Reflect

Here are a few resources to help end the year well for you as well as your students:

For You

For Your Students

Thinking Forward to Next Year

I hope you are enjoying your weekend and see everyone Tuesday!

- Angela 

🦎👏 Chameleon Claps 🦎👏

Thanks to Ms. Payton, Mr. Kline, Ms. Norris, Mrs. Brownlee and Mr. Haslem for helping surprise Mrs. Samuelson last week and for giving up your valuable arts time.  Also, for helping during a stressful week for you guys with Arts Nights. I appreciate all you guys do.

Thanks to ALL of the staff members that came together to help lunch move as smoothly as possible during what I would like to call the Epic Lunch Calamity of 2018! I am going to start naming people now but please do not get mad if I miss your name...just remind me and let me know and I'll correct.  Thank you Mrs. Majka, Mrs. Honeycutt, Ms. Marshall, and Joe for all of the work you did to make the change over from 1st Lunch to 2nd Lunch and then 2nd Lunch to 3rd Lunch.  Thank you to Mr. Falls, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Kline, and Joe again for turning over lunch after 3rd.  I am sure I am missing some so please fill in your name HERE: ___________________!

Also a BIG THANK YOU to all who gave me hugs, smiles, laughs, candy/soda, etc. to keep me moving forward Friday.  I want to say Friday was one of the worst days for me at TCEA but it quickly helped me see the GOLD I have in my staff.  Hate that it took a rough day to remind me how blessed I am but I guess that's how HE works.

FINALLY, Thank you to Ms. Covington for implementing the First Ever Vocabulary Bee.  This is something she dreamed up earlier this year and I am exited to see where this early tradition goes. Thank you!

Thanks team TCEA and I appreciate all that you do!

Week of Monday, May 28- Friday, June 1

Monday, May 28

• No School! Memorial Day

Tuesday, May 29

• Staff can wear Jean all week
• K-2 Survey Push by Ms. Lanham /Ms. Pond/Ms. Hill
• Each of the staff members listed above will come to your room between 8AM and 11AM to complete a paper/pencil student climate survey; Teachers, when they arrive at your room please step out for 10 minutes while they administer this survey
• 3rd-8th Grade Survey Push by Mr. Falls and Ms. Covington
• Each of the staff members listed above will come to your room between 8AM and 11AM to take your students down to the Cafe' to complete the online climate survey; Teachers, when they arrive at your room please help escort your students down to the Cafe' and then be back to pick them up in 10 minutes
• 1st Grade to Library 9:45-11:00
• 3rd Grade Planning 10:10-11:10
• EOG Pep Rally at 2 PM
• Email from Mr. Thomas: We will have our EOG Pep Rally on Tuesday, May 29, 2018 at 2:00 pm. We will starting calling students 3rd-8th to come to the theater at around 1:50 pm. Performers will be call around 1:45. Teachers if you have art electives around that time please come at 1:40 to pick your students up. K-2 you will view the pep rally from your classroom using Facebook live. If you have any questions please let me know. 
• EOG Last Minute Reminders in the Commons Area at 3:20 PM-3:30 PM.

Wednesday, May 30

• Staff and Students can DRESS DOWN (Spirit Wear)
• Math EOG
• Announcement will be made when we can resume the Arts Schedule.  We will rotate our subs through the classrooms that do not get a planning to allow all staff a break. Please be flexible and patient.

Thursday, May 31

• Reading EOG
• Staff and Students can DRESS DOWN (Spirit Wear)
• Announcement will be made when we can resume the Arts Schedule.  We will rotate our subs through the classrooms that do not get a planning to allow all staff a break. Please be flexible and patient.

