Gator Run Friday Focus - February 21, 2014

     I wanted to follow up after our last round of data chats.  It was great to check on the progress that you are making with your students and to hear the strategies and programs that you have in place to help our children become successful.  This year I have been observing our processes throughout the school to ascertain where we are and if we need to leave them because they are working or make suggestions if there are areas where I feel we need to improve.  In almost every data meeting I was a part of I came away impressed with teachers' level of understanding and awareness of their students.
     I know that we asked teachers to complete some items before these meetings and that some had concerns.  Please understand that we did not ask for any forms to be completed for compliance sake.  We felt that these would be of benefit to you to determine which of the strands that you would have to readdress as the year goes on.  These meetings are so vital for our school success as we seek to ensure that interventions and strategies that are being used in our best classrooms are being used in all classrooms.  During these meetings I am also seeking to learn more about our students.  I research each of your classes on Virtual Counselor.  The information that I am able to attain is beneficial to me as I discover test scores, retentions, birth dates, and previous schools (if any).  I thank each of you for your efforts.  I am proud to be a part of this awesome school!

• Family Fun Day is Sunday.  I hope to see many of you at Weston Regional Park for what should be an amazing day.
• FCAT Writing Inservice on Monday in the Media Center at 2:15.
• FCAT Writing is next Tuesday.  Let's wish our 4th graders good luck as they seek to show everyone their writing prowess. 
• Faculty Collaboration on Tuesday.  Some of our teachers will be sharing what they are using or have done in the classroom.
• We will have both a fire drill and a tornado drill next Thursday.

Quote of the Week - "I learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelou.  Make someone feel special today!

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/maya_angelou.html#qLM4hc0Df6gPmcQU.99

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/maya_angelou.html#qLM4hc0Df6gPmcQU.99

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/maya_angelou.html#qLM4hc0Df6gPmcQU.99

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/maya_angelou.html#qLM4hc0Df6gPmcQU.99

Think Like a Detective - Can you determine the Gator Run teacher based on the following clues?

• Born and raised in South Florida
• Went to the University of South Florida
• Spends her spare time with family, reading, and shopping
   
• States emphatically - "I LOVE WHAT I DO!!!!"  

Gator Run Friday Focus - February 14, 2014

If you are still not participating on Twitter, you are missing out on a wealth of information and connection to other educators.  I am constantly inspired and challenged by what I read from other teachers and principals.  I encourage you to get on board.  My twitter ID is @principalkp.  Here's a great article that I found last night - Six Scaffolding Strategies to Use with Your Students  If you've done any reading about the Zone of Proximal Development and how we can reach each child, this is a good refresher.

• No school on Monday!
• Collaborative Learning is scheduled for Tuesday.  Please remember that this is time for your team to work on your thematic units and lesson planning.
• SAC is on Wednesday evening at 6:00.
• Newsletter articles are due to Mr. Acosta by Thursday.
• We have an amazing assembly for our 4th and 5th grade students on Friday morning at 8:15 in the cafeteria.  Mr. Hector Picard, a double amputee, will tell his story to our students and inspire them to always reach further. 

 Quote of the Week - "Love yourself first and everything else falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world." - Lucille Ball

Think Like a Detective - Can you determine the Gator Run teacher based on the following clues?

• Worked in dentistry for 17 years.
• Enjoys working out misses it if she doesn't.
• Loves live music and concerts.  Rarely misses the Dave Matthews Band, U2 and Jimmy Buffett.
• Has three wonderful grandchildren.

Gator Run Friday Focus - February 7, 2014

I am very interested in having a talent show for our 5th grade students.  Is there anyone out there who would be willing to organize this with full support from Ms. Felton and I?

• Interim reports go home on Tuesday.  
• Data chats are next week.  Please refer to the schedule sent out by Ms. Felton and ensure that you have all of the information that we have asked for completed before your scheduled day/time.
• Our Jazz Festival is next Wednesday.  We will have some special visitors.  
• There is a Family Night at Juiceblendz on Weston Road from 4:00 - 8:00.
• Jump Rope for Heart is next Thursday. 

