Thanksgiving

 

We have just celebrated Thanksgiving with family and friends, many of us sharing things that we are thankful for.  For those of you that are in the LETRS training, you have been digging deep into words - their meanings, origins, etc.  Today's blog is about thanksgiving as a noun:  an expression of gratitude. This means thanksgiving occurs not just in November, but whenever we acknolwedge the things that we are grateful for in life.  The following thoughts came from a post from Choice Literacy, and I thought it worthy of sharing.

It's easy to think thanksgiving is something we can check off a list, like many other tasks.  Returned the parent email - check!  Completed my daily run/workout - check! Thankful for the break from school - check!  Although gratitude is an exercise, a discipline to put into practice, it is also the fuel for peace.  When you're feeling harried, take a breath and find the thanksgiving.

Be thankful for the dirty dishes because it means you have plenty of food.  Be thankful for the full email inbox because it means people want to be in touch with you.  Be thankful for the pile of student writing to grade because it is evidence of confident and prolific writers.

By turning the stress inside out, we can discover thanksgtiving.  In this act, we are gtiven the gift of enjoying the present moment.  Ask yourself:

1. What is causing the stress?
2. Take a deep breath and flip the stress to find the thanksgiving.

The more often you can flip the stressors in your life to turn them into thanksgiving, the more content you will feel.  

I hope you found much to be thankful for over the break, and that you are able to continue to find that thanksgiving in the crazy days ahead.

Have a great week!  I am thankful for all of you!
Sue

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

With a very grateful heart, I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving.  It is my hope that each of you enjoy your time with family, friends, as well as some time to yourself. 

Busy Week!

This is my attempt at putting everything in one place!

Boosterthon Info:

• Fun Run Schedule
• Special Event Schedule for Friday; don't forget to wear your PINK SHIRT!
• Video Links for the National Parks/Character Theme:
• Boosterthon official videos (one per day)
• Supplemental Boosterthon info (specific to WR)

Note: This week's Raider Reports might be a little bit longer with the additional Boosterthon "special guests" and intro to park/character theme.

Another Note: There will not be a Tuesday Travels this week due to all of the extra videos for Boosterthon.

2nd/3rd Grade Music Program

• SQUIRM - it looks amazing!
• Early Release Schedule for Thursday's concert (2:30) for staff/students only
• Special Rehearsal Schedule for 2nd and 3rd grade

Special Events

• World Kindness Day (actually Sunday, Nov. 13, but Random Blue Ticket drawing on Monday to "celebrate"!)
• America Recycles Day (Tuesday, Nov. 15) - special "project" introduced on Raider Report

PLCs 

• Open for K-2
• Reading Interim Protocol

PBIS Reward

• 1:30-2:00 - PBIS Reward: Dance Party! (K, 1, 4, 5 - in gym)
• TBD - PBIS Reward: Dance Party! (2nd and 3rd)

Maximize Positive Relationships

 

The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.  -Theodore Roosevelt

November's Mindset is We Are Connected, and this week's theme is Maximize Positive Relationships. Willow has a long standing reputation of building strong connections with students, staff, and families.  Here are some tips to keep building on that success!

It's something most of us learned in early childhood - getting along with others just makes life easier! (sound familiar, Melissa and Heather?!).  Years later, positive workplace relationships are vital to the success of your team.  When you build a bond with the people you spend so much time with, you cr4eate a community of committed individuals who work together for the greater good of the team, and ultimately, for the success of your shared goals.

Here are some tips to maximize positive relationships at work:

Give Your Time and Presence

"Too busy" is a myth.  People make time for4 the things that are really important to them.  -unknown

Practice being truly present with those you are around.  When you devote your attention, energy, and effort, it rarely goes unnoticed, nor unappreciated.  People value individuals who are present, engaged, and listen to what they have to say.

Listen to Your Team

Don't listen with the intent to reply.  Listen with the desire to understand.  -unknown

Listening to others is essential to developing trust and building strong relationships. This isn't just polite - it's the cornerstone of relationship building.  WHen you start hearing others, you develop empathy and understanding towards that person, which can make your work relationships stronger.

Build Your Communication Skills

In relationships, silence it's golden.  It's deadly.  -unknown

JUst as listening to others is important, so is being able to communicate clearly. Communication is what happen s when others understand you just as you understand them.  Make sure your body language and words are the same, so that you're not sending mixed messages.

Rein in Distractions

There are always distractions, if you allow them.  -unknown

People tend ot pay more attention to their phones than the person sitting right in front of them.  Only take calls in an emergency - responding to your phone sends a message that the person isn't as valuable to you.  Make sure your team has clear expectations when it comes to cell phones and computers during meetings/conversations.

Practice Empathy and Understanding

People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.  -Maya Angelou

Empathy and understanding build connections between people.  It is a state of relating to someone else's feelings and needs without giving advice, or trying to fix or change the situation.  By offering support and encouragement where needed, you will create positive connections with members of your team.

Keep maximizing the positive relationships you have at Willow, as it has such a positive impact on everything that we do!

Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. 

-Helen Keller