Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise, risking more than others think is safe, dreaming more than others think is practical, and expecting more than others think is possible. ~Ronnie Oldham

As educators, we often find ourselves in the position of having to make tough decisions about children.  Those tough decisions are rarely black and white, so it’s often difficult to know what to do in response or reaction to the situations in which we find ourselves.  There are some who would default to, “we do what’s best for kids,” but honestly, you should not be in education if that is not your absolute fundamental tenet.  What causes each of us so much stress and concern or what drives the need for us to “take our work home with us” is trying to figure out exactly what is best for a child in each situation.  There are as many opinions for what is best as there are sands in an hourglass.  Options for solutions are a bit more limited.

As we focus on data teams, one area of decision-making that becomes clearer is how to improve the results of our work.  They key is to become smarter and more practiced in the data teams process.  In the book, Leaders Make it Happen: An Administrator’s Guide to Data Teams, authors McNulty and Besser state that many researchers found that, “the difference between the most effective classrooms and the least effective classrooms was attributable to the teacher.”  They also go on to share that, “the difference between the most effective teachers and the least effective teachers is not what they know, but rather what they do” (p. 17). The authors share research that explains it is tough for teachers to unlearn practices they have utilized for years or have been taught by college professors who practiced a decade ago.  There are so many reasons why.

One reason we find changing to be so tough is due to a system that seems resistant to change.  However, the ability to change – called second order change – is in the hands and mind of each teacher.  We have to limit our priorities and accept that premise.  We need to accept and expect a higher level of accountability.  Teaching is highly personal, so we must embrace collaboration then take that responsibility seriously and with dedication to our colleagues.  We have to believe in, rely on, and support each other, even more so when one of us is struggling.    We must CARE about each other and believe even when we can’t see.

Students then provide the canvas for us to express ourselves as professionals with our pedagogical paint.  We get nervous when we hold them accountable, when rigor pushes their thinking and when relevance is not obvious. This is where the juxtaposition comes in what is “best for kids” and what we believe in education about our practice.  Here’s where opinions are many and options seem limited.

The options do not have to be one or the other.  Often times the best solution is a combo of extremes. We need to be there for our kids – to listen and CARE.  We do not need to be their excuse. We should provide them supports to allow them to solve their problems.  We should not should not encourage them to “escape” from the tough academic situation they have worked themselves into. Data teams work is built on differentiation for learning needs.  How are you differentiating for students who struggle?   That struggle may not just be with your content.  More often it will be because they don’t come to school, forget to do or turn in their homework, or have troubles at home that block their focus on learning.  These are REAL blocks to learning for our kids.  Very real.  No matter the reason, the fact is they didn’t learn.  How can you help them problem solve and learn?  Is what you believe is “best for kids” that “failure is not an option?”  What would Benton look like if we believed that was best for our kids?  Think about that when you look at which of your students are failing.  I know you do your best.  I also know that excellence is a journey.  Reread the quote at the start of this blog.  Let’s make sure our excellence is grounded in caring more, risking more, dreaming more, and expecting more from us.  If we show our kids we are willing, they will follow our lead!

Week 6 – A Look Ahead

This week in our administrative walkthroughs, we will CONTINUE looking for and providing feedback on instructional questioning.  We will look for what questions you are asking your students – do they require higher order thinking or are they mostly operational for giving directions?

Monday – Data Teams departmental meetings

Wednesday – JEPD Red Day Schedule (Info on Super Assessment Day, Text Complexity JEPD & AdvancEd email from Dr. Smith)

Thursday – Bus Evacuation @ 9:15 a.m. (directions TBA)

Reminder:  Super Assessment Day will be Oct 3rd

~Excellence is a journey not a destination.~

All images available in CC from Flickr:  “Decisions, decisions” by Garrettc http://www.flickr.com/photos/35468140272@N01/91385737/ ; “Maze Puzzle (Blender) by FutUndBendl “customer-loyalty_retention.jpg by enriqueburgosgarcia. 

