“There’s another mindset in which…[intelligence, personality, and character]…are not simply a hand you’re dealt and have to live with, always trying to convince yourself and others that you have a royal flush when you’re secretly worried it’s a pair of tens. In this mindset, the hand you’re dealt is just the starting point for development. This growth mindset is based on the belief that your basic qualities are things you can cultivate through your efforts.” (Dweck, p. 7) This quote really resonates with me as I am constantly learning and growing from each experience every day. I used to view life with a fixed mindset, feeling that I was who I was, without the capacity for growth, and learning experiences were a reminder (or I thought they were) of everything I did not know. What a terrible way to view my own world! Dweck’s book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. How We Can Learn To Fulfill Our Potential, is my choice for our book study and it has already had a profound impact on how I view myself as a lifelong learner. I hope you are finding your books are striking the right notes with you as you work your way through the pages. I’d love to hear about what you are learning, wondering, or questioning.

Chris forwarded this week’s learning link which comes from Pernille Ripp’s blog (https://pernillesripp.com/) and it speaks to exactly what we are doing as a team at Waldheim School, learning together. Pernille’s words echo how Chris and I feel as learners when she says, “we are all a work in progress and such we all have much to share.  We are all a work in progress, with so much still to learn.  Do not be afraid of opening your door and letting the world in.  We are all in this together.” Do you feel safe opening your door to your colleagues? If you do, how has that culture been created and how can we ensure it will be sustained? If you do not, what do you think you need to get over that hump?

There was a nice example of this willingness to open our doors on Friday as Sharlene held her Writers Workshop Café. The room was buzzing as her young authors were sharing their work with parents who were captured by their tales. Of course a café isn’t a café without coffee, juice, and treats, and based on the feedback from the students everything was “awesome!”

The second link is a cool video that is more evidence that kids are pretty creative when we get out of their way. If you have the time to watch this think about everything this young creator learned during his experience. Pretty fun stuff going on….my favorite is the jacket on the slide.

Here is what lies ahead for us on this 5 day week!

Monday:

• Bus driver appreciation day

Tuesday:

• Chris away
• SCC meeting 5:00

Wednesday:

• Chris & Bruce away over noon with Darrel Derksen

Thursday:

• Elementary Carnival 4:30

Friday:

• Subway Sale!

Saturday:

• Sr. boys host regional soccer (good luck Brenda!)