Dear George Washington Community School Family:

I am very honored and excited to join the George Washington Community School
Family as your new principal. As your new principal it is my mission to motivate,
inspire and propel each and every member of our school family into our places of
continual excellence as students, educators, parent-partners, community-based
partners and lifelong learners.

I hope you had a relaxing, restful summer because you deserve it. The more time I
spend in education, the more difficult I realize the job has become. Teaching and
caring for children with such diverse needs is taxing. The opportunity to refuel is a
key component to doing great work in schools.

My professional career spans some 15 years of providing challenging, creative and

real world experiences for the children of Minneapolis Public Schools. It has involved
working with a diverse population of students including general education, gifted,
English Learners and special education students. During this time, I learned that the
collaboration and positive relationships between the school community and all other
stakeholders is the exemplary quality of an effective school.

Over the past month I have had the opportunity to learn about the school
leadership, staff, parents and students. I am humbled by a shared purpose which
has guided my own leadership: a relentless commitment to putting children at the
center of our work in education.

My greatest initiative is to provide the leadership that will facilitate a school

environment that will provide differentiated instruction to meet the needs of each
student to the best of our ability. The educational program must be academically
challenging to the needs of every student, engage each student by linking previous
knowledge and experience, and also be exciting to promote further exploration of
new ideas.

Parents, teachers, support staff, and administration all have an important role to
encourage our children to become active learners. It is my sincere desire to provide
expanded opportunities for our students to acquire the skills to become productive
citizens in a vastly changing society. Through a close and collegial relationship with
everyone associated with George Washington Community School, I am confident we
will continue to be a special place where our students will learn and grow.
When I was a student, I saw learning from my desk, surrounded by other
students. When I became a teacher, I saw learning from the front of the room.
When I became an administrator, I saw learning from the doorways, in the halls,
and other more distant places.
My perspective has been shaped by the places I have stood.
Sincerely,
 Norma Alejandro-Mattson
This Principal Entry Plan is being crafted as a tool to communicate my commitment
to listen and learn as I lead at George Washington Community School. The action
items outlined in this document are indicative of my commitment to seek first to
understand as I join you as your new leader on this awesome journey that is well
underway. As we move forward, please know that I welcome and desire your input.

Together we can and we will rise to the top because of our commitment to join
forces as a united school family, declaring that our children will receive the best
education possible. We are in our finest days and the best is yet to come!

Goals:
1. Establish and nurture positive and productive relationships with the members of the
George Washington Community School family in order to better understand the
history, norms, values and traditions of the school community-at-large.
2. Establish a foundation for continuous school improvement by identifying strengths
and opportunities for growth for the school and school community.
3. Collaboratively develop and communicate a clear vision for continuous
improvement (academic growth and achievement), grounded in research-based
outcomes and supported by historical data and feedback from staff members,
parents, community-based partners, students and extended family members
(district personnel).
4. Rally the George Washington Community Family towards achieving goals outlined in
our shared vision statement through:
On-going and honest communication
Collaboration
Challenging complacency
A commitment to growth
Mutual accountability for all
Celebration of our diversity
Inclusion of one and all

Entry Plan
Goal 1: Establish and nurture positive and productive relationships with
the members of the George Washington Community School family in order
to better understand the history, norms, values and traditions of the
school community-at-large.
 Objective A: Establish and nurture positive and productive
relationships with the members of George Washington Community
School staff members.

Actions for Accomplishing Objectives Timeline

Invite all staff members to one-on-one meetings (via. E- August 1st, 2016
mail and phone calls).

Communicate the Principal Entry Plan to staff members August 1st, 2016
(via e-mail and posted on school website).

Meet with School Instructional Leadership Team August, 2016

Host one-on-one meet and greet with staff members. August 8 - 19, 2016
Administrative Staff
Classroom Teachers
Instructional Support Staff (Coaches, ESL, etc.)
Instructional Assistants
Secretarial Staff
Cafeteria Staff
Custodial Staff
Communities In Schools Representative
**** SEE BELOW Meeting with the Principal***

Collaborate with administrative team to plan opening August 1st 5th, 2016
day activities.

Send welcome back letter to staff members (for school August 1st, 2016
year 2016-2017).

Host grade level planning sessions prior to August 22 nd August, 2016

start date for certified staff.

Schedule Back-to-School Night and communicate date August, 2016

to staff members and families.

Host first formal staff meetings August 22 26, 2016

Getting-to-Know You Activities
Develop Norms and Essential Agreements for staff
expectations
Review of the Data State of the School (Where
have we been? Where are we now? Where are we
going? How are we going to get there?)
Preliminary development and articulation of shared
vision and organizational goals Family Gathering (Staff
Luncheon)
PDP Formation Collaborative Planning Norms
Instructional and Non-Instructional Duties
Instructional Support (Coaches roles)
Master Schedule
Curriculum Mapping

Review and develop norms for staff gatherings and By August 31, 2016
recognition.

***** Meeting with the Principal *****

As the start of school is quickly approaching, I invite each department
to meet with me, including Secretaries, Cafeteria Staff and Custodians, to
discuss successes, your hopes and dreams for our future, and what steps we
can take together to make GWCS even better. If you are able to attend,
these will be informal conversations so there is no need to bring anything. I
understand some of you may be on vacation during these times so if you
cant make it, we can meet at another time. Your family and personal
time comes first.