 

 

 

Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For, indeed, that’s all who ever have. ~Margaret Mead

It’s about this time of year that we start feeling pressure from all the expectations put on you in your classroom and beyond.  The pressure is legitimate.  When you CARE about the work you do in order to be the best you can be, you don’t take this pressure lightly.  It’s the nature of educators; we want to make a difference.  We want to help change our world because we care about those around us.  Everyone expects us to change the world.  We often know we can. And so we try…day after day. The pressure is legit.

The best analogy for this somewhat overwhelming time of year is best understood by comparing it to the feeling of eating at an appetizing dinner when you are super hungry and everything looks yummy. First of all, there’s the main course of the curriculum served up through the data teams process.  Then we load you up with side dishes where we expect you to take at least one serving of each.  Start with one large helping of transform and differentiate your instruction with digital tools and students’ digital exhibition artifacts on top.  Another dish, although not overwhelming, you must serve yourself is a good helping of our literacy plan implementation.  And you can’t skip the healthy, needed sides of grading and PowerTeacher, Schoolwires, your departmental best practices, text complexity PD implementation, upcoming Acuity training, and the upcoming new and improved taste of CAMP.  Yes, you have a LOT on your dinner plate.  Add to that the condiments for the meal to enhance the taste of your plateful of pressure.  Include a shake or two of the schedule with bell changes and a dollop of discipline, to name the favorites. And for those of you who enjoy and can’t get enough dessert, we have all those extra-duties –with sprinkles on top — whether paid or otherwise.  Yes, we realize you are full, and you are feeling it.  It takes strong dedication on your part to learn the processes thoroughly and to implement it with fidelity.  We want you to know we know, and we are here to help you digest it all.  The key for success is to take one bite at a time.  Strong and steady.  Manage your intake, and don’t overdo it.  Take a breath, laugh a lot (it helps make room for more), and share your dishes.  It’s amazing how much better a meal tastes when you sup with friends.

Week 4 in Review

Nice work on going over the student handbook and in your class meetings.  Hats off to all of you who took the time to talk through the rules with the students, answer their questions, and get clarification when you were not certain. Also great job on the class meetings.  I think our CAMP time was a highlight of the week.  I also appreciate everyone’s participation and attendance at our first faculty meeting of the year.  It was a heavy thirty minutes of work; there’s no doubt.  I loved the feedback that we should take that time to share celebrations as well.  Great idea! Consider that a new part of our meeting.  With that added, don’t forget to send me celebrations!  I have one to share next month that has to do with a staff member and socks. It will touch your heart! Bet you are wondering…what, what?  I also want to celebrate our teachers who continue to show they care by showing up at student activities after school and on weekends.  The students love it, and it’s very exciting to see such a supportive staff! Thank you so much for doing that for our kids!

Week 5: A Look Ahead

This week in our administrative walkthroughs, we will be looking for and providing feedback on instructional questioning.  We will look for what questions you are asking your students – do they require higher order thinking or are they mostly operational for giving directions?

Monday – sign handbook permission slips in CAMP and turn in right away.  If a student is absent, please fill in his/her name and note ABSENT at the top.

Wednesday – Job Embedded PD to start learning about the digital exhibition.  I will send out the white day locations to attend.  Benton Leadership Team (BLT) meets at 7:00 a.m.  in room 106.  Donuts anyone?

Thursday – we will have a modified schedule, which I will send out on Wednesday again.  We follow regular schedule except we will release early from 2R (10:15 bell) to go to CAMP.  Directions for viewing will come from Kelly.  Look for that and make sure you are ready to go.

Friday – Department PD for each dept in collab that day.  Each department should be prepared to share their Data Team work so far with admin, IC and any DLT team members who are able to attend. Pep Assembly schedule.

FYI on Monday – Complete department PD for each dept in collab that day.  Each department should be prepared to share their Data Team work so far with admin, IC and any DLT team members who are able to attend.

~Excellence is a journey not a destination.~

All images are available in Creative Commons from Flickr: “sphygmomanometer” by jasleen_kaur; “Dinner is served.” by jonesing1; “Red balloons” by Jakob E.

