2013-14 Volume 15

“Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. Thankfulness may consist merely of words. Gratitude is shown in acts.”
Henri Frederic Amiel

News/Timelines/Due Dates

I will be talking to seventh graders about my trip to Kenya this Wednesday in the media center during their social studies class.  Feel free to drop by. 

I love reading all the grateful feathers in the mailroom.  We do have so much to be thankful for and I know I am very thankful to work at such a great school with such a great staff.  Enjoy your week off!!

Fran shared the following YouTube from Kid President.  It will make you smile and help you remember the awesome difference you make in the  lives of students.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwlhUcSGqgs&sns=em

Holiday Party –Please join us Dec. 12 5-7 at the Village Tavern.  This is a great time to get together and celebrate!!  I hope to see you there.

Casual – Wednesday through Friday will be casual days.

Textbook Coordinator:  Our new textbook coordinator is Debra Herrmann

PRIDE – This Friday, November 22 we will have silent reading time during PRIDE.  Just a reminder to continue encouraging students in PRIDE and in classes each day to donate for our toy/book drive to help students in need.  Donations have been slim and we would like to overwhelm the partnering school with generosity from our student population.  Encourage every student to participate.

Shout Out!! To Amy Creamer, Jason Landers and crew for their work on the Willy Wonka production!  It takes hours and hours of time and coordination of various pieces to put together a production such as this.  It was magical!  Congratulations!

Music News – This week there are two concerts presented by our 6^th grade students.  On Tuesday, November 19^th @ 7:00PM the 6^th grade Band members will Present their “First Sounds” Concert with the 7^th grade percussion ensemble and Jazz Band as special guests.  On Thursday, November 21^st @ 7:00PM the 6^th grade Orchestra members will present their introductory concert as well.  This is a big night for our 6^th grade musicians as they perform live for an audience for the first time.  Please join us if you can!

A Mighty Roar

To Amy Creamer along with Jason Landers and the rest of the staff that helped with Willie Wonka Junior.  What an amazing production!!  The kids did such a great job and the set was amazing.  I have heard nothing but rave reviews!! 

 

 

Where is Livingston? 

Jennifer and Pauline say “At Autrey Mill, there is a person who goes out of her way for not only staff but also students. She helps out all of the staff by gathering all of the books students will need for Impact, Health, and other projects. She teaches Pauline and I how to use excel spreadsheets and other websites on the computers. She also is in charge of compiling the Student of the Month supplies each month with a different sponsor. In addition, she skips her lunch to encourage our students to read during lunch with the Reader Eater bunch. Also, she entices the students to read 25 books by the end of the year. In conclusion, she also checks in and out books, orders books, and keeps our tummies happy with delicious treats! She will drop anything to get our laminations done in a timely fashion! She is Laura Hunter. We could not survive without her! Congrats!”

Happy Birthday

Sonya Purdy                          November 18

Maureen Innes                      November 18

Pauline Weiss                        November 22

Sarah Philpot                         November 23

Debra Clark                           December 1

November 11

“Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it's always your choice.”
Wayne Dyer

News/Timelines/Due Dates

I had the privilege Friday of attending the Legacy of Excellence Awards at the World Congress Center.  This is the annual event that celebrates teacher, professional, business and principals of the year.  We celebrated Gemma and Ped as they walked across the stage and made AMMS proud. 

 

Welcome back to the Savannah crew.  I am sure it was a tiring trip but you helped make memories for many students.

 

I love the gratitude feathers in the teacher lunchroom.  I hope you will take time and participate with an attitude of gratitude.

PRIDE – This Friday, November 15^th,  PRIDE will continue with our community service project.  Students will create cards and holiday messages for students K-5 to go along with the new toy/book donations.  Please assist students with age appropriate wording and ideas for holiday greetings.  Please collect all cards at the end of PRIDE, read through them, and send appropriate creations to Fran Meredith.  Continue to remind and encourage students to bring in new toys/books for students in need.  At the moment, boxes are empty.  All donations are due Friday, December 6^th.

Willie Wonka - The play takes place this weekend and I know the kids (and adults) would love to see you there!

A Mighty Roar

To Dana Griffin and the sixth grade social studies team whose current performance assessment is not only rigorous but done almost completely without paper.  All necessary items are located on a Symbaloo page. 

 

Friday Leadership Conversations and Coffee - Do you see yourself as a future administrator or teacher leader?  Do you want to learn more about leadership?  Join us for conversations and coffee on various topics related to leadership.  Each month we will discuss a different topic and engage in a case study related to that topic.  Our first meeting will be on November 15 in room A150 at 7:30 a.m.

