The Last HarvestLast week we closed the month of September with Jimmy Casas. His message had many points that ring true of the work we do as educators. From the challenges we face meeting diverse and growing needs to the importance of relationships, his message spoke volumes to the work we do each and every day. A core component of his message centered on the "why" of our work. In 2009, Simon Sinek presented a Ted Talk on the importance of "why." He shared that many organizations make a fatal mistake of starting with the "what" of their mission, rather than starting with the "why," or the heart of the organization. Millions of views, several books, and many keynotes later, the power of why described by Sinek is now a common conversation within organizations. On Monday I shared the why for me as an educational leader. I want to share another "why" connection. In a few short weeks the farm that has been in my wife's family for over a century will go to sale. My wife has vivid memories as a child, growing up at the top of the hill above the farm and tending the garden with her grandmother. Beside that garden, along the drive, is a grape vine. As my wife and her grandmother would harvest tomatoes, potatoes, green beans, and squash, they would snack on as the grapes of that vine. Three weeks ago we drove to the farm and stood in the rain for hours picking grapes from that same vine. As the rain fell, my wife asked why I was so insistent on harvesting each grape - my response was that she would see in time. Over the next 48 hours we cleaned, peeled, mashed, cooked, and processed each grape we had to make homemade concord grape jelly with our daughters. Throughout the process she shared pictures and stories with relatives and friends on Facebook, talking about the smell of the jelly as it cooked, harkening memories of grandma's kitchen each fall. At almost midnight on Sunday, my wife, tired from the process, looked at the large stack of jars on the counter and asked me why we did what we did. My answer was simple. The garden is gone, the fields have been cut, and the farmhouse will soon be home to someone else's memories. The jars on the counter let us sustain a connection for our daughters to the farm they have known since they were born. The jars on the counter help my wife to preserve her memories as she processes saying goodbye. The jars on the counter represent her family's last harvest. Jimmy challenged us, as educators, to stop and revisit our why. He summed up this conversation with our leadership team in the afternoon by discussing how others would know what makes up your core. He introduced himself as a community builder who champions for all students, expects excellence, and carries the banner - that is his core. I asked each of you on Monday to revisit your why. I want to rephrase that question. In each career there is a beginning and an end. Our legacy is found in the students we work with each day, who come back to visit, share their successes and failures throughout life, and know the impact you had on them as a person. I challenge you to think of the last harvest. When we reach the end of our career, what memories will be preserved in the hearts of your students? What will you look upon and see memories carried on? Our greatest impact is the passion, the purpose, the why that guides us in our work. When we can stay grounded in our why, we can have our greatest impact on our students. Digital Learning Corner Technology has the potential to be an impacting force in education. One of the drawbacks is the balance between screen time and students engaging when technology is not supportive. The video below highlights one strategy entitled "professional courtesy," which supports developing expectations in the professional world with our students. APL In PracticeThis month our focus is on the start of class. Utilizing agendas with our students reinforces the importance of organization and helps the student to understand the learning process. The bell ringer serves as quick formative assessment and a bridge strategy between concepts. Starting on time emphasizes the importance of the time we have together as a class. SAMPLE AGENDAS PBIS FocusThis month our focus is on perseverance. We have all been there. You are working with a student who is struggling and just gives up. You know that if he just keeps working and asking questions that he will find success. Amongst today's students, giving up sometimes seems more common that not. Perseverance is a trait that serves our students beyond high school. The ability to stay the course and work hard to meet a goal is critical in today's world. The word "grit" has taken on a life of its own in education. Angela Duckworth's research and resulting book, Grit, has sparked an important conversation on the importance of perseverance in today's world. Her Ted Talk Education video is below. Professional LearningIn your mailbox next week you will receive a copy of Culturize, by Jimmy Casas. We will be launching a book study over the bulk of the school year later in October. We will be discussing the structure of the book study later this month. October also brings parent-student conferences. We will be sharing expectations and structure in detail the week before conferences during our CLC time. Conference signups for parents went live on Skyward earlier this morning.
