Greetings,
GreenMount Community,
Today, I have some nuts and
bolts to review with you that are typically discussed at this time of
year. First, let’s talk about parking
and traffic flow. Here are some rules
that we have to ensure efficiency and safety during arrival and dismissal:
- Do not park along the yellow curb behind the designated parking spaces.
- Always leave our handicapped space available for those who have the proper parking permit.
- Do not park on the curb in front of the flagpole. This space is for drop-off only. Parents must safely discharge their children and then move their cars for another person to do the same.
- When possible, drop your children off at Miles Avenue. A parent is always on duty to make sure your child gets from the playground to the building. The teacher on duty or I will be outside to watch the children as they make their way from the playground.
- Do not try to turn around at Miles Avenue. If you need to travel East after drop-off, make your way to Sisson Street and go left or right to pick up 28th Street or Wyman Park Drive.
- You may also choose to drop your child off at the church, although there is no supervision for that half-block from Huntingdon to Miles.
- Please make sure that students do not have to cross the street unsupervised.
- For parking at events, parents and guests may park on the grass behind the learning cottage. A ramp has been built there and soon we will be adding mulch to the other side so that lower cars do not bottom out.
- The front gate will be opened from now on at 8:00. We now find it necessary to begin enforcing this rule, which is in the handbook, because students are being dropped off to wait in the gated area without supervision. This is clearly an unsafe situation for our children. We would rather have students arrive late than in a possibly unsafe situation before 8:00 a.m.
Not
so much nuts and bolts: Ms. Elaine has decided to become a part-time employee
at The GreenMount School so that she can devote more time being a mommy to Piper. And who wouldn’t want to spend more time with
that little darlin’? This has been a
tough decision for Elaine, but we are hoping that it will not be a permanent
one. This year, Elaine will continue to
be the Admissions Director and will also coordinate our 20th year
anniversary, working with alumni, and our five-year AIMS accreditation
visit. Taking over her other duties will
be Janine Spiker, who will be working closely with Jen in the office and
coordinating our co-op efforts. Janine
has experience as a teacher and has worked at Towson University in their
admissions and development offices. We
are pleased with the experience and expertise she brings.
Finally, at today’s morning meeting
I was happy to provide some positive feedback for all of our students. I congratulated all the 7th and 8th
grade students for the way they waited patiently and respectfully outside their
homeroom while we concluded a meeting we were having with the science committee. I was also happy to compliment all of the
students on their way into the gym as they sat quickly and quietly, giving me
their attention without me asking for it.
I told them, “Good job!” However, after saying this, I immediately
reminded myself that this was not feedback.
I had not described specifically what they had done that elicited my
comment. But then I began to think that
specifics were not needed in this case.
The kids just needed to know that I was very pleased with them for the
way they entered the gym. They actually
know what they did that was a good job.
So, thinking about last week’s message, I want to be
clear that we are going to continue to give our students those high-fives and
spontaneous cheers for their actions and their work. But when we are providing feedback for
written work or projects or presentations that they are preparing, we will be
specific with our feedback so that the students are clear about expectations
and where they are in the learning process.
“Well done,” “Good job,” and even “Atta boy/girl” will remain part of
the vocabulary we use with kids. We will
continue to use encouraging language
as well as specific language in our communications with students.
Cheers,
Steve
