Training day!

I am all about leading a school through Culture and Craft (Thanks @jkloczko for that line).  I try to make all meetings a mix of community building activities and reinforcing great teaching.  Today was the first day back for all staff, and we had to do active shooter training.  I was like..."NO!!!!"  It is my first all staff meeting at this school.  My school has been through so much.  The attendance area was completely burned the October 2017 tubbs fire.  Only the school survived.  However, the school was displaced for 3 months while repairs were made. Over 200 students lost their home and over a dozen staff did as well.  I also know that is not the way I want to introduce myself to the staff.  But, I was told...do it!

So, I had to do it Emily's way.  I had the spotify going when people walked in.  I had the room set up in collaborative tables with toys and supplies on them.  The lunch buffet table was already set up, so they knew that was coming.  Then I started with my google slides I set up.  The first slide was a great ice breaker.  It was the picture on the left with the ladies on the roller coaster.  I told the staff this is how I work, I always choose to live in the front row, even if I don't know what is coming. 

Then I gave prizes to the first row folks!

Next was the 5 word activity.  I stole this from Lead Like a Pirate. It was an interview question the book suggested.  I totally used it while interviewing for new teachers this year.  What insight it gave me on their classroom culture and thought process.  I decided to use it with the whole staff to start them thinking on what they wanted kids to think about them.  Of course, I showed off my 5 words first.  They were able to work collaboratively in their choice of table groups to think of words and be creative.  The room was buzzing and the conversations about kids and culture were flowing.

Then it was time for Active Shooter training.  Such a heavy topic.  I used the slides in the show linked above to move through the run, hide, fight protocol.  I also had some videos to show staff what it would look like.  You will find slides in there as well with Scenarios.  I posted these around the room and had random groups made with Flippity. The groups spent 5 minutes at each scenario discussing what they would do.  They had the opportunity to work in collaborative mixed groups of classified and certificated folks.  After the activity, we went over the scenarios again and shared any ah-has that the small groups had. 

I had the staff do a "fist to five" for how things were going so far.  I had mostly 3-4s.  I feel like that was a win!

I needed to have a fun activity at the end.  Active shooter is a heavy topic, and I needed energize, excited staff for the first day of school.  I had set up an amazing race around the school.  I used Flippity again to make 6 teams.  I had stations set up already around the school with tasks for them to do.  They had a blast.  The feedback has been amazing.  They feel excited for the new year!  They want students to come.  They had fun together.  It was great.

Today, the next day, I am still hearing about the positive energy, fun and how they loved everyone being there. 

Welcome fun continues!

 As part of our welcome staff meeting, all staff went around the school and wrote welcome messages in chalk for the students and parents.  It was so fun to see all the staff members collaborating and working together.  They were so creative too.

I love how it turned out!

Welcome to students

Being a new to the school, as the Principal, is hard.  Lots of new names and faces to learn.  Lots of new information to take in.  It has been super fun, but overwhelming at times.  I needed it to slow down.  I needed to focus on relationships and culture.  I needed to start with heart.

So, I stole!  Yes, my best ideas come from others.  I want to be @mandyellis when I grow up.  She has so many great ideas.  I stole "Popsicles with the Principal."  I hosted a play date at the school from 3-3:45pm for students and parents.  They arrived and got to meet some great kids, siblings and their parents.  It was neat to start putting names and faces together.  I was impressed that I had over 60 students come.  I just wish I had remembered to take pictures!

I also decided that a hand written note to all new students would be great.  I would be able to welcome them and their families.  I would be able to start building positive relationships with the families.  I also was able to start learning names of students too.  Over 80 cards later, I may have taken on more than I needed to.  But, I had a goal and did it.  They were mailed yesterday, 1 week before school starts.  I wanted to make sure they arrived in time.  I had them made on vistarprint and used our logo.  However, I stole a future post card from Amber Teamann (@8Amber8) and modified it.  Here is a link to my modified version that I will print on vistaprint soon.   I have also rewritten a message for next year so that in July I won't have to think as hard.

Lovin' this roller coaster ride...

Welcome gifts

Starting at a new school this year is overwhelming and exciting.  You get to change things because the staff doesn't know you any other way.  This year, my secretary is also new to the school as well.  I was not going to be there.  I wanted to make sure she felt welcomed and that we were excited to have her join the team.

I felt her a little gift bag with some goodies in it.  I went to target and got: water bottle is school colors, fun post its, pens, chocolate and more.

I love the note my new secretary texted me after getting this.


A little bit of kindness goes a long way!