A picture is worth a thousand words and this picture that emerged out of the Charlottesville tragedy this
weekend says a lot. This picture has been circulating on my news feed to capture the sentiment of thoughts in Charlottesville and the state of our country. Though it is a historical photograph, it is also relevant to where we still are in 2017. I shared this
picture because as we begin to welcome kids back into the folds of our lives,
it is a reminder of our great responsibility as educators. As educators, it is not our place to teach
our personal values to students but instead to teach them how to think. For when kids know how to think, they will be
empowered far beyond those who know only what to think. This will begin to enact the change in our
world.
As we prepare for our first day of school, here's some information
and reminders:
First Day
The PTO will be providing a coffee bar with breakfast
pastries beginning at 7:45am until 9:00am
as a welcome back appreciation! Please
come to the library media center for coffee and a breakfast pastry hosted by
our supportive PTO.
Nurse Conrad will be sending an email with a list of 8th
grade students who do not have their state required immunizations. 8th grade teachers, if any of the
students on your list arrive in your class, please send them down to the
cafeteria with their belongings.
On Wednesday, Dr. Roberts and Dr. Vogt will be holding
entire grade level principal talks in the auditorium during the following
hours:
·
1st hour-8th grade
·
7th hour-7th grade
Please take attendance and bring your students down.
Hallway Duty Expectations
During the hallway-passing period, it is important for
teachers to be on duty for supervision.
Once the bell rings and students are dismissed, please make sure you are
in the hall outside of your doorway. At
the start of the day, please be in the hallways when the first bell rings to
dismiss students to their 1st hour.
Taking Attendance
Please take attendance in the first few minutes of class and
submit absences. For safety and
security, it is important for the front office to know when students are not in
class.
Discovery: Selfie-Wall Project and Innovation
Expectations
During the first couple of weeks in Discovery, as you begin
to get to know your students and build community, we will be working on selfies
and quotes. Please introduce the
selfie-wall project to your students in discovery.
1.)Each student will take a selfie (by himself or
herself) and find a quote that represents them. The quote will need to be school appropriate
and approved by the teacher.
2.) As you
introduce the selfie-wall project, please connect it to legacy. Ask students what they think legacy means and
what they want their legacy at Hixson and in the world to be.
Jason will be sending out more techie instructions on how to
gather the selfies and put the quotes on the pictures this week.
Just a reminder that we will continue giving the thinking
strategies lesson and one pager at the end of each month. As you introduce discovery to students,
please remember that they will read for the first 15 minutes and then use the
remainder of the time for Innovation projects/pursuits.
Team Expectations-Responsible,
Ready and Respectful
During the first week of school, as teams establish
community and expectations, we will continue with the three R’s. This year, through our SLT, we will revisit
the words and reevaluate if it still captures our Hixson vision.
As teams begin to design their web pages, please make note
of a place to share what day the team help session will be held.
Hallway Makeover
In the next couple of months, we will begin to redesign the
look of our hallways by placing student artwork and images of important moments
in history throughout our halls. Please
feel free to send me your thoughts on any historical photo moments in
history. I will compile them, begin to
order them and hang them in the halls.
Solar Eclipse
Our fabulous science teachers have done a great job
preparing for the solar eclipse. Please
be on the lookout for the safety video, reminder instructions and a map of the
layout this week. We are going to walk
all students down to Moss Field and ask parents to meet their students on there
if they are coming up to view the eclipse with their kids.
“I Wish for You”
I wish for you a fantastic start to the New Year with
renewed commitments to kids and excitement for the upcoming year! As we continue to get to know each other,
please know my door is always open for conversation. I am looking forward to serving as your
principal and beginning our journey together.
With Gratitude,
Grace
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