Welcome Back! It was great to have students in the building this week!
First Day Gratitude:
As much as I went home exhausted yesterday, it was a great day. I know a lot of time and energy goes into the beginning of the year. That time and energy does not go unnoticed. Yesterday, I was quickly reminded of the power of this building - the way each of you COME together to make the POWER OF US. All of you jumped right in to support each of our kids - regardless if they were in your class, program, etc. I am truly honored to work with such amazing people who put kids first. I'm looking forward to the best year yet!
Responsive, Responsive, Responsive:
One of our focus areas this year is being responsive—the practice of taking our core curriculum and shaping it to fit our students' needs in real time. Think of it like cooking a great meal: when the cook tastes the soup while it’s simmering, that’s formative assessment; when the guests taste the soup, that’s summative assessment. When the chef is preparing the soup, there is time to make adjustments (add spices, more protein, etc.). After the soup is served to the customer, it's often harder to make those adjustments. That's being responsive.
While summative tests show us the final outcome, our daily observations, progress monitoring, and quick formative check-ins are how we taste the soup along the way. Paying attention to those lightbulb moments—and the furrowed brows—gives us the power to add a pinch of support or extend a challenge before the lesson is over. This really is the art of teaching.
Being responsive isn't about adding extra paperwork; it’s about using quick exit tickets, brief observations, and flexible pacing to meet kids right where they are each day. Every student enters our classrooms with unique strengths and learning styles, and when we let our daily observations drive our next moves, we show our students that we see them, hear them, and care about their individual growth. You are the master chefs of our school, and I am so grateful for your heart, dedication, and expertise as we nourish our students' minds and spirits this year. Let’s make it our best year yet!
Badges:
Part of our building security plan is staff wearing their district-issued ID badge. It is required you are wearing that to work every day. In the event of an emergency, you may be put into an unsafe situation (locked out of somewhere) without your badge. Also, it's our way for staff to know you are cleared to be in the building (particularly if they don't know you).
Cheers for Peers:
This year, we trying a new "Toot Your Horn". Every Thursday, we will acknowledge a group in the building who is making an impact. Today, our EA team was given this award. Our 3rd Grade Team nominated them for "They jumped in and completed many teacher "to do" tasks during back to school week! You helped get us up and running! You are appreciated - you don't go unnoticed!".
The Cheers for Peers award is given every Thursday and comes from staff nominations. Each of you can nominate someone! To nominate, please complete the form (also found in the Virtual Office).
Building Weekly Newsletter:
Have a GREAT long weekend!
-Justin
