My Favorite "NO"!

This week, Sarah Kelly and I attended a training on Highly Reliable Schools by Robert Marzano.  One part of the training spoke about the importance of students learning from mistakes and how this helps take information from short term to long-term memory.  Our brains actually make stronger neuron connections when we do not get something right the first time and we continue to practice: 

It is important to remind ourselves that making mistakes and not getting it right the first time is a normal and excellent way to learn.  It is also a key element in developing a growth mindset.  Our brains thrive in these situations!  To often, our students feel like failures when they do not get it right the first time and will shut down in the classroom.  To help create this culture in the classroom our trainer reminded us of a great classroom protocol (activity) you can do with your students called "My Favorite No!"

Classroom Protocol - "My Favorite No":   Hand all of your students a 3x5 card or sticky note.  Provide students a quick problem/question on the board as a bell ringer.  Ask students to provide an answer and explanation on their cards.  The teacher will pick up the cards, quickly run through the answers and pick out their favorite "NO" (favorite wrong answer/explanation).  Celebrate the attempt and talk about how to correct the misinformation as a class.    By doing this, you just strengthened those long-term memory neurons!  

This week, remember to celebrate taking risks and making mistakes with your students as it is a natural part of  learning and growing!    

Important Information: 

Surprise and Delights - We hope you enjoyed your room service "surprise and delight" on Friday!  We always encourage Surprise and Delights with your students in the classroom and we will be working on bigger surprises during the school day for students in the next few weeks!  We all need a little spice in our day!  

Readable English Training - Reminder to teachers who are teaching Readable English we will have a training on Monday from 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.  Location will be determined. 

End of 9 weeks:  The end of the first 9 weeks is approaching quickly!  October 9th is the end of the quarter and grades will be due by midnight on Wednesday, October 14th.  This will allow for our report cards to go out the Friday before Fall Break.   (Fall Break is the week of October 19th!)

SEL Lessons - Thanks to Carol, Nancy, Seth, and Kris for incorporating in our SEL Lessons for 7th and 8th grade! Also, thank you to Shelly for pulling together the curriculum.  This week the students had limited materials to see who could build the tallest tower!  Many great memories and skills were made!  

Club Time:  We know our current schedule makes is very difficult for high school clubs to meet but we would like to change that!   For high school students (9-12), our goal is to use our lunch/WIN hour for these meetings.  If you would desire to have a club meeting during this time, please send the date and group of students that would like to meet 2-3 days in advance at minimum.  We will work on a coverage plan that will allow you to meet with your group!   Clubs are a great way to develop leadership skills in our students!   

Toshiba Grant - Congratulations to Bo Gibson and the Additive Manufacturing team for earning a Toshiba Foundation Grant.  This grant is going to help with the expansion of our 3D printing/Engineering classes!  Great Job!

Multi-Tiered System of Supports

 This week, I wanted to once again highlight our Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS).  We are lucky to have a comprehensive program that allows us to work with students and families in such a positive way.  MTSS is a relatively new acronym in education; although the core principles of the system are not new.  MTSS is a combination of RTI (response to interventions) and PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports) which have been strong components of our school culture for years.  In short, MTSS works to provide target supports for all learners through research based practices.   

General Perry Central MTSS components include: 

      Academic Supports:  Guaranteed & Viable Curriculum, Formative Assessment Practices, Standards Based Grading, etc.   This data is used to supports students academic needs through small group instruction, after school remediation groups, flexible scheduling and more!

      Social/Emotional Supports:  Panorama Survey and discipline data is used to identify Tier 2 and Tier 3 students that need help developing their social/emotional skill sets.  Through the IDOE Project Aware Grant, we are able to pay for services through Life Springs and our school counselors to provide small group counseling for students. (We have small groups starting this month.)   Our Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum, driven by Shelly Kunkle, also provides all of our students in Tier 1 the opportunity to grow in this area as well.  Helping our students understand brain research, ACES, team work, communication skills, etc. are all important components of this work.  

