“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” ~Aristotle
Week 2 in Review
We had a tough week this week, no doubt about it. But, we survived it together by joining our resources, leaning on each other, and showing a tremendous amount of professionalism. I can’t begin to thank everyone for the solidarity in teaching, learning and relationships when all around us our students and several staff were living various levels of stress and sadness. From the alternative bell schedules for heat days to the loss of a former student, I watched our united effort help get us through the week. Thanks to those who provided the stability of the classroom environment each day. Thank you for pressing on with teaching and learning, rushing to comfort our grieving students, maintaining our literacy plan, readying our safety protocols, and stepping up to celebrate at our pep assembly. This week I witnessed true solidarity in solace.
Week 3 – Looking Ahead
Can you believe we are already in the third week of school? I am guessing that this week will go as fast as last week. We have two days in our forecast that could present some heat challenges. Be thinking ahead about what that may do to your instructional plans. If we do not have early outs (which is entirely possible), then we do have a Red/White day plan for moving the hottest rooms into cooler ones for 3rd and 4th blocks. I will send that out if needed. Also this week, I will be sending out the PBTE list for who is going to be evaluated this year. When you receive the email, please drop by my office to pick up your PBTE booklet.
Monday during CAMP, we will be getting the freshmen together in the auditorium for them to learn about Student Council at Benton. ALL students will report to their CAMP classes first and wait until we announce for the freshmen to be dismissed. Do NOT send students directly to the auditorium. Then next week, we will begin our CAMP meetings where a student from each CAMP will come to meet with administration for our first all school meeting. Who will your CAMP send? How will you determine who represents the group? This should be a topic your CAMP discusses this week.
Wednesday, there will be a Leadership Team meeting after school at 2:45 p.m. If your department chair is unable to attend, please make sure someone from your department is there to represent. Thursday and Friday, Sept 1st & 2nd, we are going to start our short department meetings to share the AQ Survey data and Senior Survey data. In addition, both Danielle Holmes, Amy Fowler, and Karen Cox will join us to answer any questions about upcoming areas of expectation in SpEd, data teams, and CAMP. Department chairs should send me the location we will meet each collab block with your department. Departments with the same collab time (for example: CA&SpEd, SS&IT): Department Chairs should get together to establish a common location for both groups to meet together then let me know where that will be. All departments should plan on meeting in the first 30 minutes of the block.
Oh yes! And before I forget to invite everyone again, our sports and activities are now in full implementation, and it would be so great if you could take a little time to visit our students as they participate and engage in these experiences. This is a great time to bring your own children, extended family members, and spouses to share in events that continue to build our solidarity. And don’t forget…
Excellence is a journey, not a destination.
Thank you for flying with us.
Go Cardinals!
“Join our Team” CC from Flickr by CraigTaylor 1974; “Close Connection” CC from Flickr by alles-schumpf; “Leadership Concept” CC from Flickr by Shutterstock;”The Red Arrows” CC from Flickr by eisenbahner