Brian's Brainstorms

Upcoming Registrations

2012-01-12T14:04:00.000-06:00

Li’l Rascals Preschool
Thursday, March 8 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

PreKindergarten
Tuesday, Feb 7 3:45 p.m. -7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb 8 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Thursday, Feb 9 3:45 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Kindergarten
(Students currently not participating in Jesup PK)
Tuesday, Feb 7 3:45 p.m. -7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb 8 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Thursday, Feb 9 3:45 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

The current Li’l Rascals Preschool Program offers a comprehensive social, emotional, and academic curriculum. The state of Iowa has recently designated this program a 4 Star Program! This distinguishes Li’l Rascals from many other preschools as being a quality program. Current tuition ranges from $90-$120 per month depending on the number of half days attended. Space is limited and preference will be given to 3 year old children who live in the Jesup School District. (3 years old by September 15, 2012) Please bring verification of child’s birth date, such as a birth certificate or baptismal certificate.

The Jesup PreKindergarten is a 4 star program as awarded by the State of Iowa. This successful program prepares children for the upcoming Kindergarten learning environment. Children must be at least 4 years old by September 15, 2012. Five-year-old students are eligible for Kindergarten, but may participate in a year of PK if space is available. Currently, students may attend PK on a 5-day-a-week, full-day schedule for $275 per month or half day for $140 per month. (Prices are subject to change.) Head Start services and bus transportation is available. Please bring verification of child’s birth date, such as a birth certificate or baptismal certificate. Registration materials will be available in the elementary office on the days listed. Enrollment into the Jesup PreKindergarten program is on a first-come basis, as space is limited. Preference will be given to students who live in the Jesup School District.

The Jesup Kindergarten Program is a well rounded academic and social program. Students receive a quality education in a great facility. There is no tuition cost for kindergarten. (Standard school enrollment fees may apply.) Children need to be 5 years old by September 15, 2012. All eligible students will be accepted into Kindergarten. School bus transportation is also provided to those who qualify for it.

Spring is over!!

2012-01-12T14:02:00.002-06:00

Well, at least it has felt like early spring for the last few weeks. Snow is here and it felt like Christmas morning at Jesup Elementary this morning. I lost count of how many kids came up to me with wide eyes and hands in the air to tell me it SNOWED last night!!!! (Yeah, I know...I drove through it this morning.)

The bad thing though....the cold temp prevented us from having outside recess today.

once again....

2011-12-09T10:15:00.002-06:00

Yeah, Yeah....I figured this thing out again. What have I learned? Having seperate username and passwords for everything I am subscribed to is not a good thing.

OK....what would you like me to blog about here? Give me some ideas.....

Think I got it!!

2011-09-22T14:34:00.001-05:00

OK......Could not figure out how to log back into this Google account!!! I think I have it now.

A new year!!

2011-08-25T22:08:00.002-05:00

It has happened again! The building has gone from a dark and quiet place to an energetic atmosphere full of kids looking for learning and adventure. Welcome to the new school year! This is the most exciting time of the school year for me. I look forward to another great year.

Hint....have you sent up a time to chat with yout child's teacher?

summer!!

2011-05-25T17:58:00.001-05:00

Have a wonderful summer!!!!!!

Hat Day!!!

2011-04-28T16:15:00.002-05:00

Friday is Hat Day in the Elementary!! Students may wear their favorite hat and, if they wish, pay a $1 for the privilege. All money will go to the Autism Foundation.

Awesome job!

2011-04-20T11:24:00.000-05:00

Great K-4 vocal concert last night!!!!

No dogs allowed

2011-04-12T09:01:00.001-05:00

Parents: Please do not bring dogs onto school property. We are seeing an increase of dogs at the end of the school day outside. For the safety of all, dogs are not allowed on school property. Thanks!

Elementary Dance!!!

2011-04-08T10:12:00.000-05:00

Elementary Dance Friday, April 15th!!!! More details coming!!! This is for grades PK-4

IPADS

2011-03-23T16:26:00.001-05:00

Coming soon to your child's classroom.......

