Updates - 25 March 2016

Hello everyone,

I'm not going to be in the office on Friday.  As some of you know, I tweaked my back while riding my bike over the Break and I've been dealing with some rather acute pain, despite a recent visit to the chiro, for nearly a week now.

I was able to get into the Vera Clinic to see Dr. Frank on a cancellation for Friday morning and I've decided to take the balance of the day off, too, hoping that he will give me some great muscle relaxants to treat whatever it is that I've done to myself.

I'll look forward to seeing you all on Monday morning feeling much better.

Bathrooms
I'm grateful to the faculty and staff in the long hall for continuing to be vigilant in making sure all students sign out when they're bound for the restrooms during classtime.  Our graffiti has been reduced to near-zero of late.  That's a really good thing.

Thanks!

Fit Kids
Josh Robison has resigned.  This Friday will be his last day.  We have had his position submitted for posting since shortly after receiving his two-weeks notice.  I have asked HR to post a sub job for Fit Kids, but we'll have to wait and see if anyone shows up.  Please be prepared, for the next little while, for this class to be on some days and off others with little notice.

We're working as hard as we're able to get it rehired.

Dodgeball
Don't forget to sign up your best teacher-team, or to solicit your favorite local business to make up a team of their own for Dodgeball on 15 May.  It's our funnest and bestest fundraiser of the year.  And, in the absence of Epiphany's RAK donation, it's now our most importantest fundraiser, too.

Sign ups and all the official paperwork are available at marshalldodgeball.com.

Agendas
Speaking of funds, we spend a ton of money every year on agendas and planners.  We have historically purchased them for nearly every child at Marshall.  This year, they seem to have been used less than ever before, and we're left with quite an inventory of expensive-but-unused agendas.

My question is:  Do you really want expensive agendas/planners for your students?  If so, please let us in the front office know and we'll find a way to purchase them for you.  If you don't want them, we'll let your silence imply your intent, and we'll spend that hard-earned money on something more meaningful instead.

Calendar
Week A
  • Monday 28 Mar.
    • Kinder Suzuki at FHS Hurley Aud. 5:30
  • Tuesday 29 Mar.
    • Payday!
    • 10% Tuesday at Fratelli, all day
    • First gr. Suzuki at FHS Hurley Aud. 5:30
  • Wednesday 30 Mar.
    • Coe at NSTA Conference, all day
    • Second gr. Suzuki at FHS Hurley Aud. 5:30
  • Thursday 31 Mar. 
    • Coe at NSTA Conference, all day
  • Friday 01 Apr.
    • Coe at NSTA Conference, all day
    • Water conservation assembly in the Gym, 9:15
    • There will be no Blue Note on Friday 01 April.

Looking ahead:
Week B
  • Monday 04 Apr.
    • Coe at Admin meeting, 1:00
  • Tuesday 05 Apr.
    • Parenting AZ Kin Konnections in the gym, 6:30


Please acknowledge that you read this post.



Updates -- 11 March 2016

Hello everyone,

Nine days. No shoes!

Have a great Spring Break!

Calendar
  • 14-18 March 
    • SPRING BREAK - No School
  • 21-25 March
  • Week B
    • Wednesday 23 Mar
      • Co-teaching 301 with NAU Praxis supervisor Judith LeFevre in the Lab, 3:30-5:30
      • PTO Family Fitness Night, 5:30-7:00
    • Thursday 24 Mar
      • Coe at Science ITQ PD, all day
    • Friday 25 Mar
      • Fire drill, ~9:30




Updates -- 04 March 2016

Hello everyone,

Welcome to Blue Note #260.  

Way-Points
Two-hundred-sixty is a lot of Blue Notes and a whole lot more words.  Not exactly a real milestone, but perhaps we can consider it a kind of statistical way-point on this journey in public education we're all taking together.  

It's officially March 2016 this week, the end of the third grading-period and the beginning of the fourth, which means we're now in the real, live finishing stretch of our school year.  You'll not be too surprised to learn, at this point in the year I've already begun to formulate rudimentary plans for the coming school year, and I will hope to be able to share them with you all sometime soon. However, there are still a couple things that need to "firm up" before anything's finalized.  

First of all, we'll need to accomplish class-placements mid-April, like we always do.  
And a few of you, some of whom have have already come to me to express your regrets when it comes to your plans to not work with us for another year, will need to make your final decisions final and get letters of resignation/retirement to me just as soon as your able.  

Early Release Lunch Schedules
Next week Thursday and Friday, 10-11 March, lunches will run on our regular Friday lunch schedule.


On Wednesday, 09 March, we will release students at 11:10 and our sack lunch schedule that day will be as follows:
  • 9:35-9:55 -- K-1 eat lunch 
  • 9:55-10:15 -- K-1 on playground 
  • 10:00-10:20 -- 2-3 eat lunch 
  • 10:20-10:40 -- 2-3 on playground 
  • 10:25-10:45 -- 4-5 eat lunch 
  • 10:45-11:05 -- 4-5 on playground

Bathrooms

Thanks for your ongoing compliance in ensuring that your students sign-out when they're bound for the restrooms in the big hallway.  There was no graffiti yesterday or today.  That's good!   

As the subject of much of it, I was beginning to develop a bit of a complex...

FEA Business
Your Flagstaff Education Association area representative at Marshall, Mr. Bergs, would like you to know:  "The presidential preference elections (primary elections) are March 22nd in Arizona, be sure to vote for the candidate you want to see run for president!  

A special election will also be taking place in Arizona on May 17th this year.  Among the issues on the ballot will be Proposition 123 which has been proposed as a settlement of the long-standing lawsuit to reinstate school inflation funding.  In the coming weeks before the election, I will be holding a meeting after school hours to discuss this proposition and how interested individuals can help get funding back into our classrooms.  FEA has provided fact sheets about this ballot question. They are available in the workroom."

Calendar
Week A
  • Monday 07 Mar
    • FUSD STEM Night at Skydome, 5:00-7:30
      • Wear your Marshall T-shirt!
  • Tuesday 08 Mar
    • Site Council POSTPONED to 12 April
  • Wednesday 09 Mar
    • Early release, 11:10
    • Parent Teacher Conferences
    • Book Fair
  • Thursday 10 Mar
    • Early release, 12:25
    • Book Fair Family Night 6:00-8:00
  • Friday 11 Mar
    • Book Fair
    • Early release 12:25 
      • You may feel free to begin your Break whenever your work is done :)
Looking ahead
  • 14-18 March
    • SPRING BREAK - No school
  • 23 March
    • PTO Family Fitness Night, 5:30-7:00
And Now
Another statistical way-point or two: Since the first post in July of 2011, the Blue Note has been "viewed" almost 75,000 times and has been "acknowledged" exactly 7343 times by Marshall staff members.  

Wow!

Make your acknowledgement number 7344 today.