Cooperation is NOT Collaboration, but it is a great start!

Winfield Middle Staff Blog

January Back to School

Jan 5, 2017

Word of the month from the top of our Student Planners :

“FAIRNESS”

My #SnowDaySelfie

Bragging about all our snow on Thursday, yet we go to school. Regardless, I sent this selfie to my family in Colorado on a ski trip.

Here is what I get back from them!  

I'm not too jealous!

Schedule for Jan 9th - 123th

Monday

• Harlem Wizard Plug in the Gym - Jan 9th at 1:30.  Primary and Intermediate joining us for the brief presentation in the gym.

Tuesday

• Culture/Climate mtg in Gracey’s Room at 7:15
• Club/Group Photos & Candid Photos - Jan 10th
• Possible Admin Mtg at CO at 8:30 am
• The MAKE-UP Middle School Band Concert at 7:00pm

Thursday

• Chess Club
• Valentine's Day Fundraiser Kick Off -
• Sales: 1/23 - 2/9

Friday

• 7th & 8th ELA Collaboration Day - Jan13th
• 6th ELA Collaboration Day - Jan 20th
• Some constructive chatter about days ongoing

Nice work KG!  

Upcoming/Ongoing

• Board of Education Meeting, - Pushed back to 24th
• Nominate Student of the month (Stokes, Guile, Crump)
• MLK Day IS NOW a makeup school day. We will see everyone on Monday
• Early Release till Jan 18th -
• Finger food for everybody even the Biggest Losers???
• Math Vertical Collaboration day with the High School - tbd

Committee Mtgs

• PBiS Tier 1 - Jan 17th
• Activities Committee - Jan 24th - Initial Discussion about the Six Flags Trip
• PBiS Tier 2 - Jan 31st

Early Release Feb 1st AND it’s also the date for our NAEP tests -

• All we provide is the location and students.
• NAEP will come and bring everything necessary.
• Additional details will follow.

The Megan Meier Foundation is Hosting the Feb 24th Workshop about bullying that those 25 students were invited to. Permission slips are due ASAP.  Please allow those students to come to the office to submit their permission slips.  

Notes:

1. www.thesmartsub.com is up and running.  As mentioned, we are the pilot school and during the transition, we may operate with redundant or duplicated systems doing the same thing.  We expect better tracking, convenience and ease of coverage after the complete change-over.  Feedback or comments are welcome.
2. Warrior Ways (WOWs) are already back in business.  Watching our wards continuously improve is one way we remember and encourage their continued growth.
3. Post Cards for 2nd semester are in the office.  
4. Observations - We are halfway through our school year.  I will resume observations, always looking for deeper questioning, rigor and student lead activities.  To observe a teacher's actions is only part of the equation.  The effect the teacher has on the students is another component of importance for learning and growth.
5. Unit of Instruction
1. This week during binder meetings, we discussed the Expanded Expectations for math that were published.  Our need to complete the 6 data cycles for submission. The units of Instruction adjustments from our existing U of I and I postponed another project till “later”
2. Revised Expanded Expectations from DESE in the math field are published and online.  Please add these to your Binder Team binders.
6. Over the break, I did hear about a clip about a school in Ohio with very similar demographics and struggles, along with their plan to address those concerns.
1. Look here for a brief Trailer or review and a complete investigation can be found here on the documentary.
2. Search Oyler School for even more.
3. Thanks BC.

Another Student Work Sample:

Goodbye 21

God has a way of saying Goodbye

He says it through those who fly

They soar Through the Sky Seeking those who Cry

He tried to Run

But at Twenty-One he drifted toward  the Sun

He had A Goliath Heart and a Brand New Start

She is a Sweetheart With a face like a piece of Art and oh so smart

He was her Dad Who Wore plaid it was So sad  

Who Knew that little Green car Could leave Such A Scar

Left, Head Spinning, She’s just Skimming All the Memories

So, Loving But no one to Love She’s left alone in Sorrow wishing there was no tomorrow

Jesse, He was a family Man he just wanted to love his Daughter, now he Never Can

No one could ever be as Happy as Gabby Until there was no more Daddy

Candius Is a Great Mom she knew to be calm and knew her daughter like the back of her palm

The bond between that little girl and her Dad was Amazing it’s like she Would praise him

And for that little Girl nothing could  phase him

Without her Dad there’s an Empty Space inside, that little Girl lost all Her Grace

She was so sad it was like I watched her Heart Slowly Crack down the Middle

Sad doesn’t even Start to Express her emotion Her tears as White as the waves of the Ocean.

It has been entered into The American Library of Poetry Winter Student Contest.  Wish her luck!

Thanks KS and EB.

Conclusion

Working among this team, developing our communication skills, talking openly with each other, demonstrating boldness to address questions and smiles in the face of ambiguity are all components of collaboration.  Not cooperation but collaboration.  Collaboration reminds me of equality and partners where the goal is to discuss to see WHAT is right and not just WHO is right.  Cooperation, although working together shares the task or duties but not through leadership or decision making process along the way.  My goal is for us to reach a status where we might collaborate even more fully and not just cooperate with each other.  Thanks to so many of you for stepping up, going above and beyond and working alongside others to reach a common goal.  Not just working for someone.

Collaborate - Work alongside someone sharing the duties, and responsibilities.

Cooperate- Work for someone with little input allowed or necessary.

Are we perfect yet?  No, but I see us progressing when we share, ask questions and provide feedback. Please continue to strengthen our bonds among the adults in the building.  Our students need to see us do this as well as benefit from the results.  KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!

Tom