Week of February 26

Bus/Parking Lot Duty: Cooley and Doering
Monday 2/26: 7:00 Secondary Cross District Department mtgs 9:00 staff mtg. 10:00 21st Century Skills. 11:00 Department Meetings (Math -12:00 )
Tuesday 2/27
Wednesday 2/28
Thursday 3/1
Friday 3/2

Week of February 12

Bus/Parking lot duty: Smith and Gaynor (afternoon)
Monday 2/12:  7:00 - Title cross district collaboration  9:00 QPR training for staff
Tuesday 2/13: 
Wednesday 2/14
Thursday 2/15: 
Friday 2/16: 

Bus/Parking lot duty:  Beck and Clark
Monday 2/19: Presidents Day
Tuesday 2/20: 
Wednesday 2/21:  Kaiser, Doering, Smith, Gaynor in Boise
Thursday 2/22:  Kaiser, Doering, Smith, Gaynor in Boise
Friday 2/23:  Kaiser, Doering, Smith, Gaynor in Boise

CHROMEBOOKS... Where are they?
Possibly, they are every place but where they should be.  Please use the next few days to check your carts and redistribute them all to their appropriate homes.  Lost chromebooks often find their way to my office (along with other wayward souls) so check there if you're missing any (the one on the bottom shelf is mine)

FOR YOUR PLANNING PURPOSES: 
Testing dates....
SAT tests are April 10.
ELA ISAT tests will be the week of April 17th.
Math ISAT tests will be the week of April 25.

Another Bullying Video.
I think this is a powerful message.  Maybe show it to kids?

Week of February 5

Bus/Parking lot duty: Meeks and Baker
Monday 2/5: Non-Work Day
Tuesday 2/6: 
Wednesday 2/7:
Thursday 2/8: 
Friday 2/9: 

Bus/Parking lot duty: Smith and Gaynor
Monday 2/12:  7:00 - Title cross district collaboration  9:00 QPR training for staff
Tuesday 2/13: 
Wednesday 2/14
Thursday 2/15: 
Friday 2/16: 

A Really Big Thanks.... to Angie and her leadership class for the posters and hall decorations.  Venture High School looks amazing!  The work you and your kids do makes the whole school feel bright, happy, and POSITIVE!

This is probably illegal, but I've pasted an entire article on sarcasm right here.  It comes from here:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/think-well/201206/think-sarcasm-is-funny-think-again

I'm risking a life sentence for plagiarism because the message is so important - sarcasm doesn't work with kids.  ESPECIALLY kids who already have a challenge reading and responding appropriately to social cues.  I totally get the temptation... Sarcasm can be fun to dish out.  It feels clever and witty.  But, it doesn't work. It damages relationships.  Maybe a strong relationship can sustain a few sarcastic blows, but the relationships that we have with kids are already tenuous.  We've worked really, really hard to gain ground with our students and losing that ground over sarcastic comments is disappointing.

Think Sarcasm is Funny? Think Again

Sarcasm is really just hostility disguised as humor

Posted Jun 26, 2012

If you want to be happier and improve your relationships, cut out sarcasm since sarcasm is actually hostility disguised as humor.  Despite smiling outwardly, most people who receive sarcastic comments feel put down and usually think the sarcastic person is a jerk.  Indeed, it’s not surprising that the origin of the word sarcasm derives from the Greek word “sarkazein” which literally means “to tear or strip the flesh off.”  Hence, it’s no wonder that sarcasm is often preceded by the word “cutting” and that it hurts.   

What’s more, since actions strongly determine thoughts and feelings, when a person consistently acts sarcastically it usually only heightens his or her underlying hostility and insecurity.  After all, when you come right down to it, sarcasm is a subtle form of bullyingand most bullies are angry, insecure, cowards.   Alternatively, when a person stops voicing negative comments, especially sarcastic and critical ones, he or she soon starts to feel happier and more self-confident.  Also, the other people in his or her life benefit even faster because they no longer have to hear the emotionally hurtful language of sarcasm.

Now I’m not saying all sarcasm is bad.  It’s just better used sparingly – like a potent spice in cooking.  Too much spice and the dish will be overwhelmed by it.  Similarly, an occasional dash of sarcastic wit can spice up a chat and add an element of humor to it.  But a big or steady serving of sarcasm will overwhelm the emotional flavor of any conversation and taste very bitter to its recipient.

