Let It Snow!

 

Oh the weather outside (and inside) is frightful.  Kids are wound up.  The flu is running through the school and staff are ready for winter break. ...but the fire is so delightful. You have continued to maintain a high level of engagement and created safe environments.  You are enjoying one another's company.  The student support team has kicked into overdrive. So since we've not place to go... You are amazing!  You continue to come in each day and provide for our students! Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow.  Your grit and persistence carry you through tough times (because it's a hard job even on good days.)

I was thinking about what to write this week when I thought of this song and how it is a metaphor for your resilience.  It's truly amazing how you have made every effort to continue the work of our. mission.  It's when times are tough that our culture kicks in.  It is the reflection of all of the work we've put in over the past years.  Please consider the following elements of a positive culture and reflect on how you contribute to it.  

Successful schools generate and maintain a sense of teamwork, order, productivity and shared goals that put both students and staff at ease.  Problems still exist, of course, bu there's a strong sense of optimism and hope for the future.

Gallup studies conclude:  "Engaged students are excited about what's happening at their school and about what they're learning.  They contribute to the learning environment and are psychologically committed to their school.  Engaged students feel safe at school, have strong relationships with teachers and other students, feel recognized on a regular basis and are learning important things that connect them to a positive future."

We can think of the previous statement as our why we work so hard to maintain a positive culture at Bloomer.  

How have we done it?  Let's look at the following:

• Address our core values, mission and vision.   This is our public definition of what we are about an how we will continue to maintain excellence.  
  

• Regularly and publicly recognize students and staff.  When you continue to nominate staff to be recognized and 'leveled up" when you offer names of students as champions of the week; you are making this a reality.  Look at the anticipation on the faces of your students when the announcement is read.  They are looking forward to it.  When you encourage participation in the fun activities like holiday week and join in you are putting pride and fun into education.
• Use specific language and action.  The work we've done around CHAMPS has been developing this element throughout the school year.  Using the language during transitions and workshop groupings have positive effects on the level of engagement we see when walking through your classrooms.  Hallways and other common spaces are safe and peaceful due to your continued work on our expectations.  Please think of ways that you will relaunch these when students return in January.
  
• Maintain a zero tolerance for bullying.  We do the bully screener (Thank you Sue Martin) each time a case is reported.  Doing your due diligence in making first response aware is job number one to keep bullies at bay.  Anna Heath is a level two investigator and will go out to buildings in the District to further investigate issues.  There have been incidents at Bloomer that were reported and a level two investigator came.  Our work in this area is never done.  Teaching kindness and tolerance for others is what it takes to stop bullying in its tracks.
• Follow through on discipline so students feel secure.  The first response team is here to address student discipline though their action.  Our system depends on you and the quality in the classroom in how you address behaviors.  Using of the peace corner, maintaining IEP/MTSS plans, contacting parents, providing more positive interaction, and disciplining/documenting are the first steps prior to calling for a first responder for discipline.  Referrals are made when you need an additional person to support the student.  We average about 5 of these a day(outside the support of students on MTSS plans).  This is a tremendous accomplishment considering the number of students we serve each day.

Consider the accomplishment of these four months.  Your efforts will be rewarded in the higher achievement of students.  Your focus on maintaining our culture is key to making it happen.  

Thank you for all you do and let's finish strong know that it can snow and snow and snow and snow but our culture will maintain our warmth and care for one another the students we serve.

Taking a look at the Entire View

 

It used to be difficult to take panoramic pictures.  If you wanted to do it you needed to use an expensive camera or attachment.  Often only professionals could shoot the incredible shots of an entire view.  However, now most smartphones have this feature on them.  All you need to do is point and click and you can have the view of something you are looking at and want to save.  Data is also like this.  It provides a snapshot of how we are doing and when we capture the entire view it's important to analyze it, celebrate and determine next steps to improve.

Recently we received our a panoramic view of our culture and the relationships you have with administration.  A few things to consider when looking at this data is that only those items that were scored a 4 or 5 are considered favorable.  Items that scored 1-3 are considered not favorable.  In addition, when a question asked about the building leadership team it is referencing the administrator/s assigned to the building.  Bloomer has just one, Kim Kazmierczak.  Therefore, these questions relate to the actions and perceptions of the principal and staff member or teacher.  

So let's take a look at the data:  Teacher Data is on the Left; Staff Data is on the Right

I'm sure you will agree with me that there is a lot to celebrate and analyze.  The leadership team will be looking at all of the data more closely in the coming week to determine more specifically what needs to be done to support your teaching and personal perception of how you view our climate and culture. 

Teachers area to celebrate

The area I believe most improved is the area of Teaching Efficacy.  In these questions you shared favorable results that you feel that you have the abilities to meet the educational needs of your students.  I am confident that this is an indication of the clarity of our school improvement plan and direction of professional development.  In addition, your work as a PLC centered on the needs of individual students is resulting in these higher levels of efficacy.  I hope that you celebrate these results and think of ways you can share how you are individually differentiating as well as managing all learners in such a magnificent way.

Staff area to celebrate

These two areas demonstrate significant improvement from the previous survey.  

There are a few areas that need to be explored.  The leadership team will be looking at the data and determining next steps.  After they have visited I will share the entire report with all of you on the bulletin.  They will support some needed changes to improve areas of belief in teacher satisfaction, trust, feedback and supporting you with challenges.  Please believe that you are the reason this school is successful.  I am 100% committed to your well-being and that of your family so you can support the children you serve.

Discuss the area for improvement as a PLC( belief that the administration(the principal) wants you to be satisfied at work, trust, feedback and supporting challenges at work).  What sort of leadership moves or behaviors would help to improve these area?  Please share you answers in the comment section.