#VoteForSgtNick

GOOD MORNING AND HAPPY FRIDAY!

In case you haven’t heard, Rebecca Beale won the Food Networks Kids Baking Championship!   Our congratulatory Facebook post has reached over 53,000 people… crazy!

The Graham Steer Basketball Season came to a close this past Tuesday night against the Hirschi Huskies. Although the final outcome was not in our favor, it does not diminish the accomplishments of this team. As is the norm with Graham student athletes, they play hard and represent their school and community with pride!

Good luck and safe travels for our Lady Blues and Graham Steers teams as travel all over the place (Lubbock, Mineral Wells, Iowa Park, Ft. Worth, Bowie, Stephenville, Aledo, Henrietta, Boyd and San Antonio) See the online calendar for details- http://www.grahamisd.com/page.cfm?p=213&period=month

Writing Curriculum/Professional Development-  You may recall during my first opportunity to address the GISD staff this past August, I shared with you that we would be working to develop a professional development plan to strengthen our writing instruction.  Additionally, I shared the importance of writing across the curriculum.  The process to identify writing professional development was driven by the following goals:

•  Buy-in from stakeholders.
• Support for teachers in time and resources.
•  Maintain efforts systemically through vertical alignment meetings and in-district trainer of trainers.
•  Follow-up training for new teachers.
• Consistency in implementation across grade levels and classrooms.
• Promote a writing-rich culture.  Writing time is protected at all grade levels.  Writing in multiple formats.
•  Cross-curricular writing.
• Set the foundation in mechanics of grammar and writing at early grade levels.
•  Support ELLs and other struggling students.
• Integration into the district curriculum (TEKS Resource System)

The selection that resulted from the goals above was Trail of Breadcrumbs – Gretchen Bernabei for grades 4-12.  This writing training focuses on:  Grammar as a foundation for writing.

• Writing as an integrated part of literacy.
• Strategies for grammar and writing that help teachers and students.

A Trail of Breadcrumbs trainer will be in Graham ISD in May 2016 to provide the following trainings:

•  May 23 Grammar Keepers – ELAR Teachers Grades 3-12
• May 24-25 Academic Writing for STAAR and Life-ELAR Teachers Grades 3-12
• May 26 Best Practices in Cross-curricular writing

Work remains to complete this process.  Writing must be supported at grades K-3 as well.  While the Trail of Breadcrumbs training is not appropriate for grades below fourth, third grade teachers will attend the writing training and work to adapt some of the grammar and writing strategies to make them fit.  Also, grades K-2 may receive a writing resource as part of the new reading curriculum currently under consideration.

#VoteForSgtNick

In the United States, voting is a privilege. No one makes us vote, and we are not required to vote for any particular candidate. Voting is one of the freedoms afforded to citizens. If, however, we don’t use it, what kind of freedom is it?

Leslie Milder, along with her husband Scott, is the founder of Friends of Texas Public Schools (FOTPS), and FOTPS is a leading advocate for this years “turnout the vote” campaign.  Leslie wrote a tribute article about her cousin Nick and his sacrifices while in the military to ensure the freedom for Iraqi citizens to vote. The Texas Association of Community Schools (TACS) recently shared this article with me.  Today I am pleased to share it with you- #VoteForSgtNick.

The Texas primary election is next Tuesday.  Today is the last day to vote early. Early voting has its advantages: (1.) voting lines are shorter, (2.) since you pick the day, inclement weather is usually not an issue, and (3.) you are not prevented from voting by an emergency. Why not do it today?

Of course, being a voter is one thing, but being an informed voter is quite another. Real voting power comes when one studies the candidates and the issues, prioritizes the issues, and then casts votes to reflect the voter’s priorities. If educators’ voices are to be heard in Austin, educational issues need to be prioritized. Not every candidate who says that (s)he is pro-education is supportive of the work of public school educators. Educate yourself to make sure your vote makes a difference for the school children of our state! You may click this link http://teachthevote.org/, select “Search for Candidates”, and enter your zip code for information about “your” candidates running for a seat in the state legislature. “Teach the Vote” is the site of ATPE. ATPE does not endorse candidates, and they provide unbiased information. Also, a good source for pro-public education candidates is the Parent PAC website- http://www.txparentpac.com/.

Hope you all have  blessed day!

CORNY JOKE OF THE DAY:

Why was the baby strawberry crying?