Quote of the Week - My Principal Sub-Cadre visited a Pre-K academy this past week.  I saw this on one of the walls. 

Think Like a Detective - Can you determine the Gator Run teacher based on the following clues?

• Is from Trinidad, West Indies.
• Went to school at University School in Trinidad, Holy Trinity Convent in England, South Plantation HS (senior year), BCC and FAU.
•  Her hobbies include swimming and going to the beach, watching movies, online shopping, and spending time with family and friends.
• Was named after the Vedic god of rain and thunderstorms.  He is the leader of gods in the Hindu religion and the lord of heaven.
• Strangers think I am Spanish, but I actually speak German. (My mother is from Germany and my father’s family was originally from India before moving to Trinidad).

Gator Run Friday Focus - January 31, 2014

Please make sure that you are reading the newsletter each month and visiting our website when we direct our parents there.  This will help to ensure that you are current with the information that our parents are receiving.

Regarding grades, please make sure that you have a minimum of 9 per quarter in each subject area.  Scores entered into Pinnacle should be a reflection of both summative and formative assessments (i.e. student grades should not be predicated solely on end of chapter tests, end of story tests, etc.).  

For those of you that are interested in learning another language there is an amazing free app called Duolingo that you might want to check out. 

• Team Leader Day is Monday.  We are going to Eagle Point Elementary to visit classrooms and to collaborate with the Team Leaders from the other elementary schools in the Cypress Bay Zone.
• Class pictures are next week.  Please adhere to the schedule from Ms. Felton.
• We have a Faculty Collaboration next Tuesday.  Some of our teachers will be presenting formative assessments that they use in their class.  We have a few other items to discuss as well. 
• Interim reports are due to Team Leaders on Monday and to Ms. Felton on Wednesday.
• Next Thursday is an Early Release day.  A few of our teachers attended an amazing training this past week with Marcia Tate.  They will be sharing some of what they learned with all of us on Thursday from 1:30 - 2:30.
• Teachers, please make sure that students do not leave items at Gator Run Park. 

Article of the Week - This is a good article on how to cultivate grit within your classroom -  Perseverance and Grit I recommend it.

Quote of the Week - "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." - Aristotle.


Think Like a Detective - Can you determine the Gator Run teacher based on the following clues?

• Grew up on Long Island, in Port Washington, NY.
• Spent four years in the mountains of New Hampshire, at Dartmouth College.
• Is in the first stages of learning about photography and loves political television. 
• Her secret dream is to live on a farm with many Cavalier King Charles spaniels.  

Gator Run Friday Focus - January 24, 2014

Formative assessments: we are still looking for teachers to present at next month's Faculty Collaboration.  Please email me with the formative assessments that you are interested in presenting.

Congratulations to Lynn Mitchel and her class for completing Code.org's extension activity project. They earned $1000 with Donors Choose!  The prize is still available to any other classes who are interested.

• Spirit Week is next week.  Our Spirit Walk is next Friday.
• Family Night at the Weston Town Center on Wednesday at Del Vecchio's, Burger Zone and Udder Sweets.  Come on out if you can!

Quote of the Week - Be awesome today and everyday!

Think Like a Detective - Can you determine the Gator Run teacher based on the following clues?

• Born and raised in Jericho, New York.
• Graduated from SUNY at New Paltz.
• Enjoys sports, dancing, cooking baking and reading by the pool or on the beach.
• Keeps a Kosher home
• Danced at the World's Fair in NY in 1965.  

