Ah... the day before the Christmas Break and there'e enough energy in the building to light the entire town of Mansfield! Whether they are waiting for Santa, lighting the menorah, or looking forward to a week away from studies, the children are perfectly joyful and exuberant. I love the privilidge of being with them this time of year. There is nothing like the sound of their giggles and laughter to get one in the spirit of the season.
I've noticed something else this year. There's a real sense of community among the children that is refreshing. This morning alone I celebrated with a fourth grade class in which every member of the class had a score of 90% or higher on a math posttest. They were so happy for each other!
During a hallway disagreement, one of our quieter young men became quite assertive when sticking up for a friend. He was adamant that the group was going to treat one another with respect! A little while later, second graders applauded enthusiastically for an older student who read her snowman poem aloud. The young lady looked at me and said, "This has made my day! I will be smiling all day!"
Talk about the spirit of the season!
You should be proud of the way your children are growing and maturing into such caring, kind students. We certainly are! I wish everyone a peaceful and joyous holiday season and look forward to seeing all of you back on January 3, 2012!
Friday, December 23, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
Thanksgiving Feast
We just finished celebrating our annual Goodwin Thanksgiving Feast. Once again I am blown away by Anne Dumont's and Becky Dogget's ability to organize a full turkey feast for 250 people. Our big brothers from Sigma Chi joined us as did a great group of parent volunteers. Jessica Neumuth coordinated this fabulous volunteer effort. Thanks to them, the meal was served in no time and we all were able to enjoy one another's company.
At the beginning of each Feast, I ask children to talk about what they are grateful for. I am always so touched to hear their responses. The children spoke of being thankful for their families, their pets, their homes, the earth and mother nature, and the great meal we were about to eat. One young man, a new student to Goodwin, used his time at the microphone to say he was thankful to be in this school.
I'm also grateful to be at this school. Goodwin is a vibrant place with a terrific staff and amazing children and families. This year I'm also very grateful for electricity! As a member of Connecticut's 1% (the power just returned in Somers last Tuesday), I can't begin to tell you how thankful I am for dishwashers, washing machines, warm showers, and flushing toilets!
I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
At the beginning of each Feast, I ask children to talk about what they are grateful for. I am always so touched to hear their responses. The children spoke of being thankful for their families, their pets, their homes, the earth and mother nature, and the great meal we were about to eat. One young man, a new student to Goodwin, used his time at the microphone to say he was thankful to be in this school.
I'm also grateful to be at this school. Goodwin is a vibrant place with a terrific staff and amazing children and families. This year I'm also very grateful for electricity! As a member of Connecticut's 1% (the power just returned in Somers last Tuesday), I can't begin to tell you how thankful I am for dishwashers, washing machines, warm showers, and flushing toilets!
I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Monday, October 17, 2011
It only takes a little bit of time....
Did you know that Goodwin's Parent Teacher Organization is one of the oldest official PTOs in the state? PTOs serve a critical role in an elementary school. Because of these volunteers, we are able offer many wonderful student and family oriented programs that enrich the school lives of all of our children.
Often many of the same volunteers find themselves organizing and running events. If you haven't volunteered to help with any of our events, won't you please consider helping out this year? There are all types of jobs just waiting for the right volunteer.
Do you like to cook? Volunteer to bake for our bake sale or make lunch for the Staff appreciation week.
Do you like the outdoors? Volunteer for Goodwin's Fun Fair or the new Fall Harvest.
Can't come to school during the day? Your skills might be just what we need for publicity or prepping for an event.
When your children know that you are volunteering, they really understand that you are partners with their school. You don't need to make a big commitment - just one or two small steps a year. If every parent of our 220 students were to help out, think how vibrant this year could be! If you would like to give just a little bit of your time to continue to make Goodwin a great place to be, please consider joining us at our next PTO meeting at 6:30 on Wednesday, October 19. If you can't make the meeting, send me a note or email and I will forward it to the PTO. Hope to see you this Saturday at the Harvest!
