Personal Reflections

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Homecoming 2013

Homecoming…a time to come home to traditions, fellowship, 12homecomingand fun.  In the elementary world especially, our young learners may not completely comprehend the hoopla, but they most certainly love a great parade…and they squeal with delight when our Midlothian Panther Football Readers catch up to them too!

The annual Homecoming Parade has traditionally been a big deal in Midlothian ISD and this year is certainly no exception!  Our supportive learning community, students, and staff members truly enJOY showcasing their hometown Panther Pride and Spirit.  Please mark your calendar for this year’s parade on Friday, September 27 at 3 p.m.  Don’t forget to get your tickets early for the big game and come out to support the MHS Panthers as they tackle the Grand Prairie Gophers at 7:30 p.m. at the MISD Multi-Purpose Stadium. Download PDF for details.

We look forward to seeing you there!

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Turtles and pathways…

During walkabout today, I had a wonderfully delightful turtlepicconversation with a friend who shared this great artwork and talked about sea turtles.

  • Did you know that female sea turtles swim to shore between May and August to dig nests in the sand and lay their eggs?
  • Did you know that months later, the eggs hatch and the baby turtles follow the pure light of the moon back to the surf and their families?
  • Did you know sea turtles loved the sea?  🙂

Sea turtles instinctively crawl toward the brightest light.  On an undeveloped beach, this light would naturally be the moon, but on a developed beach area, this light comes from homes, businesses, or other sources.  Sometimes this artificial light causes the baby turtles to move in the wrong direction, thus creating a bad outcome for all.

In the course our conversation, it occurred to me again how we sometimes face this same challenge when making good choices here at school (and I spend a great deal of time talking and modeling ‘good choices’ you know!).  🙂  This particular little friend spends some time with me occasionally for “refreshers.”  It’s simple really:  rather than follow the path of a good choice, we get distracted by something artificially bright moving us in the wrong direction.  Often times, we sabotage ourselves.  Just like the sea turtles, we forget to follow our path and allow meaningless things to keep us from being our personal best.

What a powerful analogy, huh?!  Just like this positive opportunity today, I encourage you to take time to talk with your child about those busy, meaningless distractions that get in the way and how best to focus on the priorities leading to ultimate success.  Just like those sea turtles, there’s an ocean of possible pathways if we follow the pure light.

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We LOVE our grandparents!

AveryIt’s been noted, “Education is simply the soul of society as it passes from one generation to the next…”  Our campus was filled to overflowing today with great wisdom and life as we celebrated our beloved grandparents during all Jimmysix lunch periods.  Our tables, bellies, and hearts were filled to capacity with food, fellowship, and family fun.  Special thanks to our extraordinary PTO for sponsoring this event.  Most importantly, many thanks to the grandparents and parents who chose to participate, smiled and laughed, modeled stellar table manners, shared great stories, and assisted patiently throughout the event.

Our young Fisherstudents proudly stand on your shoulders of strong foundations as they continue to learn, grow, and love into the next generation.  Have a blessed weekend, LME!  🙂

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Meet the Staff, Part II

From the primary (foundational) teams to the intermediate (upstairs BIG kid) teams, we are truly blessed with extraordinary educators who commit time, talents, teaching gifts, and unlimited service to all learners at LME:

3rdgrade

Third Grade Team members include Amy Clark, Jean Waddill, Andrew Morgan, and Jennifer Rinehart.

The Fourth Grade Team consists of Brittany Cole, 4th teamJane Crisp, Jennifer Kids, Rachel McKee, and Shannon Williams.

5th teamThe Fifth Grade Team members include Sherrie Gunter (Social Studies), Susan Bly (Reading/Language Arts), Jennifer Lassetter (Math), and Laurie Garippa (Science).  Our fifth graders rotate between these four core subject classes.

Our Specials Team is shy, but they promise to share a picture with you in the coming week.  🙂  Please continue attending the important Parent Meetings during this month, asking those questions, and sharing your successes with our amazing LME team members.

