Tea with a Tech this Friday 8:00-8:30, in the Computer lab

How's your plate?

It was fascinating to watch all of us grapple with the Superintendent's Conference Day. For some, it was a day of pure joy. The topic resonated, and it was well received. For others, it was hard. That level of reflecting can make you feel icky and vulnerable. And obviously for some, there was head scratching regarding why we would spend time, as a district, focusing on us. This is our job...aren't we paid to impact kids?

There is an interesting phenomenon happening across the country. More and more companies and industries are recognizing the connection between self-care and work success. It is great to have things off our plate, but equally important is our job in taking care of the plate itself. When we practice self-care, when we really dig deep and adopt habits that promote brain/body health, our plate all of a sudden becomes stronger--not so that we can pile more on, but so we can better manage what we already have. Simply put, our relationship with self sets the tone for all else!

Being in education is hard. Very hard. With all the mandates, initiatives, and woes in our world, it can become very easy to fall into a stress-filled-hole. As we learned this summer, our brains want to focus on all the negative circling around us.

This year, I challenge you-REALLY challenge you-to take care of your plate. Focus on the relationship you have with yourself, and see what fruits you produce. You deserve it, the kids deserve it, and it will strengthen your plate during the tougher seasons of life.

Your plate deserves your best! Nourish it, strengthen it, and adopt habits that will support it.

Reminders!

• On Monday, we will have visitors from across the state/country visiting QUEST to see IB in action. This is NOT part of our evaluation, but instead is a showcase where people see what we do. Please join me in welcoming our guests. Be sure to give the kids a heads up and encourage them to welcome our guests!
• Make a Difference Day is Saturday morning at the HS! Ask Karen V. for details if you are interested in attending. 
• Continue to contact the main office anytime you are going to the creek, town hall area, or when walking through the community. Although these trips do not need field trip forms, because we are off school property we need to know how to reach you in case of an emergency. An email to the office with a contact number will suffice. 

Looking Ahead

One more reminder...

We will meet in the aud. on 10/31 at 9:30 am. We will tell a few Halloween jokes, and after that we will either parade around the bus loop OR parade back to class so parents can see us. This will be weather dependent, but the goal would be a large loop outside on the bus loop and then back into the building. If you have a student that does not celebrate, please reach out and be sure to find an alternative, fair activity for them to do in lieu of the Halloween fun.

Costumes(please review this with your students): 

• ·         No costumes that suggest or display violence.
• ·         No fake weapons or costume props that could be perceived as a weapon.
• ·         Please be mindful that our school is a pre-k through 6 school, and we may have varying levels of sensitivity to masks that appear scary. If a child has a mask, please have them put it in their bag until you deem it an appropriate time to come out.

I am...YOU are

There is incredible power in what we say to ourselves. When we beat ourselves up, when we listen to the negative voices inside our heads, and when we trust--too much--the perspective of others, we are setting ourselves up for failure. How do you talk to yourself? What are the "I am" statements you say to yourself when you look in the mirror? Often, we do not even say I am out loud, but instead it is a looming voice inside our heads. We make a mistake:

• "I'm not good enough."
• "I'm not organized enough."
• "I'm not smart enough." 
• "I'm not patient enough." 

We become what we say. As complex as our minds are, they always want to find the negative. Watch your self talk this year and be sure to be intentional regarding who you say you are. You deserve that.

Sometimes it feels so much easier to be thoughtful with our "you are" statements versus our "I am" statements. As a team that spends a lot of time together, what are we doing to help one another see the good that lies within each of us? How about for our kids? 

People, and children included, will rise and fall the the level of our expectations. If in your head you've already defined who someone is, you have closed the door to really get to know who they are. With our students, how easy is it to tell students who they are: 

"You are a great writer."

"You are inattentive."

"You struggle in math..."

"You are a risk taker!" 

Have you noticed the You are _________(profile) posters in the hall? Do our kids see the profiles in themselves? Do they believe they are those profiles?

Overall, I believe we are a pretty positive school. We want to do right by kids, and we definitely take care of one another. With that being said, let's never settle. I noticed how hard it was at our SEL training for some of us to lift ourselves up. We can find it in others, but struggle when it comes to us.

As we move forward, be intentional with what you put after I am and you are. What we put after them can lift us up or tear us all down...it can build connections, or ruin them.  WE are QUEST, and WE are destined for great things.

Proud to be your Principal, and I am grateful to be part of a school that is intentional. Have a great weekend!

HALLOWEEN!

We will meet in the aud. on 10/31 at 9:30 am. We will tell a few Halloween jokes, and after that we will either parade around the bus loop OR parade back to class so parents can see us. This will be weather dependent, but the goal would be a large loop outside on the bus loop and then back into the building. If you have a student that does not celebrate, please reach out and be sure to find an alternative, fair activity for them to do in lieu of the Halloween fun.

Costumes(please review this with your students): 

• ·         No costumes that suggest or display violence.
• ·         No fake weapons or costume props that could be perceived as a weapon.
• ·         Please be mindful that our school is a pre-k through 6 school, and we may have varying levels of sensitivity to masks that appear scary. If a child has a mask, please have them put it in their bag until you deem it an appropriate time to come out.

Reminders

• CIA on the 29th moved to Monday am at 8:15. Please join us in the BOE room for a light breakfast and to welcome our guests from IB. They will love QUEST. You all work so hard and do so much for our building, next week is a good time to celebrate that. 
• Andrea will be sending out the schedule for next week. Please be sure you are aware of any meeting time that you may be a part of! They want to see you, meet you, and hear you.

Looking Ahead

3 Day Weekend here we come!!!