Cat Tracks
Spring Shadows Elementary Wildcats Staff Newsletter
October 9-13, 2017
#Limitless Learning
Our Vision
Our Mission
Core Beliefs
- Each student has unique intellectual, emotional, social, and physical qualities.
- We embrace a child’s individual values, interests, and personalities.
- Parents are confident in their child’s social and intellectual educational growth.
- Educators lead their craft by preparing learners in our fast changing world
Principal's Message
Dear Wildcats,
It's almost the end of the 1st 9 weeks and with our first 9 weeks interrupted and only assessing 7 actual instructional weeks, we have had to modify many things that has perhaps left us feeling a little disoriented!
At this time as we begin our instructional normalcy, let us focus back on our some core PLC practices.
- What do students need to know and be able to do?
- How will we know when they have learned it?
- What will we do when they haven't learned it?
- What will we do when they already know it?
Stemming from our Data Wise book, think about your collection of data thus far, whether observational, anecdotal, unit exams, DRA/EDL, or MAP data is telling us about our learners up until now.
You will see trends in your learners and you will be making some major instructional decisions on how to help grow them. I'm including here: DATA WISE some action steps we should all be doing in the 1st 9 weeks (which was just organizing ourselves for the collaborative work) that will set us up for building our assessment literacy and studying our data.
In your PLCs, the sole work you will be doing is going through this Data Wise process. We are here to guide and facilitate the work.
For Monday- You will spend time with the first bullet: "What do students need to know and be able to do?" as you work to map out the 2nd 9 weeks and reflect on the 1st 9 weeks. You will also be hitting the third PLC question "What will we do when we haven't learned it?" by reviewing the Response to Intervention process with Katie and Cindy R.
On Thursday, Cindy Gardner will lead your PLC to closely look at our multi-faceted data collection. Please meet her in the PLC room with your charged laptop. (Second PLC question: How will we know when they have learned it?)
The good news is that we will be utilizing Mastery Connect to help grade and give you instant feedback for your learners. Soon enough, we will be training you on this system.
Be sure to take a big breath. It will be challenging work. It will be good work. Each day we take instructional steps forward with our learners, is one day closer for our learners to realize their dreams for the future.
Wildcat Love,
Rachel Martinez
P.S. I've included our PD Agenda updated here. Please click on the document below.
Reading Rally 2017
Open House 2017
Scholastic Fall Bookfair 2017
Calendar
- Digital Citizenship - Be Kind
- Professional Development Day - Student Holiday
Tuesday, October 10, 2017: 3rd Ext. Planning
WEAR A COLLEGE T-SHIRT- Pay your $1 to Katie or Rachel Menefee
- Digital Citizenship - Be Kind
- 8:00-12:30 Leadership Meeting
- 8:00-9:15 Holly Mercado planning with 1st grade
- 3:00-4:00 Nurse Meeting
- 3:00-4:00 Sunshine Meeting
- Dismissal 2:30
- 6:00-8:00 College Night (Spring Woods High School)
Wednesday, October 11, 2017: 4th Grade Ext. Planning
- Digital Citizenship - Be Kind
- Spiral Day
- First Run Report Card 1 (6:00 am)
- Planning for Small Group Instruction (10:00-10:45)
- Dismissal 2:30
- Vertical Meetings 2:45-4:00
Thursday, October 12, 2017: 5th Grade Extended Planning
- Digital Citizenship - Be Kind
- PLC Day (PLC Room)- SSE Data Sheets- Cindy Gardner
Print Report Card 1 (12:00 noon)
- Dismissal 2:30
- 2:45-3:45 Team Leader Meeting
Friday, October 13, 2017: 5th Grade Extended Planning
- Digital Citizenship - Be Kind
- Dismissal @ 2:30
Deadlines/Priorities
- Add new parent email addresses from Open House.
- Proceed with grading in preparation for Report Cards.
- Schedule Parent Conferences- begin parent conferences through end of October.
PBIS and Project Class
Project Class: Continue paying attention to the morning announcements. Everyday we will begin with a brief explanation of the Project Class skill, followed by the Project Class skill song. This will be our focus skill for the day. Teachers, please make it a point to spotlight the students as they are using the focus skill by saying something positive, giving them an extra Dojo point, or any other positive reinforcement that you would like to use. In two weeks, I will ask you to send me the names of 2 students who have been following and using the Project Class skills. They will be our Project Class Shining Stars. I will take their picture, display it in the cafeteria, and read their names during the morning announcements.
