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I am going to flip flop the blog. The latest entries will appear at the top of the page under my photo. Should be easier to navigate. 10/20/10 The Food Drive has been a great success with one day to go tomorrow. We have collected alot of food. After the food drive next week is Red Ribbon Week. Then I am going to settle down and get the TBFC hours logged, recorded and the stuff handed out. 

11/3/10 I have just completed recording all of the hours certificates I have received to date. 10 members will be receiving rewards from the first 3 levels- the ID holder, ID, and Lanyard. Many more awards are on the way!!!!! Great Job.

10/27/10 So I really haven't posted since 10/14? Whoa. Guess I have been busy with the Food Drive and with Red Ribbon Week. After this week I am going to sit with all of the TBFC stuff I have and get the hours straightened out and get everyone their stuff. Stay Tuned. Also I have spoken to another advisory about getting involved and the document holders have arrived. Soon every team will have access to the forms and information.

10/14/10 So I have had a thought about the TBFC as well as wonderful news from the community about a real cool idea. Anyway, my thought is this. I have asked myself the question "Why should kids record their service hours?" And I have answered this in many ways....You get stuff; it is important if you have to perform service hours; and other things. But what I have failed to consider is how important it is for our school to have kids who we know are out there doing great things and having them recording these efforts. I am going to work hard on this.

10/12/10 We had the team captain meeting yesterday with the Parent Volunteers and this morning the team captains were off and running making posters. 4 students earned 100 miles for their work today. They have flight plans on file with Mrs. Lindner and are on their way. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">I continue to get questions about how it all works but it is really easy. Please head to the FAQs you need a question answered. <span style="color: #00ff09; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive; font-size: 120%;">10/06/10 <span style="color: #00ff09; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Wow!! Things are happening. The TBFC is fully invested in the Canned Food Drive. Finishing out the team leaders and looking forward to having a meeting during lunch next week with the PTA sponsors. Application process for the Ambassador club has ended. There will be training within the next week. I am still not sure if everyone understands the process but it seems to be working out. It is pretty simple. One can fill out the flight plan and begin working on hours or one can do hours and then fill out the flight plan and file it. Either way the important thing is to fill out the mileage certificate to insure the miles are properly recorded.

<span style="color: #ff0e00; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive; font-size: 130%;">10/04/10 <span style="color: #ff0e00; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive; font-size: 130%;">An exciting new opportunity exists!!! Attea Middle School is participating in a Food Drive to support the Northfield Township Food Pantry. The TBFC is looking for Team Captains to assist with advertising for the drive, collecting, and then organizing the food. This is a "Can-tastic" opportunity to earn valuable Flyer Miles.

<span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive; font-size: 110%;">10/01/10 <span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive; font-size: 110%;">Big party after school today. We have dances for the younger ones and they have a blast. A real big time DJ and everything. Mr. Woell allowed this dance to be free! I can also report Freaky Friday was a huge success. I met with 3 PTA reps about the TBFC and am very excited about the potential. It really is cool to have everyone working together and I have long felt that the more involved our parent community is the better off we all are. Thanks

<span style="background-color: #c0c0c0; color: #0900ff; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive; font-size: 130%;">09/30/10 <span style="background-color: #c0c0c0; color: #0900ff; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive; font-size: 130%;">I have received several more flight plans but that is not why I wanted to write today. I see very clearly how the organization is designed to work. I have had discussions with the Sponsors of our Builder's Club. Builder's Club has been a Springman/Attea institution and is the community service arm of the school. Students will be able to parlay their service hours seamlessly into the TBFC and vice versa. The club is constantly looking for and providing kids opportunities to serve. I am looking for supplying the kids. Secondly, I was approached by a teacher. She has a deep commitment to our nation's veterans and is going to work with some students to have a breakfast for veterans on Veteran's day. This will be done through the TBFC. This is the essence of theTBFC!

