Thinking Differently...

After the week I experienced last week, this quote brings me comfort.  As you all know, we are only given one life to experience and time is shorter today than it was yesterday.  Many times, it is much easier to just go through the motions and just survive.  But how sad would it be to keep pushing your dreams and "crazy" ideas aside just to do life?  I challenge each of you to become attached to a cause or something that is "bigger than you" and devote some time to this cause.  I promise that this exercise will cause some people to question your sanity and will invite people to try and talk you out of decisions that you know you need to make to truly "live". Are you willing to step out on faith and challenge the status quo?  Do you want to be the type of person that others will remember with a smile or story that shows the listener your character?  I know that World Changers do.

Have a great week and remember "...push the human race forward and while some may see them as crazy ones we see genius".

I know that was REALLY heavy so here's a laugh for you.

Week of October 27-31, 2014

Monday, October 27

• Drug Free: Wear Red
• PTO Meeting at 6 PM (need one staff member to attend)

Tuesday, October 28

• Drug Free: Wear Hat
• 5th Grade Planning Day
• Hunt Out (No technology unless part of PLC/ Planning Time)
• 3rd and 4th PLC
• PD at 3:30 in Media Center

Wednesday, October 29

• Drug Free: Favorite Jersey
• Identi-Kid: 9:00 in Auditorium
• Legislature Visit at 1:30 PM
• LF Team Meeting at 11:15-12:00 (bring own drinks)
• Read to Achieve Testing 8:30-11:45 (Licary, Hunt, Caro, Blue)
• 5th Grade PLC

Thursday, October 30

• Planning 4th Grade
• Drug Free: Tacky Day
• Halloween Dance After School (students can bring their Halloween Costumes to change into)

Friday, October 31

• Drug Free: Crazy Hair
• Student Leadership Mtg. 11:30-12:30

PLEASE SEE ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS!!!

LIFE

This week's post is very simple...every moment we have on Earth is precious! Live...Love...Laugh.  I hope this helps ease you into your work week.  These laughs are in honor of a man who always had a smile on his face and loved our school so much that he gave back to our site by volunteering as a member of our Advisory Board...Mr. Wesley Pope.  Please keep Hayden and the rest of the Pope Family in your thoughts and prayers!

Have a great week!
Angela 

Week of October 20-24, 2014
Monday, October 20th

• Hill at AES for LF Walk Through at 8 AM
• HCS LF Walk Through at EES at 10 AM
• Advisory Board Mtg at GPS @ 6 PM

Tuesday, October 21st

• Walk to School Events: Staff please try to be at field behind community building by 7:45 PM
• 3rd Grade PLC 
• Hill at Erwin Chamber Mtg at 12:00
• 4th Grade PLC- Test Training for RTA
• EES Visit by 3-5 Director Brookie Ferguson
• Committee Meetings- If your committee is meeting please email me by 10 AM on Tuesday

Wednesday, October 22nd

• Hill out at LAST Harnett Leadership Event
• 5th Grade PLC
• 3rd Grade Planning (Technology will be rescheduled)

Thursday, October 23rd

• Dental Van Visit
• Education Town Hall Mtg. at Erwin COG 5:30-7:00 (Comp Time Provided)
• Office Staff Mtg (Time TBA)

Friday, October 24th

• Hill Out (Field Trip with Zora)
• Safety Patrol Installation at 1:30
• Fundraiser Kickoff at 2:30

Pass Me A Glass of Lemonade, Please!

This week, after our first Principals Meeting, I participated in my first Superintendent's Council meeting.  This meeting is a time for principals to meet with Mr. Frye and discuss concerns from our areas and/or levels.  I am the representative for the Triton attendance area.   As I prepared for the meeting, I tried to remind myself to be professional and not too passionate (for I have learned over the years that some times my message is not heard if my emotions are too much...something to do with people viewing emotions as a weakness...).  Anyway after sharing the concerns administrators had across the county, Mr. Frye showed a clip that totally blew me away.  It opens with a man saying everything that has crossed my mind lately and then closes with another way to view those things. WOW! Needed that so much and I hope it has the same positive impact on you as well.  Have an amazing week and when life hands you lemons...make some lemonade.

