Valerie Wheatley

[MindShift @MindShiftKQED]

What's your homework policy? ✏️

Sketchnote via @woodard_julie

[Valerie Wheatley @vwheatley]

Exciting assembly today at DTS thanks to PiE! @DTS_K8

[Valerie Wheatley @vwheatley]

Delaware Township School’s Wildcat had a blast at PiE’s Fall Festival! @DTS_K8

[Valerie Wheatley @vwheatley]

Thanks DTS PiE and students for “chalking the walk” today! We are so excited to start a new year! @DTS_K8

[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/IsFQnYpsnh)

[Valerie Wheatley @vwheatley]

Jaycee met the Cat in the Hat during Read Across America Day at DTS @DTS_K8

[Jimmy Randazzo @JimmyRandazzo]

Retweet if you want the New York Football Giants to win today.

[Valerie Wheatley @vwheatley]

Seeing Eye Puppy Jaycee visited Delaware Township School for the first time today. @DTS_K8

[Valerie Wheatley @vwheatley]

Who wants to fly around the moon with me?

[NASA @NASA]

You can send your name to the Moon. How?

Sign up to get your boarding pass and join the nearly 3 million "passengers" flying around the Moon aboard #Artemis I this year. We are going: https://t.co/9tS402d9VO

[Delaware Township School @DTS_K8]

What an amazing #EarthDay celebration to kick off our Spring Break! Students participated in over 15 exhibits focused on #Sustainability! Our school’s Green Team did a wonderful job putting it all together! @SJ_Program @SJ_Schools

[Valerie Wheatley @vwheatley]

Delaware Township School Principal celebrates ReadAloud Day with Fourth Grade @DTS_K8 @ImScottLipson

[Valerie Wheatley @vwheatley]

@MrsBurns231 @DTS_K8 We love our 4th graders!

[Valerie Wheatley @vwheatley]

I support “Test to Stay” over excluding healthy students. Let’s go NJ. @NJGov @NJDeptofHealth @GovMurphy

[Delaware Township School @DTS_K8]

https://t.co/MNUc2mk26U

[Delaware Township School @DTS_K8]

We were thrilled and honored to hear World War II Veteran Archie Fagan talk about his experiences, including being part of The Battle of the Bulge & The Nuremberg Trials. He was back in person for the 17th year!! #VeteransDay @HunterdonTalk @hunterdonctynj

[Valerie Wheatley @vwheatley]

DTS celebrates raising $400 for cancer research by duct taping our new principal to the wall! What a good sport! @DTS_K8 @ImScottLipson @DrRWiener1

[Valerie Wheatley @vwheatley]

@DTS_K8 We are so lucky to have this new learning garden at DTS for our students to enjoy.

[Valerie Wheatley @vwheatley]

Victoria Wheatley completed the SFM Marathon! Time 03:59:36 (UNOFFICIAL) https://t.co/7emPm5RucF #BiofreezeSFM

[Valerie Wheatley @vwheatley]

Victoria Wheatley started the SFM Marathon! https://t.co/7emPm5RucF #BiofreezeSFM

[Jill Biden Archived @FLOTUS46Archive]

Educators and students – mark your calendars for this virtual field trip to Washington, D.C.!