Personal Reflections

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Come one; come all!

“The big day is finally here, Mrs. Van!”  🙂  This was the excited announcement of a young learner entering the building early this morning so eager to share her talented art and musical abilities this evening with our entire learning community.  Our first grade friends have been busy preparing their show called “We Are Making Music!”  There’s even a reception in the cafe immediately following the show.

Our PTO volunteers and Mr. Fio have spent countless hours hanging student portfolios throughout the downstairs hallways for the Art Gallery Walk.  You can check out our art show flyer for more information. 

Our librarian, Mrs. Bolgiano, and her volunteers are restocking the shelves for the crowd who will shop the spring Book Fair tonight during this festive family evening.  The new Texas 2013 Bluebonnet nominee books are on sale along with stacks of great reading choices.  You might pick up a couple of great summer reads as well . . .

It’s a No-TV Night at LME and here’s hoping you join us at LaRue MIller Elementary for the evening!

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Roundup new friends this week…

We’re in the middle of early enrollment (or what we call “RoundUp”) this week.  Any child who will be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2012 is eligible to attend the MISD’s full-day kindergarten. Early registration for the 2012-2013 kindergarten school year will be April 17-20, 2012 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at each elementary home campus. If you are unsure which elementary campus your child will attend you may access the campus locator and enter your address to find out your home campus. Parents must provide the required registration documents. Read more about Kindergarten, Pre-K and Head Start pre-registration. Download enrollment forms so you’re ready to go.  We will also meet with our new families on Tuesday, May 1 @ 6:30 for our annual Kinder Kamp Event.  We look forward to greeting our new friends in the coming days!

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Essential 55 + Excellent 11 = End of Molasses Classes…

It’s a known fact; I adore and deeply revere the teachings and writings of Ron Clark, master educator extraordinaire.  His message in each book is inspiring, yet he is equally quick to face the brutal facts (as we all should) no matter the situation.  He is all about leading each learner to greatness.

In The Essential 55, Mr. Clark showcases 55 key rules, all so simple and obvious yet equally powerful as life tools demonstrating exactly how each learner can become the best student and person imaginable.  He notes, “I tell my students all the time, a person can have the best education in the world, but it will mean nothing if that person doesn’t treat others with kindness, have respect for the individuals he or she comes in contact with, and attempt to use the knowledge and skills they have obtained to help others.”  From Rule #1, answering with “yes, ma’am or no sir,” to Rule #55, “Be the best person you can be,” the book talks about and walks through the important things in life.

While pondering The Excellent 11, Mr. Clark embraces the eleven qualities shared by children who love to learn; these same key elements are found in teachers and parents who know how to bring out the JOY of learning in any child.  He pinpoints what it takes to make a great learner by sharing eleven basic characteristics (enthusiasm, adventure, creativity, reflection, balance, compassion, confidence, humor, common sense, appreciation, and resilience), why they work, and how to incorporate these into the classroom, home, and life.

Finally, studying and discussing the The End of Molasses Classes with our Miller Design Team this year has created great conversation about innovative ways we enliven and ignite engagement in all learners.  His journey in this book is filled with successes, heartaches, mistakes, and multiple triumphs, culminating in the hugely successful Ron Clark Academy.  Beware though, he is tough on parents; he believes in the power of forming bonds with each child by sacrificing to make time for the child before anything else (including work and outside extracurricular activities).  As a working mom, I found myself yelling at the book while also applauding his strong commitment to personal excellence for each learner no matter the means.

His basic message for everyone:  “Be different.  Be bold.  Join it.”  I encourage you to read, study, and form your own opinions.  Here’s hoping as we continue on this LME journey to educational excellence, we all consider the essential, excellent qualities to avoid molasses classes!  🙂

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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.