The Buzz 10/5/15
What you need to know to be in the know...
Our Mission:
Chandler Elementary will create a safe and positive environment where all students and adults work together using 21st century strategies to achieve high academic growth.
Small Efforts...
Please let the office staff know how they can support your efforts. We have many layers of support with Laura and I, TLT members, Leon, office staff, and even some central office folks being willing to do anything we can to help out in any way we can. It takes everyone on Team Chandler working together to ensure our kids are meeting their goals and growing as learners.
Thank you for your efforts and your work every day. We have come a long way, been through many firsts, and have overcome many obstacles to get where we are today. Your growth mindset is appreciated, and the key to our success. I look forward to working with you further throughout this year and beyond!!!
New Staff This Week
Well sorta new... Clara Fry has been filling in for Mrs. Fecher since she left in late September. She has also agreed to fill in for her as long as needed. She has 18 years of first grade, and many long term leave experiences. Thank you Mrs. Fry for answering the call once again, and welcome to Team Chandler!
PLTW
As we move forward, we are looking to expand the number of leaders in our building. There are a couple PD opportunities coming up that could help build leadership capacity in this area, if you would like to learn more about these opportunities I would love to talk with you.
P/T Conferences
Thank you in advance for all the preparation you put into successful parent teacher conferences, especially this year! We are all experiencing a learning curve, and this does not go unnoticed. Please let Mrs. Schwartz or I know if you have a conference that you would like someone to attend with you. We will be happy to be at as many as possible.
We will be asking parents to fill out a brief survey (to help with the school improvement plan) while they wait, the office will take care of all the details, signage, etc. However, it would help to have a desk to set a laptop on.
We report the % of students who we conference with to the school board. Please note how many you meet with, whether it be by phone, in person, skype, etc... If you meet, you count.
Dinner will be provided by the school on Tuesday (if you have a request for dinner let me know). Thursday PTO will be providing some soups, bread, and other goodies. The food will be available after 4:00, and be located in the lounge.
Bus Driver Shortage Hits Home
Daily Attendance
Deanna Fecher
I wanted to make you all aware that, with students, we are not being specific about the reason for Deanna's leave, other than to say she is being treated for an illness. We do not have a specific time frame for her return, but that she hopes to rejoin her class as soon as possible.
We are continuing to collect items in the lounge to support her, and there is a site to use if you would like to provide meals. Cheryl Woodlee will provide dates as they are available. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.
World's Largest K-5 Streaming Sing-Along Concert
I came across an article about this and was intrigued, so I thought I would share. I know some of you are always looking for a good brain break!
Really good stuff...
“student questions are seeds to student learning.”
Here are three rules, which while not intended to, definitely support the use of formative assessment:
Curiosity comes first
Embrace the mess
Practice reflection
These three “rules” are really three steps or components to consider in using formative assessment instructional strategies to activate students as learners and as resources for one another. Let’s take a look.
https://www.nwea.org/blog/2015/three-steps-to-activating-learners/
Central Office Listening Day
Growth Mindset
Huge Thank you to Leon Bauman for sending in these great reminders:
One of the most powerful ways we have discovered to encourage each other and our students to develop a growth mindset is to use the word “yet.” If we find ourselves saying, “I can’t do!” simply add the word “yet.” “I can’t do it yet!”
“The moment we believe that success is determined by an ingrained level of ability, we will be brittle in the face of adversity.” –Josh Waitzkin (chess champion featured in the book and movie Searching for Bobby Fisher)
Here’s another link to a 3:50 minute video to help define growth mindset:
From Central Office...
Today’s Focus: Talent
“Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.”
– Mary Lou Cook
New Contracts & Timeline
On Monday, September 28th GEA membership ratified the master contract for the 2015-16 school year. On Tuesday, September 29th the Board approved the agreement. We have already started working to implement this new agreement.
Our first goal is to clean up any/all errors in the current payroll system by the October 9th pay date. This way we can begin making the adjustments to the pay with an accurate foundation. The target date for including the salary increase in teacher pay is the October 23rd pay date. By the end of October, it is our goal to have written contracts out to all teachers.
