep that feeling going though by encouraging our students these last four days and being fully attuned to them and their feelings.  Be present (and I don't mean attendance wise).   Listen to your students and try to impart wisdom these last days.  As Maya Angelou says, "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”   What an awesome gift we can give the young ones we've been given the honor of working with for 10 months.  One of my favorite teachers EVER is Ms. Brenda Peregoy at Triton High School.  She teaches French and was the Newspaper Sponsor.  Anyone who talks to me for a few minutes can imagine how I massacred French in her class and how outspoken I could been in our newspaper class.  I can't remember many of the French terms she taught me (sorry Ms. Peregoy!).  But you do know what I remember?  How she made me feel like I was the smartest, prettiest, most important student she ever taught!  Since I left her classroom, there has been many times where I did not feel smart, pretty, or important.  But one reason why I won't give up or give in is because I feel I would be letting her down.  Now that was 19 years ago...I can't believe that!

Leave that type of legacy.  You do not have to be a classroom teacher.  Everyone in our building as the responsibility to make a child's life better...why not do it now so you will not have to live with regret when you read in the paper about another young person who makes an unwise decision.  Maybe you could have spoken something into that child's life that made them think twice before doing something unwise!

Say something positive NOW!

Have a wonderful week and THANK YOU...THANK YOU... THANK YOU!!!!

Angela

Week of June 9-13, 2014
MONDAY

• No enhancements
• COL Events
• No After school Meeting
• Trail Mix On Sale :)

TUESDAY

• Field Day
• No enhancements

WEDNESDAY

• No enhancements
• 5th Grade Celebration at 1:30 (3rd and 4th can attend if they want)

THURSDAY

• No enhancement
• Fun Time Outside for Students Who Do Not Owe Any Money or Books
• Dismissal at 12:30 (all staff at either bus or carpool duty for summer sendoff)
• Staff can leave at 1:00 if they have comp time

FRIDAY

• End of Year Cookout at Lunch
• Bridal Shower for Ms. Lopes at Lunch

Building will be open, if their is interest, on Saturday or Sunday.  You will need to sign up on Google Doc (to be sent later on this week) to help guide me in if or when to open building.

What Are The Students Worth?

If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.

Desmond Tutu

Although we have nine days left this school year, I am already moving forward to the 2014-2015 school year.  I know that this seems silly but I have always believed that you must have a plan to be successful.  I have had a plan since the first day I entered ECU in August of 1997.  I have achieved all of the major goals I had for myself except 2.5:)

Graduate from ECU in Spring of 2001   Check

 Join Peace Corp and got to Africa           Not Checked YET

Teach in for at least 4 years in NC and teach at least two of those years in Harnett County  Check

Get Married     Check

Have on child and adopt one child    Check and 1/2

Get the Principal Fellows Scholarship      Check

Become a Principal                            Check

Open my own school                  Check

I am not listing my goals to brag.  I am listing my goals because I believe that life is too short to live it apathetically.  You have to know what's right and what's wrong.  You have to stand up against things that you do not believe in.  My high school government teacher helped instill in me that I am not "unimportant" and my beliefs are to be respected just as everyone's should be.  With that being said... "Where is your life headed and what do you believe in so passionately that you actually have an educated opinion about?"

Are you a follower?  Are you someone who just lets life happen or do you make things happen?

I know that some say they are TOO busy living their lives, raising their children, paying bills...that they do not have time to speak out against the injustices in the world. 

That's a bunch of bull! The real reason why they do not speak out is because: (1) they are uneducated about the situation, (2) they are apathetic, or (3) they are afraid.  

I will leave you with one of the BEST quotes ever...

“First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—

because I was not a communist;

Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—

because I was not a socialist;

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—

because I was not a trade unionist;

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—

because I was not a Jew;

Then they came for me—

and there was no one left to speak out for me.” 

― Martin Niemöller

You were not made to be like everyone else...you were made to stand out.  Stand out and stand up for what's right.  It's not a political thing...it's a human right thing.  We all know that ALL of our student deserve a high quality education and we know that for most of our students...we are the only option.  Please read about some of these decisions made in Raleigh and form an opinion and work towards ensuring a successful future for all of our kids (I will email you the proposed budget and an article on some issues).

I challenge you! Educators must be not only character role models but also role models for how students must challenge the status quo the right way!

“If I look at the mass I will never act.” ― Mother Teresa

June 2-6, 2014

*Enhancement Schedule will be as normal; No technology/ media but Mrs. Hill will do activity with students during that time (more info to follow)

Monday, June 2

• 5th grade planning (use time to complete testing letters)
• 3rd and 4th PLC ((use time to complete testing letters)
• PBL Lessons Begin
• Makeup Testing (3 Settings and Locations will be announced)
• Hold EC Students and teachers will call for them
• Testing Letters Home (make sure you share test results with students as well)
• Quick Meeting After school (Less than 15 minutes)

Tuesday, June 3

• 5th Grade Science Testing
• 5th Grade PLC in PM 
• 3rd Grade Planning in AM
• Rising 3rd Grader Open House 5:30-7:00 PM

Wednesday, June 4

• Begin Summer Reading Check-out (more details to follow)
• Practice for Dance Off After School from 3:30-4:15 (will ask for volunteers for one special scene at Monday's Meeting)

Thursday, June 5

• Keep Calm & Camp On Event (more info to follow)
• RtA Test
• Principal Dance Off at CEMS 6:30-7:30

Friday, June 6

• IXL/ AR Field Trip Leaves at 7:00 AM
• No Enhancement PLC
• Craft Night at Licary's House at 7 PM (Bring your favorite beverage and snack/ cost for your craft will be in your box by Tuesday)

School will be open Sunday afternoon. Exact times will be posted later this week!