Thursday Thoughts on Learning
CIA & PD Newsletter for Meramec Valley R-III School District
April 28, 2016-11th Edition
#ThankaMOTeacher
Teacher Appreciation Week
Teacher Appreciation Week is May 2-6. Please watch for social media posts from the DESE office to help celebrate teachers. Use #ThankaMOTeacher to thank yours!
Don't forget to tag #MVR3Learns too!
It's not to late to sign up....
PHS & State Honors
"Congratulations to the speech team for their success at this year's state tournament.
Pacific's Readers' Theatre placed 3rd in the preliminary round behind last year's state champion, Lexington, and this year's eventual state champion, Raymore-Peculiar.
Ellie Schmidt placed 6th, becoming the first PHS student to advance to the state finals of Original Oratory.
Claire Blythe & Jacob Schmidt concluded brilliant speech careers with a 4th-place finish in Duet Acting. Jacob ends his career as a two-time state finalist, while Claire becomes only the second PHS student to reach the state finals three times.
In his first trip to the state tournament, Alan Peterson won the state championship in Prose Reading.
And Sarah Thompson won her second consecutive state championship in Radio Speaking. Sarah finished her senior season undefeated, with a winning streak of nine consecutive tournaments dating back to January of 2015. Sarah won 10 of her last 11 tournaments and 11 of her last 14." Article extracted from an email celebration from Mr. Ed Kappeler, PHS English Teacher and PHS Speech Team Sponsor
Photo tweeted out by @Pacific Indians on April 21 as the team prepared for state.
MVR-III Sweeps the Regional Spelling Bee
On Saturday, April 23, 2016, Kelci Moore of Riverbend and Nolan Vilcek of Coleman placed first and second, respectively, at the Franklin County East Central Spelling Bee. Way to go MVR-III students.
Photo submitted by Mrs. Ketina Armstrong, RB Principal
Caption courtesy of Mrs. Lisa Weirich, NE Principal and 2016-2017 Coleman Elementary Principal.
District Academic Achievement Committee
Odyssey Program K-12
High school Odyssey students recently returned to the elementary level to help out the younger Odyssey students with their electric game boards. Odyssey students in grades 1st & 2nd have been learning about the many facets of electricity. To culminate their unit on electricity, each student researched an animal of choice and created an electric game board designed with correct or incorrect questions about the "facts and content" related to their animal of choice. High school Odyssey students pictured above helped the younger students wire their game boards using aluminum foil, masking tape, cooper wire, bulbs, and 6-volt batteries. During the learner activity, the older students also shared their experiences of being an elementary Odyssey student.
Photos and article submitted by Debbie Hunkins, Elementary Odyssey Teacher
Thank you to Kyle Walz, District Odyssey Coordinator and Teacher for the collaboration on these learning standards.
Summer Professional Learning Series 2016
FROM DESE:
English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies Trainings with Fine Arts Integration
Missouri Learning Standards K-12 Expectations Workshops
The Missouri Department of Education Office of College and Career Readiness is offering a series of workshops designed to deepen understanding of the Missouri Learning Standards K-12 Expectations in English language arts, fine arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. The workshops explore implications for curriculum, instruction, and assessment as Missouri transitions to the new expectations. The series is free and designed for school and/or teacher leaders with the expectation that participants will share this information with other Missouri educators. To register for the K-5 Summer Learning Series, click here PDF Document. For the 6-12 series, click here PDF Document.
Participants who register for all four days will have the opportunity to attend mathematics, science, social studies, and/or English language arts trainings depending upon the needs and interests of the district.
Participants may attend the workshop for one content area per day, but are not committed to attending both days of a content area’s workshop. Space is limited: first come, first served.
MVR-III STAFF---If you register and get accepted to the DESE Summer Professional Learning Series please notify tparks@mvr3.k12.mo.us
Read MOre, Missouri!
FROM DESE:
“Read MOre, Missouri!” is a statewide summer reading challenge to prevent summer slide— a loss of learning that many students experience while they are out of school. It’s easy to participate! Follow the path to the Top 10 by 20 and stop summer slide with Read MOre, Missouri! Kids can challenge themselves on how many books they will read this summer.