Gator Run Friday Focus - January 17, 2014

Something that I have been thinking about lately is how we are making sure that all of our students are understanding what we want them to learn.  Our focus these upcoming weeks will be on the use of formative assessments to help us determine where students currently are in the learning process.  Some reflective questions that I would like each teacher to think about are:

• What formative assessments do you use on a regular basis?
• How do you know when students need extra support?
• Do you allow students to dictate when they need the extra help?  What about those students who have too much pride to ask for support?
• What do you do when a student doesn't do well on a summative (end of lesson/end of unit) assessment?  Do you allow students to take an alternate assessment or do you simply give a 'bad grade'?
• How often do you communicate student progress with parents?  What does that communication look like?

I guess that this can lead into another discussion regarding letter grades and the weight that they hold, or don't hold, but I will save that for another time.  Please think about the questions above as you go forward.  Data chats are coming up soon and I am very interested in where each teacher stands with these questions.  As we determine what the "Gator Run Experience" truly is, student and parent communication regarding academic progress will be a pillar that we build our vision on.  

This is a cool article that I read last week - 7 Ways for Teachers Beat the Sunday Blues
I don't think many people understand how teachers feel on a Sunday.  Maybe some of these strategies can help ease your anxiety when you wake up each Sunday.

• No school on Monday!
• We have our next Family Night at the Weston Town Center on Wednesday starting at 5:00 PM.  This will be at 3 of the restaurants - Del Vecchio's, Burger Zone and Udder Sweets. 
• Newsletter articles are due next to Mr. Acosta next Thursday.
• Team Leader day is next Thursday.
• Our Honor Roll Celebration is next Friday morning.  

Quote of the Week - "I am not a teacher, but an awakener." - Robert Frost.  I love this way at looking at teaching. 


Think Like a Detective - Can you determine the Gator Run teacher based on the following clues?

• Was born in New York and moved to Miami when she was 1.
• Went to FSU.
• Loves to explore on the computer and spending time with family.
• Got a yellow lab puppy this school year. 

Gator Run Friday Focus - January 10, 2014

I want to start something new to help with our communication with our families.  I am going to record a new video for our website each week.  I have made information videos in the past but now I am going to include students.  Each week I will ask a teacher to pick five students.  Each of those students will interview five different teachers throughout the school to provide a very brief summary of something that's happening in their class.  I believe that this will raise the level of excitement into what's happening here at Gator Run.  I will email teachers each week to let you know when to expect your student interviewers and when your students will be interviewers.

I read a great book over the break that relates to the message outside my office this week.  The book is entitled One Word That Will Change Your Life by Dan Britton, Jimmy Page and Jon Gordon.

The message of the book is that we should pick one word that will motivate us throughout a year.  A summary from the publisher puts it this way:
     One Word that will Change Your Life will inspire you to simplify your life and work by focusing on just one word for this year.  That’s right! One Word creates clarity, power, passion and life-change. The simple power of One Word is that it impacts all six dimensions of your life – mental, physical, emotional, relational, spiritual, and financial. Simply put, One Word sticks. There is a word meant for you and when you find it, live it, and share it, your life will become more rewarding and exciting than ever.
I chose the word "believe" to guide me in 2014.  I want to always remember to believe in my abilities, to believe in the strengths of others and to believe in the love of my family.  If you are interested in reading this book (it will take less than one hour to read), I will have a copy on the whiteboard outside my office.  Feel free to borrow it and return it to me when you are done.

• BAT 2 is next week.  Please follow the schedule that Ms. Felton emailed this week.
• Report cards are due to your Team Leader on Tuesday and to Ms. Felton on Thursday.  
• We have a Faculty Collaboration next Tuesday at 2:15.  Our Essential Question will be "What does parent communication look like at Gator Run Elementary?"

Quote of the Week - “Being average means you're as close to the bottom as you are to the top." - legendary basketball coach John Wooden.  Sounds like our message this year - Don't be boring.  Be awesome!

Think Like a Detective - Can you determine the Gator Run teacher based on the following clues?

• Is originally from Pittsburgh, PA.
• Went to USF
• Enjoys golf and gardening.
• Loves to decorate and loves sports cars.