We are receiving a 10 pack of Apple IPADS! (Due in part, from a generous donation!)

Classroom Facebook

2011-03-16T20:25:00.003-05:00

Teachers using Facebook as a parent communication tool. Search for Jesup Kindergarten Nelson

Math Night!!!

2011-03-15T09:32:00.001-05:00

A Night for
“EveryDay Math”

Where: Jesup Elementary School
When: Monday, March 21
Time: 5:30-7:00 Come and go as you please!
Meal Available: Hotdog, chips, lemonade, and a treat for only $3.00

Join us for an overview of our new math series, “EveryDay Math”, and participate in student led games

Lil Rascals Registration!

2011-03-11T16:41:00.001-06:00

Lil Rascals Registration this Saturday at the new location, Jesup Elementary School! 8am - 9am.

2011-02-17T11:33:00.000-06:00

Jesup Elementary PreK Registration

The annual PreK registration will be Tuesday, February 22, 3:45 p.m.–7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, February 23, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., in the Jesup Elementary Office. Registration information and forms will be available both days. Please bring verification of the child’s birth date, such as a birth certificate or baptismal certificate. Children need not attend the registration process. Enrollment for the PreK is on a first-come basis, as space may be limited. Preference will be given to students who live in the Jesup School District.

The Jesup PreKindergarten has proven to be a very successful program that prepares students for the upcoming Kindergarten learning environment. This program is very well known throughout the area do to the experienced teachers who are Early Childhood certified and well trained in PK curriculum. There are also Special Education certified teachers available for specific child needs. The PreKindergarten program is available to children who will be 4-5 years old by September 15. Five-year-old students are eligible for Kindergarten but may participate in a year of PreKindergarten if the parents believe it would be beneficial. Currently, students may attend PreKindergarten on a 5-day-a-week, full-day schedule. Half-day only morning sessions are also available. The current PreKindergarten tuition cost is as follows:

Half-day enrolled students - *$140 per month
Full-day enrolled students - *$275 per month
*Prices subject to change

There is no tuition fee for students who will be 5 years old by September 15. The district is able to include these students in the official enrollment count and thus receives funding from the state for these students. Students who qualify for Head Start and other special programs may also not have a tuition fee applied or be eligible for reduced tuition fee.

Transportation will be provided (no cost) for full-day Jesup Elementary PK students on established bus routes/times. Half-day students residing within the district boundaries will also be provided transportation to school in the morning at no cost. However, parents are responsible for transportation from school to home for half-day students.

Finally, parents and prospective students are always welcome to visit the school. Please contact the Elementary Office to schedule a personal visit to view the facility, meet the teachers, and with any questions at 319-827-1700, ext. 1101. Also, you are invited to spend an hour in a current PK classroom to see and hear firsthand the excellence of this program.

PLEASE NOTE: Jesup Schools will be hosting District Basketball the evening of February 22nd. The west elementary parking lot will be reserved for parents wishing to register PK students. (Parking lot by the large playground.) Please park there and enter through the west elementary doors.

Snow!!

2011-01-31T09:33:00.002-06:00

Yep...not looking real good. Did you know you can sign up for text alerts from KWWL? Great way to find out quick if school is getting out early, starting late, or canceled.

Preschool funding

2011-01-20T14:26:00.002-06:00

A lot of buzz about preschool funding being cut. If this happens, it will NOT affect the Jesup program. We do not, and have never, accepted any of these funds.

Technology in the classrooms

2011-01-10T18:20:00.002-06:00

Fourth grade teacher, Shelby Miller, presented at the School Board meeting tonight. She demonstrated some of the many technologies currently being used in her classroom by her students. Mimeo, LCD, websites, Google Docs, mobile lab, and Flip cameras were all shared.

What is your child using for technology in the classroom? Ask your child. Ask your teacher. Come in and check it out!

Happy New Year!!!!!

