Galloping Gazette
A newsletter for the Faculty and Staff - Week 12/3-12/7
Put Students First • Seek Growth • Be Open to Change . Do Great Work Together • Value Differences
Shout Outs
Shout out to Debbie and Al for working collaboratively with me to make our Writing Performance Task such a success. Going on safari has never been so much fun! - Tammy
Al- I can’t thank you enough for making Balloons Over Broadway nothing short of amazing for my kiddos! Thank you. - Danielle
Karen Ratner- Thanks for helping this mama in a pinch. You’re a lifesaver! - Danielle
Robin Mounce- dates & points, oh my! I don’t know how you keep it all straight, but you do. Thank you. - Danielle
Team Two- so thankful for each of you! - Danielle
Kudos to Viola Olds and Jennifer Pleasant as they assist in a classroom at the last minute and maintain a warm, friendly atmosphere in the teacher workroom even when a machine is broken. Thank you for always smiling too! Patti P.
Shout out to Marcus Bellamy for helping me when I need it. - Mercy
Shoutout to Heather Armstrong for wearing many hats and being a great assistant! Thanks for reading aloud to my class when I lost my voice last week! - Michelle N.
Shout out to Anne Bussierre for giving her time to our 4th graders with the excellent watershed lesson. - Susan
Thank you Darlene Rodriguez for being so patient and accommodating for your students! You truly make a difference in their daily lives! - Jill
Thank you Megan Jones, Jackie Cochran and the SCA for the treats last week! - Jill
Please give a Short Out to Christine Hayes for organizing the Chromebook cords and cart in Mrs. Cochran's room. Thanks.
Frances
Shout out to Mr. Richardson! He stops what he’s doing to walk the late-night teachers to the door and watch them get into their cars. What a gentleman! - Patti C.
Thank you Wende for all of your help with the SCA counting money, helping duct tape and more! We appreciate you! -Jackie, Megan and Michelle
Thank you to May, Al, and PE staff for helping SCA with the duct taping of Ms. Backer and Ms. Porter! -Jackie, Megan and Michelle
Michelle Cannuli, Jenna Anderson, and Linda Koetter for all their help in the library while Mary Anne is out. Thanks so much. - Anne
Woohoo, second grade has a printer! Thanks, Robin! - Danielle
Al, Thanks for all the Chatter! - Danielle
If you have any shoutouts, please send them to Ms. Backer and Mrs. Jacobs by Thursday.
Principal's Message for the week:
Remember, we all have a choice of what we choose to spend our energy on. Let's work together to continue to create engaging lessons that center around student led instruction! This week, I came across this image on Twitter and as the ideas are not anything mind blowing, they were great reminders for us. As you plan for instruction this week - use this image below to reflect and let's take a little advice from the happiest place on earth - Disney - to help keep us focused on our students instead of all of those other tasks.
Twitter Challenge! Let's learn from each other while we spread Kindness around like confetti! #Coltspride
Exciting Times
*Shout out to Claire Love for passing the first two components of her National Boards!
*Starting this week, Lori Nye will be joining the CFES family as our part time reading specialist. She will be working with upper grades on Thursday and Friday!
*Starting on December 17th, we will be welcoming Olivia Frierson as our new 1st grade teacher! She comes from Pembroke Elementary School! She will transition with Mrs. Stewart on December 17th and 18th. Mrs. Stewart will begin her new position on Wednesday, December 19th! So Bittersweet!
Colts Pride in Action
Engagement highlight:
BRAVO to 3rd Grade for a rock star Simple Machines expo! The students were so excited to share their cereal box machines! The entire presentation was student mic'd and student led!
PBIS Corner
As the holiday season approaches, we need to keep in mind that many of our children actually feel more stress at this time of year and students' behavior will reflect the stress. When this is the happiest time of the year for some, it can be the time of year that some actually dread because of their circumstances. We can't fix home-we can't fix crazy. Additionally, we have many deployed service members and the children truly feel the effects with deployments. Not only is it hard on the children, but especially hard on the parents. In those cases, sometimes parents just can't always be at their best. We truly can't change anything about the parents. But, we can focus on the student needs and let them know we are here to help and support them so they can learn. You all do that so well.
An important note on allergies
In addition, with with December here and classrooms celebrating different holidays throughout this month, it is VITAL that classroom teachers are up to date and understand all student allergies. Any food that comes into your classroom should be checked and if you have any questions, please call Nurse Jill for a second set of eyes.
Updated Calendar Dates - Master Schedule
Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) will use Feb. 18, Presidents’ Day, to make up instructional time lost during Hurricane Michael.
Given the length of time out of school thus far, the division will also extend the first semester from Monday, Jan. 28 to Thursday, Jan. 31. Consequently, the division’s previously scheduled staff day/virtual learning day will now be Friday, Feb. 1 and the second semester will begin Monday, Feb. 4.
