General News
Staff Newsletter - Week of 01/21/19
Today is a special day for us all! A time for us to reflect on the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and how his activism was not just appropriate many years ago. His work and his dream are still relevant today. He would have been 91 years old. Just watch this short video of elementary school students in Houston as they reflect on the impact of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Very powerful!
Have an awesome week of teaching and learning!
Generals Salute!
Kelli
Staff Updates
Tonya Boards - planning to return on Jan. 29
Shanell Pressley - keep her father in your prayers
Rhonda Erwin - her sister-in-law, Heather
Staff - stay well, stay healthy, wash your hands regularly, and get some rest
5 Star Salute (Shout Outs)
4th Grade Team for completing the CCRPI Survey!
3rd Grade Team for completing the CCRPI Survey!
From Mrs. Kaiser to Nancy Butler for going over and beyond with permanent records for gifted testing.
From Mrs. Kaiser to Ms. Barber (kindergarten), Ms. Luscap and Ms. Corey for completing their gifted evaluation sheets promptly
If you have any shout outs to share, please send them to me by Friday of each week.
CCRPI Climate Survey
Thank you to everyone who took the RBES Perception survey that is required by the distirct and affects our WSA score. We now need your support with taking the CCRPI Climate Survey. This is required in the state of Georgia and it supports our Climate Star Rating.
Each school must have a 75% participation rate on the Georgia School Personnel Survey. Failure to meet the 75% participation rate on this survey will result in a 0% score; thereby, significantly reducing a school's Climate Star Rating.
Please take the survey by January, 25. Grade Chairs, please send me an email when everyone on the grade level has taken the survey. This survey is for ALL staff....certified and classified.
Georgia School Personnel Survey:
Kid Talks
February 6 and 20 - Coaches Corner
Dr. Allen and your AP will be available to meet with you during your planning to discuss any student concerns. You can discuss academic issues, social/emotional concerns, attendance, etc. Please send the names of any student you want to bring to Kid Talk to your AP and Dr. Allen.
Quality Plus Teaching Strategy Highlight
This week’s QPTS highlight models how activating a student’s Background and Prior Knowledge may play a key role in improving their academic literacy. Use the linked tools to watch a GCPS teacher activate background and prior knowledge explicitly leveraging and building upon students’ existing schema before moving deeper into a text. Continue watching to see how she scaffolds the learning of literacy skills with connections to background and prior knowledge throughout the lesson.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Qh7Dhil6d4H0OAZWwfpCL5n1PGjjjibu/view - Literacy
https://safari.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/?g=d85c2ffe-e74e-11e8-ac8d-ecf4bbd89ac8 - Vocabulary
GTES Updates
January 25 - Brief 3 and Mid-year evaluation for classified staff
February 25 - Brief 4
March 29 - Formative observations
April 19 - Summative assessment and conferences
Calendar
The Week of 01/21 - 01/25
Monday 01/21
No School - MLK Day
Tuesday 01/15
Math Collaborative Planning
Grade Level Meetings, 7:30
Wednesday 01/16
Thursday 01/17
ELA Collaborative Planning
STEAM Night, ALL Certified Staff required to attend
Friday, 01/18
Guest Reader
Skate Night
Saturday, 01/26
Building will be open from 8:30 - 11:00
Looking Ahead - mark your calendars:
Area Board Meeting - Shiloh High School - March 28
EOY Planning dates:
- May 28 - ILT
- May 29 - Grade Level Planning - K, 1, 2
- May 30 - Grade Level Planning - 3, 4, 5
GMAS Testing Calendar - during the month of April, we need ALL hands on deck. We will send out the testing calendar when it is finalized.
District Professional Learning Opportunities
Reading Recovery/Literacy Lessons Awareness Session
The GCPS Reading Recovery district trainers will host an awareness session for teachers who are interested in training as a Reading Recovery or Literacy Lessons teacher in the 2019-2020 school year. Principals and assistant principals are encouraged to attend with their teachers to learn more about the training year requirements and expectations.
What: Reading Recovery/Lessons Awareness Session.
When: January 28, 2019 (4:15 PM – 5:30 PM)
Where: Reading Recovery Training Lab at Benefield Elementary School
Interested teachers and administrators should register for section # 35335 by Thursday, January 24, 2019.