 

One who cares is one who listens. ~ J. Richard Clarke

I spent nine years coaching boys and girls high school soccer– seventeen seasons total along with a decade of coaching a variety of youth and competitive teams – and I have never forgotten when things started turning around for me.  Oh sure, I went to many, many clinics to learn how to coach better.  I earned my national coaching license to become more proficient at my craft.  I even decided to certify as a referee just to understand that perspective of the game, but I will never forget the season I started one very simple and interesting tactic – I listened.  And I started asking questions.  It was amazing what I learned from my players when I let them give me information or repeat what I had asked them to accomplish.  It was amazing what I heard other coaches saying to their players or about the game.  That tactic, as simple as it was, changed the game for me so successfully and in a way no formal training had ever done.  When I took it to my classroom, the transformation was just as phenomenal.

Ask yourself, how much do I talk TO the students in a class period?  I’m guessing for most of us, it’s too much.  The reason that happens is we trust our extensive training.  We have to control the information.  We don’t necessarily trust our classroom management system yet.  I understand, but I also know we have never really practiced listening.  So, this week, I challenge you to try the simple tactic – listen. And ask your students good questions. Start by talking to each other in collaboration and ask for strategies that encourage productive student conversation.  One idea right off the top of my head is Think, Pair, Share.  How about notes comparison between students? Ever tried a Socratic seminar?  Listen to what you students are saying.  Get out from behind a desk or computer and ask students questions about the work you assign them to complete.  Ask students WHY they think what they do or WHY they answered the way they answered.

Have you ever sat in a classroom, church pew, or professional development session and found yourself nodding off?  I think we all have at one time or another.  You too have the perfect solution for classroom sleepiness; encourage your students to talk about their learning.  And be ready to be amazed at your success as a professional. This is a win-win scenario.

Week 3 in Review

I fell in love with our students again last week.  They never cease to amaze me in how much they love and trust us.  We had a great week for attendance and discipline – up and down respectively.  In a very B.F. Skinner fashion, please join Luke, Jeremy and me in giving lots of strong feedback to our students who are behaving in a fashion we want them to continue.  There is serious power in reinforcing the positive.  Thanks to all activities and sports teams for their efforts this week.  We took a few gut punches with events occurring out of our control and playing some pretty good teams, but our students showed great sporting behavior and never gave in.  Don’t measure the week by a few set backs.  Measure our level of CARdinal Excellence by the successes we found after we made it through those learning events.  A big thanks to Mrs. Roseberry, Ezzell and company for a great pep assembly.  Also, a great shout out to our nutrition and maintenance crew for their patience and support in yet another week where shifting to an early out put them under great pressure to adjust.  If you get a chance, give them a high five for a week well played!

Week 4:  A Look Ahead
By the end of this week we will have been in school one full month.  How can something that takes so long go so fast?  This week will keep you hopping.  We have numerous SCHOOL-WIDE events that we must all be on the same page to complete.  I will list the week’s events on your email for easy reference, but I want to share an overview here.  We will be having our first class meetings during CAMP.   Students will report to CAMP first for roll then an announcement will bring them to the auditorium.  We will also complete three days of STUDENT HANDBOOK REVIEW during CAMP.  Finally, this weekend is the Southside Carnival and Parade – Benton is a star in this event from students to teams to staff.  Make sure you somehow connect with this epic Southside event.  Remember, you ARE . . Southside!

~Excellence is a journey not a destination.~

The credit belongs to those who are actually in the arena, who strive valiantly; who know the great enthusiasums, the great devotions, and spend themselves in a worthy cause; who at best know the triumph of high achievement; and who, at worst, if they fail, fail while daring greatly, so that their place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.” ~Theodore Roosevelt

Week 2 in Review

After a second full week “in the arena,” I can see the results of our Benton valiance – our determination and courage to make this year better than our last.  I love our enthusiasm.  I love our devotion.  I am so humbled when I drive into our parking lot or leave it far too late to see all the cars that belong to the dedicated souls who “spend themselves in a worthy cause.”  From teachers to coaches to support staff, we are not timid nor afraid to make a difference for our students.

