A SUCCESSFUL OPEN HOUSE

Kudos to a great open house at Outlook. Here are some pictures of the event! :)
There were many positive comments!

Observations and Thoughts for Week 2

Well, here it is, week 2 is over and whew, it goes by like lightning fast! I've been impressed by the staff's professionalism, their professional look, and their overall desire to do what's best for kids. It's been a tough week, more so for our 5th grade and Kinder teachers, because of the class realignments. I'm really hopeful that after this week, it will solidify and we won't have to make any more major changes.

Kudos go to our reading specialist, Paula, for her patience and applause for Kim Frank and the DIBELS team as they crunched numbers and data to help us have a better understanding of what's happening.

What I think I was most impressed with last week though was consistency. Let me explain: I walked into a number of classes and spent time there. Same grade level, different teacher and I found myself saying to myself, "I've seen this lesson before." Then, of course, the light goes off and you realize that indeed you have seen the lesson before because the other teachers have taught the lesson as well. Consistency. It was nice to see.

Our lunch lines are still slow. I'm hittin' myself upside the head to try and figure out how to make it better. I do like the fact though that the teachers can now drop their kids off and go have a lunch without supervising them in the hall.

And thanks to Terry for putting up the new hand washing dispensers. Great time saver.

Outlook has quality people and when I drive to work each day, I thank the man upstairs that I have a chance to work with them and be part of something that I think will be incredible and unique in education.

A bit personal this journal was (had to pull a YODA)

Good night, all...(I'm gonna go watch a movie now with my wife and popcorn)

Mr. Bowman

School is swingin' and so is MDD

With the fifth grade announcing their Make a Difference Day Project, hats have started to come in. This year the fifth grade is collecting hats to give to kids and adults that are currently under treatment for cancer.

The fifth grade has begun adding hats to the walls.

Here it is, week 2, and things are swingin'!

STUDENTS ARRIVE!

Ms. Bos reads a story to the new preschool! Welcome preschoolers!

The first week is under the belt and it was a good week. Amid the scheduling conflicts, bus snafus, and other strange anomalies, commonly known as the start of school, it has been a good week. Some highlights for me were of course, the kindergarten. There's always something special about seeing kinders begin their first year.

With the district realignment, it's been wonderful to have the 5th grade with us. Already we have the fifth grade demonstrating their leadership capacity in helping us serve lunch and to organize the lunchroom. Things went smoothly and I was impressed by their work.

Though the heat remained upon us, I did get a chance to go out and play some soccer (goalie) and a bit of tetherball. Marisol and I are up to one win apiece. I look forward to the rematch as long as she doesn't go over the pole! Rules, Marisol, rules!

To the host of parents I had the pleasure of meeting, thank you for taking an active part in your child's education.

I did get a chance to see purple cows (ask Mrs. Quigley, one of our first grade teachers) and Mrs. Porter's class as they studied factors in mathematics and watched a cool science experiment with diet coke and mint mentos.



Signing off...
Mr. Bowman

THE DAY BEFORE...

The sun sets over the school. As I walked out, I just thought it would be a nice picture before the start of the school year. You can feel the excitement (at least I can) for the students arriving. I am reminded what a noble work we're in.