We encourage you to help your students discover the joy of reading for pleasure during the summer. There are many more ways to engage children in reading. While writing vocabulary words and tracking a story’s main idea may be one way, allowing your child to chose texts of interest and discussing what he or she likes about the text is another more engaging way to help students meet the deeper literacy standards included in the Missouri Learning Standards. Literacy is important skill for becoming college and career ready – one of the goals in the Top 10 by 20 initiative. Find details herePDF Document.
Fight Summer Math Slide with...
FROM DESE:
The Missouri Math Challenge is a way to encourage students to keep their math skills sharp over the summer. On average, students lose 2.6 months in grade-level equivalency in math skills during summer break. It’s easy for parents to sign up their children to participate! Stay on the road to the Top 10 by 20 and fight summer math loss with the Missouri Math Challenge!
Enroll your child in the Summer Math Challenge!
District Updates
Lighter side of Learning
MVR-III TECH 4 LEARNING NEWS
District TECH Meeting, Monday, May 2, 2016
4pm
Central Office
Draft Agenda
Sharing the 1:1 Handbook with committee members
Summer Tech Offerings
Summer Tech Updates
1:1 Resource Table at the Ice Cream Social
CIA News
From the District Curriculum Review Committee...
MVR-III Summer Curriculum Days
Sign up now for completing Phase II Curriculum Drafts on the designated summer curriculum development days:
June 14 & 15
July 19 & 20
Times and slots available on the Sign in-Google Accounts link below
Can't make the June/July days but still need some time???
If you are in Phase II of curriculum development and need some time and attention this summer to complete revisions, work on assessment pieces, pacing, etc. Please complete Form IF-AF2 for Curriculum Development and submit for consideration by May 13th.
From the desk of....
CIA Calenar of Events Monday, May 2 - May 6, 2016
Monday, May 2 - Friday, May 6, 2016 is Teacher Appreciation Week
Monday, May 2---District Technology Committee Meeting, 4pm, CO
Curriculum Learning Walks---visiting Odyssey and Library Media Centers
Tuesday, May 3---National Teacher Appreciation Day
No District Policy Review Meeting necessary this month
Wednesday, May 4---Administrative Council Meeting, 9:15am-11:30am, CO
K-8 Admin Summer School Meeting, 11:30am-12:30pm, CO
6-8 Grade Science Resource Review, 11:30am-3:30pm, CO
Thursday, May 5---K-12 District Counselor Meeting, 9:15am-10:30am, CO
K-12 District Library Media Specialist Vertical Collaboration, 11:30am-12:45pm, RB LMC
District Recognition Ceremony, 5:00pm, Eagles Hall
Friday, May 6---St. Louis Area of Curriculum Coordinators Association, 8:30am-11:30am
Assessments
PHS Administers Statewide ACT
On Tuesday, April 19, 2016, PHS had a total of 209 11th graders complete the statewide ACT.
Data provided by Susan Ashby, PHS Counselor and School Test Coordinator
Longitudinal data on PHS Juniors taking the ACT
Longitudinal Data on PHS Seniors Taking the ACT
PHS Students Prepare to "Show What They Know" on the AP Exams
PHS has a total of 20 students taking 23 AP Exams during the week of May 2-6, 2016.
18 students taking the AP Government test
2 taking the AP Psychology test
1 taking the AP European History test
1 taking the AP Calculus AP test
1 taking the AP Computer Science test
Best of Luck to all our students on the AP Exams!
Data provided by Michel Brindell, PHS Counselor and AP Proctor
We need your input on the 2016-2017 District Assessment Plan
5 days left....
District counselors, diagnosticians, nurses, and administration will be reviewing the current District Assessment Plan preparing for the 2016-2017 school year. MSIP 5 Process Standard for Instruction (I4) provides the basis for our MVR-III District Assessment Plan. Want to give input on the quality, quantity, or assessment needs reported in the district assessment plan? If so, please email Quinn Flexsenhar, A+ Coordinator/District Assessment/Secondary Curriculum Director, on or before May 3, 2016.
PDC News
2nd - 8th ELA & Math Teachers
3 days left...
