With 2015 drawing to a close, it's a great time to reflect on the year and all that we have accomplished! I was listening to someone the other day who said that his motto was, "Adapt and Overcome." What a great way to live life! While it may seem negative at first (assuming something is going to come up that we are going to have to adapt to and overcome), it's really the most positive message that we could receive! While we know challenges will always surface, it's all about how we adapt to them and ultimately overcome them.
In a larger sense, "adapt and overcome" applies to us as educators every day. Our class doesn't master the content even after the lesson we so carefully planned? Adapt and overcome. A child's home situation doesn't provide the level of support we would hope all would have? We learn from this and provide other ways to support that student. Adapt and overcome. The state changes guidelines for this or that? Adapt and overcome. I kept thinking up scenarios, and I couldn't think of many where this simple saying doesn't apply as the best way to manage the situation!
There is so much to be proud of from the work done in 2015 and so much yet to come in this school year! Regardless of what comes our way, we will be prepared to ADAPT and OVERCOME!
This information was sent home to parents in the Clarks Creek Chronicles newsletter that went out to families earlier today. I wanted to be sure you saw it in case you get any questions about it.
Hello, everyone, and HAPPY NEW YEAR! As we look forward to being back together at school on Monday, January 4th, I wanted to follow up with the message that you received from the superintendent's office earlier today.
In the previous message, you heard, "Plainfield Community School Corporation leadership, in conjunction with Town of Plainfield and Plainfield Police officials, met on December 30th in preparation for the beginning of school on Monday, January 4th. Precautionary measures have been put in place, and additional officers will be utilized for extra security at all Plainfield schools."
As this message says, for the first week of school (January 4-8) , we will have enhanced police presence in our school. This will probably not seem any different to our students, as we have an officer in our building every day already, but the time will be extended. We are blessed to be in a community where the police work so closely with us. The district has gradually increased the security presence in the schools over the last several years, with the support and cooperation of the Plainfield Police. While this new increase in hours may make us "feel better" given the recent threats at the high school, it has been in the works for some time. I am happy and grateful that it has been granted now and will remain in effect through the rest of the year.
In addition to that, we will have indoor recess the first week of school. We hope that this will ease the transition for everyone back into our regular school schedule.
Please remember that NO threats have been made toward anyone in our school. As always, the safety and security of all students and staff is our top priority. As the "P" in PRIDE says, we "put safety first" at Clarks Creek and will continue to do so now and in the future.
I look forward to seeing all of our students and staff back for a great beginning to the new year on Monday, January 4th!
We will be on the alternate schedule on Friday for our PRIDE Convo. We will begin calling down classes to the gym about 2:10 for our 2:15 start time.
Please be aware that on January 8th and 9th there will be morning water aerobics in the Clarks Creek pool from 8:00 - 9:00. You may see more cars and people entering in door 6. Also, the middle school swim season is beginning. There will be a bus bringing student athletes over about 3:00 p.m. and will be parents picking these kids up about 6:00. Expect to see more traffic at those times.
The January value nominee form is due Monday, Jan. 4th.
Don't forget to complete awards for the PRIDE convo, which will be on the Friday we return. Please use the brightly colored paper from the main office cabinet for your awards this month. We will put some on the counter for your use.
FYI, I found out right before break that I am going to be participating in the Leadership Hendricks County program over the course of the next year. This will require that I will be gone one day per month for meetings/trainings. The first one will be next Friday, Jan. 8th. I really hate to miss our PRIDE convo, but Colleen will take over my roles for that.
Great News!!! Through the diligent work of Cathy and the other Home/School Advisors, a new program has been acquired for presentation to our students about body safety! The parent meeting will be Tuesday, Jan. 12th at 6:30 at CC in the cafeteria. K-2 students will have the program on the morning on Thursday, Jan. 14th. 3-5th grades will have the program on the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 20th. A schedule will be forthcoming. While the other buildings are only doing presentations in grades K, 2, and 4, we are going to do the program for ALL of our students.
A separate email will go out to parents on Monday, January 4th with all of this information. You will also have flyers to send home with the kids and an "opt out" form. Please also include this information in your parent newsletters. You can see more about the group that will be presenting at http://chauciesplace.org/ .
We will not have any additional staff meetings on the weeks when we have these PD days.
The One School, One Book Committee has been working since last spring to bring this program to our school! We will begin next week! This week's staff meeting will be to bring you all up to speed on the plans and how the program will play out for our school. This is a very exciting opportunity to bring our whole school community together for a great cause - reading!
1/11 One School, One Book Program Begins!
Happy Birthday to These Staff Members with January Birthdays!
NewseumED.org gives teachers and students free access to hundreds of primary sources, artifacts and videos from the Newseum's collection. The website meets privacy and security standards and is already being used extensively by teachers in Virginia's largest public school district, Fairfax County.
Free access to curated, standards-aligned content, including Common Core.
More than 500 historic newspapers, videos and other artifacts.
More than 80 lesson plans, worksheets and galley guides.
In-depth EDCollections on the civil rights movement and woman suffrage, and coming soon "Freedom in the Balance" on individual rights vs. national security in the wake of 9/11.
AROUND THE BUILDING and ABOUT TOWN!