<![CDATA[Clallam Bay School - Bruin Bites News]]>Wed, 13 Feb 2013 17:15:11 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[Are You a "Not See-er?"]]>Wed, 21 Nov 2012 02:01:36 GMThttp://cbsbruins.weebly.com/1/post/2012/11/are-you-a-not-see-er.htmlWhen I was growing up, there was someone I knew that always used
the same remark when she heard someone complaining. Her remark was, “You’re
problem is that you are a Not See-er!” I remember thinking the woman was a bit
weird when she said that until one day I asked her to explain herself. She told
me that, too many times, people look at challenges in their life as an obstacle.
She wanted to help people change their perspective and see the opportunity.
Maybe it was the opportunity to grow, try something new, or merely be grateful. 

A perfect example happened to me just this week. I was complaining
to this same person about how sleepy I was and that I could NOT get comfortable
enough in my bed to have a restful night’s sleep. The response I got was a “Not
See” moment—”Well, at least you had a bed to sleep in, and I bet the bed was in
a nice, warm room.” Ouch! But you know what? It changed my perspective and I had
a better day because I had a better attitude. I have come to the conclusion
that, many times, our challenges are amazing opportunities; they’re just in
disguise.

I wonder what would happen if each of us looked at our challenges
and rather than be a “Not See-er” looked for the opportunity. Try it for one
week and see what happens. The results just may be the very thing you were
looking for. 


 
 
]]><![CDATA[September 14th, 2012]]>Fri, 14 Sep 2012 21:42:13 GMThttp://cbsbruins.weebly.com/1/post/2012/09/september-14th-2012.htmlSay Cheese!
Mark your calendar! Picture Day is coming on Tuesday, September
18th.  Look for more information on your child's Picture Day flyer
/order form. Visit Lifetouch.com for clothing suggestions, online payment
details, and more.


 

Bus Circle

The circular driveway in front of the school is for bus loading and
unloading only. No cars are to be in this area, especially before and after
school. Please join us in making sure this area is safe for our
students.


 
]]><![CDATA[Happy New Year!]]>Mon, 03 Sep 2012 23:25:27 GMThttp://cbsbruins.weebly.com/1/post/2012/09/happy-new-year.htmlPicture
Growing up, my mom used to always tell my siblings and me that we have been given the gift of new beginnings in many parts of life: BEGINNING of the year, BEGINNING of the month, BEGINNING of the week, even BEGINNING of the day and hour!

That's how I look at school. Each new school year is a new beginning. What a gift and opportunity! What will you do with yours? 

SOME NEW FACES
There are a few new faces at Clallam Bay School. The staff would like to welcome Libby Cope and Shannon McIntire to our school. Libby is our new AmericCorps worker; Shannon is our new speech and language pathologist. Welcome to Clallam Bay. If you get a chance to meet them, please make them feel welcome to our community and school.

GOING GREEN
This year we are making every effort to conserve and go green as much as possible. One of our goals is to minimize the use of paper when possible. Unless there are time sensitive materials or urgent announcements, all future weekly bulletins and newsletters as well as the student handbooks will be available online. If you would like to continue receiving paper copies, please call the school to let us know.

If you need any assistance with Family Access, please contact Kim or Karen for information regarding your username and/or password. This information will allow you to check your child's progress online, which is one more way to go paperless.

ELECTRONICS
Instilling knowledge is a responsibility that is not taken lightly. As educators, every precaution is taken to insure academic integrity and decrease disruptions to the learning environment. therefore, beginning this year, all electronic devices will be turned off while at school, following Cape Flatter School Board policy 3246. When you enter into the school, make sure all cell phones and any devices used to list to music, including headphones, are put away. This will also decrease the possibility of these items becoming lost or stolen as well as decrease the potential violation of privacy rights of others.

