People First

With every news story I read, every detail I hear, and every victim’s name that I read today, I just keep thinking, “Is this real?” I know it’s real. I know that it happened. I still just don’t want to believe it. Our schools are supposed to be safe havens of learning. A place where kids can grow, explore, and dream. Our schools are not supposed to be places where tragedies like this one occur. This kind of stuff is never, ever supposed to happen.

When we all return to school next week, our buildings may remain the same, but things will be different. We’ll look differently at our schools. We won’t see our curriculum or programs. We’ll see the people. Colleagues.  Students.  People who are our family. People we spend every day with who care about each other, who we know would have done exactly what those courageous teachers and administrators at Sandy Hook Elementary did to protect their children. We’ll look around and realize what we have in front of us, and think about how grateful we are to have it. We’ve been given a new, sobering, perspective on how quickly things can change.
May we always honor the memories of those who lost their lives in this tragedy by never, ever taking for granted what we have in front of us. Treasure your students, support your colleagues, reach out to people who need it, give back.  Constantly remembering that it’s the people in our lives that truly matter most of all. Remember the community of Newtown, Connecticut not only in your thoughts and prayers, but in your every day actions.  Celebrate our children, and most importantly hug them so that they know they are loved and cared for. 

Article worth reading:

There is no lesson plan for tragedy

26 Moments That Restored Our Faith In Humanity This Year

This is a busy week a head at Parma Elementary.  This is a season of joy, and as my pastor stated this morning, we will be joyful and celebrate in defiance of the evil in this world.  We have much for which we can be joyful, and we certainly have much to celebrate. 

This week's events:

Monday, December 17:  Panther Links and SE students visit nursing home
Tuesday, December 18:  10:00 4th grade spelling bee
Tuesday, December 18:  1:30 Select Choir Concert in gym
Tuesday, December 18:  2:30 5th grade spelling bee
Wednesday, December 19:  PLC assembly grades 1, 3 and 5
Wednesday, December 19:  9:00 - 11:00 Christmas Program practice at WCAC, grades K, 2, 4
Wednesday, December 19:  7:00 Christmas Program
Thursday, December 20:  5:00 School Board Meeting
Thursday, December 20:  Classroom parties
Friday, December 21:   7:45 Holiday Breakfast in the Library

Cherish every moment with your children and your students...let them know how much you love them every single day.




 

Private Victories

The Leader in ME










“If I really want to improve my situation, I can work on the one thing over which I have control - myself.”
― Stephen R. Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People  



  Six of us participated in the certification training for The 7 Habits.  I can honestly say it was two days I sat wishing we could all hear.  It was such a good refresher of the 7 Habits, which I needed, but more importantly, we all were reminded that these habits are as important for us and our personal lives as they are for our kids and our school.  We had some great conversations and were asked some thought provoking questions that made us dig a little deeper and understand a little better.   I walked away realizing that I had been so consumed with "teaching" our students the 7 Habits, that I forgot the importance of incorporating the Habits in my own life.  Living them every day will make teaching them so much easier and more natural.  We were encouraged to celebrate our own Private Victories, and I encourage you to do the same.  Set a goal, make a plan, find those victories throughout your day and celebrate them.  Private victories are important to our own success.

I would like for you to spend some time on one of the questions we discussed on Friday.  Please take time to think about the following three questions:

1.  What do you want to have happen that is not happening at work?
2.  What do you want to have happen that is not happening at home and/or in your family life?
3.  What do you want to have happen that is not happening for you personally?

Now, what is one thing you could do this week in each of these areas to address your answer?  Make it something doable, realistic?  It doesn't have to be huge.  It might be a very minor change or activity, but if it addresses something you would like to be different, doing it will be a private victory.  I for one have my alarm set to get up and exercise first thing in the morning.  I will be celebrating a private victory when I get my tennis shoes on, and an even bigger victory when I finish a workout each morning.  I will be celebrating a private victory before I even face the day or see any of you.  That is "A Leader in ME!"  

Don't forget or overlook the importance of YOU in this process of becoming a Leader in Me school.  It has to start for each of us personally.  

Next week at a glance: 

Monday, December 3:  9:00 - 11:00 Admin. Meeting  
Monday, December 3:  4:00 Zumba
Tuesday, December 4:  6:30 PTA Meeting
Wednesday, December 5:  MEMSPA Conference  
Wednesday, December 5:  4:00 Zumba
Wednesday, December 5:  2:40 Teachers meet in the library
Thursday, December 6:  MEMSPA Conference
Friday, December 7:  8:00 Staff Meeting
Monday, December 10:  9:00 SE Team Meeting 

Article worth your time by Donalyn Miller....Author of The Book Whisperer.  Please take time to read the article and think about whether or not your students see you as a reader.




What the Kardashians taught me about reading


 Blogs, Pins & Tweets

@Joe_Mazza: If you are "grading homework," you are in a sense grading the home support/lack there of of all of your students #vachat