UHMS Rising Phoenix
Uplift Hampton Middle School September 16, 2019
"Be Committed, Be Consistent, Be Courageous"
Be Kind to Others and Challenge Scholars
Hello Phoenix Nation,
Few things are more powerful than human connection. It gives us strength, comfort, love, and happiness. It makes us feel at home in the world. When things get tough for us, we can depend on friends, confide in our families, and find solace in our significant other. If we’re lucky, their presence helps us right ourselves, inspiring us to carry on. Thank you for making our school feel like home in the world to our scholars. When things get tough for them, they know they can depend on us, confide in us, and find solace in us. There are times where your good morning at carline or fist bump at the door inspires our scholars to keep wanting to achieve. For that we would like to say thank you from the bottom of our heart. We’re all living on this planet together – why not make it a little kinder for one another, however we can. 20% of the year is already behind us. With each passing day, we have fewer opportunities to grow our scholars, which therefore requires us to assess the quality, and rigor, of each of our lessons. Please ensure that we’re designing lessons that challenge our scholars and push them to master college-ready skills as well as deep understanding of content. “Don’t let fear or insecurity stop you from trying new things. Believe in yourself. Do what you love. And most importantly, be kind to others, even if you don’t like them.” Stacy London
With kind hearts,
Priscilla, Chataqua, Chrissy, and Jabez
Walk-Through Focus
- Scholars speaking at least 50% of the time in classrooms,
- Evidence of Similarities and Differences being used in the classroom and Turn and Talks.
- Scholars being able to explain how they are using the Scholar Essential of the Week to impact their behavior.
When administrators walk through your room, please do not stop instruction.
Scholar Grades
Learning is important, of course, but it's those grades that are important because are evidence that shows what scholars have learned. In real life, our scholars can learn a great deal in school without actually earning the grades to match their knowledge, because things can get in the way. Teachers should have at least ten to eleven (10-11) total grades in PowerTeacher by Friday, September 20th.
Two Weeks At A Glance
Xavier for facilitating one of the best Socratic Seminars we've ever seen
Phillip for doing an excellent job executing ELT
Javetta for modeling with teachers
Lauren for donating magazines for Girls Inc. project
Karina, Brenda, and Rosa for kicking off Hispanic Heritage Month
Stedmon for doing a scholar focused, engaging lesson in math
Carmen for holding it down alone in the content mastery when we didn’t have enough subs
Michael for redoing the schedule and evening out the times
Chelsie for putting her EMT skills into action and being a calming presence when a scholar really needed it
Ranae and Kelsi for continuing to be a ray of hope for scholars and doing so many restorative conversations for scholars
Mark for springing into action whenever and wherever he is needed
Cynthia and Ranae for working to improve culture in the school
STAAR Goals
Hispanic Heritage Month
Door Decorating Contest
It’s Hispanic Heritage Month and it’s time to celebrate and honor custom and traditions.
Time Frame: September 16th through September 20th.
Who will participate: All Middle classes with an ELT
Directions: Research and discuss influential Hispanic in society.
- Decorate your door highlighting the culture.
- Doors must be complete by end of the day on Friday, September 20, 2019.
- Doors will be judged by a panel on Wednesday, September 25, 2019.
Hispanic Heritage Month
Door Decorating Contest
Prizes will be Awarded!
Important Announcements and Information!
Common Assessments: The first administration of Common Assessments is less than 2 weeks away. Cynthia sent out the schedule. Please reach out to Cynthia or Ranae if you have questions. Use the remaining instructional days before testing to align lessons and scholar practice to the assessments. 100% of the staff is reminded to continue to use the CA’s to backwards plan lessons. Invest scholars in classroom and individual goals. How will incentives look for your classroom and individual scholars?
Grading: We have noticed an increase in the number of scholars failing tests. If you have more than 30% of your class not passing be sure to reteach the concept during the school day and offer a retest. It is important that we are providing scholars the opportunity to take test retakes per the handbook.
