Sunday, December 11, 2016

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Great job on the Christmas party decorations on Thursday!  The more prep work you can get done before an event, the better.  Keep that in mind as you work on all your action items this week.  Communicate with your committees.  We don't want our activity tower to come crumbling down due to someone forgetting to accomplish their action item.

The Variety Show Committee should be hard at work working on the run-down, reminding performers, acquiring necessary music, preparing intros, planning BINGO, printing BINGO cards, etc...

The Communications Committee should be hard at work REMINDING people to WEAR PAJAMAS!!  Also, you need to remind people to bring their toppings!! Please send out emails, Trey!  This is ESSENTIAL!

Everyone should be preparing their favorite pair of pajamas to wear! I can't imagine what Teacher Schmeider is going to do to you if you DON'T wear your pajamas.  (It might involve cake or pies;))!

If you will be serving, it would be extra awesome if you can bring an apron to wear, to protect your favorite pajamas that you WILL be wearing.

On Thursday, be ready to report to your stations immediately after 2nd hour.  We will need ALL hands on deck ASAP!  Merry, Katie, and I (and hopefully Teacher Schmeider) will hopefully have mountains and mountains of pancakes all ready to eat by 11:30 a.m.

If you would like to come to FILA early, we would love extra hands finishing off the decor.

During our 4th hour class we will debrief the party.  I will allow all committee heads to lead the debrief.  This will allow you to check off that requirement.  Remember if you submit your written debrief to me, you will also get another requirement checked off!  My excitement is growing over all these check marks.

Following our debrief we will have an exciting round of the White Elephant Exchange game.  I will bring all the gifts.  You are all interested in framed photos of me, right?

Over the break, I suggest you finish reading Watership Down and working on your approach paper.  You will find all the details in your Leadership Class binder.   (Dean, I have your binder in my bag.)
Also, I suggest you start volunteering anywhere you can!  You need 20 hours by May.

Thanks, everyone!  You are truly a dream team!

PS - Did I mention that you BETTER show up in PAJAMAS?!?!


Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Peace, Committees and Scholar Corner

"Impressive, most impressive." - Darth Vadar

This quote perfectly illustrates how I feel about your behavior and class demeanor.  Thank you for making such a positive change.  I feel like I am in a completely different classroom.

With that being said, on Thursday, Katie Blanchard delivered her book presentation on the book, The Anatomy of Peace.  I personally loved the stories and excerpts she shared from the book.  This book can easily apply to any facet of our life because contention is unfortunately EVERYWHERE.  A leader that can keep peace is valuable indeed!  Thank you for the topic choice, Katie!!  Well done.

Bravo to all of you that completed your book presentation.  You are one step closer to attending our fabulous LEADER RETREAT (aka.  super fun adventure/party!).

After Katie's fine presentation we discussed the importance of committees.  We then went to work in our committees, deciding our action items and goals.  For the Christmas party we have the following committees:  communications, variety show/BINGO, decor, pancake, and the candy cane hunt.
You all came up with great goals and action items, especially the pancake committee ; ).  I hope the action items are in your thoughts and that you are working on them this week.  

Before class was over, we brought to the table the issue of the SCHOLAR TABLES in the Fellowship Hall.  We resolved to set up a Scholar Corner during lunch.  Trey, will you please bring this issue to the board meeting for approval?  Thank you!

And finally, we talked about the possibility of having a white elephant gift exchange after we debrief the Christmas party.  This idea was met with trepidation from some, so I resolve that I will provide ALL the white elephant gifts for the exchange.  So don't expect an old gum wrapper, but also don't expect an i-pod : )!  Just come ready to have fun and maybe shed a few tears.

This week during class we will start decorating the Fellowship Hall for the party.  BRING YOUR SNOWFLAKES AND PAPER CHAINS!!!
Also, if you want to make plain white paper chains with printer paper from home (or old worksheets, etc) that would be simply GRAND!!

Thanks, everyone!!  Teacher Kellie and I love working with you SO very much!!!

Sincerely,
Teacher Jennifer

PS - Communications committee, stay on top of your email, Facebook reminders.  Also, make this week's lunch announcement AMAZING and EXCITING!!  I'm picturing Trey in his pajamas showing everyone HOW they should look for the party next week!  

Also, Trey, make sure all the sign - up spots for the pancake toppings are filled with volunteers!  Look at the co-op member list to see whom has not signed up, and zero in on them this week during lunch; )!!  THANK YOU!!!!

PSS-  How is everyone doing on Watership Down?  Dare I call it the BEST BOOK EVER?  Read it with thoughts of leadership in mind.