It is a goal of the Clallam Bay Staff to challenge each of you to optimize every learning opportunity given so that your success will extend to not only this year, but into the unforeseeable future.
]]><![CDATA[Student for a Day]]>Mon, 16 Apr 2012 16:38:26 GMThttp://cbsbruins.weebly.com/1/post/2012/04/student-for-a-day.htmlOver the past couple of months, I have had the opportunity to switch roles with three students and attend their classes as a student for the day: G. Sprague, X. Sollars, and J. Welever. It has been a great experience for them and me. I wanted to thank the teachers that went along with me coming into their rooms as a student. It was great to review content from lessons long ago as well as learn some new things. In talking to all three of  these students, it is clear that they have each gained a new level of respect for those in education and the level of work they are willing to put in for the students. I also wanted to acknowledge our students. After having three days to walk in their shoes, I am more aware of the daily pressures our students face. Between social media and state tests, there are many new forces that students have to contend with that were not a part of everyday life when I was their age. I am very proud of these three and all those that continue to rise to the challenge set before them each day as a student.

]]><![CDATA[Being Principal for a Day by J. Welever]]>Mon, 16 Apr 2012 16:37:50 GMThttp://cbsbruins.weebly.com/1/post/2012/04/being-principal-for-a-day-by-j-welever1.htmlMy day as the principal was amazing. It was really fun to go around and see what the different classes do. It was also fun to talk with the students. R. Willis, a very good friend of mine, called me Mr. Welever. If I could, I’d given him an extra ice cream sandwich at lunch!

This was an awesome experience and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. When I saw how much fun the kindergarten kids were having with school, I became so jealous. No offense to my teachers, but they got snack time! :)

]]><![CDATA[A Day in the Principal's Shoes by X. Sollars]]>Mon, 16 Apr 2012 16:35:21 GMThttp://cbsbruins.weebly.com/1/post/2012/04/a-day-in-the-principals-shoes-by-x-sollars.htmlIt was a cold, spring day when I stepped into the office of Clallam Bay High School. I wasn’t ready for the day ahead of me. I thought it was all fun and games, but actually it’s hard work. The first place I went to was Mrs. McCoy’s between 8:30 and 9:00. They were reading The Wizard of Oz. Even though everyone looked tired, they responded to questions and connected like they were wide awake. Next was Mr. Wonderly’s class, which was a little rowdy. I want to thank G. Teel for the cookies and G. Sprague for the brownies. They were amazing; they were baked to perfection. In Mrs. Leiza’s class, everyone was helping each other and working quietly on math. In Mrs. Erickson’s class, everyone was saying that subtraction was easy. There was one I talked to that was doing measurements and said that it was easy. The last class I went to which was by far the best classroom I was in for elementary. It was Mrs. Young’s class; everyone was playing math bingo quietly and talking at a level 1. Today was great. I got to see the school in another perspective today. Teachers sacrifice their weekend and time with their family for us. Show a little more respect towards them. If I had to do it again, I would. All the principal would have to do is ask, and I would need an agenda. It was also fun delivering the sherbet cups; everyone enjoyed them. Thank you for the chance of being principal.

]]><![CDATA[Prinicpal for a Day by G. Sprague]]>Fri, 09 Mar 2012 17:31:00 GMThttp://cbsbruins.weebly.com/1/post/2012/03/prinicpal-for-a-day-by-g-sprague.htmlI had a good day being principal, but I also missed my class and work. I got to visit classes and do principal work. I also got to read to the kindergarten and first grade. All day, I was wondering how my friends were doing, but I still had a good day.

I wish I could be principal every day. It would be fun. I would make kids have more veggies than candy. Another thing was that people don’t treat you the same as they do when you are a kid.

The worst part of my day was when I saw kids not listening to their teachers. The best part of the day was when I gave the elementary students ice cream. This day has made me have more respect for the people that work here.

I hope if you become a principal, you’re not as busy as me and that you have a good time doing it.

]]><![CDATA[Lessons From My Youth]]>Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:33:16 GMThttp://cbsbruins.weebly.com/1/post/2012/02/lessons-from-my-youth.htmlThis month, my family will be traveling down to California for Jack Smith’s, my grandfather’s funeral. He was the only grandparent I had growing up. While I am sad about his passing, I look forward to the time with my family and the opportunity to share our favorite memories of him.

One of the memories that stands out in my head about my grandfather was his work ethic. No matter what Jack did, whether it was work at the post office or his prize winning garden, he strived to do it his best.

This was a trait that Jack instilled in my dad. No matter what my dad does, he strives to do it to the best of his abilities. Both of my parents raised my siblings and myself with the mantra “Do and be your best!” All of us are grown and I see that legacy being lived out in the lives of each of my siblings.

