Staff Newsletter
because it helps to know what's going on
November 15, 2019
Thank you to each of you for continually spreading kindness and the uniqueness you bring to our building. You are my heroes.
Teach Like a Champion PD Cheat Sheet
Cold Call (p. 249) – Call on students regardless of whether they’ve raised their hands.
Wait Time (p. 244) – Allow students time to think before answering. If they aren’t productive with that time, narrate them toward being more productive.
No Opt Out (p. 90) – Turn “I don’t know” into success by ensuring that students who won’t try or can’t answer practice getting it right.
Right is Right (p. 100) – When you respond to answer in class, hold out for answers that are “all-the-way right” or all the way to your standards of right.
Reject Self-Report (p. 29) – Replace functionally rhetorical questions with more objective forms of impromptu assessment.
Targeted Questioning (p. 34) – Ask a quick series of carefully chose, open-ended questions directed at a strategic sample of the class and executed in a short time period.
Pepper (p. 274) – Use Pepper as a fast-paced, vocal review to build energy and actively engage your class.
Show Me (p. 47) – Flip the classroom dynamic in which the teacher gleans data from a passive group of students. Have students actively show evidence of their understanding.
Control the Game (p. 171) – Ask students to read aloud frequently, but manage the process to ensure expressiveness, accountability, and engagement.
Tracking, Not Watching (p. 45) – Be intentional about how you scan your classroom. Decide specifically what you’re looking for and remain disciplined about it in the fact of distractions.
STAR/SLANT (p. 360) – Teach students key baseline behaviors for learning, such as sitting up in class and tracking the speaker, by using a memorable acronym such as STAR (Sit up, Track the speaker, Ask and answer questions like a scholar, Respect those around you) or SLANT (Sit up, Listen, Ask and answer questions, Nod your head, Track the speaker).
Reminder: Learn and Explore one of Hattie's Practices that Yield Desired Effects
IMPORTANT
Due to Red for Ed activities on November 19th, the PLC meeting has been canceled.
In order to provide the necessary training for our Alertus System and a new online reporting system, called Safe Schools Alert, we will need to utilize half of our upcoming grade level/department meeting on November 21. I wanted to give you a heads up on the change. Please plan to meet in the Meeting Place by 3:00 on Thursday, November 21.
*The first half of the grade level meeting could be utilized to begin the ILEARN test administration training. Information will be sent out soon.
Shout outs!!
"A shout out to Abbie Hunter and the South Singers Choir for a great song performance at the Veterans Program." Mitzi and Tina
"A huge thank you to Kelly Siddons for her organizational skills in preparing for our Veterans Day Program."~Tina
"A shout out to Jordan Amor and Kelsie McGee for their preparation and assistance with the Kiwanis Bingo night last Friday. It was a huge success". ~Tina
"Jordan and Becky for their help in getting reading anchor chart binders together for support staff!" ~Renee
"To our AMAZING instructional assistants who were most certainly not freaking out during the guided reading group professional development". ~Renee
"A shout out to Abby Hunter and her South Singers for a beautiful performance for our Veterans! Those sweet voices singing "My Country Tis Of Thee" was so precious!" --Michelle B.
"A big shout out to Abbie Hunter for working hard to put together the Christmas music program right now - she has some of one of our highest-needs students happily singing and engaged! It's like watching Christmas magic right in front of you." ~Kelsie
Have a shout out for one or more of your teammates??? Send it my way and I would be happy to share it in a future newsletter.
MTSS
RTI:
Monday is our next data team! I'm eager to share progress (or lack of progress!) with the team. Please make sure all Progress Update sheets are in my mailbox by the end of the day. Also, please have all data updated on the Class of 2029 and Class of 2028 spreadsheet, including all unit math tests and all module reading tests. We DEFINITELY look at these. Thank you so much!
FYI
Some Additional STEM Resources Have Arrived
Red for Ed Day
For the rest of us, you are all invited to gather together in support of Public Education in Danville here in our gym on the morning of the 19th at 7:00 am.
Teachers, support staff, community members and administration are encouraged to wear red and join us.
A bonus.....donuts, coffee, and juice will be provided!
You are invited to a free showing of The Nutcracker
As a way of saying "thank you", The Board of Directors of The Nutcracker Ballet would like to invite teachers/staff and their families to see The Nutcracker for free. You are invited to attend our dress rehearsal on Thursday, December 19 at 6:00 pm @ DCHS. Staff who are interested can RSVP and ask questions by emailing Anne Johansson: anne@thechildrensballet.com.
November/December Birthdays
Beth Champlin-November 8
Mitzi Dennison-November 11
Jayme Rector-November 28
Glenda Ayers-December 7
Tippany Crosley-December 11
Vicky Spesard- December 14
Michelle Barber-December 18
Reminders
- Please make sure you are taking accurate attendance each day. With our automated calls, it's crucial attendance is accurate.
- Please review, sign and return your teacher contract to Tina if you haven't done so already.
- Add your read-aloud titles to this google doc.
- If you have students who go above and beyond, you can send them down to sign Mrs. Noe's Great Big Book of Awesomeness.
- Remind students they can fill out a Promise slip when they see great things happening by fellow students or any staff member. We have added extra slips to teachers' mailboxes so that you have some easily at your disposal.
- Please supply Megan Hopper, either in person or to her mailbox, with a younger picture (under age 3) of yourself during the holiday season by Tuesday, December 10th if you are playing "Guess the Staff Member."
- If you want to join in the Secret Santa fun, fill out your wish list and place it in the hat by Friday, Nov. 22nd. Draw a name on Nov. 25th.
- Think about the great things going on around you and send a shout out to Tina to add to the newsletter.
Data Team Meetings
Data Team Meeting Dates 2019-20
Wednesday, August 28th (organizational and placement mtg)
Monday, October 2nd
Monday, November 18th **this is a change to our original schedule**
Wednesday, January 22nd
Wednesday, March 5th
Wednesday, May 6th
CIC Meetings
Minutes from our meeting can be found here.
CIC Meeting Dates 2019-20
Friday, Sept. 6th
Friday, Nov. 1st
Friday, Jan. 24th
Friday, April 10th
Building Level Meetings
Faculty Meetings and/or Grade level/Dept. Mtgs:
Sept. 12 (Faculty)
Sept. 26 (Gr. level/dept.)
Oct. 24 (Faculty)
Nov. 7 (Faculty)
Nov. 21(Gr. level/dept.& safety training)
Dec. 5 (Faculty)
Jan. 16 (Faculty)
Jan. 30 (Gr. level/dept.)
Feb. 13 (Faculty)
Feb. 27 (Gr. level/dept.)
Mar. 12 (Faculty)
Apr. 9 (Faculty)
Apr. 23 (Gr. level/dept.)
May 7 (Faculty)
Upcoming Dates
Nov. 18: Data Team Mtg.
Nov. 19: Third-grade field trip
Nov. 19: Red for Ed gathering in the gym 7am
Nov. 21: Gr. Level/Dept. Mtg.
Nov. 27-29: Thanksgiving break
Dec. 3: PLC
Dec. 5: Faculty Meeting
Dec. 6: Staff Holiday Gathering
Dec. 10: PLC
Dec. 12: Music Program (Foltz, Grundlock, Dodd, Crosley)
Dec. 17: PLC, Music Program (Wilson, Rodgers, Rawley, Doub)
Dec. 19: School-wide sing-along
Dec. 19: End of Semester 1
Dec. 20: Teacher work day-Grades due before leaving
Jan. 6: First Day second semester
Flashback Friday
Curriculum Connection Newsletters
School Safety Newsletters
Newsletter 2-parent newsletter