Month: April 2012

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Long Live Earth!

I had the opportunity this morning to read with a group of young learners.  They specifically wanted a story about Earth Day and why we need to take care of our environment.  I chose a favorite book of mine called Long Live Earth by Meighan Morrison.  The author/illustrator combines beautiful hand-pieced quilt squares with poetry to tell a reflective tale about what generations of people have done to our planet and the current conditions we must address.  The story also carries a strong message of hope for the future: “This magnificent Earth deserves far better care; we can help in its rescue if we each do our share.” 

There was great discussion following the story and now these young learners are wanting to plant more trees (for shade as well as natural growth) and even a special veggie garden here at LME!  🙂

We continue to challenge all learners to think about their responsibility to not only personal spaces, but to our natural environment at large.  One quick example:  we recycle many items here daily at school and encourage you to do the same.  Yes, we must each do our share and here’s hoping you join us in this ongoing and critical endeavor.

Note:  The second edition of The Miller Bell newspaper is now online!  Thanks to our news staff of talented 5th grade writers for more outstanding reporting!

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Fine Arts are coming! Fine Arts are coming!

Make plans now to attend the annual LaRue Miller Elementary Fine Arts Show and Gallery Walk on Thursday, April 19th from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.  Thanks to our daily volunteers, our hallways are filled with extraordinary pieces of original student art!   Under the direction of Art Teacher, Scott Fiorenza, every child creates unique art work throughout the school year in anticipation of this family event!  Our first graders will also present their musical celebration starting at 7:00 p.m. in the cafe with refreshments following for everyone.  The library will be open for Family Book Fair Night, so don’t forget to stop by and browse the shelves for some important summer reading.  Yes, the Fine Arts are coming once again to LME and we hope you join us for another spectacular evening of celebration!

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Thanks, Volunteers!

Volunteers were really riding the waves here at Miller today!  In keeping with our Shark and the Goldfish theme this year, our volunteers were treated to feasting, fun, and festivities while surfing through lunch during this splashy event!  Miller Singers and Student Honor Council provided special entertainment, students served guests from a scrumptious buffet at the captain’s table, and door prizes were awarded to volunteers throughout the afternoon.  As previously shared, our volunteers are vital to our daily work with learners and their classroom leaders.  Please enJOY these remarkable memories of this annual event and THANKS to our many volunteers at LaRue Miller Elementary!

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Volunteers are vital!

It’s National Volunteer Week and we celebrate each year in a big way here at LME!  Our annual volunteer salute and luncheon is tomorrow (and I’ll share more then), but learners and their classroom leaders have been preparing tributes, decorations, surprises, and food for the past week.  I stopped by several classrooms this week to ask this vital question:  What is a volunteer?

  • Volunteers helps us do math all the time.
  • They are reading buddies and mystery readers.
  • This one lady offers help in the cafe during lunch.
  • They throw us great parties and events with games and give us treats to share with others.
  • They get really dirty with our class projects and hang our artwork for others to enjoy.
  • They raise money for our school and all the children get to spend it.
  • Volunteers are a mystery because it’s a mystery why they want to volunteer.
  • They teach us when my teacher has to go to the bathroom.
  • They never get paid except in hugs and smiles from everyone.
  • They aren’t paid because they’re worthless but because they’re priceless.  🙂

While these are just a few of the responses, I think you get the idea.  We could NEVER do our daily work here at LME without the time, talents, gifts, and service of our 300+ volunteers each year.  From our active PTO to our DADS program to our weekly/daily helpers who spend countless hours assisting in classrooms, we salute you and thank you…volunteers are vital!

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Time to Round-Up our new friends!

We can hardly believe it’s here once again, but it’s time to gather new friends for the coming 2012-2013 school year!  MISD Round-Up is April 17-20 from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at your assigned campus (Download flyer for more details). Enrollment forms are available online and need to be completed in order to enroll your child for the coming year.  School staff will be on hand to accept registration documents, answer questions, and welcome you to our growing campus.  Our Head Start team will also be available for those wishing to apply and enroll in our MISD Head Start Program for the 2012-2013 school year.

Our annual LaRue Miller Elementary “Kinder Kamp” Night for all incoming Kinder friends and their families is set for Tuesday, May 1st @ 6:30 p.m. in the Miller Cafe.  We are serving supper.  Our Kinder Team will share all the important things young learners and their families need to know before starting school on August 27th!  Our new Kinder friends will join teachers for a few moments of “real school” as parents visit with school staff about expectations for the coming year.  Please make plans now to join us for the food, festivities, and Kinder fun—we look forward to seeing you at Round-Up next week and at Kinder Kamp on May 1st!  🙂

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Taking a closer look…the time is now!

While I rarely stand on specific political ground in my public position, I do strongly encourage those eligible to VOTE each time the opportunity presents itself.  We do our best in the formative years to build strong pride and responsibility in our young citizens, frequently having campus elections for all manner of events.  After all, you can never teach a good habit too early in life!