Week of October 13-17, 2014

Monday

• Morning Meeting in Gym 8:15-8:45
• Office Staff Meeting at 9 AM (will need Ms. Hunt to cover office)
• Media in Classroom (Ms. Blue, Ms. Hunt, and Mrs. Hill will be coming to rooms during that time)

Tuesday

Media in Classroom (Ms. Blue, Ms. Hunt, and Mrs. Hill will be coming to rooms during that time)

3rd Grade PLC

4th Grade PLC

Faculty Mtg at 3:30 in Auditorium 

SO Meeting Interest Meeting for Harnett County Schools at 4:30 (Conference Room)

Wednesday

• 5th Grade PLC
• Media in Classroom (Ms. Blue, Ms. Hunt, and Mrs. Hill will be coming to rooms during that time)

Thursday

• Early Release (revised schedule TBA)
• PD with Mrs. Gay from 1-2 (classroom teachers)
• Student Led Conferences/ Parent Conferences from 2-5
• Read Aloud Announcement in Media Center at 5 PM
• Parent University at CEMS at 6 PM

Friday

• DPI Mtg. with District Coaching Team 8-11 am
• Hill out at 11:00 AM

Coming Next Week

• Need one teacher to share something GOOD happening in your class with advisory board for 10 minutes (will be at GPS at 6 pm on 10/20)
• Walk to School Event on 10/21
• 4th Grade Orchestra Trip on 10/21
• Hill Out on 10/22
• Public School Mtg. at Erwin Church of God at 6 pm
• Safety Patrol Ceremony at 1:30 PM on 10/24

Our Customers NEED Our Product...What Do We Need To Do To Make Them WANT Our Product?

Please view this video, especially if you are going to participate FULLY in our PLCs this week.

Schools are starting to become OBSOLETE! If you don't believe me...do a google search on home school numbers in NC or online school options.  
What are you going to do to make EES more attractive than other options of obtaining an education?  What are you doing to encourage students to realize that they not only need our product but the WANT it?

Let that marinate and I look forward to working alongside you next week!

Angela

Week of October 6-10, 2014 (Fire Prevention Week)
Monday

• Morning Meeting: Please bring students to gym right after tardy bell (please try and take lunch count before if possible) Teachers must stay with class in Gym.
• Makeup Pictures in Auditorium (announcement will be made when ready)
• 1:1 Meetings regarding Summary Goal Test Date (teachers see times emailed last week)

Tuesday

• 3rd and 4th Grade PLCs
• Felice, Grieder, Smith, Backus, and Hill teacher during Reading Intervention
• SIT Mtg after school (open to everyone, mandatory for SIT members)
• 1:1 Meetings regarding Summary Goal Test Date (teachers see times emailed last week)

Wednesday

• 5th Grade PLC
• Felice, Grieder, Smith, Backus, and Hill teacher during Reading Intervention
• 1:1 Meetings regarding Summary Goal Test Date (teachers see times emailed last week)

Thursday

• Hill at Principal's Meeting and Superintendent's Principals Council Mtg

Friday

• Hill out at PLC @SHES 8-11
• Fire Truck Visit (Mrs. Tutor will send out schedule closer to date)
• Teachers can use morning time (including Pam Allyn Block) to model Student Led Conferences and get stuff together for 10/16. You must email me before Friday AM if you are going to take advantage of this. If I get NO email I expect to see Pam Allyn :)

More Things To Know

• Our Fall Book Fair will begin on Monday, Oct. 13th.  
  Preview day for teachers will be on the 10th if all goes as
  planned at this time
• Office Staff Meeting on 10/13 at 11 AM
• Tentative Date of 11/7 for Give 5, Read 5 Fall into Books Festival

Power of Words Part II

I know I have shared the importance of words spoken on this space before but there have been a few incidents recently that have caused this topic to come back to the front of my mind.

We all know that the saying "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me" is not accurate.  Words do hurt. And even if the person you are speaking negatively about is not around when you are saying these words, we all know that words influence our actions.  What we say and believe become who we are.  Please be careful about the words you say and the thoughts that you let into your minds.  Some times these words come out around company you believe you can trust and these "private" comments become public.  I tell the students over and over again that once you say something it is out of your hands to decide what the listener believes the intent of your message is.

