“All changes, even the most longed
for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves;
we must die to one life before we can enter another.” ~Anatole France
What a great quote! It speaks the
changes that occur with each season, as fall dies and becomes winter, only for
winter to die and become spring. It speaks to Sarah’s new baby and her new life
with a son and having four children rather than three; all the joy of that and
all the responsibility. It speaks to my pending retirement, in which I am so
sad to be leaving Cooper and so happy to be going to my new life. Thus I have
this growing melancholy, which even still has yet to ripen.
Considering retirement is a nearly
impossible task. We’ve spent so much time and energy making Cooper what it has
become, it’s hard to imagine not being here. I can’t imagine not thinking about
and worrying students and staff, about and constantly planning and sorting
ideas and considering every issue that rolls in daily.
I know I will need your help
getting through all the changes still to come this year. Sarah will be out
until mid-January, and then I will go for few or maybe several weeks. Then the
year will close as we test students in a new window with another new test. As
we think through and imagine, and dream about what it all will be like, it’s
great to know we are in this together. Together this staff accomplishes so much
so well. The results are like a fabulous sunset: unimaginable even when it’s
viewed yet appreciated for the wonder and beauty, and the knowledge that
there’s another one tomorrow!
“All changes are more or less
tinged with melancholy, for what we are leaving behind is part of ourselves.” ~Amelia Barr
BIG ROCKS
· The bond renovations at Cooper are
nearly complete. Our punch list is now fewer than 40 items! Please continue to
send your issues to me via email. Repeats are encouraged and welcome!
· As promised, here is the link for
the tour of i-Ready adaptive diagnostic: http://www.curriculumassociates.com/products/iready/diagnostic-instruction.aspx?source=i-ready-product. Check it out and let Robin and me
know what you think!
· It is imperative that teachers walk
their classes all the way to the exit out of the gym during dismissal. Then
turn your cards to indicate your class has boarded their buses. It’s not enough
to walk students to the gym door and leave them go out the gym on their own. Be
sure to include these directions in your sub plans!!
· Some students are missing specials
times because they are being held back in classrooms to make up tests or get
missed instruction. Please make sure students are allowed to go to specials.
Those classes are part of the student curriculum. If you have a special circumstance,
please let me know.
· With Sarah out and before Angie
returns, I will be flying solo at Cooper. I will need your help next week with
conferences. If you need my assistance, I am happy to sit in. Please let me
know by Tuesday if you have a conference you ‘d like support in holding.
· Speaking of conferences, we asked
that you let us know how you were handling student-led conferencing this year.
Please make sure you email me with your plans.
This Week At Cooper:
Monday:
Tuesday: Veterans Day!
8:00
Center EPT
3:45
LH Team meeting
Wednesday: Noon Foundation Lunch (Terry)
Conferences,
5:00-8:00
Rocky’s
dinner in the lounge
Thursday: Conferences all day; No students
PTA
providing lunch and dinner
Friday: No School for any of us!!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment