Friday, December 21, 2012

Happy Holidays!

Bacon Bears, 

 You Matter! 


From all of us at RM Bacon Elementary School, enjoy the holidays and Happy New Year! School is back in session on Wednesday, January 2, 2013.






Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Talent Show

Looking for something to do on Wednesday night? You are invited to the 2012 Talent Show. Doors open at 6:15 PM.






Also, Parents are invited to a Parents Only meeting at 5:30 PM to discuss safety and security of RM Bacon School. We hope you can join us.

Impossible is Nothing 

Sunday, December 16, 2012

December 17 - 21

Bacon Bears,

You Matter! 

This is a difficult post. As a Principal, I have many responsibilities, and with the recent events that happened in Sandy Hook Elementary I am struggling with words to describe how I feel. Honestly, I have not watched the news stories about the tragedy. All of the information, and this is purposeful, has been through what I have read through trusted sources. I have taken the weekend to reflect on the preciousness of life, the importance of being a father and husband, and role teachers play in our society. I also have thought a lot about why we must continue to move on, be brave and committed to our kids! 

On Monday morning our staff will begin the healing process with a brief meeting to process the events of Friday, discuss our game plan in working with the children, and to look at the safety of our school. We certainly can not accomplish everything in 20 minutes. This will be a lengthy process that will require not only the staff, but eventually the students, parents and community members of Millville. 

On Wednesday evening  prior to the Talent Show, I will be coordinating a meeting with any parents who would like to discuss the events of Sandy Hook Elementary at 5:30 PM in Room 2. The purpose of this meeting will be to discuss safety concerns at RM Bacon, and we can move forward as parents and educators. 

There will be some immediate changes to RM Bacon Elementary that will be designed to promote safety and security. We will be sending a letter home with all students on Monday that will outline these changes. In that letter we will also highlight the series of meetings set up for January so that we will all feel safer in wake of these tragic events. 

I hope you can attend our meeting on Wednesday at 5:30 pm before the Talent Show. Your attendance will be welcomed! 

In the meantime, we will continue our pursuit of the impossible as we educate our world class students! 


Weekly Overview:
Monday, Dec. 17th  (C Day) Staff Meeting at 8:30 am, Wellness Meeting at 11:00, TREK Meeting at 1:00pm
Tuesday, Dec. 18th (D Day)  Staff Holiday Dinner at 5:00 pm
Wednesday, Dec. 19th (E Day) Parent Discussion Session About Sandy Hook Tragedy, 5:30 pm, Talent Show 6:30 pm
Thursday, Dec.20th (A Day) No Staff Meeting, Progress Reports Printed, Talent Show 
Friday, Dec. 21st (B Day) Pajama Day, Progress Reports distributed, Sing-a-long in gym,  Polar Express Movie with Hot Choc. & Popcorn, 1:45 pm Dismissal

Impossible is Nothing! 

Friday, December 7, 2012

December 10 -14

Bacon Bears, 


You Matter! 
You Matter! 

This week students in grades 3 - 5 spent time preparing for next week's Winter Concert. Our Chorus and Band students improved each day, and we are all looking forward to Tuesday, December 11, 2012 @ 7:00 PM when they show off! 

Throughout the course of the week, our Bacon Bears continued to work on the important aspects of their learning. As I walked through the building, I heard high levels of questioning, students applying their learning, and lots of technology! Each day we take a step closer to being a world class 21st century school!

So, as we prepare for this upcoming week ask yourself these questions:
- Am I giving 110%?
- Am I being safe, responsible, and respectful?
- Will I improve from where I was last week? 

I am sure I have highlighted our building in previous posts, and I hate to brag, but we have an awesome school. Want to see why? Here are some pictures I took of the building this week. 


Our entrance is beginning to look a lot like... Holiday Break?


This is in 1st grade! 


A new football field? Or an instructional tool? 


Coats for Kids winners! 


Some Chorus students preparing for the Winter Concert 

Teachers.... Want to know more about Edublogs? Check this out


Weekly Overview:
Monday - Mobile Dentist, Library 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM; BAND Practice 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM - 3:40 PM 
Tuesday - CHORUS Practice 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM - 3:40 PM; Winter Concert, 7:00 PM; I and RS Meeting 12:30 PM; Administrative Meeting 1:00 PM at Culver Center (Dr. Cook)
Wednesday - RAC training (Dr. Cook) all day
Thursday
Friday - Tech Friday, 8:20 AM room 2; PBIS Meeting 1:00 PM

Remember.... Impossible is Nothing! 

Saturday, December 1, 2012

December 3 - 7

Bacon Bears,

You Matter!

Breaking News
The Regional Achievement Center (RAC) visited RM Bacon on Thursday, November 29. I am pleased to report that they absolutely loved our school. Here are a few of the reasons:

Innovation
- Unlike any of the other schools they visited, RM Bacon has a defined social media presence that seeks parent, student, and teacher collaboration and communication
- Our Climate and Culture- RM Bacon has embarked on a few new initiatives this year to engage parents and community members through Bacon University, Mural Projects, and Home and School events
- Video Projects - RM Bacon was selected to participate in 2 video projects to assist other teachers with improving classroom instruction (EnVisions Math and ASCD)

Classroom Instruction
- Unlike other schools they visited, RM Bacon has a more student driven classroom environment
- Learning Centers are clearly defined, and added to the student-centered classrooms
- Students were on task and were able to articulate objectives
- Basic Skills Intervention uses student data to inform instruction
- Teachers displayed  great questioning techniques, appropriate use of the SMART Boards, and high level     Blooms questioning

I am so proud of our Bacon Family! But, I will offer a word of caution- We still have a LOT of WORK to do! Students and teachers will need to continually challenge themselves to make sure that we prove to the world in May that Impossible Is Nothing! We need to improve our NJASK scores! We will do it, together!!!!

This Week 
We have a few changes to our regular schedule this week. We are calling this week "Chorus Week." Mrs. Simpson, in an effort to minimize classroom disruptions, has been working with the students in the classroom on the Winter Concert musical pieces. This week she will have double practices each day (9:20 AM - 10:00 AM, and again at 3:00 - dismissal). Next Tuesday (December 11) is the Winter Concert. Make sure to mark your calenders. 

After several reschedules, the Fire Company will be visiting RM Bacon on Tuesday to make sure all the students get an opportunity to tour the Fire House. On Friday, the Nurse will be taking selected students to the Motor Park for the Annual Coats for Kids.

Video of the Week:
Mr. Hudson's kids kicked out the 19th Century School desks, and recreated their learning environment to model 21st Century learning. Here is the video they made about the change:





Weekly Overview
Monday - Chorus Practice (9:20 AM - 10:00 AM; 3:00 PM - Dismissal) 
Tuesday - Fire Company visits; Chorus Practice (9:20 AM - 10:00 AM; 3:00 PM - Dismissal) 
Wednesday Chorus Practice (9:20 AM - 10:00 AM; 3:00 PM - Dismissal) 
Thursday - Staff Meeting, 8:00 AM; Chorus Practice (9:20 AM - 10:00 AM; 3:00 PM - Dismissal) 
Friday Chorus Practice (9:20 AM - 10:00 AM; 3:00 PM - Dismissal) Coats for Kids

Impossible is Nothing!