09/29/10 <span style="color: #ff0e00; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive;"> So I have now spoken to two X-block groups and have had encouraging conversations. The FAQ page is up and running and I have awarded several lanyards. Currently working on getting file holders for classrooms. Several teachers have volunteered to have documents available in their rooms <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">. <span style="color: #ff0e00; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive;"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">09/28/2010 <span style="color: #ff0e00; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive;"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">I am working on a new page titled FAQs. Stay tuned for more incredible info. <span style="background-color: #008080; color: #ffff00; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive; font-size: 120%;">09/27/10 <span style="background-color: #008080; color: #ffff00; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive; font-size: 120%;">OK I am going to have to go with successful day. I spoke briefly at the lunches today and many students requested the "Flight Plan". Tuesday, Thursday and Friday I have made myself available in the cafeteria from 7:50 am until 8:15 am to answer questions and to talk about the TBFC. I have received several phone calls from parents and will be meeting with a parent on Friday ( I hear she is in charge of the Flyer Booster Club) How fun is that? I am going to post a picture of a banner created by two students that runs the entire length of the stage divider in the cafe. I think one of the challenges will be to make sure that students who want to be active have places to be active. I am listening to all ideas. Some things I proposed today included working in the school store, I also talked about some kids taking over my sock drive that we have done every holiday season. Even the upcoming food drive has opportunities to serve.

<span style="color: #0900ff; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive; font-size: 110%;">09/23/2010 <span style="color: #0900ff; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive; font-size: 110%;">I'm sorry. I guess I should have said that the forms had not been posted for people to have to print them. I have the forms already printed. The launch will take place on Monday. Today I picked up the ID holders and lanyards and they are way cool.

<span style="color: #ff0e00; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive;"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">09/21/10 <span style="color: #ff0e00; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive;"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Today I finished the second bulletin board that has the TBFC T-shirt and all of the forms for everyone to see. It also contains the following: <span style="color: #ff3500; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">"It is not can you It is will you Do the Crew?" <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">The second Curriculum night is this evening and I am looking forward to getting out and about to meet some folks. <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #db1a1a; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive; font-size: 120%;">09/17/10 <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #db1a1a; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive; font-size: 120%;">So I have all of the forms. I am totally psyched to get this going. In addition, Mr. Glim and Ms. Carson have put together the spirit week to end all spirit weeks. Monday the 27-Oct 1. Monday is crazy hair, hat day; Tuesday is "Two for Tuesday" pick a twin and dress alike; Wednesday is dress like a teacher (students) or dress like a student (teachers); Thursday is color wars: 6th-Grey, 7th-White, 8th- Blue. We finish off with Freaky Friday and have the party from 3-5. Wow!!!!

09/16/10 The Art club is making a huge sign for the cafeteria. All of the forms are being printed by the district. Ms. Davitz has linked the TBFC to the front of the home page. All I need is students, parents and teachers to want to get involved. I also announced the first party on Friday Oct 1 from 3-5 right after school. Music will be provided by Personalities,Inc. It is the 4-F party....Flyers, Food, Fun, Free!!! Hope to see you there, Flyers.

<span style="color: #0900ff; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive;">09/15/10 <span style="color: #0900ff; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive;">The first curriculum night went very well last evening although I condensed everything I wanted to say in a short blurb. The whole point of the TBFC is on one hand to allow students to get recognized for all of their efforts but more importantly to encourage them to find something they really want to get involved with and then to "go for it".

