Alexander Staff Messenger

Can you believe we have completed seven weeks on learning with our students?! As hard as it is to believe, October is here friends.

We have experienced very busy, and at times, stressful days. Each of you have faced various challenges within and outside the classroom. We NEED one another everyday. Tough days are sure to come, and our Alexander family is what keeps us encouraged to continue to endure and stay in the arena.

The culture we are building each and everyday is strong, united. We care for one another. We endure each others' burdens. We serve one another out of the kindness of our hearts.

We LOVE one another.

How will you demonstrate love to a fellow colleague this week?

My deepest desire for our campus is for us to be a learning community that is marked by our love for one another. That is the model we want our students to be molded by everyday. And our love for each other will determine our success as a campus.

This is a perfect reflection for us as we celebrate "Bullying Prevention Week" at Alexander ES this week.

Choose kind. Choose love.

Make it a GREAT, loving week!

-Lindsay

Wednesday, Oct. 2 at 3:45-4:30pm

Anyone interested in receiving an update on the plans for our PTA Fall Festival and help plan, please meet us in the Library.

Email Van Weaver- vannweaver03@hotmail.com or Liz Hernandez- ehernandez@dentonisd.org with any questions or suggestions.

Monday-

• Office Day
• Office & Admin Meetings @11am

Tuesday-

• New Principals' Breakfast @7-8:30am
• Classroom Visits

Wednesday-

• Classroom Visits
• Fall Festival Planning Meeting @3:45-4:30pm

Thursday-

• Classroom Visits
• Leading Change Session -PDC @12:30-4:30pm

Friday-

• Classroom Visits
• Coaches Huddle @8:30am
• Counselor/Admin Meeting @1pm

Tiffany and Lindsay will reach out soon to schedule Pre-Conferences for 2019-2020 T-TESS.

Minimum of 45 minutes or entire lesson cycle

• Observation cycle includes a pre-conference, observation, and post-conference

• Can be split into multiple shorter observations totaling at least 45 minutes, with written mutual consent

• Not to be conducted within the first three weeks of school OR no earlier than two weeks after completing T-TESS orientation

• Post conference must take place within 10 working days of date of formal observation, w/ written report presented to teacher at end

of post conference.

Tip #1- Do not try to reason with them

Our students who are experiencing meltdowns are physically limited to access the logical part of their brain- the prefrontal cortex.

Fight-or-flight instincts take over, the brain is flooded with adrenaline and cortisol, and children literally cannot access the part of their brain that thinks logically.

As tempting as it is, attempting to reason with students will only make them angrier.

When the brain is engaged in fight-or-flight, there is a perceived threat. During that time, reasoning attempts are ineffective. Often showing empathy will also make things worse.

Our focus needs to be on reassuring our students that they are safe, by staying calm and meeting basic needs.

Once the student has actually calmed down, they may respond to reasoning, but mid-meltdown it won’t help.

Reflect on...

• Where is the "calming space" in your classroom where students can feel safe to calm down?
• Meltdowns can look different for different students. How have you seen students experiencing "fight-or-flight" already this year?

Sept. 30-Oct. 4: Bullying Prevention Week

Oct. 4: Wear Blue- Bullying Prevention

Oct. 10: Cultural Heritage Day- wear clothing representing your roots

Oct. 11: 1st 9 Weeks Ends

Oct. 11: Parent Conference Day (Student School Holiday)

Oct. 11: Report Cards Grades Due

Oct. 14: PLC Day (Student School Holiday)

Oct. 18: Wear Pink- Breast Cancer Awareness Day

Oct. 18: Hispanic Heritage Family Night Potluck @6-8pm (staff attendance is optional)

Oct. 22: Treat Your Friend Tuesday- hosted by 4th grade

Oct. 24: Vertical Team/Committee Meetings @3:30-4:30- Throughout Building/Cafeteria

Oct. 25: Fire in the Hole Food Truck at lunch

Oct. 25: Fall Festival @5:30-7:30pm

Oct. 31: Book Character Day

• Cook and Harnest, for handling and supporting our PABS students, I couldn’t do my job without both of them
• Brenda Thomas, Margaret May, and Amy Robinson for helping with writing and erasing car rider dismissal numbers when Lisa or I were out!
• Ashlei Randolph, Lindsay Henderson, Tiffany Gonzalez, and Julie Mulvanny for showing compassion. They know why.

Make someone's day...send them a SHOUT OUT HERE

Email: lhenderson@dentonisd.org
Website: https://www.dentonisd.org/alexanderes
Location: 800 Mack Drive, Denton, TX, USA
Phone: (940) 369-3500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aalexanderelementaryschool/
Twitter: @AAlexanderElem