CW Connect

I am excited to announce the first edition of our new electronic newsletter, the CW Connect is here!  As a principal, I am always looking for ways to increase communication with our families.  We have a lot going on at CW and the CW Connect is another way for our families to see what is happening at Central Woodlands. Just as with any new project, the CW Connect will continue to evolve to serve the needs of our families.

Please click here to access the newsletter!

Save the Shoes!

Recently, I watched a Ted Talk given by Mark Bezos- a volunteer firefighter...this made me think about the amazing acts of people standing up for each other everyday at CW.

Painting and Teacher Conferences

It is almost time for the big day when our family moves into our new home!  November 23rd is the move in day as our family begins a new chapter of our lives in Forest Hills.  We are so excited to be part of the Forest Hills community and my son is excited to go to Pine Ridge next year!

In order to get the house ready, I have been painting most nights after work and on weekends.  As I was talking with some parents at conferences, I began to see the connection between painting and conferences...

Veteran's Day

Central Woodlands was proud to host a Veteran’s Day assembly. We were honored to have two guest speakers who shared powerful messages with our students. One speaker was an Army Sergeant who recently returned from deployment in Afghanistan. Our other speaker is an active military spouse. Her husband is currently deployed in Afghanistan and has had seven deployments. Both speakers talked about “pride” as it relates to the men and women who volunteer to serve our country so we can enjoy the freedoms we hold dear. Our students were challenged to think of ways to give back to their school, family, and community to make Veteran's Day year round!

Mix it Up!!!

At the end of October, our school participated in National Mix It Up Day.  This is a day throughout the country where students are encouraged step outside of their comfort level and spend time with others than they normally do.  I have been in some schools where this simply meant putting up signs that say "Sit with someone new today."  Well at Central Woodlands, this was not the case...

Innocence

Having come from a middle school background (6th-8th grade), I continue to experience new and wonderful things at Central Woodlands with our 5th and 6th grade.  Being with our students is the best part of my day and I love talking to our students and "hanging" out with them in their classes.  They are so excited to learn new things and to show off their new knowledge to me whenever I come into the room.  One of the 5/6 philosophies is to keep our students "younger, longer."  In our world where it seems kids grow up faster than ever; the need for this is more important than ever before.

Yesterday, I was able to experience a moment that I will never forget.  

Pete the Cat

Every night, my son Cole and I read books together before bedtime.  Some of his favorite books right now are the Pete the Cat books.  He has one about Pete and a baseball game, Pete and the beach, and Pete and a giant sandwich.  Last night we read the original Pete the Cat...this one is my favorite.  For those who have not had the pleasure of reading it (I suggest you do), the story is about a cat who is in love with his new, white shoes.  During his walk, he steps in different things like mud that change the color of his shoes.  Each time, he loves the shoes no matter what color they turn.  At the end, the author tell us that moral of the story is that no matter what you step in, you just need to keep on walking along and singing your song.

I love this message and will often share this idea with our students.  During the course of the day, our students might have ups and downs, but no matter what, it is a good idea to keep on moving along and not let things bother you.  There is research to show resilience can significantly affect school and life outcomes for youth. As part of our Peacekeeper program at Central Woodlands, we work to give students the tools to bounce back if something is negatively affecting them. The more we can do at school and at home to help kids be resilient, the better off they will be!

Each day I look forward to helping our students learn how to "keep on walking and to sing their song."

Election Day - Tuesday, Nov. 5th!!!

We have an important bond election coming up on Tuesday, November 5th.  This Bond addresses three core areas:  Safety and Security, Technology, and Building Improvement Needs.  If approved by voters, this Bond will fund important initiatives throughout Forest Hills.  In addition, if it is approved, there is no tax rate increase expected for Forest Hills' families.  

There is a wonderful video that highlights key information about the bond.  This video can be accessed at FHPS Bond Video.  I would encourage you to "like" this video on Facebook and share it out on other social media sites.

More informational resources about the bond proposal can be found at our website at www.fhps.net and in the latest issue of the Focus newsletter.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. 

Please encourage your friends and neighbors to vote on Tuesday, November 5th.

Home Inspection

Today was our first day of MEAP testing.  Our students will be testing over the course of the next couple of weeks.  These annual state assessments are given to help schools understand areas of strength and areas of needed instructional focus.

In talking with our students in the halls and at lunch, many were excited to do their best on the MEAP.  This is all we ever ask is that students celebrate their knowledge on these tests.  We want to celebrate the hard work our students put in during the previous school year!

As I was thinking more about MEAP, it made me think of our recent Home Inspection on the house we are purchasing in Forest Hills.  The purpose of the Home Inspection is to give us a complete picture of how the house and what areas are fundamentally sound and what parts of the house need attention.  I look at the MEAP in the same way.  Having students take assessments like MEAP are only beneficial if we use the results to improve teaching and learning.  A MEAP score does not define who a child is...rather it gives us a better picture of what areas a student is strong in and what areas may need extra attention.  It can also tell us that a student is doing well in all areas and we need to find ways to challenge a student.  

