In Light of Recent Events...

This is the letter to the parents regarding the Connecticut tragedy. Thanks to all of the amazing principals on twitter who shared what they wrote. This was a very difficult letter. I sure appreciate the virtual support provided out there in twitter land.

December 17, 2012

Dear Highlander Family,

Like each of you, I hugged both of my girls a little tighter over the weekend and have wondered throughout the day if they were okay. I know that it is probably callous to pray for this deep empty feeling to go away, but as parents we all long for days where innocence and children are protected. So, realizing the questions and concerns you must be experiencing, I wanted to connect with you as your child’s principal.

We started the day today as a staff. We met and reviewed questions that had been submitted throughout the weekend. We discussed concerns and made sure everyone was on the same page. We made sure that every adult understood their own role in a potentially dangerous situation. Staff members were asked to refrain from having conversations as a class about the tragedy in Connecticut. Some parents have chosen not to share with their children, and we want to respect those wishes. Many students came in with questions and concerns. Students who appeared to need more support or felt like they really needed to talk were encouraged to visit with our school counselor, and those parents were notified. We will continue to address the individual needs of the students in this way. If you know your child is having a hard time, please contact his/her teacher, the counselor or the office staff.

The Main Office/front doors will continue to be the only doors open to enter the building during the school day. We will continue to utilize the Raptor System to sign-in guests. If you are a guest at McAuliffe, please have your driver’s license ready to be scanned. With the upcoming holiday parties, you may want to allow for additional time to get in and get scanned. We will scan every guest who has not been entered into the system.

We will continue to practice all safety drills and work with first responders to ensure that we are prepared for inclement weather or any other situation that might compromise the safety of our children and staff. On Tuesday, we will have students walk through the Lock-Down procedures. We do not want to scare them, but we do want them to be familiar with where to go and what to expect in a lock-down situation. Most students can share easily with you what his/her class does. They may not use the actual language though. We want our students to feel safe.

One of our wonderful dads offered to spear-head the Watch D.O.G.S. program. Watch D.O.G.S. is “the father involvement initiative of the National Center for Fathering that organizes fathers and father figures in order to provide positive male role models for the students and to enhance school security. Today, more than 2276 active programs in 41 states participate in the WATCH D.O.G.S. Program.” WatchD.O.G.S. are “fathers, grandfathers, step-fathers, uncles, and other father figures who volunteer to serve at least one day a year in a variety of school activities as assigned by the school principal or other administrator.” We will be sending home information about the program very soon. If you have questions, please let me know.

Finally, I want to thank you for trusting your most prized possession with us each day. Your child’s safety is paramount. Every child that walks through those doors is special, and we will do everything we can to provide them the safe, secure environment that they deserve. If you have any questions or concerns, please call or email. Thank you. There is no doubt that we are truly blessed to be a part of such a wonderful community. Thank you for your support and kindness. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns. You are an important part of this McAuliffe family. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Mattingly

Principal

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/9746873/Connecticut-school-shooting-how-do-parents-explain-Sandy-Hook-massacre.html

http://www.onenewspage.us/n/US/74rkhzxt7/PBS-Offers-Ideas-About-Talking-To-Your-Kids.htm

Practical Suggestions for Assisting Children in the Aftermath of a Tragedy ( http://www.aaets.org/practicalsuggestionschildren.pdf<https://www.linkedin.com/redirect?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eaaets%2Eorg%2Fpracticalsuggestionschildren%2Epdf&urlhash=C9dE&_t=tracking_anet

- Parent Guidelines for Crisis Response

( http://www.aaets.org/parentguidelines.pdf<https://www.linkedin.com/redirect?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eaaets%2Eorg%2Fparentguidelines%2Epdf&urlhash=kBxw&_t=tracking_anet> )

- How Do People Respond During Traumatic Exposure?

( http://www.aaets.org/during.pdf<https://www.linkedin.com/redirect?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eaaets%2Eorg%2Fduring%2Epdf&urlhash=9caG&_t=tracking_anet> )

- Helpful Information During and After a Traumatic Event ( http://www.aaets.org/helpful.pdf<https://www.linkedin.com/redirect?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eaaets%2Eorg%2Fhelpful%2Epdf&urlhash=Rnxk&_t=tracking_anet> )

Six Novels, Six Weeks!

Our Marcus High School Soccer players are great
celebrity readers. Elementary students love
spending time reading with their older mentors!

