ParaPROwess

Welcome Parapros!

Join me in a new adventure...a blogsite for district parapros.  It is my hope that   
you will find useful information and quick links here to assist you in your day-to-day schedule.  Feel free to look around and email me when you find something important that needs to be shared with everyone. 
---Take a walk on the beach of the Parapro Blog.  :)

Welcome to May!

Greetings Parapros,

You can say good-bye to April and hello to May.  Let the countdown to school's end begin. 

May's Parapor Connection is now posted.  It's another good one as it talks about end-of-year evaluations, collaborations with teachers and plans for next year.   Go to www.paraconnect.com  > Monthly Skill Building > Online Subscription > type our username and password (available from your Parapro Facilitator) and enjoy!

Hope in the coming weeks you receive good news about your jobs for next year.  You have truly made a name for yourselves during the past three years.  Keep up the fantastic work!

Again my thanks for your support the past three years.  Your hard work and dedication have inspired me.  I appreciate all of your emails of best wishes as I retire.  If you need me, I will be here! 
All the best, Lynn :)
 

Welcome to April...and 2 days before Spring Break!

Ah, I can hear the relief in your voices and your sighs...Spring Break is almost here!  And a well-deserved break it is.  I hope you have had the opportunity to view Superintendent Sanderson's video message to us.  He sincerely wants to do what is best for our district and knows that in the coming days, there will be some tough decisions made.  He encourages us to enjoy Spring Break - our family, friends, R&R, etc. and for one week, forget about the budget.  I encourage ALL of you to do just that. 

April's The Parapro Connection newsletter is now posted.  Another good one as it reminds us to reflect on our evaluations this time of year; continue to "listen" to your students; and plan your own professional learning in an effort to stay abreast of new strategies and information and keep us on the cutting edge of serving our students.  Be sure to read it and file it away for future reference.

A huge THANK YOU to those of you who completed the online survey for parapros.  More than 500 of you responded.  I am listening to you: more PL on technology and with special needs students.  Also, more direction on working with your cooperating teachers...I hope that the plans for in-services during pre-planning instead of a 2010 Para Institute will meet this need.  Stay tuned!

May 3rd begins Summer 2010 PL registration for earning PLUs.  Be sure to register early to get the courses you want/need.  Check out Parapros, Special Student Services and Technology.  I trust you will find face2face, blended and online courses that will meet your needs.

Thanks for ALL that you do every day in our schools to assist staff and students.  You truly are amazing, and it's my pleasure to work with you.

Enjoy your Spring Break!
Lynn :)

Welcome to March

Hi Paras,
Looks like March is going to come in "like a lamb'; that means it will go out "like a lion"...oh my.  Don't know about you, but I am ready for Spring and warmer temperatures.  :)

I know how busy you will be this month readying students for testing.  They don't call it March Madness just because of basketball.  Hang in there...you have spent the last seven months working with students to ensure their success.  They will do you proud!

March 11th is Parapro Appreciation Day here in Georgia.  Some Cobb schools are recognizing you on March 11th.  Other schools recognize ALL staff on another day.  Either way, please know that your efforts and work do not go unnoticed.  We appreciate our parapros!

By now you have heard that the Parapro Institute will not be held this year.  After three years of focusing on you and the roles you play in our schools, I felt it was time to take you to the next level - teaming with your Content teachers and attending the pre-planning PL day with them.  Work begins this week to plan an elemenary-focused day for July 27th and a middle/high-focused day for July 28th.  It is our goal to provide a schedule to schools before Summer dismissal.  Stay tuned.  :)

Excellent attendance from parapros in our Winter/Spring 2010 PL classes.   Thanks for your support!  For those of you needing PLUs this Summer, registration begins May 3rd.  I should have a preliminary schedule a couple of weeks prior to May 3rd; if so, I will email it to Parapro Faciliators for distribution.

The March Parapro Connection newsletter is not available yet.  As soon as that happens, I will let you know. 

Thanks for ALL you do!  Continue your best efforts.  It's my pleasure to work with all of you,
Lynn :)

February Is American Heart Month

Greetings Parapros,

February is here and reminds us to take care of our hearts.  How? 
1. Know the signs and symptoms of a heart attack and what to do.  Check out the American Heart Association's website @ http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1200000

2. Remember "Love" - for 28 days do one thing every day that you love: take a walk, call someone, visit someone, hug someone, be thoughtful, breathe, have dinner with someone special - February 14th comes to mind, smile at your students and wish them a "happy day," write a one-liner in a journal...whatever makes you stop and love yourself or someone. 

3. The Parapro Connection newsletter - login to read about...
(not posted yet)
> Go to www.paraconnect.com > Monthly Skill Building > Online Subscription > Member Login
***For username and password, check with your school's Parapro Facilitator.
Enjoy!

4. Classes - thank you for supporting District PL courses!  We have 4 sections of Color Me Successful, 3 sections of Para Conn I, 2 sections of Para Conn II, 1 section of PowerPoint Activities, and 1 section of SMART (board) Camp.  And many of you have joined me in our Beginning Spanish class.  For you, "Como estas?  Son divertidos, no vamos a comer!"  :)

5. Groundhog Day is tomorrow, February 2nd.  With the forecast of rain, I hope General Lee does NOT see his shadow so that Spring will arrive early here in Georgia.

Hope you enjoy February.  After all, it is the shortest month and should pass pretty quickly.  I thought January moved pretty quickly...oh my.  :)
Continue the great jobs you are doing with our students.