DESE sent a request for Missouri 2nd - 8th grade ELA and Math teachers to be part of a professional learning team and opportunity to help develop Enhanced Learning Maps for ELA and Math....Interested? Read more...
DESE asks that you apply before May 1, 2016...deadline is three days away!
#MoEDchat every Thursday night
9pm, CDT
This week's topic is "Images and Their Messages". Join other educators from around the state.
Approved Summer PD Opportunities
Check out the district Professional Development Opportunities on the district website to make plans now.
Three opportunities now posted for June and July 2017.
Don't forget to complete the appropriate Application for a Workshop Form GCL-AF1 thirty days in advance, as well as, link all professional learning to your educator growth goals.
RPDC wants your input on PD
South Central RPDC is here to serve and support our schools. Please help us know your needs by completing this short Professional Learning Needs Survey.
Also, please forward the link to your staff and colleagues. It should take about 5 minutes to complete.
Many thanks! Have a great end to your school year!
Thank you – South Central RPDC
Request for Approval of Advanced Professional Courses---Due by May 1st yearly
Submit your PL Summaries from April PD
Don't forget the "2 of 3" Rule
If you are exempt and meet the "2 of 3" rule you do not have to submit a PD Log this year.
Not sure....ask your PD Rep or building admin.
Sample PD logs can be found on the district website under Professional Development.
All 2015-2016 PD logs are due to your building principal at your May "checkout".
District Spotlight on Educator Learning
MASL Conference April 24-26
MVR-III is proud to be represented by all four of our Library Media Specialists at this years Missouri Association of School Librarians.
Pictured with keynote author, Tim Green, are:
Amy Reed, TE/ZE LMS
Kim Fleming, PHS LMS
(Author/Speaker, Tim Green)
Amy Sauvage, MVMS/RB LMS & District LMS Collaboration Leader
Rachel Schremp, CE/NE/RE LMS
Photo courtesy of Kim Fleming
Council for Expectional Children
April 13-16 the State Council for Exceptional Children hosted a conference in St. Louis. MVR-III was blessed to send some many educators as they work diligently to improve their knowledge and craft to help close the achievement gap.
Attendees were:
Marilyn Sweeney, MVMS Special Education Teacher
Jenny Stogsdill, CE Special Education Teacher
Kristina Buck, MVMS Special Education Teacher
Vanessa Kutz, District Process/Transition Coordinator
Vickie Walz, District Special Education Director
Brenda Carrington, NE Special Education Teacher
Cathy Bearden, RE Special Education Teacher
Erin Tesar, PHS Special Education Teacher
Stepheni Smiley, District Process Coordinator
Lisa Rice, District Process Coordinator
Judy Fienup, ZE Special Education Teacher
Nancy Pfeiffer Awarded
The Missouri DECA Diamond Award is presented each year at the State Career Development Conference to Chapter Advisors for the outstanding contributions made to their district. This year the South Central District honored Mrs. Nancy Pfeiffer, DECA Sponsor, PHS Marketing Department Teacher and Department Chair.
"Mrs. Pfeifer was honored and nominated by her peers for the outstanding contributions she has made to Missouri DECA and District 8. Mrs. Pfeifer was recognized for serving as an inspirational educator, mentor, and role model to other marketing educators and students. This award recognizes the high standards of not only the recipients, but of their colleagues and students."
Article summary provided by Mr. Tom Sauvage, PHS Principal
Education Update, April 2016 Issue
Need something quick and interesting to read? Check out the Education Updates provided by ASCD. This one is a great read....and comes with a section titled ROADTESTED. Check out more of ASCD as your MVR-III PDC pays for a yearly institutional membership for every building. Ask your administrator for more details.
In April we are reminded to ONLY grade what matters, to be kind to our students, and to not overlook their lifelines. Enjoy!
Thank you Zitzman Elementary & Art Teacher Stacy Johnson for the student art work that @DistrictMVR3 is using for our Twitter background during the month of May.
MVR-III School District
Email: DistrictCO@mvr3.k12.mo.us
Website: www.mvr3.k12.mo.us
Location: 126 N Payne St, Pacific, MO, United States
Phone: 636-271-1400
Twitter: @DistrictMVR3