And then there was Friday...

We began the week with two very important day long retreats.  Each year, our new and returning team leaders meet with me on a day in May to tackle school planning for the following year.  This always worthwhile day happened on Monday and much was accomplished, such as next year's master schedule, updated campus map (who goes where!), and the scheduling of many important team and school events and activities.  Always a big relief when it's done.  Following that day, our equally dedicated Special Ed/Intervention Team had their planning on Tuesday and were able to complete their master schedule as well.  Ensuring student IEP specifics are covered and that services are optimally delivered from the beginning of school is time consuming but so worth it.  Enjoyed the time with both groups and the collaboration and teamwork of pulling together for the good of our school and our kids.  Kudos to all who participated!

2012-2013 Team Leaders

Interviews for our open teaching positions are also taking place at a couple of grade levels this week and next.  Teams are actively involved in the hiring process with me and Ms. McDaniel, there are many good candidates to choose from, and yes, we're excited about adding new folks to the Scottie Team.  Look for information in the next couple of weeks on who's coming and who's going at HP.  Bittersweet of course, as we move through the process, but we are making head-way.

And then there was Friday.  For some reason today was chock-full of activity.  Seriously. The day started quite early, with the Young Leadership Program participants giving their final speeches and receiving feedback on their presentations.  I had the honor, along with sponsor Matt Brown, to present certificates to the group and thank them for a job well done.  Arriving on campus at 6:50 am for 8 consecutive Friday mornings says a lot about both student and parent dedication to the program.  Keep up the practice YLP'ers!

Parent visiting day was the norm around here for most of this morning and into the afternoon.  Both Mrs. Finkle and Mrs. Leibick hosted parents for their respective Egytian Unit and Archeology Unit in fourth grade classrooms.  Mrs. Finkle tells me that her language arts students read The Egypt Game and The Magnificent Mummy Maker while simultaneously completing projects ranging from research papers on an Egyptian topic of choice (both online and non-fiction books used for the research), Cartouche replicas, Egyptian themed board games with directions, scroll creations with Hieroglypics, and life size Mummies that students proudly displayed around the room.  I happened to pop down again a bit later in the morning and caught both Mrs. Finkle and her students very enthusiastically dancing around the room to the music and words of King Tut.  Yep, pretty LOL funny!

 

Same time, different place Mrs. Leibick's students were also proudly sharing their projects and activities.  During the unit, her Language Arts students participated in a field trip to the Gault archeology site near Georgetown (went with them a couple of years ago and it is indeed worth the trip), created poetry, excavated their "bedrooms", completed research, and much more.  As always, much integration happening in Mrs. Leibick's LA class.

While 4th and 5th grade classes were at the Young People's Concert this morning, third grade language arts classes hosted more parents for their Badgerdog student writing presentations.  It was wonderful to hear the voice in the writings as students read their individual pieces and see the pride in student faces at the audience snaps and applause.  Well done on the memoirs, the stories, the poetry, all connected to the use of figurative language.  Thanks Ms. Golliher, Ms. McLelland, and Ms. Smith.

The afternoon did arrive today and we ended it with two more culminating activities.  First grade students presented their annual Ocean Odyssey performance for parents in our cafeteria and did a fabulous job as always.  Have to admit that Wilbur the Whale gets me every time.  Loved it!



Austin Film kids concluded today with an after school Film Festival.  They will be back next year, so be sure to check 'em out; the kids love being in the films and love learning the filmmaking process. A good Friday capping off a really good week.