T-Rex Rising Weekly Focus: January 2018

Monday, January 29, 2018

January 29th - February 2nd, 2018

HELLO FOSSIL RIDGE

ITS A GREAT WEEK TO BE A T-REX

WEEKLY MESSAGE
What is it that drives you? What is it that gets you out of
bed each morning? What is your purpose? WHY DO YOU
DO WHAT YOU DO? At the heart of everything we do we
will find the "why of the work." That thing that drives us
toward EXCELLENCE. That sense of purpose that continually
moves us forward through difficult and frustrating times. That
commitment that pushes us toward greatness in all that we do.
So, what is your "WHY"...What gives you a sense of "PURPOSE?"
Please take a few short minutes to watch the following clips...
Kevin Carroll's "Red Rubber Ball" and "Amazing Grace" before
and after the "why." Enjoy!

"The Red Rubber Ball" -Kevin Carroll

"Amazing Grace: What's Your Why?"

STUDENT, FACULTY AND STAFF SPOTLIGHT

Happy Birthday Mrs. Wiese...January 28th

Happy Birthday Mrs. Drake...February 1st

Mulan opened on Friday, January 26th and 27th to big crowds. Congratulations to

the Cast, Crew, Mrs. Bosen, and Mrs. Sheeran for an EXCELLENT show. Tickets

are still available for this week's performances on Friday, February 2nd and

Saturday, February 3rd. If you haven't seen the show yet, you are in for a treat!!

Congratulations to this week's "Plinko" students, our "T-Rex" students,

and Mrs. Stevens for being EXCELLENT!!

Mrs. Snow's Science 6 Students testing out their home-made insulators :)

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Monday, January 29th...PLC Early Out Day (School Ends @11:45AM)

Wednesday, January 31st...Mulan Matinee Performance for Elementary

Friday, February 1st...Mulan Performance @7PM/FRIS Theater

Saturday, February 2nd...Mulan Performance @7PM/FRIS Theater

Wednesday, February 14th...2nd Trimester Celebration Party

Monday, February 19th...NO SCHOOL (President's Day)

HAVE A GREAT WEEK FOSSIL RIDGE

BE EXCELLENT!

Friday, January 19, 2018

Week of January 22nd - January 26th

Hello Fossil Ridge...

Its a Great Week to be a T-Rex!!

"If you were to choose between being right, or being kind, always choose KIND."

-"Wonder"

WEEKLY MESSAGE

As the Principal of Fossil Ridge Intermediate School I have the opportunity

to get to know faculty, staff, and students on a more personal level. As a

result I may have information or experiences that others may not. I am

aware of the struggles, hardships, health issues, disabilities that our students,

faculty, and staff deal with on a daily basis. It is impossible for me to "walk

in the shoes" of others, or comprehend the trials they are able overcome. After

47 years, and 25 years as an educator, I believe I have finally come to realize

that no one is perfect, we are all different, and we all overcome our own

trials whether big or small. Some of us are old, some of us have brown hair,

some of us have physical disabilities, some of us speak a different language,

some of us have anxiety, some of us come from poverty, some of us are tall,

some of us like country music, and some of us need extra help and support.

We need to embrace our differences, no matter what they may be, instead of

using our differences to label one another. There is no way for us to ever

know what it's like to be someone else. It is impossible to truly understand

what others around us struggle with on a daily basis. We may never know

the power of our words, positive or negative. Our words may add to

someone's trials, may even make their day even more difficult, and even worse

may cause that person to sincerely question their self worth. On the other hand,

our words will lift the spirits of a person, will be the highlight of their day, will

build confidence, and will make people feel loved. I challenge everyone to

understand we are different, to avoid making judgements based on our

differences, and simply...BE KIND to one another.

--Jonathan

STUDENT, FACULTY AND STAFF SPOTLIGHT

Great Teaching, High Levels of Student Learning, and Student Celebrations

at Fossil Ridge! We have the most FABULOUS Students,

Faculty, and Staff anywhere...STAY EXCELLENT😃

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

**Fossil Ridge Theater Presents Mulan**

Opening Night Friday, January 26th--7PM/FRIS Theater

Saturday, January 27th--7PM/FRIS Theater

Monday, January 29th--7PM/FRIS Theater

Friday, February 2nd--7PM/FRIS Theater

Saturday, February 3rd--7PM/FRIS Theater

EDUCATIONAL LEARNING AND SHARING

"Be Kind" (YouTube clip)...notice how small acts of kindness create

a domino effect of people "paying it forward"

"20 Things We Should Say More Often: Kid President" (YouTube clip)

HAVE A GREAT WEEK...