Just as with a Home Inspection, the MEAP information is only useful if you use it.  I look forward to seeing our students do so we can work to meet the needs of every student!

Have a great night!

David

Never Enough Time

Every morning when I get into school, I review my daily calendar in order to prepare for the upcoming day. Many of us do this on a daily basis whether it is in our planner, iPhone, or in our heads.  Often times I am amazed at how many entries I have in my calendar for a given day…my mind races to all the things not listed that also need to get done.  However, every morning I will glance to the note I have on my desk, “First things First” and am reminded of these important words from author Stephen Covey.  I believe we always have time for the priorities in our lives. 

In talking with and seeing our students, I often see them start to understand the concept of being busy.  As our 5th and 6th grade students get older, they continue to have larger amounts of responsibility both in and out of school.  This was highlighted to me yesterday at dismissal when I was talking with a 6th grade student who had both a football and hockey game on Saturday along with a school project to complete that weekend. At this developmental age, our young people need direction in helping develop a system for prioritizing tasks.  Often times if a student is feeling overwhelmed, I will help talk with them about the idea of “First things First.”  As our 5th and 6th students grow and mature into young men and women, I work hard to support their ability to prioritize what is really important in their educational development.  “First things First” is for all of us and we have the ability has adults in the lives of our students to help them discover this important concept!

Have a great day!

David

Home

During the day today, I thought a lot about the word "home."  My wife, Renae, and I were in Royal Oak this morning closing on our house.  We felt very fortunate to be able to sell it so quickly.  In thinking about the word home, I came to realize it is much more than a house made of brick and wood...I believe home is where one is surrounded by people who care.  I am thankful that my family will soon be in a house in Forest Hills and be surrounded by such a caring community.

While I spoke with families at Curriculum Night tonight, I was so thankful that so many families choose to call Central Woodlands "home."  We really are a school family that support each other throughout the year. Central Woodlands is a "home away from home" for our students and staff and it is an environment built on caring.

I hope you were able to make it to Curriculum Night to see our "home."  I feel honored to have Central Woodlands as one of my homes!

Have a great night!

David Simpson

Ring the Bell

This week all of our 6th grade students went to Camp Roger to experience a day of fun team building activities.  Normally September brings cooler weather for our students at Camp Roger; however this year temps were in the 90's and 80's.  I was so proud of our students as they did not let the heat temper their energy!

One of the reasons we take this field trip right at the beginning of the school year is to give our classes the time and experiences in developing as a cohesive team.  Spending time at the beginning of the year pays dividends as our teams learn how to partner, communicate, and function successfully as a classroom team. Early in the morning, I saw classes working through some of the experiences with not a lot of communication. It was not long though that students realized the importance of the "team" concept and began supporting and communicating with each other!  They found that when they did work as a team, they were able to accomplish the goals of the activity.

Below is a video of two of our students on the climbing wall.  Listening to the video, you can hear the level of communication taking place with our 6th grade students!  Working together, the student was able to RING THE BELL!

Have a great weekend!

David

Best Week Ever!

We had an assembly at the end of the school day today to celebrate our first week of school.  I asked our students to raise their hands if they had a great week...nearly every hand shot straight up into the air!  Our students did have a great week at CW!  I am so honored to serve them as Principal...they are such amazing students.

During the assembly, I also talked about the word "Gratitude."  We are very grateful at Central Woodlands for the staff in our building.  Our staff worked so hard to make this week the "Best Week Ever" for our students.  Apparently our students agreed with this as they cheered so loud in appreciation that many teachers had to cover their ears.

We also talked about the norms of our school.  Our staff and students took part in creating norms for our school.  In essence, our norms can be thought of as:

RESPECT EVERYONE
RESPECT EVERYTHING
EVERYDAY

We also had all of our staff introduce themselves.  We believe that as adults, we are ALL responsible for every child no matter what our role is at CW.  Below is a picture of this!

Lastly, we ended with some very loud spirit chants!  Please ask your child to describe the amount of school spirit in our school...it was so loud!

Every day, I am thankful to be the principal at Central Woodlands...we have the best students ever!

Have a great weekend!

David Simpson

Happy People

When I was on Twitter this week, I came across a tweet from a colleague that made me think...It was about things that "Happy People Do Differently."  Instantly my interest was peaked...who doesn't want to be happy?  I found the article to be refreshing and affirming of many of the ways I try to live my life and to the many conversations I have with students.  As I read, I changed the words from "Happy People" to "Happy Students."  Rewriting it from a student perspective made me even more excited to start the school year on Tuesday!  I can't wait to see our CW students and the choices they will make that creates happiness throughout the building.  Through my role as a principal, I have found some of my most rewarding moments are the conversations I have with our young people. Students love to be sponges...soaking up the life lessons learned as they navigate through their school years. I am honored to be a small part of their journey and try to offer students some of these lessons of happy people.

