Falcon Focus
January, 5 2015
Rookie Smarts
"In a rapidly changing world, experience can be a curse. Careers stall, innovation stops, and strategies grow stale. Being new, naive, and even clueless can be an asset. For today's knowledge workers , constant learning is more valuable than mastery... Rookies and effective knowledge workers are highly adept at the following circumstances:
- Exploring new frontiers and innovating
- Making immediate gains
- When there are multiple ways to solve a problem
- When there is too much information for any one person to know - they ask questions and rely on experts and one another"
I am enjoying the read. It is stocked full of thought provoking ideas! I will share a few more as I make my way through the book.
Literacy Update
January 12th - Kelly Leach will be on campus to do Guided Reading Walkthroughs.
January 14th - Additional day for guided reading walkthroughs
January 15th - Kelly Leach will be on campus to follow up, support, and provide feedback on the walkthroughs observed on the 12th and 14th.
January 20th: Literacy PLC Meeting - PLC meeting to conduct a protocol for student writing that has gone through the entire writing process. Please bring each students writing with all the stages of the writing process. (at least: brainstorm, editing and revising, final copy for each student)
February 3rd: Literacy PLC Meeting - Bring Students Reading Response samples/journals to conduct a response protocol.
Next Few Meetings at a Glance - working agendas
- 1/5: Transforming Education Training (CIP#1 and DFG 4) We will meet at the Florence library from 8:00-3:30. (Lunch on your own 11:30-1:00)
- 1/6: no meeting - it is combined with the work we will do on the 5th
- 1/13: Kinder VESTED Showcase and Technology Apps and Integration (CIP#3 and DFG #2) Fourth Grade Providing Snacks
- 1/20: Progress Monitoring Data Analysis and Writing Protocol and Analysis for Students' Writing that has gone through the entire Writing Process Analysis (CIP #1 and #2 and District Focus Goals # 1, 3, and 4)
- 1/23: Early Release - Six Weeks Planning
- 1/27: Math CFA Data Analysis CFA (CIP# 1)
Thank you to.....
We also appreciate co-curr's flexibility and work to provide some neat activities for the students.
Thanks to all the teachers for thinking outside of the box and getting creative with technology!
Updates and FYI's
- January Character Quality - Respect
- Please bring the following to the training on Monday, Jan. 5th:
- Laptop/ipad
- VESTED book
- PLC Journal
- Student Math Common Formative Assessments from last administration (afternoon)
- Be sure to sign up for the Monday PD in My Learning Plan by Sunday evening, Jan. 4th.
- Jeans are fine for Jan. 5th
- Heather Allen is in charge of Science Night this year. She will be posting a a volunteer sign up sheet for teacher help. Two free jeans passes for those that volunteer!! (the kids love seeing you guys)
According to EHBK(Legal):
January 6: Sam Rayburn Day, in memory of that great Texas and American statesman, Sam Rayburn. Sam Rayburn Day shall be regularly observed by appropriate programs in the public schools to commemorate the birthday of Sam Rayburn. Gov't Code 662.041
- Schoolview Walkthroughs will continue through the spring semester.
- Please remember to pay your social dues for the Spring semester by Friday, Jan. 9th. You are all set if you paid your dues in full at the beginning of the school year.
- In preparation for the January Technology Faculty Meeting, please be sure to know your itunes password. Talk to Ann or Donna if you have trouble.
- IMPORTANT LINK: Click here to access the collaboration calendar. School events, due dates, and important information is found on this calendar. We work hard to keep it updated. Thanks!
- 2nd - 4th grade: Progress Reports made available to parents through HAC on Tuesday. All grades should be loaded.
- The Keller ISD Community Ambassadors program in order to increase the number of participants. The program is open to employees, parents, and all community members and provides opportunities to learn more about how Keller ISD operates. The time commitment for the semester-long program is minimal. There are only four meetings total, they are held once a month from 6 p.m.-8 p.m., and dinner is provided. KISD Administrative leaders provide informative presentations in an interactive, informal environment. Ambassadors hear from Governance, Finance, Learning, Technology, Media Services, Business, Leadership, and Human Resources. There is always time for Q&A and at the fourth and final meeting everyone receives an official Ambassador shirt as part of their “Community Ambassador Graduation.” This is an outstanding opportunity for anyone who wants to know more about Keller ISD.
- To get involved simply email Communications@kellerisd.net or call Dinene Rusler at 817-744-1021. Spring 2015 dates and locations for the Keller ISD Community Ambassadors program are as follows:
- January 20, 2015 6 pm – 8 pm in the Rock Gym (Governance/Finance to present)
- February 23, 2015 6 pm – 8 pm at the Annex (Media Services/Business to present)
- March 23, 2015 6 pm – 8 pm at Timber Creek HS (Learning/Technology to present)
- April 20, 2015 6 pm – 8 pm at Bear Creek Intermediate – location tentative (Leadership/Human Resources to present)
Florence Info.
Email: laura.lockhart@kellerisd.net
Website: www.kellerisd.net
Location: 3095 Johnson Road, Southlake, TX, United States
Phone: 817-744-4700
Facebook: facebook.com/FlorenceElementary.com
Twitter: @FESfalcons