Sept. 11-15, 2017

Now that we are several weeks into school and we have taken the time to establish our routines and are getting in to the groove of things.  It is important that we still take time not to forget that we are still early in the year and our kiddos are still learning the ropes. While we know that we expect we cannot make the assumption that our students do. When our students struggle with the expectations we need to seek to understand and ask ourselves; "Is this about changing student behavior?  Am I taking the time to truly understand? Am I engaging in target talk about the R.I.S.E. expectations?"  

The above photo is one of my son, Austin, and our dog Arrow.  They are the best of friends.  Arrow takes the time to calm Austin when he is struggling with his morning routines and Austin takes the time to support Arrow when he needs to release his pent up energy in the afternoons.  What I find telling about this photo is that while Austin is Arrow's "master" he took a moment to switch roles.  While it may have just been a moment...it was a moment when...Austin was in Arrow's "shoes."   I wonder if we are taking a moment to put ourselves in our student's shoes, are we all truly seeking to understand so we can also be understood?

With grace,
Kirsten

FIRST SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TEAM MEETING

9/13/2017 3:15-4:00 PM

Thank you Liz, Linda, Jackie, Jen H., Jennifer, Brent and Lori for being a part of the TJ Leadership Team.  The intent of the Leadership Team is to create a team that will support our shared vision and will foster feedback loops for continued shared leadership. I look forward to meeting with you all on Wednesday.  

A’Hoy Matey Staff Survey

Please take a moment to complete the staff  survey.  This information will be helpful to the Social Committee and to help build a collaborative community.  

.Staff Survey

A Note from Kinder

Please communicate to your kids that ONLY Kinder and siblings who are watching them may enter through the side gate at drop off.There have been several upper grade students push their way to the front of the line in front of all the Kinders and their families to get to the playground first.  Your communication to families or in your classes it would be greatly appreciated

Sami will be here on campus on Tuesday, September 12, 2017 at 1:00PM for the launch assembly.  Please be advised that all students will be eating in the quad area on Tuesday.  We will have name plates on the tables, please escort your students to the tables that is assigned to you and those who have cold lunch will remain there and those who have hot lunch may enter the MPR. The last lunch does not end until 1:05; with that being said...grades K-3 please make your way to the MPR to be ready at 1:00.  The meal duty supervisors will blow the whistle at 12:55 to bring the 4-5 students to the MPR so that we can have an on time start. 

Teach Like a Pirate Book Study

Please read the first PART of Teach Like a Pirate prior to our staff meeting on September 20, 2017.  While you are reading this text please take a moment to thing about and be able to respond to the notion of:

Please ask yourself how is the notion P.I.R.A.T.E. a part of your practice.  What does each letter mean to you and how does it pertain to your practice as an a leader and learner at Thomas Jefferson.   We will share our thinking at our September 20 staff meeting. Please be prepared with a reflection or response in your virtual or paper journal provided prior to the staff meeting. It is expected that all will share.  

IF YOU HAVE THIS BOOK PLEASE LET KIRSTEN KNOW.  I would love to read this as our monthly virtual read aloud and read it in class with an activity in each classroom.

Kirsten will be off campus Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday, I will be at Leadership in the morning and at PBIS PD in the afternoon and on Wednesday I will be off campus from 10:00am-2:30pm at the District Teacher PD.