lessons learned

Headlines - September 23, 2011

I came into work on Tuesday and found several notes stuffed into a handmade envelope in my mailbox. The envelope was from Teacher Dorothy’s class. It was carefully stapled together and included two notes and a drawing of 3 hearts. As I admired the art work, I began to read the note. “Dear Tr Den, Tr Dorothy broc her rols by sanding on the tabols. Icant blef thet she ded it . See yue latr”. It was signed by several students in the class.

I was reminded of last year when Teacher Dorothy and I were having some fun with the kids and I pretended to yell at her for standing on a table. I spoke in a low growl and Dorothy did a little cowering. Eventually, we made up and enjoyed a good laugh with the students. The kids all enjoyed watching Dorothy get in trouble and it must have made quite an impression. So, when Dorothy stepped on a table to hang something from the ceiling on Monday, they broke out the markers and began to writing their notes.

I think the first graders were hoping for a replay of last year. They were having lunch when I walked into the doorway and growled “Teacher Dorothy”. The class turned toward me and several students told me that she had indeed climbed on a table. Feigning disbelief, I asked for Dorothy for confirmation. As she admitted her deed, I could read Dorothy’s eyes and knew that she wanted to take advantage of a teachable moment. Instead of ‘yelling’, I asked her if she could tell me the school guideline that she chose not to follow. She answered “Be Safe”. I then told her that if she wasn’t safe and got hurt it would make us sad. I asked her to help me think of ways that she could be safe in that situation. Together we came up with strategies such as using a ladder, having a friend help, or asking tall Teacher Nick to do it. She decided to get help next time and I thanked the kids for telling me when people were not being safe. This turned into a wonderful moment for the class, as they got to see that even adults can make mistakes and that it is OK to let people know when someone is acting in an unsafe manner. I did miss yelling at Dorothy, though.

Announcements

Potluck Supper –The All-School Potluck is scheduled for next Friday, September 30th from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. This is a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together in a relaxed and informal manner. We hope you will join us to make new friends. We expect a record turnout!

· Please RSVP no later than Wednesday.

· Bring a dish to share keeping in mind we may have 200+ in attendance. So, bring plenty! (Label your belongings)

· Seating will be tight – consider a picnic style meal (blankets/lawn chairs) with your family.

· Bring your own dishes and place settings – cups too!

· In order to make the event run as smoothly as possible, we need families to help with set-up and clean-up. Indicate your willingness to do so when you RSVP. (4:30 set up; clean-up until approximately 8:30)

We look forward to seeing you there.

Forest Fest – On Sunday, September 25^th from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm the PSU School of Forest Resources will host the PA Forest Festival at the Arboretum at Penn State. This is the International Year of the Forest and many university, business, and community groups will be on hand to participate in the festivities. The day will feature activities, food, music (Pure Cane Sugar @12noon) exhibits and maybe even some dancing trees.

Parent Coffee- Please join me on the morning of Thursday October 6 for an informal parent coffee. Coffees are ways for parents to find out about our school and its programs. This month’s topic will be the school’s approach to classroom management. Parents will learn how teachers incorporate Quaker practices and the Responsive Classroom approach to create the unique environment of Friends School. Parents will then have the opportunity to observe the techniques in action in the classroom. Coffee and refreshments are served in the Library beginning at 8:15.

Volunteers – I hope you all received Mary’s email this week seeking potential substitutes for our classrooms. I am also still looking for a few parents to help chaperone recess periodically. Please consider us if you have the time.

Please have a wonderful weekend.

In peace,

Dan

HEADLINES………………………………………………………….September 16, 2011

(Dan’s just departed to get a head start on an out-of-town weekend. He asked if I’d be your substitute ‘Headlines’ writer for this week.)

“Teacher Mary, we found the snake.”

I was standing in the school’s main hallway on Thursday afternoon when a small group of middle school students approached me with that announcement. It’s one of those deceptively simple declarations that raises alarm and calms your fears all at the same time. It brought back memories of phone calls from my son that began with, “Everything’s OK, Mom. No one was hurt” or “Hi, Mom. The good thing is that nobody’s in jail”. In this case, too, no one was hurt and I was deeply pleased that the snake had been found and settled back into its cage (or’ jail’, I suppose, from the perspective of the snake.)

The snake in question was Spot, the ball python who lives in Teacher Bailey’s middle school science classroom. He’s not of the poisonous variety and Teacher Bailey assures me that he’s ‘friendly’, although I’ve never really put him to the test. (How can you truly determine that, after all? He can’t shake hands, give hugs, or provide me with an encouraging pat on the back. And I have never seen him smile.) In any event, on Wednesday, one of our middle school students was engaging in an unrequited embrace with Spot and didn’t latch his cage completely when she returned him to it. Spot saw his opportunity sometime that evening and he made a break for it. When his absence was discovered on Thursday morning, the middle school students formed a search party, but their sincere efforts failed to turn up any sign of Spot. Soon , Teacher Bailey appeared at my door, looking slightly abashed and asked if she could sit down. (The middle school science classroom has been the setting for some of my best Friends School stories, often the kind that make you think, “This will be funny someday.” When Teacher Bailey appears in my office with that look on her face and asks to sit down, my body goes into its ‘fight or flight’ response. I pretend to be listening serenely, but I am braced and poised to flee.) Teacher Bailey told me that Spot was missing, despite everyone’s best efforts to find him. She assured me that he wasn’t poisonous and she reminded me once again of his friendly nature. Then she also reminded me that Back to School Night was scheduled for that very evening and asked how I felt about having a hundred parents in the building with a snake at large.

Before we really had to confront the ethical dilemma of hosting a large event with an escaped serpent slithering around the building, Tinka Berger, parent volunteer extraordinaire (and snake charmer), found Spot. He was on a high shelf above the turtle cage in a shoebox full of rocks. I’m told he was smiling. And no one was hurt.

Announcements & Reminders

** Please plan to join us for our all-school potluck dinner on Friday, September 30 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in our Community Room.

**We had a great Back to School Night last night. Thanks to all of you who turned out to join us. We hope you enjoyed the evening and found it informative, helpful, and non-reptilian.

** We’ve had our first case of strep this week in one of the K/1 classrooms. This is the season for coughs, colds, and sniffles, but you might want to be a little extra vigilant right now.

I hope you all enjoy a lovely fall weekend.

Best,

Mary