Celebrate

"What would you do if you knew you could not fail?"

Many of us were able to join in the celebration of Mary Beth Lorenz's retirement on Friday night and what a celebration it was.  Surrounded by family and friends, people told stories, shared laughter, and honored her career as an educator.  We serve in so many roles in this job: teacher, partner, friend, team member, counselor, etc.  Last week, Terry wrote about our team potential.  Mary Beth was celebrated on Friday not only for the role she played in the life of all of her students but also for the role she played on our team.  She cannot be replaced.  Who else brings the treats to PD?  Donuts on Fridays?  Remembers your favorite candy/cake/pop and drops it on your desk at just the right moment?  Who could forget the story of how she refused to open her mouth for her dentist until he wrote a check for a camp scholarship?

Lately, we have been heartbroken to hear the many stories of fellow friends and educators who have gotten sick just as they retired.  We put things off all of the time thinking that we can do it later when we have more time.  We'll never have more time.  Start.  Just start.  When I first started teaching, I thought I had to wait to the beginning of the year to start anything new.  Yet, what I soon learned was that any time was a good time to start.  Try Daily Five in February?  Why not?  At least, I'd have some data and ideas about whether I would want to do it the next year.  What do you want to try?  New technology?  Student led conferences?  Join the Lighthouse Team?  Read a new book? Run a 5K?  As George Eliot once said, "It's never too late to be what you might have been."

Big Rocks/Weekly Focus:

Count Day is Wednesday!  Pam will have a roster sheet in your mailbox Wednesday morning

Please work on walking quietly in the halls this week.  Remind your class of the expectation that classes walk on the right hand side and stop at intersections.  If a class is already crossing, that class has the right of way.  It has been especially loud and chaotic during lunch transitions.  As you are bringing your students down to lunch and picking them up, this is a good time to practice hallway expectations.

Calendar for the Week of September 29th:
Monday: Lighthouse Team Leadership Training 8:30-3:30
                Bond Furniture Meeting @ CO (Sarah) 1:00-3:00

Tuesday: LEAD time 8:45-9:35
                Technology meeting 8:00 LMC
                 Peer to Peer meeting (Sarah, Terry, Sally, Annette, Shelly) RCR 11:30

Wednesday: QAR Meeting @ (Sarah) CO 9:30-11:00
                    Count Day
                    Foundation Grants Due

Thursday: Extended Staff Meeting on Website Training 3:45-4:45

Friday: DAC Meeting @ CO (Terry) 8:00
             PTA Clean Out 4:00