Because his mom and dad were in a jam.

SERVICE… IT’S SIMPLY THE RIGHT THING TO DO!

GOOD MORNING AND HAPPY FRIDAY!

Congrats to Graham ISD’s Rebecca Beale on qualifying for the final of the Kids Baking Championship!  She has done a fantastic job representing herself, her family and her community. I had the opportunity yesterday sit down with Rebecca Beale to record a video- 10 Questions with Rebecca Beale. Go to our district Facebook page to see the video. Follow Rebecca at- @beccas_bites. Hope you all tune in on Monday evening to support her! 

Graham Public Education Foundation (GPEF)- Over the past three years the GPEF has provide over $150,000 in grants to our staff!  GPEF’s goal is to provide funding for innovative, imaginative and cutting edge projects & programs that will enrich and enhance the education of GISD students. You received an email on February 2^nd that contained the application and guidelines for applying for a grant.  If you do not apply it is a guarantee that you will not receive a grant.  The grant deadline is Friday, March 18, 2016 at 2:00 p.m.  Please visit with your principal if you have questions.

Our Lady Blues basketball team improved greatly over the course of this season qualifying for a playoff spot.  It was pleasure to watch them compete!  It was a greater joy to see how they represent themselves and our community!!!

Our Graham Steer basketball team will be in playoff action at 7:30 pm this coming Tuesday in Olney versus Wichita Falls Hirschi. Hope to see you there!

Congrats to Lady Blues Golf!  This past Monday they won the Graham Tournament with Abbi Iles & Ashley Choate finishing as Medalists.

The Graham Steer Golf team won the Wylie Invitational on Wednesday!  The team consisted of Baxter Loesch, Jack Lucas, Coby Bryant, Kolton Carmichael and Justin Escalon.

Our Graham Steer and Lady Blues Tennis teams will be in action at the GHS courts today. Good Luck!

Good luck and safe travels to the Lady Blues Softball team as they travel to Clyde!

The Bella Blues Drill Team will be competing in Weatherford this Saturday. Good Luck Ladies!

Good luck and safe travels to our powerlifting teams competing in Iowa Park on Saturday!

Members of our GJHS and GHS Rompin Stompin Big Blue Band will be participating in UIL Solo & Ensemble this Saturday in Wichita Falls.  Safe travels and best of luck!

SERVICE… IT’S SIMPLY THE RIGHT THING TO DO!

During the season of Lent we are challenged with the opportunity to reflect on sacrifice and service.  I acknowledge that only ONE has walked the earth and lived his life in service and ultimately in sacrifice for ALL.  I dare say none of us would have the intestinal fortitude to do the same.

With that said, how can we as educators, parents, grand parents and community members live a servant leaders life?

Robert K. Greenleaf first coined the term Servant Leadership in a 1970 essay, The Servant as Leader. Since then, volumes of scholarly literature have been produced on the topic. Still, many have a hard time with this construct because they compare serving to being subservient (Miller).  Servant leadership is about recognizing that humility provides the foundation for leadership.  “It is not about being servile, it is about wanting to help others. It is about identifying and meeting the needs of colleagues, customers and communities” (Keith, 2016). 

Chapter 17 of Miller’s, Flipping the Switch is titled, Organizations Don’t Serve – People Do. This is a powerful statement.  I have often said people make judgments about schools based on three initial perceptions:

1.     When they drive by, does the building exterior and grounds appear neat and orderly?

2.     When they enter the front door, does the building appear clean and is it absent of foul odors?

3.     How they are greeted and treated by the staff in the office?

I don’t know about you, but I judge the places I shop and the people I choose to do business with much the same way.  “From the customers’ eyes the institution is only as good as the person they are interacting with at that moment” (Miller).

To receive a favorable review on these three items we must believe that organizations don’t serve people… individuals serve people. 

If we are willing to internalize and own this thought it is the leaders responsibility to set expectations and provide support.  The crucial first step is humility.  Ask yourself a few questions:

·      Do those I serve grow as a person?

·      Do they become healthier, wiser, freer, and more autonomous?

·      Do they become more willing to serve others?

Service strengthens relationships and builds trust.  SERVICE…. IT’S SIMPLY THE RIGHT THING TO DO! (Miller)

I hope you all have a blessed day!

CORNY JOKE OF THE DAY:

What lies at the bottom of the ocean and twitches?

A nervous wreck