Yesterday we began our week of Mock TAKS testing. Tuesday we benchmarked math in 3rd, 4th and 5th grades. Results from those tests are coming in, and I know teachers will share those with you shortly. The TAKS math test is the furthest away (April 7 for 5th grade and April 28 for 3rd and 4th), but we want to continue with our progress towards outstanding success on that test. Today (Wednesday) we will benchmark 4th grade writing and 5th grade science, and tomorrow is reading for all three grades. The reading test is our first test scheduled for Tuesday, March 3. Teachers may be requesting additional help at home to get all of our children ready. This is a team effort – when teachers, parents, and students work together, that’s when we truly succeed! Please be open to ideas your teacher may suggest to help your child at home. If you have any questions about TAKS testing or about the results that come home from the benchmarks this week, please contact your child’s teacher. You can also call or come visit me. My door is always open.
Mrs. Lee
Due to expected bad weather conditions, we have decided to start school at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow, Wednesday. Buses will run two hours later than usual. Please stay tuned to local news for any updates, but at this time we do not anticipate having to cancel school.
This post has nothing to do with education but everything to do with the people in our lives. So just bear with me. Earlier this year my dad’s physical and mental health began to decline rapidly. It has been very difficult to accept the way he has changed because of a debilitating disease. I have vacillated between being angry, worried, scared, and regretful about times in my life when I should have appreciated my relationship with him far more. Because of Alzheimer’s and a body that doesn’t want to cooperate, he is not the man he once was, but since the day he married my mom when I was 11, he has been my hero, and he still is.
This past Friday two members of our school family experienced deep losses. On that day, and since then, I hope that they have felt us wrap our arms around them to comfort and care for them while they grieve. That’s what friends and “extended families” do for each other when times get tough. That is the way I have felt at times through the last many months with my dad. There are teachers and staff at school who remember what I’m going through with my dad and they quietly ask about him. They don’t make a production out of their concern; they just find me in a still moment and check in. These little things let me know that my troubles are important to them and that our relationship is more than just work. No need for me to call you by name – you know who you are – and I am grateful.
As my husband will tell you, I am not the most vulnerable person in the world. It takes a lot for me to open up to others, but I’m working on this. I am continuing to understand that needing and relying on people is not a weakness. We all experience loss in one form or fashion, and when we lose, it’s comforting to know that there are people in our lives who will stand up with us in our hurt, or our pain, or our shame.
It’s hard to believe that it is January 6th and we are starting our spring semester. My mother used to say that as you get older, time really does fly, and she spoke the truth. I’m glad to welcome in a new year, however. With a new year comes new people into our lives, new challenges to confront, new friends to enjoy dinner with, new movies to help us escape the daily grind, and new mistakes to make. (Yes, I said mistakes.) I’m going to make them; you’re going to make them. And that’s a good thing! How else can we learn, and maybe more importantly, how else can we teach?
I am really happy to be back at school today. I loved having the two weeks off — don’t get me wrong — but I love my job too. I had so many hugs this morning from the kids, and they are glad to be back too. One kindergarten girl said to me, “Hi Mrs. Lee. I missed you!” And I said that I had missed her too, and all the kids. Then she said, “We can’t wait to see our teacher!” (Mrs. Davis, I hope that makes you feel good! 
) We’ve been with our families over the holidays, but we have a family here at school too, and I believe our teachers and kids feel that.
We have a number of things going on this month that I wanted you to be aware of. This isn’t an exhaustive list; I’ll update it as more information comes to light.
Jan. 5 – Teacher work day
Jan. 6 – First day of the spring semester
Jan. 8 – Promethean training for technology team (2:00-4:00 pm)
Jan. 9 – Technology training for teachers: Files & Folders (3:30-4:00)
Jan. 16 – Technology training for teachers: Digital Cameras (3:30-4:00)
Jan. 22 – TAKS training for staff
Jan. 23 – Technology training for teachers: Document Formatting (3:30-4:00)
Jan. 27-30 – Mock TAKS testing grades 3-5
I wish you and your family the very best in 2009! As always, if I can serve you better, please come talk with me.
Mrs. Lee
It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is this week. Time has just flown by this semester. When we return from the holiday break, those three weeks in December will be gone in no time. At times I love a fast pace, but there are also those moments when I wish we could slow down a bit.
Monday we will take our kids to North Zulch for the final UIL events. Our kids, teachers and PTO volunteers have done a tremendous job so far, and we look forward to another great performance on Monday. On Tuesday, we will release at 12:50 for the Thanksgiving break. Buses will run at 1:00 pm. Progress reporting period will end on Tuesday, but progress reports won’t be sent home until the following Monday.
Fifth grade will be benchmarking the first week in December. Fourth grade will be benchmarking the second week of December. On the 8th, these two grades will go together to the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra and Gattitown for what has become a wonderful annual tradition.
December 18th will be our elementary holiday musical. Mrs. Boehning is already hard at work with the kids and PTO to craft a terrific production for our community. I look forward to seeing what our kids can do!
Today I had the pleasure of sitting down with one of our fifth grade teachers. She shared with me about her class and her students, the kinds of projects the kids will work on this year, and sort of the way she likes to conduct her classroom. It was clear to me in that 15-minute conversation that this is an educator who truly loves teaching. Her passion rang clear as she spoke animatedly about what she enjoys doing with students in the classroom to get them learning and to prepare them to be “big middle schoolers”!
