Rules

Today I began having my rules/discipline assemblies with the students. I feel it is important to start the year out with clear expectations for student behavior. When the students hear the same message, it helps with consistency of expectations. Today I discussed rules with the kindergartners, 1st and 2nd graders, and the 3rd and 4th graders. I've discovered younger students sometimes have a difficult time knowing the difference between asking questions, and telling their life stories. Tomorrow I will have discussions with the 5th and 6th and then the 7th and 8th graders.

Today I was pleased to see our FFEE board meeting in the staff room. If you are unaware of FFEE, it is the Foundation For Educational Excellence, and they work to supply teachers with needed supplies and funds. They will be sending out a welcome/recruiting letter soon, and if you are interested in joining this worthwhile group that is dedicated to helping our students, please keep you eyes open for that information.

On a personal note, this weekend my mom came to visit and we went to Lupita's Restaurant here in Twain Harte for lunch on Saturday. If you have not been there yet, I recommend it highly. The food is excellent!

Names!

Today has started off as a smokey day. The fire in Yosemite is blowing smoke and ash our way, and hopefully the upslope winds will clear the air come recess time.

Suddenly, I remember why Fridays were so anticipated. During the summer we take them for granted! It's always nice opening the school year on a Wednesday, as it gives students and teachers (and administrators!) a few days to get started, and lets us build our endurance!

The school year has really gotten off to a smooth start. Special thanks go to Kathy Cross for making sure all of our students were properly assigned on a class list. We are currently at 289 students, and they have all settled into their classrooms without too many tears (from students or teachers?).

My goal for myself is to try to know every student's name by Christmas. So far I'm up to about 5 that stick in my memory bank. I have some work to do! I'm off to walk the classrooms, and try to learn a few more names.

Go!

Well it's about 3:00 on the first day of school, and all the kids have gone home. From my view it was a great opening. All of the hard work of the teachers and staff paid off with students all finding their classrooms with little difficulty. It was great to see all of the students with their new shoes, and backpacks, some with nervous smiles, others with big hugs for their friends from previous years.

This morning it was great to meet many of the parents dropping off their students. Sometimes it was difficult to tell who was most nervous.

Today I went to all of the classrooms to introduce myself to the students. I found myself sympathizing with the kindergartners. I found myself unsure of schedules or bells, or where I was supposed to be. It was reassuring to play with Playdough. I have a new favorite student... Kayla in Ms Sperry's class looked up from her Playdough and said she liked me because I was handsome! :)

We are off to a great start, and it'll be a great year!

Get set!

Last Friday I had an opportunity to meet many of the other local school administrators at the Tuolumne County ACSA (Association of California School Administrators) kick off social. It was nice to feel welcomed by so many fine administrators. I look forward to getting to know my colleagues better as the year wears on.

Today most of the teachers attended a training about the new math adoption we have this year. The publishers have every possible "bell and whistle" in their textbooks, and I was glad we could have an expert from the publisher come and help the teachers piece it together.

Tonight I have been trying to figure out exactly what to say to my staff tomorrow on my first opening inservice day... Actually, I've been spending most of the evening procrastinating (the garage is starting to get clean, and I'm now updating my blog...). Now that I'm officially going to be in the spotlight, I've found myself writing and rewriting my outline for the day. What do I need to cover with the staff? What do I say to make them comfortable with me? What are the important things they need to hear from me directly? What do I believe in, and how do I communicate that with the staff? Am I making too big of a deal out of this? I think I need to sleep on it, and polish off my opening thoughts in the morning. Good night!

On your mark!

The last week has been dedicated to enrolling new students and trying to balance out the class lists. We seem to have quite a few new families moving into the area, and Kathy and I have been working to get everyone in the right place. I've also been working on our teacher inservices. We have a new math adoption this year and many of the teachers will be in on Monday to learn about all the "stuff" in the new text books. We are also having the teacher inservice on Tuesday to go over all of the beginning of the year items with them. Even though they are all still on vacation, I have seen every one of our teachers spending many hours in their classrooms getting ready for Wednesday. They are a dedicated bunch for sure!

It has been interesting to read in the paper of all the other schools in the area starting up. I feel a little like I'm standing on the sidelines waiting to be put into the game. Not that it hasn't been a whirlwind of activity here. It's just that without the students around we have lots of action that seems a little disconnected to our purpose. It will be nice to have the lost little kindergartners and the first graders who are excited about seeing their friends from last year. The 5th graders looking forward to moving to the upper building and the 8th graders who are now "King of the Hill." I am anxious for the familiar rhythm of the school day, and learning the names and faces of the students. Maybe come next June, I will be looking forward to the peace and quiet, but for now I'm looking forward to the hustle and bustle!

And the beat goes on...

I was off a couple of days last week as I was finally moving into our new place. It's so nice to finally have "feet on the ground" and can focus in earnest on getting ready for the upcoming year.

The steady preperations for the return of the students continues this week. Thank Goodness Kathy Cross is back in her seat in the front office. We've had quite a few people coming in to register their children, or inquire about any number of things and I'm so glad Kathy's there to handle it all. I was getting tired of saying "I don't know, but check back when Kathy's here." (I suspect I'll still say that for quite a while to come!)

With all of the new enrollees, we are working on putting together the classlists. Those will be posted on the 25th, the day before school starts.

Students, enjoy your last week of sleeping in!

Getting to know you...

Last week I went to lunch with Mike Woicicki, my predecessor here at Twain Harte. He took me to the China House restaurant here in town and introduced me to a Larry and Wendy, the proprietors and parents of a THMS student. We had a very nice chat, and I must say the food was excellent!

Here at school preparations continue. Larry Gold, who is moving from the Twain Harte Academy to Twain Harte Middle School to take Mr. Loughmiller's position has been spending a lot of time organizing his room. Mike Lamasney, our computer tech, has been busy working on our computers and networks to make sure they are running at optimum performace. And finally, Baby, the office cat has been sleeping on a chair in the office! What a life!

Settling in

Today is my third official day on the job (I came in a couple of times last week just to find my way around). I've been spending most of my time the first few days going through paperwork and files. There has been more people coming through as we get closer to opening. I've begun to meet some of the staff, and am getting to know them. Ron, the head of maintenance, has been working hard with his crew to get the school ready. Friday was exciting as our new school bus arrived, and we spent time pushing buttons and opening doors and windows. Steve, Diann, and Angelique have been cleaning carpets and getting the rooms and bathrooms ready. Just yesterday, Jan Zukal began her summer school with some of her students and our new RSP teacher for THMS, Julie Burton, has been coming in to observe Jan's class. I've meet with Lori Gold, and she was happy to find the copying machines up and running without issue. Wendie Roberts, our librarian, and I had a good discussion about Accelerated Reader, and have begun laying out some plans for the upcoming year. Nancy and Gary Anderson dropped by and we discussed some of the schedules and plans for the middle school. I also had an opportunity to talk with our choir teacher, Mrs. Randall, as she brought some materials in to begin getting ready. Also, I've spent a few hours at the district office going over things with Dr. Keiter, and Michelle Dake to make sure all is ready for the openeing of school. All in all, things are shaping up to be another busy year!