2010-12-31T14:26:00.001-06:00

2010 Holiday Concert!

2010-12-06T19:19:00.001-06:00

Concert date changed!!!

2010-11-23T12:34:00.001-06:00

Dear Parents,

The date of the K-4 Winter Concert has been changed to Monday, December 6th at 7:00 p.m. This change was necessary as to not conflict with the Jesup Holiday Celebration that begins the evening of December 3rd.
Students are to be in their classroom by 6:30 p.m. that night. (4th Grade students should report to the PK-8 Library.) If you have any questions, please contact Kraig Emick or me. I look forward to enjoying this annual concert with all of you on December 6th. I encourage you to attend the, “We Believe in Jesup Holiday Celebration”, December 3-5.

Sincerely,

Brian Pottebaum
Jesup Elementary Principal

This is your school!

2010-11-17T09:16:00.002-06:00

Have you ever thought about spending a few hours in your child's classroom? Every wonder what really takes place? Do it!!! Visit the classroom for an hour, a morning, or even a day!

Conferences

2010-11-02T20:36:00.001-05:00

Not enough time with your child's teacher during your scheduled conference time? Schedule another meeting time with your teacher. We encourage you to do this!

YoYo time!!!

2010-10-28T16:28:00.003-05:00

The YoYo man has come and gone! He brought a message of "school is cool" along with some really cool yoyo tricks. You or your student can purchase a yoyo of your choice in the elementary office during the next week. Costs range from $7.50-$15.00.
You will receive a paper explaining a variety of tricks with your purchase. 10% of all sales will be donated to Jesup Elementary from the YoYo company. Any money raised will be used to help fund teaching supplies and student field trips.

2010-10-22T14:48:00.002-05:00

Stay tuned!!!

Yo Yo assembly coming Thursday!! Watch for the paper parent note coming home.

2010-09-10T18:32:00.001-05:00

2010 Homecoming!!! The entire elementary enjoying the marching band.

2010-09-09T09:12:00.002-05:00

Homecoming!!!

Question: Why can't the elementary students come to school on Friday with their hair dyed and face paint on?

Answer: We did allow this a few years ago and had rather disastrous results. The paint and dye quickly ended up staining the classroom carpet. The paint and dye stained some student clothing causing parents to complain. The overall disruption to the learning environment was obvious and most teachers requested we stop this practice.

Alternative: The Homecoming football game is the best place to show your true school spirit! All elementary students may dye hair and paint their face for the game.

2010-09-07T08:44:00.001-05:00

September 3, 2010

Dear Parents,

Welcome to the 2010-2011 school year!! It has been a great start to a school year and I can just feel the momentum growing.
A special welcome to the many new parents of Jesup Elementary. This is your school, and I encourage you to stop in anytime. There are many reasons to visit your school. Lunch with your child, meeting with your child’s teacher to build a positive partnership with her/him, observing a lesson in your child’s room to get a better understanding of the curriculum, or maybe you have a few extra hours a week when you can volunteer in your school. We love volunteers, and will go out of our way to accommodate your schedule. Just stop by the office or chat with your teacher about volunteering.
Another way of being involved and informed about your school is to participate in the Jesup Elementary Parent Teacher Organization (Jesup PTO). This group meets monthly to discuss ways they can be supportive of our overall mission of helping kids succeed. The PTO is also a great place to learn about the latest Jesup District news. In fact, at the scheduled meeting on Thursday, September 9th, the PTO will be sponsoring a presentation by Nathan Marting, Superintendent. Mr. Marting will be sharing the current financial picture of the Jesup School District and available options under consideration by the district. The meeting starts at 6pm in the elementary. Free child care will be available! I encourage you to attend so you can be informed.
It’s going to be a great night for football!! Attending a Jesup football game is a great family activity. The smell of concession stand food, the chatting with friends, the jacket weather, and watching the team on the field. I hope you can attend. I explained to the students this morning that there a few expectations when attending a football game. 1. Elementary students need to be there under the supervision of an adult. They should not be “dropped” off. 2. Students are not to bring footballs or other toys to the game. 3. Students are not to be on the playground during the game. They are expected to be inside the fenced in area around the football field.
Sending my newsletter home consumes a lot of paper. This will be the last letter from me that will be sent home with all students via paper. (With the exception of need to know or emergency type correspondence.) Instead, all of my newsletters will be posted on my blog site: www.brianatjesup.blogspot.com, and they will be emailed out to the address you supplied to the school. If you prefer to receive a paper copy, that is no problem. Just let me know by email, sending a note with your student, or a phone call.
I have a secret for you………….If you ask your child what they did in school today, and they respond with, “nothing.” That isn’t true!! Ask again and insist they give you details.