As I was thinking about our progress last week, I realized that we have some areas we need to firm up in our progress forward together.  Part of our learning in our pursuit of CARdinal Excellence is that when we make decisions as a school – whether by the students, the leadership team or departments – we must all follow them.  If one teacher cuts corners or tries to be “accommodating” or even thinks that doing something so small as letting students leave just a minute early from a class doesn’t really harm anyone, then the perspective of that adult is far too small.  Everyone remembers one of  Newton’s Laws of Motion, “For every action, there is an equal and opposite re-action.”  This doesn’t just get spoken about in Mr. Reynold’s, Mrs. Gastler’s, or Mr. Gastineau’s Physics classes, it works metaphorically in considering school operations.  Be diligent to follow our systems of operations and follow through with all school-wide decisions and policies.  Believe it or not, this really is what it takes to go from good to great, when we are all on the same rope pulling in the same direction.  When one of us decides that our own personal direction is more important than our unit’s direction, it weakens the pull that we have collectively. Please understand, I am not asking you to forego being original or creative – feel free to sing or wear crazy socks (metaphorical yet again) while pulling on the rope – but please don’t let the go of the rope and DO keep pulling in the same direction as the rest of us.  We need you.

As school gets rolling again, I am still saddened by those who attempt to bring us down with their deleterious statements.  I hope everyone knows that if these statements come from someone outside what Teddy Roosevelt refers to as “actually in the arena,” then we know they do not understand what they speak or the damage they precipitate.  The comments that hurt our students and our school the most are the whispers that come from within.  I ask you – no, I implore you, do not be the dark whisperer of our school. Instead, challenge yourself to be the tie that binds us together with your words of affirmation and support.  It’s probably hard for some to believe, but for those of you who are spreading the good news about Benton, it’s working.  I hear so many more positive comments about our school this last year than I have in the previous five.  It’s working.  Be that great voice that tells others inside and outside our arena how great we are.  YOU are a part of us.  Be a strong part.  Be a strong voice.  And by the way,  it’s working.  I believe in you, and I believe my staff and students – our staff and students – really are amazing.  To quote a favorite movie line of mine: “Let it be written. Let it be done!”

Week 3:  A Look Ahead

It’s a short week packed full of excitement.  I hope some of you make this the week to attend a student event from play try-outs to athletic contests. If you are wondering what’s going on around BHS, check out Coach Ziesel’s activities site at http://www.oneschoolstreet.com.  Have a great week!

Friday:  Pep Assembly schedule

Saturday:  September ACT test

Sunday:  Grandparents Day (a call or card would show you CARE!)

~Excellence is a journey not a destination.~

 “Handle with Care” signs available at http://www.shippinglabels.com/Fragile-Shipping-Labels/Red-Handle-With-Care/SKU-d416-500.aspx

“Without a sense of caring, there can be no sense of community.” ~Anthony J. D’Angelo

Week 1 in Review

Super start! Ha! Alliteration already.  You have to enjoy that for at least one minor magical moment.  Truthfully though, it really was a wonderful week.  Thank you to everyone for starting strong.  Every weekend, I spend a significant amount of time thinking about the week that has passed.  As I was doing laundry, I noticed the CARE label on one of the clothing items, and it made me think about all the correlations between those labels and what we do to CARE for our school.  Sometimes, I just wish those CARE labels were posted everywhere in our school as quick reminders of how to take care of everything.  I Googled “Care Instructions,” and that search took me to the Textiles Affairs site where their title page said:

_____________________________________

 ______________________________________

 I chuckled as I starting thinking of the symbols and all the parallels they offered in our work place.  I think those will provide perfect bullets for this post.

 I appreciate everyone’s cooperation with the field house construction and parking issues. Please pass on to your students how their understanding and cooperation as a part of our school community made what could have been a rough start very smooth because they cared for what Benton was trying to achieve.

 

I also appreciate your efforts to care for each other during our first days of school.  I saw teachers making sure they made it to the hallways to help supervise during passing periods. I also heard from several of you ways that other staff members have taken the time to care of each other.  I want to remind everyone that as you continue to support each other through your random acts of kindness, words of encouragement, hugs as you pass by, it all adds up to make a big difference in how we feel about each other and our work day.

