Gator Run Friday Focus - October 30, 2015

Last Saturday a great group of educators from Gator Run participated in EdCampSoFlo, or EdCamp South Florida.  Edcamps are organic, participant-driven professional learning experiences
created by educators, for educators.  Basically educators who attend decide if they would like to lead a learning session or just be a participant.  We joined educators from across South FL at Pinecrest School in Fort Lauderdale.  It was an amazing day of learning that left me inspired and motivated to do even more for our students.  I am proud that Gator Run was well represented at this event.  A big shout-out to the following: Laura Pantin, Jessica Siegel, Tristan Hanley, Monica Dousdebes, Melissa Lopez, Jackie Sherman, Maite Hernandez, Angela Davis, Elayne Hollander and Cyndi Felton.  These ladies were active participants in the learning.  There will be another EdCamp coming in April.  More information to come!

Next Week at a Glance:

• We were finally approved to receive a 2nd Assistant Principal.  We will actually be sharing an AP with Fox Trail Elementary.  I will be interviewing soon.
• Reports cards are due to team leaders on Monday and to Ms. Felton on Thursday.  
• Data chats for K-2 are on Monday and Wednesday.  Please refer to the schedule sent out by Ms. Felton.
• Our Sub-Cadre Principal and teacher group will be visiting on Tuesday.  We will be meeting in the Media Center so Ms. Hollander will be coming to classrooms that day.  We will be visiting K and 1 classes with the teachers and principals in the AM and in other classes in the afternoon.  Please refer to the schedule previously sent out.
• Health screenings for K, 1 and 3 are Wednesday and Thursday.  These will take place in the Music room. 
• Our next Family Night at the Carolina Ale House is Wednesday from 5:30 - 8:30 PM.  Hope to see you there!  The kids and their families love seeing us outside of the school setting.
• 4th Grade Field Day on Thursday.
• Friday is 2nd Grade's Field Day and 5th Grade's Colonial Day.

Website of the Week: Hstry is a free digital learning tool to create interactive timelines.  It promotes collaboration and engagement in the classroom.  This was shared with us at EdCampSoFLo last Saturday.  

Quote of the Week: "If you cannot be positive, then at least be quiet." - Joel Osteen.  I know that it's difficult sometimes, but we all have our own hardships.  Please be careful with your words.  

Gator Run Friday Focus - October 23, 2015

Website of the Week: Check out Newsela.  As its website says, Newsela is an innovative way to build reading comprehension with nonfiction that's always relevant: daily news. It's easy and amazing. Newsela

Video of the Week:  Thanks to Sara Crowther for sharing this one!  I think you will love it. 
Brain Video

Next Week at a Glance:

• It's hard to believe that the 2nd quarter begins on Monday.  
• Data Chats will be on Tuesday and Wednesday next week for 3rd - 5th grade.  Please refer to the schedule emailed by Ms. Felton.
• Our next SAC meeting is Wednesday at 2:20 in the Media Center.  
• We have a Family Night at the Carolina Ale House next Wednesday for Pre-K - 2nd grade.  I hope to see you there!  Our kids and families loving seeing us outside of the school setting. 
• Specials grades are due on Thursday.
• Next Friday is Fall Festival/Treat Day.

Quote of the Week:  "It's not what you look at that matters it's what you see." - Henry David Thoreau.  Choose to see the best in each other and our students.  I know I sometimes get mocked for this practice, but I'd rather go through life believing that every person has good and positive intentions within them.  

Gator Run Friday Focus - October 16, 2015

I am so excited that the District has decided to add teachers to our principal learning experiences this year.  All of the academic departments have coordinated training that will focus on early literacy and numeracy.  So each principal has a Kindergarten and a 1st grade teacher joining them for a 1/2 day once a month.  Crystal Coyle and Tristan Hanley will be participating for our school.   We visited Westwood Heights Elementary this past Tuesday.  We discussed how we are implementing the shifts in reading and math in our schools and we also visited several classrooms. The group will be meeting at Gator Run next month on November 3rd.  I will let you know which classrooms we will be visiting beforehand.