<span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive;">09/14/10 <span style="color: #ff0e00; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive;"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">First curriculum night tonight where I will be announcing the formation of the TBFC and the launch. I have worked to make everything available on my wiki space and will encourage parents to join the wiki. 09/08/10 I am working fast and furious to get the TBFC ready for Curriculum nights and to begin the launch ASAP. Right now there will be a lead up during our first Spirit week which begins on September 27 with a launch party on October 1. Follow the Pages to TBFC and see what I have been working on. <span style="color: #ff0e00; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive;"> 09/07/10 <span style="color: #ff0e00; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive;">Sorry Sorry. My last post was last year. I was kind of sad because I wasn't sure if anybody actually read the post but times "they are a' changin'". I will be converting this wiki space to become what I hope will be an integral part of Attea Life. We are on track to launch a new organization at Attea called the "True Blue Flyer Crew". The TBFC is an organization dedicated to recognizing the efforts of our students in the areas of community and school service. It is open to everyone and all it takes is registration. In a nutshell if a student would like to be a member of the TBFC they just express a desire to document their efforts and then go for it. Students will be awarded Flyer Miles for every hour of service they perform either in school or in the community. There will be mileage markers along the way with a reward for each milestone they pass. Getting to the top gets your name on a perpetual placque that will hang forever at Attea. <span style="color: #ff0e00; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive;">There will be links to specific pages that will provide a more detailed description of the TBFC. I plan to announce the opening ceremonies at Curriculum nights. <span style="color: #ff0e00; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive;">Finally, If you are reading this please email me at: ksmith@glenview34.org so I can see what is happening out there. <span style="color: #ff0e00; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive;">You can head to the TBFC with this link: TBFC <span style="color: #ff0e00; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">10/07/09 <span style="color: #ff0e00; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">One more event. We will be holding our second after school activity on November 19. We are going to use a Veteran's Day theme and hope to raise funds for the "Yellow Ribbon Fund". The Yellow Ribbon organization provides for the families of injured servicemen as they recover at Walter Reed Hospital and the Naval Medical Center in DC. They provide housing, transportation, and etc. Any ideas or suggestions let me know. We have booked "Personalities" for the music.

10/06/09 Sometimes I get asked the proverbial question, "So what do you do?" Never really had an answer that worked but now I think I have one. If I were in a corporation I would be in the Human Resources division. Responsible for maintaining a healthy atmosphere for students and staff. Creating a means for everyone to do their job better, be it learning or teaching or administrating. Of course I am also the Public Safety Director. But it is starting to make sense. Hey if you read this send me an email to ksmith@glenview34.org. Just kind of want to know if anyone is out there.

Upcoming events (I am also the cruise director-Call me Julie all you oldsters) October 14th - 21 Primary activity will be knotting friendship bracelets, and door decorating

October 30 Halloween celebration- Yes we do celebrate Halloween and we have something special for the kids.

10/01/09 Sorry haven't been here for a week or so. The dance was a success yesterday. I have been in contact with some parents about engaging our older students in these really fun after school activities. Any ideas let me know. We do have some things in the hopper. I had the privilege of speaking to a group of school resource officers at our annual "people who do what we do" convention. My presentation centered on the proactive approach I take in the position I hold in the school. The idea of proactivity has been around for a long time and is particularly effective in a smaller environment like a school. I could sit in my office and wait to react to situations and deal with them after the damage has been done. That is not my way. I need to be out there doing things in prevention mode.

09/24/09 My younger son called from college yesterday in the early afternoon. Something that is rare for him so my first words were "are you in jail?" He took offense. But it got me to remind myself how it must feel as a parent to get that phone call home from school. It is why I was glad to see many of you at curriculum nights. I enjoy meeting parents. The more familiar we are with each other, the easier it is to make the world right after something goes wrong. Word on the 6th grade street is that I might appear to be a tad intimidating. I try very hard to not be that way. If they only knew how I fret about what I seem to be to them. Takes a while but we get there.

09/22/09 Something new appears in the think tank section. Ramblings from me. Think Tank

9/21/09 I believe in the "Flyers Pilot Politeness" initiative. This will work if I have to beat it into them. Just joking. We had a sign at the PD that read "The floggings will continue until morale improves". It is really fun to be polite. What I discovered was that there are many times when I am not as polite as I could be. I guess what is good for the officees is good for the officer. Curriculum nights this week. Please stop to say hello. I will be downstairs with the PTA and ambassadors selling water bottles, spirit wear and ID reels and otherwise "meetin' and greetin'.