Where is Livingston? 

Kristen Barksdale says “In any school there are many “unsung heroes” who are involved in the day-to-day operations of the building.  Autrey Mill is no different, and in fact, has many heroes who work together to help each child meet with success.

In our school, there are two people who work incredibly hard to help the teachers they work with as well as with the students in their classes. We rely on them to work 1:1 or in small groups with students on curriculum activities and provide us feedback on student progress.  They go above and beyond a lot of times in regard to helping us maintain the rigor in our classrooms by holding students accountable while also developing precious relationships with their students.  They continually engage students in the daily classroom activities by working alongside us as educators to prepare and carry out lessons.  I know that I value all that they do for us within our SEC department as they are true unsung heroes.  This week Livingston will reside with Jennifer Cooney and Pauline Weiss.”

Happy Birthday

Bill Shea                                 November 11

Carman Anderson                 November 11

Sherry Thomas                     November 15

11/4/13

You better live your best and act your best today, for today is the sure preparation for tomorrow and all the other tomorrows that follow.

-Harriet Marineau

News/Timelines/Due Dates

I hope everyone had a great weekend.  I have decided for health reasons that I need to find a college football team that scores numerous points and doesn't cause anxiety till the last minute.  Of course I am a DAWG for life and I LOVE beating the Gators, but jeez!! 

Important Information from the DC Debra Clarke:

Please read and adhere to the timelines noted below regarding Attendance and Grading Documents.

Process                                      Document                                               Due Date/Time

Attendance Verification       Attendance Verification Form           November 8^th by 4:00 p.m.

Roster Verification                Roster Verifications & Form            November 11^th by 4:00 p.m.

Load Grade Book Verif.       Load Grade Book Form                  November 15^th by 3:00 p.m.

Grade Verification                 Grade Verifications & Form            November 18^th by 3:00 p.m.

Homeroom Teachers Only

HR PR review                       Review for Corrections                        November 19^th by 3:00

HR PR Verif.                          Progress Report Verification Form     November 20^th by NOON

 

PRIDE – This Friday, November 8^th PRIDE groups will remain in homerooms for silent reading.  We are staying in homerooms due to the 8^th graders attending the Georgia trip.  PRIDE will return to their regular classrooms next week for an advisement lesson.  During the week, please remind students in homeroom, your classes, in passing conversation, etc. about “Giving a Golden Ticket” toy/book donations for our community service project.  A blurb is being included in the Lion’s Roar for parents but the more we can talk about it with our students the better.

AJC Top Workplaces Survey

•      Many of you may remember filling out this survey last year.  It is the goal of the county to make this list by 2017.  You will be asked to take this survey again soon and I will be providing your responses in the next few blogs and will answer any questions at our next grade level meeting.    Here are the results broken down into further categories.

Our Overall Results

 

 

A Mighty Roar

To the math department and their vertical teaming.  They discussed the idea of the test banks that roll out beginning in January as well as went over the 8 Mathematical Process Standards. Then they rotated from table to table looking at each other’s tests and study guides and making notes and comments on butcher paper. They ended with comments and a brief discussion. They decided that they need to include more “justify your solution” questions, as well as work harder to challenge our advanced kids (more rigor for the top kids).

 

Friday Leadership Conversations and Coffee - Do you see yourself as a future administrator or teacher leader?  Do you want to learn more about leadership?  Join us for conversations and coffee on various topics related to leadership.  Each month we will discuss a different topic and engage in a case study related to that topic.  Our first meeting will be on November 15 in room A150 at 7:30 a.m.

Instructional Support Specialist – As you know, Stephanee is leaving us at the end of the week and I want to thank her for her service.  If you are interested in interviewing for the position please send me an email and describe why you are interested and what you might bring to the position.  Please submit this to me by Thursday, November 7.  Please keep in mind that this position is only funded for the current year and while I hope this continues, it is not a guarantee. 

Where is Livingston? 

Robyn Magnussen says “This week Livingston will have the pleasure of visiting with one of Autrey Mill's finest! This teacher is one of the hardest working people I know. She is a "behind the scenes" kind of person" who will show up at 1-2-1 Reach to counsel a student and coach him/her to do better. She'll give up lunch for a week to work with a group of students so that they understand grammar. This teacher sets high expectations for her students and then stands beside them to guide them along. I know your students appreciate you just as much as I do Kristen Barksdale! Keep up the good work! ”

Happy Birthday

Julie Abraham                        November 4
Kim Brill                                 November 4