November 25, 2009 (Wednesday Turkey Report)

The shortened week brings a midweek WTR edition. I hope the four-day weekend allows you and your family the time to be together, share in some laughter and provides you the needed rest to be productive and energetic during our three-week run to Christmas break! As I have mentioned before, you all go the extra mile for kids each day and I know this can be exhausting. Your effort is appreciated and noticed. He who laughs, lasts - DB

Gobble Goodsearch – We received a check this week from Goodsearch for $47.47. Although this is not $1000's of dollars, every little bit helps. Please continue to promote the use of Goodsearch with family and friends and continue to use the websearch yourself!

Holiday Celebration is set for Friday, December 18^th for both 4^th and 5^th grade. I will tweak the lunch and recess schedule to allow both parties to start at 12:20 pm. Please send appropriate communication home with students next week regarding the particulars for your grade level. That will allow parents enough time to plan in case they need to take time off or provide any needed items.

A Schedule "Maize" – Okay, poor Thanksgiving pun, but the changes in hours for Brenda and Stephanie may cause us to feel like we are in a maze for a bit. I appreciate those of you who have already volunteered to step up and help or gave suggestions. Beginning Monday, Brenda will be with us from 11:30 am through 2:30 pm every day. Stephanie will change her time at WIS from 7:45 to 4:00 pm. If you need a substitute, please call Stephanie by 6:45 am that morning! Thank you in advance for adjusting with the changes.

Music Gravy – Ms. Mann has scheduled Yvonne Johnson from Clarinda to come speak with the 5^th graders next week during music class. She's a retired music teacher living in Clarinda and she plays in a recorder consort (This is an ensemble of recorders from soprano to bass). She might be bringing one or two other members of her ensemble with her (also retired music teachers!) and will bring all the different recorders to show and demonstrate for the kids. She will also talk about the history of the instrument. This is "gravy" for our music curriculum and program. I appreciate Ms. Mann "trotting" the extra mile!

Tiger Behavior Plan Results: "Tough Turkeys" – Brenda ran referral numbers for our first five weeks of implementation for our Tiger Behavior Plan and they look great already! I hope the numbers from the last couple weeks indicate students are getting the point that we are all going to be consistent on what is expected and not an indication of a relaxing of expectations. This would be good conversations for your PLC teams during your next meeting. I do tend to believe and observe that we are being consistent but there is always room for improvement. As we discussed, the key in continuing the program's success is consistency and teamwork! The chart is in the lounge, but I have included it below too.

Click Image to Enlarge

Dates to Note…
Nov 26-27 NO SCHOOL: Thanksgiving Break!
Dec 2 - 2 hr early dismissal (PLC - Technology)
Dec 2 - Barry at SAI Mentor Meeting (DSM all day)
Dec 3 – Nita Martinez's birthday!
Dec 6 – Melissa Schafer's birthday!
Dec 8 – Janet Duke's birthday!
Dec 9 - 2 hr early dismissal (PLC - Building)
Dec 9 - Barry at Homeland Security Training (Oakland all day)
Dec 11 - Staff Party!
Dec 17    - Fourth Grade Music Program (6 pm @ HS auditorium)
Dec 18    - Classroom parties 12:20-1:10 pm; 2 hr early dismissal (Winter Break begins)
Dec 18 - End 1st semester/2nd quarter
Dec 18 – Susan Noonan's birthday!
Dec 24 – Geoff Maurer's birthday!
Dec 31 – Janelle Erickson's birthday!
Jan 4 - Begin 2nd semester/3rd quarter
Jan 5 - Grades due by 4 pm
Jan 6 - 2 hr early dismissal (PCL - Curriculum)
Jan 7 - 1st Semeser Report cards go home