09/17/09 Please, please, please review appropriate bus behavior with your children. Acceptable bus behavior includes: sitting properly in the seat. Speaking in quiet tones, hands-off at all times, no food. Seems very simple from my vantage point. Other than that not much going on. I am pondering something new regarding just being polite. In the morning (my favorite hour of the day) I get to help kids get to where they need to go and I am constantly trying to get them to ask nicely, to greet adults, and to greet each other. Sometimes I stand at the top of the stair or other place and as the teeming mass to adolescent humanity goes by I try to greet as many as I can with a friendly hello. I get lots of hellos in return and some of them look at me as if I have a third eye. Ahhh but we will never stop trying.

09/15/09 Mark your calendars. The first Student Senate after school party is Wednesday 9/30 from 3 till 5. Entertainment will be provided by the DJ's from "Personalities". We host these after school events to create an atmosphere of fun without the pressure of a "Dance". Pizza and water will be provided.

09/14/09 So two funny things today. 6th graders wanting me to do show and tell with my police "stuff". I didn't think they cared anymore. Then in 7th grade lunch I was confronted with a wall of 7th grade girls who wished to debate the dress code with me. I say to them "Girls, it's not where the skirt begins, it is where it ends".

9/13/09 I thought it would be a good idea to talk a little about the cafeteria. 8th grade dines first at 11:03. They finish at 11:27. 6th grade follows immediately at 11:30. They finish at high noon. 7th grade lunch begins at 12:15 and ends at 12:45. We are very careful not to rush the diners out of the cafeteria. Ideally, it shoud take about 20 minutes to eat and students and everyone will be outside for the last 10 minutes. Currently we have no issues getting outside because the weather is beautiful. One thing I would like to point out that we try hard not to rush students out of the cafe. Some will dawdle however.

910, 2009 Friday 9/11 we will be having Red, White and Blue Day. We do this both in rememberance of the attack on the WTC and Pentagon as well as a tribute to those who serve our country. Please encourage everyone to dress in R,W, and B. Also, the Flyer wear order forms are headed home. Check it out!!

September 2, 2009 Locker dimensions follow the link to the class of 2011. Sorry Class of 2012 I haven't gotten your page up yet. Class of 2011

September 8, 2009 So we changed up some of the rules on the playground as well as a rule in the cafeteria. Here are the updates and the rationale behind them. Our tables are set up for 7 diners at a round table and 12 diners at a long super table. We have to keep to this number because of overcrowding issues, trash issues, and making moving through the tables by supervisors easy. In the past we have allowed 8 or 13 but it just doesn't work. No more chair moving. Outside we have begun to enforce a "No Excessive Spinning" rule on the equipment. Excessive mean spinning someone for the express purpose of making them either dizzy or to make them fall off of the equipment. Just a safety issue on that one. I also uploaded photos of my opening bulletin boards.

September 2, 2009 First official blog of the new school year. We are off to a good start. It doesn't take long for our newest flyers to get in the groove. I haven't changed much this year except a locker and lock contract was signed by every student in the building. Crimes of opportunity will always be a big nemisis of mine. I intend to be very proactive ensuring lockers are secure. Just a quick reminder. Students are not allowed to ride any bus other than the one they are assigned to ride.

July 21, 2009 Alrighty then. We are getting ready to go for this year. I have once again read something that I think I can use. I want to have a theme so I get to have one. Ready? "Study Broadly. Serve Generously. Lead Courageously." I actually read this on an advertisement but what a way to think about the school year. My mind is racing with ideas. Stay tuned.

