The Final Countdown

Three weeks to go!!  This means the end is almost here.  It also means things are about to get crazy around here.  Inventory, grades, orders, oh my!  But we can do it!

Charles will have inventory instructions and a demonstration on how to complete at our faculty meeting.  I have contracts ready and will start meeting with teachers this week to go over your summatives and sign the contracts.  I will not have addendums just yet.  We will sign those during post planning.

Thank you to everyone who made School Appreciation Week / Spirit Week fantastic.  All the doors looked great and the students showed lots of spirit.

You may want to start organizing your offices in the main building.  This summer EVERYTHING in your office must be put somewhere so the furniture can be removed to do the floors.  Nothing can be left on the bookshelves or on the floor.

End-of-year procedures and moving instructions will be given at the May 22 faculty meeting.

He is Risen!

I hope you all had a fantastic Easter and feel refreshed and ready for the final 5 weeks of school.  There will be many things happening and it's important to be aware of what needs to be done and to keep the students on task until the end.

I have been working on plans and schedules and calendars oh my... all the fun things required by the Diocese before the school year is over.  I have a few meetings this week and a few observations to complete, but other than that I will be behind closed doors for three days completing paperwork.  See Charles for all your questions/concerns unless it's urgent.  Thursday and Friday I will be out, however, I will come in briefly Friday morning to practice the finale of the concert and then I will see you all that night for the performance.  Summative conferences and contract signing will take place the first few weeks of May.  Speaking of May, PTCO has many fun things planned for everyone the first week of May during school appreciation week.

This week we have a faculty meeting on Monday.  Bonnie will be explaining the new payroll system.  5th and 8th grade will take the ACRE test on Thursday and Friday is showtime.  Mr. Williams will provide a practice schedule.

Have a great week.

I think I can, I think I can....

Thursday noon is almost here and I think I can make it.

But before we flee to Easter break we have a few items to remember this week:

• faculty meeting Monday
• Interfaith basketball game on Wednesday
• School-wide Lent retreat on Thursday

I will bring the calendar for next year to the faculty meeting for input.  thank you!!

New Neighbors

On Saturday, April 1, the church staff made the final move their new home.  Join me in welcoming our new neighbors.  

For those of you I have already observed, please be patient in receiving access to the observation.  Last week Mark sent me a draft of the summative evaluation.  Once it is released, I will need to update the evaluation with Domain 4.  This week my goal is to get in the remaining observations.  

Please be sure to read the minutes from Friday's faculty meeting.  

Keep smiling.  Easter is almost here!

Observations and Evaluations

There is a lot going on during the next three weeks and it's important to keep students focused.  Once we return from break there are only 5 weeks of school left.  This marking period will fly by so be sure to keep focused on your time and what you want to accomplish before the end of the year.

The observations are going well.  What I have been seeing in the classroom is great.  However, unit plans continue to be a struggle.  It is important to be sure all parts of the plan are complete, including assessments, and available by Monday morning.

At our faculty meeting on Monday, we will revisit the idea of using Reading Counts.  Come with your thoughts and ideas.  Friday is professional development after the noon dismissal.  Everyone is expected to attend.  Be sure you looked at the shared folder I sent to teachers last week regarding what to bring to your year-end post evaluation conference.

Friday is field day followed by a popsicle party with music on the playground.  Any student who did not earn the reward can stay with me.  Send me names so I know how man.

Once again, if any student is in danger of failing a grade or a subject, please let Charles know so a letter can be sent home.

Final Quarter

Monday is the first day of the new marking period.  Teachers - please be sure you have followed all Gradebook/Report Card rule given to you by Charles.  Also remember to meet all deadlines including Honor Roll names.  This is also the time to once again make contact with parents of students in danger of remediation over the summer or retention.  Please send you conference schedule to me by Wednesday.  If you are having meetings after 4, be sure you meet them at the breezeway door.  Do not leave any doors propped open.

Our faculty meeting Monday will be mostly business and hopefully not an hour long.  Some things I would liked discussed are: upcoming Student Council elections (Jenn or Kelly), results of mission statement survey (Elaine), George will talk about field day, I will talk about Marvelous Mustang and we will have one more discussion on retakes.

Enjoy the week, keep positive and our spring break will be here soon.

Happiness

“This is the paradox that surrounds our quest for happiness: We know the things that will make us happy, but we don’t always do them.”

MATTHEW KELLY, RESISTING HAPPINESS

FOCUS  Find out what really makes you happy.

ACT  Identify 3 activities that increase your happiness and write them down.  

PRAY   Jesus, help me to stop chasing the things that destroy my happiness, and fill me with the desire to pursue the things that will bring me lasting happiness.

This Lent, instead of focusing on what you need to give up, focus on what makes you happy.  Take what you have given up and replace it with something that makes you happy.  God gave us this life to enjoy.  He wants us to be happy.  Take time to thank him for all his blessings and enjoy them.  

And now for a return to reality.....  What's up for this week:

Iowa Testing - Keep calm and do your best.  That is the message we should be giving students.  Be alerted to students who are rushing and not giving their best efforts.  Be encouraging.  Iowa testing is not an end to homework.  However, students should not have more than one class assessment on testing days.

End of Quarter - Yes, it's that time again.  Charles will send out dates and requirements for grades, report cards, incompletes, and honor roll.

Observations - I was planning to start this week but realize it may not be the best time with testing.  What I will be doing is starting everyone's observations with Stage 1 Planning.  I will be reviewing unit plans and grade books to see if you are meeting requirements.

Have a good week!