I love sitting in training thinking about stuff that has nothing to do with the professional learning opportunity at hand. It never fails that I am totally focused then the trainer says something that leads me on a brilliantly exciting and invigorating bunny trail! Today, she was talking about writing across curriculum. Then, she said something about vocabulary and reading and Bam! There is was: the most enticing bunny trail I’ve encountered in a week or two!

Call me Alice, but I love a bunny trail. So, off I went on my own – smiling and nodding in encouragement to the trainer, and even taking an occasional note (on my idea) to look engaged!

Here’s kind of what I was envisioning. I LOVE to read. I always have. It may have been that Gilligan’s Island and the Brady Bunch could only engage me for so long or the fact that my parents only allowed me to watch an hour of television a day as a kiddo. Regardless, I love to read. I love the classics, grew up with Shelia the Great, wondered if I was a 4^th Grade Nothing, befriended Ramona and Beezes, and snuck a copy of Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret under the covers and read with a flashlight! I’ve also mourned the death of the great Albus Dumbledore, imagined myself with a dozen siblings, belabored the impact of utopia in The Giver, agonized about surviving in my own little house in the big woods, cried when Leslie drowned in Terabithia, and fell asleep at work after having to sit up all night to make sure Katniss Everdeen would win the Hunger Games.

So, I just don’t think kids get to experience growing up with some of the fictional characters that shaped my childhood. I’m envisioning some type of principal’s summer reading list. I’m thinking there should be a list of classics that we really encourage our students to read – a list that a student would consider it an accomplishment to say that they’ve read most or even all of them. I’ve bantered the idea with myself for a couple of years, but nothing has ever come out of it. Today, however, I may have found a jumping off point.

We operate on a six weeks grading schedule because that just works. Six weeks, six novels – all six grade levels K-5! This would be done independently so we could encourage families to participate. The list of the titles for the year will be distributed at the beginning of the year, along with a list of ways to access them (local bookstores, websites, personal devices, libraries…) I will read (C.S. Lewis said “I can’t imagine a man really enjoying a book and reading it only once.”) and prepare opportunities for students and families. There should certainly be an online component. I’m thinking something like a reader’s response forum. Everyone reading along with us could post comments and thoughts. What if we could even get grandparents and local city leader or even a celebrity to read and comment too?!We could track where comments originate using Google Earth. Wait. There goes another bunny trail! At the end of the six weeks, there would have to be some type of culminating activity that enriches the novel for those kiddos who read the book! I’m not thinking a reward; I’m thinking a guest speaker, a Skype session with an author, a game or activity.

I think this is a perfect segue into promoting the Principal’s Summer Reading List next spring! Now, what I need are six novels that would be perfect for elementary students and their families to read. Stronger readers can read independently while younger students can read with their parents and siblings! This promotes family time, reading and learning – without even realizing that we are increasing our thinking and our vocabulary!

Vocabulary, that was it. That’s where the bunny trail began, but look where it got me!

Please email, tweet, or leave a comment with a suggestion for a novel! I’d love your thoughts!

I’d also love to share this endeavor with a couple of other elementary schools so our students could Skype or work on a project together! What a great opportunity for global discussion and collaboration!

Great Ways to End a School Year

The last day (week) of school can be hard on everyone. Everyone is tired, and the All-Star teams have already been chosen for spring sports. We're burning the candles at both ends, and school is just an obligation that must be fullfilled to get us to summertime!
As a principal, it's my job to make sure we are still having "school" even in late May - and even when the grades are already posted! So, I take the last couple of weeks very seriously. We started Handwriting Camp the second and third weeks of May. It was a great time to trial something that we'll do in the fall semester. I'll have to post more information about that later because it was a cool concept, and I think it will be important to continue. We also took a shot at Boater Safety Week the last week of school. We'll do that again, but I'll definitely give more direction next time.
My favorite thing is the last day of school. It's a shortened day, and we have every minute planned. This eliminates opportunity for misbehavior. It also eliminates time for students to clean and load the teachers' cars! (I personally like that!)
So, the last day is our Tom Hammerle Rock 'n Run. Tom was a student at our school who passed away after his battle with cancer. His parents are wonderful supporters of our school and attend the yearly Rock 'n Run. Students gather sponsors to support their efforts then, divided into grades K-1st, 2nd-3rd, and 4th-5th, they race at the park next to our school. Half of the money raised goes to support cancer research and the other half goes back to the school. This year we ran for iPads!
We take a full sound system and lots of water, and we have a blast! Parents and family members, along with the family pets, are all welcome to join us. Students who don't want to run are encouraged to walk, enjoy the music, and just have fun! Here is a link to this year's post race dance party:
http://youtu.be/7p2B-H4jedE
After the race, the Hammerle family provides popsicles for all of the students, teachers, and everyone who joins us. Students get to hang out at the park and cheer on their friends. Many grades have their students bring their lunches to the park so they can enjoy their lunch there too.
Students return to the school in time to get their bags together then they head to the cafeteria for the Closing Celebration. I believe it's important to start a school year with a big welcome and goal setting time and end the year celebrating the great accomplishments achieved.
Our Closing Celebration is one of my favorite things. We begin with the teachers entertaining with an opening song or dance. Students are encouraged to sing along and celebrate! Here is a link to this year's Closing Celebration teacher dance:
http://youtu.be/tPXPd5zwkeM