May 28, 2009 Sorry I haven't blogged for awhile. Had a great time at the Band/Choir/Orchestra trip to a Brewers' game yesterday. The kids were fantastic. I also learned that some 8th graders have been reading my posts. I have been waiting for this to happen. I hope they enjoy the reading. Thoughts on our promotion ceremony. 8th graders: This is an extremely important day for your parents, teachers, and other adults in your lives (me,for one). It should be an important day for you also. All those being promoted have worked hard and have had people working hard on their behalf. Please take an hour to recognize the effort. I posted a new bulletin board on the Bulletin Boards page. Bulletin Boards

May 19, 2009 Ok So I am sorry for not having an entry for a couple of days. Coolness all around. I have been teaching a fingerprinting unit for Omni math taught by Ms. Biller. It is really awesome to learn how to use a smartboard. I hope the kids are seeing another side of me. I sure have seen one of them. It is nice to see them in a learning environment. I have included some pictures.Fingerprinting Pictures

May 13, 2009 So what is it about the dress code that is so hard to understand? My personal belief is that shorts should hit mid-thigh and tops should never reveal cleavage. Moms and Dads-check your daughters. Guys this age just typically look crummy. You have the jocks in gym trunks and Ts and the skaters in baggy pants-I do not appreciate looking at boxers. Otherwise ok here. Had a wonderful student of the month presentation today. Congrats to all of our students of the month. Stay tuned as I begin the process of finalizing details for some end of the year procedures.

May 4, 2009 Kind of a cool advisory discussion today. I took the rights and privileges theme "right" to the kids. They know that a right is non-revokable and a privilige is granted. Discussion commenced about the dress code, specifically, offensive T-shirts, boys boxers and short shorts. Girls are offended by boxers but defend their right to short shorts. Boys are like, "who cares?" Offensive T-shirts they understand. On a scale of 1 to 10 my day was great!

May 1, 2009 So my wife (a teacher) made an interesting observation this morning. She remarked that it was a privilege to be in a classroom ( I think as she was contemplating recommending a student for an in school seclusion). So I began to think about the differences between a "right" and a "privilege" and how I might parlay that into a meaningful set of core values at Attea. Stay tuned.

April 30, 2009 I failed. My out of character failed, failed, failed!!! However I was asked by a student to show him my "whisper eye". I believe he made have been referring to a conversation I had with a student this morning and my tone and demeanor. Two things with me. I can be loud and demonstrative when making a point or very quiet when making a point. I work hard at always being quiet but sometimes that doesn't work. Let me also take a moment to thank my parent community. I feel very comfortable calling any parent in this building and probably the entire district. Hats off to you! Please head " Issues " for something I am interested in writing a bit more on.

April 29, 2009 Quiet today. 8th graders went to GBS to see the production of Guys and Dolls. This made for an uneventful 8th grade lunch. Happy news for me. I did something out of character today. April 28, 2009 The Pathfinder and Galaxy teams are busy writing graduation speeches. Every student writes a speech and then a panel of staff members select the speakers for graduation. So far the number one theme seems to be "moshing" into the building after recess. Oh please don't let a student address this at the ceremony. The speeches will be awesome as always. The weekly advisory seems to be going well. My group is quite entertaining but we get the more serious stuff done too. We are ramping up for the end of the year. Great America is right around the corner as is the Band, Choir and Orchestra trip to Milwaukee.

April 27, 2009 New Page! Bulletin Boards. I never knew that I would find a creative outlet with bulletin boards. Two things caused this to happen. The PTA granting my wish list of the letter maker and Stacey Heger for creative support. I have posted some pictures. The dance was a blast. I was dunked well over 150 times.Bulletin Boards

April 22, 2009 Big Dance Tomorrow. Dunk Tank and whatever.

April 7, 2009 Please follow the link to Issues for something that is on my mind. Thanks OKS April 16, 2009 I addressed the 8th grade class during lunch. To read this address follow the link to issues. April 18 Head to Issues to read the latest. April 20 Hey maybe they understand. Head to issues... 6th graders and parents head to class of 2011

Welcome to my WikiSpace. Here you will find something for everyone. If you are an incoming member of the class of 2011 check out your page. Parents, feel free to navigate around and check out your page. I will be doing some updating this week so stay tuned.TBFC