Thursday Thoughts on Learning
CIA & PD Newsletter for Meramec Valley R-III School District
April 21, 2016-10th Edition
District Academic Achievement Committee
PHS Athletes give feedback
MVR-III has a systematic process in place to evaluate all programs and services in the district to ensure CSIP Goals and student needs are being met.
PHS Athletes were invited to give their feedback for the athletic department and coaching personnel on strengths, opportunities, and needs to ensure that the district extra-curricular offerings continuously support the mission, vision, and goals of MVR-III.
Photo submitted by Andy Herbst, PHS AD/Assistant Principal
8th Grade ELA Curriculum Learning Walk
On Friday, April 8, 2016, students in Randy Meyer's 8th Grade ELA class worked on an I-Search Paper to conduct a short research project to answer a question, drawing on several sources, and generating additional related, focused questions that allow for multiple avenues of exploration (Writing, 8th grade, Objective 7). All students used Chrome books for both the disciplinary research and inquiry methodology process and the writing process for their self-selected topic.
1st Grade Inquiry & STEM
Truman 1st Graders recently participated in a science experiment/observation in which they observed the condensation of water into a "cloud" inside a bottle. Students completed each part of the scientific process as part of the project.
Pictured is Angie Herbst, 1st Grade Teacher & Kindergarten Grade Level Chair
Article & Photo submitted by Jimi Brooks, TE 1st Grade Teacher and ELL Instructor
Coleman Elementary Hosts Science Fair
Coleman Elementary hosted their 17th Annual Science Fair for students K-5.
42 projects were submitted to the Science Fair from 3rd-5th Grades and class projects from 1st & 2nd Grade classrooms.
The top 10 CE Science Fair go on to the Greater St. Louis Science Fair held next week at Queeny Park. This yearly regional fair showcases over a thousand student science fair projects from across St. Louis Region!
Big thank you to all the CE teachers and staff members for embedding the importance of scientific inquiry into daily science lessons. This yearly science fair is a great venue for students to "show what they know" about making hypothesis, data collection, and drawing conclusions!
Photo of a CE Student Science Fair Project
Liz Holtz, 4th Grade Teacher, District GL Chair, Vertical Science Content Expert & CE Science Fair Facilitator
What time is it?!?
The 7th Grade Advanced Math Class will indeed complete the 7th grade learning standards early this year with an introduction to several 8th grade standards before May 18th in order to prepare for 2016-2017.
Mr. Whipple commented, "For the first time in several years I have been able to use tiered assignments of differing depths which I have tried to match in difficulty with student understanding and skill. I have been able to re-teach to small groups based on the formative assessments (pre/post tests), and used student interview responses to understand how the students feel about accessing the information I present to them on a daily basis. This has honestly been one of the most rewarding years I have taught in many years!
I'm excited about implementing other differentiated "pieces" into next years' plans as well."
Photo of the clock in Mr. Whipple's classroom
State Board Met on April 19, 2016
State Board Approves New Missouri Learning Standards
The State Board today approved new Missouri Learning Standards. Schools will begin to implement the standards during the 2016-17 school year.
“These standards represent thousands of hours of work, the majority of it done by volunteers,” said State Board President Charlie Shields. “These are true Missouri standards, developed by Missourians, and we should be proud.”
Local districts will now determine curriculum to meet the new standards. The Department will work with educators during the transition and will develop new assessments to measure student progress. The new assessments for English language arts and math will be administered in spring 2018.
“We are pleased with the end result,” said Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven. “Missouri’s challenging standards will help ensure our students are prepared for postsecondary success and for life.”
Ensuring that students graduate ready for college and career is a primary goal of the Top 10 by 20 initiative, which aims for student achievement in Missouri to rank among the top 10 states by 2020.
Thank you,
Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education | Communications | 573.751.3469 | dese.mo.gov
#ThankaMOTeacher
Teacher Appreciation Week
Teacher Appreciation Week is May 2-6. Please watch for social media posts the DESE office to help celebrate teachers. Use #ThankaMOTeacher to thank yours!
Don't forget to tag #MVR3Learns too!
