Sunday, February 25, 2018

February Break - The gift of time


2018.2.25

February Break - The gift of time
“Outtakes”. A snippet of thoughts to kick off this blog post:
The weather may not have been great over the break (except 70’s on Wednesday), but the time spent with family and friends certainly was!


What I am looking forward to putting into practice, or continuing:
Seeing the next Avielle Foundation speaker, Kevin Hines, on Tuesday (2/27). The series focuses on brain health, which is an interest of mine. Feel free to check out more information, here.


Quote(s) that resonated with me this week:
Spending time with family is priceless.


Choosing a topic to write about this week was easy for me. I decided to reflect on February break and what having a period of time that is a “change of pace”, means to me. At first, I thought it was a nice break with some extra periods of rest, and then I realized there was a lot of activity packed into the past week. Having President’s Day on Monday allowed our family to get a little extra rest and spend the morning together. That evening, my son Nicholas and I went down to NCHS to catch the Rams take on Staples. We got to see some colleagues that I spent many years working with, in my previous role in Westport and it was neat to see and chat with some student-athletes who I knew as well. The Rams kept it close, but could not close the gap in the fourth and the Wreckers came out victorious…

Over the course of the next few days, I was in the office and able to get some items checked off “the list”. Being at school “over break” has a completely different feel to it. I missed the hustle and bustle of the students and the daily operations, but it was nice to walk the building and observe things from a different pace and perspective. For example, I got to pause and really check out some of the artwork that was on display. As you will see in some of the photos below, our students are truly talented. Any interruptions that are typical on any given day were on hold and the feeling of getting caught up a little bit was nice.

Afternoons and evenings were busy as usual but allowed for some different activities. The schedule worked out that I happened to be able to speak to future education professionals at Sacred Heart University about the Benefits of Incorporating Movement into Learning during this week. This is something that I have done each semester for about four years and have always enjoyed and appreciated the opportunity to share on a topic that I am passionate about. Feel free to check out the presentation/resources, here. On Thursday evening, I attended the Parent University offered through the Bethel Public Schools (where we live). It was a well run event that showcased all that Bethel schools have to offer our children. Other evenings were filled with gathering with friends, gymnastic meets, and the regular schedule of practices and events.

While we did not get to go skiing as originally planned, I believe my favorite part of the week was simply seeing each of my three kids (Ellie, Brooke, & Nicholas) off on the bus on their way to school. It was only a few minutes, but it consisted of chatting, throwing a football around, and getting to see their daily routine that I normally never get to see. Getting them off the bus in the afternoon was also great. These are little moments for some, but I appreciate each opportunity to spend time and see them, and their routines, from a different perspective.

Overall, a little time away is good for everyone. After a small adjustment period, students come back ready to work and get back to business. Building and maintenance personnel are able to accomplish work that is difficult, or not possible, when there are almost 1,500 people in the building on a daily basis. The building itself has an opportunity to literally “get a breather” and welcome students back in a renewed state. Staff are refreshed and in a positive frame of mind. Everyone has had an opportunity to spend quality time with family, friends, and loved ones. To me, this is priceless.

Thanks for taking the time to check out my blog. Have a great week!

Tags: #family, break

Please feel free to contact or follow me:
Twitter: @DavidGusitsch

Blog: https://davidgusitsch.blogspot.com/

Email: david.gusitsch@ncps-k12.org


Here are a few pictures from the week:
Got a few jogs in at Huntington State Park over the break:




Some of the art on display at NCHS:




Sessions from the Bethel Public Schools Parent University on incorporating movement into learning and STEM/STEAM:










Presenting to a bunch of future professionals at Sacred Heart University on the Benefits of Movement in Learning. Of course, we got them up and moving throughout…:




Nicholas getting ready for school on “hat day”:




The Rams take on Staples on Monday:

Sunday, February 18, 2018

Professional Learning - February, 2018 Edition

2018.2.18

Professional Learning - February 16, 2018 Edition

“Outtakes”. A snippet of thoughts to kick off this blog post:
Professional learning is a critical part of continuous improvement. This is a snapshot of the morning session with the Science department.

What I am looking forward to putting into practice, or continuing:
I can not wait to get together with colleagues to process the work that was done during this PL session and discuss next steps to continue the great work that has done up to this point.

Quote(s) that resonated with me this week:
We teach humans (kids), not just content. Remember to build relationships.

“When writing the story of your life, don’t let anyone else hold the pen.”  ~ Harley Davidson


This week will consist of a look at the morning professional learning experience from Friday, 2/16. This topic is not part of a series, but I did do a reflection on our November PL Day as well, which you can check out, here. I do feel strongly that quality professional learning/development is a good way to keep staff inspired, foster growth, and continuously improve, which ultimately results in an improved experience for our students.

