Best School In The Universe

3/12/2015

3/15/2015 11:20:21 pm

Michelle,
I love the way you designed your Prezi (Newspaper style). I think a peer tutoring program is an outstanding idea. I might suggest it at our school. We tried it awhile back and I'm not sure what happened. How is your staff personalizing the curriculum? What types of things are they doing? I like your commitment to refrain from gossip. This is something that can easier harm a school. Our own staff are working on this one. It definitely is a work in progress. I also like the plan to email parents weekly. Is this part of a recovery idea or more for parent involvement? We recently started celebrating students of the month across grade levels. Finally, I love the "Eyes Up" philosophy. It seems like something everyone can get onboard with and remember.

Chas

3/16/2015 08:17:04 am

Hey Michelle,

I like that many of your strategies under welcome are addressing the staff. By first implementing and addressing these habits with the staff the students are bound to identify and pick up these strategies through actions.
Also, the idea of implementing peer tutoring is AWESOME! we use peer tutors to support all students and even 1 to 1 peer support for some students with IEP's.

Keep up the great work!
-Chas

Kerry link

3/17/2015 05:19:34 am

Hi Michelle!
I think you are on a great track with your Welcome Pillar commitments. We started doing staff gatherings a few years ago and it really brought us closer together personally, which supported our collaboration professionally. Eating together is a simple, yet really nice way to get people out of there rooms at lunch. We started doing a Thursday "Soup Club" "Salad Club" or "Taco Club" (we alternate every few months). Everyone signs up to bring one thing over the course of 4-6 weeks, then each Thursday you get to eat the lunch others have brought. It is a great way to get people to come eat together. Food is always a nice bonding vehicle.

I also like how you note which commitments you've implemented and those that are still in the works. It is a good reminder that change takes time and careful planning.

Sara

3/17/2015 04:16:00 pm

Hi Michelle!
I love the way you presented your school, especially the visual! You really have some great ideas about your ideal school culture and how to make it better. I particularly can relate with your eyes-up policy. I'm really trying to make this a goal of mine. Sometimes I tend to walk with my head down because I'm thinking about one of my classes, or lesson plans. This really doesn't portray an openness to my fellow employees, students, or stakeholders. I know that just the simple act of saying hello with eye contact can make a huge difference in perception. Thanks for the great tip!

Nicholas Swift

3/19/2015 01:59:30 pm

Good evening Michelle,

I believe that your ideas in the "Welcome" pillar are amazing. More often than not, it is easy for staff members to stay in their room during lunch, for various reasons. I always make a point to go outside to sit with students and staff. It provides a different connection and I enjoy when the students sit with the staff and feel welcome at our table. In addition, I think that your idea to send a positive email at least once a week is great. I try to send at least one written note home a week, praising a student for their amazing work. I know the students love to show their parents the letters. Regarding "Choice Words," if I hear inappropriate language I stop and speak with the students and offer them alternative words. I think that our commitment to accomplish this is amazing.

Best Regards,

Nick

Best School In The Universe

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