Silly-ness

Yes, this is hilarious.

Pinterest

as you may know, I'm a fan of the virtual dream boards

pinterest.com/oltmcr/

let me know if you need an invite!

*every teacher has to check it out*

Miscellaneous Items

Please feel free to use this space for questions, comments, or additional advice you may have for me! Thanks for taking the time to check out a part of my life I hold near and dear to my heart.

School Family Prayer Requests

Please feel free to make your prayer requests known and we as a staff will pray daily over the list during our morning worship and throughout the day. God bless you!

Roles of the Principal

School Leader:

A school principal is the primary leader in the building who must be positive, enthusiastic, energetic, creative, caring, kind, and have action going on each day’s activities. They should be god listeners and know when to talk and when to be silent showing they aren’t just hearing what another person says but that they actually understand where they’re coming from.

Student Discipline:

A great portion of the principal’s job is to handle discipline with students. The first step is to make sure you communicate to the teachers that they must do what they can with the student in their classroom before you are involved. Once they understand that, it will be much easier to attain the steps necessary. Most of the discipline comes for teacher referrals. Sometimes it takes a while to find a proper punishment for the specific act but it’s important to have a foundation established for the basics in a school bulletin for parents, teachers, and students to review before school starts.

Teacher Evaluations:

The principal is there to make sure the teachers stay at the best of their “game” in the classroom and are constantly working to improve their knowledge in the classroom. A good principal motivates and affirms the teachers with constructive ideas towards higher success. It’s important for the principal to spend as much time around school and in the classrooms as possible. It may not happen every class period but it’s important to make frequent visits letting teachers know you’re available for viewing activities or discussion more of the time than not. It lets the kids know you’re approachable too!

Develop, Implement, & Evaluate Programs:

Creating programs for your school is vital to keep motivating improvement on all counts. A principal should develop effective programs that cover a variety of areas and interests. Make sure the programs fit the culture of your school. Don’t be afraid to tweak things if needed!

Schedule Setting:

Principals are there to oversee the task of creating the yearly schedule. It’s a bit overwhelming to make sure everything fits into its proper place but involving other staff in the process can help for cross checking and balance. Delegate, delegate, delegate! It’s impossible to please everyone but do your best to accommodate as many as possible with at least a few of their requests. It’s best to be open to making adjustments when the year begins as needed. Sometimes there are conflicts you may not be able to foresee.

Hiring New Teachers:

A crucial part of the administrations job is to hire and fire teachers. Hiring is intended to place someone who they believe will fit well in the culture of your school. If you choose too quickly, there may be issues that make you wish you had been more careful. If you find the right person, typically your job will be easier. J The interview process is one that you’ll need to have a committee or board available for so you all may ask the right questions. You’ll more than likely know what those questions should be.

Overall, make sure you are a communicator and leader who people feel comfortable talking to or meeting with but aren’t going to walk all over you. Be someone courageous and tactful. Be someone who can show wisdom without flaunting it. In the end, you’ll likely be thankful to have had the opportunity to make such an impact on the school and community.

Source: www.teaching.about.com

Goals

1. By the end of the 2nd Quarter I would like to see smoothly running family groups reinstated in school. This will assist in older students learning leadership abilities and younger kids with listening skills and respect. Students will treat each other with kindness. The hallways will be a place of comfort rather than fear and the classrooms warm and positive.

2. I will create a charity that will contribute a percentage to our school and a percentage to the charity of our choice. This will hopefully motivate teachers to come up with personal charities with their classes each year and perhaps benefits our school finances as well.

3. I hope to motivate students to live more health-consciously so they can enjoy their learning experiences rather than dread them. I plan to have daily morning exercise in the gym or out on the field every day before school begins. We will do warm up stretching, active song movements, cool-down, and morning announcements with healthy tips for the day. Kids will have higher energy levels and their classroom focus will be heightened.

4. I will take a great stand against bullying at school. There will be awareness created with documentary introductions, guest speakers, FiNDING KiND, and interactive bulletin boards near the school entry. Students will be able to inspire each other when bullying starts creeping in and they'll hold tools towards stopping it successfully.