Have a great weekend,

Brian Pottebaum
Jesup Elementary Principal

Welcome!!!

2010-08-26T12:05:00.002-05:00

Hello!! Hello!! Hello!!

Welcome to the 2010-2011 school year at Jesup Elementary! This is my favorite time of year. Everyone is refreshed and ready to start another education journey.

I am going to work real hard this year to stay consisted on updating this site. Please check back often and please follow Jesup Elementary on Twitter.

More to come..............

2010 Elementary Dance!!

2010-05-14T21:16:00.002-05:00

Nice Day

2010-04-21T15:28:00.002-05:00

What a good day!! Perfect weather! Administrator Assisstant Day...(thanks Ruth)

2010-04-12T21:01:00.000-05:00

Have you asked your teacher how your child is doing lately?

2010-03-18T20:20:00.000-05:00

Packed house at the Family Literacy Night!! Thanks to everyone who came out.

Who Will Be My Teacher Next Year?

2010-03-05T09:05:00.003-06:00

This is the time of the year when I start getting asked, "Can I pick my child's teacher for next year?" The short answer is, no. Now for the long answer:

We take a lot of time.....I mean a lot of time in creating class lists for the next school year. The process starts with the grade level teachers formally meeting and discussing each child's strengths, weaknesses, and personality traits. They decide which students work well together and which ones do not. Based on the information, they create a tentative class list for the next year. These lists then come to me. I look at the make-up of each list, any notes submitted by the teachers, and the staff available for the next year. I move kids around based on information I have and then assign a teacher to a list. As you can see, kids are not just randomly placed with teachers. While we are not perfect, we do try our best to make good student/classroom selections.

Now, for more of the long answer. Yes, you can request a teacher if you feel it is absolutely necessary. I require the request to be in writing with an explanation of why. (I sometimes get a written request that states the child wants to pick their teacher. Sorry, those are not accepted.) I can't guarantee the request will be honored, but I can guarantee it will be read and considered. Often, I will contact the parent who made the request for more information.

Jesup Elementary has great teachers! Everyone wants your child to have a good relationship with his/her teacher and everyone wants to do their best to meet the needs of all students. Even if your teacher request is not honored, please know that a process was followed and we truly did place your child where we thought he/she should be.

2010-02-24T08:52:00.001-06:00

February 23, 2010

Dear Parents,

Remember when you liked winter?

Conferences: You will have the opportunity to meet with your child's teacher this week. Conferences are a time to catch up on how your child is doing and to ask any questions you may have. If you need more time, please contact the teacher and set up an additional conference.

Book Fair: The Scholastic Book Fair will be located in the elementary building all week. Be sure to check it out when you are here for conferences. (Profit from the fair helps us buy more books!)

Family Reading Night: Stay tuned for more information on the March 18th Reading Night! This promises to be a great opportunity to visit school and participate in some really cool activities!

Student Pick Up/Drop Off: After school is a bit of a crazy, organized chaos time as students of all ages are exiting the building for the bus, parent's cars, or a walk home. You can help keep things moving along by not parking in the loading lane and exiting your car. When this happens, traffic gets backed up rather quickly causing frustration and confusion. Instead, park in a parking space and take your time retrieving your child. If you have ever been stuck behind an empty car in the loading lane, I'm sure you will agree that this would be appreciated.

