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AIS News for May, 2016
Click here to open the complete newsletter: AIS News for May, 2016
From the Principal…
Our teachers are inspiring! Over the last two weeks, I visited more than twenty classrooms and am looking forward to more this week.
Entering a classroom is like entering a little community built around learning. The mix of personalities and strengths is unique in every room. Teachers orchestrate learning experiences for students in a way that sometimes has a magical quality. It’s fun to watch!
I’m thankful for our teachers and staff and their positive approach to teaching. I’m thankful for our students and the enthusiasm they bring to learning. I’m looking forward to a great 2016-17 school year!
Great Start
Great Start for kindergarten, third, sixth, and ninth grade is scheduled for August 11, from 8:30-12:30. At AIS, third graders will be able to work with their teachers and have fun introductory learning experiences. They’ll also learn about goals and plans for the year.
Alma Intermediate School April News
Alma Intermediate School Newsletter for April, 2016 This link takes you to the full text of the newsletter that includes upcoming dates and news.
From the Principal…
Part of growing up is learning when to push and when to back off and relax. I learned this by participating in music performance groups and athletic activities. Practice and preparation were important, and those who were lazy in their approach paid a price. We practiced hard but had fun as we learned and increased our skills.
When performance day came, it was a big deal and required stepped up focus. We “put our game face on” and jumped in with full effort to show just how good we were.
As a student, I found this approach helpful. I remember a particularly difficult writing assignment in high school. I lacked confidence in writing but attacked this assignment with full effort. I ended up producing something that surprised my teacher and still makes me proud today.
This internal pride is what I hope for our students. Learning to focus and complete a demanding test with enthusiasm and effort is a life-skill that will impact our children’s future success. I look forward to what our students can do when they put their minds to it and “get their game face on.”
“CAN You Draw a Texas Longhorn?”
My mother with older brother, Reese Kennedy
Yesterday I was reminded that January 4 would have been my Uncle Reese’s 90th birthday. He was my mother’s older brother and she loved him very much. As a child, I was in awe of him because he was an artist. As an adult, I was in awe of him because of his adventurous spirit, his open questioning mind, and his talent.
When I was 5-years old we were visiting Uncle Reese and his family in Dallas. For reasons I can’t recall, I was obsessed with Texas Longhorns. Shortly after we arrived I approached Uncle Reese as the adults were visiting and asked if he would draw me a picture of a Texas Longhorn. He said he’d do this later and continued to visit with my parents.
I approached my uncle several more times over the next day or two and each time he…
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Newsletter for February, 2016
Click this link to open the newsletter.
Newsletter for October, 2015
Click this link to view the whole newsletter: Newsletter for October, 2015
From the Principal…
This year, we’re preparing students to take a new assessment, ACT-Aspire. PARCC was administered last year, but it was determined that giving the ACT-Aspire would be more beneficial for students as we prepare them for college and careers.
One of the challenges of preparing for a difficult test is to increase students’ stamina, or their ability to stick with a difficult task to its completion. Stamina is especially hard if the task isn’t fun.
I experienced this first-hand several years ago while taking a national teaching exam. At one point during the three-hour test, my mind began to wander. I realized this and refocused my attention on the test. I passed, but the best lesson I learned was the importance of staying focused to the end of the test.
Our teachers go to great lengths to present lessons that engage students so we can increase learning and make it stick. It’s a thrill to see students involved in discussion or a hands-on task and excited about learning; lessons that are fun!
There are also times that teachers must work to increase academic stamina and endurance. If students are enthusiastic about demonstrating their learning, we have a much better chance of increasing their stamina and showing what they actually know on tests.
Our goal is to prepare our students to perform well on any challenge they confront in life, including high-stakes tests. Thank you for supporting your child and for giving us the honor of working with your child.
Promises of Technology
Here’s a link to the whole newsletter that includes a calendar for September and October, pictures, and information about our students’ use of technology.
Alma Intermediate School Newsletter for September, 2015
From the Principal…
Some of the wild predictions made about the future when I was younger have not come true. There was a lot of concern about how we would spend all of the free time caused by technology and modern conveniences. They really missed the boat on that one. There were also predictions about transportation and health that have proved to be greater challenges than estimated.
However, when I look back just 20 years, it’s amazing to see the pace of change. Music that I used to play on vinyl records or cassette tapes is now stored on my iPod, which holds my whole collection of music, podcasts, and audiobooks. I carry a phone that is a small computer. With it I can send and receive emails, access the Internet, read books, text directly to anyone in my contacts and….make phone calls. One of my favorite devices is my e-reader that holds many books and allows me to carry a library of resources in my backpack.
The students in our school have never known a time when this technology that astounds me didn’t exist. What does the future of technology hold for us and our students? Will we lose our balance and fail to maintain strong relationships with others in our community as we rely more and more on technology? Will we settle for a constant drivel of disconnected information or strive for deep understanding with a cautious approach to the sources of our information?
Our hope is that we will help students use technology as a tool to increase and enrich our communication with others and solve complex problems now and in the future. On the back page of this newsletter is a portion of an article sharing just a couple of ways we involve students with technology at AIS.
Alma Intermediate School August Newsletter – A Child’s Future Comes Quickly
From the Principal…
It finally happened! There stood a former student, syringe in hand, ready to administer an immunization in my arm. She recognized me and must have seen my expression because she said, “I’ve given a lot of these so you know I’ve had some practice.” I laughed and told her this is just one of the many reasons it’s wise to be nice to your students. They grow up! And sometimes they’re holding a medical needle the next time you see them.