During the morning session, I worked with the Science department to continue the ongoing discussion of NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards) and how they will influence short term and long term future planning. We began with a share-out from one of our staff members, Jenny Chieda, who recently attended a state-level workshop. Her report was a broad overview that was well received and supported the work that we would be doing that morning. Next, we viewed a couple of quick motivational science videos. They each had their own purpose to inspire as well as take a glance at what the future of science holds. Please feel free to check them out below, I believe you will be inspired as well!

STEM Motivational Video:


Science is Everywhere:

Finally, to frame the thinking of all of our staff members, we quickly ran through the agenda to see what the session would consist of.

Before beginning the intense dive into documents, resources, and discussions, we spent a few minutes sharing what each teacher was most proud of over the course of the school year up to this point. To keep it anonymous and not put anyone on the spot we used the site, Menti. Teachers were able to enter their own “celebrations” through their devices and responses were displayed on the Smartboard at the front of the room. Teachers could enter as many responses as they would like and they ranged from “coffee” to “curriculum” but the coolest part of this exercise was when a word cloud was created with all of the responses, and “students” was largely displayed in the center. This was not intentional but it could not have been scripted any better! It reinforces why our teachers do what they do on a daily basis and why they love their work (they can not be “thanked” enough, but, “thank you”!).

As teachers transitioned into their work, they had an opportunity to “think” about their discipline and review many resources that would help them formulate their thoughts before “pairing” up with course alike colleagues. Conversations were rich and the running document that staff were recording their thoughts in was populating rapidly. After a quick break, we came back and had a quick “brain boost” with the activity, “Gotcha”. The whole group participated, laughed, and had a good time while refocusing on the remainder of the session. This was also role-modeling the importance of incorporating brain boosts, or brain breaks, into their classes on a consistent basis.

After a whole group “share” to hear perspectives from the different Science sub-groups (Bio, Chem, Earth, & Physics), we transitioned to our final activity, the “Back to the Future” protocol. The goal of this activity was to “place” teachers in 2025 to consider how the program has evolved, what experiences the students are having in their classes, what the program “looked like” in 2018, and finally, how they got there. The discussions were thoughtful, provocative, and I believe solidified the foundation for the work that will need to happen as we move forward in real-time.

My favorite part of the morning happened when staff were “dismissed” for lunch. While, I would have loved more time to continue the protocol, and having run workshops and presentations many times in the past, I know to stick to an agenda timeline and never go over time, especially when it runs into lunch. As the clock wound down and representatives from each group hung their response posters along a wall, we broke for lunch. Except, no one left. They all stayed, for several minutes, and read each other’s work, almost like a gallery walk. Having worked with this group before, I was not surprised with their professionalism, but I was impressed and proud to work with them!

After lunch, we listened to a technology keynote by Bill Deery to set the tone for the afternoon sessions that staff had to choose from. My intent is not to shortchange the afternoon session, but the plan for this blog post was to focus on the a.m. experience. Overall, it was a productive afternoon, and day, all around...

Thanks for taking the time to check out my blog. Have a great week!


Tags: #NGSS, #brainboost, #brainbreak, #Science

Please feel free to contact or follow me:
Twitter: @DavidGusitsch
Blog: https://davidgusitsch.blogspot.com/
Email: david.gusitsch@ncps-k12.org


Here are a few pictures from the professional learning sessions on Friday, 2/16/18:


Not surprisingly, “students” were at the center as teachers reflected on “celebrations” over the course of the school year!






A look at the outcomes that teachers were looking forward to achieving during the morning session:





Breakout groups at work with the Back to the Future activity:




Brainstorm reflections from 2025, 2018, and how we “got there”:




Caring professionals doing what caring professionals do, checking out each other's work on the gallery walk!




A few snaps from the afternoon session:




Sunday, February 11, 2018

School Culture - Choose Positive

2018.2.11

School Culture - Choose Positive

“Outtakes”. A snippet of thoughts to kick off this blog post:
The life we live is typically impacted by the lens we choose to view it through.

Perspective: a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view.


What I am looking forward to putting into practice, or continuing:
Highlighting positive events, activities, or actions around NCHS.


Quote(s) that resonated with me this week:
We can write our own story, or let someone else write it for us.


Each week, I consider a topic that would best represent how the week went or highlight something exceptional that took place. This was no exception this week, except this week was chock-full of activities and events. Instead of a particular occurrence, I wanted to put a spotlight on perspective and positive school culture. In addition to the regular agenda of meetings, visiting classes, and daily business, there were extracurricular activities, concerts, an evening budget meeting, a parent informational session, and more... Our schools in NCPS have SO MUCH “good” going on, every day. People do an amazing job of sharing through newsletters, twitter, blog posts, tv shows, and more, but we all have a choice as to how we perceive these messages.

