Personal Reflections

by

Happy Feet

So, what do elementary principals do in the evening hours during summer conference?  If you’re like the MISD elementary PALs, you share great meals and tell stories with funny anecdotes, including the ones involving walking in other shoes (literally and figuratively).  It’s a time to network and build relationships, share successes and failures, problem solve together, and take turns walking new pathways.  It’s also a time for fun and games (not that we’re competitive or anything).  Pictured are the six MISD elementary principals and three of our assistant principals (you have to guess who is walking in which sandel).

We are blessed in MISD to truly enJOY each other on this leadership team and to share our happy feet along the educational journey.

by

Lifelong Learning

It’s often been said, “Change of place and pace impart new vigor to the mind.”  This past week has been the opportunity to not only change venues a couple of times, but to pace my mind as well.  Wrapping my thoughts and plans around new and existing educational updates, ideas, and challenges for the coming school year in a stimulating setting always gets me excited to begin to again (even though my summer break hasn’t started yet).  🙂 Austin is the annual gathering place the second week in June each summer for Texas principals.  We meet to discuss, share, learn, listen, reflect, renew, and fellowship in a variety of ways.  I truly appreciate the opportunity to interact with principals from the entire state of Texas.  Mostly though, I treasure the bonding time with our MISD team of principals as we celebrate, communicate, and participate with each other throughout the week while nurturing our need for lifelong learning together!  Here’s hoping you find a way to change your pace and place for new vigor to the mind at some point this summer as well!  Stay safe out there!

by

Solving Problems…

A student emailed me over the weekend to just “check-in” and see how I was doing up at school “all alone” (not knowing we have summer school, trainings, work, and other activities to keep me busy). 🙂  He reminded me to keep posting on the blog because “it can’t take a vacation just because we do.”  🙂  So, here goes (and I’ll do better about keeping up with it too)…

Last week, in spite of the extreme Texas storms keeping us grounded, a long-time friend/colleague and I made our way to the annual International Future Problem Solving Program Competition at Indiana University in Bloomington.  Being associated with this extraordinary program as a teacher, academic coach, mom, and now evaluator for the past 17 years, this annual opportunity holds special meaning professionally and personally.  Besides the excitement of traveling to various university venues, we are honored and humbled to work with problem solving students around the world in the Community Problem Solving division of the program.  Teams of students from as far away as Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Korea, Portugal, and other countries participate in the four-day competition.  In the Community division, students work to solve a local community problem with unique solutions—thinking globally and acting locally to literally making a world of difference in their communities.  The Future Problem Solving Program, started by Dr. Paul Torrence at the University of Georgia in the 20th century, has provided hundreds of thousands of students across the globe the opportunity to actively think, solve, and implement action plans and solutions on a global issues throughout the years.  Topics and solutions vary according to the specific needs of the community or future problem (and I could spend hours blogging about examples).  Just as Einstein himself noted:  “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.”   The bottom line…we can all be part of the problem or part of the solution!

by

Clap-outs and Congratulations!

It’s really been a great week of celebrating successes!  Today, we honored our fourth and fifth graders with awards assemblies.  As is the tradition here at LME, our fifth graders enJOYed a slideshow presentation of their time with us, a special reception, and the annual “clap-out” where we line the hallways of Miller with our entire learning community (parent, teachers, friends, tutors, and all) so they can take a final tour of LME.  It’s our opportunity to say thanks one more time.  The staff then lined the hallways during dismissal to “clap-out” all our students today.

Yes, school’s out for summer…it’s hard to comprehend really since it feels like we just opened the year yesterday.  Just like raising children, the days are sometimes long, but the year is short…and sometimes the simplest of things become the truest.  May you truly have a relaxing, safe summer break doing the things you enJOY with the ones you adore.  Blessings and thanks, Mrs. Van  🙂

by

Hopes and thanks…

Do you ever find yourself wanting a “do-over?”  A delightful fifth grader stopped me this morning to visit and ask specifically about my hopes for Miller’s future (since he’s moving forward to middle school now!). 🙂  After a priceless conversation and great big hug, I made the rest of my rounds still pondering our talk, yet finding I wanted a “do-over” to my answer.  Here’s what I really want him to know:

  • We are hopefully raising the generation who will cure dreaded diseases like cancer, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, and others.
  • We are hopefully creating strong problem solvers in a world needing them.
  • We are hopefully encouraging UPstanders (not BYstanders) who stand UP to assist others and themselves.
  • We are building leaders who show compassion and kindness, serve and love others, share, and make the world a better place than they find it.

It’s true; each generation stands upon the shoulders of the previous one.  Our foundations are critical for future success (in school and in real life).  Thanks to each of you for providing the necessary tools and support for your learner and their classroom leader this year.  If it’s been a challenging year in your family or classroom situation, it is my hope we move forward to more positive horizons next year.  If you’ve had the BEST year every, here’s the challenge to take it a step higher next year!

I always tell parents we are here at Miller to serve our learning community; I sincerely mean this.  Please, if we do not meet a standard or expectation you have, we need to know.  Please help us better understand by offering solutions to the situation or problem, communicating a need we may have missed, or simply stopping by for a chat.  Parents, you remain our learning partners and participating members of our learning community at LME; we value and need you every step of the way!

