Positive Comments for the WIN!

"The greatest form of motivation is exhortation.  Everyone wants to be encouraged.  Everyone wants a support group.  Find the things they do well and have a pep rally."  Bill McCartney - Former Head Coach of Buffaloes

All of us are leaders; leaders in our homes, in the classroom, on the athletic field/court, and in the community.  As a leader, research tells us it is important to bring positive energy to the group.  Randy Jackson in his book, "Culture Defeats Strategy" reminds us of the power of being positive and encourages at least a 5:1 ratio.  Research found that children in classrooms thrived when the ration of feedback was five positive parts to one constructive review.  The highest performing business teams/classrooms actually had a ratio that was 6:1.  On the flipside, students and teams fall into despair when the ratio was 2:1 (2 negatives to 1 positive).

Positive remarks equal big wins!  When we catch our students being good and reward them with a positive remark we change trajectory and increase success both on and off of the field.    

Happy Martin Luther King Day!  

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”      -Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Important Information: 

COVID Reminders: - We will have several students returning to the classroom this week.  Please remember to update your seating charts and keep the students spread out as much as possible.  We will continue the hybrid the next two weeks.  Let us know how we can support you!   HERE is the document that outlines who is returning.  

PLC Meetings:   We would like to have 45 minute PLC Meetings this Wednesday for core-content teachers.  Below are the assigned times.  If you would like to request a change in time due to working with students on-line, please let me know.  We will be discussing spring testing. Thank you!

             English - 9:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.  High School Library

             Science & Social Studies - 10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. - High School Library

             Math -  1:15 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.  - High School Library

Pandemic Findings:   Kim Waninger from the Special Education Co-Op Shared graphic from Lives in the Balance Survey. The results are interesting and just a reminder of the grace and kindness all of our students need.  Lives in the Balance is a Dr. Ross Greene Organization.  Dr. Ross Green wrote the book, "Lost at School" that we have read as a faculty/staff.  Survey results are from a national survey. 

 The Lives in the Balance online survey of parenting during the pandemic included 1022 parents of kids between the ages of 3-17 years, and was conducted in November, 2020. In terms of race/ethnicity, 68% of the parents identified as White, 13% as Black, and 13% as Hispanic. The vast majority of respondents were mothers. Our findings are detailed here.

Pandemic Findings | Lives in the Balance

State Testing:  Juniors will be taking the ISTEP test starting the 2nd week of February.  This test is important for students as it will help them complete their graduation pathway.  This is the last year for the ISTEP tests as next year, our current Sophomores will take the SAT as their state exam.  Testing always brings anxiety - but it shouldn't.  We have been preparing our students for this moment - now we need to get them mentally prepared to succeed.  

      Even in the pandemic, the state will require testing, but hopes the federal government provides flexibility about how tests are used (which is good!)  HERE is an article from Chalk Beat that outlines this information.  

For the Save - In Jill Taylor's 8th grade class, she hosted her on-line students live in a google meet with her class.  A student reached out to her in a panic voice asking her what to do because her air fryer was smoking! She was overly concerned because her parents were not home and she wasn't sure what to do.  Jill calmly told her to look for flames, unplug the machine and open the windows.  The student was very relieved to have this help!   After the student calmed down, they both determined the eggs were done.