Friday, June 1

• Science EOG (5th and 8th Grades)
• Chameleon Children's Theater Performance at 5 PM Peter Pan
• Free fort TCEA students and staff members; $5 at the door for everyone else
• Staff and Students can DRESS DOWN (Spirit Wear)
• Ms. McLaughlin's Class: Her class will take a “nature walk” and visit the park near the library on June 1. They will return before lunch.
• Friday Folders Will Go Home
• Mrs. Trojan leave at 2 PM
• Hill leaves at 3:15 PM

Reminders

• Please make sure you go through the Peer Observation Form. Please make sure you have GREEN CHECKS on the Peer Observation Tab for the following areas:
• Formal Observation Peer
• Post-Observation Conference Peer
• Post-Observation Conference Teacher Acknowledgement Peer 
• If you do not it prevents me from doing your summative and you can not close out for the year until this is complete.

• You need to have your EOY PD finished to discuss during the summative as well.
• If you are going to have an EOY Event, the last week of school, please send me an email so the office can have on the radar.  Parents call the front desk asking questions and we want to be well informed.

The days are long, but the years are short.

We are so close to the end.  I love the image below because I think it definitely sums up how educators feel this time of year...

And all of us definitely have a reason to be tired. While we're stressed and tired and feel like everything on our "to do lists" will not get done, we must remember one thing: Our kids still deserve grace and mercy this time of year. Yes, they should know better.  Yes, this is the 100th time that you've had to tell them to stop licking their friend.  It can be frustrating and make you want to scream but also...they are children and if they had it all together they would not need us. 

I ask you to please practice the wise words of Otis Redding and "Try a little tenderness" these next 15 days with the students and even your co-workers. This too shall pass and we'll be talking about how much we miss those students and wondering how they are doing in high school (shout out to our middle grades teachers).

If you need a motivating video to start off your week or "pump you up" mid week, check out the video below.

Hope everyone enjoyed your weekend and I look forward to seeing you tomorrow!

- Angela

Week of Monday, May 21- Friday, May 25, 2018

GEEK WEEK: Staff is encouraged to participate all days if they'd like to!

Monday, May 21

• Put on your thinking cap! (Hat Day)
• 1st Grade iReady Math Assessment
• 5th Grade Planning at 12:50
• Large Group SIT Meeting at 3:30 in the Theater
• TCEA Board Mtg at 5:15 in Samuelson's Studio

Tuesday, May 22

• We’ve had a successful year! (Dress to impress)
• 1st Grade iReady ELA Assessment
• Hill out 8 AM- 11 AM
• 3rd Grade Planning at 10:10
• 1st Grade to Library 9:45-11:00
• A+ Staff Visit to TCEA 2 PM-3 PM
• Trimester 3 Middle School Electives Performance 6 PM-8 PM (Music, STEAM and VA)

Wednesday, May 23

• No PLCs ( please use time to finalize EOY PDP)
• Mrs. Samuelson Day (Wear Carolina Blue or dress like her)
• Kindergarten iReady Math Assessment
• 4th Grade Planning at 12:50 PM
• Woodman of the World Flag Presentation at 2 PM in Lobby. Please be seated and ready for the presentation by 2 PM.
• Beginning Teacher Meeting at 3:30 PM in Mrs. Samuelson's Studio

Thursday, May 24

• Leave it on the FIELD! (Field Day); staff and students dress down for Field Day
• Please review the Field Day Schedule shared by Mr. Thomas for details for this day.
• No Arts on this day!
• No PLCs ( please use time to finalize EOY PDP)
• Trimester 3 Middle School Electives Performance 6 PM- 8 PM (Dance and Theater)

Friday, May 25

• We’re going to ROCK this Test! (Dress like your favorite music artist)
• Kindergarten iReady ELA
• K Planning 8-9
• 1st Grade Planning 9:05-10:05
• Admin Meeting 9-10
• Middle School Vocabulary Bee 1 PM- 2 PM
• 3rd-5th Grades Vocabulary Bee 2 PM- 3 PM

Monday, May 28

• No School!

We Win When They Win

On Wednesday, May 16th, thousands of educators will convene in downtown Raleigh to get the

attention of the General Assembly.  Some say that the teachers are just mad that they aren't getting paid enough and that they should have known what they were getting in to when they became teachers.  Some say they should be in the classroom on 5/16 because students are being neglected from a quality education that day AND that is why they became teachers...to teach kids.  Then others say "Hey, you get your summers off. What else do you want?"