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Meet the Staff; Part I

It’s time to share our annual staff group pictures.  We are so blessed to have educators who not only dedicate each day to learners but truly enJOY what they do in the process.  After all, it’s all about the journey…Hooray to the coaches on our winning LME Team this year!

HS teamOur Head Start Team this year:  Adrienne Mitchell, teacher; Jurae Greiten, teacher; and Amber Martin, instructional aide.kteam

The Kinder Team this year includes Lauren Bergvall, Roanna Nanney, Michelle Spradley, and Karyn Story.

1st teamFirst Grade teachers include Judy King, Katie Bergvall, Susie Dickard, Emily Stanley, and Stephanie Daniell.

2nd teamSecond grade teachers are Joy Cowan, Nikki Hoover, Heather Cooper, and Lana Beckwith.

SPED teamOur Special Education Team includes Shanna Horton (LEAD/CBI), Kacey Long (diagnostician), Delaina Wimpee (Speech/LEAD), Chandra Filmore (CBI/PPCD), Traci Samek (Inclusion/Co-Teach), Nancy Walts (CBI/PPCD), Christy McAfee (CBI), Ann Beller (CBI/PPCD), Danielle Schrodt (CM/Inclusion), Brittany Mach (Resource/Inclusion), Kris Roberts (CM/Inclusion), Bethany Griffin-Loftis (ESL/dyslexia), Erika Allen (Speech), Angela Coleman (PPCD), and Rachel McKee (AI/Deaf Education).

Part II tomorrow… 🙂

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LME PTO rocks!

We are blessed at LME with a PTO organization who supports and encourages our daily school work and campus programs.  Not only does the Board do everything within their power to ensure we have the best, they actively demonstrate what it means to be the BEST everyday.  PTO-logo-blue-verticalBoard members this year are:  Nicole Blackmon, Amy Byers, Gayle Turner, Cara Roberson, Heather Prather, Christy Clenney, Kristina West, Khristy Hullet, Sarah Johnson, Teresa Heath, and Kim Huff.  They each invite you to share your feedback and ideas as they strive to improve performance and communications within our gorwing learning community.

Parents, you recently received a packet of important PTO information to review sharing the various ways you can be involved this year.  Please take a moment to read and return your completed forms (including your membership application) to join us this year as we “Knock One Out of the Park for LME!” 

Likewise, LME Spirit Wear orders are in full swing at this time.  Order forms went home in first-day packets, but the front office will hook you up as well.  The black shirts feature a panther with the slogan:  The BEST things come in blue-n-white!  T-shirts, hoodies, wristbands, and water bottles are all for sale.  Orders should be submitted by the end of September.

Fun fact:  Did you know our LME PTO was instrumental in ensuring we had enough funds to construct our gym Rock Wall before we even opened the LME doors in 2008?  Our PTO literally ROCKS!  We could never do the extraordinary work without the daily assistance of our active PTO.  Please join our staff in the many activities by serving where you can throughout the coming year…and special thanks to the leaders of our LME PTO!

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Welcome to LME!

IMG_0908 IMG_0909A particular tradition I find most special each first week of school is our Welcome Party.  Following our Rally this morning, all our new-to-LME friends joined Mrs. Stanley (counselor), Mrs. Bass, and myself for several entertaining rounds of LME Bingo.  The Bingo cards have specific LaRue Miller Elementary faces and places to help everyone become better acquainted with our growing campus.  As we wrapped up the event, Ava shared her thoughts:  “You know, this school really knows how to help others and make them feel great; thanks!”  Thanks, LME learners and leaders for a stellar start to the 2013-2014 school season…STAND UP because everyday is game day at LME!

Note:  EnJOY a safe, fun, relaxing three-day weekend and we look forward to seeing everyone’s smiling face early Tuesday morning!  🙂

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Parent Meeting and more…

Day #3…routines are running well; everyone is still smiling; Miller Morning Rallies this week rock (especially Nurse and the Cutetips this morning), and afternoon car line is flowing smoother now.  IMG_3166Team Miller is “Training Up For An All Star Future” this year!