K-12 STEM Education Endorsement Program - Application for 2019 Cohort
The K–12 STEM Education Endorsement is a rigorous program of study aimed at developing an advanced understanding of the philosophy of STEM education, STEM practices, and STEM pedagogy with an emphasis on problem and project-based learning. Participants are required to have successfully completed 2 years of classroom teaching; currently be K-5, 4-8 or 6-12 certified; be eligible to teach in a Georgia school; and teach math and/or science to apply for participation in the endorsement program. Applications for the 2019 cohort are now available.
What: K-12 STEM Education Endorsement Program Application
When: Applications are due by 5:00 PM on February 15, 2019
Where: Applications should be submitted to Jen Johnston, STEM Coordinator
Please share the application with recommended teachers, coaches, and specialists.
· STEM Education Endorsement Application 19-20
Please email your AP if you are interested.
K-5 Math and K-5 Science Endorsement Programs - Application for 2019 Cohort
The K-5 Math Endorsement and K-5 Science Endorsement are rigorous programs of study aimed at developing an advanced understanding of content knowledge in either math or science for K-5 teachers. The program is designed to build capacity to help lead either math or science instruction at the elementary level. Participants are required to have successfully completed 2 years of classroom teaching, currently be K-4 or 4-8 certified, and eligible to teach in a GA school. Applications for the 2019 cohort are now available.
What: K-5 Math and K-5 Science Endorsement Application
When: Applications are due by 5:00 PM on February 15, 2019
Where: Applications should be submitted to Jen Johnston, STEM Coordinator
Please email your AP if you are interested.
Ready, Set, Science! Professional Learning
The spring semester Ready, Set, Science! professional learning will take place at Discovery High School on January 17, 2019. This professional learning is designed to equip K-5 teachers with a deeper understanding of their grade level specific second semester science AKS and provide them ready to implement lessons that leverage the Quality-Plus Teaching Strategies to deepen student learning.
What: Ready, Set, Science! K, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 sessions
Where: Discovery High School
Date: January 17, 2019 (4:30PM – 6:30PM)
Teachers should register in PD&E using course # 20787.
History Boot Camp for Grades 3-5
The Social Studies office is offering just in time support with content knowledge and lesson plan guidance designed to support upcoming topics in US History content for grades 3-5. This boot camp is designed to assist teachers in developing a deeper understanding of historical content while providing time to design lessons that tightly support the demands of the AKS.
What: History Boot Camp for Grades 3-5
When: Sessions will occur on February 6 and February 13 (3:30PM-5:30PM)
Where: Discovery High School
Please register in PD&E using course # 22935 by February 1, 2019. Section number are aligned to grade level and topic being covered.
Grade 3: Feb 6, Colonial Life—Section # 35338
Grade 3: Feb 13, Civics and Government—Section # 35341
Grade 4: Feb 6, the Civil War—Section # 35339
Grade 4: Feb 13, Reconstruction—Section # 35338
Grade 5: Feb 6, the Cold War—Section # 35340
Grade 5: Feb 13, America Since 1975—Section # 35343
Staff Development
Teacher Leader Series
The Teacher Leader Professional Learning Series is a course available to all teacher leaders (e.g., department chairs, course team leads, instructional coaches, LSTCs, and aspiring teacher leaders) who are eager to grow their leadership skills to maximize their impact on student achievement. This series will equip teacher leaders with knowledge and skills needed to lead effective collaborative learning teams (CLTs) that align with the Plan, Do, Check, Act cycle of continuous quality improvement. During the three face-to-face sessions, teacher leaders will focus on best practices for facilitating teams, monitoring and maintaining a focus on students’ learning, and skillfully navigating conflict and resistance on a team. Participants are expected to attend all 3 sessions and implement their learning between sessions in order to receive professional learning credit.
Who: Teacher Leaders
What: Teacher Leader Series professional learning sessions
When: January 24, February 28, and March 21, 2019 (5:00 PM-7:00 PM) with implementation between sessions
Where: J. Alvin Wilbanks Instructional Support Center, Grayson Room
Register for this course through PD&E using the course #21914 and section #35128 before January 23rd.