Saturday, February 23, 2008

Professional Development

I have just returned from the SCIRA conference in Myrtle Beach.  I attended with several of my teachers.  While there, many of them presented topics related to literacy, curriculum and instruction, and co-curriculuar activities.  I really enjoyed the professional development experiences and colleagiality that we shared.  Notably, three sessions during this state-wide conference were hosted by DME teacher leaders:

“Using Technology to Enhance Reading” - Betsy Long, Kathy Brand, and Vickie Norton

“Reading to Write and Writing to Read” - Tina Summers and Emily McRedmond

“Dive into Learning” - Stephanie Jones and Holly Boykin

Aside from their presentations, many of these same teachers serve on the district’s Reading Council, including our Teacher of the Year, Angela Fomby, and Heather Costello!

As the principal of this school, I hold great pride in their accomplishments and in their sharing of their crafts.  I am proud of them for their professional efforts of being leaders in our district and state!

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Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Ron Clark

On Monday, I had the opportunity to hear Ron Clark speak at our district staff development.  Wow!  What an inspiring message!  I heard him last summer at SCASA’s SLI, and his message was just as powerful yesterday.  When I arrived back at school, my teachers were fired up and ready to go!  We talked about putting into play what Mr. Clark had said, and they shared their reflections.  I have attended many staff development sessions in my 16 years, but this (by far) hit the high mark!  Thanks to Dr. Gardner for grabbing hold of this opportunity to bring Mr. Clark to our district to help us get fired up for the long haul to May.  Today, let’s all go and make a difference.  Make it a great day by building a child UP!
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Monday, February 18, 2008

Celebrating with others

Well, finally, we are all back up and running after battling the flu.  Kudos to the wonderful local physicians who took care of my family and me - Dr. Brooks and Dr. Joseph are wonderful!  They helped me get moving and feeling better just in time for the weekend to celebrate!

One of my teachers was married this weekend.  It was a beautiful ceremony which was enjoyed by many of our DME colleagues.  It was so nice to see the support of your coworkers as she celebrated this major step in her life.  Stephanie was a beautiful bride!  Congratulations; it just gets better from here!

As we were driving home from Columbia Saturday night, I received a wonderful phone call from Mrs. Todd informing me that our Robotic Team WON Champion’s Award in Clemson!  All I heard from the background was screaming as the students were beside themselves.  I can’t wait to learn more today about their competition, judges’ results, and WHAT’S NEXT for this award-winning group! 

Many people I know tell me that working in a school is a 7-3 job; HA!  I scoff at that!  Look at this ONE weekend in the life of our DME faculty and staff!  Congratulations, Mrs. Kyzer and Robotic Team, coaches, and parents.  It’s great to celebrate with you!

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Wednesday, February 13, 2008

At the top of your game?

Apparently, it’s the height of flu season, but noone told me.  I thought that since I (as well as my family) had the flu shot, we would be safe from this illness.  Apparently, I was mistaken.  However, I find it disheartening that there is NO time to get well.  At school, the show must go on.  Luckily for me, I am surrounded at my school by a crew of professional, caring, compassionate coworkers who help to steer the ship when the captain is “under the weather.”  I am blessed to have a wonderful husband at home to keep us all ship-shape, too.  Still, the emails, phone messages, conferences, IEPs, reports, letters, etc. are still there waiting to be answered, written, and resolved.  That is the awesome dilemma that I have faced this week.  While everyone has encouraged me to stay home and get rest, ironically, I feel better when I am at school - among my faculty and staff - being reenergized with their enthusiasm for their jobs.  This little blip on my radar…the flu….might have tackled me for a bit, but not for long.  Soon, I will be back at the top of my game!!!  And, it was all done - with a little help from my friends!

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Sunday, February 10, 2008

Our children are our DREAMS.

Last Friday was an unbelievable day at Doby’s Mill Elementary School.  For those of you who were able to attend, thank you for your participation and support.  I know that you must be proud of your child!
In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and in recognition of Black History Month, our Fourth Graders presented “We Are The Dream,”  a play which highlights the accomplishments of Dr. King.  What a fine performance it was!  The students and teachers worked all week with Mr. Jerry Stevenson, our artist-in-residence, to prepare for the play by learning their scripts and staging the play in our own Multi-Purpose Room.  The Chorus, under the direction of Mrs. Helen Krofchick, was splendid.  I was incredibly impressed with these childrens’ efforts and talents.  We even hosted some Kindergarteners from Camden Elementary School.  And, there are plans in the works for an encore performance to be staged here at DME for some other visiting district schools.  A special thank you goes out to the fourth grade teachers - Mrs. Cook, Mrs. Ashley, Mrs. Clark, and Mrs. Peake - and all of their wonderful students who worked very hard to pre pare and present this very important play with its special message to our student body!
Also, on Friday, Mrs. Ann Marie Taylor, the State Teacher of the Year and a Kershaw County resident, visited our school and Mrs. Goerlich’s class.  She shared that she was most impressed by the overall welcoming climate and positive energy in our school as exemplified by our students, faculty and staff, and parents.  I thank her for her kind words and thank her for taking time from her busy travel schedule to visit our awesome school.  (Check out her blog on the Kershaw County School District website where she writes about her visit!  Yes, I concur;  Mrs. Goerlich is a star!) 
This Thursday is Valentine’s Day!  I hope that you are all prepared for a wonderful week. We thank you for sharing your children with us!
Happy Heart’s Week!
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Sunday, February 3, 2008

Week in review

Wow!  Sometimes I wonder how we get it all done…then I look around and realize that we truly have a professional learning community at Doby’s Mill Elementary School.  We work together to maintain our focus and high expectations for our students and for ourselves.  Just this past week, on Friday, I enjoyed a wonderful recognition breakfast in honor of our 2007 Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Todd.  The event, held at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, was a great way for the two of us to jumpstart the day!  Mrs. Todd is truly a high caliber and enthusiastic teacher who expects nothing but the best from her children. Day in and day out, she shines as one of DME’s brightest stars.  She is a leader among our faculty and staff, serving as the team leader for second grade. So, I enjoyed treating her to the great breakfast as we listened to several wonderful speakers and were treated to a beautiful chorale by the Benedict College Gospel Choir.  

After breakfast, Mrs. Todd and I traveled to Orangeburg Technical College to support our Robotic Team as they competed in the First Lego League tournament.  Boy, did they shine!  I was beaming with pride as I listened to them speak to the judges, explaining the process by which they chose their design and project idea.  Then, I had a front row seat for their skit.  I could tell right away that the judges were impressed….it’s that uncanny sense that we teachers have.  You could see the “lightbulb clicking away” in the judges’ heads as they smiled, questioned, nodded, and clapped for the students who really hit a homerun with their presentation.  In fact, one of the judges said, “Man, I am impressed.”  Well, I could have told him that!  I have the opportunity to witness these children and teachers in action each and every day!  I promise you - that trip and competition will be one that those students will remember forever!  Kudos to Mrs. Boland and Mr. Lee for helping to maintain our winning tradition here at DME!  On to Clemson for our next round of competition…..

Finally, tonight is the Super Bowl.  I hope that I make it (awake) to see the halftime show.  I am so excited that we finished our Science Fair project, so we will actually get to watch the football game! 

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