District Updates
Dawn Bristow chosen as the 2015-2016 MVR-III Teacher of the Year
Finalist Beth Fleming
Finalist Sarah Grodie
Zitzman Elementary
Finalist Lisa Hoppe
Finalist Chris Johnson
Finalist Mauri Truesdell
Business Career Education Teacher
Pacific High School
Lighter side of Learning
MVR-III CIA News
CSIP Goal 1-Student Achievement
Curriculum Learning Walks
What are MVR-III Curriculum Learning Walks & Why are they important?
MVR-III Learning Walks are conducted throughout the first year of new/revised curriculum implementation to ensure that the Board approved curriculum matches the taught curriculum which is also the assessed curriculum.
This is known as curriculum alignment when all three aspects meet for maximum student success and mastery of student grade level/content area standards. When students learn the approved standards, through rigorous instruction and locally assessed on these standards all year long it makes it easy for students to show what they know at the end of the school year through local evidence or state assessments. See Teacher Standard 3.1 Growth Guide-Implementation of curriculum standards for more detailed information
When do MVR-III Curriculum Learning Walks Occur?
Which content areas receive MVR-III Curriculum Learning Walks?
Phase III Year 1 content/courses typically are scheduled for Curriculum Learning Walks yearly. A projected listed of all Phase III Year 1 areas is approved in August and posted on the MVR-III Curriculum Process Timeline. Curriculum Learning Walks are adjusted as needs arise each year.
The next MVR-III Curriculum Learning Walks are scheduled the first week of May 2016.
CIA Calenar of Events April 22 - April 30, 2016
Thursday, April 21, 2016
- 5th/6th Vertical Core Content Team Collaboration, 2:30pm-4:00pm, MVMS Library Media Center
Friday, April 22, 2016
- District Curriculum Coordinators Meeting, 9:30am-11:00am, CO
- PDC Executive Committee Planning meeting, 11:30am-3:30pm, CO
Monday, April 25, 2016
- Monthly District PDC Committee meeting, 4pm-5pm, CO
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
- District Curriculum Review Committee, 4pm-5pm, CO
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
- Administrative Professionals Day Celebration
Thursday, April 28, 2016
Friday, April 29, 2016
Monday, May 2 - Friday, May 6, 2016 is Teacher Appreciation Week
MVR-III TECH 4 LEARNING NEWS
1:1 Planning Update...getting ready for 2016-2017
Phase I of the MVR-III 1:1 initiative (CSIP Goal 1: Strategy1: Action Step 3) continues to move forward through a series of collaborative meetings held over the past several months. Technology Department members have met multiple times with building leadership groups at both Riverbend and MVMS. These sessions were used to gather feedback on the updated information passed along to administrators and staff. Several items and procedures have been solidified in preparation for the coming roll-out, including the following:
Informational parent & student meeting will be held during the MVMS Ice Cream Social - 5:30 PM Wednesday, May 4th.
Students will be provided Dell 11” Chromebooks.
Protective binder-style coverings will also be provided.
Device hand-out will be done on registration day in both buildings.
Parents must opt-in or out of the one2one insurance program at this time.
Annual insurance will cost $20, with a $40 family maximum this first year.
Meetings will continue through the end of the school year. Look for more complete information in the MVR-III 1:1 Chromebook Procedures and Information Handbook to be available over the summer.
Assessments
We need your input on the 2016-2017 District Assessment Plan
PDC News
Call for Presenters
How do you Engage, Support, and Challenge your students? Consider sharing an effective practice with other MVR-III district educators this summer. Present either a 45, 60, or 90-minute session on a technology usage you have found beneficial to your classroom.
MVR-III sessions will be held on the following days: July 13, 14, 20, & 21, and August 3 & 4. To assist in the planning process, the deadline for presentation proposals is Friday, April 22. Click HERE to submit.
#MVR3Learns Twitter Chat TONIGHT
Join Meramec Valley Teachers chatting about 1:1 & BYOD at #MVR3Learns
8:30PM, CST
Topic: #UncommonLearning
2nd - 8th ELA & Math Teachers
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
#MoEDchat every Thursday night
9pm
This week's topic is......"So what are YOU reading?"
Don't forget to include #MVR3Learns in your twitter responses.
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
District Spotlight on Educator Learning
Goal 2 of the 2015-2020 MVR-III Comprehensive School Improvement Plan
Highly Qualified Staff
District Leaders Attend Collaborative Work Leadership Meeting
District Collaborative Work Leaders attended a regional leadership meeting at the RPDC on Tuesday, April 12th, to review progress in student achievement gains through the collaborative work.
Attending the regional meeting pictured left to right:
Linda Pahl, ZE Principal
Sarah Grodie, ZE Kindergarten Teacher and CW Teacher Leader
Falyn Smith, ZE 1st Grade Teacher and CW Teacher Leader
Katie Stelmar, TE 3rd Grade Teacher and CW Teacher Leader
Marian Meinhardt, TE Principal
Ketina Armstrong, RB Principal (not pictured)
For the past three years, MVR-III has been part of the school improvement grant focused on closing the achievement gap of all students but in particular improving sub-group student performance. The Collaborative Work Initiative provides focus and training in the areas of:
Pillar 1-Collaborative Data Teams
Pillar 2-Effective Teaching and Learning Practices
Pillar 3-Common Formative Assessments
Pillar 4-Data-based decision making
The Rolla-Regional Professional Development Center has supported the collaborative work efforts at MVR-III and focused the meeting on deepening the implementation of Missouri Collaborative Work. A variety of data sources and materials where utilized during the meeting to help Teacher Leaders and Admin process:
Where are we now? Where are we going? How do we close the gap?
The next Collaborative Work regional meeting will be hosted on August 30, 2016.
Collaborative Work Magazine
Pillar 2-Effective Teaching and Learning Practices
What are your beliefs about Teaching and Learning?
"At the heart of teaching and learning are the beliefs, dispositions and attitudes that teachers hold regarding students, curriculum and the daily life of the classroom. Educator beliefs are highly influential on student success, as such beliefs guide teacher decision-making and instructional processes. It is believed that educators who...". Read the rest of the story on the MoEdu-Sail website.
TE Attends Leadership Expo Day
Three Truman Elementary staff members attended a Leader In Me, Leadership Expo Day, on Friday, April 15, 2016:
Candee Vogel, Title I Teacher
Debbie Hunkins, Odyssey Teacher
Beth Meyers, 5th Grade Teacher
Growing Assessment Capable Learners, Shifting Mindsets, and Growing Responsible students and the other Leader in Me principles support all aspects of student achievement.
Photo courtesy of Robertsville Elementary, Brittney Jasper, Kindergarten Teacher
"From Standards to Stations"
Coleman Elementary's building growth goal is Teacher Standard 2.4 Differentiating Instruction.
To focus on proficiency in this goal, numerous Coleman Elementary Teachers attended a one-day Deb Diller training to enhance their use of literacy and math centers, "stations", in the classroom designed to fit all students' individual needs aligned to the ELA and math curriculum standards.
Attending participants:
April 6, 2016
Tonya Schmisa, CE Kindergarten Teacher
Beth Sanders, CE 1st Grade Teacher
Shelley Miles, CE 2nd Grade Teacher
April 7, 2016
Stephanie Marr, CE Kindergarten Teacher
Diane Luth, CE 1st Grade Teacher
Ann Toney, CE 3rd Grade Teacher
MSHA Attendees
Five MVR-III Speech Language Therapists attended the annual conference titled Passport to Success. The conference hosted specialized day institute training, professional round table discussions, and 5 leading national speakers. MVR-III is looking forward to the implementation of newly learned knowledge related to speech and language therapy services.
Attendees were:
Jane Kerr, CE SLP
LeAnn Hans, CS SLP
Janet Barmeier, MVMS/RB SLP
Donna Fearon, TE/RE SLP
Candice Cervantes, PHS SLP
CSIP Goal 4
Riverbend hosts MAP Rally Parent Night
MAP Rally for parents and students was held April 7th. Riverbend highlighted the state online assessment tools and practice test. Students showcased the assessment for their parents. Thirty-seven participants attended the curriculum event. Testing began this week at Riverbend.
Photo submitted by Ketina Armstrong, RB Principal
Kindergarten/8th Grade Buddy Classrooms
In kindergarten, Mrs. Grodie's class talked about the importance of the doing your best on the state assessment and how kindergarten can support the big kids while they are showing off their learning. Mrs. Grodie's class partnered with Riverbend to support their theme, "Knock it out of the park!"
Photo provided by Sarah Grodie, ZE Kindergarten Teacher
2nd Grade/3rd Grade Buddy Classrooms
Kindergarten/5th Grade Buddy Classrooms
Thank you Truman Elementary for the bulletin board photo that @DistrictMVR3 is using for our Twitter background
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