September 19 - 23, 2016

Principal's Post

Awesome (adj): extremely impressive, inspiring great admiration, extremely good, excellent.

At the heart and core of who we are and what we do as a school are beliefs that everyone can be awesome, everyone is awesome, and everyone can do awesome things and make awesome choices.  Regardless of where we come from and what we look like, we all have awesomeness inside us.  So, let it out!  Choose to be awesome.  Like the sign above (which is hanging in our upstairs hallway) says, "Just be awesome."

That being said,  I believe I work in an awesome school full of awesome people, and we just had an awesome week.  We successfully concluded our first full Monday - Friday.  Learning is in full swing. School pride is swelling.  And to top it off, we just had an awesome event - our first Bacon Community Night.  I'd like to thank each and every student, staff member, parent, business, law enforcement and fire department officer, community member, and community leader who took time to join us.   It was a great night full of games, activities, eats and treats, friendship, fun, and family.  We are tentatively planning on having another one in the spring.  Will you join us?

Plans are well underway for our Halloween Frolic, which will take place sometime in late October.  Details coming soon.

Please join us for our Back to School Night on Tuesday, September 20th at 7 p.m.  Bacon's HSA, the Millville Explorers, and Bruce Cooper and other members of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity will be on hand.  Last year, the fraternity adopted Bacon school, and we are continuing the partnership this year.  We look forward to seeing you and "clapping you in" at Back to School night.

Be great.  Have an awesome week.
Mike
Together, we can.  Together, we will.  

PBIS News with Ms. Berry

We have had a great start to the school year here at RM Bacon School.  Our returning students picked right back up where they left being safe, responsible, and respectful.  They are also helping the new students learn what it means to be a Bacon Bear. This year we have a lot of ideas for our Bear Bucks Store and other events.  Here at RM Bacon School we prove that it's fun to be Safe, Responsible, and Respectful.

(Ms. Berry gave the school rules posters an overhaul.  We'll be showing those off next week.  They look great!)

Coming soon - the return of Coach's Corner

Scenes from Community Night

Pictures from around the School

Hanging out during dismissal

Bacon Pride

A scene from our butterfly garden

Checking out a chrysalis  

Checking out a chrysalis

Having an awesome day! He got a Bear Bucks and a Paws Up!

Birthday Selfies!

When you can't find Mr. Coyle for the birthday selfie...

...but they managed to get it later

Weekly overview (be sure to check the official school calendar) 

Monday: D day - The start of a great week at Bacon, lesson plans due 

Tuesday: E day - Gradebook setup, Back to School Night - 7 p.m.

Wednesday: A day - Workout Wednesday

Thursday: B day - An awesome day

Friday: C day - Wear Bacon gear

September 12 - 16, 2016

Bears,

If you blinked, you missed it.  After a summer of planning and preparation, the first week of school (albeit a short one) came and went like a flash.  I hope everyone was able to stop and live in the moment, and I hope everyone soaked in the sea of smiling faces that flooded our halls - the smiles of our little bears as they returned for another year of learning, bonding, and fun.  They are why we do what we do.  They are our WHY.  May every single thing we do create a moment and experience worthy of the Bears that call Bacon home.  

In short, it was a busy but great week.  While it's true that busyness can't be avoided (and sometimes we are more busy than we'd care to be), the challenge is and always has been to find joy in life as it unfolds.  There is greatness to be found in each moment, each day, each week, each month...you get the idea.  In the midst of celebrating each day and finding the greatness in it, I challenge each of us to be great.  Sometimes, it's a work in progress, but it begins with a decision.  Today, let us choose to be great - for ourselves, our families, our friends, and for our students.

Last week in review 

We officially kicked off on Tuesday with our staff meeting.  Topics were covered, stories shared, and planning was done.  We also rolled out our slogan for the 2016-2017 school year: Together, we can.  Together, we will.  This is our underlying philosophy in everything we do this year.  Together, as a staff, we can increase student achievement and make a positive difference in their lives.  Together, with parents, we can equip our Bears for success in school and beyond.  Together, with the community, we can empower our students to be future leaders who will go on to do great things.

The students returned on Wednesday, and we all were ready.  It was wonderful seeing and hearing them reconnect with former teachers and form bonds with their new teachers. An exciting and productive year of learning is officially underway!  The parents were all smiles, too, as they brought their Bears to Bacon.  It was a great week - the first of many.

Pictures from around the school

Learning our school rules through an interactive game in Mrs. Gandy's class

Playing a game and learning about positive behavior in Mrs. Gandy's class

Friday's "Welcome Back" assembly.  The Bears were great!

Mr. Cooper bringing it!  He talked to our bears about good choices and being positive.  His fraternity adopted our school last year, and we are continuing the partnership this year. 

Showing off some art in Mrs. Taylor's class

All smiles for the first week

1st grade selfie (with some mean sun glare)

Safety Patrol keeping me safe

Mrs. Fryling's husband came in to talk to the Bears about his career in the military.  Thank you for your service and for spending some time with the students.

Being skeptical in Mrs. Lunemann's class

Reconnecting with all sorts of friends

He tried to stump me.  From the look on my face, I think he did. 

Birthday selfies - from the summer and the week

Next week

Please join us for these events:

On Tuesday, September 13th, we will host a Community Night from 5-7.  This is a free event (food will be available for sale).  All who live in the area are welcome to come celebrate the beginning of the school year with us.  There will be games, activities, and displays for the whole family to enjoy.  We hope to see you.

