A New Perspective

Thanks for a great start to school. I appreciate everyone's hard work, focus and positive attitude. Our students truly are fortunate to have you in their lives. Thanks for caring and showing it. 

I especially appreciate your good supportive spirit, flexibility and patience with the continued transition and path up the stairs toward our Proficiency Based Learning system. 

Thanks and I hope you a restful and enjoyable long weekend. 

Upcoming Events:

9/5 TA: continue in leaf activity
9/5 - Soccer begins out back
         - T & Th - boys at 4:30
         - F - girls at 4:30
9/8 TA: sign up for flex time- Academic check in
9/11- M3 all day training for students
9/12 - Picture Day
9/18 - Best Practice - Flex Time and TA
9/22 - M3 all day training for students
9/ 25- Spirit Week
9/29 - Pep rally of sorts....Bon Fire
9/25 - Best Practice - M3 roll out with students
9/25 & 28 TA focus on Spirit Week and Open House
9/28 - Open House 5:30-7pm
9/ - Best Practice Flextime, TA, PBL
10/18 - Data Day (1/2 day with students) LSSU data focused training
10/19 - CONFERENCES!!!!
10/20 - FREE

FYI - TA CALENDAR

This week's Link:

Teaching the children of White Supremacists - This short blurb comes from a Vermont High School Principal (Randolph) who writes regularly for Huffington Post. I'm sharing it partly because it's interesting (Especially his call for educators to respond strongly), but also this author often writes about current issues facing Vermont high schools and communities and some of you may want to follow his blog.

Schoology School: 

Maura and others will be available ongoing to support your Schoology and other tech supports. I will be publishing and update and schedule for who to contact for what and when people will be at PA to help you. In the short term, feel absolutely free to email Maura directly with your questions and needs on Schoology as it applies to your grading, reporting, curriculum integration, and other classroom strategies. She will do her best to answer your questions, point you in the right direction, and even come to your classroom. But, please be patient with her, lots of us are trying to get her help.

Restorative Practice: 

It's been nice to see students responding positively to our school wide efforts with circles and respectful communication. I know it's not perfect yet. I know it's been a lot early on.  I know I'm not the only TA where at times it's been a bit tricky and I've had to gently push my advisees at times to 'trust the process'. Overall, in my own TA and it seems in school, things are off to a good start. I know of at least one instance where a teacher asked for permission to postpone one circle meeting to best meet the needs of that specific TA. That was fine because the teacher understood and had a plan to come back to the schoolwide work on a timeline that worked for both that TA and our school. Thus, as always, adjust as needed, but always try to stick with the big picture. **On Tuesday we will share a short survey from John Kidde on the RP training. Please complete this if you have not already. It's short, thanks.**

Schoolwide happenings: 

PE superhero exercise 

Former and current students working on a "Peace Poll" check it out - if you can find it

Celebrations: 

Congratulations Rachel. You earned it and thanks for being you!

The golf teams are off to a great start. Of particular note, Laura Badger won last week's girl's match with a score of 39. If you don't know much about golf, that's an amazingly good score. She was second among all golfers from all schools at the match. 

Happy Birthday: Trevor (9/1), Annalease Beach (9/12), Bill Socum (9,15)

PS - if you notice any links on this blog that are need updating, please let me know. Thanks.