So, tone down the sarcasm and work on clever wit instead which is usually devoid of hostility and thus more appreciated by those you’re communicating with.  In essence, sarcasm is easy (as is most anger, criticism and meanness) while true, harmless wit takes talent.

Thus, the main difference between wit and sarcasm is that, as already stated, sarcasm is hostility disguised as humor. It is intended to hurt, and is often bitter and caustic. Witty statements are usually in response to someone’s unhelpful remarks or behaviors, and the intent is to unravel and clarify the issue by accentuating its absurdities. Sarcastic statements are expressed in a cutting manner; witty remarks are delivered with undisguised and harmless humor.

Also, don't hestate to tell others that you don't appreciate their sarcastic comments because it's just thinly veiled hostility and unacceptable bullying.

 Remember:  Think well, act well, feel well, be well!

Copyright by Clifford N. Lazarus, Ph.D.

Week of January 22

Bus/Parking lot duty:  Higgs and Hook
Monday 1/22  Non Work day
Tuesday 1/23: 
Wednesday 1/24
Thursday 1/25: 
Friday 1/26:  Staff work day - no students

Bus/Parking lot duty:  Levy and Mahoney
Monday 1/29  Resiliency Part 4.  9:00 -noon
Tuesday 1/30: 
Wednesday 1/31
Thursday 2/1: 
Friday 2/2: 

Really Big Thanks....To Lex, Diane, and Jessica for hosting a lab classroom and to Asheley for facilitating the process.  A Lab Classroom is an opportunity for teaching colleagues to practice, share and reflect upon new learning and those of us fortunate enough to participate grew professionally from this experience.  Lex, Diane, and Jessica... you are examples of quietly amazing teachers and I appreciate your willingness to open your classrooms and your thinking processes to us.


Holidays and Personal Leave
Here is a memo from the district office:

This is a reminder to all staff (certified & classified) that you are required to obtain approval when taking personal leave around holidays (only personal leave requires this prior approval). The District's procedure is as follows: 

1. Staff member writes email to his/her supervisor asking permission for time off occurring before/after a holiday.

2. If the supervisor approves the time off, the supervisor forwards the email string to the Superintendent for their approval. 

3. Superintendent will send reply back to staff member, supervisor and copies Shelley Hanzen, who tracks sub numbers on those dates.

4. Staff member secures a sub & enters time off in Absence Management (Aesop)

​Under Section 1 Article III of the Master Articles it reads: 

G.     If an employee needs to use personal leave before and/or after a holiday, the reason must be stated to and approved by the building administrator and is subject to final approval by the Superintendent of Schools.  If an employee requests personal leave which impacts flex time, then the employee will arrange opportunities to make up missed time with his/her Supervisor which could include working on a flex day.

How to Stop a Bully

Maybe a video for 21st Century Skills

Bus/Parking lot duty:  Fehling
Monday 1/15 Martin Luther King Jr.
Tuesday 1/16: 
Wednesday 1/17
Thursday 1/18: 
Friday 1/19

Bus/Parking lot duty:  Higgs and Hook
Monday 1/22  Non Work day
Tuesday 1/23: 
Wednesday 1/24
Thursday 1/25: 
Friday 1/26:  Staff work day - no students

Bus/Parking lot duty:  Levy and Mahoney
Monday 1/29  8:00 Staff Meeting
Tuesday 1/30: 
Wednesday 1/31
Thursday 2/1: 
Friday 2/2: 

Week of January 8

Bus/Parking lot duty:  Cooley and Doering

Monday 1/8  PD day: 8:00 staff meeting, Agenda Here
Tuesday 1/9: 
Wednesday 1/10
Thursday 1/11: 
Friday 1/12: 

Bus/Parking lot duty:  Fehling

Monday 1/15 Martin Luther King Jr.
Tuesday 1/16: 
Wednesday 1/17
Thursday 1/18: 
Friday 1/19:  


Academic Conversations
Here is a quick video that shows a teacher teaching students how to engage in academic conversations:

Week of December 11, 2017

Bus/Parking lot duty:   Smith and Gaynor

Monday 12/11: 8:00 Faculty Meeting (nuts and bolts and 21st Century check in) 8:30;  9:00 Department meetings
Tuesday 12/12: 
Wednesday 12/13 
Thursday 12/14:   Holiday Dinner for students
Friday 12/15:  

Bus/Parking lot duty:  Beck and Clark
Monday 1/1 New Year's Day
Tuesday 1/2: 
Wednesday 1/3 
Thursday 1/4:  
Friday 1/5: