Gator Run Friday Focus - April 29, 2016

Next Monday we will be hosting a Rigor Walk from LSI (Learning Sciences International).  Ms. Felton, Mrs. McGreevy and I will be visiting several classrooms along with one or two individuals from LSI and/or the District.  They will provide us with information on various strategies that are observed during the Walk.  The individual from LSI will choose the classrooms that we visit so we wanted everyone to be aware.  I am excited about this opportunity to receive feedback on our current practices.

Next Week at a Glance:

• At our Multicultural Festival, one of our students won the chance to be Principal for the Day.  She will be with me all day next Tuesday.  
• Puzzle Pin for Autism Awareness will be Tuesday and Wednesday during lunchtime hours in the main hallway.  
• The children in Mrs. Saul's and Ms. O'Hara's classrooms have been working together to practice physical fitness the past few months.  Tuesday is their culminating Special Olympics/Young Athletes event.  
• 3rd and 4th Grade Drama show for 3rd and 4th grade students is next Wednesday at 8:30 in the cafeteria.  That night is the show for parents and family members.  
• PLCs are scheduled for next Thursday at 2:20.
• Our 4th and 5th graders have a Stand Up for Kids assembly next Friday at 9:00 in the cafeteria.  

Quote of the Week:

Gator Run Friday Focus - April 22, 2016

This week on the whiteboard outside my office I posted the following: "The question is not "How many days are left until summer vacation?"  The right question is "How many days are left to make a difference?"  I really mean this.  We need to take advantage of each day with our students.  Don't miss this opportunity to change your students' lives.  There is no reason to coast through the rest of this year, dreaming of summer vacation.  Are we allowed to be excited for summer?  Of course!  But we cannot let our excitement diminish our time here at school.  Time goes by way too fast and we still have time to make a difference.  Thank you for always making sure that our students' have the best possible learning experiences at all times of the year.

Next Week at a Glance:

• Principal's Honor Roll on Monday at 8:15.
• 4th grade is taking the ELA portion of the FSA on Tuesday and Wednesday.  We will be using the alternate schedule those two days.
• Our next SAC meeting is Wednesday at 2:20 in the Media Center.
• Interim Reports go home on Thursday.
• Kindergarten Round-up is next Thursday at 8:30.  
• Volunteer Breakfast is on Friday at 8:30.  That is also our next Team Leader Day.

Quote of the Week: "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to get through this thing called life." - Prince.  

I look at this phrase in two different ways.  One is personally, in how music can help us 'get through life', particularly when times are tough.  Music has always played a big part of my life and it's amazing how certain songs can help you make it through.  The other way I look at it is in what we do at school.  We are not here to prepare students to take a test.  We are not here to get them to conform to some image of a 'perfect' person.  We are here to help them get through life - to help make their lives better in some way and to provide them with the experiences so that they will be equipped to make the best decisions possible.  How many days are left to help make our students' lives better?

Gator Run Friday Focus - April 8, 2016

I appreciate everyone's support with the parking in the bus loop lot.  I went out to Park Road this morning to make sure that parents do not enter before 7:30 so that our staff can enter on time.  I will be out there on a regular basis to ensure that this continues.  Please also remember that the front car lot should only be used by those individuals working in the front office.  We need those spaces for parent events and we have quite a few coming up soon.  Thank you again for your cooperation.

Next Week at a Glance:

• Our 5th graders will be taking the FSA (FCAT) Science Test on Tuesday and Wednesday.  We will be using an alternate schedule those days.  Please refer to the email sent out by Ms. Felton.
• Report cards go home on Thursday.
• PLCs are scheduled for Thursday at 2:20.  
• I am so excited for our 2nd Annual Multicultural Festival.  This year is going to be amazing.  I hope that you can join us next Friday from 5:30 - 8:00.  What an awesome way to celebrate the diversity that is Gator Run!

Quote of the Week: "While we are postponing, life speeds by." - Seneca.  Time goes by way too fast.  Each day with our students and each other is special.  Enjoy today.

Gator Run Friday Focus - March 11, 2016

This week has offered up a few reminders for me of why we need to appreciate each day and really, each moment.  There are far too many important things in life for any of us to get caught up in petty issues.  I encourage each of you to let your loved ones know how much you care about them each and every day.  Life is too short and can change in an instant.  Please find your happiness.

Next Week at a Glance:

• NESS Meeting on Tuesday at 2:15 in Shari Heyman's room.
• Spring Individual Pictures are Monday and Tuesday.
• Early Release Day on Thursday and Planning Day on Friday.  

Strategy of the Week: I really love this one for professional learning -  Teacher Time Out.

Article of the Week: I think most of you know how I feel about homework.  Please read this article.  It really lays out the negative impact of homework on children's love of learning and of school.  Children need free time, family time, and time just to be kids.  Let's be the advocates for them.  Homework is Wrecking Our Kids

Quote of the Week: 

Gator Run Friday Focus - February 26, 2016

I mentioned this at our Faculty Focus yesterday but I want to address this again here for everyone.  I don't place a lot of emphasis on FSA results or any data we collect in isolation.  Too much is made of how our students perform on one standardized test, which minimizes so much of what we do on a regular basis.  We need to change the conversation in education to include the great work we do each day.  This week reminded me of what is more important.   Cyndi looked through our FSA results and found out that this is how we ranked out of all elementary schools in Broward:

7th in ELA; 6th in Math; and 10th in Science.  While this is awesome and should be celebrated, there is a much better way to judge our school and what we are doing.  Our visitors from Gulliver Prep in Miami were completely blown away by everything that they saw.  The compliment they gave us strengthened my belief that we are on the right path.  They told Cyndi and I that it was great to see a school that was doing what they hope to be.  Wow!  Coming from a school like Gulliver, that's amazing.  They want to send another group to visit us soon.  Kudos to all of you for creating the type of environment where students feel loved, respected and eager to learn each day!

Next Week at a Glance:

• FSA Writing for 4th and 5th grade is on Tuesday.
• PLCs are scheduled for Thursday at 2:15.

Quote of the Week:

Bad things happen:

- Every day.

- To everyone.

The difference is in how people deal with it.  

Gator Run Friday Focus - February 19, 2016

FSA scores were released last week.  We are an "A" school once again.  Here are our results:

Please know that school grades were calculated without learning gains, which will be included for this year.  Cyndi is going to briefly present how gains will be calculated at next Thursday's Faculty Focus.  

Next Week at a Glance:

• Book fair continues until Wednesday.
• We are hosting a Math Night with Mathnasium next Wednesday from 6 - 8 PM.  Hope you can join us!
• Next Thursday is an Early Release Day.  I'm looking forward to seeing the Book Buddies and STEM activities.  We are excited to host a group of teachers from Gulliver Elementary in Miami that day.  They are very interested in seeing what our STEM Day looks like.  
• We have a Faculty Focus on Thursday afternoon.  More information to come but there will be food!
• Next Saturday, February 27th isThe City of Weston's Movie in the Park.  Join us at Weston Regional Park at 7:30 PM for Minions!

Article of the Week:  Cool article on how to launch Genius Hour projects with the world - Launch Genius Hour

Quote of the Week: Thanks to Carron Newcomer for sharing this one!

Gator Run Friday Focus - February 12, 2016

This has been an very difficult week here at Gator Run but we are a strong school with a lot of love.  Thank you to all of you for making our school such a special place where students feel welcomed and loved each and every day.  Thinking along those lines, I want to encourage you to take part in a social media campaign that began last year.  Last February, educators began sharing their stories and sharing their love of teaching through the #LoveTeaching hashtag.  Over five million people interacted with the campaign through the #LoveTeaching hashtag on Twitter.  It reached across four continents.

During the week of Valentine's Day, from February 14th to the 22nd, tap into why you #LoveTeaching.  Write a blog post, compose a tweet, post a picture, take a video.  Use the hashtag #LoveTeaching and also #BrowardK12 so that we can easily follow fellow Broward educators.  This is a great way to share your story, become inspired, and make connections.  We need to show the world why we love what we do.  

Next Week at a Glance:

• No school on Monday.
• Our next SAC meeting is Wednesday at 2:20 in the Media Center. 
• Book Fair Night is Wednesday from 5:30 - 7:30 PM.  Hope to see you there!
• PLCs are scheduled for Thursday at 2:20. 

Quote of the Week: "Trying times are not the times to stop trying." - Ray Owen