It's night before
it's afternoon.
December is here before it's June.
My goodness how the
time has flewn.
How did it get so late so soon?
~Theodor Geisel (a.k.a. Dr. Seuss)
The new house my wife and I are building near beautiful Beulah will be named "It's About Time." The double meaning for this name makes so much sense in the big picture. It's certainly about time we got a place in that area where we love to explore and spend time. It's also true that we intend to use the house to spend our time, to create memories with friends and family, and to enjoy our sixties and seventies and beyond. It's about time; it's all about time.
At Cooper, our workdays are also all about time. Last week, Judy and I spent time scheduling the labs for M-Step. We doubled our use of time by also helping in the center at the same time we were scheduling (thank you Judy!). We are in the midst of the time that is left in the year. One more marking period, less than three months remaining, fewer than 50 days of school time left with these students in their current grades. How did it get so late so soon?
What do we have left to do with our time? Some things that come to mind are: student and teacher surveys, evaluations, iReady testing, EDM testing, M-Step testing, and end of year evaluations, including final F&P testing . We also have 4th grade transitions, Leadership Day (April 2!), a memorial service and celebration for Susie, two report cards to complete, school improvement plan, Camp Emerson planning and invitations (due to renovations at Emerson, we're hosting at Cooper this summer), Field Day, and end of the year field trips and celebrations, including sixth grade send off. I'm sure I missed more than a few things.
It makes me a little tired writing that paragraph. And I don't write it to make you crazy, although you may feel overwhelmed. I write this to help us focus on the time. It's about time; it's all about time.
With all we are doing, we are still going to do all the other activities in our responsibilities: child care, laundry, house care, and even some recreation (think spring break, Memorial Day weekend!). Wow! We're really going to be ready for summer!
In the meantime, however, I'm looking for help getting through our many obligations and what seems like an overwhelming amount of work. I am turning to my support systems. I have two accountability partners. I have the 7 Habits and my processes for using them. I can keep my sanity (easy on the comments, please!) by maintaining a focus on Habit 7. We can all help each other by following the following:
- Schedule the week in advance with an accountability partner
- Include activities that enhance the four human dimensions (Mind, Body, Heart, Spirit)
- Consider the roles we play, all the relationships we have, and the goals of our missions
- Schedule the Big Rocks first
- Eliminate or at least reduce quadrant IV activities (time wasters such as excessive TV, etc.)
- When feeling overwhelmed, seek solutions from friends and colleagues (we're all in this together!)
Sarah wrote last week (see previous blog) that I am becoming more reflective as the months slide toward retirement. She is certainly correct. With fewer than 100 calendar days left in this career, I am noticing the eminent imminent mental shift has begun. I am staying focused on the work, and looking ahead as well. I am so happy there is no surgery happening during the balance of the school year to keep me from being with all of you as we complete another truly successful school year.
We have much to do and limited time to do it. We will all get through this together and then plan our futures as we relax in June. Remember, it's about time.
"All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages..."
~William Shakespeare, from "All the World's a Stage"
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Big Rocks:
- A note about the knee surgery that isn't: After my scheduled surgery was postponed from January, it was rescheduled for April 14. Then the surgeon was not going to make it back in time, so another surgeon was consulted. In a consultation with this new person, he did not recommend surgery. I went to another doctor for a fourth opinion. He also said to wait. He has some other ideas for helping my knee in the meantime. So I'm getting some cortisone therapy and physical therapy and will not be having surgery in the foreseeable future. This has been great news for me as I can finish the school year as I'd wanted to do, get my boat in the water and my new house squared away. On top of that, I'm walking better than I have in the past couple of years, so I am very happen with the strategy so far. I've lost a little faith in doctors along the way, but I'm ecstatic that I'm not having surgery and that I'm walking better.
- Our QAR visit seems to have gone successfully. We don't have the report yet. We'll share it at the staff meeting Thursday morning. Danielle Daniels will join us at our staff meeting. A big thanks to Lynn, Nicole, Wendy, Robin, and Kathy N. They all represented our school very well in the presentation portion. The team of four LPS administrators expressed high regard for Cooper and the work we're doing. They visited nearly all classrooms, some more than once. Thank you all for enduring the stress that comes with having others in your room. They were very gracious and impressed with our students and staff. Sarah deserves a big thanks also, as she created a great slide show and made sure we were as ready as we could be for the visit.
- It is important to remember that the Staff Lounge needs to be secure from students, especially during lunch times. When fifth grade is at lunch, sixth graders are entering the lounge to get printer materials or refrigerated items for their teachers. Please respect the teachers that are at lunch or on a break in the Lounge. Have students come at a different time than the staff lunch, and instruct students to always knock and wait for permission before entering the Lounge.
- We had another successful Walk-a-thon last Friday. A big thanks to all staff who stayed to help out. Our staff turnout was tremendous! Check our Facebook page for pics as Judy and I were posting. Thanks to Lauren for her organization as well as all of her great work getting the windows ready and the ideas out there. The Work-a-thons are a real joint effort by so many staff members, students, and parents. It's a great event and our school is really coming along with the re-decorating that's going on!
- There will be a survey sent to you about coloring hair for spirit days in a separate email. We are trying to figure out where staff members are on this issue. Our feeling inthe office that as long as the hair is not distracting to the class, we are okay with temporary hair changes. Please let us know how you feel. The survey has just two questions.
- Speaking of perceptions, the students will be asked their perceptions during the week at various times. We will try to get your class out and back to you as quickly as possible. Sarah or I will be getting them and administering the students surveys.
- We will have a short assembly during LEAD TIME. The assembly will be for all students in the gym at 8:45. We will release students to complete committee/ teams work at 9:00.
- Shawn is having her baby as this is being written (Saturday night). We will keep you informed as soon as news and baby arrive. Very exciting!!
Week of March 16th:
Monday: 7:30 Breakfast with Randy (Terry)
1:00 Reading In Content Areas mtg @ CO (Sarah)
Tuesday: LEAD TIME Assembly in gym at 8:45
3:45 Lighthouse
Wednesday: 8:00 IST Meeting
3:45 Planning team
6:00 Susie Memorial Committee meeting in LMC
Thursday: 8:00 Staff Meeting (QAR review)
10:00 DSIT Climate Committee (Sarah)
1:00 EPM (Terry and Sarah)
6:30 PTA Meeting
Friday: 8:00 Book Club
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