Lesson in Never Giving Up!

This is the time of the year when increased stress impacts day to day teaching and learning for both staff and students. From increased intensity, frequency and intensity of student behaviors because of trauma or anticipation of the break to the timeline to complete formative evaluations and sense of urgency to cover content.  Please don't lose sight of what a smile, recognition, thank you, or random act of kindness can do for others.  You never know what a difference it might make for someone!

Below are some links with additional strategies to help effectively deal with stress during this time before the holiday break and throughout the year: 

Helping student who Have Experienced Trauma

Stress busters

10 ways to Help Teachers Deal with Stress

Wishing you all a happy, healthy and safe upcoming holiday!

Growing Student Leaders

 US academic environments define leadership as "a process of social influence in which a person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task".  We have leaders surfacing everyday in our district, from our staff, students to our parent and partnerships with community members.  Today, I would like to highlight a few examples of students supporting each other and coming together to achieve a common outcome. Growing leaders everyday!  Enjoy just a few stories from this past week and be sure to celebrate and recognize the student leaders in your buildings!

GISH students attended UNL's Spanish Day.   They were able to hear stories from students that shared their cultural background, toured campus, and took the opportunity to learn about college life! These students took advantage of this visit as they consider the options for their future.  A shout out to the staff that initiated and lead this effort, making a difference for our students.

Walnut MS Student Council is making a difference.  Last week they organized a culminating assembly to end Red Ribbon Week. The message from Mayor Jensen and Past Nebraska and NFL football player and current Drug Prevention Counselor Anthony Steele focused on making positive life choices and overcoming challenges.  This next week, they are planning recognition and celebrations for all Walnut Veteran's.  Student leaders making a difference for their peers!

                                                

Rachel's Challenge

​Following the powerful message of Rachel's Challenge, a group of approximately 100 Westridge students participated in the formation of our first ever Friends of Rachel Club, (F.O.R.)The goal of this club is to build a chain reaction of kindness and respect for everyone.  Our hope is to to spread this message throughout Westridge and beyond. All students, staff and eventually parents, and community members will be asked to sign an "I Accept Rachel's Challenge" banner.

Pictured with the pledge banner are from Left to Right:  7th graders, Shelby Heckathorn, Katie Weaver, Taylor Paul, Jordan Johnson and Alex Lesiak.  ​

How to Achieve Greatness

Friday, October 21st all Grand Island Senior High students had the opportunity to hear 



You can watch the entire presentation, just click the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlPTtKSnQGk&feature=em-lss

As we think about preparing our students for the future, there has to be hope, goals, experiences, and teaching of life skills.  Students commented that the message from Don Yaeger reinforced the importance of accepting where you are, but knowing opportunities exist and it will take a positive attitude, perseverance and grit to reach set goals.  His message is a great one for all of to consider as we look forward to our future!

Thank you Don Yaeger for allowing us to video the presentation and the permission to share with others.

National Principals Month

October is National Principals Month!  Although the title represents school principals, I would like to take this opportunity to include our program directors in this celebration as well!  Please join us as we honor the hard work and dedication of our principals and program leaders all month long.  

Proud of our GIPS Building and Program Leaders

Early Learning Center:  Tara Peterson Dodge:  Dr. Carrie Kolar and AP Leasa Hedrick Engleman: Jane Gloor and AP Teri Ruybalid Gates: Julie Martin Howard:  Julie Schnitzler Jefferson: Jeanna Randall Knickrehm: Kelly Klanecky Lincoln: Maureen Oman Newell: Andrew Rinaldi Seedling-Charity LaBrie Shoemaker-Lee Wolfe Starr-John Hauser Stolley Park-Mike Persampieri

Wasmer-Tina Godfrey West Lawn-DW Holley Barr-Brian Kort and AP’s Tim Hekrdle and Sheree Stockwell Walnut-Rod Foley and AP’s Selena Wardyn and Calvin Hubbard Westridge-Brad Wolfe, AP Shelli Pfeifer GISH-Jeff Gilberston and AP’s Cindy Wells, Maggie Mintken, Greg Morrow, Ron Hester and GISH Activities Director Joe Kutlas Success Academy-Dr. Ken DeFrank CPI-Dan Phillips Skills Academy-Julie Fessenden OMB-Linda Sanders

School leaders are entrusted with our most valuable resource-our students!  They are expected to be instructional leaders, establish and maintain the climate and culture of the school, build community, manage budgets, be disciplinarians and uphold policies and mandates.  They are also asked to reach high performance standards and work collaboratively with teachers.  I would like to personally recognize and thank our principals and program leaders for the commitment, dedication and leadership demonstrated daily, making a difference for our students, teachers and community.  

