Building Community

Leadership Lions at Morningside

We had a parent new to our Morningside community visit one of the first days of school, wanting to understand the local culture. Our conversations lead a curvy path that eventually uncovered a forgotten park that had been promised to our local communities. During our discussion phone numbers were exchanged and ideas tossed around, “How could we revive the park?”

A few hours passed, I couldn’t get the crazy thought out of my head “Our students could impact the community and bring the park here” but how?

A team was formed a “Leadership Team” of ten students spanning each grade level. The students volunteered time and under the guidance of Mrs. Debra Taylor the students were asked to present to the city council. The Student’s presentation went perfectly and impressed the city council. A few months have passed our Leadership Team was asked to present to the Bond Advisory Council for the city. Again the students were stellar in their performance.

The “Leadership Team” at Morningside consisting of students from first through fifth grade has accomplished their goal. The Students raised enough awareness the Bond Advisory Council has placed Morningside Park into the bond package that will be presented to the voters of New Braunfels, Texas. Congratulations students, now it will be in the voter’s hands.

http://www.americantowns.com/tx/newbraunfels/news/morningside-elementary-students-arent-seesawing-about-their-desires-for-a-park-near-campus-11036428

Morningside Elementary Mission Statement--Morningside Elementary is committed to providing a safe and positive student-centered learning environment created in partnership with family, school and community and for the purpose of encouraging the academic and social success of our students. Together we foster lifelong learning, responsibility, ownership, and respect for all, while upholding high expectations and excellence.

Attendance Focus

As a campus we have been focusing on school attendance. Our teachers are very creative and this usage of Bridge and Flow Maps has caught my eye. We are attempting to guide them towards intrinsic motivation for attendance. The usage of these maps are encouraging students to hold classmates and themselves accountable for attendance.

I would like for others to post on actions their campuses are taking in an Attendance Focus manner.

Great Job Ms. Allen utilizing your creativity.

Blitz Day Two Success and Reflection

The collaborative groups met during the scheduled times, the imagination ran wild. The pairs scoured the school building searching for tidbits galore. Unsure of what to find a myriad of interesting treasures were discovered.

Examples:

*Uses for Ipod utilizing barcodes and scanners

*Schedules in code deciphered by students for specials rotations

*Colleagues had worked together for four years and never entered the other's classroom.

The results of these two days has pushed our campus further than thought possible. One teacher provided a framework for students to collaborate through blogging in an elementary classroom. The next week after the Blitz at least one classroom per grade level K-5 now utilizes the technology to build on journaling.

We will definitely pursue this activity again at least once this school year. Any feedback is welcome to improve the activities or opportunities you have encountered similar.

Conferencing with Teachers

I am in what I would consider a unique situation. I helped open a school as an assistant principal later after the first year was completed I moved to another school. Fast forward two years and was given the opportunity to return as principal. I have enjoyed reconnecting with the teachers and faculty.

Christmas/Holiday break arrived and allowed me time to reflect over the first semester. The end result of reflecting, I knew the staff and faculty but we had all grown, developed, and situations had changed in the two years I was away. Upon our return to the second half of the year I set out to conference with each teacher during their conference period. I will complete this expedition in the next few days. I can not begin to describe how well these meetings have gone. I've learned more about these people in the 25 minutes of conference times than I did in an entire semester.

I chose to set the format of 4 standard questions and a statement.

• One moment to brag of a situation from the first semester
• Their strengths perceived by them
• How the like to be praised/recognized
• Professional and personal goals
• How can I help them reach these goals

I found a very humble group of teachers who struggled with bragging, knew their strengths and weaknesses. Struggled a little with how to be recognized, addressed their weaknesses through goals and had plans to accomplish them.

The area where I became deeply surprised was in the area of professional development. Our district provides intensive technology trainings but teachers were not applying the knowledge in the classroom. We will set out from these meetings with a task per month for products utilizing the technology focuses.

I am discovering what "Building Leadership Capacity in my school" means to me. My first goal was to lay the foundation of knowledge who was strong enough in various areas to lead from within the grade levels. I found a plethora of knowledge hidden behind barriers of concern or lack of confidence. It is very interesting to me teachers are comfortable leading students all day but leading their peers frightens some. I also found future leaders waiting for the opportunity to take on new challenges and new positions if the situation arises. The structure is in place for a community of life long learners to be successful for many years to come. I feel fortunate to be in the position I am with the school.

Great teachers, great students, and great parents lead to Great School.

This week has been very busy with the conferences but I believe will pay huge dividends in relationships. 30 complete 14 more.

Howell Out

@MES_Principal

@kbobcat05

3 things +1 about my first semester as First Semester Principal

I feel as though our first semester has been a successful achievement. I do know there is plenty to reflect upon and a slight change I would have made.

Our school has limited parent participation extracurricular or volunteering. The parents that do commit time perform a tremendous service with their time and energy to assist our school. Our administrative team constructed a plan to invite parents as a part of our learning community. We engineered three events that allowed great strides to be made reconnecting with our community.

1. Pumpkin painting night- Our PTA sponsored a pumpkin painting night during the fall. Our families showed up in droves to participate. We eventually had a small contest to allow voting on the most popularly decorated pumpkin.
2. Thanksgiving Dinner- We advertised to allow families, grandparents, friends and neighbors to eat with their student. A great deal of time planning both cafeteria and facility went into this day. We normally averaged 400 plates served on normal days. The Thanksgiving Feast generated over 1,000 plates served. The smiling faces accompanied with the laughter of time spent with families made the hard work well worth the outcome.
3. Caliente Chili Cookoff- Our school in conjunction with community businesses and families hosted a chili, bean, and salsa cookoff. We had books donated, food donated, services donated, entertainment donated, and volunteers. In case you did not notice everything was donated so the Cookoff was a terrific fundraiser for our school. We had a wonderful turnout from our student body and the event will continue to grow.

The +1 I would change, I wish I would have began a Professional Learning Network earlier for myself. I have learned a tremendous amount reading and communicating with others but wish I had began earlier.

These are 3 things we accomplished in our first semester for community involvement. I hope to see other ideas from people in the future. I am planning to host the annual night out against crime next year.

Thanks for Reading

Howell Out.

@kbobcat05