See you at conferences,
Brian Pottebaum
Jesup Elementary Principal

Kindergarten Chinese New Year Parade!!

2010-02-15T08:28:00.002-06:00

Follow me on Twitter!!

2010-02-02T11:04:00.000-06:00

www.twitter.com/jesupelementary

Have you visited the school website lately?

2010-02-02T09:53:00.003-06:00

I'm going to try!

2010-02-02T09:49:00.001-06:00

My first blog came with the expectation that I would blog often!! OK....I am renewed....I will try to blog more. Now, what should I blog about?

Haiti Help

2010-01-16T16:29:00.004-06:00

During the first few minutes of the Elementary Staff inservice yesterday, we had a conversation about how to handle student questions and concerns dealing with the tragedy in Haiti. We all agreed that sometimes, when it feels like there is no answer, the best thing to do is to show you care. We decided the kids would really embrace the idea of helping out the kids of Haiti by participating in a penny drive. The entire upcoming week has been designated as Penny Week. All money raised will be donated to a charity to be used in the Haiti relief effort. Start looking in the couch for pennies. Or if you are like me, check out the cup holder in your car for extra change. If you wish, send pennies, (or any amount of money), to school with your child and help us show the world that Jesup Elementary cares.

Santa visits the Elementary PTO Movie Night!!

2009-12-18T20:55:00.001-06:00

Ever wonder what teachers do after the kids leave?

2009-12-18T15:31:00.006-06:00

K-4 Holiday Music Program Memories

2009-12-15T10:12:00.003-06:00

2009-12-01T10:52:00.001-06:00

Post Conference

2009-11-11T20:42:00.001-06:00

Well, the fall parent teacher conferences are history. I hope you still stay in regular contact with your teacher though! How is your child doing? What can you do to help at home? What suggestions do you have? Ask Ask Ask!

2009-10-28T13:10:00.000-05:00

October 28, 2009

Dear Parents,

As you know, student illness is affecting schools across the country. We have seen a dramatic increase in sick kids here at Jesup Elementary too. Please know we are doing everything we can to help slow down the spread of bad germs. Under advice from the Buchanan County Health Department, we have decided to cancel the annual Halloween costume parade that was scheduled for this Friday. Health officials are recommending we avoid placing students in large gathering situations if possible.
Students are still allowed to bring a costume with them to change into for the classroom party if they wish, but they will not be parading. Classroom parties will still go on. However, if you plan to attend the party, we have a few requests:

1. If you are ill or feel ill, do not come to the party.
2. Please do not bring younger children to school. (Non-school age)
3. If you are bringing food for the party, please consider pre-made and wrapped items.
4. If you are planning classroom games, stay away from games that require student to student direct contact.

Thank you for understanding and helping us combat these nasty germs.

Sincerely,
Vicki Staebell, Jesup Nurse
Brian Pottebaum, Elementary Principal

2009-10-23T15:44:00.002-05:00

Click to see photos of the Jesup Elementary Limo/Pizza Day!!