And Tuesday, September 20th, is our Back To School night.  All parents are encouraged to join us for our open house.  We look forward to seeing you!

Weekly overview (be sure to check the official school calendar) 

Monday: D day - The start of a great week at Bacon

Tuesday: E day - Community Night from 5-7 p.m.  

Wednesday: A day 

Thursday: B day

Friday: C day - Wear Bacon gear

  

Summer Wrap Up and September Preview

Bears,

Are you ready?  It's time to get excited.  It's time to get your game face (or school face) on.  It's time to make a difference.  It's time to be the awesome educators you already are. 

It's always been my belief that, if you work in a school, you are an educator.  Regardless of your specific duties, if you work with kids or around kids, you're a leader - period.  And as author and speaker John Maxwell puts it, leadership is all about influence.  Are you ready to be a positive influence on the kids entrusted to our care?  Are you ready to mold, shape, guide, engage, equip, and empower the little Bears who call R.M. Bacon their educational home?  They are counting on you and me to be the best you and me possible - every day, every week, all year.  So, are you ready?  Are we ready?

August Wrap Up

August was a busy month in the bear cave.  Teachers were in-and-out setting up their rooms.  Our custodial staff worked hard to get the building and classrooms ready for another year.  Everything looks great - all we need are the students.   

Earlier in the month, some members of our PBIS (Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports) team attended a Tier 2 workshop hosted by the Drexel team.  It was two great days of learning how to help students through positive redirection and reinforcement.  We were trained on various strategies to help promote academic and behavioral success for our students.  

Later in the month, we had voluntary meetings for our PBIS and ScIP (school improvement panel) teams.  During those sessions, we hashed out as a group such topics as how we will meet our school goals and how the recently revamped PBIS program (with Tier 2 training) will be used to make our school even better.  Ideas were shared, questions were posed, and we even left with a few new questions that don't yet have answers.  That's ok - it just means we let those areas of uncertainty guide us into better decision making and clearer goal-setting.  The "not sure yet" elements of today will be motivation for continuous school improvement.  Thanks to all the staff who came out to these important times of planning.     

Tier 2 training

Summer meetings are the best!!

September Preview

It's hard to believe the school year is upon us.  Although September usually gives us a few warm weeks (and hot ones, according the forecast for the upcoming week), we'll soon be putting away the summer gear, taking out the sweatshirts, and celebrating all things pumpkin and autumn.  I like the transition from summer to fall - I always have.  As a new principal, it's even more exciting.  I'm looking forward to seeing what this year has in store for all of us, and it's an honor to serve the school in this position. 

Here's a glance at the month ahead:

9/6 - First day for staff.  We will meet in the library/media center at 9:00.  Bagels, coffee, and water will be provided.  Also, for those who wish to remain during the lunch hour (11:30-12:30), lunch will be prepared by our fantastic cafeteria staff and sponsored by the HSA. 

9/7 - First day for students.  Game on!

9/13 - Bacon Community Night.  This is a free event to all who live in the Bacon area.  Students, staff, parents, and community members will have an opportunity to play games together (kickball, basketball, football, etc.).  We are also working on some other fun things for the families and community members to enjoy.  Some local businesses have also agreed participate or help in some way.  You don't have to have a child who attends Bacon to participate.   The event will run from 5-7 p.m., and $1 hotdog and water combos will be available for sale.  Come ring in the new school year with us!  Click here to see the flyer. 

9/20 - Back-to-School Night.  Parents, please join us at 7 p.m. for our annual BTS night.  We look forward to seeing you. 

It is going to be a great year.  Together, we can make a difference.  Together, we will. 

See you very soon,

Mike

Weekly overview (be sure to check the official school calendar) 

Monday: Labor Day 

Tuesday: First day for staff.  Opening meeting begins at 9 in the library.

Wednesday: A day - First day for students! 

Thursday: B day - Yet another great day at Bacon.  We are just getting started!

Friday: C day - Wear Bacon gear

July Wrap Up

Summer Greetings, Bacon Bears!

I hope everyone is having a fantastic summer so far.  It certainly has been a hot one - hopefully, you've all found a way to avoid over-heating.  The good news - you still have about a month to soak in as much freedom and excitement as you can.  Get out there (or stay in - always a good option) and enjoy it.

Much of the planning and prep work for the opening of school is well underway.  Letters are typed, packets are made, and opening day/opening week presentations are being outlined.  The schedule is being reviewed, purchase orders will be rolling in, and the pivot and march to being school-ready has begun.          

Building Update

The building will be "teacher ready" by 8/11.  At that time, you'll be able to come in and prep your rooms.  Our fantastic maintenance and custodial team will be finishing the main floor this week and knocking out the rest of the bottom floor sometime next week. In the final weeks of August, the team will work hard to ensure our building is "student ready" (putting the finishing touches on cleaning, organizing, hanging bulletin boards, etc.)  In the mean time, check out some pics from around Bacon.

Working hard - thank you!

I'll be updating you again probably around mid-August.  Until then, be safe, enjoy your break, and I look forward to seeing you in around a month (some of you sooner).

Mike

Upcoming Events/Important Dates

8/9 & 8/10 - PBIS Tier Two Training at Silver Run -- 8:30 am - 1:30 pm both days 
8/25 - Kindergartner Orientation -- 10:00 am - 11:00 am

9/6 - First day for staff

9/7 - First day for students

9/20 - Back to School Night -- 7:00 pm