Principal's Message 6/15/2009

A RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

First, I would like to apologize for not posting the Principal’s Message last week. I wanted to complete the programming for next year by Monday. Because I was able to dedicate every free moment I had on organizing , I was able to complete it. Some of the ideas I am excited to launch for next year are additional honors classes; programmed AIS, ESL support, and SETTS periods; additional high school credit opportunities; an overage program to promote attendance; more scheduled classes with 13 or less students, and so much more. I will share this with the staff next week when Selina is finished converting the overall program into teacher and student schedules.

10 more days until school is over. Technically, it is nine because we have two half days in the mix. First, I would like to commend all of you on your hard work in preparing for another school year. It gets difficult to invest additional time in preparing for September when this time of year yields so many demands on us. Not only are we deciding who is being heldover or promoted, we are setting up summer school and making sure our students are receiving the support they need. We are also hosting several trips along with preparing for a prom and a graduation. It is important that we support each other and do what we can to help any staff member if they are trying to move forward with a plan or initiative.

Here is an example of how team work makes us a stronger school. On Friday, Mr. Seeram noticed the vast amount of students out of dress code. To address the situation, he decided to administer a detention to every child who was not following the rules with what they are supposed to wear. At the end of the day, he waited in the lobby for the students to be dismissed. As the students came down, it became too many for Mr. Seeram to identify. Quickly, Mr. Young joined the efforts. The two of them were able to maneuver the students into the auditorium to serve time for breaking the rules. Again, the number of students was overwhelming for the two to handle. Mr. Ciano paused before leaving the building, and supported Mr. Seeram and Mr. Young. The process continued. Dr. Schultz, school safety, and a couple of other staff members all directed the students to the auditorium to serve their one hour detention (I apologize if I did not mention your name as this story was told to me secondhand).

It’s a great moment to reflect on because it shows that Mr. Seeram, an assistant principal, would not have been able to do it on his own. I don’t even think I could have done it on my own. Instead, staff members came together to assist each other in accomplishing a common goal. It is so easy to be caught up in our own worlds or declare that the efforts you witness have nothing to do with you. In the end, initiatives like the one Mr. Seeram pushed forward are only going to make your life easier. For instance, it would be at least one less student you would have to refer for a dress code slip the next Friday. You can be pretty sure the people who noticed you helping them will definitely make the effort to help you down the road. Finally, it was one additional moment to show the students that the rules are still the same. This only reinforces your interaction with the students. Each moment we take to remind our children that we are finishing the school year on a high note, the easier your tomorrow will be.

As we reflected at the retreat, we must find a way to support each other and work together to strengthen our learning environment. Small things that can be done to move these efforts along are making sure you are giving students passes when they leave your room, asking students for passes when they are in the hall, reporting conflicts building up between two students or people, checking in on people when they return from an absence, asking people if they need help when they appear to be stressed, offering an extra hand when you know a deadline is approaching, etc…. You are all amazing people. As the year comes to a close, please take the time to see if you can help the people out around you. Don’t be like that one person who waits for others to complete tasks. You and I both get frustrated with that person. Be the person you want working with you. The hesitant ones will follow, I promise.

ATTENDANCE FOR THE WEEK

Monday 84%
Tuesday 82%
Wednesday 86%
Thursday 86%
Friday 85%

STAFF BIRTHDAYS

Sandie Murphy June 17
Terri Miles August 9
Daniel Schultz August 22
Sandy Chmielewski August 30
Wendy Perez August 31

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.”
--Ryunosuke Satoro