Guess what? I now have children of my own. My husband and I strive to instill this same trait in each of them as well. I often hear myself tell my children to “do and be your best.” It is a legacy, a tradition that has stood the test of time.

In the short time I have been at Clallam Bay, it is very evident that there is a strong sense of tradition. There have been quite a few times this year that members of the community have shared stories with me about their memories and experiences at Clallam Bay School. There is a common thread in each story: the pursuit of excellence.

As we begin this new year and a new semester, it is evident that this legacy of excellence continues. I see staff going the extra mile to make sure students are successful. I see students that have partnered with staff and are learning to become self advocates. I see parents that challenge their children to step outside of their comfort zones for the purpose of being successful.

It is my goal that Clallam Bay School remain a premier learning community. May we all strive to do and be our best! ]]><![CDATA[A Community of One]]>Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:19:34 GMThttp://cbsbruins.weebly.com/1/post/2012/01/a-community-of-one.htmlDuring our past Winter Break, I received a phone call late one night. It was from the security company that our school contracts with letting me know that an alarm had been set. I quickly got ready and headed to the school to find the fire alarms blaring! With the help of Bob Cain, we found that there was smoke in the big gym. We called the fire department and they came to investigate. It turns out there was a fan that malfunctioned and everything was fine. What I observed from the emergency fire fighters, however, was something that truly intrigued me.

There was one person with the emergency team whose sole purpose seemed to be to make sure everyone was accounted for. This was done through the buddy system and making sure that everyone was accounted for anytime anyone went into the building or came out. If someone did not follow the protocol, this designee went to that person and reminded them of the safety precautions put into place. 

As a team, they not only made sure that the school was okay, but that everyone there was okay as well. The mission was a success! In essence, there was a partnership that recognized the success of their team (or community) was dependent on the success of the individual. I am very grateful for all the help each individual was that night and for the teamwork that was demonstrated.

I really struggled with what to write in the new year. I didn’t want to write about resolutions; those are rarely successful and not always realistic. This evening gave me the exact message I wanted to convey: as we begin 2012 and continue in the current school year, my desire is to see a partnership between the school and the community. My desire is for this partnership to be committed to the success of each individual student so that we may see a successful school. With a successful school, the potential for greatness within the community is endless! I wonder, will you help us become a community of one?

On behalf of Clallam Bay School, I would like to thank our volunteer fire fighters and emergency crew that responded to the alarms during Winter Break. These people are Chief Trish English, Norm Dauth, Jeff Fulks, Heather Quinones, James Brock, Scott Moore, Jackie Ahrens, and our own Taylor Dobson and Diane Leiza. We appreciate your willingness to serve our community.





]]><![CDATA[You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch!]]>Fri, 02 Dec 2011 02:16:28 GMThttp://cbsbruins.weebly.com/1/post/2011/12/first-post.htmlDo you participate in the Black Friday shopping frenzy? I do. I have been doing it for about five years now. I admit I go for the great deals. However, the main reason I go is to watch the people around me. In the past five years,  I have found some amazing deals! You know what else I have found? I have seen women fist fight over dolls (there were plenty of them all over the place). I have seen someone buy a 90 inch screen TV and then try to fit it in a Volkswagen Bug (my favorite sight). This year, there was a huge fight at Wal-Mart over holiday towels. I have to say I was a little shocked at the towel fight.

It also got me to thinking about a few things. 

¨ In the next ten years, will the recipients of these gifts even remember them or their giver?

¨ In the midst of all the chaos, was there any joy in the purchase of the gift, or was it simply a name to check off of a list?

I love this time of the year for many reasons. At the top of this list is the time I get with my family. I also love to watch the faces of my children as they look at lights displays and look for the possibility of snow. I also like the opportunity it gives to do just that, give. In that spirit, I am reminded of a line from one of my favorite books, How the Grinch Stole Christmas: “He puzzled and puzzled till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. Maybe Christmas, he thought... doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps... means a little bit more!”

Beginning next week, the students of Clallam Bay have an opportunity to give. We will begin our Annual Food Drive on Monday, December 5. It will last until Friday, December 16. Our goal is to bring in as much as possible so that we can give to as many as possible. It is a great cause and I thank you in advance for your help.



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