I am so THANKFUL for all of you!

I am going to get really REAL right now!  Since being hired in July of this year, I have been STRESSED and have questioned if I should be at TCEA.  I mean seriously...this position has been a challenge and the crazy thing about it is that I really wanted this challenge.  Have you ever wanted something so badly, but once you got it you realized you might not be completely ready for the challenge?

So here I am and I am doing what I've always wanted to do and it's not easy.  Some days it's downright HARD but you know what???? I know that this is where I need to be. It's where I want to be.  And you are the people that I want to be taking on this challenge with.   And I am learning to appreciate all the challenging situations (carpool, poop on the floor, vomit, uninvited guests, pulled fire alarms, etc.) because they are giving me experiences that are making me a better principal. I am thankful for having the opportunity to work alongside you, making good things happen for other people!  What are you thankful for? Who are you thankful for?  Research shows that those that express gratitude feel better about their lives and are happier.  Take a moment to watch this clip below and they go out and thank someone for what they do or for influencing your life...what do you have to lose?

Week of November 16-20, 2015

Monday, November 16

• Bookfair Preview Day: Teacher preview time is 7:00-7:30 AM on Monday. If you have a moment, stop by and create a teacher wish list!(There will be muffins & coffee . . .) If you don't get to it the preview please make your wish list when you bring your class tomorrow.  Here is the schedule:

8:00-8:20 ~ Russell

8:20-8:40 ~ Lee

8:40-9:00 ~ Pearsall

9:00-9:20 ~ Jackson

9:20-9:40 ~ Vaughn

9:40-10:00 ~ Grunden

10:00-10:20 ~ Kyles

10:20-10:40 ~ Jones

10:40-11:00 ~Daniel

11:00-11:20 ~ Willis

11:20-11:40 ~ Griggs

11:40-12:00 ~ Falls

12:40-1:00 ~ Caldwell

1:00-1:20 ~ McLaughlin

*The book fair is happening in the theatre. Hence, ALL DRAMA CLASSES WILL BE TAKING PLACE IN CLASSROOMS THIS WEEK.

• 1st Grade PLC
• SIT Mtg at 3:30 at Coffee Cup
• Board Mtg at 5:00 in the Music Room

Tuesday, November 17

• Tuesday is Doughnuts with Dad & Granddads: dads & granddads can come into the book fair and get a doughnut as they browse books with their student(s).
• Arts PLC
• 5th/6th Grade PLC

Wednesday, November 18

• 3rd Grade PLC
• BT/ Mentor Mtg at 3:30 in Cafe

Thursday, November 19

• 2nd Grade PLC
• 4th Grade PLC
• Thursday is Muffins with Mom and Grandma: Thursday morning, moms and grandmas can come into the book fairand get a doughnut as they browse books with their student(s)

Friday, November 20

• Spirit Day
• K PLC

Reminders:

* Teacher Gratitude Week: Please complete google form ASAP (Favorite Things)

*Lunch Duty: Please check your weekly calendar to see if you're on duty and if you are...don't forget about the green stickers

*5x5: please check your spreadsheet to get feedback

* Submit PLC Agenda into PLC Folder before PLC and please allow 10 minutes on agenda for me

To improve, things have to be "tweaked" and improved.  All people agree with this fact and no one will argue about this being true.  The struggle comes when the "tweaking" and improving relates to people having to change what they're used to doing and/or if the change seems to involve more work.

This struggle is real and has happened to me many times in my life.  One area where I struggle and have fought improvement has been my health.  I know what to do and have done it twice (proof below) but I still feel like it's not going to happen again.  It takes work...it take perseverance...it means I have to make sacrifices and know that although every day won't be my best, small changes here and there can get me back to where I need to be.

I am sharing my personal struggle with being healthy to be transparent and let my "humanness" show.  I also wanted to share my struggle because there's another struggle that we are all a part of here at TCEA.  That is the struggle to create a mission and vision that guides all we do while still trying to find who "we" are.  A school in it's second year is still a baby but we have the adult responsibility of giving our best to the kids in our building.  That means we have to dig deep.  That means we have to admit mistakes and know that although we fail, at times, we need to dust ourselves off and move forward.  It means we celebrate what we do well and try to replicate it in every room in our building.  It means we have GRIT! 

Let's dig deep for our students and not become stagnate.  Let's challenge ourselves and model this vital skill of never settling for easy when better is available.

I hope you've had an awesome weekend and are ready for an AMAZING week!

Angela

Week of November 9-13, 2015

REMINDER: IS Survey from round 2 are DUE! Please make sure your complete the survey and submit.  This is not optional! 