Below is a list of dates and times that I have set aside for us to meet:
Monday, August 8th: 9:00-10:00 AM; 10:15-11:15 AM
Thursday, August 11th: 10:15-11:15 AM; 1:00-2:00 PM
Friday, August 12th: 9:00-10:00 AM; 10:15-11:15 AM; 1:00-2:00 PM
Monday, August 15th, 9:00-10:00 AM; 10:15-11:15 AM; 1:00-2:00 PM
Thursday, August 18th: 9:00-10:00 AM; 10:15-11:15 AM; 1:00-2:00 PM
Friday, August 19th: 9:00-10:00 AM

Please call or email Pam Lincoln to set up an appointment. Again, this is not
mandatory or an expectation, but simply an invitation for us to talk. Please
let Pam know the room number where you want to meet.

Objective B: Establish and nurture relationships with the student body

of George Washington Community School.

Actions for Accomplishing Objectives Timeline

Send robocalls in English and Spanish to all staff, August 1st, 2016
parents and students.

Send Back-to-School letters to all families in English August 1 - 5, 2016

and Spanish.

Host Family Meet and Greet Night with the New August 18, 2016
Principal. (Ice Cream Social)

Host Back to School Open House. August 25, 2016

Host student assemblies on the first day of school for August 29 and August
grades Pre-K 2, grades 3-5 and grades 6-8. 31 (Pre-K), 2016
Establishment of norms and essential
agreements
Vision articulation
Beginning of the year motivational rally

Provide visible presence on morning announcements August 31

and set expectations for this morning ritual. September 2, 2016
Introduce School Pledge (I am respectful, I am
responsible, and I am ready to learn)

Host informal sessions with students to gather informal August On-going

student perception information to make informed
decisions about learning activities, programs, etc.

Recognize student birthdays (announcements, bulletin August On-going

board).

Objective C: Establish and nurture relationships with the parent

community of George Washington Community School.

Actions for Accomplishing Objectives Timeline

Send robocalls in English and Spanish to all staff, August 1st, 2016
parents and students.
 Send Back-to-School letters to all families in English August 1 - 5, 2016
and Spanish.

Post introductory letter and Principal Entry Plan on August 1st, 2016
Website

Host Family Meet and Greet Night with the New August 18, 2016
Principal. (Ice Cream Social)

Host Back to School Open House. August 25, 2016

Establish daily and weekly home school August 25, 2016

communication protocols.
Weekly Communication Folders
Phone Calls
Parent Conferences
Newsletters
Home visits

Meet with parent leaders from our Spanish-Speaking August September

families to determine necessary supports needed 2016
moving forward with our Bilingual Program (TLD)

Establish and publish essential agreements for parent Before August 29,
participation within the total school environment: 2016

Sign-in and receive a visitors badge in the front office

when visiting George Washington Community School.
Minimize disruption of classrooms during instructional
periods.
Open-door policy (schedule appointments to visit
individual classrooms during instructional blocks).
Communicate concerns to your childs teacher FIRST.
We are FAMILY Parents as Partners volunteer, be
involved, ask tough questions, challenge the status quo,
support, celebrate!
Help us help your child become independent and
responsible learners within our learning community.
Inclusion of one, inclusion of all! All parents are
encouraged to partner with the staff at George
Washington Community School to ensure that we
provide each child with the best education possible. In
order to make this possible, we as a staff will commit to:
1) open, honest and regular communication with our
parents 2) eliminate obstacles to parent involvement
that are within our control 3) make decisions that are in
the best interest of all children 4) never give up we
will make it happen for each child!

Part II: Introduction to Students

****Google Slides Student Presentation****

I am excited and honored to welcome each and every one of you to the beginning of
a new school year at George Washington Community School. This school year will
be a year of setting and reaching attainable goals, working harder and smarter and
taking our school and student achievement to the next level of GREATNESS.
Im a daughter, a sister, a wife, and a mother. I was born and raised in Monterrey
Nuevo Len, Mxico. I came to the United States 20 years ago. Coming from a
family of educators, I knew education was my passion.

As an educator, I spent 15 years as a classroom teacher in Minneapolis. During my

early years, I experienced having four principals in five years. Therefore, I know you
have no reason to believe anything I say today regarding how long I plan to be here
or what I hope to accomplish. It will be my actions that will communicate my
commitment to you, to the students of GWCS, and to this community. Still, I want to
take this time to express some of my beliefs about education, from which you may
deduce the expectations that I hold as principal.

I believe YOU are our future...

I believe each and every child has the potential to bring something unique and
special to the world.

I believe YOU will lead the way...

Every classroom presents a unique community of learners that varies not only in
abilities, but also in learning styles. Our role as educators is to give you the tools
with which to cultivate your own gardens of knowledge.

This year, you can look forward to encountering a highly intensive and challenging
academic program that will push you to work beyond your limits. However, I am
confident that all of you have the capacity and ability to meet our expectations and
the demands of your new classes and teachers.

Our goal is to ensure that all students become critical thinkers, active problem-
solvers, a life long learners and effective communicators. We do all of this to
prepare you for the demands of the real world so you may become productive
citizens, become our future leaders, and contribute and/or give back something
positive to the community.

As a staff, we are here to support all of you, by any means necessary, to ensure
you reach your fullest academic potential. We look forward to working with you, our
parents and the members of the community to provide a high-quality education that
you all deserve.

I look forward to working with all of you and pushing you to all academic heights.
On behalf of the staff of George Washington Community School, I want to again
welcome all of you and thank you for being a part of the George Washington
Community School where SUCCESS IS NOT AN OPTION.. BUT AN
EXPECTATION. We are truly on the path to GREATNESS.
Focus. Effort. Enthusiasm.