Vision

Defining Statement of Leadership

Sometimes greatness is born within us and sometimes greatness is thrust upon us.
Jake wanted me to apply for full-time teaching jobs long before I graduated with a degree in teaching. He was so supportive of this career-oriented "wifestyle" and I wasn't much for disagreeing.

When kids and life interrupted the plans it was a matter of doing what was best, in my mind, for our family. Staying and home and working part-time was my only option. Not just because there weren't any available positions I felt compelled to apply for but also because I wanted to be with my children while they were tiny.

The call to teaching was obvious to me until I was ready to get my name out there. After only 3 interviews in 3 years and a job offer I'd had to decline, it was unclear where God saw me.

My mentor, Leslie Briggs, illustrated God's timing clearly with her call. Now I work happily in a school that loves me and accepts me andsupports my family and me.

The "greatness" was thrust upon me in the support of my husband and family.
The call to leadership isn't what I was looking for, by any means, but when Leslie asked me if I'd considered administration I honestly hadn't nor do I have working plans to head that direction after my MAT is completed. However, the fact that she sees something in my abilities that I don't is just one more example of the greatness that is thrust upon so many of us. 

Does this mean I'm lazy and unaware? No, Idon't think that's it. Does it mean that I'm so self absorbed that I don't pay attention to the needs of others in the school? Hope not!

I think greatness illustrates more than just accomplishment but also possibility and potential. It's nice to have people watching out for you! I hope I can inspire and motivate my students, children, and friends to see things in themselves they didn't before.

"I can do all things through Christ..."

My Vision: 

M y

S avior's

A t

S chool

The Lord is in our school at all times. He is watching us work with a smile and he is proud of the work we are doing here! I am proud of you as well!

Mrs. Oltman

Calendar

http://www.miltonstateline.org/calendar.php

August: Know kids names
September: Know their parent's names!
Daily: Glorify God for what He's done
Weekly: Check in with teachers
Monthly: Fire & Lockdown drills
Quarterly: Update Principal's "To Do" List
Yearly: Complete end of the year forms and evaluations

I can do all things through Christ!

First Aid Section

Encouraging verses from the bible:

§  “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33

§  God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah. Psalm 46:1-3,7

§  ‘Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’Isaiah 41:10

§  For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control. 2 Tim 1:7 (AMP)

§  I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.Psalm 16:8 (AMP)

§  Cast your burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it] and He will sustain you; He will never allow the [consistently] righteous to be moved (made to slip, fall, or fail). Psalm 55:22 (AMP)

§  He only is my Rock and my Salvation; He is my Defense and my Fortress, I shall not be moved.Psalm 62:6 (AMP)

§  Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. 1 Peter 5:7 (AMP)

§  The Lord is good, a Strength and Stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows (recognizes, has knowledge of, and understands) those who take refuge and trust in Him. Nahum 1:7 (AMP)

§  “The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3

(Courtesy www.christianpf.com)

By Crys:

Over the weekend my family spent time on Hayden Lake. 

For those of you who may not know, Hayden Lake is home to the beautiful, pristine Camp MiVoden. 

While out on the boat with just us -- Jake, Me, our two small kids -- we rode the perimeter of the lake talking, laughing, bumping over wave after wave, and enjoying each other's company. 

As we approached the face of Camp MiVoden a song I learned there came into my mind. "Don't let my love grow cold. I'm calling out: Light the fire again! Don't let my vision die! I'm calling out: Light the fire again!" 

I thought about the weekend away with my family. Four small and made for each other. The sounds of my children playing resonnates well with me and helps me to refresh for the week to come. They remind me of the love God has for us as his kids and the feeling he has when he gets to spend time with us. He wants that time with us and he needs it. 

"I am here to buy gold refined in the fire. Naked and poor, wretched and blind I come! Clothe me in white so I won't be ashamed! Lord, light the fire again."

What a refreshing experience God's love is. What a privilege.