This rhetoric is frustrating and causes educators to get angrier and angrier and has actually caused good teachers to walk away from education.  It has also cause normal functioning people to act recklessly and post inappropriate responses to others on social media and shout inappropriate and unbecoming chants at previous rallies (I have participated in about 4 since becoming an educator).

The solution to all of this? I believe it is as simple as remembering that if one group wins, it does not mean that the other group loses.  It just means that their win might be delayed. Let me explain.

Recently, state workers (not educators) stated that they did not believe teachers should get a raise because they have been getting more frequent raises then they have been.  The same can be said about the struggle between traditional public schools and charter schools.  Charter schools are "stealing our students and funding" so they are all bad.  We know this is not true but this is their reality.  Our schools, traditional and charter, could be so much stronger if we could work together and see each other as partners.  When one group wins (more funding in charter schools), the other can win (the additional funds makes it easier to collaborate and share ideas across schools and gives educators and parents options when selecting schools).  

As y'all know, I ran for HC School Board and lost by 82 votes.  I am disappointed because I know I would have been an awesome addition to the board. But what I am most disappointed in is the way my party handled me and the other candidate.  It seemed from the onset that I was not the best candidate because I worked in a charter school. A public charter school that is showing growth with students and has a mission to build disciplined artists that are able to positively impact the world. But the focused stayed on me being at a charter school and of course, they aren't part of the fabric of my party.

When our focus is not on the problem but on who wins and who will lose we can not solve the problem.

This is why I support the educators marching on Wednesday. Although their fight does not affect by pay or my school, it DOES affect the students of NC and my peers across the state who fight the good fight each day. I encourage each of you to STAND UP with our fellow educators to fight for the teachers and students in our state by wearing RED on Wednesday.

I hope everyone has had a relaxing weekend and I look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow.

And to all the mothers..."Happy Mother's Day"!                             - Angela

To read about our Instructional Focuses for the coming two weeks, click HERE!

Week of Monday, May 14-Friday, May 18, 2018

Monday, May 14

• Future Chameleon Open House: Lower Elementary 12:30-2:30
• 5th Grade Planning 12:50-1:50
• Small Group SIT Mtg 3:30-4:00

Tuesday, May 15

• 3rd, 4th, 5th Reflections on Rolling Basis from 8-9
• 8:00-8:20- 3rd Grade
• Weir- Carr
• DeNoble- Akers
• 8:20-8:40- 4th Grade
• Majka- Carr
• McLaughlin- Akers
• 8:40-9:00- 5th Grade
• Fleming-Falls
• Samuelson- Carr
• Ezell- Akers
• 1st Grade to Library 9:45-11:00
• 3rd Grade Planning at 10:10
• Future Chameleon Open House: Upper Elementary 12:30-2:30

Wednesday, May 16

• #redfored Day: You can wear jeans on Wednesday if you wear a red shirt. Special Snacks will be served during EOG Training that day and we'll take a group picture at 3:20.
• PLCs (SST Focus; Please bring data)
• Kindergarten: 8-9
• 1st Grade: 9:05-10:05
• 2nd Grade: 10:10-11:10
• 4th and 5th Grades: 12:50-1:50
• Middle Grades: 12:55-1:55
• Spring Break Reward Picnics, during their lunch periods, for students who completed the challenge in April; A list of students participating will be share on Tuesday and their parents will have dojo sent to remind them.
• 4th Grade to Library 10-11
• EOG Training 3:30-4:30

Thursday, May 17

• 2nd Grade Math i-Ready
• Kindergarten Planning at 8:00
• UNC-P Visit 8:30-11:00
• PLCs (SST Focus; Please bring data)
• 3rd Grade: 10:10-11:10
• 2nd Grade Planning at 10:10
• Arts PLC 11:30-12:30

Friday, May 18

• 2nd Grade ELA i-Ready
• Kindergarten Planning 8-9
• Hill covers Honeycutt
• 1st Grade Planning at 9:05-10:05
• Admin Mtg at 9-10
• Samuelson to library 9:00
• Russ (Middle School) - Library Visit 9:15-12:00
• Ezell to libray at 9:45
• Fleming to library at 11:00
• 2nd grade - Library Visit at 1:00 PM

Reminders

• Final observations for the year should be done by end of week; please begin working on EOY PDP because we will discuss at your summative. Summatives will be scheduled for an hour and will fall between 5/21 and 6/4.

