Stuff that happened this week:
First, most of my week was spent supporting staff and students, either directly in the classroom, in meetings in my office, or in meetings with staff. The biggest of those happened on Tuesday, when we unveiled the latest design concept from our architects related to the science redesign. In the briefest terms I can state, the concept involves swapping Agriculture, Art and Biology within the building and incorporating room room 60. This was a result of my challenge to the Architect to identify two things: space in the building underutilized (by scheduling or purpose) and where might that space be re-purposed to create a career cluster.
Understandably, since this concept incorporates areas of the building not previously discussed, there has been an emotional response to the newest idea. Those emotions run the gamut from joy to anger, but probably everyone involved experienced a feeling of being overwhelmed. Ultimately, we are about 100 decision points to go from actually making any changes to our building and lots of changes to the design will happen between now and then. I look forward to the process.
Second, I completed my 5th formal observation this week. I have two more scheduled and will complete all of my formal observations for EE by the end of first semester. I believe I completed my last one last year in the third week of May. So, I am quite a bit ahead of schedule there. The corresponding bad news is that I have made 51 classroom visits so far; 249 visits short of my goal as we near the midpoint. I've got some work to do. I will mention that some of you aren't exactly holding up your end of the bargain. You agreed to call me on it if you hadn't seen me in your class by the end of the first month. Some have called my attention to it; some have not. I'd love to have you hold me accountable to this goal; so please good-naturedly harass me, pretty please?
Third, in '17-'18 two new schools will almost certainly be joining the Badger Conference - Beaver Dam and Watertown. On Wednesday, the 16 principals of that new Badger Conference met to decide what the organization of the new conference will be. It took three votes and an 90 minutes of discussion about competition, travel, budgets, and academic impact. In the end, it was decided to add Beaver Dam to the existing North and Watertown to the existing South. Additionally, a comprehensive review of the impact of this change was established for the fall of 2019 to determine if that structure was still meeting our needs.
While my weekend did not allow me to take in the Madrigal dinner this weekend, I was in the building Friday night watching the hundreds of students transform the school into their castle. Its quite an exercise in student leadership. Please congratulate our students on their efforts if you get the chance!
Next Week's Significant Events:
- Monday, Dec. 14
- Staff meeting in the RAC Gallery @ 3:40 PM
- We will be discussion process going forward for schedule revision.
- BOE Meeting @ Middle School 7:00 PM
- Thursday, Dec. 17
- Holiday Tea in Office Conference Room
- Swimming vs Verona at 6:15 PM
- Gymnastics vs Milton at 6:30 PM @ Grand Ave.
- Friday, Dec. 18
- Holiday Tea (Inclement weather make-up day)
- Boys' Basketball vs Mount Horeb - 5:50 JV 7:30 Var.
Week After Next's Significant Events:
- Monday, Dec. 21
- High School Staff Holiday Happy Hour - 4:30 - ? at Prairie House
- Details to follow in separate email
- Tuesday, Dec. 22
- Last day of classes before break
- Girls Basketball vs Dodgeville - 5:50 JV 7:30 Var.
- Thursday, Dec. 23 - Sunday, Jan. 3
- No School - Happy Holidays!!