Last year, it was VERY HOT at the Rock 'n Run so
our local fire department came to the park and
hosed down the 4th - 5th graders! (Well, they
let me hose them down!)

We recognize the Top Readers and Top Reading Classes. We recognize different academic and citizenship achievements. (Most awards are done in the individual classes or on the daily televised announcements.) Then, we recognize the students who ran the most laps during the Rock 'n Run. Trophies are awarded to the top runners and the kids love cheering on their friends. They LOVE the trophies! Finally, we recognize those students and classes raising the most money. Our 5th graders leave and get into position for their last walk through the halls of elementary school as we wind down the Closing Celebration. This is my time to recognize my 4th graders as the new leaders and role models of the school. Everyone is pumped for summer when they leave to line the halls for the 5th Grade Walk.
The 5th Grade Walk is our way of saying good bye and good luck to our kiddos leaving for middle school. The entire school, along with the guests for the Closing Celebration, line the hallways. The 5th graders start outside the kindergarten doors and walk to the tune of a medley of great "best wishes" and "great memory" music through the parent/student - lined hallways. Students who started kindergarten together begin the walk and carry a sign saying "Kindergarten." Behind them, the students who started our school in 1st Grade walk together with a 1st Grade sign. Students are grouped with the peers that joined them when they started here at our school, each group with a sign. Each of the 5th graders have flowers that they share with teachers, special friends, and younger siblings. The onlookers cheer and also return flowers to the 5th grade graduates. It's a sweet and often emotional walk through the school by each grade and then finally out the doors toward their middle school. Here is a link to this year's 5th Grade Walk:
http://youtu.be/6F7wE8ulx0U
School's out! No fights, no arguments, no being mean - just a great end to another awesome year! Everything great needs a great closing! Another year down and another cheery on top!  

A Project-Based Treasure Hunt

In looking at a better way to help my staff sift through the Intel website on project based learning (http://www.intel.com/about/corporateresponsibility/education/k12/projects.htm) I was talking with my assistant and said, “I just want them to find some of the treasures.” The word “treasures” immediately sent my mind racing. Our brainstorming session kicked into high gear and this is what we created!

A Project-Based Treasure Hunt

Yo-Ho Fellow Jim Lads! As with all treasure hunts, it always starts with a treasure map! Of course, who has time to make maps, but oh well, I decided this was one of those opportunities to practice what we preach and do it right. So, we checked out a few sites on making treasure maps and decided to just make them the old-fashion way: draw them! We needed enough for each grade level and the fine arts and special ed teachers, so the magic number was 8.

In brainstorming, we had decided that we would have the teachers visit a couple of sites before visiting the Intel site. Initially, we thought we’d put the sites on the map. Of course, as with many things, we got excited and went for the actual cherry on top experience for the teachers!

Avast! We found a ridiculously funny video on youtube on how to talk like a pirate (http://youtu.be/fqMu6e5Dgtg). If we’re going to have them go on a treasure hunt, we might as well have them start with something short, fun, and easy. The video is about 6 minutes long and, in the big picture, is meaningless. However, I believe that learning should be fun, so that’s the way we started. Instead of just writing the sites that we wanted them to visit on the map, we decided that they needed to work a little harder and do more thinking on their own. After all, we’re raising students who struggle with problem solving!

We used a QR code to link to the site and made up a clue to leave on the map. Our clue was “Sea Dawgs ENTER here – if you dare!” We printed the QR code and taped it to the front door or the office. In drawing the map, I used the paper app on my iPad to allow me to trace a pirate ship. I knew that would be the hardest for me to draw so I started there. (I’m a terrible artist and really wanted it to at least look like I was decent so forgive the tracing!)

