What a tremendous weekend! The fun started for me Friday night as I got to go see one of my favorite things, live WWE wrestling. Now, before you laugh, or worse….judge….I’ve enjoyed this entertainment for years, dating way back to the late ’70s when I used to get caught up in Stampede Wrestling. And yes, I know it’s staged, but it’s still fun! Saturday and Sunday were quiet days around the house, I caught up on some reading and some laundry, which were both overdue, and now I look forward to another great week of learning.

If you will allow me to go back to the wrestling event I went to, I made a connection on the drive home between what I had been a part of and a conversation Jon Yellowlees, Jesse and I had earlier that same day. Jon was curious about the work we had been doing at school, and more specifically around our school goals. I shared with him the work you did on Friday, November 6th, and I was so excited to share stories from our day of learning together. As he read over the goals we discussed, and as he reviewed the great things you are focusing on he asked me a question that I struggled to answer. He asked, “what is that one common goal the entire staff is working towards this year?” The thing was, I knew that question was coming, and still I struggled with putting into words what that goal is, that one thing that unites us all, regardless of assignment or grade. As we talked, and as he coached, it became clear to him what it is we are working on. Every adult at Waldheim School will have a deep and thorough understanding of every student they work with as learners in their subject area(s). What it took for Jesse and I was a coach to reflect to us what it is we are doing, and it helped me see the forest from the trees.

So, what is the connection between our school goal and a bunch of pumped up professional wrestlers? I started to think about the goal that company has each and every time they go out and perform. These guys travel the road, working over 200 days per year for different audiences all over North America, and their goal is simple; give every fan in the crowd an exciting evening where they can suspend belief and root for the good guy and boo the bad guy. Now, for that company, it does not matter if you are the guy who sets up the ring or the girl who announces the wrestlers or the two mammoth men who fight in the main event, everyone plays a role in achieving the company’s goal.

As you think about our goal, every adult at Waldheim School will have a deep and thorough understanding of every student they work with as learners in their subject area(s), how do you feel? How does your professional goal that you are working on support the broader goal? I think about the conversation I had with Evan earlier this year, and how he is working towards developing assessments that go beyond the typical pencil and paper tests that are typical of a math class. I think about how doing this will lead to a deeper understanding of his students, and thus support our broader school goal. I’m looking forward to many more discussions with all of you about your goal and how it supports the work we are all doing.

Here’s what lies ahead this week:

Monday:

• beep, beep,  bus driver appreciation day!
• classroom visits: what question can I ask you to help you reflect?

Tuesday:

• Jesse away at ALT coaching
• classroom visits: what question can I ask you to help you reflect?

Wednesday:

• Jesse away at ALT coaching (day 2)
• classroom visits: what question can I ask you to help you reflect?

Thursday:

• classroom visits: what question can I ask you to help you reflect?

Friday:

• classroom visits: what question can I ask you to help you reflect?

As always, create a great week!