February 13 - 17, 2017

Bears,

It was another week of learning and engagement at Bacon.  This year, our staff has focused on incorporating aspects of Growth Mindset into their instruction and interactions with the students.  Growth Mindset isn't anything new to education, and it isn't a magical solution that will "fix" all the things that could be going better.  It is, however, a valuable approach to help students face challenges and overcome obstacles.  When correctly and thoughtfully applied, great things can happen within our learners.

Simply put, our mindset is the mental attitude we have when we approach work, life, relationships, our jobs...anything.  Everything we ever interact with is filtered through our mindset.  To have a Growth Mindset is to accept challenges as they come, view mistakes as opportunities to get better, and understand that skills and talent can improve and get better with focused effort and practice.  The idea seems basic enough, but it's something that we in education can't lose sight of as we engage with our learners.  The challenge is to help our students first see themselves as individuals who are capable of doing the work, then we help them see the work as something they can do.    So, instead of seeing an obstacle as insurmountable (either directly as,"This problem is too hard," or indirectly as, "I'm not very good at this."), people with a Growth Mindset understand they have the capacity to learn the skill needed to overcome the challenge.  This has been something we at Bacon have been doing - getting our learners to see themselves differently, and then getting them to see challenges differently.  It's a process we must practice and be deliberate about, but the results are worth the effort.
 

Images taken from https://www.tes.com/lessons/T0pETDb57d_LfA/intro-to-growth-mindset-6th-grade-2-lessons and https://www.mindsetworks.com/science/


Weekly Recap

And speaking of Growth Mindset, this week, some of our staff members designed activities and projects that incorporated problem solving and team work around a Growth Mindset framework.  The students enjoyed the challenges, and the teachers involved noted the sense of accomplishment and excitement the students had as they tried to solve the problems.  Check out the pictures below.

Our PBIS Tier 2 committee met last week, and they discussed specific ways in which we can help some of our learners stay on task and be successful in their academics and in their decision making. Great job to the committee, and thanks for your hard work.

Our Kindergarten classes continued their swim program.  Over the weekend, one of our staff members ran into a few of the Holly City Family Center instructors, and they couldn't say enough good things about how well behaved our Bacon Bears were during the lessons.  Awesome job to those Bears and Kindergarten teachers and aides who work with them everyday, and a big thanks to the HCFC instructors who passed along those kind words.  We appreciate it.


Announcements
See below for the weekly overview, but we also want to draw your attention to a few upcoming events.

The HSA Family Pizza Bingo Night will be held on 2/22 from 6-8 pm in the Bacon gym.  See the flyer below for more information.  This is always a great night, and we look forward to seeing you.

Also on 2/22, the Parents as Leaders Cooperative will be hosting the Traveling Science Show at Lakeside Middle School from 7-9 pm.  The fine folks from the Franklin Institute always do a great job, and this event is open to all Bacon families and students (students must be accompanied by an adult).  See the flyer below for more details.  If you wanted to have a full night out, there is time to do both the pizza bingo AND the science show.  

    

Finally, Read Across America week is coming up.  Beginning on 2/27, Bacon school will be doing a number of fun activities to promote reading.  Also, parents and students are welcome to join us on Wednesday, March 1st, for our Family Night.  See the flyer below.  We have a lot planned for that night, and we'd love for you to join us.

That's it for now . Everyone have an amazing week of teaching, learning, growing, engaging with students, and being the best Bacon Bears you can possible be.  Remember - Together, we can.  Together, we will.

Pictures from around the School

Cooking with Candy goes mobile.  Here we see Mrs. Pedrick's students enjoying some creative and healthy treats.

Mrs. Rohaly's class having a great time.

Cooking with Candy - behind the scenes

Students tackling a Growth Mindset project

Teamwork

Students enjoying a challenge

Thinking deep thoughts...

Mrs. Rohaly being honored as Bacon's Teacher of the Year

Mrs. Gandy receiving her Educational Support Person of the Year award

A Bacon tradition

Our new foyer decor.  Thanks to Mrs. Gandy, Mrs. Lore, Mr. Lokey, and everyone else who helped.  Keep growing, everyone!

Birthday Selfies!

Weekly overview

Monday (2/13): E day - Lesson plans due, dental assembly (9:30 am in the gym),  4th grade PLC (10:44 - 11:24)

Tuesday (2/14): A day - Wear pink or red for Valentine's Day, Sunshine Club meeting, floor hockey (8 am in the gym, team 2 vs team 4), 1st grade PLC (12:08 - 12:48), 3rd grade PLC (2:14 - 2:54)

Wednesday (2/15): B day - Dare to be Fit (8 am in the gym), Workout Wednesday

Thursday (2/16): C day - Staff meeting (8 am in the library), floor hockey (8 am in the gym), Kindergarten Swim, I&RS meeting (9:30 am), Jump Rope for Heart (10 am in the gym)

Friday (2/17): No school for students - teacher in-service day

**Looking ahead**

2/20 - NO SCHOOL - PRESIDENT'S DAY

2/22 - Pizza Bingo (6 pm in the Bacon gym)

2/22 - Traveling Science Show (7 pm at Lakeside Middle School) 

2/27 - Read Across America Week begins