Off and Running

Well everyone survived and thrived on the first day.  As I walked around and visited classrooms I saw some great first day activities.  Great job in connecting with students and establishing the culture that you want in your rooms.  What a neat school you have all been a part of creating.  In visiting classrooms I saw engaging classroom environments, students being respectful, and listening to our expectations but also students having fun getting to know each of you as a person.  Your commitment to Team LJH was evident in many ways.

Now that the first day is behind us here are some keys to sustaining the culture that you are establishing.

• All students are on our side at the beginning, it is our actions and behaviors that determine whether they stay on our side or turn against us.  
• Continue to teach procedures and expectations everyday to make them into routines.  
• Treat all students as if they are good. 
• Connect with each of your students in some way each day.  This shows them that you value them as a person.  
• Tell them that it is okay to fail, maybe even share about a time that you have failed and how you turned the failure into a learning opportunity.  
• Teach them about the brain and that intelligence can be grown.  
• Greet students at the door each day.  

Highlights from the first day:  

• Mrs. Kim, our new SOLE supervisor, that was hired 12 hours before the start and jumped right in setting the expectations for our new idea of SOLE class.  Well done.  
• Our Humanities teachers began their journey of co teaching in classrooms that are very non traditional learning spaces.  It was great to see them collaborating on their first prep time together as well.  Awesome job!  
• Our New Tech teachers establishing a culture of Trust, Respect, and Responsibility and teaching students about a growth mindset.  
• Our new teachers in new subjects offered here at Lincoln,  Medical Detectives, Intro to Ag, Interactive Media and Health.  What neat opportunities for our students.  
• All teachers assisting students with lockers and directions around the school.  
• Our secretaries helping students throughout the day with all kinds of things.  
• Our custodial staff, the school looked awesomely clean all day long.  

We are off to a great start with a student population of over 600, so much for numbers decreasing this year, remember to LEAD TOGETHER AND LEARN TOGETHER.