Week 13 - Thanksgiving Week (Non-Instructional "Catch Up" Week)

 

Happy Weekend Team!

Congratulations...you have completed the last full week prior to the Thanksgiving Holiday Break!  This has been a long stretch of time since the beginning of the year and I know you are ready for some vacation time.  I hope that you truly enjoy time with family, good food, SLEEP, and some fun R&R during this holiday break.  

And...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!

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

Pie..Pie...Pie...

Please add our request for Sweet Potato or Pumpkin Pie to your SchoolConnect or Dojo this weekend.  We need Pie for our Thanksgiving Feast day on Tuesday, November 21st.  Pies can be dropped off at the school beginning on Monday, November 20th through 9:00 am on Tuesday, November 21st.  Thank you so much!

Thanksgiving Feast Day Expectations

On Tuesday 11/21 we will celebrate Thanksgiving.  On this day, students will eat in the classroom with their teacher.  Admin and National Junior Honor Society students will come around between 11:00-1:00 delivering pie to the individual classrooms. 

GLTs/03's

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

Parent Teacher Conferences

Parent Teacher Conferences are the week following our Thanksgiving Break (November 27-December 1).  These should take approximately 15 minutes each.  (Plan to use a timer to be considerate to all parents.)  We will be covering PTC Best Practices during our Wing Meeting on Monday, November 20th.

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

Fall Tutoring

This short tutoring session (4 weeks) will begin for our Interim 1 Bubble Students on November 28th.  It will occur on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30-4:30, from November 28-December 14.  I provided the list of student invites to you on Monday. Please follow up with parents to encourage these students to attend.

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.  The students will have until Friday, December 8 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 Wednsday, November 29th, we will be having our first Honor's Assemblies of SY 23-24.  These will occur in the gym.  The schedule is as follows:

• Gr. K-2      11/29     8:10-8:50
• Gr. 3-5      11/29     9:00-9:40
• Gr. 6-8      11/29     9:50-10:30

More information will be coming to you Monday, November 20th.

Classroom Neatness

  

Classrooms are looking untidy.  This is your "home away from home".  Please stand at your door at look at your classroom through "Visitor" eyes.  This includes Anchor Chart neatness, teacher desk and table areas, cubbies, student desks, book cases, etc.

Black Out Days

This is a reminder that the day before and the day after holiday breaks are Black Out Days. As such, Tuesday, November 21st and Monday, November 27th are Black Out Days.   Please do not plan to be absent on these days as you will not be paid.

Slides/House Shoes

Please let parents know via your SchoolConnect or Dojo that Slides and/or House Shoes are not appropriate shoes for school.  Shoes must have a enclosed back on them.  This is a safety issue.

Students Missing Assessments

Ms. Schofield has indicated that all Interventionists and Paras are available to assist classroom teachers in getting students missing/incomplete assessments completed.  This includes students who receive Special Education services.  Thank you Intervention Team!

Thankful Turkeys

It's that time of year!

Mrs. Rogers will be placing three 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!

Upcoming Events:

Monday, November 20 - Trimester 2 Begins; Free Dress Down; Wing Meeting 3:35 pm (it will be short) in Ms. Winter's Room #17

Tuesday, November 21 - Thanksgiving Feast & PIE DAY; Free Dress Down

Wednesday-Friday, November 22-25 - Thanksgiving Break

Monday-Friday, November 27-December 1 - Parent Teacher Conference Week; Scholastic Book Fair Week

Monday, November 27 - C&I ELA Visit

Tuesday, November 28 - Tutoring Begins 3:30-4:30

Wednesday, November 29 - Free Dress; HALF DAY Dismissal at 11:00 am; Middle School Parent Teacher Conference 12:30-3:30; Trimester 1 Honor's Assemblies: K-2 8:10, 3-5 9:00, 6-8 9:50

Thursday, November 30 - Tutoring 3:30-4:30

Friday, December 1 - Dress Down $ 2.00; PROGRESS REPORT DAY (Parent Portal); Holiday Door Decorating Contest Begins

Monday, December 4 - Moral Focus Assembly 8:15; Staff Meeting 3:35

Friday, December 8 - NJHS/BR Applications Due; Door Decorating Last Day

Monday, December 11 - Committee Meeting 3:35

Tuesday & Wednesday, December 12 - 13 - C&I Math Visit

Wednesday, December 13 - Math Night 4:30-5:30

Friday, December 15 - Staff Party

Week 12 (Instructional 11)

 

Happy Weekend Team!