Monday, November 9, 2015

• IS Planning 3:30-5:00

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

• Veterans Breakfast 7:30-7:50 in Lobby
• Veterans Visits to Classrooms
• Arts PLC
• 5th/6th PLC

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

• No School!- Veterans Day

Thursday, November 12, 2015

• 2nd Grade PLC
• 4th Grade PLC
• FEO Mtg at Sweet Palette at 3:30 (would love to have teachers attend)

Friday, November 13, 2015

• IS Lesson Plans Due
• Hill at Mtg from 8:30-12:30
• K PLC

Life Is Like A Comic

I really enjoy Kid President.  The insights shared seem so simple but wow...simple is so vital.  I really hope you enjoy this clip.  This coming week is much needed and I hope you really enjoy these two workdays.  It should be a time to learn and work on your craft.  I also hope you've had a SWEET weekend filled with sugary goodness...if not, stop by my office...SAVE ME FROM MYSELF SINCE OUR TREATERS WERE LIMITED THIS PAST SATURDAY :)

See you tomorrow!
Angela

Week of November 2-6, 2015

Monday, November 2nd

• Workday (PLCs for each grade level should be held during the days)

Tuesday, November 3rd

• Classroom Management 9-12/ PLC at 1
• Differentiation Workshop 9-2 (bring current ELA and Math plans)
• Chair Meeting 8-9

Wednesday, November 4th

• IS Block 2-WCL/Drama at 10

Thursday, November 5th

• IS Block 2- Media Arts/ Music at 10
• FEO Executive Board Mtg at 3:30

Friday, November 6th

• IS Block 2- Visual Arts/ Dance at 10

5x5 Walkthroughs begin this week; More info will be shared during PD on Tuesdays!

Moving from Good to Better to Best

In our PD held in August, I shared with you my three nonnegotiables when working with me.  One of them was the thought of always improving and having a growth mindset when working in our field.  We should want to be better than the day before because we have accepted the awesome responsibility of preparing our students for a future that hasn't even been created yet!

With this in mind, it is time to hone our skills and up the bar to ensure that our good is becoming better and moving towards best.  This will be a process but there are few new initiatives that I am putting into place to help inspect areas that we need to improve in.  Below are three initiatives that will begin to help build the foundation needed for improvement.

1: 5x5 Wallkthroughs-  This week I will begin sharing and using, with each teacher, the template that I will use to complete 5 minute walkthroughs in 5 classrooms 5 times a week.  The template will focus on the Teach Like A Champion  strategies we have been charged with implementing this school year.  Those strategies are: SLANT, No Opt Out, Cold Call, Threshold, Do Nows,  and Entry Routines.

These are the strategies that will be documented on the Google Form and feedback will be provided immediately to you based on the observation.  I will discuss in PLCs over the next two weeks to take questions but feel free to email me if you have questions.

2: Dojo Behavior Plans:  Now that we are getting closer to the end of our first trimester, it is time to solidify our Dojo Reward Plan that will be school wide.  To make this successful and something that builds on our budding PBIS program at TCEA, I am in need of information from each class (Arts and Classrooms).  Please email me your Dojo Reward/ Consequence Structure by Monday, November 2nd.

2: Intervention Plans- Beginning the week of November 2nd, all grade levels will need to submit interventions plans for their intervention/enrichment periods. These plans will need to be dropped in PLC folders for each grade level (because this is where data is discussed and data should drive your plans). This year we have been blessed with a schedule that allows for a time that students can have customized instruction based on their needs.  During this intervention period, NO NEW INSTRUCTION CAN TAKE PLACE.  This is a time where some of our most at-risk students are being pulled for instruction (RtI and EC) and they are the students we must help ensure that there are no gaps in their learning.  I am requesting that all teachers look at the below clip and be ready to discuss in upcoming PLCS about the importance of planning for intervention/enhancement.  I promise that the schools that have built this time in AND used it truly for intervention/enrichment see better student performance and confidence.  

Reteach and Enrich

One of my favorite quotes is "If it doesn't challenge you, it won't change you".  I am requesting these changes NOT because I think you need more to do but ultimately, we need to implement changes that will positively affect our students. 

Have an awesome Sunday and I am looking forward to an amazing week!

Angela

Week of October 25, 2015

Monday, October 26

• Fall Makeup Pictures in Cafe beginning at 9 AM
• 1st Grade PLC
• Staff Mtg at 3:30

Tuesday, October 27

• Arts PLC
• 5th and 6th PLC

Wednesday, October 28

• 3rd Grade PLC

Thursday, October 29

• 4th and 2nd PLC

Friday, October 30

• FEO Dress Up Day
• K PLC

* October is National Bullying Prevention Month.  In recognition of this important topic, Ms. Caine has an activity for each classroom to complete this week.  On Friday, you will receive a slip in your box that you will need to complete (date/time activity was completed, signature, feedback) and return to me by 11/4/15.  Please see me or Mrs. Caine if you have any questions.