     Behavior Supports:  Our focus of building strong relationships with students and families is at the core of our behavior support system.  Restorative Practices, PBIS Lessons, Home Visit, Reflection Rooms, etc. are all apart of our behavior support system as we try to teach students the skills they need to be successful.  

Just as the old saying goes, "It takes a village," a successful MTSS system takes each and every person in our school to make it successful.  Sometimes we get to see the fruits of our labor and other times the change doesn't come until the student is later in life.  What I do know is that the system changes lives.  Each of you are making a difference daily and we are grateful for the heart work that you do!  

 You can find a copy of our full, comprehensive MTSS plan HERE.  

Story of MTSS Support:  Earlier in the month, we had a student struggling to do their work and behave in class.  Every time someone would ask the student to do something they would bull up and refuse to do the work - even after spending several hours in 8th period, running sprints in football practice and sitting out quarters in the football game!!!    Normal discipline, although implemented, wasn't going to fix the problem. This child needed more than that.  Our MTSS team pulled together a group of individuals from the school and community that we knew were supporting this family.  The team consisted of a pastor, football coaches, parents, counselors and administrators.  During the meeting we brainstormed ways we could support this student through relationships and love.   We also made a plan with the family to get out-side counseling started for the student.  So far, his behaviors have improved.  We know he is going to continue to have good and bad days because overcoming the trauma he has endured takes a long time; but knowing that he has a community surrounding him with support and love will hopefully keep his outcome positive.    #nevergiveup  :-)      

Important Information: 

Contact Tracing - Last week, we thought we had our first COVID case that was going to require contact tracing in our school.  Luckily we learned the student wasn't at school all week so we didn't have to send anyone in quarantine!  We do appreciate all of our teachers having their seating charts in place and keeping students sitting facing the same direction and as far apart as possible.  I can tell you that it helped keep the number of students that could have been quarantined down to a minimum!  Keep up the great work!  Also want to send a shout out to our Health Department - they have been a great partner during this time.  

Virtual Day - Just a reminder that next Monday is a Virtual Day!  Please make sure students are made aware of assignments.  For younger students, if you want to post your assignments over the weekend so parents can be of more assistants to them - that is great!  We will not have a schedule for the day as it is your day to work and get caught up.   

College Go! Week - This week is College Go! Week!  Dana, Carly, Carol and Seth have all been working hard to provide opportunities for our students to learn more about their post-high school options.  The term "College" means so many things this day in age; basically we want our students to have something beyond a high school diploma.  This could be a certification, military experience, 2 or 4 year degree. Any of these experiences will help our students have successful careers after high school!    College Go! Week is also special to all teachers because you can wear jeans and your favorite college shirts to celebrate!  Have a great week!  Boiler Up!  :-)  

Readable English Training - Just a reminder to special education teachers that we will have Phase 2 Readable English Training for the next two Mondays from 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.  Readable English is a comprehensive reading program to help our students that cannot read find ways to build their vocabulary and find confidence in reading!  Thanks to this team for their work!

Important Dates: 

Virtual Monday:  September 28th

SFS Personal Goal Support - 7:30 a.m. and 3:15 p.m., Tuesday, September 29th

       

Community of Caring

 Everyday when I turn on the news, talk to a family, or just listen to struggles that our families are dealing with, I am reminded about the tough times that we are all living in.   Worries about a pandemic, loss of jobs, loss of family members, etc. creates a world full of anxiety, depression and hopelessness.  At school we are trying to balance on-line learning, in-person learning, wearing masks, schedule changes and more.  It can be an overwhelming time!

During this time, I think it is important for all of us to lean on each other.  We must show our vulnerability by reaching out when we need help and communicating our needs to others.  As a community, we all have something to give (time, talents, treasurers) to others and we can all rise out of this time together with hope about our future.  

I am so grateful to live in a community that supports each other during times of trial and stress.  There are times in our lives where we all need someone to sit next us and help lift us up.  Please know our doors are always open when you need something.     