National Principals Month is our opportunity to say “thank you” to GIPS administrators and to share with the community all the great things that our school leaders do.  

Looking for ways to celebrate? Here are a few suggestions!

Send your principals a free e-card in honor of this month’s celebration. All you have to do it add your message and schedule the date and time for the card to be emailed  
http://principalsmonth.org/ecards/

Sample social media posts:  http://www.principalsmonth.org/social-media-toolkit/

Plan a celebration: http://www.principalsmonth.org/teachers/

                                                     

Region IV Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year Awards

This last weekend the Region IV Administrator Board announced the recipients of the Region IV Middle School Principal and Assistant Principal of the year. Please join me in congratulating our own GIPS Administrators for this wonderful recognition!

Brad Wolfe-Westridge Middle School 

and   

Assistant Principal Tim Hekrdle-Barr Middle School

So proud of our administrators!  We are "Better Together"!

Wednesday Walks

Every Wednesday, members from the Executive Cabinet, Board of Education and Central Office engage in building walks. The purpose is to observe teaching and learning, be present in the buildings to engage with staff in an informal way and learn about celebrations and challenges from the building leaders.  It has been a pleasure to be in buildings and see the amazing things happening for our students everyday! I'm including a few photos of our most recent visits.  Shout outs happen each week, just follow me on Twitter!

Students standing when answering a question, the other students know how to track the speaker!  

Students grouped to review key skills prior to an assessment.  A great strategy to help with grouping is to predict "how many of my students will do well on this assessment?"  If you can identify students that you predict won't do well...group students in a way that allows extended practice for those that know it and spend intentional review and reteach time with those that need it!  

 T--"Ding, Ding, Ding", Students "We have a winner"!  Engagement strategy that works!So fun watching kindergartners get it and celebrating their learning together!

Our principals are asking students questions about their learning!  Who better to answer than the students themselves!!

I'm looking forward to sharing more information and learning gained from our walk in future posts! 

WE ARE GIPS-Expectations of Students at School Events

Greetings All,

The following message was shared with principals to send out to students/families.  Just want you to be aware of the communication and request your support as well. 

WE ARE GIPS means that we encourage and appreciate attendance of students at all activities and events in the district. Growing our student attendance at after school events is a goal and a great way to build community!  It is fall sports season and an opportunity for students to represent themselves and their school respectfully, responsibly, and safely when attending school sponsored games/events.  

Football games are especially popular.  As you know there are many challenges with supervision due to the number of students that attend, the limited lighting outside of the football field,  and the amount of space to cover.  We want all that attend to have an enjoyable experience, feel safe and a part of the Islander family. Below are expectations for students to help us accomplish this: 

• First and foremost we want all in attendance to have fun and cheer on the Islanders and/or your school sports team!
• Students are expected to remain in the stands watching the game with family or friends unless they are using the restroom or visiting the concession stand.  (For safety and supervision reasons, it is not acceptable to be hanging out behind the bleachers, playing football behind the stands, or riding scooters)
• Be respectful of the facilities, those attending the event, and adults supervising the event (demonstrating good sportsmanship has a positive reflection on your character and your school)
• Enter and exit the facilities safely and responsibly
• Once students leave the game, there is a no re-entry rule
• Students not adhering to the rules/expectations may be asked to leave the event.  

If you are attending events and see students you know engaging in behavior that is unacceptable, please help us out and redirect as appropriate. Always an opportunity to teach :). 

Thank you so much for your support, we are "Better Together"!

Toni

Smartfind Reminders

Reminder about Smartfind documentation

• Professional Leaves-In and out of District--
• For approval staff need to indicate what they are attending and where
• Family illness
• For approval staff must include the reason for leave and the relationship of the family member  (not anything specific- Ex. daughter ill, mom to doctor, etc.)
• Bereavement Immediate and Extended Family for Certified or Bereavement for Classified  
• For approval-Must include the relationship of deceased to employee  (One day out of the three days  for certified (Extended) and classified staff can be used for close friend or non-defined family member.
• Sports-Fine Arts-
• For approval, staff must include what they are attending and where