Week 13

 

Dear Team... Happy Thanksgiving Week!  I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving Break...enjoying quality time with family and friends...eating good food...shopping and resting!  

I wasn't successful in getting my Thankful Turkeys out to you today...so I do want to take this opportunity to tell you again how thankful I am for each one of you!  Your dedication, your kindness, your patience, your willingness to serve and invest in your students, your flexibility, your willingness to pivot to make things better, your innovation...I could go on and on.  You are the best...to say the least.  

I can't believe that we are solidly into the holiday season and that we only have 3 weeks before Christmas Break.  We have a lot to do...including Parent Teacher Conferences...between then and now, so rest up and let's go...

This Week:

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)

Student Retention List

Parent Teacher Conferences are the time that you need to talk to parents if you are concerned about a students academic progress and/or Attendance.  This means the student is AT-RISK OF RETENTION and they might be RETAINED at the end of the year if improvements are not made.  

We cannot retain students if we do not have conversations with parents at BOTH Parent Teacher Conferences.  However, if students have improved by the end of year, we can remove them from Retention consideration.

You also need to go over the AT RISK OF RETENTION Letter and have the parent sign.  You need to keep the letter...do not give it to the parent.  Also, please provide the list of students who are at risk of retention to me on Friday, December 5th.

GLTs/03's

Due to parent teacher conferences, we will not be holding 03's or GLTs.  This will give you additional prep time or time to conduct conferenes.  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.

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.

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 Friday for Week 14.

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 - 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