Month: January 2019

MBE Week At A Glance (WAG): Jan 21st – Jan 27th, 2019

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Monday, Jan 21st

  • No School in Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King’s Birthday and Legacy

Tuesday, Jan 22nd

  • 4:00 PM – 7:30 PM Talent Show Auditions

Wednesday, Jan 23rd

  • 2:35 PM – 3:15 PM Doug Scheer “Les Trouble, P.I.” Assembly

Thursday, Jan 24th

  • 9:00 AM – 12:15 PM MBE Child Study TEAM
  • 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM ASD TEAM

Friday, Jan 25th

  • 12:10 Dismissal
  • Wear Your “Be A Hero” Shirt!
  • Afternoon Professional Learning (Staff)

Saturday, Jan 26th – No Special Events

Sunday, Jan 27th – No Special Events

MBE Green Schools Update & Green Scene News!

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The MB Green Schools committee once again collected old and broken holiday lights to recycle.

We collected a large box full – 215 lbs worth!

That translated to just over $15 – way to go Meadow Brook!

All the lights (along with the other items from the electronics/cell phone bin in the lobby) were taken to Rochester Recycling to be properly recycled.

Congratulations to Rochester & Adams High schools that had their Recylebank Grants accepted!

Check them out here Green Schools Donations.  Let’s help to get the projects funded at our students’ future high schools!

Please see the MB Green Schools first monthly Green Scene News where we will be providing monthly recycle/reuse/reduce items, a living green tip, and information to help you recycle additional household items around town.

Congratulations To Our PTA Founder’s Day Nominees!

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Safe. Respectful. Responsible.

Congratulations to Meadow Brook’s PTA Founder’s Day Nominees!

Audrey Hernandez: Audrey has been an integral part of the Meadow Brook PTA community for the past four years. During that time she has served as Authors in April Co-chair and Green Schools Chair, where she has worked diligently to get full-scale recycling implemented throughout the school. She has also helped with the Spring Carnival, our biggest fundraiser, and is organizing the fifth grade farewell party this year.

Allison Patterson: Allison has been an active member of the Meadow Brook PTA for years, serving as Corresponding Secretary for two years and currently as Vice President. She started the annual Trunk or Treat at Meadow Brook, helps with the Spring Carnival, and also serves as the Health & Wellness Chair, where she coordinates the fourth-grade Health & Wellness Fair and is beginning to focus on mental health/well-being programs.

Robert Ebbole: Robert is the physical education teacher at Meadow Brook. Each year he works hand-in-hand with the PTA to coordinate the annual Fall Fun Run, one of the biggest fundraisers, where he motivates the students in running and healthy living. He also coordinates Field Day every spring, with help from the PTA, bringing in new games and activities each year. He also always lends a hand with set-up and clean-up for assemblies and other PTA events.

You are all Meadow Brook Heroes!

The PTA Needs You: Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities!

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The PTA is looking for staff and parents who are willing and able to help with a few different upcoming projects.

Our Health & Wellness Team is starting a Kindness/Positivity/Hero committee to look into ways to incorporate more kindness and positivity projects/activities into the school.

The committee will be meeting this Wednesday Jan. 23 at 9:30 a.m. in the planning room.

If you’d like to help out but can’t make this meeting, contact Allison Patterson (algal1@ameritech.net).

Also, as part of our continued School of Excellence improvement plan, we are looking for ways to incorporate signs throughout the school in multiple languages and would love to get some help from those of you who speak other languages.

If you are interested in helping out with this project, please email ptameadowbrookelementary@gmail.com.

There’s Still Time To Join The Meadow Brook PTA

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It’s still not too late to join the Meadow Brook PTA.

We are just a few members shy of meeting the state’s January membership goal, which would get us entered into a grand prize drawing.

Turn in your completed membership form and $10 payment to the school office.

Forms are attached here: MBE PTA General Membership Form 1819 or are available on the school website or in the front lobby near the PTA membership bulletin board.

Looking forward to partnering with you soon!

Thanks!

Your MBE PTA

Hero Headlines: From The Heart!

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Safe. Respectful. Responsible.

Greetings, Meadow Brook Partners!

I hope you’re all having a wonderful weekend! It’s been a fun and energized couple of days at the Berg house!

I was playing with our kids the other day. We were playing rough. Getting some energy out.

During some wrestling around the 4-year-old took a knee to the chin from his 5-year-old sister. I heard, “Pause game, pause game!”

We all stopped to look around and figure out who the injured party was. The big guy was handling it pretty well.  A tear or two slid down his cheek, but he gritted his teeth and made clear that he had no intention of tapping out.