A special thanks to our 4th grade team for their efforts with our Student Council and to Coach Cliff for his work with our Safety Patrol.  Major kudos to Mrs. Bryce, Ms. Fanella, Mrs. Mitchel, and Mrs. Sherwood for their work in putting together the Induction Ceremony for our Student Council and Safety Patrol.  Our students felt important and our parents were very impressed.  Amazing stuff ladies!

If you haven't updated your hallway bulletin boards recently, please so so.  We always need current student work displayed. 

Article of the Week - Formative, Summative, Interim: Putting Assessment in Context  My principal sub-cadre group is working on formative assessments as our learning focus for this year.  I think that this is a good article to ensure that we know which assessments should be used for each purpose. 

Next Week at a Glance:

• NESS Meeting on Monday at 2:15 in Mrs. Heyman's room.
• Next Wednesday is Wear Pink Day.  Let your students know!
• Kids of Character names are due to Ms. Felton by Wednesday.
• Thursday is an Early Release Day.  We have a Faculty Focus scheduled for that day from 1:15 until 3:00.  Del Vecchio's will be providing lunch that afternoon.
• Friday is a Planning Day.  Ms. Felton and I will be meeting with some of our grade level teams that morning.  Details to come at the beginning of next week.  

Quote of the Week:  "Failure is an event, not a person. Yesterday ended last night. Today is a brand new day...and it's yours." ~ Zig Ziglar.  Always remember this for yourself and please work to teach this to our students. 

Gator Run Friday Focus - October 9, 2015

As you know, I was out a few days this week in Orlando.  I am thrilled and humbled that I was chosen to participate in a second year of the State of Florida's Commissioner's Leadership Academy.  This year I will be a Facilitator in Training, with the goal that I might someday be able to train others in the feedback process that I shared with all of you during pre-planning week.  I will be visiting five schools throughout this year to practice my feedback skills.  I am hopeful that this will make me a better administrator and better able to help each of you become the best you can be.  I am happy that I will be working with a few of you in the upcoming weeks so that we will both become better in our roles and I hope that more of you will want to work collaboratively in this process.  It's all about feedback, support and growth.  This school is so big and sometimes people can feel isolated and in need of knowing how they are doing.  If you feel like you are in need of feedback, support or coaching, please reach out.  Mrs. Knapik, Ms. Sanchez, Ms. Felton and I are all here to support you in your goals. 

Next Week at a Glance: 

• Team Leader Day next Tuesday.
• PLCs are next Thursday at 2:15.
• Boosterthon Fun Run next Friday!
  

Quote of the Week:  Here are two for you regarding feedback.  Feedback is crucial. 

Gator Run Friday Focus - October 2, 2015

I am seeing a lot of great things with mathematics instruction these past few weeks.  Any time you can make math relevant and hands-on, you are helping our students connect with the content.  Visiting third grade classrooms has really been enlightening.  The data projects they are doing are awesome and I love what Ms. Dousdebes did with having groups of students create graphs using the floor tiles.  My lunch time conversations with students throughout the years provide me with insight into their thoughts on math.  Often it is not a favorite subject for them because as they tell me "I'm not good at math".  Now, obviously there are many individuals that will struggle with math.  However, we need to make math come alive if we are ever going to have hope to reach all of our students.  GoMath is simply a resource and not the only means that we have to teach the standards that we are responsible for.  I encourage you and your teams to determine how best to deliver the content that will ensure that our students meet the standards for your grade level.  Please do not teach solely from the Go Math series.  If you are struggling with teaching math and only teach math through the textbook, please seek out support from teammates or colleagues or me.  I would love to work with you to help make math come alive for our students. 
Next Week at a Glance:

• Boosterthon Pep Rally next Tuesday.  8:20 for Grades 3-5 and 9:05 for K - 2.
• PLCs are scheduled for Thursday at 2:15. 

Quote of the Week:

Thanks to Ann House for sharing this one!