2009-10-23T14:13:00.000-05:00

http://bit.ly/J3Csh

2009-10-20T19:31:00.001-05:00

Dear Parent or Guardian,
Jesup Schools is working with public health officials to decrease the spread of
flu at our school. We are taking these measures to help our students stay healthy. We need your help.
Influenza spreads most easily in the early stages of the illness. To protect your child, as well as any
other child, we will be more sensitive to the symptoms of influenza and will send your child home if ill.
Following these recommendations will help to prevent illness in your child and his/her classmates.
Know the signs and symptoms of the flu. Symptoms of the flu can include fever (oral
temperature of 100 F or greater), cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches,
headache, and feeling very tired. Some people may also vomit or have diarrhea.
Do not send children to school if they are sick. Any children who are determined to be sick
while at school will be sent home. You should begin to plan how you will provide care for your
sick child if you are not able to stay home with them.
Keep sick children at home for at least 24 hours after the fever is gone. If you give your child
fever reducing drugs, like ibuprofen, ensure your child has not had a fever for 24 hours after the
drugs have worn off.
Teach your children the flu is spread from person-to-person. Teach them to cough or
sneeze into a tissue and then throw the tissue in trash. If a tissue is not available, teach them to
cover their cough or sneeze using their elbow or sleeve instead of their hands.
Teach your children to wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
(the time it takes to sing happy birthday twice), especially after they cough or sneeze. If soap
and water is not available, an alcohol-based hand gel can be used. You can set a good example
by doing this yourself.
Teach your children not to share personal items like beverages, cups, food, unwashed
utensils, or toothbrushes.
Get your family vaccinated for seasonal influenza soon, and novel influenza A (H1N1) when it
becomes available.
We appreciate your help in keeping our students healthy.
Sincerely,
Jesup Schools

Does this ever sound familiar?

2009-10-08T17:02:00.001-05:00

2009-10-06T11:54:00.002-05:00

Oct. Parent Newsletter

2009-10-01T11:43:00.000-05:00

October 1, 2009

Dear Parents,

I wore shorts and a t-shirt on Sunday and a coat and gloves on Monday. What's up with that?
Here is some important information for all or you:

1. Jesup Elementary will be participating in Homecoming events this Friday. Students are encouraged to show their spirit by dressing in school colors! I am asking that students not come to school with hair dye and painted faces. However, they may wear any of the stickers ordered from the Booster Club if they wish to. If the weather cooperates, all elementary students will be walking in the parade that is scheduled for 2:30 pm on Friday. (Don't forget about the community pep rally tonight at 7pm.)

2. Club's Choice will be delivering all of the recent fundraising products on Monday, October 5th. You can pick up your orders from 3:15-6:00 pm Monday afternoon. The products will be in the elementary school. Feel free to park in the west parking lot as the west doors will be unlocked. This fundraiser was very successful with over $15,000 raised for your school! The Elementary PTO and staff will be carefully determining how to best use these funds to benefit the students. (The students who earned a limo ride will be receiving information on when/where soon.)

3. Your child brought home a note about our Character Counts yearly kick-off event that will be held the morning of Tuesday, October 6th. We are asking students to wear the color noted on their letter. Character is a big deal here at Jesup Elementary!

4. You are all invited to a very special student assembly 8:30 a.m. next Wednesday, October 7th. The Iowa Health System organization will be educating the students on the importance of seat belt use, the importance of wearing a helmet during many activities, and safe swimming. This is a very popular program across the state, and we are very fortunate to be able to host this at Jesup. This 45 minute event will take place in the south gym. You are invited!

5. If you haven't done so already, check out all of the trees that were recently planted near the playground. The Playground Tree Committee was spearheaded by staff member, Judy Fratzke and will provide a nice wind break for the playground. A lot of time and effort was put into this project, and your help is needed in making sure the trees are left alone to grow and thrive in this area. Talk to your child about not climbing on the trees.

GO J-Hawks!
Brian Pottebaum

The more you know....

2009-09-24T09:46:00.000-05:00

Have you talked with your child about this?

Help Wanted - Parents!

2009-09-21T13:09:00.009-05:00

I worked in education many years before having children of my own. In fact, my wife and I had accepted that we may not have kids. The kids in my classroom were my kids and I was just fine with that. We were very surprised when we found out Bella would be arriving. It's an understatement to say our world changed at that very moment.

Bella is now 3 1/2 and Chase is 15 months old. (Have you ever noticed parents give their child's age in months? Wouldn't it be funny if adults did that? Hi, I'm Brian and I am 450 months old.) Amy and I were married about 10 years before having our first child. We were definitely set in our ways and our schedule. Work always came first and weekends were reserved for sleeping till noon and finding something to do at night. We just did what we felt like on a Saturday night. Very little preparation and planning....just get in the car and go somewhere.