One of the changes to the contract was an hourly rate increase for teachers who provide “in-house” subbing services. The rate increased from $20.48/hour to $25.00 per hour. Attached is the NEW payroll voucher to be used for in-house subbing. Please STOP using the old ones and remember to print/copy these on YELLOW paper. Thanks!
Subs for Paraprofessionals
Although our substitute pool is a little wider and deeper this year, we are in no way “out of the woods” in terms of potential shortages. Please remind your paraprofessionals and other classified staff that they should NOT be calling Jamie UNLESS their position REQUIRES a sub for the day in their absence. Remember that this applies to those 1:1 paras or program paras that are required to implement a student’s IEP and/or program. They do not need to report their absences to Jamie. Rather, they just include that on their timesheets or in Time Force, if applicable. If a para calls in for a substitute, Jamie will do her very best to find someone, but our first priority MUST always be to provide subs for teachers first. Let Tammy know if you have a question.
Horace Mann Student Loan Reduction Workshop
Please remember that next week, Wednesday, October 14th, GEA is sponsoring the Horace Mann Student Loan reduction workshop for all GCS employees. This will be at the GHS Auditorium at 4pm. Below, is the email for Andrea Thalheimer, please RSVP with her by this Friday so we can have an accurate count for materials. Walk-ins are welcome, but an RSVP will ensure that we will have enough materials for everyone. Also, Andrea would like you to bring some things to aid in this workshop. What those things are, I do not know. Andrea will contact all who RSVP and tell you what to bring. This workshop is not just for your student loan, but will address your children’s loan(s) as well. Also, this is not just for GEA members or just teachers, ALL are welcome. If you have questions, please feel free to contact:
Scott Garvin
GEA VP
GHS Ext 2470
OR
Thalheimer, Andrea Andrea.Thalheimer@horacemann.com
eSuite HR Portal
Please share this information with your staff again: To access eSuite and paystubs, go to the GCS website under Staff Services, you will see that the first tab listed is eSuite HR Portal. When you click on that, you will find directions and other information.
TLT UPdate
This week we spent time creating preliminary goals with numbers. TLT members will be coming to your grade level to talk about any changes that you feel might be necessary based on your Teacher Knowledge of Students (TKS). You input is valuable. They can also explain how we chose our goal, and set cut scores.
Our specific cluster cycle strategy focus this year will be on non-fiction and text features/structure. More to come on what these may look like as we move through the process.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!
Mrs. Katie Gerke - Wednesday, October 14
Mrs. Erin Behan-Morillo -Friday, October 16
Calendar Items
Monday
Chandler TLT 3:15-4:15
Running Club 2/3 2:50-4:00
Tuesday
Joy Hill Visits Kindergarten 8:30-10:00
Parent Teacher Conferences 3:00-8:00
Dinner provided after 4:00 - Lounge
Running Club 4/5 2:50-4:15
Wednesday
Orchestra 3:45-4:45 (GMS)
Thursday
Parent Teacher Conferences 3:00-8:00
Dinner provided after 4:00 - Lounge
Terry Aukeman Visit - PLTW
Orchestra 2:55-4:00 (Music Room)
Friday
Success/Support Staff Meeting 8:35
Just in case you forgot...
Family Nights
PBIS Update
There have been many issues in the student restrooms over the past couple of weeks. These issues include clogged toilets, defecation in inappropriate places and generally messy floors. Please review the PBIS procedures. Also, make sure students know the proper use of the urinal and toilet.
PBIS MATRIX -- Restrooms
Be Respectful
- Voice level 0 to 1
- Flush the toilet
- Place or drop paper towels in the trashcans
- Turn off water after washing hands
- Return to classroom or line up with class
Be Responsible
- Give others personal space and privacy
- Pick up after yourself
- Keep hands and feet to self
- Use one pump of soap and 2 paper towels
- Use the restroom for its intended purpose
Be Safe
- WASH HANDS
- Report problems to an adult
- Leave student materials outside of the restrooms
against the wall
Voice Levels
0 - No talking
1 - Whisper
2 - Partner voice
3 - Classroom speaker voice
4 - Outside voice