Don't forget self-care this week!  Yoga, walking, turning on your favorite radio station and singing at the top of your lungs!  We all need it!  :-)  

Important Information: 

Counselor Requests Forms:  Please remember that all counselor requests need to run through the principals in the high school office.  You can do this by filling out the Counselor Request Form that is on the school website or speaking/emailing one of us.  We appreciate you reaching out when you are concerned about students.  If students need help, please continue to encourage them to fill out the Counselor Request Form as well.  If you have students that are crying or just struggling to stay in class you are welcome to send them to the office and we will help them from there. 

Checking Email:   Please remember to check your email.  For assistants, please check it at the beginning of each period.  For teachers, please check your email at least once a day.   With our COVID schedules, communication is difficult so this is a great way to keep us all connected!

Digital Citizenship Week:  This week is National Digital Citizenship Week.  You can find a link to some great classroom activities and conversations HERE.  If you have a few minutes in your classrooms to talk about digital citizenship and safety, this is a great week to do this!    We are also working with the Indiana State Police to allow them to present a lesson to all students grades 7-12 sometime this semester as well.    

RTI Requests:  If you have any students that you are concerned about, please fill out this quick RTI form.  Our RTI leadership team will be meeting this Thursday to discuss some of these students.  Your feedback is valuable in ensuring that our students are successful in school!   :-)  Here is the link to the form:  https://forms.gle/V86TG98gKM5chLsd7     (Thanks to all of you who have already filled it out!)

Learning Lunch/8th Period -  Just a reminder of our Learning Lunch/8th Period Protocols: 

        Junior High Students:  We are mainly utilizing 8th period for Junior High Students.  Students who are entered after 9:30 a.m. will be asked to stay the next day.    Students that do not get their work completed will be asked to stay in Lunch Detention the next day (if there is room).  

      High School Students:  Students can be signed up for Learning Lunch and 8th Period and will stay in that cycle until the work is completed.  

Around 10:30 a.m. there will be an email that goes out to all assistants/teachers about who is in Learning Lunch/Lunch Detention for the day. We are going to try to deliver slips to students to let them know they should report to Learning Lunch/Lunch Detention as well.   We are trying not to make announcements so classes do not get interrupted.  Students who are signed up should get their lunch in the cafeteria.  

Thank you for continuing to use these resources for students.  8th period has been very full and so has Learning Lunch!  It is working!  :-)  

Faculty Meeting Change:   Due to a scheduling conflict, we are moving the Lunch and Learn opportunity to Wednesday, September 16th.   Lunch this week will be Subway sacks (Sandwich, chips and cookie).    Junior High Lunch teachers will each in Stephanie Walsh's room and High School Learn and Lunch will be in the Teacher's Lounge.  Lunch will be provided for assistants.  Assistants can pick up their lunches in the High School Office. 

Early College Update:  This year our Early College Program is up for renewal, so we have been pulling data to fill out the required forms.  It is always interesting to look at outcome data because it helps tell the story of our programs and if they are working.  Here are a few things that stuck out to me: 

          * 88% of Class of 2020 left with 6 dual credits or more.  

         * 48% left with 30 or more credits  (8 left with 57 credits)

         * 28 earned the Ivy Tech Core 30 Certificate (official first year of college) for free

         * 2018 data shows that students who left with 15 or more dual credits had a larger likely hood of attending college and they completed courses with the most success.)  

        * The gap between our free and reduced lunch students and regular students continues to lessen as more of our Free and Reduced lunch students are finding success in the classroom beyond high school.

These positive numbers are because of all of you - believing that all students can learn and achieve greatness.  We believe at Perry Central that all students need something beyond a high school diploma and with enough supports can be successful.  Thanks to each of you for making a difference each and every day!   

Thanks to the following teachers who are going back to earn their dual credit teaching credentials:   

Debbie Dauby: Math

Bo Gibson: Physics

Ty Guillaume: History

Dana Harris:  Biology

We welcome others to join this cause!  Perry Central will pay for 18 hours of a Master Degree (courses needed to teach the class) and a $500 Stipend for completing a course.  