I reminded everyone how important their brains are. I told them that we need to work hard to avoid knees and heads meeting during rough play.

Fully recovered, our little wise one announced to the group, “But our hearts are the most important because that’s what we share with!”

Indeed.  Our hearts are the most important.

As I reflect on the past week and look forward to another I’m filled with pride. Meadow Brook Heroes do so much to demonstrate our enduring commitment to kindness, compassion, and togetherness!

Our hearts truly lead the way!

This group of Meadow Brook students, parents, family members, and staff spent an evening sharing our light with children who were healing in the hospital just before we left for break:

Here’s a group of third graders sharing their time with kindergarten buddies, helping them understand that they are part of a larger community of joyful learners who care about one another:

Our First Lego League kids were mentored but the RHS Robotics Team Kids over the holiday break during an incredible collaborative event:

These fifth grade Meadow Brook Heroes started the new year with a “Kindness Write Around” to emphasize how important it is to support and encourage one another through our challenges and our triumphs:

Some first graders spent some time planning and prepping to share nonfiction so that they could all benefit from one another’s learning:

In play, in learning, in exploration, and in all the moments that we spend growing together as community of safe, responsible, and respectful Meadow Brook Heroes, we are so fortunate to have one another to learn with and from!

Thank you for your patience and your partnership…in it together for the kids!

Here’s to another joyful Meadow Brook week!

With Gratitude,

 

Seth

 

Seth E. Berg

Principal

Meadow Brook Elementary

Call: (248) 726 -4101

Click: sberg@rochester.k12.mi.us

My Reflective Journey: Berg’s Eye View

Why Use Restorative Practices To Resolve Conflict?

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Safe. Respectful. Responsible.

Greeting, Meadow Brook Partners!

Conflict is a part of life.

Social challenges a play big role in our development from very early on.

Even the youngest among our students are faced with such challenges every day in and our of school.  It’s critical that the kids we serve learn how to problem solve in compassionate and kind ways.

As you may be aware, at Meadow Brook we use something called Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (or PBIS) to help students learn about and practice tools and skills that they’ll need to navigate the complex social and emotional aspects of life in childhood and beyond.

Some of the foundations of our PBIS efforts involve the “Zones of Regulation” and the growing social science of “Restorative Practices.”

The “Zones of Regulation” can help kids (and adults) learn to regulate and restore their emotions to calm energy and a place of focus when we find ourselves out of focus with sadness, silliness, worry, and even anger.  Learn more here: The Zones Of Regulation

“Restorative Practices” takes emotions and energy management to the next level by focusing on restoring individual energy during challenging times and helping us learn how to restore relationships that become damaged through conflict.

Along with discipline as outlined by our Code of Conduct we use “Restorative Practices” to support and guide students through conflict resolution in our safe school environment so that they can take ownership in maintaining a joyful culture of learning, and then carry the skills and tools they learn into other environments as well.

Here’s a short video to highlight the basics:

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher to learn more about his/her experience with PBIS, “The Zones of Regulation” and “Restorative Practices” at Meadow Brook.

Feel free to contact me with thoughts, ideas, or questions as well.  Your input is always welcome and very much appreciated!

Thank you for your partnership…in it together for the kids!

With gratitude,

Seth

 

Seth E. Berg

Principal

Meadow Brook Elementary

Call: (248) 726 -4101

Click: sberg@rochester.k12.mi.us

My Reflective Journey: Berg’s Eye View

MBE Week At A Glance: Jan 14th – Jan 20th, 2019

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Monday, Jan 14th

  • 4 – 5 PM MBE Teacher Tech Club (teacher event – Mrs. Troutt’s Room)

Tuesday, Jan 15th

  • 7:45 – 8:45 AM Staff Meeting (teacher event – MBE Media)
  • 6:30 – 8:00 PM General PTA Meeting (all stakeholder event – MBE Media)

Wednesday, Jan 16th

  • 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM RCS Elementary Principals Meeting (Mr. Berg)
  • 8:15 – 8:45 AM Student Council Meeting (STUCO member event – MBE Media)
  • 2:30 PM 5th Grade Drum Assembly (student event – MBE Cafeteria)
  • 6:30 PM 5th Grade Drum Performance (all stakeholder event – MBE Cafeteria)

Thursday, Jan 17th

  • 8:00 – 8:45 AM MBE CREATE “Schools” Book Club (teacher event – Czarniowski)
  • 1 – 3:30 PM RCS Elementary Principals Meeting (Mr. Berg – tentative)

Friday, Jan 18th

  • Wear Your “Be A Hero” Shirt!
  • Popcorn Friday!

Saturday, Jan 19th – No Special Events

Sunday, Jan 20th – No Special Events