Tutoring – Tutoring is an opportunity to work with a small group of scholars and help them practice skills that they have not yet mastered. To increase scholars’ mastery, it is necessary for us to work directly with scholars, ask questions, push their thinking, and make efforts to provide specific targeted feedback that will address their specific weaknesses. All teachers are to offer a minimum of one day of tutoring each week. Tutoring starts the week of September 23rd and continues through November 15th. Tutoring is for specific TEKs and/or skills that need to be taught or retaught to identified scholars. Teachers are to invite scholars to attend tutoring and parents are to be notified. This is not a drop-in service of the scholar’s choice. Your tutoring list should be sent to your Grade Level Team Lead by September 21st. If you need assistance determining what is the highest leverage TEK or skill for tutoring reach out to your Grade Level Content Lead or interventionist. As you’re planning tutoring think about how can you personalize the instruction and make your tutoring more effective? If you have any questions about tutoring expectations reach out to your Content Dean.
SSTs: Cynthia has met with many teachers about SSTs, documentation, and next steps – thank you all for being so on top of things! Please email Cynthia by Monday end of day if you are wanting to meet with the SST team and turn in your completed file Friday, September 20th.
Class Pictures: Class pictures will be Monday, September 23rd. Scholars must be in their Monday formal uniform. Pictures will be taken in the library. We will send out a schedule by the middle of the week.
Gallop Survey: The Gallup Survey window opens Monday, September 16th. All Uplift employees will receive an email inviting them to take the survey. We hope to have 100% participation as your feedback is valuable to not only our school, but the Network. Please remember the following:
· When the questions are being asked uses the term “organization” it means UHMS therefore we ask that you answer the questions through that lens.
· When it asks about a “Best Friend” that ultimately means a friend or someone you can talk to at work.
Please send a screenshot of your completed survey (the confirmation at the end) for a jean pass for engaging. If we get 90% or above of staff participation, then the entire staff will receive a staff treat.
ELL Scholars: “English language learners (ELLs) may have some difficulty identifying the main idea when they are reading a paragraph. Teaching students how to paraphrase can help them learn to pick out what is important in the material that they read. Read more here: https://www.colorincolorado.org/article/finding-main-idea Send Priscilla an "aha" that you found while reading from the article by Monday close at 5:00pm.
Repeated for Your Convenience
Covering Classes: Using teacher planning time to cover classes will always be our last resort when we do not have sub coverage. When it does happen, we appreciate your flexibility and willingness to give up your planning time to make sure scholars receive appropriate lessons. When a classroom teacher covers another classroom during their planning time due to a shortage of subs, we will provide sub pay once you hit a full day of coverage.
ESL: All ELA teachers must be ESL certified by October 31st. Getting ESL certified is not an option. If you have questions or concerns see your dean.
Scholar Essential for the Week
During discussions, respect other students’ comments, opinions, and ideas. When possible, make statements like, “I agree with John, and I also feel that…” or “I disagree with Sarah. She made a good point I feel that…” or “I think Victor made an excellent observation, and it made me realize…”
Around UHMS
Mr. Bailey Breaking It Down
UHMS Football!
Ms. Washington's Class
Socratic Seminar
Scholars Leading Discussion
Mr. X's Class is awesome!
English Language Learners
ELL Scholars: “English language learners (ELLs) may have some difficulty identifying the main idea when they are reading a paragraph. Teaching students how to paraphrase can help them learn to pick out what is important in the material that they read. Treasure: If your send Priscilla an "aha" for you from the article by Monday close of business day, you may wear jeans on Tuesday.” Read more here: https://www.colorincolorado.org/article/finding-main-idea
Phoenix Nation!
Here's How to Reach Us!
Priscilla Parhms 469.236.2900 pparhms@uplifteducation.org
Chrissy Cormier 214.326.3002 ccormier@uplifteducation.org
Chataqua Mangum 972.897.4659 cmangum@uplifteducation.org
Jabez Deacon 414.562.7592 jdeacon@uplifteducation.org
Website: https://www.uplifteducation.org/Page/13790
Location: 8915 South Hampton Road, Dallas, TX, USA
Phone: 972-421-1982