Monday Memo Musings

  Come on Spring... we need you to show up early this year.  We welcome Crystal back after the passing of her ex husband, and great friend, Stewart McAteer. Her message to us all is to make sure your documents and wills are in order. Check the beneficiaries. Every five years those documents need to be revisited. It can be catastrophic for your family, if those things are not in order. I'm making our appoinment with the lawyer today. Thanks for the information Crystal, we learn things through adversity.  Staffing We are all in this week. Yeah!! I can't recall when that happened last! Feels so good. You are missed when you are not here.  There are 19 school days until we have our school's Spring break. Other schools down south are starting their Spring breaks this week and next week. Ours begins April 14th.  We are very thankful to Mike for the break he built into our calendar last week. We are refreshed and ready to give our all the next four weeks.  Anne's ...

  Happy Monday, February 14th to you.  She's ( Miss Febraury) behaving the way we thought she would. Next week I'll add another F word to our title. Let's see which one I pick.  This is a three day week of teaching. Then teachers have their virtual convention. Hoping this is the last year of virtual convention. Bonnie and Eva have these days off as do support staff. Secretaries take these days off and work two days in the summer months collecting mail, paying bills and organizing. Enjoy the mini break everyone, you deserve a lovely little vacay.  Staffing Crystal is out. She is tending to family. Prayers needed here.  Amanda is most likely out. Hoping she gets well soon.  What is Happening  Diplomas in April are sure to happen. So let's get the sittings in. Look over your students and predict who should be writing. Diplomas are worth 10%. Getting these kids through is a priorty. Next year values will return to 30%. If then can, they should write this y...

  Febraury is going to be a fidgety, funky month. Fidgety means restless, edgy, uneasy. Funky means unconventional, hip, supercool.  Why would I say that:  Staffing- people are sick and that requires them to stay home, leaving us managing. Which we knew, but Febraury is where it is going to hit and already has in High Level.  Families- some families are having a hrad time right now and we can see it reflected in their kids. Some are leaving the kids in their rooms all day to do whatever..... as long as they are quiet. Weather- should it rain should it snow, should I wear my parka or my sweater. What weather warning can we have next? It's wonky and funky.   We have teacher's convention, zoom in from anywhere you wish. Then family day off, but do you plan to go anywhere because of the weather????  Let's add Valentines Day or Galentine's day or Guyentine's day because you don't have to be in a relationship to enjoy Valentine's Day anymore. Treat yourself ...

ADHD in teens.  I am super sensitive to rejection I forget tons of important things Tiny tasks seem insurmountable People say I forget because I don't care- but I do care I lose important things I constantly regret things I have said or done. I speak or act without thinking and involuntarily upset people I often imagine clues that people dont like me I start tons of projects and don't finish any of them I have tons of anxiety and trouble sleeping This is how an ADHD brain works. You can see that it would be very frustarting to be ADHD. Outreach is designed to take away many of the triggers for ADHD, but not all of them. This is a good to know piece, building relationship solves many of these problems that come with ADHD. You are their reminder, you are their constant, you take nothing personally, you don't judge, you chunk tasks in tiny pieces. You work with ADHD teens and you know it has to look different for them.  Staffing We welcome Bonnie and Leah back. Your health is ...

  My new phrase is, Batch it!  I have downloaded a new app entitled, Blinkist. It summarizes  a book into about 8 minutes. It gives me a chance to decide whether I'd like to read that book or not. Sapiens is one book summary I listened to.  That is a book I would like to read in its entirety. If you spread your arms out wide to envision the history of the world, where would you imagine people came into existence? At your right elbow, your left shoulder? Guess. Actually you'd need a microscope on the end of your finger to see when humaity began. Isn't that wild.  Another book book about organizing your life talked of "Batching it." He said he really doesn't like to work hard all the time, so he  , " BATCHES IT." Sets the timer for 42 minutes and goes hard at an activity with no interruptions. He then takes a 12 minute break then goes back at it for another 42 minutes uniterrupted. He does his hard work in batches. Early morning is when you have the mo...

  Top 12 'drag you down, get in  the way of good things ' thoughts to eliminate from your day... Amazingly many of these originate from your PHONE use. Think about it.... how often are you on that phone each day! Even at your work place. ( we give students trouble for it, yet we are on our phones constantly and we shouldn't be. )  Defeatist  (accepting, expecting, or being resigned to defeat) Cynical  (contemptuously distrustful of human nature and motives) Blame/ Fault  (who cares? what are we going to do now?) Vindictive  (seeking revenge) Regretful  (it’s done ...  what can I learn and what am I going to do now ? Wishful  (do what you can to influence the project/ situation/ deal and keep moving) Self-pity  (get over yourself ... no excuses ... no drama... no complaints ...  here's how ) Worrisome  (it won't help, costs time, and can drag you down) Jealous  (want it?  earn it ) Pre-argumentative  (the ima...

We have an exceptionally strong staff, and  community support of Outreach. They know we rescue kids. Together, our attitude is “we will do whatever it takes to help our students build the skills they need to be successful."  We are 8 days from well deserved holidays. My message is  that we must realize the inequity of the celebrations. For some you will ask how was your Christmas? They may not have celebrated at all. They just want the season to be over. That is true for adults as well. Just recognize that fact.  Look for the kid who needs you to chit chat with them today.  There is one student  who hangs his head an plays games at his table. He helped me down load a game and I used it when there was no connection on the airplane. That boy will talk to me now. He's a WK ( weird kid). Find that common ground. Each day someone should be engaging each student you may the only person he/she talks to that day.  It doesn't have to be talk. Go around and hand...