Thank You! Gracias! Merci beaucoup! Asante! Arigatou!

When I began teaching way back in 2001, I had one HUGE fear.  What if I didn't teach my kindergarten students everything I needed to?  I mean, kindergarten is the foundation that all future learning builds upon.  If they hated reading after leaving me and going to first grade, they would live with this feeling for the rest of their lives.  17 years later that fear has dulled a bit because I have worked with hundreds of kids as a teacher, assistant principal and principal and made many mistakes and you know what? The kids bounce back from them and most of the time can not remember that mistake I made at the board or the day I made a student cry because I corrected them in front of their peers instead of quietly in the hall.  What my kids remember most are the fun things we did to learn vocabulary words (dress as your word Fashion Shows) or the journal writing project for two student experiencing the sibling jealousy that comes with a new baby at home. Students remember how we make them feel and how we encourage them to dream big and learn more about things they might not know much about.

This job is demanding and stressful and challenging and thankless but the profit of all we do is GREAT!  Each year teachers across the US are shown a week of appreciation and although you deserve more than a week, I hope you take the time to reflect on all the great things you've done this year and previous years for your students!

You are appreciated!

You are important!

You are valued!

You are needed!

I hope you enjoy the gifts, kind words, and hugs you receive this week.  The administrative team has a wonderful gift headed your way this week that we hope you enjoy! I am sure the FEO has something amazing planned as well.

My gift to you is Jeans All Week (May 7-11)!

The only assignment for you, in this week's blog, is to complete these forms below by Wednesday, May 9th. 1 is mandatory for all instructional staff members and the other two are optional for all BUT really need your feedback and ideas.

Summer Reading List for TCEA Optional

Theme for 2018-2019 Optional

TLaC Homework Mandatory for all Instructional Staff

Week of Monday, May 7- Friday, May 11

Teacher Appreciation Week

Monday, May 7

• EVAAS EC PLC in PLC Room at 11:30; Please bring your rosters and schedule of services for each student you serve in Math and ELA

Tuesday, May 8

• 8-9: Arts Integration Team Mtg (Focus: EOY Survey)
• 8:00-8:20: Kindergarten
• Caudle- Falls
• Williams- Pond
• T. Johnson- Strimel
• 8:20-8:40: 1st Grade
• E. Johnson- Falls
• Person- Strimel
• Brown- Pond
• 8:40-9:00: 2nd Grade
• Cane- Pond
• Marshall- Strimel
• Magan/Poche- Falls
• Hill Out
• 1st Grade to Library 9:45-11:00

Wednesday, May 9

• NCDPI Beginning Teacher Audit in PLC Room 8:00 AM- 2:00 PM
• PLCs: Data and Intervention Location TBD
• 8-9 Kindergarten
• 9:05-10:05 1st Grade
• 10:10-11:10 2nd Grade
• 12:50-1:50 5th Grade
• 1:55-2:55 Middle Grades

Thursday, May 10

• Lanham is at conference in Chapel Hill
• PLCs: Data and Intervention Location TBD
• 3rd Grade 10:10-11:10
• 4th Grade 12:50-1:50
• Kindergarten Planning at 8:00
• 2nd Grade Planning at 10:10
• MTSS Working Lunch Mtg 11-12
• Arts PLC 11:30-12:30

Friday, May 11

• 4th Grade Field Trip to Marbles
• Kindergarten Planning at 8 AM
• 1st Grade Planning at 9 AM