With that said, I write this article today on behalf of our learners in hopes it grabs your personal attention in the coming months.  As you may well expect, I closely follow educational initiatives, both on the state and national levels.  This is a critical year for our young learners.  As Jim Walsh recently stated in a “Law Dawg–Unleashed” article in Texas School Business, “We need people (in office) who truly will make educating all of the members of the next generation our top priority, not some afterthought.”  He’s correct; if we want a voice, we have to vote and encourage our friends, neighbors, colleagues, and family members to vote as well!  There are many who perhaps do not understand what is at stake (or maybe they just choose not to pay attention).  You have the ability to influence those around you to educate others, and to encourage them to vote—I challenge you in this important role.  As Mr. Walsh notes, “Public education is the ultimate example of something too important to fail.  If public education fails, even for just one generation, we will do immeasurable harm to our free society.”  Powerful words; powerful message…

As my daddy reminds me, “If you choose not to vote, you give up the right to gripe!”  The learners and leaders of LME challenge you to learn the facts and take a closer look because the time is now!

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EGGceptional!

It’s the time of year we celebrate Spring and all the glories of a refreshing season…new plant growth, warmer temperatures, time change, outdoor sports practices and games, unpredictable weather, and the anticipation of summer break!  Spring Fever (a highly contagious disease) spreads throughout our learning community; this year is no exception.

While making rounds this afternoon, I was privy to a small group conversation involving some young learners and their excitement of Easter (and our school day off tomorrow).  While many celebrate the religious significance of the holiday, some also celebrate the arrival of spring with annual egg hunts and surprises from the Easter Bunny.  These learners were sharing their family traditions from their past experiences.  One friend said, “Mrs. Van, please share my picture on your blog because it’s so beautiful with the ‘ceptional eggs we dye at home and a chocolate bunny, but don’t give my name ’cause if my grammy sees we hunt eggs during Passover, we’re in really big trouble..”  🙂

However you choose to celebrate the holiday (and the school day off tomorrow), please take time to hop outside and enjoy some eggsceptional spring weather with your precious learner.

Note:  Midlothian ISD is closed on Friday, April 6, 2012.

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Success…one step at a time…

A fourth grade friend, Lauren, shared this quote during her morning message and announcements with us:  “The elevator to success is broken; you have to take the stairs instead, one step at a time.”  We critically pondered this thought and shared several interpretations.

Success literally means, “a favorable outcome; doing what is desired or attempted to attain a goal.”  What the learners shared with me during our talk time was what they appreciated about this quote—the fact that it culminates in “a clear picture we can grasp, Mrs. Van.  We must climb our ‘success’ stairs one at a time in order to reach our personal and school goals.”  🙂 Out of the mouths of Miller learners…

Yes, success is best attained one step at a time and here’s hoping we all continue to succeed along the  journey this school year…and thanks, Lauren, for challenging our thinking process this morning!

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Shelter in place…we got this!

As I remind our learners, “plan your work; work your plan; autograph your work with personal excellence.”  Everyone did outstanding work today as we implemented Shelter-in-Place more than once.  For example, fifth grade learners were in the middle of lunch; they quietly moved from their tables to the stage area away from the glass wall (and this included parents too).  We cleared the back car line and parents with little ones joined us in the building without question.  Those coming in the front office stayed with us until clearance was given.  Learners and classroom leaders remained calm, collected, and even managed to get some engaging work completed at times.  Thanks to all for the planning, practice, and then real implementation…as one learner commented to me later, “We got this, Mrs. Van!”  🙂

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Math Pentathlon…give me 5!

We have winners everyday here at LaRue Miller Elementary; this past weekend was no exception either.  Over 49 LME learners participated in the annual Math Pentathlon tournament held in Mansfield ISD for Division I (KG/1st) and Division II (2nd/3rd).  This is similar to the “Super Bowl of Math” for those who want the sport analogy.  We announced all our participants names and designations just this morning during announcements…I ran out of breath!  Congrats to all!  I am told by their sponsors and several parents they represented LME and Midlothian ISD so well!  In this picture, you can see Avalon, Presley, and Bryce from 2nd grade getting ready to participate in the next round.

Mathematics Pentathlon is a program of interactive problem-solving games for students in grades K – 7.  This motivational math program supports curriculum and instructional activities while addressing assessment expectations, strengthening basic math concepts and skills, and stimulating creative thinking with problem-solving skills.  There is a strong focus on the conceptual understanding of math.  By using specially-designed games and  activities that carefully differentiate instruction, all students of varying abilities and learning styles can be easily motivated to enJOY math and spend time learning it more effectively.

Our Math Pentathletes sign a “contract of participation” to commit their time and study to math in regular weekly practices with their coach/sponsor as well as special math game nights with other student in our district.  Parents must also participate by learning the required five games and rules at each level so they can assist during practices and tournament day games.  Again, congratulations are in order for these math learners, their classroom leaders, and the parents who ensure these Pentathletes are so successful!  Here’s a big math high-5 for all!  🙂