8/29/14

THINK WIN-WIN

*@casas_Jimmy suggests "a note a day to a staff member will change your attitude and your lens for that teacher and your school."  Imagine what it will do for those receiving the notes?  Are you up for the challenge?

PUT FIRST THINGS FIRST 

9/1  Holiday-YEAH!!! Enjoy your 3-Day Weekend!
9/3  Strategic Pre-Planning Meeting for SSF and SH

9/3  BTSA Mtg
9/4  New Principal Mtg @ 4:00

SYNERGIZE 

•A Big Drop in the Bucket for Stephanie for doing a fabulous job sharing the STREAM Energy Unit with all of the Discovery Lab Teachers/Instructors-Love the Da Vinci analogy! Was Da Vinci a Scientist, Researcher, Engineer, Artist or Mathematician? 
•Congratulations to all of our schools for a smooth and positive opening of the school year!  Everyone seems so Happy!
•Thank You to Terri Davis for always taking such EduAwesome notes for all of us!  Strategic Planning is made easier with your notes!
•TOSA Land is an amazing place to be!  Talk about Synergy!  Room 16 @ Carmel Creek is a major Think Lab!  Our TOSA's are busy, busy preparing for Strategic Planning!  Thank you to everyone for allowing them to video our kiddos doing incredible things!
•Thank you to Caroline and her staff for supporting our Media Centers and Technology Labs with an updated Alexandria and NWEA training.
•WOW!  Did you know that the San Dieguito Alliance for Drug Free Youth hosts a planning meeting for ALL of the Solana Beach, Encinitas and San Dieguito Red Ribbon Chairs.  Awesome resources for our Volunteers.  Red Ribbon Week is October 27-31.  Solana Beach City Council Meeting will be October 22 @ 6:00
•Monica Smith is slowly digging her way out of Curriculum ordering Hell!  If you are still awaiting materials, know that Monica is working as hard and as fast as she can!
•Kudos to Katy and Cara for being on top of the Eureka Math needs.  By working closely with the Media Center Teachers, classroom teachers and Terry Decker, we've been able to get the right materials to the right people at the right time!  Not an easy task!

BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND

Blogs/Articles/Videos for Instructional Leaders

•A GREAT resource to continue our conversations about Happiness in your life and work place: Work Happy Now with Karl Staib. Karl focuses on unleashing your SuperPower to be the best that you (and your work place can be)  Sign up for his 7 Part E Course-It is Excellent!! The first 2 parts (emails) that he sends are similar to what we did on the retreat.  #3-7 are new information.  Following the 7th course (email) he sends great little reminders to keep you on track!  I've been enjoying his positivity!
•STEM is Everywhere-Lots of Resource Articles
•5 Essentials for Developing Remarkable Leaders

•Become the Storyteller-in-Chief for your school!
•Great Video on how one person and persistence can make a difference-How are you going to make a difference? Unsung Hero Video
•8 Videos to make you think (& laugh) about our obsession with technology

SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND

Blogs/Articles/Videos for Teachers

•5 Back to School Tips for New Teachers (I would argue Veteran Teachers also!)
•Love this fresh perspective on classroom rules-Does your classroom follow these 9 important rules?

•The 7 Characteristics of a digitally competent teacher
•Excellent Back to School Resources for teachers (and Instructional Leaders)

BE PROACTIVE

*Great Meeting with the Discovery Lab Teachers/Instructors.  Please remember that they will need guidance from you as to how you would like them to implement the School Wide Energy Unit.  We've asked them to go back to the sites and schedule a time to meet with you and your Media Center teachers to ensure that you are all on the same page.

*Please be sure that the Williams Settlement signs are posted in EACH classroom in English and Spanish.  The notice of Public Hearing should also be posted at the entrance to your school.
*Progress Reports are being formated! Parent Info night are on the calendar! (October 15, 16 & 21-Skyline, Solana Pacific, and Solana Ranch respectively)  Video Release in Mid October!  YAHOO!

SHARPEN THE SAW

8/22/14

THINK WIN-WIN

Isn't this the truth!

PUT FIRST THINGS FIRST 

8/25  First day for students-YAHOO!!
8/25  September Board Topics and Updates due (sometimes Principals get a reprieve for this month...Kristie??)
8/27  Strategic Planning pre-meeting for SP, CC, SKY, SV, and SR
8/28  Strategic Planning pre-meeting for CDC
8/28  Job-A-Like for ALL Discovery Lab teachers/instructors 9:00-11:00 (We will be giving an update on the STREAM Summer Task Force work and the Energy Unit.  We will also give each sub group time to work together on strategies of implementation.  Principals are welcome to attend-but not required.

SYNERGIZE 

•A drop in the bucket to Caroline and her staff for their EduAwesome presentations at each staff meeting this week!
•Congratulations to Rebecca for not only surviving, but thriving at her first SPED  Welcome Back!  Rumor has it that the team gave her a Standing Ovation!
•Thank You to Shabir and the Food Service gang for all of their hard work at the Back to School BBQ!  YUM!!
•And we can't forget our chefs-Great job Cabinet members!  From flipping pancakes to flipping burgers-Such talent!
•A big round of applause to Susan Jensen for another well planned and delivered Wellness Faire!
•Kudos to the Site Office Secretaries and Clerks for a job well done-getting the sites ready to go and keeping all of the teachers happy is not an easy job!

BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND

Blogs/Articles/Videos for Instructional Leaders

•In honor of our Sports Fans...A great article using the analogy of Basketball Tips for School Leaders
•In keeping with our SuperHero theme:  With great power comes great responsibility!
•Blogs to Follow (aside from Friday Focus-Instructional Leader Style:  A Principal's Reflections; te@chthought; Edudemic; Getting Smart; Free Tech for Teachers; Ed Tech and Mobile Technology; and one of my favorites-Connected Principals

SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND

Blogs/Articles/Videos for Teachers

•5 Ways to make your learning space more Student-Centered
•By building relationships, teachers can transform the future!
•Personalized Literacy-Tech is making this easier and easier!  (Thank You Ms. Gauthier for tweeting this article!)
•International DOT Day is coming!  Celebrate Creativity, Courage and Collaboration
•13 Ways to make homework more meaningful.  The blog is for grades 4-8, but this article could apply to primary grades as well.
•26 Questions to ask students in the first week of school

BE PROACTIVE

Dear Administrators, Don't forget about the little things...Great Article about Dreaming Big, and the importance of remembering the small stuff too!
10 Organization Tips for Back to School-Scheduling-This is a great way to use the app "Remind"  (which used to be Remind 101) for teachers and principals!

SHARPEN THE SAW

8-15-14

THINK WIN-WIN

"You only get one first day of school-Inspire them!"

PUT FIRST THINGS FIRST 

8/18  Teachers Return-Happy 2014-15 School Year

8/19  Special Ed Certificated Staff Mtg. @11:00-3:30

8/20  Special Ed Classified Staff Mtg. @11:00-12:00

8/21  Mini Open House & District BBQ/Wellness Faire

8/21  Cooperating Teacher Orientation @3:30-5:00

8/22  Work Day for Teachers

8/22  Leadership @1:00

SYNERGIZE 

WOW!!! What can I say-The Professional Symposium Days were Spectacular!  Where do I even start?

*Kudos to Terry Decker for all of his organizational expertise!

*Big Drops in the Bucket for our TOSA's (Angie, Jo, Cara, Katy and Stephanie) for absolutely ROCKIN' their sessions!! What amazing teacher leaders!

*A big round of applause for all of our teacher and outside presenters-Great content and very well delivered!

***Great big Thank You's to***

*Monica and Melani for all of their hard work ensuring that everything was copied, that the classrooms were organized and stocked with everything that they need and the hundreds of other things that they did to make this event run so smoothly and look so professional!

*The Solana Pacific staff for so graciously hosting the event...again!

*The Incredible Tech Team for giving away their best gift ever-Knowledge that we can all use!  Not to mention making sure that all of the tech was ready and working for the PD days!

*Our School Board and Superintendent for supporting these two days and valuing the importance of Staff Development for our teachers!

*Another Drop in the Bucket for Sal Gumina on another very successful New Employee Orientation!  And a big shout out to Casey Choate for all her efforts to get all of our new employees processed!  I think we set a record for new hires this year!

*Positive energy for Nancy and Carlos as they continue to navigate some sensitive issues-they joys of being "at the top!"  We love you!

*Congratulations to all of our Principals as they get ready for the new school year!  I know that the first couple of weeks back are incredibly busy and stressful-but they are also very exciting!  I wish you all a FABULOUS new school year!

*Lastly, Thank You to everyone for their active participation during the Admin Retreat!  We have such an EduAwesome Team!! It is a real honor and privilege to work with all of you!

BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND

Blogs/Articles/Videos for Principals/School Leaders
*50+ Resources for School Leaders
*Quick Ways to Model "Digital Leadership"

*11 Time Saving Advice that you probably haven't considered
*SAMR Model for Administrators-How to use technology to Redefine the way we lead

SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND

Blogs/Articles/Videos for Teachers

*Another year begins...(A heartfelt account of what it means to be a teacher)

*5 ways to make your classroom more student-centered
*5 Questions every educator should ask themselves
*Awesome Chart- Alternatives to Traditional Homework
*Bunch of iPads in your class-Need a quick start of ideas?
*Wonderopolis-An EduAwesome Website-Here's how one teacher uses it daily in her class

BE PROACTIVE 

What is your 5 word GPS?  You may remember that I posted a video on the last Friday Focus Blog in June by Dave Burgess-of the Teach Like a Pirate fame.  (He's also great to follow on Twitter) I am reposting this week because I think it is a great way for all educators to start the year.  What is your 5 Word GPS Video?  If we don't know where we are going, how can we set our course?  I challenge ALL of us to determine AND tweet (don't forget #sbsdedu) what your 5 word GPS would be for your school (or department) this coming year-How do your actions support your GPS?  Click here for Video

SHARPEN THE SAW

Included the 7 Habits here, since the graphic may not have been included in the email...