Jaci and Luz will be here this week. Jaci will be on campus on Friday since there is no school on Monday. Luz will be on campus on Thursday. Please use them as your support for teaching and implementing the skills. Thank you to those who have turned in referrals, please keep them coming if you have students who would benefit from a small group class.
PBIS: On Tuesday, I will be visiting your classrooms to talk to the students about the new behavior incentive program that we will start for the cafeteria. Each class will have an opportunity to earn Wildcat Paws based on how well they follow the R.O.A.R.S expectations for the day. This is a new initiative agreed upon by the PBIS cadre.
Keep up the good work!
Instructional Specialists Message
We already had the DRA/EDL/OS training, so if you missed it, check out THIS folder from Google Drive with the presentations. Materials for the DRA/EDL and OS can be found in the Sweden folder. (Sweden>Staff>SSE>2017-2018>DRA.EDL Files)
Your friendly Instructional Specialists,
Katie & Elizabeth
Library Notes
Hi,
Thanks for all your support last week!!
*This week we are back to regular schedule. Please be flexible as there will need to changes to the "regular" schedule as I meet with some teachers.
*Read 100,000- The site is having trouble with the class list download. I will be copying pasting from the site so you can all get your students' user name - then you will have to have them change their password. Please make all the passwords Read2017. If you want me to help your class do the change, please let me know.
*Those classes on the second floor when you collect the books could you have the children leave the carts on the first floor and carry down the books to them. The other week some student bounces a rolling cart down the stair and it broke.
*3rd Robotic - I would like to find a time to meet with the students this week as we couldn't start on Monday due to PD and I would like them to be ready to start a mission on the following Monday.
*4/5th grade - we now have enough boys to start a Boy's STEAM this Thursday after school. I will give you notes for the boys.
Again Thanks!
Your friendly librarian,
Ann
1st Prize- Richardson
2nd Place- Ms. Lee
3rd Place- Mrs. Lopez- Davila
Honorable Mention- Mrs. Siddiqi
Honorable Mention- Ms. Gomez
Honorable Mention- Ms. Campana
Sunshine Updates
We will still accept dues! Dues are $20 for professionals and $15 for paraprofessionals. We accept cash or check. Checks should be made out to Spring Shadows Elementary.
Jeans Pass UPDATE
- 7 passes for $10
- 3 passes for $5
- University Wednesday $1 for each Wednesday (you can buy in bulk)
You may use your pass any day of the week. Here are the "rules" for jeans passes.
- Jeans need to be without holes or rips
- Wear with a blouse or nice shirt (not a T-Shirt unless you buy the Wednesday pass)
- Wearing jeans without a pass already bought is a $2 fine (to Sunshine)
Please pay Katie Gentry or Rachel Menefee. They will give you a receipt and log your name and number of passes into a Google Doc. Each day you wear jeans, just send BOTH of them an email stating that you are using one of your passes.
If you have any questions surrounding Jeans Passes, please contact Katie or Rachel Menefee.
Staff Shout-Outs
- Mrs. Martha Moreno and Bea Castillo! Thank you for filling in as crossing guard when Mr. Joe is out! :)
- Bus Dismissal team, you are rocking and rolling! Keep being flexible and working together- all for our student's safety!
- The front office team- you handle anything that comes your way!
- All classroom teachers- your classes were beautiful and you culture and climate was extremely welcoming for our families and students on Thursday night's Open House.
- Thank you Cindy G. and Cindy R. for taking care of the school in my absence and making it all happen nicely!
- Mrs. Parsons for putting out an incredible Scholastic Fair and sparking the love of reading across the campus!
I know there are many unsung heroes out there that I did not get to mention. If you see someone out there going above and beyond and want me to recognize them on cat tracks, please send me an email.
Spring Shadows Elementary
Email: rachel.martinez@springbranchisd.com
Website: https://cms.springbranchisd.com/sse2/
Location: 9725 Kempwood Drive, Houston, TX, United States
Phone: (713) 251-7100
Twitter: @twitter_rachelmartinez4