I believe that message is appropriate for adults as well.  Let's remember the importance of our words on good and bad days.  Let's remember the power of our words when we are tired of Friday and when we are refreshed on Monday.  When we say things about students, would we want those things said about our own child or niece/ nephew?  When we say things about our co-workers, would we want those same things said about us?  Do we know all the ears listening to the remarks we say and do we know what they'll do with the words you shared?

Here's another visual to support this idea:

I wish you all an amazing week full of positive and kind verbal interactions!

Week of September 29th- October 3rd, 2014

Staff can wear jeans all week if paired with daily theme

Monday, September 29

• Technology classes resume
• Pride in our Past, Hope in Our Future Day
• Denim Days Writing Contest Theme Is Announced
• Denim Days Sign Up Sheet Posted in Office

Tuesday, September 30

• Pay Day!!!
• 3rd Grade PLC
• 4th Grade PLC
• Technology PD Afterschool
• Wear As Much Blue As Possible
• Staff Member of the Month Vote

Wednesday, October 1

• 5th Grade PLC
• School Mall Class Visits By Hill and T. Lee between 2:30-3:00
• School Mall Video Shown in Class
• Denim Through The Decade

Thursday, October 2

• Mentor/ Mentee Mtg. at 3:30
• Brunswick Stew Prep Meeting in Cafeteria- More hands make light work
• Most Denim You Can Wear Day

Friday, October 3

• Erwin History Room Visits
• Erwin Elementary Pride Day

Upcoming Events

• Walk to School Event- 10/21
• Makeup Picture Date- 10/6
• Student Led Conferences- 10/16
• Announcement of Book for the Year- 10/16
• Early Release Day- 10/16
• HCS Parent Academy- 10/16

The Importance of Equal Access to Success for ALL Students...

During the Summer Leadership Retreat for EES employees, I spoke to the group about what my title would be at our school if I couldn't use principal.  I shared that I would like to be called the Chief Match Maker because I believe that my main purpose in education is connecting people (students and staff members) to the right resources that would help them succeed or do their job more productively.  I know what teaming the right people together can do and should too! It causes a school that used to be listed at the bottom of county assessment to be in the middle or at the top of the list.  It causes parents to attend a Curriculum Night after hearing a teacher BRAVELY rap why they should be in attendance.  It causes me to get goose bumps while observing Ms. Skulsky and hearing ALL of her students discuss their guided reading books while using academic language.   The type of language that will allow all of her students a chance a success.

I believe that education is the only tool we can control that can aid oo hinder a student's access to success.  All students, no matter their race, culture, ability, etc. should have equal opportunity at accessing what we teach.  Nelson Mandela said, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."  Lets equip our students with the weapons needed to eradicate poverty, hunger, war, and disease.  We can do that and it all starts NOW!

One key weapon we have to give our students is the LOVE of reading the ability to read for comprehension and meaning.  Many of the answers to the ills of our society can be found in books already written...they just must be opened and read.  Reading is a priority at EES and I need everyone to embrace it.  This is not a new FAD...as long as I am here that will be our focus so make it yours.

Enjoy this TED Talk about reading and I hope you have a remarkable week!


TED Talk


New Schedule to begin Monday, September 22nd.  Technology will hopefully begin next week.  Coverage will be arranged if Technology is during PLC or planning.

https://docs.google.com/a/harnettstudents.org/spreadsheets/d/1BPePCmrFslTFdFjEaXrlSWZmL9wQKFju_ENmYDB1H3o/edit?usp=sharing


I will be talking in PLCs about nonnegotiables for your schedule and answer any questions.  I will send out the Master Schedule Sheet for your to add your exact times later this week but if you see a PROBLEM, please let me know ASAP!