Great job on your department JEPD and a huge shout out to our Instructional Coach Amy Fowler for providing you the information to get started on data teams for this year. She worked hard to get the information delivery succinct for everyone.  We are working on the data teams courses and I will have those posted under the Data Teams section in Departments on our Schoolwires site.

Another shout out to everyone for getting those class changes in and especially to our counselors for going through the massive number of requests for change.  Please share with your students that just because they make a request, it doesn’t mean they will get it. They must meet our stated, established criteria for change.  We are still making changes in the master schedule to accommodate our students’ needs, and we hope to have your classes within reasonable sizes by the end of this week.  I hope you will smile gently when you know that reasonable to you is not necessarily what DESE thinks it is.

 

Week 2:  A Look Ahead

This week looks pretty standard from the start.  There will not be a lot of disruptions although we do have several activities I will remind you about.  One request I have for you to consider this week in our focus to CARE is that you call at least one parent.  Call to say how well the student is doing.  Call to share that your student has missed class and you were concerned.  Call to remind a student to make up a test or assignment.  Call to make that connection with a parent that is a deposit in the bank for a relationship bond you know you will need in the near future.  If all staff members make one call, then 100 contacts will be made.  Make this above what you would do already.  Make this special call to make a difference beyond what is good.  Jim Collins reminds us with his book that good is the enemy of great.  This week, let’s pick parent contact as a way to be great at Benton and show our CARdinal Excellence.

Events this week:

Tuesday – Fall Pep Assembly Planning Meeting, 7:00 – 7:30 a.m. in Room 106

Wednesday – Benton Leadership Team Meeting, 7:00 a.m. in Room 108; Freshmen will receive their laptops in CAMP.

Thursday – Tornado Drill @ 9:20 (Mr. McCoy will send out additional instructions if needed)

Friday – Pep Assembly Schedule – Football Team Intro/first home game

Monday, Sept 3 – NO SCHOOL/Labor Day

Wednesday, Sept 5 – JEPD White Postponed/Rescheduled for Sept 13

Textile Symbols from textileaffairs.com. “Handle with care” available on Flickr by Victor Hertz

 

CARE:  CARdinal Excellence

 Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” ― Leo F. Buscaglia

What a great start to the school year!  Thanks to each of you for your planning, implementation, and support of our first two days.  I appreciate each one of you for your dedication to our students and our school.  And thanks to everyone who was able to attend our Jamboree.  It was great to see you there!

There is no greater joy in a school than to walk down the hall or into a classroom and see a teacher caring for a student.  I personally witnessed numerous occasions when teachers took their own time to take CARE of students who were lost, had questions, or were just being kids and needed a reminder to do what was best.  As we move forward in the school year, I ask each of you to capture an opportunity to CARE that is different from what you would’ve done before this year.  As the reality of spending time together begins to show itself, remember the following:

• Show patience; keep your cool
• Don’t ever use inappropriate/foul language around students
• Reword opportunities for a student to comply
• Send students to buddy rooms when they need “time out.”
• Don’t place students in the hallway unsupervised for any reason
• Do not allow students to “line up” before the bell rings for dismissal; dismiss them from their seats to keep from having any discipline problems occur
• Be sure students know your behavior expectations
• Always send students with a pass if they leave your room for any reason
• Keep a positive attitude – that always sets the tone of your interaction with students
• Be a role model for good interpersonal skills – especially when confronted

Week 1:  A Look Ahead

Just like always, it doesn’t take much to start our crazy schedule rolling.  This coming week is no exception.  As we step away and look at the upcoming week as a whole, I remind you to have this week of lessons ready to go.  Make sure they are solid and well planned.  You only get once to make a first impression.  Be sure to have enough instruction/practice for students to stay engaged the entire class period.