Thank you for sharing your learner with us this year; we are blessed to have you in our lives.  Thank you to the hundreds of volunteers who share time, talents, gifts, and services with us daily.  Thank you, our leaders of learners (classroom teachers, instructional aides, and staff), who give unconditionally in sometimes challenging situations to ensure student success.

My final hope for you and your family is that you enJOY a safe, fun-filled summer break doing the things you adore with the ones you hold dearest.  For those moving on, we wish you the best and want to know how things are going so please stay in touch; for those returning, we look forward to the time we’re back together once again.

by

Awards and Accolades!

Many thanks to our Kinder and first grade learners, their parents, and their classroom leaders who participated today in our two awards assemblies.  We are blessed with strong learners who work smart everyday to achieve their personal best.  Today was a celebration of their success in all areas.  One of our first grade friends summed it up:  “It’s been hard and fun and I’m so proud of me!”  🙂

We look forward to two more days of successes and celebrations (including our annual Clap-Out tradition for our fifth grade friends on Friday morning).  Here’s hoping you can join in the fun too!

by

Talents galore…

We are blessed at LME with talented learners, especially of the musical variety.  Our fourth and fifth graders spent the morning sharing their exceptional abilities with our students, friends, and families.  Multiple acts of singing, dancing, jump roping, gymnastics, martial arts, and much more graced the stage and front spotlight.  Many thanks to our specials team for supporting and introducing the acts (and even participating at the last minute, Coach Rogers).  Special thanks to our own PTO volunteer, Alisha, for ensuring the “show must go on” once again (and on short notice, too!).  We are appreciative of all who participated; you are Miller STARS with talents galore!  🙂

Note:  Awards Assemblies will take place the next three days in the Miller Cafe: Wednesday is Kinder @ 8:15 and 1st grade @ 9:00; Thursday is 2nd grade @ 8:15 and 3rd grade @ 9:00; Friday is 4th grade @ 8:15 and 5th grade @ 9:00.  We hope to see you there! 

by

Principal Luncheon!

Today was our semester Principal’s Luncheon to celebrate the high academic achievement of several of our LME learners during the second semester of this school year.  In attendance today were students from all grade levels who mastered their coursework with the highest grades, perfect attendance (no tardy or leave early status), and outstanding personal conduct daily.  This is an extraordinary school opportunity and something our learners work smart to achieve on a personal level.  We are grateful to Caroline’s Cafe for serving us during our outing today.  It was also our end-of-year party day, so there were many parent volunteers throughout our building…thanks to everyone for your time, creative talents, and service on behalf of our LME learners and their classroom leaders.  EnJOY a these pictures and a long weekend of fun and fellowship!  🙂

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

by

Blow a bubble…

Here’s a personal tidbit you may not know:  I acquired a nickname as a very young girl.  Bubbles.  My close friends called me this name for a variety of reasons:  my guttural belly laugh, my sunny personality, and sometimes just because blowing bubbles brought JOY while swinging on the swings.  I gave bubbles as cheerful gifts for no reason—ways to make someone’s day or lift another person’s spirits, always buying bubbles for my personal treat when shopping with my mom.

As a principal, there’s a big basket filled with bubbles in my office.  Learners who visit with me often leave with a bottle as a reward for a job well-done or as a reminder to do what my Granny B. always reminded me:  “Don’t blow a gasket…blow a bubble.” 🙂  Mrs. Bass’ little grandson likes to visit my office when he stops by school—one guess where he goes first…

As we come to the last five days of this school year, I remind all of us to stop, take a deep breath, and don’t blow a gasket…blow a bubble!  🙂

by

Life is good!

It was a Monday AND a Tuesday on a Wednesday after a long holiday weekend (for some).  Seeing smiling faces, sharing high-fives, joking with our dads on duty, and starting our day with a positive morning message always the sets the tone for success; today was no exception.  While I didn’t have the opportunity for a complete walk-about, I did stop for a short visit with a particular group of learners who were discussing “Good life…or life is good?”

Their response journal charge for the day involved thinking about the ways life is good.  I heard things like:

  • Believe in yourself and others;
  • Make every moment count;
  • Do what you love and love what you do;
  • Be brave and take chances;
  • Be positive with yourself and others;
  • Celebrate differences and make a difference everyday;
  • Volunteer and make someone’s day;
  • Be a friend and work together;
  • Listen;
  • Think big and expect success.  (The list goes on…)

The final summation was the kicker for me:  “A good life is not lived by chance but by our choices, just like you say everyday, Mrs. Van…everyday is a good time to do good.”  🙂  (Oh my stars…they really DO listen to morning message!)  Here’s hoping you take some time to embrace the good life and to think for yourself about all the ways that LIFE IS GOOD!  🙂

Note:  Our CF team of fifth graders raised over $4,000 total and completed their Walk-for-a-Cure successfully on Sunday.  Thanks, LME, for giving your assistance to this important and personal endeavor!