Fourteen days and these halls will be filled with over 450 kids for the first day of school. I hope you have had a wonderful summer and ready for a fantastic school year. I wanted to give you an update about things to be thinking about and events coming up in the next couple of weeks.
-Explore. Be Brave. Have Courage.
I can't tell you how much I want this theme to truly impact us this year. I feel like the events that have taken place over the past few weeks have already started doing that. What things do you want to explore? What have you always wanted to do in the classroom or at school that you couldn't do or were afraid to do? What do our students really need to be productive, good adults? Start thinking outside the box! You will be hearing more over the next couple of weeks.
-Either you will win or lose your class on the first few days of school.
How you spend the first few days will determine how the rest of the year will go. Don't rush what happens the first few days of school feeling liking you are losing time with content. If we spend the first few days building a good classroom culture where students feel safe, loved and connected and they have practiced procedures for how you expect them to behave - the content and skills can be covered much more quickly.
Here are some things I would suggest you spend a GREAT DEAL of time on the first seven school days:
-letting your students get to know you as a person
-letting your students get to know each other and connect as well as you learning about them
-discussing with students important concepts that you want your class to exhibit this year (collectively and individually) like kindness, honesty, teamwork, etc.
-practicing absolutely every procedure you can think of - how to line up, come in of a morning, go to bathroom, pass out papers, pass in papers, and the list goes on. PRACTICE,
PRACTICE, PRACTICE.
Facebook Videos
We want our students to be excited about coming back to school. I would love for you guys to do a short video we could put on Facebook letting the students know how excited we are for the start of school (I know, I know but fake it til you make it!) It can be really short - just a few words but I think they would love it. I hope some of you are willing to do this - I am posting my video here and am uploading it to Facebook today. And I HATE videoing myself. Come on help me out....
Next Week July 29th - August 2nd
Monday July 29th - Aligning Academics Leader in Me PD
8-3 in the library for all CCES Teachers and Instructional Assistants
Tuesday July 30th - Action Teams Work Day - for all certified staff - bring a device with you - 8 to 3 in the library
Friday August 2nd - UDL, OBOS, SLED Day PD for all CCES Teachers and Instructional Assistants - 8 to 3 in the library
August 5th - 9th
Monday August 5th - Meet Your Teacher Event 5-7 pm
Tuesday August 6th - CCES Opening Day at 8:30 at LWM
Instructions for the day:
1. Come hungry
2. Color War for the Houses - come dressed out in your house color from head to toe. Points and prizes are at stake! Be creative and think outside the box.
Wednesday, August 7th (Wear our Wes/Kam Stronger Together shirts)
-Staff meeting (for all staff) at 8 am in the library
-District Opening Day activities at CCHS beginning at 10 am
Thursday, August 8th - First Day of School (Wear our Green Camping Shirts)
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