Report cards for the second nine weeks/first semester will be sent home Monday, Feb. 11. The 2018-2019 school calendar has been updated to include the makeup day and semester changes .
Hour of Code
The Hour of Code is a global movement that reaches millions of students across the world through a one-hour introduction to computer science and programming.
Schedule for upcoming weeks
Dec. 3rd - Dec. 7th
Kindness is our Character Trait
4th Grade Fire Safety This Week
Monday, December 3rd
- Santa's Workshop Begins (Innovation Lab)
- Mrs. Porter and Mrs. Yoshida out in the AM
- Mrs. Backer out in the PM
- 2nd Grade PLC - Math Focus
- 2:40 - 4:20 - Girls on the Run
Tuesday, December 4th
- 8:00 - SPED TA PL series
- 3rd Grade PLC - Math Focus
- 3:00 - PBIS (cafeteria)
Wednesday, December 5th
- K PLC - Math Focus
- 1st Grade PLC - Math Focus
- Girls on the Run 2:40p-4:20p
Thursday, December 6th
- 4th Grade Fire Safety
- 10:30 Citizen of the Month Lunches on the stage
- Mrs. Backer out in the PM
- 5th Grade PLC - Math Focus
- 2:40 - 4:00 - Stem Club Meetings (Rm 34, Rm 34a, Art Room)
- 3:00 Spanish teachers PLC
Friday, December 7th
- 4th Grade Fire Safety
- Santa's Workshop Ends
- 4th Grade PLC - Math Focus
- Supper w/ Santa 5:30p -8:30p
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Dec. 10th - Dec. 14th
Monday, December 10th
- Mrs. Backer out in the AM
- Mrs. Porter and Mrs. Yoshida out in the PM
- 2nd Grade PLC - LA focus - attendance/social emotion radar
- 2:40 - 4:20 - Girls on the Run
Tuesday, December 11th
- 3rd Grade PLC - LA focus - attendance/social emotion radar
- 3:00 - PBIS training (Cafeteria)
Specialists grades are due by 5 pm.
Wednesday, December 12th
- K PLC - LA focus - attendance/social emotion radar
- Mrs. Backer out in the AM
- 1st Grade PLC - LA focus - attendance/social emotion radar
- Girls on the Run 2:40p-4:20p
- Teachers grade are due by 5 pm
Thursday, December 13th
- 5th Grade PLC - LA focus - attendance/social emotion radar
- Mrs. Backer out in the AM
- Mrs. Porter and Mrs. Yoshida out in the PM
- 2:40 - 4:00 - Eco Club Meeting (Cafeteria)
- 2:40 - 4:00 - Stem Club Meetings (Rm 34, Rm 34a, Art Room)
- 3p - 4p - PTA Meeting
Friday, December 14th
- 4th Grade PLC - LA focus - attendance/social emotion radar
- Progress Reports emailed to students performing below grade level (and to anyone else you would like)- please alert your special education teacher if a special education student is getting a progress report.
- CFES Holiday Party 4:00
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Dec.17th - Dec. 21st -
Monday, December 17th
- 2nd Grade PLC - Math focus
- 8:30 Coaches Meeting
- Mrs. Porter out in the AM
- Mrs. Backer and Yoshida out in the PM
- 2:40 - 4:20 - Girls on the Run
Tuesday, December 18th
- 8:00 SPED TA PL
- 3rd Grade PLC - Math Focus
- 3:00 - Faculty Meeting (All Teachers and Staff) (Cafeteria)
Wednesday, December 19th
- K PLC - Math Focus
- 1st Grade PLC - Math Focus
- 8:20a - 9:05a - AM Winter Concert (Cafeteria) (AM-K, 1,2,3)
- 1:30p - 2:15p - PM Winter Concert (Cafeteria) ( PK, PM-K,4,5)
- 7p - 8p - Evening Winter Concert (Cafeteria)
Thursday, December 20th
- Gifted Testing
- 5th Grade PLC - Math Focus
- 2:40 - 4:00 - Stem Club Meetings (Rm 34, Rm 34a, Art Room)
Friday, December 21st
- Adjusted Dismissal @12:10
Birthdays
Past Week
11/26 - Mercyd McBee
11/29 - Jennifer Rockwell
12/2 - Francis Barbarisi
Upcoming
12/9 - Michelle Johnson
12-9 - Janice Beda
12/12 - Nicole Yoshida
12/13 - Mary Stewart
12/21 - Beth O'Brian
12/26 - Fatima Dorbin
12/28 - Wendy Harris
Important Links from the principal packet
Student Centered Literacy Activities
Celebrating our VBEF Grant Award Winners!
#Goodphonecalloftheday
Keep these coming!
Please check out our form below to see how Mrs. Porter and myself will be celebrating our students and continuing our positive culture and environment.