{"id":365,"date":"2018-12-08T00:36:57","date_gmt":"2018-12-08T00:36:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.bend.k12.or.us\/brian.kissell\/?p=365"},"modified":"2018-12-11T04:29:38","modified_gmt":"2018-12-11T04:29:38","slug":"12-10-12-14-weekly-update-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bend.k12.or.us\/brian.kissell\/2018\/12\/08\/12-10-12-14-weekly-update-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"12\/10-12\/14 Weekly Update"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cOur greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.\u201d \u00a0<\/span>William James<\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Storyline Leadership<\/b><\/p>\n

One of my most important responsibilities as principal is to develop leadership opportunities for staff. \u00a0We develop leadership in a variety of ways; branching out of our comfort zones, sharing expertise with others, developing new networks, and opening ourselves up to new learning, etc. \u00a0Developing leadership skills and expertise within our teachers directly impacts our own students and our community. It builds teacher efficacy and that is one of the most powerful influencers of student success. <\/span><\/p>\n

Earlier in the year the increase of our storyline consulting line item (by $3000) on the PTO budget was questioned. \u00a0At the time, I explained the intent of this increase was to provide funding for opportunities for Highland teachers to provide consulting to others in addition to the typical expense we use for working with Colleen. \u00a0I also provided a few potential examples (Sisters, Barnes Butte & Charter School in Redmond), however as of that particular date there was only one confirmed experience for us which was the COSA conference in October. \u00a0Some of that funding was used to provide release time to prepare for that presentation. As a result of going to that conference another opportunity emerged involving our district coaches and Silver Rail teachers. This past Monday, some of our 2\/3 team followed up with that opportunity and used their experience to help develop a storyline on Native Americans; they will be looking to work with Silver Rail for another half day in the near future. \u00a0We are looking forward to sharing more details on this experience later. <\/span><\/p>\n

Last year, we accepted $12,000 from PTO to go to the conference in Slovenia during the summer, so to use $3000 with similar reasons with intent to also benefit local teachers and students is a good use of our PTO dollars. \u00a0When donors give to the PTO during the Annual Giving Campaign they give to HIghland and the whole picture, they give in order to allow the PTO Board and the school to do what\u2019s best for kids.<\/span><\/p>\n

In response to this whole process potentially causing suspicion or mistrust within our staff, my hope is that we all work together as one professional team and recognize this as growth for all of Highland. \u00a0My hope is you all recognize this for the exciting opportunity that it is for the storyline community. At the very least, enjoy the success of your fellow colleagues. And my hope is you might be motivated to seek out and create similar opportunities for yourself and other members of our team, as it is already positively impacting the Storylines being developed at Highland. \u00a0As the quote above points out, we have the ability to choose one thought over another, so we can choose to trust rather than the alternate.<\/span><\/p>\n

The last point I would like to make on this topic is this; this has been an evolving topic. \u00a0I am doing my best to share what I know, when I know it. As I mentioned in the first staff meeting of the year in August, this is an unknown and therefore a risk, however the only true risk was potentially not spending the money due to not having opportunities. \u00a0We\u2019ve used almost half of that $3000 for the opportunities presented above and I am hopeful we will see more opportunities in the near future.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Student Shadow Project<\/b><\/p>\n

Our district leadership is asking all principals to spend some time shadowing specific students for an entire day. \u00a0Neither you or the student will know whom is being shadowed, but I will select a few different students and set up some days to be their shadow for the day. \u00a0You don\u2019t need to do anything differently, nor worry, but I did want to give you a heads up as it will be unexpected when I spend most of the day in your room (lucky you, whoever you are!).<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Magnet School Application Process<\/b><\/p>\n

FYI – we have the following dates for our parent informational session and tours;<\/span><\/p>\n

Latino Family Night – Location TBD<\/span><\/p>\n

Jan. 22, time TBD<\/span><\/p>\n

Parent Information Presentations<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tuesday Feb. 5, 6:00-7:00pm<\/span><\/p>\n

Wednesday Feb. 13, 3:00-4:00pm<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tours<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tuesday Feb. 12, 2:30-3:30pm<\/span><\/p>\n

Thursday Feb 21, 2:30-3:30pm<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Magnet Application deadline: March 22 @ 3 P.M.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lottery: April 2 @ 8:00 A.M.<\/span><\/p>\n

Letters mailed: April 5<\/span><\/p>\n

Acceptance deadline: April 19 @ 4:00 P.M.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

If anyone notices a large conflict with any of these dates that is not on our calendar, please let me know ASAP as we are coordinating with several other schools.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Click below to see our district snow removal priorities and process;<\/span><\/p>\n

Snow Removal Program<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hallway Expectations<\/b><\/p>\n

While I am asking you to spend a little time with your students working on these behavior expectations, please keep things manageable for both our students and yourselves; it\u2019s simply not realistic to expect all students to be able to walk the halls silently all the time, especially independently, and it\u2019s not realistic for you to be with your kids in the hallway every time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since this topic comes up frequently I feel I should point out some major factors that work against any long-standing success;<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. First, students have their behavior controlled for a large part of the day and the need for them to exercise control over their own behavior is always building. \u00a0We have a few time frames throughout the day that alleviate that tension. Extending the adult control of their behavior beyond the classroom, library or office is unnatural and will constantly require reinforcement. \u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Secondly, environmental conditions don\u2019t really support our efforts. \u00a0Our halls are constantly full of noise, shoes on the floor, doors closing, lockers closing, voices carrying out from the classrooms, students and adults work together in the halls and naturally use their voices. \u00a0When students hear voices they feel permission to speak themselves.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    I don\u2019t want you to throw your hands in the air and give up, but I do want you to channel some of our Mindful Educators content and be kind to yourself and your colleagues as breakdowns in these behaviors are to be expected. \u00a0When those breakdowns happen we should expect the following from everyone;<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. The students are not talking with the intent to be disruptive, disrespectful, or defiant – they are not misbehaving, so they should not be treated as such.<\/span><\/li>\n
    2. All of our colleagues are doing their best and if they are not with their students in the halls they should expect empathy, understanding, and forgiveness when the breakdowns occur.<\/span><\/li>\n
    3. There are other solutions that require much less effort and time. \u00a0A closed door can be very effective, plan slight modifications in your lessons that align with the fixed\/predictable transition times, consider a classroom change with your team for next year. \u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Words are Powerful<\/b><\/p>\n

      If you are interested in influencing students in the most positive manner with your words, please read this following article <\/span>summary<\/span><\/a>. \u00a0This may not be an easy read as there is actually quite a bit to remember (I have to re-read it frequently), but it\u2019s very thought-provoking and putting this information to use can really impact our students in powerful way. \u00a0I appreciated some of the specific parts of speech examples to help me examine my own messages.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Rethinking the Math Block<\/b><\/p>\n

      For an alternative way to design a math block please consider the following <\/span>abstract<\/span><\/a>. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      Some benefits to this or similar designs include the following;<\/span><\/p>\n