I am so thrilled to be an elementary school principal, but there are many days when I miss the classroom. I too love teaching. Since her teaching field and mine are the same, then it felt really great to listen to her talk and to hear the excitement in her voice about reading and literature circles and language and writing. She extends “an invitation to learn” to the kids in her room, and as I’m sitting in my office late today waiting for the Panther game to begin, I thought it would be appropriate to express my appreciation not only to Marie Gumienny, but to all of the teachers on our campus. We have a group of educators who love what they do and express that passion in their classrooms. They invite kids to learn, even on those days when it seems they might be clinging to the last knot on their rope!
It’s not yet Thanksgiving, but I don’t think there’s a better time to say thank you to my teachers and to teachers everywhere. May your rewards be many!
Mrs. Lee
Wednesday, October 29th, I will have the pleasure of going with all the first and second graders on a field trip to the George Bush Museum and Library, where Benjamin Franklin will be sharing with us stories and adventures from his life. I am so excited to spend the day with the kids and their teachers. (We even have a few parents who wanted to sneak a peek at ‘Ole Ben!) We will leave the school at 8:30 and return at 2:30 pm. (If you have a first or second grader, please send them with a sack lunch, drink and a light jacket.)
I look forward to telling you all about our experiences!
Mrs. Lee
This week we are celebrating Red Ribbon Week, which is a time each October when we learn about the dangers of drugs, tobacco, and alcohol. Red Ribbon Week is dedicated to Kiki Camarena. (Click on the link and you can read all about him.) In the mornings before school and again at lunchtime all this week, students will have the opportunity to pledge themselves to stay away from tobacco and drugs. These pledge certificates are being hung in the front hallway so that all of our teachers and community members who visit can see that Normangee Elementary School is a drug-free school! In addition, you may see your student wearing a red bracelet showing their commitment to being drug-free. These bracelets were provided by the Leon County Community Coalition. We appreciate their partnership with us!
Goodness ~ today is October 22 and it’s been a month since I updated the blog. I absolutely love being a school principal, but I must admit, the day sure does get away from me. I will try to do better because I really do believe that this blog can be a great way for us to communicate with one another.
On to some school news now …
1. Kindergarten has been learning about community workers. Last week they were visited by a policeman and EMS workers. Monday they took a field trip to the grocery store. Wednesday will be a visit to the post office, and they will cap off the week with a trip to the bank. Wow! Kindergarteners sure are learning a lot.
2. Students in 3rd-5th grades benchmarked last week in reading, writing, math and science. I was very impressed with what students and teachers have already accomplished, and I know we will continue to learn and grow as the year goes on. We had some students who struggled on the tests, and we are providing immediate interventions to help those kiddos. Please talk to your teacher if you have concerns about your child.
3. I have put together our Site-Based Decision Making Team whose charge it will be to assist me in developing our Campus Improvement Plan. The new members are:
- Marilyn Leighman, Counselor, District Representative
- Heather Havard, Nurse, District Representative
- Janet Davis, Regular Education Teacher
- Jackie Embry, Regular Education Teacher
- Misty Light, Regular Education Teacher
- Helena Kelly, Special Education Teacher
- Wendy Merkel, Parent Representative
- Julie Ruffeno, Parent Representative
- Dee Black, Community Representative
I am happy these folks have agreed to serve, and I look forward to working with them!
4. I am also excited to announce the students who will serve on the Principal’s Leadership Council this year. The team is made up of 2nd-5th graders who will help me to identify problems on campus and devise creative solutions for them. They will also help with special events like the upcoming Veteran’s Day program. The new members are:
- Jacob Mikulec and Canyon Patterson – 2nd grade
- Josh Embry, Madison Light, Nathan Neel and Tristan Young – 3rd grade
- Hope Capps, Andy Hemphill, and Taylor Burgay – 4th grade
- Ty Emley and McKenzie Clements – 5th grade
We are already hard at work planning Red Ribbon Week next week. The kids came up with some good ideas at our first meeting yesterday.
5. Finally, thank you to all the parents who completed the Parent/Guardian Survey sent home with report cards. Your feedback helps us know what we’re doing well and where we need to improve. My door is always open, so please don’t hesitate to call or drop in if there is ever anything you need to discuss.
Have a great day!
Mrs. Lee
I am happy to report that we will re-open school on Monday, September 22nd and resume a normal schedule. Until we receive an all-clear from the state regarding the status of the water, we will use bottled water at school. The fountains and sinks will be off-limits until further notice, and we will use antibacterial gel for handwashing instead of the soap and water method.
I have missed being at school and seeing all the kids every morning. I’ve grown used to having 100 kids a day wave and smile and say “Hi Miss Lee!” This doesn’t happen to me when I walk around my neighborhood–I don’t know why. And for some reason, my son and his friends don’t seem near as excited to see me as the kindergarteners here in Normangee! I will be happy to see my teachers too. It’s good to be with people who are excited to come to work, and these teachers are.
I hope you and your family have a safe weekend, and I will see you Monday morning “with bells on” as my mother used to say.
Mrs. Lee