Next, we found a video of a webinar that was posted online about project-based learning. (https://engageteachers.adobeconnect.com/_a816142044/p32153918/?launcher=false&fcsContent=true&pbMode=normal )

The webinar was easy to understand and reached a variety of knowledge levels. I also loved that it set a great example of the many uses of online learning. I doubt the teachers listened to every word, but I know they heard “treasures” of what they needed to hear for their own current level of expertise.

On the map, I drew a volcano, erupting of course, and a skull with rocks on the sides in the water. The clue to the webinar read, “Ye Eat, Drink and Be Merry With Ye Mateys Here!” Once again, I used a QR code to attach a link to the webinar and taped it to the lounge door.

Finally getting to the meat of the professional learning opportunity, I drew an island with a few palm tress and the traditional X marking the spot of the treasure.  The map clue read, “Ye Treasure Lies Here, Protected by Wynonna.” Now, I realize that you’re puzzled, but my secretary loves Wynonna Judd, yes, the singer. The key to get into the vault (the school supply/records closet) is on a Wynonna key chain. There are always great things to be found in the vault. The final QR code was taped to the door of the vault. (https://engageteachers.adobeconnect.com/_a816142044/p32153918/?launcher=false&fcsContent=true&pbMode=normal)  It was linked to the Intel site that I wanted the teachers to review prior to the staff meeting.

There is so much great information regarding project based learning on the Intel site that it would take days or even weeks to wade through it. I really just wanted the teachers to see how much information is available and find some things that they could try in the classroom quickly.

Here is a copy of the email that the teachers received prior to getting their maps:

Ahoy Me Harties! Are ye are ready to embark on the sauciest of adventures? In ye salty sea dog’s box, a treasure map will be discovered. Ye have until 3 p.m. on Wednesday to find treasures where X marks the spot. Ye will share ye booty with ye jim lads during the staff meeting on Wednesday – or ye walk the plank! I give ye clues for ye journey: ye will need ye smart phones with QR reader downloaded. The first two destinations ye visit alone. The third destination, the most dangerous of all, should be entered as a crew (team). No more than 40 minutes need be spent at the third destination! Ye might find ye self in quicksand as the information is vast. Ye team will present ye booty to ye jim lads in less than 5 minutes – or the plank ye be walkin’.

The staff meeting is Wednesday, and I am excited. We will spend about 40 minutes listening to the treasures the group found on their treasure hunt. Meanwhile, at the last staff meeting, I asked the teachers to make sure they have twitter downloaded to their phones. Twitter will be on the screen behind the groups presenting and the teachers will have the opportunity to comment on what they think about the information being presented. Specific links can be posted and we’ll have a hashtag to keep everything together. Later, my assistant and I will be able to look back at the comments and see where we need to go with the concept of project-based learning. Yes, I will probably give out jeans passes to those who make contributions on twitter, or at least to those who really get out of their comfort zone and rise to the occasion. I’m totally fired up – I mean, Arrrgg! Avast ye Scurvy Sea Dogs, I be giddy about me possibilities!

Side note: I have a great staff, and I love the “cherry on top” style so we decided to sneak into some of the classrooms during the day on Wednesday and see what kinds of treasures we can abscond from the different rooms. (My daughter said that I should keep a list or I’ll forget! Know it all 12 year old!) We will put the treasures in a large treasure chest, pull them out one at a time and let the staff guess where they originated! It’ll be a fun ice breaker after dismissal and duty! We’ll probably wear our eye patches and bandanas too just to really look the part! Who knows?! It’s all about the cherry on top.

         

   

Ahoy Me Harties! Are ye are ready to embark on the sauciest of adventures? In ye salty sea dog’s box, a treasure map will be discovered. Ye have until 3 p.m. on Wednesday to find treasures where X marks the spot. Ye will share ye booty with ye jim lads during the staff meeting on Wednesday – or ye walk the plank! I give ye clues for ye journey: ye will need ye smart phones with QR reader downloaded. The first two destinations ye visit alone. The third destination, the most dangerous of all, should be entered as a crew (team). No more than 40 minutes need be spent at the third destination! Ye might find ye self in quicksand as the information is vast. Ye team will present ye booty to ye jim lads in less than 5 minutes – or the plank ye be walkin’.