The Power of Positive Intent

Maybe it is just me, but do any of you get frustrated with your own children when they cannot follow through very well on tasks that have been assigned to them (manage their homework time better, pick up their clothes, take initiative, etc.)?  My level of frustration can get pretty high when they don't meet the expectation I set.  I feel disrespected, angry, and start to question my own parenting, etc.  I will say that most of the time I have found if I take a deep breath and talk to them, they just do not have the skills to do the things I am asking them to do.  Once I talk to them and provide some structure they follow through each time.    

Brene Brown, best selling leadership author, reminds us that assuming positive intent in people is not just about being kind; it is a sign of good leadership.   Brown reminds us that it is easy to assume the worst in people's intentions when they are not respectful of our boundaries and believe they are trying to disappoint us on purpose.  The opposite of that is to approach the situation in kindness and the assumption that all people are doing the best they can - this practice can lead to trust, patients and possibilities.  

I often think about this in our jobs as educators.  It is easy to assume that our students are trying to frustrate us on purpose, when more often than not our students just do not have the skill sets to make good decisions.  Dr. Ross Green reminds us that "kids do well if they can", reminding us that kids do not get up in the morning and seek opportunities to do the wrong thing but that many students do not have the skills to be successful.   It is our job to teach them those lagging skills.  

Not only does this apply to our students, but it applies to adults too; especially in this very challenging time.  Brene Brown reminds us that we should use positive intentions on ourselves as well.  Tell yourself,  "I am doing the best very best I can right now."     Sometimes, we cannot change our situation, but we can change how we look at it.  

Hope all of you had a restful weekend!   

Important Information: 

Reporting Topics - Reminder to please check your reporting topics and ensure that we have the correct percentages set up in the system.  If you would like to see what your current plan looks like, please let Jody know and she cane send you a picture of the current lay-out. 

RTI/Struggling Students - Typically we meet monthly with our RTI (Response to Intervention Team) to talk about students that are struggling.  With our COVID schedules, this is nearly impossible - so we are going to try a new method!  Please fill out this form if you have students you are concerned about in your classes:  RTI Form    Please provide us with feedback about students by Friday, September 11th.  Our MTSS Leadership team will start to staff each student.  

COVID Practices - Kudos to everyone for their hard work around COVID safety!  Your hard work is paying off as our students and staff have been able to stay healthy!  Thank you for being a great role model and wearing your masks, encouraging your students to keep their masks on, using seating charts, keeping students in assigned small groups, making sure seating is 3-6 feet apart in your classroom (masks are only allowed to come off if the desks are facing the same direction), etc.    I have noticed that you are washing your desks each period and using hand sanitizer as well!  Keep up the great work!  Stay Healthy!!

On-Line Attendance - Just a friendly reminder to please fill out the on-line attendance document.  Phil and I have been making many phone calls and seeing some progress for some of our on-line students.  We know this is an incredible amount of work.  Thank you so much for your efforts and for helping our students be successful.  The document can be found in the Teacher Resource Folder and at this LINK.

Readable English Meeting - A reminder to special education teachers that we will have a Readable English training from 2-3 on Monday.  We will meet in the elementary meeting room.  The Readable English ladies will be checking in with us and answering any questions you may have. 

RECN Network Meeting - Our Early College team will be attending a virtual conference on September 10th.  Perry Central was fortunate enough to be written into a Federal Rural Education Grant.  We are a mentor school for Bedford North Lawerence and this year we will be adding Paoli High School.  Thanks to this team for their hard work and for all of our Early College Teachers for putting Perry Central on the map!    (Team Members:  Vanessa Johnson, Ty Guillaume, Dana Harris, Carly Lynch, Jody French)

Important Dates: 

Friday, September 11th - Mike Bishop will be meeting with Work Based Learning students (seniors) during 2nd period.   We do have several students placed, even during COVID - thanks to Mike for his leadership!

Tuesday, September 15th - Faculty Meeting During Lunches  (Lunch will be provided)