Faculty Notes

Happy Friday!

I hope this has been a great week for you. We've had a lot going on, and things will really be heating up as we head into this final stretch of the school year. Hang in there! We're almost done!

Here are a few important reminders as we enter the weekend:

1. There will be a middle school division meeting Monday afternoon at 3:40 in Kathy Pirtle's room. We will be discussing, among other things, the roll out of our Apple laptop computers in a few weeks. Hopefully, you will gain a better understanding of why we are moving in this direction.

2. Please remember that our parents expect Edline to be updated at least every other Monday (the second and fourth Monday of the month, specifically). This becomes even more important as we approach the end of the school year.

3. Proactive communication is paramount in our effort to foster a healthy relationship between parents and teachers. Please remember to be prompt when returning emails and phone calls. Better yet, make the effort to contact parents at the first sign of trouble, or when a child is showing marked improvement.

I encourage you to check out this story in the The New York Times having to do with refining Google searches. It is amazing what all Google can do!

I leave you this week with a story which was passed on to me by Dr. Allen Clark, the chairman of the Trinity Board of Trustees. I hope it helps you realize just how important you are!

WHAT DO TEACHERS MAKE?

The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life.

One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?"

To stress his point he said to another guest; "You're a teacher, Barbara . Be honest. What do you make?"

Barbara, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, "You want to know what I make? (She paused for a second, then began...)

"Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.

I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor winner.

I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental.

You want to know what I make? (She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table)

I make kids wonder.

I make them question.

I make them apologize and mean it.

I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.

I teach them to write and then I make them write. Keyboarding isn't 
everything.

I make them read, read, read.

I make them show all their work in math. They use their God given brain, not the man-made calculator.

I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know about English while preserving their unique cultural identity.

I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.

I make my students stand, placing their hand over their heart to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, One Nation Under God, because we live in the United States of America.

Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life ( Barbara paused one last time and then continued.)

Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, with me knowing money isn't everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant.

You want to know what I make?

I MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

What do you make Mr. CEO?

His jaw dropped, he went silent.

A profound answer!!!

Have a Great Weekend!