If only I could remember everything....

 I actually think I remember most things, but making the connection between one event and another doesn't always happen.  An example is that I remembered Mary was not going to be here for Grandparents Day (you missed our best ever, btw), but I didn't put it together that she would also be absent for our CIPA review.  Thank you, Mary, for working hard ahead of time so that our meeting went smoothly.  My point is, something else happened...  I knew Ken was out on Friday.  But I didn't put it together with the fact that there was no one to clean up AW after the Dunkin Donuts party you had out there.  Faith Formation graciously threw out some of the trash, but they may not have gotten everything.  Ken is also out on Monday.  I will come in the morning with a big rolling trash can to get whatever you may still have, then have the kids dump Monday's trash at the end of the day.  I will then bring it into the main building for the Cleaning Crew Monday night.  Thanks for helping with this.  

Thank you to everyone who made our Grandparents Day a success.  I loved all the performances, and I know the grandparents did too.  

Last week, I joined the last CIPA Zoom meeting.  One of the things Mary Camp said was to be sure our school looked its best, and the teachers are showing their best game.  I think our teachers are always doing that, but maybe remind the students to be respectful and greet the visitors (they like that).  Mary Camp and Brenda Budd will both be here at 8:30 and will spend time in the classrooms in the morning.  This all happens on Oct. 8.  Please take some time this week to tidy up your classrooms.  

Have a spectacular week!

Fall into a Good Book

It will officially be Fall Tuesday night.  The mornings around 7 am, make me feel like it just might be true.  In today's homily, Fr. Tamil told a great story about a teacher who asked his students, If you had two houses, would you give one to someone poor?  Yes!  If you had $2 million or two cars?  Always yes!  What if you had....  I'm not sure what he said, but it could have been: 2 coats, 2 toys, 2 dogs, etc.  The students hesitated.  Why? Because they did have two of those things. It's easier to be generous with what we don't have than what we have.  

Interesting to think about. How many have said, "If I win the lottery, I will pay off the church loan?" I have, and I've heard others say it. But would we? I'm not sure, but I like to think so.  

This week is the Fall Book Fair.  The schedule will be (may have been) shared with you.  Monday is a preview day.  Shopping is Tues-Thurs with a make-up day on Friday.  Tuesday and Wednesday morning will be crazy with Donuts with Grownups.  Please do not take attendance until 8 am.  Give everyone time to get to class from the Book Fair.  

Teachers will have received an email from me earlier regarding ATL grades.  Please review the email and attachment.  We will meet on Tuesday altogether in Heather's room for about 5-10 minutes, and after that there will be a Math PLC.  The hot topic will be spiral review.  

Friday is a half day.  The morning will be filled with Grandparent/friend fun.  Followed by presentations from each CIPA Domain at 1 pm in the Media Center.  Please be sure to refer to all of Mary's emails regarding Grandparents' Day logistics.  

Thank you all, and have a great week!

AI - Is it really a good thing?

 I keep telling everyone I've seen The Terminator.  I know how this ends.  Here is what I've heard over the past week.  First, I heard that a delegation of US cardinals went to CA to talk to AI developers and essentially ask them to stop, out of concern for the dignity of the human worker.  After the meeting, the cardinals warned that there is the potential for millions to lose their jobs in the next 20 years.  I then went to a principal's meeting where I was told we have to graduate students who are AI-ready in order to compete in the future job market.  Today I am reading that the House Speaker is insisting that developers are responsible for product safety.  I should hope so.  It leaves us sitting here wondering: how do we embrace this when some schools are throwing laptops out the window?  Time will tell.

This was Holy Card Weekend, and the card to look for is St. Michael the Archangel.  No other card should be accepted unless there was an error in the distribution, which does sometimes happen.  

Here is what's happening this week:

• Tuesday evening is the first PTCO General meeting.  Thank you to those who signed up.  
• High school reps will be here Thursday to entice our 8th graders to apply to their school.  
• Friday is our first Marvelous Mustang.  Please be sure you have informed the parents if you chose their child (homeroom AND encore teachers).  

Other than that, it's a quiet week.  Enjoy!