Ordinarily Extraordinary

 

The spirit and culture of America is often reflected in our ability to show compassion and to help each other during moments of great need. During tragedy, we often look to a dozen or so public figures for leadership. Yet we only have to look at ordinary people to see extraordinary leadership in action.

Leaders pick the phone and ask, “How can I help?”.

Leaders act without thinking, “What’s in it for me?”.

Leaders work to find a solution. They do the work without complaint, and do so with joy, knowing that they are called to serve those they have never met and yet will forever change what happens next for those they help.

Your leadership is essential to the students you serve. It’s incredible, the impact you can have. The kind of impact you have is totally up to you.

Leadership is a choice, not a title. It’s ordinary people doing extraordinary things for others.

Have a great week!

– Herb

Worth Checking Out

Such a great read! The learning in this article reflects the vision we have set out to achieve! —

“A Literacy-Based Strategy to Help Teachers Integrate Science Skills” https://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2017/08/22/a-literacy-based-strategy-to-help-teachers-integrate-science-skills/

Upcoming Dates

August

28 – First School Community Meeting, 10:45am, Gym

September

1 – Board of Education Bldg Tour, 8am
4 – Labor Day, No School
5 – Mumkin Orders due
6 – Curriculum Night, 5:30-6:30pm
7 – Herb at Admin mtg, AM
11 – PTO Meeting, 6-7pm (Exec mtg); 7pm (General mtg)
12 – School Improvement Team meeting, 8:15am
13 – ADE Staff Meeting, 8:15am
15 – Building Advisory Committee meeting, 8:30am
16 – AD/DC Warrior Dash, 1-6pm
21 – Student Picture Day
25 – Pastries with Parents, 8am
27 – Herb at mtg off campus, AM; ADE Staff Meeting, 3:45pm; Mumkin Delivery, 1pm
29 – ADDC Culture Celebration, 1-3pm

Saving Space for Grace, Mercy, & Understanding

My kids are dessert hounds. They love something sweet after dinner and will protest when we say no. When my daughter Ally was a little younger, she would say that she was full (with half the dinner still on her plate). When we asked if she was sure she was full, she would almost always say, “Yes, but I’m saving a little bit of space for some dessert”.

That always made me chuckle. She was always thinking ahead of time that she would need to eat dinner, but that she needed to leave extra room for dessert.

I was reminded of Ally’s quest for dessert today during one of our prayers at church. During a prayer, our pastor asked that we always try to save more than enough space in our hearts to have an abundance of “grace, mercy, and understanding” for ourselves and for others.

As educators who work with children, we know the importance of over planning and the importance of planning ways to engage our students in learning. We also know know that we can expect to spend part of everyday dealing with events that we never planned for in the first place.

So as we get ready to welcome over 500 students through our doors for the first day of school, I ask that we are over-planned for the magical first day. The day will set the tone for the rest of the school year. But in our planning for tomorrow, and each day, let’s remember to save a little space in our hearts and minds to also include grace, mercy, and understanding for ourselves and for our students.

Have a wonderful first day of school!

Herb

Worth Checking Out —

My 30-Second Classroom Norms Speech: http://robertkaplinsky.com/30-second-classroom-norms-speech/

There Is No Apolitical Classroom: Resources for Teaching in These Times http://wp.me/p53b7p-1Rn via @ncte

When Schools Forgo Grades: An Experiment In Internal Motivation https://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2017/08/13/when-schools-forgo-grades-an-experiment-in-internal-motivation/

“14 Books to Inspire Kids to Follow Their Dreams” http://buff.ly/2ubNpNa 

Upcoming Dates —

August

23 – Mumkin Sale Kickoff

28 – First School Community Meeting, 10:45am, Gym

29 – Herb at CO until 1pm

 

September

1 – Board of Education Bldg Tour, 8am

4 – Labor Day, No School

5 – Mumkin Orders due

6 – Curriculum Night, 5:30-6:30pm

7 – Herb at Admin mtg, AM

11 – PTO Meeting, 6-7pm (Exec mtg); 7pm (General mtg)

12 – School Improvement Team meeting, 8:15am

13 – ADE Staff Meeting, 8:15am

15 – Building Advisory Committee meeting, 8:30am

16 – AD/DC Warrior Dash, 1-6pm

21 – Student Picture Day

25 – Pastries with Parents, 8am

27 – Herb at mtg off campus, AM; ADE Staff Meeting, 3:45pm; Mumkin Delivery, 1pm

29 – ADDC Culture Celebration, 1-3pm