* Students do not have permission to "opt out" of their arts classes.  Remember, students are graded in their arts classes and they need to be present.  Please do not punish kids by holding them out of these classes. 

*Please continue to communicate with parents with Dojo.  I am here to support you and help keep misbehavior at bay but it's hard to work with students on their behavior and build a relationship with our families if the only time they hear about misbehavior is from me.  

Time...

I am sorry I am just getting to this post for next week.  It has been a crazy busy weekend but I wouldn't have wanted to spend it any differently.  This Saturday, my best friend and I took our girls to a science museum in Greensboro.  It was amazing and challenging (since our girls are 2, 4, and 8 and they're GIRLS).

Today, I have been at church activities since 7:30 this AM and although I am just getting home it has been time well spent.

I am making this short and sweet but I just wanted to encourage you to use the time you have wisely. You won't be able to buy more or make more so try to make the most of what you have.


I hope you enjoy this video!  I ran across it two summers ago and it blew my mind!

Thanks for all you do and see you Monday!

Week of October 12-16, 2015*

Monday, October 19

• SIT Mtg at 3:30
• Board Mtg at 5:00
• 1st Grade PLC

Tuesday, October 20

• Arts PLC
• 5th/6th PLC
• RtA Test 

Wednesday, October 14

• 3rd Grade PLC
• Beginning Teacher Mtg w/ Mentors at 3:30 PM

Thursday, October 15

• 4th PLC

• 2nd PLC
• Code Red Drill

Friday, October 16

• K PLC

• Summer CCC Field Trip

Reminders:

• Observations and Pre and Post Observation Conferences Continue;
•  Continuous School Improvement/Workday; Non-Student Day (11/2 & 11/3): 11/2 will be PLC and Data Meetings and 11/3 will be PD Focused on Differentiation in ELA and Math & Classroom Management for Arts Staff

Where do we go from here?

Last week I sent out an email about our results from last year according to NC Department of Public Instruction.  As you know, we are viewed as a low performing school and are in need of intense intervention to improve.

Now, I have spoken to some of you and you feel that the ranking is: unfair, wrong, not a true reflection of what we do at ENCORE, etc.  And you are all right!  But part of being successful is learning how to continue doing what's right while working with the parameters in place.  It can be done and we will do it.  But I will promise you one thing...it will not be easy and it will not make us feel "good" all the time.  I can speak from personal experience that when dealing with things that rub you the wrong way, especially from a moral standpoint, it can be downright painfully to stay professional and not yell out  THIS IS SO STUPID.  ALL THIS MESS THE STATE IS CONCERNED ABOUT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER!!!! But there's a way to stay true to our mission and continue to improve in GROWTH and PROFICIENCY.


In August I asked you to help me come up with a theme for this year.  After viewing our test data and watching our amazing staff interactive with our just as amazing students I have decided to focus on our purpose.  ENCORE! Engaging No Opt Out Classroom Instruction while Orchestrating Rigorous Eccentricity.  Basically we do our thing for each student while not forgetting that each of the students we serve are different and need different instruction to access success.  And we know that our students' families believe that by integrating arts into the instructional day their students will be more successfully.  We just need to be INTENTIONAL in all we do...we only have 7.5 hours to do so each day.

In August, I also asked Mrs. Lett to create an incentive reading program to implement throughout the year to encourage students to read more.  You will be receiving an email of the plan for TCEA soon.  Please know that there is a lot of space to orchestrate the program in a way that works for you and your students.  You'll be able to be eccentric and create a plan that reflects your management style.  Students can opt out but we'd like to encourage participation from all!!  The program is also engaging because the products students can elect to do are performance/arts based. YEAH! For a real life example of the effects of a reading incentive program, my previous school went from 38.1% to 51% over three years and one part of creating these results was, I believe, implementing a reading incentive program.

Below is one of my most favorite videos about perseverance (for kids and adults).  We will be a high performing school...I work too hard to be at a low performing school and more importantly...YOU WORK TOO HARD FOR US TO STAY AT A LOW PERFORMING LEVEL!  But improvement is a process and we must stay focused and preserve.

Hope you enjoy your day off and I look forward to seeing y'all tomorrow.

Angela

Week of October 12-16, 2015*

Monday, October 12

No School!