Now, planning a trip to the store is quite an event. The process starts a couple hours before the actual departure. There are diaper bags to pack, juice boxes to chill, snacks to prepare, in car movies to pre-select, and it always seems like someone is missing a shoe. Once everyone is dressed, there is about a 50% chance that someone will vomit on themselves or find a marker to play with causing a full change of clothing just minutes before departure. I think parents would make great NASA employees. They are the masters of pre-departure checklists, they always have backup supplies ready, and they can quickly assess the health and mood of the travel crew in deciding if the trip is really worth it.

Time to load the car. I have yet to figure out the 3 point harness system on Chase's car seat. I have to pull out the instruction manual every time! Speaking of car, we brought Bella home from the hospital in a little two door car that was fun and sporty. Three days later, after pulling every muscle in the lower third of my body trying to remove her from the backseat, our garage contained an SUV that gets horrible gas mileage, but contains enough storage space for even the bulkiest stroller. Anyway, everyone is settled and ready to depart. Mom and dad are both sweaty and exhausted. Chase has figured out how to reach Bella's curly hair and give a quick yank. Bella is upset because the "in flight" movie isn't Sponge Bob. She quickly starts to recite every naughty word she has ever heard.

The trips usually turn out fine. Even though, we rarely get everything on the list because Chase usually falls asleep while sitting in the shopping cart. We head home, after making a quick trip to Dairy Queen as insisted by Bella, and start the unloading process. (We pray they have sprinkles or we will all have to listen to every naughty word Bella knows on the way home.) Kids, bags, strollers, loose Cheerios, and chunks of Bella's hair that Chase has removed are all swept from the car. My quiet time is when I drive the now empty boat on wheels into the garage. (Isn't it really just my generations version of a station wagon?) I power down the engine, take the keys, and pick up the stray Cheerio on the floor mat.

I walk in the house totally exhausted and am met by two kids running at me with their arms out. I just saw them 3 minutes ago, yet they act like I have been gone for days. This makes the one hour trip that takes two hours to prepare for, totally worth it. I'm not father of the year by any means, but it does feel good to see little eyeballs light up when I walk in a room.

I still feel like I am adjusting to being a parent. Maybe that feeling never goes away? I find it frustrating, scary, worrisome, exciting, and funny all at once. I think I am getting better at this parent role as time goes on. I am not perfect at it like my wife who can prepare lunch, break up a fight, find the tv remote, and kiss an owie all in one motion. I am getting better though and look forward to watching Chase and Bella grow up. I am rather "high strung" myself which sometimes gets in the way. I am learning to just, "chill out". (Bella and Amy often remind me to do this.)

I am a true believer that all things happen for a reason. We didn't have kids years ago because we just were not ready to have kids. We thought we were, but looking back.....yeah....we were not ready. I wouldn't change anything.

