Gator Run Friday Focus - December 5, 2014

• Team Leader Day is next Tuesday.

• 4th and 5th grade Spelling Bee is next Tuesday afternoon.
• Our next PLCs are next Wednesday afternoon.  
• Puzzle Pins for Autism will be on sale next Thursday and Friday outside the cafeteria.
• Kids of Character are due to Ms. Felton next Friday.

Quote of the Week - "If you can see a positive side to everything, you'll be able to lead a much richer life than others." - Celestine Chula.  I know that at times this year seems like the most difficult, overwhelming school year ever.  I totally understand the stress that everyone is under (I feel it too).  However, working together is the only way that we will get through this.  We cannot always dwell on the negative.  It will overtake you and you will never be able to see the positive (and believe me, there are many positives to what we do).  I'm sure most of us didn't get into education in its current state of accountability and testing but this is the job as it currently stands.  My advice to you (and to myself) is to try to stay positive and rely on each other as we navigate through the remainder of the school year.  Time goes by extremely fast and when we get bogged down in the negative aspects we are missing out on the many amazing things that are happening in our school.  Let's not look back and regret that we didn't appreciate the time that we have together.  

Video of the Week - I am going to answer the question again - "Why Genius Hour?".  Please take a look at this video.  This is a young lady in Mrs. Carafiello's class was so passionate speaking about her topic - memory.  She conducted an experiment with her class and had all of enthralled with her presentation.  I know that there is limited time in our week but if we can carve out some time for our students to choose what they would like to learn we will reap the benefits of motivated children.