The Next 45 Days...

We've worked so hard this year.  Think of the sacrifices you've made to ensure that your students have had the best of you.  The things you said NO to and more importantly the things you said YES to you have made your year the year it has been.  When our students are assessed the last week in May, lets make sure it is the best and most accurate picture of the educational environment at our site.

I will be talking to all of you about what you're going to do these last nine weeks to ensure that our students are able to truly demonstrate their learning in May.  Please start thinking about what changes, you and your team, will need to be made to keep the focus on learning and help prevent the "stress" that comes when students and staff feel that the test will not reflect what's really going on.  If you are in need of resources to "twerk" instruction, please schedule a meeting with me.

Have an awesome week!
Angela

Week of March 16-20, 2015

Monday, March 16

• Hill at Principal Council Mtg at 9 AM
• Morning Meeting
• Sign up for Business Expo on Bar*

Tuesday, March 17

• 3rd and 4th PLCs
• BOB Competition at THS! GO EES!
• Faculty Summit at 3:30 in Media Center

Wednesday, March 18

• 5th PLC

Thursday, March 19

• Erwin Business Expo 11:30-5:30 (need staff to volunteer to man the table)
• Backus gone to NCPAPA Conference
• Practice for HOB at THS
• Hill at THS Attendance Area Principal Mtg at CEMS 1-2:30
• Hill on Webinar for BB&T 3-5 PM

Friday, March 20

• Backus gone to NCPAPA Conference
• Career Day 8:00-11:30
• HOB Practice at EES

Saturday our team will be participating in Science Olympiad Competition at Four Oaks Elementary! Good luck :)

Listen First To Understand

This is going to be short and sweet.  Currently, I am at The Cover- Billy Graham Training Center in Asheville for our church's marriage retreat.  It had been a wonderful weekend and I've learned a lot.  Two pieces of information I feel transcends marriage training and relates easily with those we spend the most time with between Monday and Friday...our co-workers.

1. Listen first to understand: We spend so much time listening to people but manyt times we are waiting to find an in to share our thoughts/ideas.  What if we just actively listened and kept our mouths shut and then responded about what they said not how we feel about what they said?  I believe we'd have such stronger relationships if we exercised this among each other and out students.
2. We also discussed that when you believe the grass is greener somewhere else, it's time to water your own grass. Many times people believe that there's something BETTER out there and there usually isn't.  In marriages, many times people leave their spouse because of a problem that makes up 20% of their problems but they connect on 80%.  They find someone who can meet that 20% that their previous spouse couldn't but they can't replace the 80% and now your worst off than before.  Let's not even look at marriages but relationships with friends and situations we find our selves in.  I can honestly say OUCH to this truth so I will stop here.

As we end our school year, please make sure you share any ideas with me and/or your school improvement team representatives on what and where you want to be next year by April 14th.  That is the date our next SIT mtg and I would like to begin discussing plans for next year.  And I promise to actively listen to any request you have as well as those of the SIT.  I also plan on being at EES next year. (I didn't get in to either graduate program...sad but am coming to grips with the fact that it is not my job to fill in the blanks...it's HIS job.) Although this was not my plan, it is was is planned for me and I am already thinking of ways to "tweark" what we do to take it to a whole 'nother level!

See you Monday and I hope you have a Sensational Sunday in the Sun!

Angela

Porch View Outside Of Training Center

Week of March 9-13, 2015
A WeekMonday, March 9

• Peer Mediation Training in Media Center at 3:30

• Hill at Planning Mtg at AES 10:30-12:30

• Wax Museum Practice in Gym at 2:00 PM

• Morning Meeting

Tuesday, March 10

• BOB Competition at EES (Go team!)
• Hill at NCDPI Mtg in Fayetteville (8:00-4:00)
• 3rd and 4th PLCs
• Wax Museum/ State of Erwin Mtg (6:30-8:00) all certified staff needs to attend*
•  Problem Solving Mtg (I'm moving Faculty Summit to 3/17, Committee Mtg. 3/24, and PD on 3/31... please put on calendar)

Wednesday, March 11

• Hill out at BB&T Leadership Training (can't be reached via email between 9 AM-9 PM)
• 5th Grade PLC
• 5th Grade Health Dept. Presentations

Thursday, March 12

•  Hill out at BB&T Leadership Training (can't be reached via email between 9 AM-9 PM)
• Spring Pictures
• Problem Solving Mtg. at 3:30

Friday, March 13

• Jeans for A Cause
• Hill out at BB&T Leadership Training (can't be reached via email between 9 AM-5 PM)

As always, if you see something incorrect or needs to be changed, please let me know.  

*Although we, staff, were allowed to come in late for 3 Fridays, financially the district wants staff to make that time up.  I know many of you make that time up with no problem.  Tuesday night is one opportunity so please make sure you sign in in the office to document your time.  If you have any questions, please see anyone in the office.

PROOF...Continuous Improvement

This year I wanted to focus on PROOF.  I wanted us to keep our eyes on the prize (student proficiency and growth) while having documentation to support our improved instructional practices. I feel that we have dropped the ball and the idea of having proof is too hard and too much work.  But is increasing proficiency and providing our students the best education possible too much work or too hard?

I know that I ask a lot from you if you work alongside of me but please know that I also ask a lot of myself and many times I feel I've dropped the ball regarding my own decrees I've placed on myself.  It would just be easier if I ignored the fact that I am not doing what I said I would do way back in September and continue to move forward but that would be putting our students needs above my own and as we took the vow in August..."I will get over myself":

So, here goes! I will need each homeroom teacher to bring the following information with you to PLC (5th grade please bring next week but submit reading level info to Gay, Hill, and Backus by Wednesday):

• Conferencing PROOF
• Reading Level PROOF
• A list of students at risk of not being Proficient at the end of year (use data and teacher knowledge)/ highlight students on the bubble (could be proficient/could not...just depends on the day)
• A Guided Reading Plan for one group you'll do this week
• LF math lesson plan currently teaching

No one should have to do extra work and please do not create something for this activity.  I am providing this list of things needed at PLC but you should have all of this information available because it guides instruction.

I continue to fear that we are all falling back into our old ways and you know what they say...if you do what you always do, you'll get what you always get and to think differently is insanity.

If you have any questions, please see me.

March 2-6, 2015

Read Across America Week

Monday, March 2, 2015

Magical/ Sci-Fiction Monday

• Monday Morning Meeting
• Hill at Chamber Mtg 12-1

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Homeroom Color Challenge (3rd Green, 4th Yellow, and 5th Orange)

• 3rd grade and 5th grade PLCs
• SIT Mtg at 3:30 in Media Center

Wednesday,March 4, 2015

Superhero Day

• World Read Aloud Day (we will have a guest reader every hour that will begin reading a tumble book aloud online.  Each teacher with students will need to have the book pulled up and displayed on their Smart Board; after the mystery reader reads the book, you will need to continue the book.  I will email you a link to the books Tuesday AM. If you need to know how to operate your board to do this or need help, you will need to contact Mrs. Gaines MONDAY to schedule help session)  This needs to be done throughout the building except for cafeteria.
• 5th grade teachers at training
• Spelling Bee at CU at 9 AM

Thursday, March 5

Start a Spark: Spreading Random Acts of Kindness Day

• Hill at Principals' Mtg
• Coaching Collaborative Mtg in Conference Room 3:30-4:30
• Hill in Webinar from 3:00-5:00
• Mentor/ Mentee Mtg at 3:30

Friday, March 6

Quote Day

• Hill out all day
• Jeans for A Cause (Money due to Mrs. Tutor by noon)

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.