Here is the link to the article: 10 Things Happy People Do Differently

For those short on time, here is the abbreviated list:

1. Happy people find balance in their lives.

2. Happy people abide by the golden rule.

3. Happy people don’t sweat the small stuff.

4. Happy people take responsibility for their actions.

5. Happy people surround themselves with other happy people.

6. Happy people are honest with themselves and others. 

7. Happy people show signs of happiness.

8. Happy people are passionate.

9. Happy people see challenges as opportunities.

10. Happy people live in the present.

Obstacles

Last week I was engaged in a highly competitive toy car race with my son Cole.  He is 4 and loves to race his cars.  He has a lot of fun and always has an "I will win every time" attitude.  He wanted to add a new twist to our races and asked me to put some obstacles on the race track (which is a rug in our house).  I added some shoes and other objects to create some obstacles.  Those obstacles didn't slow him down...without thinking he kept on racing and made a new path around those obstacles.

I was talking to a parent today about the anxieties of starting at a new school.  She was surprised in how comfortable her daughter felt about the transition to a new school. In meeting with many of our students today, I was so impressed with their excited outlooks on the upcoming school year.  I saw the same excited outlook that my son had of not letting any obstacle slow them down when they shared with me their excitement in starting the school year.

I am thankful for the wonderful families and staff of Central Woodlands as they are a major reason why our students are excited and prepared to start the year.  Our teachers and staff are such a wonderful and caring group of adults who do everything they can to remove any obstacle for our students in feeling comfortable starting the year.  

Our families are so supportive of the partnership between home and school and this was evident in the many conversations I had today. I want to offer a personal thanks to all the families that I met today.  I felt so welcomed to be part of the Central Woodlands family.  I am honored to serve this community.

I can’t wait to see all of our students on Tuesday…it will be a GREAT day and year!

David Simpson

When I grow up...

This past weekend at breakfast, my son Cole looked up from eating and said, "How long will it take to be as tall as you?  Did it take a long time for you to get big?"

I was surprised that his mind was thinking about this future topic so early in the morning...obviously he is curious about what it must mean to be "big" and do "daddy things."

On my drive into work on Monday, I kept thinking about his comments and his desire to think about his own future.  At the age of four, he is already aware that there are a lot of things still to experience and that getting big will be here someday.  I think about our 5^th and 6^th grade students and how often their view of the world and future are things that are right in front of them.  As our students get older, the perspective can often go from thinking about being big at age four to thinking more about their upcoming responsibilities in the week ahead.

In the work I do with our students, I try to engage our students in "future talk..."  I believe the more we can set the stage for our young people to dream about their hopes and aspirations...the more we can understand their needs in helping them achieve their dreams!

Have a great day!

David Simpson

Where did it go?

Around this time of year, I hear many families and students begin to ask this question.  They are referring to summer!  Summer is a great time for our children to play, spend time with family, and make lasting memories.  For some students, the end of August is filled with excitement for the start of new school year.  There is anticipation about what class students will be in and lots of energy about seeing friends and meeting new ones.

However, the start of the school year can also be the cause of anxiety for some.  I am new to the building just like all of our 5th grade students so I can empathize with a lot of their feelings.  Coming to new a place can be hard for students who have been in the same school since kindergarten.  There are a lot of emotions that students might feel about starting the school year.   I would encourage you to begin the transition process now at home by talking about the upcoming school year.  Having time to process the change can help ease anxiety about coming to a new school year. 

Our students are fortunate to be at a school with such caring staff.  I have met many of our teachers and I know they will do everything possible to make sure each child is welcomed and feels safe in our school.  Please make sure you bring your child to the “Meet and Greet” on August 27^th (see the building calendar for more information).  This is an opportunity for your child to meet teachers and see the school!  By being in the building, the comfort level of our students increases allowing for a great first day of school!

Have a great day!

David Simpson

Hello Central Woodlands!

The boxes have been unpacked in my office and I have officially started as the new Principal at Central Woodlands 5/6!  I am thrilled to be at Central Woodlands and have been warmly welcomed by so many.

One of the things I like to do as a building leader is to blog about experiences in our school as they relate to the lives of our students.  I have been blogging for over a year and the parents in my previous school enjoyed getting some school insights in a non-traditional way.

Over the course of the year, I will blog about a wide variety of school related topics and will often incorporate themes from school activities into the blog.  Reading it will be another great way to stay connected to Central Woodlands.

I look forward to meeting all the Central Woodlands family in the next couple of months.  Even though I have just started, it is apparent that Central Woodlands is a wonderful building filled with staff that are deeply committed to making sure that everyone of our students reaches their individual potential!

As you visit the school, please stop in to see me...my door is always open.

David Simpson

Principal
Central Woodlands