A friend of mine, who does not work in education, sent me the below message. We share similar views as to what makes a successful, positive environment and often send/share messages that include such content. I found the one below to be particularly accurate when considering how we see the world around us. Are we seeing what is most important to us, or are we seeing things from many different perspectives?

What do you see?
By, Seth Godin

A better question might be, "what do you choose to see?"
If I take four professionals to the Whitney:
The architect sees the building, the sight lines, the way the people and the light flow.
The framer notices the craftsmanship and taste in the way the paintings are framed and hung.
The lighting designer can't help but comment on the new LEDs.
And the art dealer sees the names of each artist and marvels over career arcs.
When you read a blog post, or see a successful project or read about an innovation, what do you see?
Do you see the emotions and the fear and the grit of the people behind it?
Do you see the strategy and high-level analysis that went into it?
Or do you see the execution and technique?
Some people are willingly blind to metaphor, viewing each example as a special case. Others manage to connect the dots and find what they need just about anywhere.
You might not need more exposure to the new. Instead, it might pay to re-see what's already around you.

To be realistic, it is not always roses and there are trying times to work through as well. This is when it is important to remember the big picture and each component that makes up our great NCPS system. The below parable can be dated back thousands of years. I first heard it at a conference several years ago, and it has always stuck with me. If we only consider what we see in our own particular silos, we miss the sum of all of its parts. The fact that each person is “correct” in their observation, but “incorrect” from an overall viewpoint shows the importance of perspective. We should all do our best to listen and try to truly understand where someone is coming from before making a judgment call, or even trying to help.

The blind men and the elephant:






From: wikipediaThe parable of the blind men and an elephant originated in the ancient Indian subcontinent, from where it has been widely diffused. It is a story of a group of blind men, who have never come across an elephant before and who learn and conceptualize what the elephant is like by touching it. Each blind man feels a different part of the elephant body, but only one part, such as the side or the tusk. They then describe the elephant based on their partial experience and their descriptions are in complete disagreement on what an elephant is. In some versions, they come to suspect that the other person is dishonest and they come to blows. The moral of the parable is that humans have a tendency to project their partial experiences as the whole truth, ignore other people's partial experiences, and one should consider that one may be partially right and may have partial information.

Looking ahead, this will be a topic that I will revisit. I am looking forward to attending RULER Training at Yale next month! It will focus on emotional intelligence, and ultimately overall positive school culture. Stay tuned for more positivity...

Thanks for taking the time to check out my blog. Have a great week!


Tags: #ChoosePositive, @mrmcateer, @Hernbergler, @cveets117, NCHS Band, NCHS Orchestra, NCHS Chorus, NCHS Athletics, @ThisIsSethsBlog, @NCHS_CT, #perspective


Please feel free to contact or follow me:
Twitter: @DavidGusitsch
Blog: https://davidgusitsch.blogspot.com/
Email: david.gusitsch@ncps-k12.org


Here are a few pics, and a video, to support positive perspective and all the “good” that goes on around us, all the time:

Definitely one of my favorite displays at NCHS. Celebrating positivity!:






One Second Everyday (1SE) from NCHS, August - February:
Check out the youtube clip, here.



Students in action comparing evaporation rates in a lab with Mr. Hague:




Students get creative in Mr. Honohan’s Woodworking class:




Mr. McAteer’s flexible learning environment:





Ms. Martinich’s class discussing perspective by making observations from a “busy” scene:





The NCHS chorus and orchestra join forces for an amazing rendition of Carmina Burana:





The NCHS band kicks off the “All Ensemble” concert:





There is something for everyone at NCHS! Here is a nice, large group of parents attending a parent workshop on standardized testing:





It may have been a rainy/snowy morning, but Mrs. Vita caught/shared a great sunrise:





Lots of NCHS sporting events took place this week. Here are a few:








Ms. Hernberg shared some creative learning in her classes this week:



Instead of “first”, I prefer “Frequent Attempts In Learning”:



Sunday, February 4, 2018

Brainstorm Experience - The Power of Positivity and Optimism



2018.2.4

Brainstorm Experience - The Power of Positivity and Optimism

“Outtakes”. A snippet of thoughts to kick off this blog post:
We all know that there is power in positivity and optimism, but it is usually easier to say than to do. Hearing from someone (Steve Gross) who has brought joy to some of the most grief-stricken areas on the planet, in a community like Newtown, puts many things in perspective.


What I am looking forward to putting into practice, or continuing:
Being grateful for all that I have.

Leading by example and maintaining a positive attitude.


Quote(s) that resonated with me this week:
“Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care.”

