2017-2018 is almost a wrap...

We have made it! The 2017-2018 school year is a wrap and if you are still getting these weekly blogs in your email that means you honored the commitment you took way back in August and stuck through the HARD, UGLY, STRESSFUL and DIFFICULT to give our students our best.  They truly deserve it even if students (or their families) do not believe they do.

I am going to make this short...although I know Mr. Thomas does not believe I can do that!

So here goes (this is my version of free style rap- watch out Jay-Z)...


Dear TCEA Staff:

Another year has come and gone.

We made some memories and had some fun.

But what we accomplished was more than laughter and smiles.

We encouraged students and peers and pushed them to go more miles.

More miles of learning and innovation and imagination and trials;

We modeled for them that their worth is more than what the reports say in their files.

Although our reasons for being at TCEA might vary

There are a few things we all carry

We carry the heaviness of filling in all the gaps that students have (whether emotional, physical, educational, etc.)

We are their education salve.

I know that I have high expectations for each one of you

and that at times this makes you want to establish a coup.

But know that I truly believe in each staff member at our school

and I know that each of you have the needed tools

to better our community, our nation and the world

and end the chaos and the whirl.

We can do this one student at a time

by preparing them to walk out their destiny in their prime.


So THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

Thank you for your sacrifice, support, time, and energy!!! I promise all of this DOES pay off!

Hope you are enjoying your weekend and see everyone Monday!                  Angela

Week of Monday, June 11- Friday, June 15

Monday, June 11

• Hill continues Summatives. I will come to your space to complete.
• Check out for EOY begins.  Please be patient and I will be at school from 7:30 AM- 4:00 PM to check you out. I can be pulled out of MTSS but not summatives so please be patient with me.
• Please turn in all left over report cards to the box labeled report cards in office AND make sure you Dojo parents to pick them up before June 30.  Let them know that they can pick up Monday and Tuesday, of this week, from 8:00-3:00 and then our summer hours begin and they can pick up 8-noon Monday-Thursday.
• MTSS EOY Meeting from 1 PM- until (have scheduled until 3 but feel we can finish early)
• Luncheon in Cafe at noon! Don't forget to bring a 2 litter drink or dessert😋
• Hope to have final numbers and salary for summer school staff (please hold on...I plan to confirm Sunday and share out Monday)

Tuesday, June 12

• Kindergarten Screening 8 AM- 3 PM (I will be helping with this but will be set up in lobby and can check you out between parents)

Wednesday, June 13

• Hill, Trojan, Thomas and Salisbury at school 8 AM- Noon

Thursday, June 14

• Summer School/ Reading Camp Begins 9-1
• Summer Hours for Hill, Trojan and Salisbury

Friday, June 15

• Summer School/ Reading Camp Continues
• Last Day to check out for 2017-2018

F.A.T Principle

This weekend I am typing this blog from North Myrtle Beach.  Yes...the beach.  Now before you get all JELLY please know that I have been at a Leadership Retreat so yes...there was time for napping on the beach (under a rented umbrella- which a few years ago I would have never done but as I age I realize old folk can sleep anywhere and people get it) but also I have been in sessions being called out and having my toes stepped on as well as having confirmation moments that I am doing some things right as a leader.  This is a church leadership retreat because I am a member of our Women Ministry's Executive Leadership Team but the principles being shared and discussed can and are used in my daily journey as a school principle.  I have always believed this but our speaker reminded all of that we should have the same persona at work as we do at church and at home and if they disconnect then we can not lead anyone...Authenticity is truly needed to build trust and move organizations forward.

As I shared earlier I learned a ton but my favorite concept learned was the F.A.T principle.  To be a good leader, you must be Faithful, Accountable and Teachable.

Faithful: loyal, constant, and steadfast.

Accountable: (of a person, organization, or institution) required or expected to justify actions or decisions; responsible.

Trainable: capable of being trained.

Seems like a simple concept but as we reviewed this concept I thought about how, at times, I can be lacking in certain areas.  

The whole I idea is that is you want to grow an organization to its capacity you must have members that have these qualities. Not just the leaders of an organization but each member of the team needs to have these qualities.

As leaders in your classrooms or departments which of these areas really come easy to you?  Which do you need to pay more attention to and give yourself "attitude checks" on the easy and/or hard days?

I truly believe that this concept is what has helped us get to where we are and by adding more staff members that are F.A.T we can go no where but forward.

I hope all of you have enjoyed your weekend and I will see everyone tomorrow for our last formal week of the 2018-2019 school year!                                     -Angela

Week of Monday, June 4- Friday, June 8

Monday, June 4

• EOY Checklist will be in your box by noon 
• EOG Make Up Testing (please see Mr. Thomas's email for details)
• Summatives Continue (please have PDPs completed and have reviewed the summative before we meet in YOUR room now that testing is over)
• 5th Grade Planning at 12:50
• Middle School Film Screening (Part I) in Theater at 2 PM
• EOY Checklist Q&A/ EOG Score Distribution at 3:30- 3:45 in Lobby

Tuesday, June 5

• Summatives Continue (please have PDPs completed and have reviewed the summative before we meet in YOUR room now that testing is over)
• EOG Make Up Testing (please see Mr. Thomas's email for details)
• 1st Grade to Library at 9:45 AM
• 3rd Grade Planning at 10:10 AM
• Middle School Film Screening (Part II) in Theater at 2 PM
• Step Screening in Theater at 3:30 PM
• FEO Mtg at 6 PM

Wednesday, June 6

• Retention Decision will be made by Hill and communicated to teachers via email
• Grades due to Joe by 8 AM (No EXCEPTIONS)
• RTA Testing (please see Mr. Thomas's email for details)
• Hill at appointment 10-11
• 4th Grade Planning at 12:50
• Summatives Continue (please have PDPs completed and have reviewed the summative before we meet in YOUR room now that testing is over)

Thursday, June 7

• Summatives Continue (please have PDPs completed and have reviewed the summative before we meet in YOUR room now that testing is over)
• Kindergarten Planning at 8:00
• Arts PLC at 11:30 AM
• 8th Grade Promotion in Theater 1:30-2:15
• 8th Grade Ice Cream Social at 2:15 in Cafe'
• 4th Grade Awards Day 2-3 PM in their rooms
• Dance Recital in Theater @ 5 PM

Friday, June 8

• Last Day of School: Please make sure you send report cards home with students
• Summatives Continue (please have PDPs completed and have reviewed the summative before we meet in YOUR room now that testing is over)
• First Grade Planning at 9:05

Reminders

• Please remember that Monday, June 11 is a MANDATORY Workday and Tuesday, June 12 is an OPTIONAL Workday for all staff
• Please make sure you plan your time to be finish with the EOY Checklist by Friday, June 15th
• I will send out a blog next weekend with details on workdays and our upcoming A+ Training.

🦎👏Chameleon Clap🦎👏

A HUGE SHOUT OUT to Mr. Thomas and his testing team for making our testing session go as smooth as it could be.  I remember serving as a test administrator for four years and how much easier it was IF staff read their reminders and followed my directions so...

A BIG Chameleon Clap to all who followed the directions and read/reread your reminders and emails! You make the dream work!

Thank you to all for being flexible last week and helping out when and where you were needed.

Thought for the week...