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| Samantha is on the left...😉 |
Great start to the school year. Students, teachers and staff are jumping right into the business of fall. The bustling in the school is music to my ears. Welcome all new teachers, staff, and a special welcome to our two new student teachers from Brown University MAT Program, Samantha Reback and Gilad Seckler, working with Christina Lawrence and Matthew Blaser respectively.
As I looked at the blog from last year, the last thing I discussed was the following:
As we look towards next year we will continue with key items we have worked on this year. Here are a couple:
- School culture--continue with the themes and adding ideas from our school social worker/school psychologist, etc.
- Personalized learning opportunities--with and without technology
- teachers visiting other teachers’ classrooms, teachers inviting colleagues in to see a great idea in action.
- Lighthouse classrooms--we will expand blended learning.
I am happy that we are able to continue with this good work. Having Personalized Learning Time will allow for students to access academic and social/emotional resources in lieu of coming out of class to do it.
Health & Wellness
From Jonathan Quinn--Jonathan’s first post!
September 15, 2017
Fall Transition or Make Summer Endless: Your Choice
With equal amounts of daylight and darkness, the Autumnal Equinox reminds us to stay balanced. September’s new schedules & responsibilities pull us in so many directions. Ask yourself how can I balance my day or my week? Allowing moments of time for you each day keeps stress from getting out of control. Just asking this question plants the seeds for change in your daily habits.
Upcoming Events/Important Dates
September--Respect
18 Faculty Meeting, 2pm, Auditorium
19 Junior Assembly (Skipper Block Schedule)
20 Senior Assembly (Skipper Block Schedule)
22 First Update in ASPEN due
26 School Committee Meeting
27 CTE student assembly (Skipper Block Schedule)
27 CTE student assembly (Skipper Block Schedule)
28 Open House, 6-8 pm
29 NKHS Football Game--Gold out
Good News!
From Ms. Mason, CEO of Mason Tours and History teacher:
Hello. We are back in earnest and History is afoot, because we all know there is no down time in the world of US History. Per your request below for your blog, you might mention the wonderful job all my Mason Tours Chaperones did leading 150 persons on 3 buses through the 4 nations of Spain 🇪🇸, France 🇫🇷, Monaco 🇲🇨, & Italy 🇮🇹. Godzilla 2017 was a stellar educational adventure that saw our NKHS students see, touch, and fully explore Southern Europe. I am so pleased to have shared this experience with so many wonderful teachers as well as our students.
From Rich Garland, Curriculum Coordinator for Finance/Business CTE and Business/Finance teacher:
This past weekend Rita and I took a trip to Netcong, New Jersey, near Lake Hopatcong, to attend a showing of two Abbott and Costello movies on the big screen at the town's Palace Theater. I enjoy their comedy that lives on and use a number of their routines in my lessons, especially in Finance and most know the team from their 'Who's on First' skit. At the event was Lou Costello's youngest daughter, Chris, who is a friend and also our travel agent. It was a day of fun...Jordan Albernaz was nice enough to pick up a bottle of wine for us to take to Chris so she can experience wine just as good as California wine where she was born and raised. A couple of tidbits - Chris' two older daughters were born in Pawtucket, and their mom was raised right here in Rhode Island. In the photo, Chris is in the middle - notice I'm wearing my NK jacket! She knows about NK and donated a poster that hangs in room 110.
From Paul Fanning, Boys varsity soccer coach and English teacher:
During preseason we took the boys soccer varsity and junior varsity teams to the North Woods Challenge Adventure Course through the Center for Student Leadership at URI. More pics at the end of the blog.
Teaching and Learning
Thank you to Michelle Neri for the following friendly neighborhood reminder:
Next Wednesday evening begins the Jewish high holidays. They are the most holy days of our year, and days as well as evenings are spent observing. It would be great, as is the past practice, for teachers to refrain from giving homework over these days, or scheduling tests/giving non-repeatable instruction.
Rosh Hashanah: Begins sundown Wednesday 9/20
Ends sundown Friday 9/22
Yom Kippur: Begins sundown Friday 9/29
Ends sundown Saturday 9/30
Scheduling News
Monday we will have our first open discussions regarding our 8 period schedule. Donna has been working on the PLTs
Tech Tip
From Mark DeLucia
Week Ending September 15
Our first installment of the year features what I feel is a phenomenal use of Forms for classroom management. It comes to you from the brilliant mind of Joy Tavano, who asked me to share with all of you here.
Forms can be used as a SIGN-OUT sheet in your classrooms. I recommend posting it on the “About” tab on your Google Classroom page. Students simply open the form, select their destination from the drop-down, and click submit. The Sheet that collects responses will also collect their e-mails for identification and time-stamp their responses. When they return, they click “Return to Class” and their return will be time-stamped, as well.
What I feel is especially great about this idea is that it creates data that can be used in multiple ways. For example, that data can be shared with students or parents to illustrate how much time is being spent out of the classroom and missing instruction. It can also be shared with deans for disciplinary matters, much like we once did with the old sign-out sheets that hung at our doors not long ago.
You can find a template here. Please be sure to click the three dots in the upper right and click MAKE A COPY before editing the template for your own class.
Articles Worth Reading
This article brought out many readers to comment. If you do read, check out the comments to see the diversity of opinions from educators. The author responds to some of the them. I do not endorse it either way but the content and comments are worth the read.
Videos Worth Watching
From Dick Fossa:
In case you missed the Monday evening Hometown Hero segment on Eyewitness News, Noah Iden, NK Football student-athlete was selected as this week's recipient. Here is the link for the interview:
If you would like to contribute and donate, here is the link to Noah's donation page:
Food for Thought
“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.”
~Colin Powell
Until next time, Think, Create, Innovate...Denise
Additional pics below:
Additional pics below:
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