January 21 - PBConnect
January 22 - Intruder Training 8:00 at Kay Porter
January 23 - Student of the Months to Wendy's
January 23 - Staff Volleyball - Day 1
January 24 - Staff Volleyball - Day 2
January 29 - District Walkthrough
January 29 - 4th Math PD
February 4 - GreenBear - 4th grade
February 4 - 6th Math PD
February 6 - GreenBear - 5th grade
February 12 - 6th Math PD
February 13 - 5th Math PD
February 14 - Valentine's Day
February 17 - President's Day - No School
February 18 - Collaboration Day
February 19 - 4th grade to Tinnin Center @ 9:00
February 19 - 5th grade to Tinnin Center @ 12:30
February 26 - 4th Math PD
March 4 - Earthquake Drill @ 1:15
March 4 - Fire Drill @ 1:30
March 4 - 6th Math PD
March 5 - Intruder Drill @ 9:45
March 5 - Storm Drill @ 10:00
March 10 - 5th Math PD
March 11 - 4th Math PD
March 12 - Kids On Broadway
March 13 - PBS Day (With Kona Ice)
March 16-20 - Spring Break
March 24 - 5th Math PD
March 24 - 6th Faculty Meeting
March 25 - 6th Math PD
March 25 - 5th Faculty Meeting
March 26 - Band Recruitment Concert @ 9:30 @ JH (6th only)
March 26 - 4th Faculty Meeting
March 27 - Trivia Night @ 6pm
April 6 - 4th Math PD
April 6 - Choir Dress Rehearsal @ 6:00
April 7 - 5th Math PD
April 7 - Honor Choir Concert @ 6:30
April 8 - 5th to Mingo
April 9 - Honor Choir to Cardinals game
April 10 - No School
April 13 - Collaboration Day
April 14 - Intruder Drill @ 1:45
April 14 - Fire Drill @ 2:00
April 21 - Art Show @ 5:30
April 28 - 6th Faculty Meeting
April 29 - 5th Faculty Meeting
April 30 - 4th Faculty Meeting
May 8 - Mark Twain Trip
May 11 - PBS Day
May 12 - Field Day 4th
May 13 - Field Day 5th
May 14 - Field Day 6th
May 18 - Awards - A Hallway
May 19 - Awards - B Hallway
May 20 - Talent Show
May 21 - Last Day of School
Last week, I was able to attend the Leadership Academy midwinter meeting in Columbia. The speaker was Mike Rutherford! I've been writing about Rutherford's 23 Themes of an Artisan Teacher for the last several blog posts. He covered instructional leadership at this conference as he was speaking to principals.
Rutherford gave us a handout that had nine items that play a role in instructional leadership. He went into great detail on four of those. There is nothing better than to hear a national speaker talk. It really helps you to realize just how terrible you are and how much you still have to learn about something you have been doing for the last 26 years.
He talked about having a "clear and compelling direction". Here at PBMS, we spent quite a bit of time working on a mission and vision, but we are doing a terrible job of using that to focus our energy. Can any of you tell me what our mission statement says? Is it compelling? A mission is supposed to be our over-arching purpose. Without it, we have "fuzzy purpose". We don't know what our goals are and therefore end up in a state of psychic entropy. Rutherford talked about a couple of other things regarding instructional leadership, but this one hit home.
We also had Beth Houf as a speaker. Beth is the principal of Fulton Middle School and she co-wrote a book with Shelly Burgess called Lead Like a Pirate. Beth also mentioned knowing your "why". She used this quote from Simon Sinek, "When your why goes fuzzy it becomes more difficult to maintain the growth, loyalty, and inspiration that helped drive the original success." So, a lot of talk about focus and not getting "fuzzy" on our goals.
In case you were wondering, our mission is this:
Provide a safe environment and promote learning so all students can be successful in today’s society.
You all may have noticed a change in our office. Taylor has accepted a position at the Kindergarten Center and has transitioned over there. She did a great job for us and, I'm sure, will do a great job for them as well.
Jennifer is moving over to Taylor's spot and will take on her duties.
We are looking for someone to fill Jennifer's position as the "school term" secretary. If you know someone, tell them to get their paperwork in now as we will be interviewing soon
Don't forget to sign up for our staff volleyball tournament here.
I owe you all a big Thank You. I have been nominated to represent the Southeast Region of MAESP as a Missouri Distinguished Principal. Distinguished principals are nominated and voted on by their peers. As the distinguished principal for this region, I will be recognized at the state principal's conference. I will also be involved in an interview process to determine if I will go on to the national level.
As a principal and a reasonably intelligent person, I know that any recognition I get is a reflection of the hard work you all do. That hard work has been noticed by other principals in the area. We are being recognized at the state level for the wonderful things you all are doing for our students. Thank you for that. I appreciate you.
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