Author: Edward Joseph Goldstein,

November often brings a certain lull in the teaching year. Some of us call it a valley, a lull, or a low. It’s a time when the freshness of the new school year has settled, and the holiday season is just around the corner and everyone is working furiously. However, this year, my November feels different, vibrant, and exceptionally fulfilling. I’ve had the unique opportunity to conduct more than 25 interviews with various candidates who are excited about joining our community. Each conversation has been like a window, offering new perspectives and insights into the diverse opportunities we offer teachers,...

And just like that, November is here. It’s remarkable how quickly time flies. Even though it feels like school just started, we’re already in November. As we reflect on the past 12 weeks, let’s take a moment to appreciate all that we have accomplished. Here’s a list of our achievements: Engaged in a 1-week professional development session on the Science of Reading, enhancing our understanding of effective reading instruction. Made significant progress in our WASC Self-Study, an important step towards accreditation. Implemented changes in our instructional practices for literacy. Successfully reintroduced G4 Talks, providing a platform for students to share...

What a difference a year makes. At this time last year, we were going through adaptive schools training. We were learning how to run effective meetings and the value and importance of norms and agendas. Now, a year later, we are well on our way to implementing these strategies that allow us to work towards providing the best possible education for our students. I was fortunate to attend EARCOS this week as well and look forward to sharing the learning from the conference. There was a strong focus on AI, well-being, and supporting the needs of all learners. Stop by...

Welcome back! We hope your fall break provided the rest and fulfillment you deserved. Some of you may have embraced relaxation on sandy beaches, while others reconnected with loved ones or dedicated time to serving others. Regardless of your choice, we trust it was exactly what you needed. As we enter the second quarter, we can reflect on the success our students achieved in the first, accompanied by the joyous celebrations of proud parents. It’s an exciting time to return from the break and continue our journey together. Now that you’re stepping back into your roles, we want to emphasize...

Parent-teacher conference week is a critical time that holds significant value in our academic calendar. It presents a unique occasion for us to establish a strong connection with each and every parent, and together, celebrate the remarkable achievements of our students. As we enter this week, I encourage you to take a moment to reflect upon the incredible strides our students have made in various aspects of their lives – academically, socially, emotionally, and behaviorally. It is truly inspiring to see the tremendous growth that has taken place in the last nine weeks. Dragon News Purple Moments The week Ahead...

Family Fun Day provided a much-needed respite from the daily grind of work. It was heartening to see so many of you come out to support the school, PTA, and, of course, to have some fun. A big thank you to all the volunteers who dedicated their time and effort to make the event a tremendous success. This week, we will continue with our SUPP. This time is truly a valuable gift as it allows us to reflect on our craft and engage in meaningful conversations about our next steps. I encourage everyone to come prepared and actively participate, fostering...

Last week’s week-long professional development experience was a resounding success, bringing forth a wealth of growth and reflection. Every moment was a testament to our commitment to providing exceptional education. With an enriched toolkit of knowledge and innovative strategies, we are poised to make some great strides in our instruction around reading. We also reflected on the need to communicate more clearly with each other and vertically between grade levels. We learned where we have gaps and we have a better understanding of the gaps our students have and need to overcome. We reflected on the challenges of meeting every...

In my 22 years of education, I’ve heard rumors of faraway schools that have dedicated professional development (PD) for an entire week. It always seemed like an urban legend, and the idea of a whole week devoted to sharpening our teaching skills felt like a distant dream. It turns out those schools do exist, and our school will now be among them. The upcoming week is set to be a transformative period of professional development, with a strong focus on enhancing our literacy instruction. We’re fortunate to have Hannah Fernweh from Erin Kent Consulting joining us for the entire week,...

School is truly in session when ASAs start, teams begin to travel, teachers begin attending professional development opportunities, and those opportunities come to our school. The school is buzzing with excitement and growth. Teachers are seizing professional development opportunities to enhance their teaching strategies. These events bring valuable knowledge and expertise to our staff, enriching the learning experiences for our students. ASAs provide a platform for students to explore their passions and develop new skills outside the classroom. Sports teams foster teamwork and resilience while representing our school in friendly competition. By embracing these opportunities, our school community thrives, creating...

As we embark on a new week of learning and growth, let’s embrace the opportunity for personal and professional development. Embrace your zone of discomfort and explore new teaching methodologies, environments of curiosity and engagement. Take advantage of the available professional development we have on Tuesday. Seek moments of self-care and well-being, and continue to inspire our students with your growth and dedication. Together, let’s make this week one of growth, collaboration, and empowerment as we embrace the transitions that pave the way for our students’ success. Find at least one nugget of learning on Tuesday that you commit to...