The GATOR Gazette Opening 8/2019
Publication 3 : 8/26/2019
Notes from Dr. Miller
Team Gompers,
Welcome Back and Welcome to the official first day and the first week of school!
I don't know about you but I still get butterflies the day and night before in anticipation of the journey ahead. As we begin "our" journey together know that to reach a destination we have to be walking on the same path towards to the end destination. This school year holds infinite possibilities with the best possible outcomes when we work together. Collectively we can meet all of our goals because we have educators and staff that believe in the promise of equity in education. This task is not easy and I understand that it requires hard work, commitment, and collaboration. My expectation is that both staff and students will continue to think of Gompers as a place where we come together to do amazing work. I know you will attempt new ideas, strategies, and innovations that will challenge you and the students in engaging work to meet our school goals. As the principal, I am committed to supporting your efforts to make great things happen in and out of the classroom for the students in whom we serve. I look forward to a year filled with great success stories and great learning practices as we continue to strive for excellence with students.
All information about our school community will be housed in this document. The Gator Gazette will be sent weekly via email by Sunday morning for the upcoming week. The Gazatte will include:
Instructional Focus Expectations
Access to Videos, Google Docs/Slidedecks and Google Forms for upcoming meetings that can be accessed via the bulletin but will also be housed in the Dr. Miller's Staff Google Classroom
School Protocols Expectations: GFS Green
Calendars for IEPS, SST, Assemblies
Notes/Updates from Counselor, Psychologist, PTA, District, etc.
***Please ensure that you click the blue links to documents that are embedded within the newsletter****
Let us all extend a big welcome to our new TEAM Gompers members: Kindergarten - Ms. Michelle Beay & Middle School - Mr. Clint Vis.
Respectfully,
Dr. Damita Myers-Miller - dmyersmiller@lbschools.net
#studentsaremywhy #180daysofwhy #thisiswhywedothis
Yahoooo!!!!!! Celebration of hard work...Increase in ELA SBAC scores = $15,000
School Vision, Mission and Values.......
Ummm...#1stdaywhy: CHALLENGE
Social Emotional Foundations in School Culture & Climate "effect" Student Achievement
LBUSD U6 - Creating a classroom atmosphere, where teachers deliberately balance caring relationships and supports for student success, provides a foundation for a safe learning environment that values diversity, trust and respectful communication.
Open Day Staff Meeting
Staff Opening Agenda 8-27 @ 8:30
Continental Breakfast provided by PTA @ 8:00amish
Click the embedded link for agenda:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Bpp_0qugRUSr-s9JTRJt35X-eqrYMYAmGgY8GcJp1ig/edit?usp=sharing
School Protocols and Structures......
Google Classroom and Technology Integration with use of Google Platforms
Please join Dr. Miller's Google classroom:
code is: 9nn2ck
Please complete the Google Form, to support an understanding of the staff's use of technology that will lead to professional development needs :
Cell Phone and Digital Technology Use - Students
***Let us be models of this as well***
Opening Stuff with Deadlines - Teachers
Staff Collaboration Calendar
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DB7WGsNtHYyl3__ToPbIvChrgRqhRNyeLa57cSwLc3E/edit?usp=sharing
Google Classroom Assignments:
Emergency Card - Due, September 6
Opening Packet or information to parents - Due, August 30
Back to School Night Presentation - Due, September 13
Instructional Focus Area
Clarity of Daily Learning Intentions
Teacher Clarity...How do you know students "got" the day's learning intention?
Initially, your first several weeks' will be working on the beginning of the year procedures and protocols, this will be the perfect time to ensure students KNOW the WHY and the significance of the structure or protocols you are teaching to support daily learning/engagement and maximum results in achievement levels.
Beginning and ending each period (MS) and or portion(s) of the day's schedule(ES) with the learning intention: What, Why and How is key!
Not only is it important for students to know what they are learning, why they are learning and how they are showing understanding(success criteria) but it is equally as important for the teacher to be mindful of knowing if students got it. In daily/weekly planning, assessment of the day's learning is the beginning stage vs the ending stage in planning.
Data is our friend...Becoming Familiar with the "new" LROIX Data Dashboard...
The NEW LROIX Data Dashboard
Click on the link below to access the video that shows the features of the new LROIX data dashboard. The video goes fast, so I wanted you to have access to watch it as many times as you would like. Please feel free to see me with any questions. Please "play with the new dashboard" in the coming weeks in order to familiarize yourself with the new features. Accessing the data will be important for our 1:1 BOY meeting at the end of September and the development of Grade and Department Action Plans.
Click the embedded link to view the LROIX video:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ftxFukQNdPf8KEdhpAb_YxohS7DvG4Lt/view
Click the embedded link to view the GOOGLE form for the data meeting:
https://forms.gle/HbZ6iBYz2iRrW96j9
Click the embedded link to view the Google doc for the schedule:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bb3Pe3kYxKMSg-3QNRzHSCe3xADphzFs64153YqJ63I/edit
Culture and Climate........