“If you want to be more optimistic, act like you already are.” Life is Good Kids Foundation, Core Belief

“Life isn’t easy, but there is goodness all around if we allow our brains to see it.” ~ Steve Gross



This past Thursday (2/1), I was fortunate to be able to attend the first-ever Brainstorm Experience event, put on by the Avielle Foundation, at the Edmond Town Hall in Newtown (CT). They brought in Steve Gross (@ChiefPlaymaker) from the Life is Good Kids Foundation. Steve is, “a leader in the field of psychological trauma response and a pioneer in utilizing playful engagement and meaningful relationships to overcome the devastating impact of early childhood trauma.” I heard Steve speak last March in Boston at the SHAPE America National Convention and his message is one that I could listen to a dozen time and still benefit. Before getting into this particular event, it is important to provide a little context.

The Avielle Foundation was founded in December, 2012 by her parents after Avielle was tragically lost in the Sandy Hook school shooting. Their mission is, “to prevent violence and build compassion through neuroscience research, community engagement, and education”. They have committed their lives to researching and educating others on the science of the brain and hopefully help avoid future tragedies. To be in an auditorium with many people directly impacted by this tragedy who have come together to help others, is humbling. To say that the evening overall was moving would be an understatement. The event kicked off with an emotional song sung by a talented young lady accompanied by a gentleman with a guitar. It was evident the song was about Avielle, which made it that much more emotional.

After the intro song, Steve was introduced. To set the tone, he got the full-house up on their feet, put on an upbeat song, and got everyone moving and interacting. He called out numbers “one” through “six” which equated to people raising their hands up in the air, waving them side to side, doing an invisible hula hoop, hugging the person next to you, and double high-fiving. After just a couple of minutes, everyone in the room was re-energized, smiling, and ready to learn!

My biggest takeaway from the evening was that we are all not wired the same, but we all have a choice to how we respond to different events in our lives. Steve used the glass half-empty, half-full analogy with a level above and below each delineates “types of people”. Those additional people were, “I’m just grateful for the glass” to represent those eternally optimistic people, and, “There’s a spot on my freakin’ glass” to represent those who can find the negative in just about anything. Regardless of how we are wired, it is up to us to choose the positives that exist in ourselves, in others, and in the world around us.

The “world around us” can be the most challenging. To put this in perspective, he asked the crowd who thought the world was better off now than it used to be? Who thought it was about the same? And, who thought it was worse off than it used to be? This is obviously subjective and open to vast interpretation. Not surprisingly, it was a fairly even mix of responses between the three, from what I could tell from my seat.

The next slide was a collage of horrible news headlines (one reason, I am not a fan of mainstream media and the negativity that is constantly bombarding our society). The next three slides showed how the world has indeed improved from the 1800’s with a drop in global poverty, a rise in global literacy, and a drop in global child mortality (you can see these slides below). The point is, there are so many situations to be grateful for. Some may be more immediate, while others have been making progress for hundreds of years.

From a physiological standpoint, Steve showed a slide of a brain that has a significant amount more dendrite development from being in an enriched, nurtured environment. This particular study had to do with rats and being held by their caretakers, but the science holds up whether you are talking about rats, or humans. Research such as this shows the need to create and foster a positive learning environment for our students so we are able to help them grow cognitively, physically, socially, and emotionally. All four of these are equally important.

Overall, the foundation of optimism is what helps our “well-rounded” tree of positivity (my words) grow. By no means, does this mean that we will not have to deal with adversity or work through difficult situations. However, having your emotional bank filled with lots of positive equity, allows for us to be more resilient during these trying times. The quote, “We can’t change what happened yesterday, we can’t control what will happen tomorrow, but we can LIVE in the moment…” is a fitting way to wrap this up. Things may be out of our control, but we can control how we respond and appreciate what we have in our lives right now...

Before signing off, it is worth noting that the next Brainstorm Experience speaker will be Kevin Hines with his talk, Cracked, Not Broken. Kevin is, “an avid brain health advocate who shares a powerful story of life after his Golden Gate Bridge suicide attempt, with the message that you are never alone in the fight for wellness”. Treat yourself to an educational evening out and support the Avielle Foundation and the Brainstorm Experience by purchasing tickets, here.

Thanks for taking the time to check out my blog. Have a great week!


Tags: #BrainstormExperience, @ChiefPlaymaker, Avielle Foundation, Life is Good, #positivity, #optimism, #grateful


Please feel free to contact or follow me:
Twitter: @DavidGusitsch

Blog: https://davidgusitsch.blogspot.com/

Email: david.gusitsch@ncps-k12.org



Here are a few pics from the Brainstorm Experience event:





This graphic says so much:



The equation to a successful life, “Optimism over Adversity”:




Is the world better off now? It’s open to interpretation:



Physiological response to an “enriched” environment:



So true: