McAllister Minutes
Week of: November 26 - November 30
McAllister Minutes
Thanksgiving Break is always a time to rest, relax and most importantly reflect on the things that we are so thankful for in our lives. As the Principal of McAllister ES, I am thankful for the intentional efforts ALL of you pour into making McAllister not only a great place to work but also a great place for students to attend/learn. I am thankful for the stakeholders that support our efforts at McAllister and I am thankful for the WONDERFUL students we get to work with on a daily basis!
The week ahead we jump into our Mindset Monday with the first lesson of 100% accountable. What exactly does that mean? How will our students respond? The 100% Accountable mindset teaches the importance of being responsible for our own happiness and success. Being 100% Accountable means deciding not to be victims of the past and recognizing that the future is not predetermined, so our lives are what we choose in the present moment and each one moving forward. In these lessons, we help students focus on recognizing our fears and excuses. This mindset is about the importance of breaking down barriers and taking responsibility for our thoughts and actions. It also allows us to free our minds and focus our energy on taking the critical steps towards our goals. Let's break down barriers together and make things happen in a BIG way as we bounce back from break!
Below I have listed a few updates and reminders to activities planned for the weeks ahead:
- Tuesday, November 27 - Faculty Meeting (Media Center)
- Tuesday, November 27 - Thursday, November 29 - PTSO Holiday Shop
- Friday, November 30 -PTSO Luncheon - PL Room
- Monday. December 3 - Friday. December 7 - MAP Testing (Click Here for Schedule)
- Tuesday, December 4 - Leadership Meeting - PL Room
- Friday, December 7 - Friendsmas Party (Staff Holiday Party) - 6:30 (See memo below)
- Thursday, December 13 - Friday, December 14 - Drama Club Performance - 6pm
- Friday, December 21 - Last Day of School - (Share memo below with parents)
***Traveling on a field trip soon? We recently purchased an ice machine for your convenience - it is located in the gymnasium - Coach Moon and Anderson can point you in the right direction if you need a hand.***
With an intentional focus of consistency on being curious & crazy for kids you will ALWAYS find a culture that is student focused!
Have a WONDERful Week!
Lesson Plans & Gradebooks
Lesson Plans
Each week, the administrative team holds a weekly PLC. As the instructional leaders of the school, our PLC will always have an instructional focus. As you know, we have made a commitment this year to improve lesson planning and meeting the needs of ALL levels of learners through appropriate instructional strategies, planning and assessment. With this comes a commitment to review lesson plans and provide feedback. Moving forward, we will choose a grade level, resource area, or specials area each week to review and communicate this at least one week in advance. Next week (12/3), Specials Areas lesson plans will be reviewed by the full administrative team, including our ILT; (12/10) we will review Resource lesson plans. Lesson plans are submitted to the teacher specific Google folder. Nothing is hidden, nothing is secret. Clearly, this isn’t a “gotcha” since you are being told which plans are being reviewed. But, much like anything, if you aren’t regularly practicing the skill, that will become evident when it is intensely reviewed. The expectation is that every content/course is preparing, submitting, and using lesson plans weekly. Some of you write unit plans - GREAT! These still should be reviewed and put into a weekly plan. Much like a monthly budget, if you prepare it and look at it just once in a month, you will never be (financially) on the best track.
Gradebooks
Gradebooks, first and foremost, are a form of communication. Communication is an area in which we should always strive for improvement. And, some of you are really needing to improve your use of PowerSchool gradebook as an effective form of communication. Every teacher should be in his/her gradebook EVERY week at least once, making sure grades that are recorded are up-to-date. If you stop and think about the gradebook being a form of communication, it makes sense that it could be considered as a tool to improve student achievement and progress. As the principal, and as the instructional leader here, I have a strong expectation that all gradebooks accurately and effectively communicate a student's progress.
Lesson Plans and Gradebooks – “The Connection”
You plan your instruction, and you plan your assessments. Assessment results are then recorded in the gradebook in PowerSchool. If your gradebook isn’t being updated regularly/properly, it is probably because you aren’t planning regularly/properly. If the PS gradebook is going to be an effective form of communication, then you must use it efficiently and effectively. This includes reporting grades in a timely manner. How, exactly, are stakeholders to use the grades (communication) to positively impact the student achievement? Right? How are stakeholders going to help us support the work in classrooms and our school if student achievement is either not being reported or being reported late? So, I am adding gradebook reviews to our weekly lesson plan reviews - when we review your lesson plans we will also review your gradebooks.
If there is something more about our expectations regarding lesson planning and grading that you believe should be better communicated by me, please let me know.
If you need help with lesson planning, your gradebook, or communication, ask me, please. Or, maybe you just want to talk about some point in this information- that is fine, too. If I am not a good go-to for you, how about your grade chair, ILT or supervising AP? Let's work together to make sure the foundational elements of our instruction are solid.
We do so much very well, and for that I am always thankful. I can truthfully say that there is not a day that I am not thankful that I am at MES with such talented educators. Thank you, all, for your commitment to excellence and success. And, for your commitment to being better.
Happy Birthday to You!
11/28 - Theresa Poinsett
12/6 - Rachel Lofton
12/9 - Angie Molpus
12/12 - Sara Kornegay
12/15 - Eric Bartley
12/15 - Emily Dixon
12/17 - Linda Smith
12/19 - Mary Waters
12/26 - Chritina Howley
12/26 - Kimberly Smith
12/26 - Krista Bingman
12/30 - Holly Patselas
Making Moves at McAllister
- From April West - Love how Ms. Reynolds thinks outside of the box by using every part of the school to explore and learn. (Caught her teaching Reading near the cottages on the new wooden stumps! Her kids were actively engaged and having fun learning.)
- From Linda Smith - Thank you to Ms. Klinger for jumping in and helping with reading assessments and instruction. I know how dedicated and busy you are and appreciate you taking time to assist me!
- From Lane Fanning: Coach Anderson has been a huge help with dismissal from bus room in the morning. He has stepped up to make things run smoothly and efficiently so we can get everyone to class on time and in an orderly fashion. I am very appreciate of his leadership!
- From Gay Wilson: Coach Anderson braved the cold weather to put air in my tire. He went over and beyond his job title to help a friend. I appreciate his kindness and thoughtfulness.
- From Bivins Miller: Coach Moon is versatile and always willing to help! Tied up and unable to accommodate the Turkey Trot in the Turkey Suit...I called on Coach Moon and he jumped in and knocked it out of the park! You rock!
7 Mindsets
- PK-2 - Lesson 4.1 Introduction and Our Feelings
- 3-5 -Lesson 4.1 Introduction and Own Your Life
McAllister Elementary School
Email: cmiller@bryan.k12.ga.us
Website: https://mes.bryan.k12.ga.us/
Location: 224 Veterans Memorial Parkway, Richmond Hill, GA, United States
Phone: 912-851-4040
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/McAllisterElementaryRH
Twitter: @McAllister_ES