Creating - Common Lessons for School Collective Efficacy and Cohesion
Definition for Gompers Gators "go" GREEN
G = GRIT..going the extra mile, persevering to achieve
R = RESPONSIBILITY...accountable to one's actions in scholarship, social and behavior
E = EXPECTATIONS...belief that all can achieve to their maximum potential
E = ETHICS...doing what is right when no one is looking
N = NEIGHBORLY...caring about our community
Gompers’ Effective Implementation Practices: GFS Assemblies, GFS BOY Lessons, Levels of Infractions, Safe and Civil Team, Common Area Expectations w/One Liners, MS & 5th Grade Code of Conduct with Point System (developed over time)
Examples of GFS lessons on "how to":
Robinson - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YmmDObcwsovqgwY-Iz1hdaJRMCCd53qLzSOESTA_AbA/edit
Scholarly Dress Expectations
Each and every day Gompers students are expected to be scholarly dressed for school success. Scholarly dress is defined as school uniform and abiding with LBUSD DRESS CODE (Board Policy):
Tops - Collard Shirts: Red, White, and Blue "uniform" Shirts
Bottom - Uniform pants and shorts No Jeans
Outwear - School Spirit Hoddies/Sweatshirts is highly preferred
Daily School Uniforms - Monday - Friday
or "weekly" School Uniform Spirit Day -
Friday - Gator Nation Day - Wear your Gator T-SHIRT & Uniform Botton/Blue Jeans (Friday ONLY)
SPIRIT WEEK and "special" SPIRIT Days will be announced throughout the year. Spirit Days will include "spirited tops" not bottoms; the uniform bottoms will still apply.
Teachers/Staff must be models of this as well
School Leadership...........
Adjunct Leadership Opportunities
2. Adjunct Responsibilities: It is recognized that in carrying out job responsibilities, each employee shall perform many responsibilities and adjunct responsibilities, which occur outside of the scheduled on-site duty day. Such duties may involve activities such as supervision of pupils, sponsorship of student activities, and participation in school, district-wide and parent-community committees.
The maximum expectancy of any secondary school teacher shall be twenty (20) hours per semester, exclusive of faculty/department meetings. (LBUSD/TALB contract, Article V, A7) Adjunct Duty: Sign-ups for 17 hours by Wednesday, September 4:
Attached is the list that I have been able to compile of adjunct committee or events. However, I need more communication to find the amount of time connected to each. Once, time allocation is known, I will provide the link for staff to sign up through the Signup Genius.com, an online application.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SUcEswhlGALag5h8PrR0a4TyJdTZm2dnFGOOA06JBFE/edit?usp=sharing
Change of Principal/Leadership Updates/Details - June 24, 2019
The entire Gompers community will be a part of working collectively to support our school change aka "little tweaks" process to support Going GREEN and GREAT through shared leadership opportunities. This is and will not be an overnight process this is a 3 to a 5-year longitudinal plan of collective action.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJDN0cpxJv4
Quick Fixes as identified by "select staff representatives"
* Uniforms and Cell Phone Policy, Communication and Calendars & Adjunct duties
Long Term Fixes as identified by "select representatives"
* Discipline, School Safety, Safe and Civil Training and Application & Beautification
Happenings in Gompers K8 Community......
August 19 - 23
August 27 - Opening Day....8:30 -10:30 - 10:30staff annual picture (Blue Jeans please),
August 27 - Kindergarten Orientation 11:30am
August 28 - 1st Day with students - Minimum Day @ 2:00
August 29 - Staff Meeting @ 7:45am
Staff Emergency Procedures & LBUSD "new information"
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1qF6MepERSVv93TYKPa_RaaTprS371gufwgmiyJhxeoU/edit?usp=sharing
August 29 - GFS GREEN Assemblies Elementary https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IfW6nAeRgpZ2cKsMu2HzjBRnKZ2JKoESk1UwFGregoc/edit?usp=sharing
August 30 - GFS GREEN Assemblies - Middle School - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IfW6nAeRgpZ2cKsMu2HzjBRnKZ2JKoESk1UwFGregoc/edit?usp=sharing
August 30 - Paycheck on "new system"
September 2-6
September 2 - Labor Day
September 4 - Signup for Adjunct Duties
September 5 - Staff meeting - We are Gompers? Who are we and what do we represent?
September 5 - SPED Team meeting vs STAFF Meeting - Calendaring of IEPS
September 9 - 27
September 12- Staff meeting - LBUSD: U6 - #180days #studentsareourwhy
BTSN for 2019/2020 - Minimum Days
September 17 - Elementary & K-8 Schools