September 30, 2013
To break through creativity, we must defer judgment. That is, learn to accept all ideas, without predjudice, and examine them each in turn."
Scott Isaksen
News/Timelines/Due Dates
Well
it is great to be back home but the trip to Africa was amazing. When we had our layover in Amsterdam, we
heard about the mall take-over and did not know what to think. We landed in Nairobi and they took us to our
guest house which was about two miles from the mall. We heard helicopters but other than that, we
never felt unsafe. The people there were
saddened as they are not used to this kind of attack. We visited an infant orphanage on Monday run
by an American woman who decided that this was her call in life. The home is about two hours outside of
Nairobi and the scenery, including the Great Rift Valley, was awesome. On Tuesday, we flew to the town of Lodwar in
the middle of the desert. This is where
the House of Hope orphanage is located.
We stayed there for three days, but also delivered food to a nearby
tribe who greeted us with unbelievable singing and dancing.
I worked with the school and was impressed
with how much these students are learning.
As you can see from the classroom picture, they do not have a lot of the
classroom décor we take for granted! We
also visited an IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) and gave them food. These people were removed from their homes
during the political uprising that took place after the 2007 elections. The head master of the school lived in one of
the affected regions and that was one reason she wanted to take this position
at House of Hope. When I say it was hot,
that does not begin to describe how hot it was.
There is very little refrigeration so even our water bottles were luke-warm. Each night, we were able to have a cold Fanta
Orange which was SO GOOD!!!
Trips
like this always give perspective. I realize
that some of the things I worry and stress about are not really problems in the
big picture. I was also reminded that we
have much to be thankful for, but tend to take it for granted. Finally, the life lesson that you can do more
with less and still be happy and content, was so evident in the workings of the
orphanage. That is not to say they don’t
need more, but they are content and happy.
Thanks for holding down the fort while I was gone. It is certainly good to be home and to be
greeted with a decorated office with a lion sitting in my chair, wearing my
glasses!
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Fulton County Schools launches new website Oct.
7, 2013.
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Visitors now have access to school system
information in up to 47 languages. The top 11 languages will be available at the
launch – Arabic, German, English, Spanish, French, Hindi, Italian, Japanese,
Dutch, Russian and Chinese.
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Parents can now get to Home Access and My
Payment Plus on the home page.
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The top navigation bar features the roll-over
function so that access to information is no more than three clicks away.
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The search function has been enhanced.
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The Careers tab is more prominent.
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A Community tab has been added to engage
community stakeholders.
PRIDE -– This Friday, October 4th,
we will have an advisement class for all grade levels. If you have
been referring to the original schedule you may notice that it says silent
reading. We are having to make a slight adjustment for a two-part lesson
and the upcoming 6th grade field trip. Thanks for your
flexibility.
The theme for the lessons this week will be a 2 part
series:
·
8th Grade students will be doing
student choice lessons. A variety of topics will be offered for 8th
grade students. For this week, teachers of 8th grade students please
stop by the teacher mailroom and pick up two lessons. One you
will do this week and the 2nd you will do on October 11th.
The lessons include topics such as “Top Ten Middle School Issues”, “Honesty”,
“Cyberbullying”, “Making Good Choices”, “Self-Advocacy”, and “Teasing and
Harrassment”. You may remember doing some of these last year so choose a
different topic for your group for this year.
·
7th Grade students will be learning
about their learning/characteristic styles. This is a two part lesson but
the lesson plan for this week is only part 1. There is a paper copy of
the handouts included in your lesson but teachers can opt for the flipchart
found on the server in the Technology How To’s Folder in the PRIDE
folder. Please check it out before Friday if you plan on using it or pair
up with your PRIDE buddy if you do not have a smart board in your room. (You
will receive packets with this lesson that will need to be returned after the
two week lesson.)
·
6th Grade students will be learning
about the “Ins” and “Outs” of a Community. This lesson will continue for
two weeks.
Where is
Livingston?
Lisi Furman says “It is my pleasure to present Livingston to
an amazing science teacher that I know and love, Todd Shelnutt. Todd has
been at AMMS for 5 years and he is a valuable member of the Da Vinci
team.
Todd is a great science teacher who likes to incorporate
nature into life science activities. In this way, Todd makes the
curriculum and lessons relatable and applicable to our 7th graders’
lives. His activities are fun, educational, rigorous, and engaging- ask
him about “The Size is Right,” a little play off of The Price is Right.
Todd also teaches our kids about our relationship with
nature and the living things in it, and he has two class pets that are
teaching his students about responsibility, respect for life, and how cute and
snuggly amphibians can be. Kids love Mr. Shelnutt’s class because
as one student put it, “You never know what is going to happen in class!”
Another said, “Mr. Shelnutt is really cool and he makes me work harder
than thought I could.” Others told me, “I look forward to learning about
science from my crazy fun teacher!”
Todd worked tirelessly to improve
the outdoor classroom so that all of us could use and enjoy it. At Rock
Eagle, he often takes the lead on the big hike, leading multiple groups while
showing off all sorts of nature tidbits that surprise and delight. He is
a supportive, funny, hardworking teacher, and I am proud of call him my friend
and colleague. Congratulations to the one, the only: Todd Shelnutt.
Happy Birthday
Sarah Bayer September 30
Jennifer Cooney October 6
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