Before I share the academic activities for this week, I want to alert all teachers to the policies for Project Connect – our laptop program – and the actual distribution of devices this week.  It is imperative that you remind ALL students of proper laptop use.  The actual rules review will be handled in the Humanities classes, but it is important for all teachers to “own” the policies and procedures.   One special reminder for the students is that if their parents have not attended a Project Connect Parent Orientation meeting, they CAN NOT take the laptop home with them.  They must turn the device in to the main office at the end of the school day by 3:00 p.m.  If they do not, one attempt is made to contact the student/family, and then the device is considered missing.  Police are contacted in order to retrieve the device as quickly as possible.

Monday – We will have students sign Project Connect User Agreements in CAMP.  Directions will be sent via email and forms are in your mailboxes.   Seniors will cover Technology Handbook and Digital Citizenship information in Comm Arts for their roll out on Tuesday.

Tuesday – Seniors will receive their laptops in CAMP.  Remaining Seniors and all Junior Humanities classes will review the Technology Student Handbook and Digital Citizenship in their classes today.  Fire Drill @ 9:00 a.m.  There will be a Project Connect Parent Meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Auditorium for any parents who have NOT attended a parent meeting and have that attendance on file.  Encourage students to have their parents attend if they have not already.

Wednesday – Juniors will receive their laptops in CAMP.  Sophomore Humanities classes will review the Technology Student Handbook and Digital Citizenship in their classes today.  There are two Project Connect Meetings for Parents in the auditorium.  One at 8:00 a.m. and one at 2:00 p.m.  Teacher Job Embedded Professional Development (JEPD) starts today for Data Teams instruction.  (Red day department collaboration teams should attend.  See email for teams and locations for each period.)

Thursday – Sophomores will receive their laptops in CAMP.  Freshmen Humanities classes will review the Technology Student Handbook and Digital Citizenship in their classes today.  The last two Project Connect Parent meetings will be held in the auditorium.  One at 8:00 a.m. and one at 2:00 p.m.  Teacher JEPD for White days (departments with collaboration on White days only attend).

Friday –  Freshmen will receive their laptops in CAMP.

~Excellence is a journey not a destination.~

Images available in CC from Flikr:  “Always There for You” by FUNKYA 

 

 

The road to excellence is always under construction.  ~Unknown source

“And I further pledge myself to Benton High School, whose ideas and traditions are worthy of all.”  We say it several times each week when we say the Pledge of Allegiance, but there are those times when we speak those words that it brings home how our goal for achieving excellence for our school and our students is really about honoring a more than 100 year tradition of our school.  I have quipped on more than one occasion that I am not in our business to be mediocre.  I feel we are all here to do what’s best.  What’s best for kids is something we say time and time again.  The old motto of our school used to be, “If it’s good for Benton, just do it.”  Here’s what our pledge opened my eyes to last Friday as we sat together honoring the excellent and honorary efforts of our seniors and senior most influential teachers – that it takes hard work to achieve excellence.

I know we worked hard this year to achieve excellence.  It means working and reworking our approach – and go from good to great.  We had to stay the course.  We could not cut corners.  We had to focus.  And we did it.  As we sit in the last days of school on the other side of the 2011-2012 chapter in our journey to excellence, I realize that our road is yet again under construction.  Years ago when I was a head coach, I always made it part of our tactical plan to evaluate what we did well and keep that as well as to take something that was stellar from our opposing team (consider this research) and incorporate that into our game plan.  It took time, and even with a year-to-year change in personnel (graduating seniors), we always got better.  I see that game plan for Benton as well.  As we close out this school year, it’s time for reflection on our tactical plan.  It’s time to look at what the other schools do that is so successful and see how that might help us achieve excellence.  It’s time for each teacher to bring that to an individual level so as to grow professionally.

This has been an exciting and rewarding year.  I wish you each a restful summer and look forward enthusiastically for what the next year will bring.  Ancora Imparo.

~Excellence is a journey, not a destination.~

Images are available through CC on Flickr:  “way ahead” by roujo.  “Benton Crest” from BHS. 