#WeAreDover MomentsWe had a very active month at DAHS! The pictures below highlight the following:
October CalendarOctober 8th School and Office Closed
October 9th - 12th Homecoming Week October 9th Pajama Day October 10th Dynamic Duo Day October 11th Tourist/Hawaiian Day October 12th Spirit Day; Parade (6PM); Game (7PM) October 13th Homecoming Dance (7PM - 10PM) October 24th 3 Hour Early Dismissal October 24th/25th Parent-Student Conferences October 26th FLEX DAY (Conferences) October 31st Technical College Fair
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We Are Dover: Making a DifferenceAs we have started the school year, we have talked a great deal about the importance of building relationships with students. Let's be honest, this is not a new concept in education. We have known for years that in order for students to effectively learn in a classroom, they must know that the adult in front of it cares about each of them individually. Two weeks ago as several of you shared your reflection on those educators that were champions for you and made a difference in your life, common themes started to emerge: high expectations; honesty; and caring. Earlier today, a colleague shared an article with me about a school who put every student's name on the wall of a room. In this activity sometimes referred to as "No Dot Kids," staff members then took turns walking around the board, looking at each name, and identifying those students who had a meaningful adult supporter within the school. For each student with such a relationship, they placed a dot on the student's card. At the end, they looked at those students without dots and made a commitment to seeing a dot on every single name card by the end of the school year. I do not share this example because we are doing anything less. I simply share it because I want to share with you the power of relationships I see in the hallways each day. As we build upon those connections, I want us to keep considering those kids without dots, those students for whom we may be the only positive adult presence. As we continue to reach out to each student, we continue to build those relationships that matter the most. I would like to close with a personal reflection on relationships. As some of you know, my career did not start in education. My career started in politics. In 1999, I was given an opportunity to join a cause that seemed quixotic in nature when I was approached to serve the McCain campaign. I spent months working to support the campaign as I tried to engage young voters. In my time there, I only met the Senator briefly several times. I was one of many serving his organization. That short time serving the Senator I saw someone committed to building relationships with each person he met. Agree or disagree, he listened to each individual story, searching for the common connection. It was a powerful lesson in relationship building that I still carry with me today. I am being sincere when I say this has been a difficult week for me. The lessons I learned were powerful enough that I felt the need to say my goodbye to someone who briefly, yet greatly, made a difference for me and impacted my development as a leader. On Friday, I had the chance to do that. As educators, we get the opportunity to make this impact every single day, in every single moment. I encourage you to continue to seek out those moments, some of which may not be as pleasant as an educational textbook may lead us to believe. I encourage you to continue listening and seeking that common connection. Most importantly, I say thank you. Thank you for seeking out those moments to make a difference and build a lasting legacy with your students. Article on "No Dot Kids" (ASCD)
APL in PracticeOne of the most important aspects of classroom engagement and reflection is closure. The video below highlights one way to steal an elementary concept (the morning meeting) and integrate its methods into a quick closure activity for your students that builds upon learning while fostering a responsive classroom. PBIS FocusDuring the month of September, our PBIS focus is on the impact small moments can have. Our Advisory lesson on September 5th will focus on "Making a Difference." The video and accompanying lesson focus on the power that one individual can have by utilizing their talents to help others. As we launch into these lessons, this message is important for us to stay centered around as we encourage our students to find ways to impact others and the school in a positive manner. DATA REVIEW In August, we looked at some preliminary numbers related to discipline data. As we continue to focus on PBIS, it is important to look at trend data across graduation cohorts. In particular, this month I would like to look at the data for our students in the Class of 2020. As 9th graders, these students totaled 1015 office referrals. As 10th graders, these students demonstrated a 36.2% decrease in office referrals. Overall, we saw a decrease in office referrals of 6.5% over the previous year. We still have work to do, but these data trends are a testament to your work on culture and expectations for all students. Professional LearningOn September 28th, we will get the chance to hear from Jimmy Casas. Jimmy is a nationally-recognized educator who lives by the motto of "be the change." He will be working with all district staff members on the ideas presented in his book, "Culturize." We have centered our work this year around his four principles and I am excited for each of you to hear his message in person. Following Jimmy's presentation in the morning, all secondary staff will be participating in Suicide Awareness training. This training meets the requirements set forth by PDE for all educators and will assist us in assisting our