Create the Magic!!!

I’m so lucky to be a part of some incredible learning networks through Twitter, Facebook, and Voxer.  Administrators from around our nation share ideas through these outlets and keep each other inspired and focused on doing what’s best for kiddos.  What is amazing is, every lead learner is committed to growing!

An inspiration of mine is a fellow “Moms as Principal” leader,  Lynn Colon, who believes there is tremendous power in bringing the Disney magic and business philosophy to schools. Check out her article here:  Your Guide to Running a School Like Disney World  Our theme this year is, “if you can dream it, you can do it.”  We believe that making experiences for our kiddos will change the game!

We have committed to “bringing the magic,” to Vero Beach Elementary!  A focus of ours is; how we can create amazing learning experiences for kiddos?

We can start by creating opportunities to build relationships with our amazing teams!

Today, 60 staff members met in the orange groves on a Saturday, thanks to Learning Alliance of Indian River County and Hammond Groves, for our annual staff retreat!  For three hours we embraced team building, set our non-negotiable for planning, literacy, and STEM, and had a little Disney fun sprinkled in.

It’s all about serving our guests with amazing learning experiences, which starts by serving our learning experience designers with opportunities to build magical relationships!

Here are some typical questions I get about the retreat:

1. How do you pay for the VBE swag?
     Our PTA helped sponsor the staff shirts, sunglasses, and hats!  We also had other local businesses join in!

2.  How do you provide breakfast and lunch?
     We build partnerships in the community!  We are lucky to have an amazing relationship with Valic who provides all of our food today.  Bonus, they come out to the retreat and help our staff create plans for their retirement and savings!

3.  What activities do you do?
     Our tribal council plans games that are all given point value for the winning.  We also set a “Goosechase” scavenger hunt, using the free app, that is part of a school-wide competition.  This year the winning team will each get $100, per person, to build up their classroom libraries!!!
     Games-  sponge relay, plank contest, hula hoop contest
     Challenges- Disney themed handshake, movie scene challenge, and lip sync contest.

In all reality, it’s a great way to sprinkle some pixie dust to start our year!

One vibe.  One tribe.