May 19 Update

Happy Friday, McKinley!

Another great week of learning at McKinley!  

I know this week, as well as the next two weeks, could be long.  I can tell our level of frustration is high. Please keep telling yourself - 9 more days.  We can either make those 9 days tough and rough, or enjoy the little moments and go out with a positive ending.  It's important, with these last few days, to remember that it may not be perfect.  Kids may not be perfect.  Behaviors may not be perfect.  Heck, we may not even be perfect.  The transition to summer, change in routines, field trips, etc. all can dysregulate students (and staff).   Make sure you find joy in those little moments and remember - we can do this.  

Summer Work Requests:

If you have any summer work you are requesting, please complete the form by Friday, June 2.  This includes needing paint touched up, fixing something, etc.   Please check your common spaces, conference rooms, and any open rooms too.  

End of Year Management - PLEASE READ:

As we know, the end of the year can be difficult for many.  This week, many of our students were dysregulated.  To be honest, I think we had adults, including myself, having times of this too.   

As we move into the end of the year, please remember a few things - 

1. Routines are still critical.  You may end up doing something different during your "math time", but keeping the schedule and routines is critical.

1. Smile - laugh - show love.  Now, more than ever, we need to show (with our body language and words) that we are still excited for school.

1. Explicit SEL Skills Should Still Happen -   Continue to teach, reinforce, and support SEL skills.  We often think of this at the beginning of the year - it's need now, too.

1. Recognize Positive - Continue to point out, recognize, and reward positive behavior.  Let's celebrate things going well, even if they seem little or seem to be a behavior that we have regressed in (that now the student is making slight improvements).   

1. Get Outside - remember what nature and fresh air do to a brain- get outside!  

Below are two resources with lots of ideas to use tomorrow in your classroom/work area - 

Laura Candler - Management Ideas for End of Year

End of Year Podcast (if you look below, you can see actual times they discuss the topics if you don't want to listen to it all)

Building Weekly Newsletter:
Click here to access the building weekly newsletter

Have a GREAT weekend!
-Justin