TxConnect Alert #1 of Junior Year...

Quick update on the post below-

Conversation regarding grades went well. Revisited his personal goals for the school year. He has taken responsibility for his part and has already addressed the assignment issue with his teacher and discussed an action plan. He's an amazing young man and despite him not loving school, he's putting forth great effort to have a strong junior year!

And so it begins folks- the grade alerts have already started.

No, our son hasn't been in school longer than the rest of the greater Austin area. Yes, his first day was Monday. No, we're not able to get him on the straight and narrow with schoolwork just because my husband and I have a Masters in Education. Yes, evidently he had an assignment due yesterday we had no knowledge of because he forgot he had to do it. No, he isn't passing one of his classes after five days. Yes, he'll be grounded and NO he won't be driving the car he just bought this weekend because he's...wait for it...grounded. 

Parenting is seriously hard work! Always, always know I feel your pain. I experience the highs and lows just as you do (perhaps your lows aren't as early on in the school year as I mine, but I digress). Time for me to remind myself of the Endurance Mindset. I'll reread my earlier post.  

Tonight, I'll choose to pass on the "grades/grounded" talk and deal with it in the morning because regardless of the hurdles, we just made it through the first week of another school year!!! 

Technology on Campus

I have really enjoyed visiting the classrooms all week. It gives me such great insight into student and teacher needs as an instructional leader, allows me to interact in a positive and supportive way verses disciplinarian and provides a vehicle for my own personal growth.
In fact, one of my favorite visits of the day allowed me to grow technologically. Mr. McCafferty's ELA classes were learning how to set up  Edmodo accounts and create their own personal Avatars.  
 Make sure you ask your daughter/son about her/his favorite part of the day/week tonight at dinner or while they get ready for bed. 

As a side, please make sure to check the 7th grade calendar (use the drop down menu if you are on a mobile device) because I have added the first round of Bundle Tests for every core class. Students may not know the tests are coming yet, but you can help them plan ahead if you are in the know! The dates may change plus/minus one day due to a number of things, but this gives you a general sense of the time frame.

 

Things that make you go, "Hmmm..."

-When your child says, "Nope. We never have homework in [pick your class]." Personally, I especially love hearing, "I didn't miss anything when I was out sick from school for three days!"

While our little angel would never tell us a fib about the responsibilities she/he has in school, now we can be certain by checking our grade level principal's blog! Yippee for less ambiguity! This is a friendly reminder to check out assignments due for the students on a regular basis. 

-When your child receives a consequence for being late to first period three times in a row when you know you dropped her/him off early to attend morning tutorials in first period. This is a friendly reminder- when in doubt, first speak to the teacher of record, then the grade level counselor, then the grade level principal. 

-When your child says, "I need money for lunch today," but you just paid Aramark  a good portion of your paycheck three days ago. Glad to know she/he likes the food prepared at school (less reminiscent of my hot lunch experiences I am sure, but so is the cost...)Manage your child's account online by visiting https://mobile.mylunchmoney.com/  This web feature became a personal Goldmine for my husband and me when we discovered it after our son claimed, "I have no idea how I used $45 already this week on lunch!"

Who knows?!?- maybe she/he is really eating (aka feeding) for three- like our son was feeding four 16 year olds everyday for a week!

7th Grade Nailed it Today!

I'm sure there will be many great stories shared at the dinner table tonight or as your daughter/son gets ready for bed. Please make sure you make it known how impressed I was with the entire 7th grade! They were impressive in the halls, polite and respectful during lunch and engaged and active participants in classes!  

As I started sharing my highs and lows of the day while preparing dinner with my husband and son tonight, I was struck by a tremendous sense of gratitude toward each of you and the work you put forth to ensure your student is ready for another exciting year!

Dress Code

Faux-hawks and Mo-hawks on male and female students are NOT permitted.

                                                                                                    Hair color must be of a natural hue.

Frays/Rips in Jeans- If the fray/rip is above mid-thigh, there must be clothing covering the skin (a patch above or below the jean or leggings worn underneath jeans).

LEGGINGS- Unless the top/dress/skirt reaches the mid-thigh (as pictured), they are NOT appropriate for school.

 

MINI SKIRTS/SMALL AND/OR TIGHT DRESSES-  NEVER appropriate for school.  The length of skirt/dress must reach mid-thigh.

Tank Tops- The last image is the ONLY approved tank top allowed at school. Straps must be at least 2 inches wide. Boys are NOT allowed to wear tank tops to school. Racer-back tank tops (first image) are not school appropriate.

 

SAGGING JEANS-  NEVER appropriate for school!

 

SLIPPERS-  NEVER appropriate for school.