Tuesday, October 13

• Hill Mtg. with DPI Staff (Technology and Beginning Teacher)

• Arts PLC

• 5th/6th PLC
• Encore Family Dinner at La Fogata on McPherson Church Rd at 6pm

Wednesday, October 14

• 3rd Grade PLC

Thursday, October 15

• 4th PLC

• 2nd PLC

Friday, October 16

• K PLC

• 5th and 6th Grade Field Trip to local gallery

• Summer CCC Class with Brownlee 10-11

* Observations and Pre and Post Observation Conferences Continue;
* Continuous School Improvement/Workday; Non-Student Day (11/2 & 11/3): 11/2 will be PLC and Data Meetings and 11/3 will be PD Focused on Differentiation in ELA and Math (more information to follow)

No Mouse (Person) Is An Island

Please view the below slide show of the story of the Mouse and The Mouse Trap before reading this week's blog.

The Mouse Trap

I heard this story for the first time in 2006 when I was working as an assistant principal intern at Dunn Middle School in Harnett County.  It was my first time working as a school leader and the principal shared this fable with the staff and discussed how no one is an island.  Some how every decision and interaction we have will impact someone else.  He also shared how every staff member's problem could affect other areas of the school.  That was almost 10 years ago and I can say that everything he shared is TRUE!  We're in this together and we have to work together for each of us to reach our potential and in turn for our school to reach its potential.

As you know, we've had some facility issues lately that affected all of us (the stank smell in the air).  On Friday we discovered that the cause of this smell and back up of waste is due to improper disposal of female hygiene products.  Now I know the guys are getting ready to check out but stay with me...please.  So, some of our female staff members and/or students are flushing these materials down the drain causing a back up that affects all of us.  It's up to all of us to educate each other and hold everyone accountable to prevent a similar situation from occurring again.

I also want us to encourage our students and our co-workers to treat our building with TLC when it comes to cleanliness.  Some people feel that they do not have to clean up after themselves...that's what our custodial staff is for.  And up to a point...it is.  But we also need to just be respectful of each other and clean up after ourselves.  If we have our lunch boil over in the microwave, we need to clean it up with what we have.  If we have food in our classrooms, we need to keep it closed and put away to "discourage" unwanted guests from visiting our rooms.  And we need to model and teach these skills to our students.  That might mean staff checking the bathrooms behind their class or even going in the bathroom with students but in the end it shows what we believe to be important...everyone pitching in to keep our school a safe and clean environment which in turn helps create productive students.

No one is perfect and I am not asking you to be.  I am just asking what I want you to ask me to do...Work together to trouble shoot and alleviate potential issues and problems that distract us from our ultimate goal... developing artist who inspire others with principle of design and artful thinking through the integration of academic excellence, virtuous character and disciplined artistry.

As always, thanks for what you do and for all of the sacrifices you make on a daily basis to ensure our mission is carried out!

Angela

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Week of October 5-9, 2015

Monday, October 5 (Hill at Charter School Conference)

• 1st Grade PLC 
• Staff Mtg at 3:30
• IS Planning Block 2 (please make sure survey has been completed and all staff will need to meet in the cafe, before breaking off into planning groups, to discuss results from survey)

Tuesday, October 6 (Charter School Conference)

• Arts PLC
• 5th/6th PLC

Wednesday,October 7

• 3rd Grade PLC
• Breakfast Courtesy of FEO

Thursday, October 8

• 4th PLC
• 2nd PLC
• FEO Mtg at 3:20 at Sweet Palette (Would love to have one person each from K-2, 3-4, and 5-6 at each FEO General Mtg.)

Friday, October 9

• K PLC
• Fall Pictures: Please read below info regarding picture info.  Very important that you're on time and in line at time listed on schedule!!!

IF STUDENTS NEED TO CHANGE, PREPARE - HAVE TO BE ON TIME (NO KIDS IN THE BATHROOM)

Teachers: Be prepared to have your picture taken also 

Support staff paged at 12:00 PM

Arts specialists between 10 and 11 (in between classes)

KIDS LINED UP ALPHABETICALLY BY LAST NAME

Kindergarten:

Lee ~ 8:00-8:20 AM 

Russell ~ 8:25-8:45 AM

Pearsall ~ 8:50-9:10 AM

1st grade

Jackson ~ 9:15-9:30 AM

Vaughn ~ 9:35-9:50 AM

2nd grade

Grunden ~ 9:55-10:10 AM

Kyles ~ 10:15-10:30 AM

3rd grade

Jones ~ 10:35-10:45 AM

Willis ~ 10:50-11:00 AM

Daniel ~ 11:05-11:15 AM

5th-6th grade

Griggs 11:20-11:30 AM

Falls 11:35-11:45 AM

4th grade

Caldwell ~ 12:45-1:00 PM

McLaughlin ~ 1:05-1:20 PM