BE EXCELLENT!

Friday, January 12, 2018

Week of January 8th - January 12th

WEEKLY MESSAGE
We are certainly "back in the saddle" at Fossil Ridge after
our first full week of the new year! It was another "Great
Week to be a T-Rex!" Recently, I had the opportunity to
attend a training that focused on Classroom Management
and Student Engagement. The training was very well done,
and myself and Mrs. Iverson (Reading Interventionist &
Learning Coach) returned to Fossil Ridge with some great
information and instructional strategies to ensure high
levels of learning for ALL students. On a side note...I sit
in trainings or conferences and feel inadequate, start to
reflect on my own strengths and weaknesses, and realize
that the pursuit of excellence never ends, we can't ever settle
for mediocrity.

Anyway, one of my "take-aways" from this particular training
was the critical important of RELATIONSHIPS. Nothing in a
school setting will ever be successfully accomplished without
positive relationships. Education is not about programs or
the newest "fad", its about people. The greatest joy I see
on a daily basis is the interaction, and relationship building
that goes on between students and teachers, students to
students, and teacher to teacher. I know that the faculty
and staff at Fossil Ridge sincerely care about our students,
and have built relationships that allow students to feel
important and loved. I also know that our students
reciprocate that love, soar higher, and taste more
success because of those relationships. May we all continue
to maintain and foster positive relationships that impact our
lives for the better. Have a Great Weekend...BE EXCELLENT!
--Jonathan

Mrs. Graft's REACH Class

STUDENT, FACULTY, AND STAFF SPOTLIGHT

Welcome to Fossil Ridge Mr. Jensen (7th Grade Counselor)!

Congratulations to our weekly T-Rex Students and Teachers!!😃

Congratulations to our "Plinko Kids" of the week!!😃

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Monday, January 15th--Civil Rights Day NO SCHOOL

Fossil Ridge Theater Presents Mulan

Opening Night Friday, January 26th--7PM/FRIS Theater

Saturday, January 27th--7PM/FRIS Theater

Monday, January 29th--7PM/FRIS Theater

Friday, February 2nd--7PM/FRIS Theater

Saturday, February 3rd--7PM/FRIS Theater

EDUCATIONAL LEARNING & SHARING

"Every Kid Deserves a Champion"--Rita Pierson (8 minute clip)

BE EXCELLENT!

Friday, January 5, 2018

Happy New Year...January 5th, 2018

WEEKLY MESSAGE
HAPPY NEW YEAR FOSSIL RIDGE FAMILY...HERE'S TO
A SUCCESSFUL, PROSPEROUS, AND HEALTHY NEW
YEAR!💥

As we look back on 2017 at Fossil Ridge, we
have many things, people, and accomplishments to
be proud of, and celebrate. We have seen teachers
recognized with district, and state awards. We have
seen students soar in local, district, and state competitions
like Math Counts, Show Choir, Band, Orchestra, Musical
Theater, Visual Arts, and Lego League. We have celebrated
student learning and academic growth in individual classrooms,
REACH Time, and State End of Level Assessments (SAGE).
Data from SAGE continues to provide evidence of high levels
of learning for our students, making Fossil Ridge a top Mid-Level
school in Washington County School District, and the State of Utah.
In 2017, our students, faculty, and staff were recognized by national
education organizations for student achievement. Solution
Tree recognized Fossil Ridge as a "Model PLC School"
(http://www.allthingsplc.info/evidence/details/id,507) and
the National Association of Secondary School Principals
(NASSP) named Fossil Ridge a national "Breakthrough School",
an honor shared with only 26 other schools across the country!
With all of our success, we are not satisfied, nor do we have
the luxury of becoming complacent...we will continue to
be driven by our Purpose of "High Levels of Learning for ALL
Students."  At Fossil Ridge, we are committed to "chasing perfection",
with the understanding that we can always grow and become an
even better school for our students, faculty, staff, parents, and
community. Our work as educators at Fossil Ridge never ends,
we are constantly searching for improvement and ways to have
an even greater impact on student achievement. Here's to a
fantastic 2018, let's ALL work together to make it "A Great Year
to Be a T-rex!