Often many of the same volunteers find themselves organizing and running events. If you haven't volunteered to help with any of our events, won't you please consider helping out this year? There are all types of jobs just waiting for the right volunteer.
Do you like to cook? Volunteer to bake for our bake sale or make lunch for the Staff appreciation week.
Do you like the outdoors? Volunteer for Goodwin's Fun Fair or the new Fall Harvest.
Can't come to school during the day? Your skills might be just what we need for publicity or prepping for an event.
When your children know that you are volunteering, they really understand that you are partners with their school. You don't need to make a big commitment - just one or two small steps a year. If every parent of our 220 students were to help out, think how vibrant this year could be! If you would like to give just a little bit of your time to continue to make Goodwin a great place to be, please consider joining us at our next PTO meeting at 6:30 on Wednesday, October 19. If you can't make the meeting, send me a note or email and I will forward it to the PTO. Hope to see you this Saturday at the Harvest!
Monday, October 3, 2011
Making sure every child gets what they need to succeed...
On Friday, I spent the whole day with Goodwin teachers - one of my very favorite things to do! Working in Student Achievement Teams, the teachers discussed children who did not make benchmark on recent literacy and math assessments and developed plans to provide additional instruction to make sure each child reaches the goal. Meetings like these make me so proud to be a member of the Goodwin community. Our teachers are creative and focused. They believe every child can do exceptional things and they work together to make sure that happens. They talk about ways to group children of similar needs and identify the best approaches to meet those needs. They talk about ways to extend learning for those who have already met the goal. Most importantly, they do this as a team!
Most of the time, children simply need someone to reteach a skill in a different way or they need a little more time to understand the concept. Sometimes, a more specialized approach is needed. When this happens, parents are contacted and details of the plan are discussed.
We hold these meetings every six weeks as part of our approach to the state's SRBI (Scientifically Research Based Instruction) initiative. While the classroom teachers meet, your children are involved in great science, health, social studies, and Spanish activities. Teachers who do not have classroom duties, run those activities. After all, it really does take a village.
If you want to learn more about SRBI, follow this link to see the State of Connecticut's Parent Guide. http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/lib/sde/pdf/cali/family_guide_to_srbi.pdf
Most of the time, children simply need someone to reteach a skill in a different way or they need a little more time to understand the concept. Sometimes, a more specialized approach is needed. When this happens, parents are contacted and details of the plan are discussed.
We hold these meetings every six weeks as part of our approach to the state's SRBI (Scientifically Research Based Instruction) initiative. While the classroom teachers meet, your children are involved in great science, health, social studies, and Spanish activities. Teachers who do not have classroom duties, run those activities. After all, it really does take a village.
If you want to learn more about SRBI, follow this link to see the State of Connecticut's Parent Guide. http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/lib/sde/pdf/cali/family_guide_to_srbi.pdf
Friday, September 16, 2011
It finally feels like Autumn!
Finally, a crisp autumn day!
Your children have settled into their school routines already and so many wonderful activities are going on in the classrooms. Many of the classes have started their writer's workshops by asking students to list things that they love, favorite memories, or ideas that interest them. These lists are often put into heart shapes and kept within the child's writing folder as a reference for those days when a child just isn't sure what to write about. Our students are filled with so many wonderful ideas - I can't wait to hear the stories that these ideas generate.
As a staff, we have talked quite a bit about achievement and high expectations for all. In fact, this topic was a major focus of our professional development last year. As adults, we can all probably recall that one special teacher who had faith that we could do it and pushed us to be our best. Unfortunately, many of us also recall those experiences when an adult's words or actions made us feel that we weren't good at something. I know that I avoided singing in public for the longest time because a choral teacher told me in 6th grade that I wasn't a strong enough singer to join my friends in the after school chorus program! I still remember it! (and I will not tell you how long ago that was!!)
