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InTENTs Reading, y’all!

specialsGreat reading, fellowship, and fun abide when you pitch some creative tents and read, read, read together!  Such was the event this evening where IMG_6774families joined together to read and visit with another our teachers in cleverly designed areas throughout the main hallway.  From Clifford the Big Red dog under the Big Top to the PoeTREE, we shared great books.  PTO assisted in the Book Fair area IMG_6775where families shopped (and donated) new books.  Special thanks to our LME Family Events Committee, our extraordinary teachers, and our families who came out to celebrate with us.  As one friend noted, “It’s some inTENTs reading, y’all!  🙂

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Tutus, Ties, and Books!

tutusIt’s time for the annual Tutus and Ties Dance sponsored by our PTO this Saturday, February 21st from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. in our cafe.  LME Daughters and Daddies are invited to dress for success and cut a rug on the dance floor during this festive evening of fun.  From the chocolate fountain and gourmet treats to the fun photos and group dances, everyone enJOYs this annual tradition.

Don’t forget to join us on Thursday evening this week bookfair1from 6:30 until 8:00 for our InTENTs Family Reading Event throughout the hallways of LME.  Starting with the PTO meeting in the cafe at 6:30, learners and families are invited to experience the love of reading in grade-level-sponsored tents down the main hallway.  Stop in the library as well to check out the Book Fair (and maybe purchase some books for Spring Break reading too!).  🙂

From tutus and ties to lots of books and reading, here’s hoping you join us for the festivities this week!

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Parent Survey Time!

parentsurveyMidlothian ISD parents are encouraged to complete an anonymous online survey to share their perceptions and input regarding MISD. Part of the 83rd Texas Legislature House Bill 5 requires all districts to evaluate the district and individual campus’ performance based on community and student engagement. This bill allows school districts to showcase areas of excellence and success outside the limited scope of standardized test scores. It is also an opportunity for staff to recognize areas that need improvement in the future.

The nine factors evaluated include fine arts, wellness and physical education, community and parental involvement, 21st century workforce development program, second language acquisition program, digital learning environment, dropout prevention strategies, educational programs for GT students and compliance with statutory reporting and policy requirements. All school districts and campuses are required to assign a performance rating of Exemplary, Recognized, Acceptable, or Unacceptable for overall performance.

[ https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/misdparent2015 ]  Take the 2015 parent survey which ends Thursday, February 26; let your voice be heard!

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Words of Wonder…

  • Child:  Mrs. Van!
  • Me:  Yes sir?
  • Child:  I wonder…can you name one important thing you didn’t have 8 years ago?
  • Me:  This school (not open yet).
  • Child:  No, silly; you didn’t have me!  🙂

Sunshine QuoteSuch was the start of a most intriguing conversation today!  For example, did you know that good readers form pictures in their mind as they read?  My friend tells me he is a great reader because he “can usually guess what the illustrations will look like before the teacher shares them” (and he said ‘illustrations’ and not pictures).  This friend likes to build paper bag cities at home (from lunch sacks decorated and stuffed with newspapers) to create new communities “so I can see what to do to fix things later.”  He also likes “thinking games for fun” like “Would You Rather?” where two options are given and you choose one and tell why you like it.  From riddles to learning tips to thinking games, our conversation covered a wide variety of extraordinary topics.  I wandered on feeling lighter, sparked with JOY, and bursting to face the next challenge of this busy day, especially when he shared his final thought:  “Kind words do not cost much but they fix so much!”  Here’s hoping we all take a moment to savor these words of wonder…so very thankful to have this child (and many others) in our care each day too!

 

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As a young child commented to me today, “It’s a good thing I love this work ’cause I sure do a lot of it, huh?!”  🙂  This reminded me about our conversation on attitude and effort—the only two things we really control in life—every single day and how love plays into the equation.  Yes, we make the choice on attitude as we get up each day; we can also choose to change our attitude throughout the day too.  We also make the choice about the amount of effort we will place into something as we go along.  In the school world, we invest our attitude and effort with bundles of love into our relationships with children, their parents, and our learning community.  In fact, we understand how greatness is built with the foundation of love…love of self and love of others.  (I LOVE these selfies too!)IMG_6724

In his book, The Carpenter, Jon Gordon reminds us how fear can sabotage our dreams and hopes…yet, when you love, greatness is built from the foundation of love.  He asks the question, “Will you choose fear or love?”  He notes:

“Love the struggle because it makes you appreciate your accomplishments.  Love challenges because they make you stronger.  Love competition because it makes you better.  Love negative people because they make you more positive.  Love those who have hurt your because they teach you forgiveness.  Love fear because it makes you courageous.”