students. SEPTEMBER CLC WEEKLY BREAKDOWN September 4th - 6th Data Analysis Teams September 10th - 13th Committees & School Focus September 17th -20th PLCs September 24th - 26th Department Teams September 27th Faculty Forum #WeAreDover MomentsPrior to our Resurgence Team Rally on August 24th, we encouraged our school community to post pictures in Dover gear using the hashtag #WeAreDover. We had a number of parents, staff, and students take part on social media as well as sending emails. We collected several of these photos into the collage below. I also want to take a moment to thank each of you for your work to start the school year. There are several groups I would like to particularly mention. Instructional Leadership Team A huge thank you goes out to our ILT for their work in planning the in-service days at the start of the school year. The collaborative time, opportunities to share, and mindfulness lessons were awesome. Resurgence Team Advisors Thank you to Loni Kress and Tori Everhart for their work with our Resurgence Team. They did a fantastic job assisting our students in planning the Resurgence Rally to end our first week back to school. School Counseling Thank you for all of your work in adjusting, building, and readjusting schedules for our students to start the school year. This year's enrollment influx made this an even more daunting task and you all did an amazing job. Keystone Support Teachers Thank you for all of your work in planning, designing, and implementation of the Keystone Support class. Building a plane in flight isn't easy and you all have met teh challenge head on for your students. September Calendars & EventsSeptember Activity Calendar
September CLC Calendar HIGHLIGHTED EVENTS September 3 School and Office Closed September 7 DASD Staff Tailgate (5:00PM - 6:30PM) September 18 DASD Board of Directors Voting Meeting September 20 DASD Board of Directors Committee & Planning Meetings September 24 Senior Class Graduation Meeting (FLEX) September 25 Parent Advisory Council (6:00PM - 8:00PM) September 27 3 Hour Early Dismissal (Data Analysis Teams) September 28 Jimmy Casas - "Culturize" Thought of the Week
#DoverProud Shoutouts
Resource of the WeekWeekly Calendar (Printable Calendar)Monday, May 16th (A Day)
Keystone: Literature Home Sporting Events: None Tuesday, May 17th (B Day) Keystone: Literature DASD Athletics Bone Marrow Drive (After School) Home Sporting Events: Varsity Softball (4:15) Wednesday, May 18th (C Day) Keystone: Algebra Home Sporting Events: None Thursday, May 19th (D Day) Keystone: Algebra Home Sporting Events: None Friday, May 20th (E Day) - #DoverProud Day Keystone: Biology Home Sporting Events: None Saturday, May 21st Prom Thought of the WeekThis week I had the opportunity to represent our nation's principals at an event at the Gallup World Headquarters in Washington, DC. The event was a panel discussion to coincide with the release of a two-year study on assessment in our schools. Results of the study were very interesting, particularly regarding student and parent views on assessment (you can read the report here). During the panel conversation, a number of the audience members asked about the impact of assessment practices in our schools. The conversation centered largely on the impact of assessment under No Child Left Behind and how teachers have adjusted their professional practice to the "testing windows" created by many accountability laws. This conversation got me thinking about how schools end their time with students each year.
When many of us went to school, we remember final exams as the capstone assessment of our learning. In some instances, this still holds true. However, in many schools assessment windows have created false ends to the school year. Students and teachers gear up for the state assessment and we falsely identify the end of the learning process, often weeks before the end of the school calendar. As educators, the question then becomes a simple one - how do we maximize the end of the year for learning? In the resource area below, you will find an article by Rebecca Alber that provides simple project ideas to maintain learning through the end of the year. These projects are simply ideas, kick starters for a greater purpose. If we want a culture of learning, we must maximize our time at the end of the year. We must create environments where "check out" doesn't happen simply because the calendar rolls. We must challenge our students and ourselves to make that last assessment of the year be meaningful beyond the grade. Thought of the WeekThought of the Week
Thought of the Week
Thought for the Week
Thoughts for the WeekToday marks my official one month anniversary serving as Principal here at Dover. I wanted to thank each of you for your assistance and support during the transition.
Earlier this week I shared the results of the staff survey with members of the administrative team. I appreciate your honesty and candor in that process. I will be sharing the results with department chairs at our next meeting and will be highlighting some ways I plan to address the issues raised in your responses. I will also be asking them to help shape a collaborative activity that will assist us moving forward. Later this month I will be presenting the results of the survey to the entire faculty and staff. As I look back on first month I am struck by how reflective your responses were of what I have observed at Dover. It is clear that we have several major areas for growth and opportunity, but the core building block is the same - we value our purpose, our colleagues, and our students. Together we will continue to do what is best for our students and look for opportunities to grow. Thank you. Thought of the Week
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