This has been a busy week focused around administration and completion of the Interim 1 tests.  I am so grateful for your diligence in administering these high stakes tests.  

Next week will be busy with instruction and completion of Report Cards.  I hope you have the opportunity to indulge in some self care this weekend and get some rest too!

This Week:

Interim 1 Assessments

All ELA and Math interims were to have been completed, corrected, and submitted by Friday, November 10th.  Science and Social Studies Interim 1 assessments were administered this past week and are due to be graded and submitted no later than next week (11/15).  

GLTs/03's

This week, we will only hold our GLTs.  03's will be on an as needed basis as I want to be able to do additional classroom observations.

Report Card Grades

As you begin to work on your report card grading, it is very important that your grades truly reflect the students' level of learning and progress.  Grade inflating will only bring about issues when parents receive the Interim Grades and ultimately, MSTEP.

Also, plan to provide two comments per subject...one should be affirming (positive), one should be a growth opportunity for the student.

Remember...these must be sent home on Friday, November 17th.

Parent Teacher Conferences

By now, you should have been scheduling your Parent Teacher Conferences.  If you have not started, please do so as soon as possible.  Refer to the email sent out by Mrs. Wheeler and if you have questions, please talk to your grade level team lead or me.

Also, please add me to your parent scheduling communication so that I am aware of your schedule.

Classroom Neatness

Classrooms are looking untidy.  This is your "home away from home".  Please stand at your door at look at your classroom through "Visitor" eyes.  This includes Anchor Chart neatness, teacher desk and table areas, cubbies, student desks, book cases, etc.

C & I ELA and Math Visits

We will have a three day visit from our C & I Consultants this coming week.  On Monday, November 13, Akia Carter, our ELA C&I Consultant will be here.  Then, on Tuesday and Wednesday, November 14-15, Farina Samy, our Math C & I consultant will be here.  

You should have received a meeting invite if you are scheduled to meet with either of the consultants.  Please refer to that for your planning and observation times.

Black Out Days

This is a reminder that the day before and the day after holiday breaks are Black Out Days. As such, Tuesday, November 21st and Monday, November 27th are Black Out Days.   Please do not plan to be absent on these days as you will not be paid.

Thankful Turkeys

It's that time of year!

Mrs. Rogers will be placing three 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!

FYI, I'm thankful for all of you!!

Upcoming Events:

Monday, November 13 - Committee Meeting 3:35; Lockdown #2 AM

Monday - Friday, November 13-17 - Voice of the Parent Survey

Friday, November 17 - End of Trimester 1; Report Cards Home; Dress Down $2.00

Monday, November 20 - Trimester 2 Begins; Free Dress Down

Tuesday, November 21 - Thanksgiving Feast & PIE DAY; Free Dress Down

Wednesday-Friday, November 22-25 - Thanksgiving Break

Monday-Friday, November 27-December 1 - Parent Teacher Conference Week; Scholastic Book Fair Week

Wednesday, November 29 - Free Dress; HALF DAY Dismissal at 11:00 am; Middle School Parent Teacher Conference 12:30-3:30; Trimester 1 Honor's Assemblies: K-2 8:10, 3-5 9:00, 6-8 9:50

Friday, December 1 - Dress Down $ 2.00; PROGRESS REPORT DAY (Parent Portal); Holiday Door Decorating Contest Begins

I

Week 11 (Instructional 10)

Happy Friday Team... 