Week of September 22-26, 2014


Monday, September 22, 2014

• Jeans for a Cause
• Movement of Students for LLI during Reading Intervention begins
• PTO Board in Conference Room from 6:00-6:45 PM (would like at least one teacher at the meeting- would be even better to have one from EACH grade level)

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

• Benchmark Reading Assessment for 4th and 5th grade
• Enhancement Staff @ EES/ Follow New Schedule
• 3rd Grade PLC (due to not testing)
• 4th Grade PLC
• No enhancements at 2:25/ Enhancement Mtg Re: ASW at LSES at 3:00
• COGAT Test Training afterschool in Media Center/ Ms. Lee needs to speak to group at beginning of meeting

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

• Benchmark Math Assessment for 3rd-5th
• Enhancement PLC at 8:45-9:15
• Hill out at Leadership Harnett Meeting
• 5th Grade PLC

Thursday, September 25, 2014

• LLI Resumes during Reading Intervention Time
• Grandparents Lunch (please look your best and be flexible and patient)

Friday, September 26, 2014

• Jeans for A Cause Day
• NC Principal Fellow's Visit/ Shadowing Day

NEXT WEEK: DENIM DAYS CELEBRATION...

We're not only going outside the box but we are going to knock the box over and show it who da' BOSS is!

I love this quote.  I seriously do!  Since I have been at Erwin, I have always challenged the staff to get outside of the box.  Try something new!  If it fails...you learn something new.  If it succeeds, you stretch yourself and your understanding.  How awesome are both of those outcomes?!?  This year is no different.  Let's challenge each other to step outside of comfort and try new techniques and open ourselves up to "coaching" and feedback to improve our practices.

Thank you for being committed to your students and your craft during discussions in PLCs.  Conversations have been focused on student learning and I have enjoyed hearing your feedback and questions regarding Pam Allyn and Learning Focused.  I look forward to our future conversations with your regarding your upcoming observations as well as the 5x5 walk through administration will be doing starting this week.  Please look for verbal or written feedback within 24 hours of our walk through.  If you don't have this "proof", please contact either Mr. Backus or I to receive it.  Remember, Mr. Frye says that conversations move schools.  Let's start our move towards 70% proficiency in 2015!

Have an phenomenal week and if you need anything, please let me know!

Angela

Week of September 15-19

Monday, September 15

• Please make sure you have contacted Mrs. Hill to schedule your PDP/Self-Assessment by 9/17.
• Turn in all of your curriculum night sign ups ASAP.
• ALL Running Records completed and turned in to Mrs. Gay
• BOG Makeups

Tuesday, September 16

• Hill out for Erwin Chamber Mtg at 12:00 PM.
• 4th Grade PLC with Mrs. Gay
• We will have Team Building Sessions with Leading to Change in the PM for each grade level outside, in cafeteria, or in gym. Will hopefully have schedule by end of day Monday.
• Committee Mtgs. (EVERYONE PLEASE MEET IN MEDIA FIRST FOR 5 MINS)
• Benevolence in Conference Room
• MTAC in Media Center (bring laptop/notebook, writing tool, suggestions from grade level)
• Problem Solving in Mrs. Gay's Office (bring calendar)
• Curriculum Night/ Title I Mtg. 5:30-7:30 PM

Wednesday, September 17

• Hill out all day for READY Mtg. in Fayetteville
• 5th Grade PLC with Mrs. Gay
• Circle of Quality Mtg with Mr. Frye (Dunkins and Riley) at 2:30 PM

Thursday, September 18

• 3rd Grade PLC

Friday, September 19

• Jeans for A Cause
• Office Staff Meeting at 10 AM in Conference Room

A FEW REMINDERS

• Please read daily newsletter each day.
• Please make every effort to be on time each day to duty (we are short staffed and need everyone in place to ensure safety)
• If you spot a staff member doing something great, please stop by the office and write about the good deed on a dollar bill (play) and post on the If I Had A Million Dollars board.  You and the person you write about could win a prize at the end of the month.
• If you see a student soind something great, hand them a Redskins Buck
• If you see a class doing something great, give them an arrow outside of their room
• If you see a student, staff member, or parent doing something that goes against our mission/vision/ PBIS Rules, etc...extend Grace and Mercy and loving correct the individual.  We all represent EES so let's work together to improve (that includes me so thank you to those who remind me when I forget who I am and who I represent)!