At Goodwin we believe that every child is capable and competent. In fact we think they are each exceptional! Here's a link to a video from Research for Better Teaching that we watched last year that explains how achievement is based on effective effort. Every child, without exception, can do well with the right effort and attitude. We are working hard to make sure your children know that we believe in them. We know they can do anything they work hard at and we can't wait to see the great things they will do this year! Let me know what you think of the video...
http://www.rbteach.com/rbteach2/Flash/VideoPlayer/Streamer/EBA/eba_video.asp
Your children have settled into their school routines already and so many wonderful activities are going on in the classrooms. Many of the classes have started their writer's workshops by asking students to list things that they love, favorite memories, or ideas that interest them. These lists are often put into heart shapes and kept within the child's writing folder as a reference for those days when a child just isn't sure what to write about. Our students are filled with so many wonderful ideas - I can't wait to hear the stories that these ideas generate.
As a staff, we have talked quite a bit about achievement and high expectations for all. In fact, this topic was a major focus of our professional development last year. As adults, we can all probably recall that one special teacher who had faith that we could do it and pushed us to be our best. Unfortunately, many of us also recall those experiences when an adult's words or actions made us feel that we weren't good at something. I know that I avoided singing in public for the longest time because a choral teacher told me in 6th grade that I wasn't a strong enough singer to join my friends in the after school chorus program! I still remember it! (and I will not tell you how long ago that was!!)
At Goodwin we believe that every child is capable and competent. In fact we think they are each exceptional! Here's a link to a video from Research for Better Teaching that we watched last year that explains how achievement is based on effective effort. Every child, without exception, can do well with the right effort and attitude. We are working hard to make sure your children know that we believe in them. We know they can do anything they work hard at and we can't wait to see the great things they will do this year! Let me know what you think of the video...
http://www.rbteach.com/rbteach2/Flash/VideoPlayer/Streamer/EBA/eba_video.asp
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Hopes and Dreams
Each year we ask our students to talk about their goals for the year. Their hopes and dreams speak volumes about what they want to accomplish this year. Many of our fourth graders hope to become better leaders or better role models. They write about hoping to reach an advanced level in writing or mathematics. One hopes to become an even better scientist by studying and working hard. The younger students have simpler goals. They may hope to read harder books, tell time or learn to multiply. Still others dream of becoming artists, nurses or policemen. Two kindergarten responses were among my favorites this year. One little girl hopes to have a sleepover... her classmate's dream is to draw caterpillars!
My hope and dream is that all of these wonderful little people grow up to become amazing adults- adults who are caring, fun-loving, bright, inquisitive, and capable. My goal is to make sure we do everything we can here at Goodwin to achieve that dream!
My sincere thanks for your patience as we iron out the bus routes. It has been a long day for many of your children and the district is working with the bus company to improve the runs as quickly as possible so we can get children to school on time and back home at a reasonable time. We should begin to see some improvement early next week.
My hope and dream is that all of these wonderful little people grow up to become amazing adults- adults who are caring, fun-loving, bright, inquisitive, and capable. My goal is to make sure we do everything we can here at Goodwin to achieve that dream!
My sincere thanks for your patience as we iron out the bus routes. It has been a long day for many of your children and the district is working with the bus company to improve the runs as quickly as possible so we can get children to school on time and back home at a reasonable time. We should begin to see some improvement early next week.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
What a wonderful start!
It's been such a great first day. After the delay we all dealt with due to Hurricane Irene, the staff has been just as eager to get here as your children have been! Everyone came in smiling and ready to go. I just finished watching our kindergarteners get through their first lunch time... phew! It's always such a jolt to remember how much we need to teach starting from day one... luckily we know by the end of the week even our five year olds will be acting like pros in the cafeteria!
I hope to see all of you tomorrow evening at Open House at 5:30. Ice cream social and a special dedication of our playgoround will follow at 6:30. See you then!
I hope to see all of you tomorrow evening at Open House at 5:30. Ice cream social and a special dedication of our playgoround will follow at 6:30. See you then!
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