A love hate relationship with email

2009-09-10T20:24:00.000-05:00

I've always considered myself ahead of the game when it comes to technology. I still remember getting my first email account in 1996. It was such a big event for me. In just a few clicks of the mouse, I became connected to the world. I became connected to my distant relative who lived 1000 miles away. If I wanted to email him at 2am, I could do that. It was such an exhilarating feeling to see a message waiting for me in my email inbox. Those early days of email meant that I may receive 1 or 2 per week. A lot of time and thought was put into crafting just the right response before clicking that magical send button on the screen.
Fast forward to today. Instead of a couple emails a week, it is often dozens if not hundreds per week. Instead of finely crafted responses, I find myself typing short and to the point responses. Don't even get me going about the unreal amount of spam/junk emails that show up almost by the minute. Instead of savoring the idea that someone took the time out of their day to contact me via the mystery of the internet, I find myself quickly triaging my emails into categories such as, reply immediately, or can sit here for a few days and maybe they won't notice I didn't respond. I'm sure some people reading this are shaking their heads in agreement right now. Email has become a blessing and a curse to many.
I decided to do a little experiment about a week ago. Instead of my usual routine of quickly answering and sending off, I selected about 1/4 of my daily emails and instead of emailing back, I called the person or met with them face to face. The results were fascinating. First off, I was surprised by how many people had no idea what I was talking about. They had to ask me to remind them what the content of their email was. Keep in mind; I talked with these people within a few hours of receiving their email. (I have been guilty of this many times. "What is this person responding about?" I will have to scroll down and see what I sent them.) Second, some people seemed almost uncomfortable that I was personally responding to them. "I hope the email didn't upset you", was a comment I received. The email had not upset me; the sender was just startled that I took the time to personally respond. It actually became fun to continue with this experiment. It's like the pace of life would just slow down a little and actual conversations were occurring. Finally, have you ever had someone interpret an email you sent totally different than what you intended? This doesn't happen when you meet face to face or talk on the phone.
Don’t get me wrong. I still use email all the time. In fact, I rely on it and can't imagine being able to do my job efficiently without it. What an awesome feat to be able to email dozens of people at once to let them know something that would take hours to do via in person or by phone. I just think it is important to not lose touch with people. Humans have an intrinsic need to communicate. Look at the success of Facebook and Twitter. It really is shallow communication for the most part, yet fulfilling a need of people to be heard. My whole point here is to not lose touch with actual, meaningful, spoken words. Yes, it feels a bit "old school" when people sit down and talk. It's kind of like when I pull out my old Atari system my wife doesn't know I have stashed in the basement. Playing Donkey Kong with my one joystick and one red button just feels right sometimes. Sitting down and talking to an actual human just feels right sometimes, too. What does all of this rambling have to do with education? Have you sat down with your child's teacher and talked? Have you made an appointment, actual set aside time, with a teacher and just shared information about your child? It's something to think about.
I have to go organize my email inbox, check out what my buddies on Facebook are doing. I should also send out a Tweet and maybe update my blog before I leave for the day, too.

Brian Pottebaum, Jesup Elementary Principal

September 9, 2009 Newsletter

2009-09-09T11:09:00.001-05:00

Dear Parents,

Many have asked if fundraising forms can be kept just awhile longer. No problem, we have decided to extend the due date until this Friday, September 11. Please plan to have all forms into the office by noon this Friday. Thank you for helping make this fundraiser a success! The kids will directly benefit from the money raised.
How can you get more involved with your school? Attend an Elementary PTO meeting. The first meeting of the 2009-2010 school year will be held tomorrow night, (Thursday), at 6pm in the elementary building. Free child care will be available!
I know newsletters from the school don't always make it home. It is a long trip from copy machine to classroom to bag to home. If you have access to the internet, you can now keep up to date with Jesup Elementary news by going to: www.brianatjesup.blogspot.com. This interactive blog will be updated often and contain everything from upcoming events to fun facts about Jesup Elementary. If you prefer to receive newsletters from me via this electronic blog, zip me an email and a paper copy will not be sent home with your child. We can then both feel good about saving a tree! While you are at it, you can follow me on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/jesupelementary. Check it out!

Have a great day!
Brian Pottebaum, Elementary Principal
bpottebaum@jesup.k12.ia.us

Picture Day!!

2009-09-09T10:28:00.002-05:00

Today is "Picture Day" at Jesup Elementary. It is days like this when I appreciate my job. Watching the photographer trying to get 55 PK kids to smile was exhausting!

2009-09-02T14:29:00.004-05:00

You know.......
The first week of school is kind of like this:

I'm a blogger!!!

2009-09-02T14:17:00.004-05:00

I'm getting with the times! This the place where "all things" about Jesup Elementary will be posted. Current activities, upcoming events, and my thoughts on all things dealing with education will be posted for your reading pleasure. Please feel free to make this interactive and leave comments.

Here are the rules to this game:
1. Please know that your comments will be read by others. Be nice.
2. If there is anything specific about your child that you would like to discuss, please contact me directly via phone or email.
3. Comment often if you wish!