Congratulations...you survived Halloween Week...and INTERIM 1 WEEK!  This has been a week with some challenging moments and I want you to know that I appreciate your perseverance and dedication to your instruction, test administration, and management.

This Week:

Interim 1 Assessments

All ELA and Math interims were to have been completed by Friday, November 3rd.  Absent students must have their Interims completed by Wednesday, November 8th.  Science and Social Studies Interim 1 assessments are due to be administered next week.  All Interim 1 Assessments must be graded and submitted by Friday, November 10th.

Bulletin Boards - Time for a Change!

It's time to make a change with our hallway Bullentin Boards.  We are beginning a new month with Moral Focus and have completed our Unit 2 Writing Assessment.  So we should be switching out our bulletin boards to reflect that learning.

Please make sure that the borders and papers  are stapled and look neat. Remember to provide feedback and scores.  Also, display the appropriate Standard/Objective and Rubric.

"I Can" Statements

As you know, "I Can" statements are an important instructional strategy that are supposed to be used at the beginning of each lesson...preferrably read by the students or if K-1 chorally repeated after the teacher.  As such, they need to be updated daily to reflect the lesson(s) you are teaching.  I am noticing that in many classrooms the "I Can's" are written so small that I can't even read them from the rear of the room...so I know that the students are not able to, as well.  

Please make sure your "I Can" statements are aligned to the days' lessons and are writing clearly and in a size that can be seen by students throughout the room.

Grade Book Closes

Next Friday, November 10, gradebook closes. What that means is that you no longer accept outstanding student work to grade and put in the grade book after that date for Trimester 1 Report Cards.  Please encourage your students to get any outstanding work completed and turned in by that date.

Report Card Grades

As you begin to work on your report card grading, it is very important that your grades truly reflect the students' level of learning and progress.  Grade inflating will only bring about issues when parents receive the Interim Grades and ulimately, MSTEP.

Also, plan to provide two comments per subject...one should be affirming (positive), one should be a growth opportunity for the student.

Common Assessment Snapshot

ELA

MATH

Attendance Celebration and New Sheet

Classroom attendance continues to be noted on a the Attendance Sheet located outside of your classroom door.  We will begin providing monthly celebrations to the classes who meet the following criteria...

95%-100% - Pizza Party

90%-94.9% - Special Snack

Winners will be announced at the Monthly Moral Focus Assembly.

GLTs/03's

These continue this week.  Please be diligent in arriving to your 03s and GLTs.  This week the focus of our GLT will again be Planning.  Make sure that you print out your lessons so that we can prep them for the following week.

Upcoming Events:

Saturday, November 4 - Daylight Savings Time Ends - Fall Back 1 Hour!

Monday, November 6 - Moral Focus Assembly (Committee Leads) 8:15-8:30; Staff Meeting 3:35-4:00

Friday, November 10 - Gradebook closes. Last day for grades to be entered into Gradebook for Report Cards.

Monday, November 13 - Committee Meeting 3:35; Lockdown #2 AM

Monday - Friday, November 13-17 - Voice of the Parent Survey

Friday, November 17 - End of Trimester 1; Report Cards Home; Dress Down $2.00

Monday, November 20 - Trimester 2 Begins; Free Dress Down

Tuesday, November 21 - Thanksgiving Feast & PIE DAY

Wednesday-Friday, November 22-25 - Thanksgiving Break

Monday-Friday, November 27-December 1 - Parent Teacher Conference Week; Scholastic Book Fair Week

Wednesday, November 29 - Free Dress; HALF DAY Dismissal at 11:00 am; Middle School Parent Teacher Conference 12:30-3:30; Trimester 1 Honor's Assemblies: K-2 8:10, 3-5 9:00, 6-8 9:50

Friday, December 1 - Dress Down $ 2.00; PROGRESS REPORT DAY (Parent Portal); Holiday Door Decorating Contest Begins