M. Liegghio

One never stops learning!

[M. Liegghio @MrsLiegghio]

@smy_nobleton Way to go girls! Great teamwork today!! 🎉

[M. Liegghio @MrsLiegghio]

We are “Pilgrims of Hope” and today we celebrated Faith Day and began a new journey together as a Catholic community filled with hope. @HolyNameCES

[M. Liegghio @MrsLiegghio]

@GiacominoClass @smy_nobleton Very exciting! Wishing you and all St. Mary students an amazing year ahead!!📚📚

[M. Liegghio @MrsLiegghio]

Grade 8’s prep for math exam … a review of this year and prep for next! You’ve got this grade 8’s! Show us what you know!📚📚 @smy_nobleton

[M. Liegghio @MrsLiegghio]

What a fantastic ballroom dance performance!! The grade 8’s showcased their learning by dancing the Bachata, Rumba and Triple Swing for their parents today. You all danced with such style & grace…you’d think they were pros! Bravo💃🕺🏽@smy_nobleton @ElizabethCrowe_

[St. Mary CES @smy_nobleton]

Congratulations to our Grade 8 students on their Ballroom Dance performance! Your dedication and hard work truly paid off, and your performance was outstanding. Keep shining on the dance floor!@ElizabethCrowe_ @YCDSB

[M. Liegghio @MrsLiegghio]

Grades 8 calculating monthly budgets and discussing whether or not they need to change their spending habits in order to be able to save for the future. @smy_nobleton #economicsforsuccess

[M. Liegghio @MrsLiegghio]

As we prepare for Easter we remind ourselves of the sacrifices Jesus made for us. Thank you to our grade 7’s for sharing your tableaus today.

[St. Mary CES @smy_nobleton]

St. Mary’s students had an amazing afternoon cheering during the Students vs. Teachers basketball game while raising money for Share Life! Fun was had by all!!! @ElizabethCrowe_

[M. Liegghio @MrsLiegghio]

Grade 8’s began ballroom dance classes today! Off to a great start. Can’t wait to see the dances once they are all put together. So much fun😁@smy_nobleton @RocchinaAntunes

[M. Liegghio @MrsLiegghio]

Students had a great time today participating in a variety of organized sports. They showed great sportsmanship and team spirit. @smy_nobleton

[M. Liegghio @MrsLiegghio]

Pathways workshop today taught Ss trades skills. Great learning took place as they worked together to wire an electrical outlet. @smy_nobleton

[M. Liegghio @MrsLiegghio]

Ss spent time exploring and learning more about coding using ozobots. Engaging students makes learning meaningful and of course…fun! @smy_nobleton

[M. Liegghio @MrsLiegghio]

Patterning in full swing… calculating slope using tiles to show how y=mx+b and then graphing their patterns and discussing the trends. Great learning today!! @smy_nobleton

[M. Liegghio @MrsLiegghio]

Great math talk happening during this group activity with Mr. C. today! Ss were engaged, curious and eager to problem solve. @smy_nobleton @PathwaysYCDSB

[M. Liegghio @MrsLiegghio]

Grade 8’s worked collaboratively to create “un Bonhomme qui fait du ski!” Great job and congrats on the win!

[St. Mary CES @smy_nobleton]

Students worked collaboratively during the Bonhomme Makeover contest! All were so creative! @ElizabethCrowe_

[M. Liegghio @MrsLiegghio]

Ss enjoyed creating a creative version of Bonhomme as part of Carnaval at St. Mary’s week of festivities! Good luck to all classes…🤞@smy_nobleton @RocchinaAntunes

[St. Mary CES @smy_nobleton]

Mustangs staff participated in Carnaval Jersey Day. @YCDSB

[M. Liegghio @MrsLiegghio]

It’s snack day….Cookies are being sorted and prepared for distribution to Ss today. SMY Mustangs look forward to Wednesdays! 🍪🍪@smy_nobleton

[Dr. Bryan Pearlman #MaslowBeforeBloom @DrP_Principal]

What Is A Ruckus?
My secretary called and said there was a ruckus in the front hallway. I was really excited to see what was going on. I wanted to know what a ruckus was. I learned that a ruckus was a small boy I hadn’t net yet. The ruckus was ripping our bulletin board off the wall, knocking over a table and cursing.

He turned around & said, “What the F--- are you looking at?” He continued, “You’re fat, bald, and stupid.” I responded with, “You seem to be upset. What do you need? How can I help?” He moved a step closer to me and said, “Are you deaf, too? I just said you’re fat, bald, and stupid.”

My response was, “I heard you just fine. Now I really can tell you are upset. What do you need? How can I help you?” He started crying while re-stating for the 3rd time (in case I missed the other two times), “You’re fat, bald, and stupid.” He then said, “I hate this stupid school; I don’t know why I’m here. I don’t know where my mom is. I hate my foster family.“

He reached his arms out. I asked if he needed a hug and he nodded. I then asked if he wanted to go to my office. He nodded. I let him know that “Dr. P” is here if he needs anything. He sat at my table and put his head down.

He looked me in the eyes and said, “Dr. P, I’m very sorry for everything that I did. I just miss my mom.” I responded by telling him that I appreciate his apology and that I accept it. He then said, “I am also really sorry for calling you those mean things. I didn’t mean it.”

We brainstormed some ideas of what he could do in the future if he was having a tough day. He suggested that he could ask to get a drink, ask for help, or just put his head down. I let him know that these are great strategies. I added that he could always ask to see the counselor or me.

We then discussed how he could be on the lookout for signs that he was getting upset, frustrated, angry, or agitated. He said that he sometimes started to clinch his fists and his breathing changed. I told him that those were good signs and that the body often gives us signs that we are starting to get upset. We both agreed that it was so important to listen to our bodies.

He asked if he could get his backpack and coat. I thought that was an unusual request for 10 a.m. I asked him why he would need his backpack and coat. He replied, “Because I’m going to get suspended like I did at my last school.” I let him know that there may be another plan. He scrunched his face and looked puzzled.

I asked, “How do you think you could fix what you did this morning?” He thought about it for a minute or so and responded with, “I can pick-up what I threw and fix anything that I broke.” I let him know that this seemed like a good plan. He picked up the items that he threw and helped put the bulletin board back on the wall.

I went over the plan for the next time and we made sure he knew what to do in case he got upset, frustrated, angry or agitated again. I said, “Since we’ve agreed on the plan, let’s shake on it to make it official.” He reached out his hand and shook mine. I let him know that he could go back to class. He picked up his bookbag and his jacket and started off to his class. I called his teacher to let him know that he was on his way. His teacher was so happy to welcome him back to class. I never had another problem with him.

A teacher stopped by later that day. She couldn’t understand why he wasn’t suspended. “He called you fat, bald, and stupid.” My response was that it never was about me. I then asked the teacher if any of the comments were false. She looked at me like I was crazy. I let her know that I am fat and bald. Those were both true statements. I also argued that stupid is a relative term. She didn’t like my answer.

How do you deal with colleagues who are fixed mindset, focused on punitive methods or who believe that alternatives to suspensions equate to being soft on discipline?

From the book “Maslow Before Bloom: Basic Human Needs Before Academics”
(https://t.co/tjE4RSQvhd)