Excellence is an art won by training and habituation.  We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly.  We are what we repeatedly do.  Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.     ~Aristotle

Reflections on the Week

Seniors.  They make our days lively.  These are their final days with us, and it’s imperative that we enjoy them together.  When you think back on the year with our seniors, I hope you are all thinking about the special moments shared.  These are moments and stories that both teachers and students alike carry for a lifetime.  In this finals week of making memories, be sure you show and share excellence with them.  Our students look to us to model what excellence of training and habituation standards will be.  They look to us to care for them and to care about them.  They beg us to hold them to high standards, which they are proud to achieve with our support, encouragement, and grace.

I want to state boldly that our seniors were amazing last week when under the leadership of their class officers, CheyennE , Boo and Trevor, they made decisions to lead their class into a level of solidarity and responsibility for Thursday night’s decorating party.  Within one hour of school starting, they cleaned up their party, whether they had attended or not.  They understood that as adults we are given freedoms with responsibility.  They won in this instance because of their training and habituation, and they were excellent.  I am very proud of them for acting rightly in response to the event.  I hope you are as well.

Last week was a huge week in respect to state testing.  Thank you to all students and staff alike who worked diligently to study and show your efforts of learning on the EOC assessments.  Thank you for the attending extra study sessions, working punctiliously through your reviews, and for ensuring our students were prepared and ready to test.  Now we wait for the results.

Final(s) Week/Final Week(s)

We are down to the last 8 school days.  It’s hard for me to believe the final days are really here.  Between Monday and our last day, we have enough work to fill a month of school.  But then that seems like the standard each week for these last few months.  I will send out as many communications as possible to keep us all informed and as lock-step as we can be so that frustrations are kept to a minimum.  At this point, my best points of advice include:  smile, remain flexible, ask questions, stay positive, double check, hold students accountable, finish strong, and enjoy this time with our students.  Because somehow, the world believes in irony, this is TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK.  I have one word for that.  True.

Here is the week:

Monday:  Crash simulation for sophomores, JEPD (see meeting locations in staff email), Josten’s meeting with Class of 2013 officers during CAMP, IT @ state, Tennis team @ districts, PTA hosts TEACHER APPRECIATION LUNCH in Room 108 (Sharp’s room).

Tuesday:  Yearbook distribution, IT @state, Teacher Appreciation breakfast in mailroom

Wednesday: Freshmen to MWSU, Senior Red Finals, Senior checkout sheets distributed 1R(in your mailbox), Senior Red Check Out, Teacher Appreciation snacks in mailroom

Thursday: Senior White Finals, Senior White Check Out, W2 (for HTC students)/W4 teachers with seniors collect check out sheets, Teacher Appreciation snacks in mailroom, Senior Slideshow @630pm

Friday:  Scholarship Assembly @ 9:00 in Springer (special bell schedule will be emailed), Senior Survey taken after assembly, Senior laptop check-in (Modis Gym), Teacher Appreciation Pizza Lunch in Room 108.

 

 

 

~Excellence is a journey, not a destination.~

All images available in CC on Flikr: “Countdown” by Holster®; “Outnumbered” by Roger Smith; “New Year 2010 Fireworks, Singapore” by Eustquio Santimano.

The excellency of every art at its intensity, capable of making all disagreeable evaporate, from their being in close relationship with beauty and truth. ~John Keats

Reflecting on Week 35

EOC testing.  AP and Fine Arts Exhibition. Baseball.  Mousse.  The excellency of every art.  The hope that comes from reaching a major checkpoint in our journey toward excellence is indescribable.  Not to land in a cliché, but from hard work comes great reward.  I love seeing the reward come to fruition in so many venues.  I am certain that we are only beginning to look into the face of success.  As we raise intensity of our journey, we will continue to see the fruits of our labors.

John Keats claimed a theory of negative capability.  The theory allows for individuals to transcend a traditional, social context and innovate beyond what was imagined.  I imagine it’s much like positive efficacy – for Benton it is believing and claiming the excellence we know we have the ability to be.  But much like a hard fought sporting contest, we often don’t believe we are the better team until the score tells us so.   It’s time to set that record straight.

Week 36 – A Look Ahead

EOC testing continues this week with Biology and Algebra 1 along with make up sessions for English 2 and Government.  Please continue to follow testing protocols with our students.  Also, this is an important time to work with students to focus on their grades to ensure success.  There are 13 school days left in this year.  Help them make the most of every minute they have left.  It is the intensity of excellence that earns the greatest rewards.