Yes indeed, it’s critical to love the work because there is a lot of it!  Here’s hoping you ponder love as we continue our one word journey this school year to #LoveServeCare at LME!  🙂

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100 and counting!

100thDayYes, it was our 100th day of instruction in this school year.  As one little friend noted, “I’m feeling my age, Mrs. Van, because I’m 100 days smarter!”  🙂  Learners and classroom leaders (especially in our Kinder and 1st grade rooms) shared engaging and meaningful activities throughout IMG_6723the day as they celebrated this important school year milestone.  We are over 1/2 way there; we continue to gain momentum with each instructional day.  From clever outfits (and you should have seen and heard morning message) to 100 ways to enJOY a book, students learned, shared, and laughed through a fun day.  Thanks to our creative classroom leaders for their wisdom and insight as we celebrate personal milestones throughout the school year.  Happy 100th Day and counting, LME!  🙂

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SOS!

IMG_1665It was the annual school-wide SOS Event…Super Outrageous Science!  From learners and leaders dressed as scientists (some rather mad-looking in fact) to the Science of Juggling, we experimented, hypothesized, synthesized, and IMG_6717created loads of science adventure throughout the day.  Special thanks to parents, community members, presenters, and others who enhanced the day’s events and classroom presentations with everything from IMG_6718juggling to large dry-ice bubbles (with 1st grade friends inside).  Bravos as well to our campus science committee for the wonderful Science Fair all week exhibits, creepy crawlies, and more cool items (and the volunteers who ran it).  As one little friend noted, “Science IS really super outrageous, Mrs. Van!  🙂

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YUMMM!

IMG_6700The first semester Principal’s Luncheon was today and what a great experience we enJOYed together!  From Mr. David (and Curious George) driving our bus to the warm hospitality at Red Robin (YUMMM), we feasted in great fellowship and fun.  These are extraordinary students who must meet a strict criteria:  All A’s in academics, All E’s in conduct, and absolute Perfect Attendance (no tardies, leave earlies, or absences).  With the recent flu and stomach bugs going around, this was a challenge for everyone (suffice it to say, I did not make the criteria cut and only got to go because I was paying the bill!).  🙂IMG_6697

We are so proud of these outstanding students and certainly hope more can join us this next semester for the big event.  Special thanks to Red Robin for hosting us and making our adventure especially YUMMM!

IMG_6683On another note, special thanks to my special PrinciPAL-For-The-Day today, Mr. L, who certainly made his mark on our campus.  From classroom observations to chaperoning  during the luncheon field trip, he earned his keep and more.  Thanks, Mr. L, for being a real PAL!

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Be the BEST!

I noted a card today during walkabout:  “You owe it to yourself to be theth BEST you can personally be today!  Why?”  When I stopped by the small group of assembled to inquire about their thoughts, here was the general consensus among the group:

  • The BEST make everyone around them better.
  • It’s important to inspire excellence in each other to the BEST.
  • Doing my personal BEST means I’m at my greatest.
  • Being the BEST is a life goal, one day at a time.
  • The BEST know what they want and show no fear in getting there.

The other part, though, is not about being better than anyone else; it’s about striving to the BEST each of us can be while we help others be their BEST.  WOW…these thinkers know a powerful life lesson at such a young age!  Here’s hoping we are all doing our BEST daily to be our BEST selves!  🙂

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Eye on the ball…

Coach corrected, “Keep your eye on the ball and your follow-through will be better next time.  Remember, you’re not competing with others; you’re simply doing your personal best!”  We are blessed with a PE Coach who understands learners and shares life lessons with just a few simple words. His words appeared today in a writer’s notebook; I had the opportunity to elaborate with the child:

  • Me:  What do these words mean to you?
  • Child:  Well, it means I was thinking about everything else I needed to do and not doing the one most important thing…keeping my eye on the ball!
  • Me:  This happens in life everyday to me.
  • Child:  Well, being the principal means you have to do everybody else’s stuff so no wonder you can’t watch the ball!  Just do your personal best, Mrs. Van.  🙂

We’re not alone–in the gym or in life.  Distractions cause us to lose our focus.  We allow the trivial or all the details to get in the way of the most important or meaningful point.  Busyness and stress keep us from developing the 3943677relationships we need to move forward.  We fret about the past, worry about the future, and take focus off the present.  Bombarded by information (especially social media) and other daily distractions, we forget what is truly important.  We often focus on the outcomes instead of the process and wonder why we miss the target.  We focus on everything else except THE BALL.

As we roll into this second semester full force, I challenge all of us to keep our eye on the ball.  Get back to basics, routines, and fundamentals.  Identify the simple actions crucial to your daily success (as Mr. Van says, “those items most critical to your continued existence on the planet”).  Reflect on what really matters.  Here’s hoping we all keep our eye on the ball and take our game to a new, higher level!