Thanksgiving Week

 

Happy Weekend Team!

Congratulations...you have completed the last full week prior to the Thanksgiving Holiday Break!  I honestly can't believe we are here already...yet I'm truly ready for this break, as I know you are too!  I hope that you truly enjoy time with family, good food, SLEEP, and some fun R&R during this holiday break.  

I also want to thank each and every one of you for the classroom instruction, professionalism, and community shown during the Principal Cohort visit.  I was (and am) very proud of each of you and the way you represented our team and Laurus Academy.  Thank you! 

Finally...as I reflect this Thanksgiving on the the things and people for whom I am grateful, know that you are a part of my "Gratitute List".  Happy Thanksgiving!

PS...We are entering one of the busiest times of the year.  These days are going to go quickly. Eat your Wheaties!

This Week (or before "let the holiday festivities begin" 😉):

Pie..Pie...Pie...

Please add our request for STORE BOUGHT Sweet Potato or Pumpkin Pie to your SchoolConnect this weekend.  We need Pie for our Thanksgiving Feast day on Tuesday, November 25th.  Pies can be dropped off at the school beginning on Monday, November 24th through 9:00 am on Tuesday, November 25th.  Thank you so much!

Thanksgiving Feast Day Expectations

On Tuesday 11/25 we will celebrate Thanksgiving.  On this day, students will eat in the classroom with their teacher.  Students will be given pie between 11:00 am -1:00 pm. 

GLTs/03's

Due to our short week, we will not be holding 03's or GLTs.  I am always available if needed.

FLOs

It is time for your mid-year, full lesson observation.  These will begin the week of December 1st and are UNANNOUNCED.  This means I will be referring to your grade level schedule to plan my observations.  You will want to make sure that you are following it with fidelity so that I am observing the lesson I am preparing to observe.

Parent Teacher Conferences

Parent Teacher Conferences are the week following our Thanksgiving Break (December 1-5).  These should take approximately 15 minutes each.  (Plan to use a timer to be considerate to all parents.)  

Make sure your classroom is neat, orderly, and welcoming.  Ambience carries a lot of weight.

Remember, I need a copy of your PTC schedule before you leave on Tuesday.

Please remember to have all of your necessary/required paperwork ready for your conferences:

• Report Card
• NWEA Student Progress Reports
• Interim 1 Reports
• Student/Parent/Teacher Compacts (one for each student)
• Student/Parent/Teacher Compact Sign In Sheet
• PTC Sign In Sheet
• At Risk of Retention Letter (one for each student who is eligible)
• Student Data Sheet (Completed - one for each student)

I would make these copies next week so that you are ready for Monday, 12/1.

Voice of the Parent Survey

 Teachers please note the following procedure we need you to follow during PTC's so that we can get parents to complete their Voice of the Parent survey

• In order for a student to receive a Free Dress coupon, parents must show proof of completion of survey 
• Teachers record completion on a class grid and take a picture of it; 
• Classrooms with 100% completion will receive a surprise; 
• have sign outside classroom encouraging parents to complete survey in order to receive the Free Dress coupon and treat at Door #1.
• If parents need to use Chromebook, go to Media center on Wed. 12-3. Support will log completion
• The students receiving coupons will use them on Friday, December 5 for a Free Dress Day

Blue Ribbon Society Applications/National Junior Honor Society Applications

I will be passing these applications out to the students in your class with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher on Monday, December 1st.  The students will have until Friday, December 12 to complete and turn in the applications if they want to be considered for membership in the Blue Ribbon Society (3-5) or National Junior Honor Society (6-8).  The Administrative team will meet and invitations will be presented to accepted students before Christmas Break.

Honor's Assembly

On Wednesday, December 3rd (our half day), we will be having an Honor's Assembly in the Classrooms. You are not expected to invite parents to this.  This is a time that you can award your students with the expected awards (Attendance, Moral Focus, Honor Roll, Principal {I will do this one}).  You also might want to take a picture of each student with their awards and sent it to their individual parents via School Connect.

Thankful Turkeys

It's that time of year!

Mrs. Rogers placed Thankful Turkey coloring sheets in your mailbox; you may make as many copies as you want!  We use Thankful Turkeys to let our coworkers know how thankful we are for them and all that they do!

Color it, write a message, and deliver it to someone that you are especially thankful for!

Door Decorating Contest

You can start now!  This needs to be done by December 7th.  Judging will begin on December 8th.

Annotated Lesson Plans

These will be due Tuesday for Week 13.

FYI...Active Engagement looks/sounds like...

• Students showing their work (on paper and during instruction)
• Discussions/Explainations/Questions

Remember to Anchor your Instruction back to the lesson goals at least 3 times during instruction.

    

Upcoming Events:

Monday, November 24 - Free Dress; Tornado/Shelter Drill #1; Trimester 2 Begins; Holiday Door Decorating Week 

Tuesday, November 25 - Thanksgiving Feast/Lunch in Classrooms with Teacher & PIE DAY; Free Dress Down; NO TUTORING

Wednesday-Friday, November 26-28 - Thanksgiving Break

Monday - Friday, December 1-5 - Voice of the Parent Continues (Ends on 12/5); Parent Teacher Conference Week- REPORT CARDS GO HOME AT CONFERENCES...NOT BEFORE; NO TUTORING THIS WEEK!;  Scholastic Book Fair Week

Monday, December 1st - Moral Focus Assemblies K-5 8:15 6-8 12:45; Blue Ribbon/National Honor Society Applications passed out

Wednesday, December 3 - Half Day (school ends at 11:00 am) for Parent Teacher Conferences.  PTC's run from 12:00-3:00 pm on this Half Day.  Honors Assemblies in Classroom; 

ALL STAFF ARE REQUIRED TO STAY UNTIL 3:00 PM WHETHER YOUR CONFERENCES ARE COMPLETED OR NOT, AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU CONDUCT CONFERENCES.  EVERYONE HAS TO STAY UNTIL 3:00 PM.

Thursday, December 4 - C & I ELA Visit

Friday, December 5 - Voice of Parent Survey Ends; FREE DRESS DOWN WITH COUPON FOR STUDENTS WHOSE PARENTS COMPLETED THE SURVEY (This is the only day to use the coupon); At-Risk of Retention Student List Due to Dean

Monday, December 8th - Holiday Door Judging Begins; Staff Meeting 3:35

Tuesday, December 9th - Tutoring Resumes

Friday, December 12 - BR/NJHS Applications Due

Monday - Friday, December 15-19 - Holiday Spirit Week  $ 2.00/day or $ 6.00/Week (M-Th)

• 12/15 - Red or Green Day
• 12/16 - Grade Level Team Choice (Decide this asap and let parents know)
• 12/17 - Ugly Christmas Sweater Day
• 12/18 - Holiday Character or White/Gold Day
• 12/19 - Holiday Pajama Day (Free)

Wednesday, December 17th - 3-5 Wing Cohort Dean Day 8:00-11:00; 6-8 Wing Cohort Dean Day 11:30-2:30 at Laurus

Thursday, December 18th - K-2 Wing Cohort Dean Day 8:00-11:00; Sped/Intervention Cohort Dean Day 11:30-2:30 at Laurus;  Last Day of Tutoring

Friday, December 19th - Half Day Dismissal at 11:00 am; December Birthday Celebration Day; BR/NJHS Inductees Announced; Class Holiday Parties; Holiday Pajama Day - FREE; Last Day before Holiday Break

Monday, January 5th - School Resumes at Laurus