~Excellence is a journey, not a destination.~

Images available in CC on Flickr:  “Strength” by R.O Mania♥.

The illiterate of the 21st Century will not be those who cannot read or write, it will be those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn. ~Alvin Toffler

Reflecting on Week 34

As we move to finalize our Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (CSIP) for Benton for next year, my research into the areas we have chosen to focus brought me to two scholarly works that changed my thinking years ago when I first was introduced to them.  The first is with systems change.  When we as a school focus on what needs to be accomplished to reach excellence on our journey, questions arise when CHANGE is proposed to the system – in this case, how we offer “school” to our students.  This RSA Animation from Sir Ken Robinson about Changing Education Paradigms continues to challenge me as to why we must never cease to embrace change in our organization.  As the world changes, we must adapt for it.  It is not only our professional obligation to prepare students for the changing world, but our lively hood demands it.  The changes we are considering — from CAMP reorganization to creating strong interventions to help our students successfully navigate our courses — though not nearly as universal as what Sir Robinson are certainly creating significant change to our organization.  At least we hope it does change our outcomes in a significantly positive direction.  Identifying the need for change, implementing change, sustaining change in order for our students at Benton High School to continue to grow in their excellence is one area that I feel defines us as a staff and as an organization.  We have grown literate in what it means to be a 21^st Century learner – we are not afraid to learn, unlearn, and relearn.

The second area that I feel we have achieved significant growth in is that of building teacher leaders.  Dr. Michael Fullan states in The Change Leader that, “Also crucial to sustained improvement is the effective succession of leaders. Leadership succession is more likely if there are many leaders at many levels. Organizations must set their sights on continual improvement at all levels, and for that they must nurture, cultivate, and appoint successive leaders who are moving in a sustained direction.”

Growing leaders in our building is a priority for me.  It takes building voice and reflection in a staff.  It takes maturity for decision-making and understanding the power of consensus. It especially takes putting the goals of the unit over the goals of the “silos.”  But most of all, growing leaders takes time.  In that time, as we change from directive, top-down decision-making of old, we must grow capacity for innovation, input, and ownership.  Building the climate of leadership is what will improve our grades, learning and results.  Fullan shares that, “Literacy and mathematics improvements are only the beginning. To ensure deeper learning – to encourage problem solving and thinking skills and to develop and nurture highly motivated and engaged learners, for example – requires mobilizing the energy and capacities of teachers.”  Please take time to watch and read the two links.  I think you will agree; your leadership will make all the difference in our school.

Week 35 – A Look Ahead

We host our 8^th graders from Spring Garden Middle School on Tuesday.  It will be an exciting day for our incoming freshmen.  The only teachers who will be working with the 8^th graders during the day are those who are assigned to them next year.  That information will be delivered after school (2:45 in Room 104) at the day visit meeting.  On Tuesday night, our staff will host parents at the 8^th Grade Parent Orientation.  Any staff member who teaches or could possibly teach freshmen or have a freshman CAMP next year is expected to attend this event.   Show time is 5:45 p.m. in Springer Gym.

This week we start EOC Testing.  Starting on Wednesday, April 25^th through May 4^th, our building will begin ASSESSMENT PROTOCOLS.  No classes should be using YouTube or streaming video without requesting permission.  Please monitor and prohibit students from streaming music.  We do not want to compromise bandwidth access during testing.  No students should be given passes during classes unless they are emergencies.  Students are not allowed to use cell phones during testing at all.  Testing rooms must be sanitized and signs will be posted showing testing rooms.  Please advise students of these protocols.

More than anything, I can never thank each of you enough for what you do for our school and for our students and parents each day.  Unless you work in this profession, you will never understand the nature of what is expected each day.  Please know, your administrative team is proud to lead and serve you each day.

~Excellence is a journey, not a destination.~

All images are available in CC from Flickr:  “Rectangular” by jronaldlee; “Lego Family” by the great 8; “Lego old skool desktop wallpaper” by Tinker*Tailor loves Lalka