When I first started teaching, it felt like we were preparing students for some far off future. Now, the future seems much closer. Every minute of learning time is important. When students are active learners, many more options are available to them as they move through life.
Daughters a few short years ago.
I’ve experienced this sense of urgency as a teacher and a parent. A short time ago, my daughters were in elementary school. Today they are grown, doing work that they find rewarding, and making a positive difference in the world. As a parent, I’m thankful and realize how important every stage of their education was on their path toward adulthood.
Daughters all grown up shown here with my parents and our new son-in-law.
At AIS, our goal is to squeeze as much learning as possible into grades 3, 4, and 5. Our mission is to prepare students for successful living, now and in the future, a future that will come quickly.
Thank you for giving us the honor of working with your child. We look forward to building strong relationships with our students and watching their success and growth as they move forward.
The following link will open our school newsletter.
Happy Birthday to My Mother
Mother and Daddy in 1956
My mother’s birthday is coming up, and I’ve been thinking about what she’s given to her family and community. Some of my earliest memories are of a mother who was kind, giving, and a friend to all. She and my father got married just before he went to Korea. Their friends collected flowers from homes in Arkadelphia, and they borrowed a wedding arch for the ceremony. Mother worked hard and fast to complete college at Ouachita before my dad got out of the Army and then they began their life together. After teaching a year in South Texas, they moved to El Dorado where I was raised and they still live today.
Jimmy and Elsie Warnock
Their first house payment was $80.00 a month, and she worried about how they would meet that cost every month. They weathered a few hard times along the way but never failed to provide for the needs of their two children. Today, they remain independent in their 80s and continue to serve their community. Mother was a great teacher in public school and at home. She is still a learner today. She often shares new tricks she’s learned on the computer or something she’s read.
I have many memories of sitting with mother in church. Maybe this was because of my restlessness and occasional behavior problems during services. One thing she sometimes did that was annoying at the time was lick her hand and press my hair down. The memory of that is far from annoying, now a special symbol of the attention she gave to my sister and me.
Below is a link to that simple song Becca and I did for her several years ago. It is still true today! “You’ve given hope, you’ve given dreams and helped them come true.” Thank you for your love and commitment. Happy birthday! We love you!
Jimmy & Elsie Warnock
Click this link if you want to hear a somewhat sentimental, but heartfelt, song about the love of a mother.
Alma Intermediate School Newsletter for June, 2015
Click the following link to open our newsletter for June.
Alma Intermediate School Newsletter for June, 2015
From the Principal….
Ms. Break was my fourth-grade teacher. I heard her from the hallway during my third-grade year and looked forward to her famous reading performances. Fourth grade became an important year in my schooling.
I had a habit of drumming on my school desk. I liked to explore the sounds that could be made by hitting different parts of the desk. I occasionally put my head on the desk so I could hear the rhythms better. Ms. Break would tap me and say, “Stop that drumming!”
Years later, I was playing timpani (kettle drums) for a church in my hometown. During rehearsal, I heard a lady yell down from the choir, “You never did stop that drumming!” We had a laugh, and I enjoyed a short visit with an elderly Ms. Break, thanking her for the influence she had on my learning.
When I look back at the teachers who had the greatest impact, it boiled down to relationships. The positive relationships between the teacher and students often determined the quality of learning. The greatest teachers built a sense of community around shared tasks, and the subject being taught.
Ms. Break had a positive influence on my learning. I was a slow and reluctant reader, but she instilled a love of reading that sustained me through school and helped me become a stronger student.
I’m proud that we have a school filled with “Ms. Breaks” who are excited about teaching and who build positive relationships with their students. I’m excited about the coming year and the great things in store for our students. Have a great 2015-16 school year!
Ms. Break, fourth grade teacher
One of my first drums.
Alma Intermediate School News – April, 2015
Alma Intermediate School News April, 2015
A lot of good things are happening at Alma Intermediate School! I’m thankful for our staff, students, and parents!
I spent some time this month thinking about my personal mission and vision, asking myself if I’m staying true to what I believe about teaching and learning. The link above should give you access to our newsletter.
From the Principal:
What we believe about teaching and learning plays a big part in students’ results. When I interview candidates for teaching positions, their core beliefs and work ethic are essential. If the beliefs are solid, the teaching skills needed will rise to meet those beliefs. The same applies to me as a principal. Every year I look at what I believe as a teacher and a principal. My hope is that the following words will act as a filter for every decision and action as I work with others in our school.
Professional Mission Statement:
- I believe that educators have the power to change the direction of young lives and have a positive effect on the lives of future generations. Learning is a joyous and never ending process that leads to successful living and has a positive impact on our families and communities. I must set the example as a lifelong learner if I expect students and teachers to be continuous learners.
- Teaching and learning require planning, enthusiasm, desire, time and effort. I have great respect and appreciation for teachers and their work.
- As a school principal, I am ultimately responsible for the learning and safety of our students. Only by working with every part of the community can I meet this responsibility. Working together we can provide the best possible education for all of our children.
Vision
- AIS will demonstrate high levels of student engagement in learning every day. Learning will be demonstrated in meaningful and public ways.
- AIS will be a community of learners actively sharing and collaborating to increase student learning so that best strategies spread.
- AIS will be a joyful place where student needs are the focus. The emotional, academic, physical and spiritual needs of students and adults will be met through continuous learning. Accomplishments, both personal and professional, will be recognized and celebrated.
- Students will make great gains academically. Advancing in academic achievement will be the norm.
- The arts and creativity will be displayed publicly and recognized as academic accomplishments.
Principal Notes 