CHILDREN FIRST ALWAYS... THE BRYAN WAY 11/01/13

Fantastic Fridays Bryan ISD Dominates Robotics Competition ABC’s of Life

Stephen F. Austin Middle School advances to State

last week: “A” for Affirmation

B

Believe: to accept as true or real.

Believing is hard for many of us because we live in a world of skepticism.

As humans and educators, we should strive to look at life through the lens of optimism. After all, we work in the business of helping others obtain their goals and dreams. On Saturday, the SFA, Davila, and Bryan Collegiate Robotics teams participated in the annual Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology (BEST) competition at Sam Houston State University. The program is open public and private schools, grades 6-12. Our teams competed against 23 different campuses, including A&M Consolidated High/Middle, College Station High/Middle, and the private schools throughout our community. In short, BISD ROCKED THE HOUSE!

SFA qualified for the Regional competition at UT Dallas on November 9th. The Broncos took 4th overall (beating AMCMS, CSHS, and CSMS), 3rd place for best robot, and earned the Most Improved Program. Davila was recognized for Best Rookie Program.   This is HUGE for a number of reasons, but particularly because BISD competed against the best and served notice that our kids/parents/ teachers/schools are second to none!  

‘Believe’ also suggests that one may loose control over something they once controlled. We are asked to believe in that which we have not yet seen--our future, our full potential. But always remember, we must believe it before we will ever see it. More to come next week.

 

Our Core Principles: #1 Every student wi! be unconditiona!y accepted, supported and celebrated in Bryan ISD.

!

PAGE 1

CHILDREN FIRST ALWAYS... THE BRYAN WAY 11/01/13 NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE Over the next few weeks, I would like for you to begin thinking about areas of the new laws and mandates from the last legislative session you feel are ineffective or pointless.

STRESS It’s easy to become stressed as the year moves along and we surge past fifty days of school. The ‘new’ has worn off, students are settled in and and it can feel as if the sheen of a shiny new year has dulled. We are deep into curriculum, data digs, lesson planning and classroom management. Stress creeps in as we attempt to handle everything on our plates and attend meetings to improve.

In order for lawmakers to comprehend what you, as educators, go through daily, they need to hear from those of us who work in ‘our world.’ There are too many mandates, too much paperwork and vastly too much bureaucratic red tape that educators face. We must continue to tell the real story of public education.

Points to Ponder as educators 1. Stay upbeat - a study discussed in “How Full is Your Bucket” said negative employees can scare off every customer they speak with for good. Lets all be mindful of how we speak to others (students, parents, co-workers). 2. 65% of Americans received no recognition in the workplace last year. Lets tell someone what a good job they are doing. Tell a student something positive. We need to make praise a part of our daily ritual.

If you would, please take the time to inform your principals of mandates or stresses you have so Around BISD they can share your comments MITCHELL ELEMENTARY with central office. I would greatly Manipulatives appreciate it. Austin and central make math rock Our meetings offer quality office need to hear your voice as to when you teach information, and they’re how we can continue to move it like Mitchell. important, but you have so much forward, yet not put so much on else on your calendar. Not only are teachers that they can not teach. we educators, we are also mothers, I have been asked to serve on ROSS ELEMENTARY fathers, grandparents, aunts, Thanks to Ross a committee that will inform uncles and friends. for making individuals of public education After reading over the new pumpkin stresses, and I need your input and bills passed this last session, I decorating a assistance. We must continue the found myself overwhelmed. I family event. fight for those who have no voice wondered how educators left the Parents and their and for those we teach daily. session feeling optimistic, yet children building What you do each day is today we’re stressed and lasting bonds. amazing, and you are valued and wondering how to meet all the BRYAN HIGH appreciated. If we can make life state mandated directives. less stressful, we should. Mr. Buban and I Stress is something we all deal will be on the As always, please remember with, personally and professionally, wellness plan what is important in life and let and knowing how to handle it is soon. Sumo your light shine. important. The following is a link wrestling to get that has a great deal of helpful the students information: http:// fired up at the www.helpguide.org/mental/ BHS pep rally. work_stress_management.htm.

!

PAGE 2