Let Us Try This Again...

So, last week did not go as I planned.  How about for you? Anyway, let's try this again and hopefully all goes well.  I would definitely be fine if we saw no weather this week...unless it is all snow.  If the snow could come in Friday AM after we get to school and melt by Saturday afternoon then that would be even better. NO WORRIES! I have not heard anything about SNOW...just wishful thinking :)

Hope you've had an excellent weekend and can't wait to get back on a normal schedule. Sometimes the best things in life come after the "dark times".  Excited about what this week can bring after last week!!!


Angela

February 23-27, 2015 A Week

Monday, February 23rd

• Monday Morning Meeting
• PTO Board Mtg at 6:00 PM

Tuesday, February 24th

• 3rd and 4th PLC
• Redskin Pride Day in honor of BOB
• BOB Competition
• Committee Mtgs (sign up by noon on 2/23) and PD for Peer Observers (those involved in peer observations will be notified via email Monday 2/23 in the AM); training will last 30 minutes and will be Media Center

Wednesday, February 25th

• 5th grade PLC

Thursday, February 26th

Wax Museum/ State of Erwin has been rescheduled to 3/10. More information to go home Monday, 2/23

Friday, February 27th

• County Spelling Bee at CU! Good Luck Kaitlyn Gregory in Mrs. Dunkins' Room.

Please Put These Dates On Calendar

• Read Across America Week March 2-6
• County BOB March 3
• Read Aloud Day March 4
• Wax Museum & State of Erwin March 10
• Family Read In Night March 24 6:30-8:00 PM

The Purpose of Education

I am typing this post in a very different environment than I usually do.  I am currently in the BIG town of Bunn...not Dunn, I said Bunn, NC.  Bunn is home to one of my mother's sisters Ann.  We have made a day of delivering Girl Scout cookies and visiting family.  And it is one of the coldest days this year.  But it has also been one of the warmest days as well.  I love my family and being able to visit my brother and his family in Wake Forest, then travel to Louisburg (my mom's hometown) and visit with more family, and then have dinner in Bunn with my more family...well, lets just say that being with loved ones truly makes me check myself and my life.  You see...when you going through the motions of everyday life you sometimes forget to really live.  This "wake up" call was truly what I needed after the crazy week we all experienced last week.

This idea of needing a "wake up" to help align your life to your purpose in life is what we all need to think about when times get tough.  What do you believe the purpose of what we do is? Do you sacrifice your free time and money for the students in your classroom because you want students to pass a test in May?  No, of course not.  I believe that we all give of ourselves because we want all students to have a chance to succeed.  We want to leave behind a legacy that makes students remembers us with smiles on their faces and not with grimaces.  We want students to have what we have achieved in life but to a much higher level.

Whatever you need to do to have "wake up" moments...do it.  And when we experience CRAZY like we did this past week you might have to have more frequent "wake up" moments.  Here's a short "wake up" call...hope you enjoy!

Angela

Week of February 16-20, 2015 (B WEEK)

Monday, February 16

• Principal PLC Mtg at EES 8:15-10:15
• Monday Morning Meeting
• Honors Chorus Practice 2-3 PM
• BOB Practice (TBD)
• Committee Mtg Sign Up (Please sign sheet on bar in office if committee is meeting 2/17)
• Hill at County Office at 3:00 PM

Tuesday, February 17

• 3rd and 4th grades PLCs
• Committee Mtg. at 3:30

Wednesday, February 18

• 5th grade PLC
• BOB Competition (We really have NONE!!!!!)

Thursday, February 19

• Hill and Backus Admin Mtg in Hill's Office at 1 PM

Friday, February 20

Let's have the easiest Friday ever :)

How important is your big toe?

Inspiration can come from anywhere.  Just listen as your travel through out your day and you can pick up a new idea or here a comment that can spark something inside you and send you into a different trajectory.

That's what happened today at church.  I was trying to process everything that has occurred last week and that's when the pastor's example of what makes a church an "Alive Church" and it came to me.  The idea of having all types of people in a church to make it successful is the same concept I feel we need at Erwin Elementary School.  He used the example of our body parts and the need to have all of the parts to keep us moving.  In his example, he stated that what if our foot just decided that it was tired of carrying all of our weight around and wanted to take a break?  We could still get around but it would be much more difficult!  Then what if that other foot said "WAIT! You mean I can just stop if I am tired too?!? I am taking a vacation too and won't return until the other foot does."  You get the example...right?

We're so much better when we're all in...ALL TOGETHER :)

We can take that C grade and say " C U Later!  For the 2014-2015 School Year we'll be a B school" (I would say an A but you know what they say about being on top and I don't want to worry about people "gunning" for our position).

Let's all work together and make these last weeks of the school the Best yet!  Hope you enjoy this clip (disregard the union focus...just focus on the team work aspect)!

Angela

Week of February 9-13, 2015 (A Week)

Monday, February 9

• Last Day to Sign up for Plate Sale for Fonnie Godwin
• Make Up Access Testing Day
• Monday Morning Meeting
• Sign Up for Wax Museum Begins at 9 AM

Tuesday, February 10

• 3rd and 4th Grade PLCs
• EC Collaborative Mtg at EES (Lemon, Hill, Backus)
• EC Advisory Board Mtg at 3:30 @ Annex (Hill)
• Faculty Summit at 3:30

Wednesday, February 11

• 5th grade PLC

Thursday, February 12

• Grade Chair Mtg 11:30-1:30 (working on coverage)
• Problem Solving Mtg at 3:30 (Location TBD)

Friday, February 13

• 3rd Grade Planning Day
• Principal PLC Mtg at EES (AES, SHES, and WAES) at 8:15
• Relay for Life Dance at 3:15-5:00
• Plate Delivery around 11:15 AM

Why Should Families Feel It's A Win-Win To Send Their Student to erWIN?

On Thursday, February 5th the NC State State School Board will announce the "grade" for Erwin Elementary along with the grades for all other public schools in NC.  80% of our grade will be based on proficiency (48.1 %) and 20 % on growth.  I know that we all work hard to have an A+ school but sadly, that is not the grade we will see Thursday.  We have to ensure that we do not let the state tell us about our school's worth!  We know that a grade, based off of a few days of testing, is just one way we can share our story.  I want each of you to embrace the grade we are given on Thursday but also ensure that it does not define us!  We have a story to tell of all the great things happening at Erwin Elementary.  Think about all of the students we've seen "get it" after persisting and not giving up.  Think of the students we've had leave our site and continue to succeed at middle school and high school.  Please view the "how to" clip on creating an elevator speech before next week.  On Tuesday, February 10th, we will be working on elevator speeches to share with our community.  It is up to US to share our story!

Have an amazing week!

Monday, February 2

• Morning Meeting (led by Mrs. Lee's Class)
• Eye Screening (See newsletter for times)
• BOE Mtg at 6:30

Tuesday, February 3

• SIT Mtg in Media Center at 3:30
• Hill Mtg with Superintendent at 12:15
• PLC with 3rd and 4th (Will discuss Wax Museum)

Wednesday, February 4

• Hill out PM 
• 5th Grade PLC (will discuss Wax Museum with Mrs. Cowan for her to share during PLC)

Thursday, February 5

• Hill out (Principals Mtg and Superintendent Council Meeting)

Friday, February 6

• 3rd Grade Planning Day

Weekly Reminders

• No Technology
• W-APT Testing of ESL Students Tuesday- Friday (all day)
• Moore's Media/Guidance moved to Wednesday (replaces Technology)
• "B" Week

If I am missing something or I have something on the wrong day, please oh please, let me know.