Rainy Days and Mondays always get me down --- except not really because I'm a ROCKET! :)

Thank you for all of your hard work and positive attitudes while working today.  If I wasn't thankful for this team before, I sure am today!  Y'all have it going on!!!  I am so proud of the leadership you exude with your peers in the district.  The dark days of winter can easily bring the blues.  Persevere- knowing you make a difference to our kids EVERY SINGLE DAY--- rain or shine!

I have enjoyed visiting your classrooms the last few weeks.  Please remember that the expectation is that a visitor should be greeted in every classroom.  I am not seeing this, especially in K-2.  Please go over this every day in morning meeting so your kids know what to do when an adult walks into your classroom.  I know I am behind on writing up walkthroughs.  I am going to catch up on that this week and I want to meet with everyone for maybe 15 minutes to go over your glows and grows to move us forward.  I will send calendar invites.  As you plan your lessons, make sure you are incorporating differentiation for you high kids.  We have to grow them too.

Please remember to work on your Important Book page with your kiddos.  Use a copy sheet of paper so they will all be the same size.  Students should illustrate their page.  You should as well.

We will talk more about Open House with whatever meeting we have this week.

The Strategic Planning Team is working on our 3-5 year plan.  One of the sections is teacher retention.  Your response question for today is:  What will keep you at STEM for this time frame, and/or what has kept you at other schools for long periods of time.  Please be specific.  Blog by Friday, Feburary 23 by 4 p.m.

Coming up this week:

Monday: A.M - Planning at Carver --- P.M. Planning on campus
Tuesday:  Regular Day
Wednesday: Regular Day
Thursday: Principal's Meeting 10:00-12 p.m.
Friday:  Kona Ice - schedule will be emailed

Thank you for being awesome every day!  Please let me know what I can do for you!

SK loves ROCKETS

The Important Book and Open House - March 1st

The date for Open House has been set for March 1st.  I would like us to create a KGJ Important Book.  Each student and teacher will write and illustrate a page to hang on the tag strips outside your rooms for Open House.  I would also like this to be an Open House with a twist - more of a student led showcase.  For instance, I want some 3rd and 5th graders positioned in the cafeteria to talk about the solar system they created, and more things along that line.  With Black History Month here, maybe students can provide a Living Museum of African Americans who have made contributions to STEM fields.  Those are just some ideas.  We can share and nail down what we can do this week.  If you are unfamiliar with The Important Book watch the YouTube read aloud below.

Here is a page from the book and example of a student page from another school.  Ms. Teeters offered to create a template for the younger kids to do.  I would like 3-5 write or type a page without a template.  

Here is mine that I will hang up outside my office:

The important thing about KGJ STEM Academy is that we are different.

We have morning meetings.

Design challenges are everywhere,

and student ambassadors greet visitors.

Our school has a STEM lab where lots of great technology is happening.

Students at KGJ rock math and science,

Yes, we teach reading.

But the important thing about KGJ STEM Academy is that we are different.

#ExploretheWHY

For your response this week, I want you to share your page to our Important Book.  This will be due by Friday, Feb.9th at 4 p.m.  Please make sure you are meeting this expectation.

Week at a glance:

Monday & Tuesday - Regular Days --- woo hoo
Wednesday - Iteam Meeting with Mrs. Newton over everything you never knew Aware could do for you.
Principal's Meeting @ Crockett from 9-12 p.m.
Thursday - 4:00-5:00 - Garden Meeting with community volunteer - anyone is welcome to join us to lead the charge.
Update webpages - lesson plans due
Campus Testing Coordinator Meeting 8:30-11:30 a.m. @ WMAB
Friday - Strategic Planning 3:45 - 4:45p.m.  Anyone is welcome to join.
Blog response is due by 4 p.m.