Back to School

Our summer is slowly coming to an end. We have (hopefully) taken some time to rest, relax, and reset for the coming year. We have also been preparing for our students return. As we are gathering ourselves for the beginning of the year, we also need to take time to reflect on our WHY. Why are we in education? The answer should be our daily driving purpose; the foundation of our passion and pursuit of excellence. Knowing our why and having a vision will help us bring the best to every school day (even on the tough days). Remember that our school vision is shaping the future one child at a time. Where does your personal vision fit in with the vision you all wrote as a staff?

Why am I here? My vision is to deliver the highest quality education in the most positive and passionate environment. I believe that my main responsibility is to provide an environment of support for my staff that will allow them to transform our students' lives through teaching and learning. I strive to be a positive and optimistic leader. I know my enthusiasm about our school is contagious. I set the tone for a positive and productive
work environment where you should feel safe, supported, and valued. I will provide professional growth opportunities and the resources you need, so you can continue to deliver quality instruction to our students. I will do my part to work as a team with other administrators, teachers, instructional facilitators, support staff, and parents, so the entire learning atmosphere will be one of warmth and sharing.

"There will always be times we struggle, make bad decisions, even fail. What's important is not that we fail, but that we learn and grow. And we know that there is always someone out there who believes in us." (Island of Silence - The Unwanteds Series by Lisa McMann)

Please know that I believe in each of you and I believe in our students. I wouldn't be here if I didn't. We are going to have a great year. Will it have its ups and downs? Absolutely! However, we have each other to rely on for support as we learn and grow together.

Below is a Google form to help me get to know each of you better. Please complete it. If you cannot see it, you can also access it by clicking HERE.

Shaping the future one child at a time.

• Means: forming our students' education through imagination and creativity
• Looks Like: safe, respectful, responsible, positive, motivated
• Sounds Like: constructive noise, engagement, excitement

We believe all students can learn:

• Learning must have a clear purpose.
• All learners deserve a safe, respectful, and structured environment.
• Learners grow with mutual support, responsibility, and compassion.
• All learners have the ability to grow.

BPS...where books come alive!

I have been seeing great things going on in classrooms as you decorate for this year's theme. I love how everyone is putting their own spin on it with the theme still shining through.

This WEEK:

• The buildings will be open 7:30-4:00 every day July 31 through August 4. If you would like to stay later than 4:00 p.m., please, make arrangements with me (Mrs. Wilson). I am more than happy to stay up to 7:00 p.m. each night (except for Wednesday), so you can work in your rooms.
  
• August 3 - New Teacher Orientation (Mrs. Hepler's office 8:00-3:00 p.m. - lunch will be provided) - bring a laptop if you have one
• August 4 - DISTRICT New Teacher Orientation (admin office - curriculum center 8:00-3:00 p.m.)

IMPORTANT - MUST READ AND RESPOND: Click HERE for specific agenda for the three days of PD. The PD has been set up conference style. We will have opening and closing sessions that will be whole group. In between, we will have breakout sessions led by myself, instructional facilitators, and teachers you work with each day.

You much complete this FORM in order to sign up for the breakout sessions you would like to attend each day. This will give the presenter an idea of how many people will be at each session. Only 20 people may attend each session.

• You MUST attend the following breakout sessions: FINS, 504/IEP goals, and PBIS Lesson Plans and T-chart.
  
• 1st grade teachers need to attend the Connections session.
• 2nd grade teachers need to attend the Google classroom session with Tyler Isbell. He will be coming back throughout the year to provide additional support after this initial session.
  
• Specials teachers and paraprofessionals: There are specific sessions for each of your groups, please make sure to attend each session that has been tailored for your group.

Overall Agenda for Next Week:

• August 7 - Teacher and Paraprofessional PD 8:00-3:00 in multipurpose building (lunch provided)
• August 8 - Teacher and Paraprofessional PD 8:00-3:00 in multipurpose building (lunch on own)
• August 8 - Dashboard Training (Wilson, Hepler, Jenkins, Garris - admin computer lab 3:30-5:30)
• August 9 - Teacher and Paraprofessional PD 9:00-4:30 in multipurpose building (lunch on own) - At 3:00 everyone (teachers, paraprofessionals, secretaries) will drive to Gosnell for Social Media Ethics (required by district)
• August 10 - Teacher Work Day (8:00-3:00)
• August 10 - Open House (5:30-6:30)
• August 11 - If you need to work in your room, the building will be open.

Remember school begins bright and early August 14!

August 14 - First Day of School
August 21 - Kindergarten PLC
August 22 - 2nd grade PLC
August 24 - Birthday Lunches (July/August); 1st grade PLC
August 25 - DIBELS/mClass/DSA Due
August 28 - Kindergarten PLC
August 29 - New Teacher PLC (Emergency Preparedness Training) - New Teachers from last year must attend also (Watson, Jaques, Hood, Gardner, Hartgen, M. Rogers, Engle)
September 1 - No students - Teacher PD Day

Teamwork Isn't My Thing, and I Don't Like to Share! by Julia Cook, Illustrated by Kelsey De Weerd

From Goodreads: RJ's having another bad day. His teacher wants him to work with bossy Bernice, messy Frankie and Norma (who just sits and picks her nose) on a report about Egyptian mummies. After a frustrating school day with his team, RJ goes home to find only one biscuit left in the jar - and his mum makes him share it with his sister! With the help of his coach, RJ learns that working as a team and sharing are skills needed not just on the football field, but in school and at home too!

A few resources:

Vocabulary Lesson

Small group lessons over interacting appropriately with peers

I know you have been waiting for access to your class lists. The link to the rosters has been emailed to you. I make no promises that they will not change between now and the first day of school. Hopefully, we will be getting new students. Ignore the names highlighted. That is for the office and myself to keep track of registrations and new students.

Congratulations on reading to the END of this newsletter! Whew!

If you watched the short video above (Knowing Your Why) AND you email me with your thoughts about it, you will win a prize! Yay!

See you soon!
--Jana

I am proud to be entering my second year as the principal at Blytheville Primary School. I love what I do and the community I work in. I enjoy spending time with my family, reading books, and going to the zoo, especially the Memphis Zoo.

Email: jwilson@blythevilleschools.net
Website: http://www.blythevilleschools.com/o/bps
Location: 1103 Byrum Road, Blytheville, AR, United States
Phone: 870-763-6916
Facebook: facebook.com/cimeronejana
Twitter: @cimeronejana