During Book Tour today, our Kinder, 1st, and 2nd grade friends continue to astound me with their wit, keen insight, and clever responses.  The STAND UP conversation is in full swing and we can hardly wait to see where it goes from here!

Tomorrow evening, we start the first of several upcoming teacher-led team meetings to talk about our instructional day at LME.  Please make note of your grade level night to visit and go through a day in the school life of your child:

2nd Grade Parents on Thursday, August 29 @ 6:30 p.m.
5th Grade Parents on Thursday, August 29 @ 7:15 p.m.
1st Grade Parents on Tuesday, September 3 @ 6:30 p.m.
Kinder Parents on Thursday, September 5 @ 6:30 p.m.
4th Grade Parents on Tuesday, September 10 @ 6:30 p.m.
3rd Grade Parents on Tuesday, September 10 @ 7:15 p.m.
Head Start Parents on Thursday, September 12 @ 6:30 p.m.

All meetings begin in the Miller Cafe at the assigned time.  Staff and back circle parking areas will be available for your convenience.

As one young learner duly noted today:  “Mrs. Van, you may be the head coach of our school, but we’re all leaders on our team and in training everyday.”  It is important to remember it takes us all to build excellence and success for each leader’s all star future!  We look forward to an outstanding season this year!  🙂

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UPstander or bystander…it’s your choice!

Day #2; reality begins to set in; routines and expectations continue to be established; Miller Team Rally starts our day…What a JOY to speak to smiling, eager learners and classroom leaders to start our second day of school!  We shared introductions, a little role play fun, some conversation, and a few Miller Moves.  One of my favorite stories of the day involved a Kinder friend.  The teacher asked him to turn around to face her at the calendar “unless you also have eyes in the back of your head.”  The child quickly turned around and commented, “No, but my mom sure does!”  🙂  Out of the mouths of babes…

A definite highlight today was the start of our STAND UP “Book Tour.”  I covered all our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade homeroom classes sharing the story and reflecting on its powerful impact.  What a personal JOY to spend time UPstander1with learners of all ages, reading, talking, and collecting thoughts about how our learning community will become UPstanders.   Mr. Morgan’s class continued the conversation long after I left and later shared some of their creative, collaborative, innovative ideas with me.  Outstanding work, 3rd graders!

We are starting this powerful conversation at LME and invite our entire learning community to join us on this journey.  What will YOU do to be an UPstander instead of a bystander today?

Note:  Morning arrival traffic is going well.  We continue to work on afternoon dismissal and appreciate your patience–it was much better on Day #2!  Keep up the safe driving!

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First Day Fabulousness and Sunshine to Spare!

First day…cheers and (some) tears…smiles and (a few) trials…overall, a great success!  As we started unloading big yellows in the early morning sunrise, a young friend bounded down the steps onto the sidewalk and threw herself at me with a big laugh:  “I just LOVE all this first day fabulousness!”  🙂  “What do you think of my fabulous first day outfit and new haircut?”  Eager to the get the year going, she volunteered to assist at the door to greet friends, share smiles, and help our Kinder friends find their way.  Later at lunch, she hugged me again, “By the way, Mrs. Van…everyone looks so fabulous in their new Miller staff shirts; teachers should wear uniform school shirts everyday.”  🙂  (We actually have several who would agree too.)  She even ended the day loading the bus again while telling me about her favorite part–“fabulous math games!”  🙂  I think it’s safe to say her day was “fabulous.”

Likewise several stories surfaced throughout the day of teachers spreading extra “sunshine” to each other in creative, innovation ways.  IMG_3170Ms. Daniell shared a basket of sunshine (everything in the basket was yellow) with each of her first grade teammates, including new LME teacher, Katie Bergvall.  Our PTO Board shared yummy treats and eats with our new parents during the annual BooHoo/YaHoo Back-to-School Breakfast following the morning announcements.  Several LME volunteers, including our own school namesake, Mrs. LaRue Miller, were on hand to welcome and greet learners and their families, share a hug, listen to summer stories, or give a high-five.  Yes, it was day of overall fabulousness with some sunshine to spare.  Welcome back to LME and to the 2013-2014 school year!  🙂