Resilience

As a closing activity at my first year AP program meeting, we were challenged as group of administrators to think about the word resilience. We were asked to share what came to mind with this powerful word.The first thoughts mentioned included athletes who have overcome difficult situations to achieve success. Next, we discussed the student who against all odds becomes a model success story. After sharing student success stories, the program leader started posing questions for us to ponder. What about the staff member in your building who comes to work every day with a smile on his/her face despite the fact that his/her life is crumbling at home? What about the self-contained special education teacher who is daily hit and kicked by a defiant student? At the end of the day she reflects on the day and new things she can try because she will show up and try again tomorrow. How about the single parent who has to be a parent to her own kids while loving and caring for the troubled students walking in her classroom each day? Quickly we were all reminded that the people in our building are the perfect examples of resilience. All of you have "life" happen and yet you never quit or give up. You come to work tired, sick, and/or overwhelmed and give it your very best. You know that the children in our building need and deserve someone who cares and will encourage them to give their best each day. Thank you for your resilience and for modeling this for our students. It is because of you and your willingness to give that our children are set up for great success. 

Here is a reminder that it is all about the students. Some of our PVES teachers and staff went out this past Monday night to support 10U Patriots in their playoff game. The boys won 42-6. Thank you to those who attended it definitely made the night even more special for these young men. 

End of the Nine Weeks Reminders: 

• Related arts: We will begin the second nine weeks related arts rotation next week. This Friday will be the last rotation for the first nine weeks. During the second nine weeks your Tuesday related arts will be your Friday one as well. 
• Report cards: The schedule for grades and report cards will follow what is posted on our shared calendar. 
• All grades are due on Monday, October 26th due by 8:00 a.m. and verifications will be printed on this date. Be sure to review and return verifications to Ms. Patty. 
• All grade changes must be in the computer on Tuesday, October 27th by 8:00 a.m. and report cards will be printed on this date. Report cards will go home on Friday, October 30th.
• If you plan to meet with parents on this date you will give them the report card at the conference. If you have already met with the parents prior to this date or conducted a phone conference, they may pick up the report card in the front office. Please be sure to have report cards labeled, grouped together by class, and in alphabetical order. You can drop these off at the front office first thing Friday morning. Any report cards not picked up on Friday will be placed in your boxes. You may send these home on Tuesday, November 3rd. 
• Remember ESL students cannot receive below 70 on their report cards.
• Any student receiving accommodations needs to have this noted in the comment section of the report card. 
• Conference Day: Friday, October 30th is our parent teacher conference day. Be sure to get a copy of your conference schedule to the front office by Thursday afternoon. Remember to block out a time for lunch and feel free to use the PD Room for lunch or leave to grab a bite to eat. 

Great things are happening at PVES! Here is a look at a few of the happenings from this past week...

Our second Digital Playground was a success. Thank you to the students for presenting and teachers for taking the time to grow professionally and learn about technology. The treats were awesome too! 

Teachers learning from students

Mrs. Redmon is working hard to make speech fun and exciting for all students. We feel blessed to have her and love what she is doing at PVES. Ms. Marino's class had great fun creating and speaking about fall with their pumpkin project.

Ms. Marino's Class Pumpkin Projects 

Everyone did a great job with our Earthquake Drill last week. Here are few pictures from related arts classrooms.

Way to take cover Mrs. Nix!

Fourth grade social studies teachers had some visitors join us last week. Coach Thompson even found a few of them on his rock wall that day. Be sure to check out the iMovie Mrs. Moore made recapping her team's 2015 Explorer Day. 

Advanced ED Updates:

Thank you for working so hard to complete the staff surveys and making sure that students completed their surveys as well. We had great numbers and 100% of our staff completed the survey by the due date. You are amazing! Last week's blog included committee assignments for the school level. Committees 1 and 5 will be meeting on Wednesday, November 4th in room 104 (science lab). Committee 1 will work that morning and committee 5 will work that afternoon. Be sure to bring your laptop to work in Google Drive. Subs have been arranged for this day if needed.

SLO Updates:

Remember that SLOs and GBE are due to Mr. Moore by Thursday, October 29th. All templates should be completed by teachers by this date. These items have been shared in our shared teacher folder. Plan to meet as group in the conference room at the beginning of your planning period to review this document. This will be our preliminary conference. This process should be quick and consist of a brief discussion and turning in your completed templates. Please share the templates through Google before coming to the meeting.  

Sub Login Change

Subs now have their own district logins and will no longer use a generic sub login or your teacher login. This information will be made available to subs when they sign in at the front office. For most of our subs it is their last name and first initial. Most of our regular subs also have a district email address. It is username@apps.anderson1.org and you can send plans, announcements, etc. to this email address. Let Mrs. Tollison know if you have questions or issues. 

Tollison's Tidings:

• Keep in mind we want all parents to feel welcome and informed about their child's education. The district has purchased Language Line which connects you with a translator. This is an excellent resource and will come in handy during parent teacher conference. Ask our ESL teacher, Melissa Thomas if you need assistance. The link provided will take you to directions you may print out. 
• Let's get the word out! Mrs. Harrison has challenged us to brand our schools. Many of you are so great about posting to twitter the wonderful things going on in your classroom. Be sure to use #pvespride and brag on your kids. We will also be working on getting some things out to our media contacts for the newspaper. 
• You all have worked very hard on scheduling conferences and wrapping up SLOs. We want to give you time to continue focusing on these items so please note that we will not have a faculty meeting next Tuesday. 
• Nurse Jamie has definitely been missed! She will be back in our building on Friday, October 23rd. 

Mark Your Calendar (MYC):

• EAFK Ceremonies on 10/23 in MP Room
• Third grade 12:05
• Fourth grade 12:50
• Fifth grade 1:35
• Grades due 10/26 by 8:00 am
• RTI Team Meeting 10/26 at 3:10
• Read 180 Demo (4th/5th Teachers with ESL students) 10/27 in PD Room
• Visit from the State Department of Education and Reading Coaches 10/28
• Furman Consortium 10/29
• SLOs and GBE due and conferences with Moore and Tollison during planning 10/29
• Fire Drill 10/29
• Conference Day 10/30

Parent Teacher Conferences can bring trepidation and anxiety. As a teacher it is the most important time for you to connect and gain insight into your students' lives. Be sure that all our parents feel respected and valued because they are such an important part to the partnership we need for student success. Keep that in mind as you watch this week's video which will hopefully make you laugh a little.