Remember to do something you love this month.  All the best to each and every one of you,
Lynn

Happy New Year!

Hello Everyone and welcome back.  Hope you enjoyed your holidays.  

We say good-by to the Digital Decade (2000-2009) and begin the next decade...wonder what it will hold.  Remember Y2K???  Boy, we have come a long way.

PL is gearing up to begin district courses next week.  I hope you registered for something if you need PLUs or if just want to learn.  I registered for Beginning Spanish...I've always wanted to learn another language and with our community and schools becoming more diverse, I want to be able to communicate with others. 

Thanks for your support of our new course, Color Me Successful.  Eighty paras registered for it, and we are taking all of you - whoohoo!  I hope it proves to be another beneficial course. 

The January issue of The Parapro Connection newsletter is now available.  Go to www.paraconnect.com > click on Monthly Skill Building > Member Login.  Be sure you have the username and password from your school's Parapro Facilitator. 
Let's reflect on this issue:  What ONE tidbit can you take from this issue and share with others in order to impact student success?  Share with your cooperating teacher or administration. 

Hope you are weathering these frigid temperatures and staying warm.  Hang in there...it will be Spring Break before we know it! 

Happy New Year,
Lynn :)

Brrrr...must be December!

Greetings Everyone,

Hope you had an enjoyable and delicious Thanksgiving.  After so many days off, it was difficult to come back to work.  Now, we can count down to Winter Holidays...last day of school is December 18th.  :)

Monday, November 30th was the first day of District PL Registration!  Our parapro classes filled quickly; two have even closed.  Thank you for supporting our NEW course, Color Me Successful.  We will be offering two sections of this class for Winter/Spring 2010.

Hope all is going well with SFSD plans/PL.  Many of your schools are conducting special trainings for parapros.  Thank your administrators for including you!

December's Parapro Connection newsletter is now available for downloading.  Love the Front Page's article on Holiday Gifts.  Go to www.paraconnect.com
For username and password, check with your school's Parapro Facilitator.
Enjoy!

Let me take this opportunity to wish you the 3 R's found in the Parapro Connection newsletter:  Recreation --- Relaxation --- Rejuvenation during our Winter holidays. 

See you back here in 2010!
Lynn :)

Winter/Spring 2010 District Courses

Hello Paras and Welcome to November!

Fall 2009 classes are winding down.  Thanks to so many of you who took advantage of district offerings to earn PLUs.  Parapro Connection I had 75 participants.  Parapro Connection II had 42 participants.  Parapro Connection 2009-2010 has 22 participants.  Web Tools started with 12 and has 9.  Tools for the Successful Parapro finished with 12.  Computer Basics and Word Basics finished with 15.  These numbers are impressive.  Thanks for your support.

Winter/Spring 2010 registration begins November 30th.  Classes can begin as early as January 11th but must finish by April 30th.  Be sure to login to the PLS and register early...your courses tend to close quickly.  Plus, courses offered Fall will not be offered Winter/Spring. 

Winter/Spring 2010 will bring a new class to parapros called Color Me Successful.  Based on the book that each school received last year, activities for each vignette and Wiki postings will continue to help paras grow professionally.  The course awards 3 PLUs at its conclusion.   And we have listened to you...some of you have asked for some face-to-face time for these online courses.  So. Color Me Successful has scheduled 2 OPTIONAL face-to-face trainings at Blackwell ES's district lab on January 11 and 18.  Elementary teachers can come 3-5 pm; Middle and High School teachers can come 5-7pm. 

Hope you will join us for a new class focused on your needs.  Please continue to let me know what other trainings you need.  Have a great November and Happy Thanksgiving!

Lynn :)

Fall News

Hello Parapros,

I hope these Fall colors and temperatures are tempting you to get outside and enjoy.  I am seeing Fall Festival plans all over our district - be sure to enjoy one.  Now, if only the rains would go away!  Thanks to ALL of you who jumped in to assist Clarkdale ES!  I believe they feel our support and can begin rebuilding their lives and school and focus on students.  

Fall district courses are underway.  Many of you are taking opportunities to strengthen your professional learnings.  Parapro Connection I has finished; Parapro Connection II is underway; Parapro Connection 2009-2010 has started and has read September and October newsletters.  This course lasts all year.  To access the newsletters, go to www.paraconnect.com > click on Monthly Skill Building > Online Subscription > type your username and password (available from your school's parapro facilitator) > download the newsletters and enjoy!

Many parapro groups are participating in Blackboard Collaboration shells.   Kudos to you!  Enjoy the online experience and the collaboration and learning with your colleagues. 

September is Here!

Bye-bye August and Hello September.   I trust you are settling into the new school year.  I have heard from many of you and am looking forward to having you in Fall 2009 PL courses.

If it's September, then The Parapro Connection newsletter must be available.  Absolutely!  September's issue is posted and ready for you to peruse.  Check with your local school Parapro Facilitator for the username and password.  Don't have a local school Parapro Facilitator?  Choose someone and email me the name so I can add you to my GroupWise Distribution List.

Enjoy a Sensational September!

Lynn :)

Alternative Routes to Certification

Thank you for attending the 2009 Parapro Institute!  Approximately 1200 of you attended - yea! 

As mentioned at the Institute, Cobb County Human Resources has created a document for those of you who are interested in becoming teachers.  Go to http://www.teachcobb.com
> On the lefthand side of the screen, click on Career Changers.

Best of luck!  Have a great year,
Lynn