Pirate Log.Week 23
B Week.February 3-7
Students Excel when All Have an Equal Opportunity to Learn
Students excel when all have an equal opportunity to learn. This is what we as, pirate educators, believe. We hang it on our walls, and it’s part of our conversation when we speak about what makes us different.
I tell students all the time that words are easy, but it’s the actions that follow the words that matter. What are we doing to ensure all of our students have an equal opportunity to learn? In my research this week, I found an article that sums up this very practice. (Actually, I found several, but I’m only attaching one in hopes that you will read it and follow up with some reflection and action.)
I can do things differently to ensure all of our students have an equal opportunity to learn. We all can. But there is a big difference between can and will. We are not a “Can” school, we are a “Will” school. We can and we will.
“Wills” lean in while “cans” lean back. –Chuck Beningo
Which way will you lean?
Please let us know how we can support you.
Mahalo~
MLacy
Thank you, Mrs. Dodd!
Be sure to show Mrs. Dodd some extra love this week during National School Counselors Week. She is the first to lend an ear or a hand whenever it is needed. We love our high-fiving, hug-giving, character-building, bulldog-loving school counselor! Thanks for all you do, Mrs. Dodd! We appreciate you.
DES Wins Healthy School Award
Cecil's Vision
Our students’ words have power. Cecil wanted to share this poem that he wrote in hopes that he would make a difference. I would say he did just that. We are so proud of him!
Welcome to our newest baby Pirate!
7 lbs. 9 oz
January 29, 2020
Congratulations to Amber, Brian, Sawyer and Riley!
A note from our Chief Academic Officer, Patty Cooper
You’ve Given Standards Mastery/Growth Monitoring…now what?
We give assessments so that we can determine mastery of standards and inform next steps for instruction. As this Standards Mastery/Growth Monitoring window comes to an end, what are we doing with the data? Simply admiring the data will not change student outcomes. We must act.
Standards Mastery:
As you review your Standards Mastery Results (Class and Student) Reports, ask yourself the following questions:
- How did students perform on the assessment?
- Which skills within the standard are students struggling with the most?
- What are the common misconceptions and what resources can I use to remediate them? (The blue Resources section of the Standards Mastery Results Class Report can help you answer these questions.)
- What were individual students’ responses to the assessment? What do I need to do differently to get each student to mastery of the standard?
Growth Monitoring:
As you review your Growth Monitoring Results Report, ask yourself the following question:
- How do I evaluate projected end-of-year growth and prioritize students for additional support to accelerate growth between Diagnostics?
- Annual Typical Growth Likelihood and Annual Stretch Growth Likelihood
- Projected Student Growth
o Which students are Likely to meet growth measures, including On (Mid/Late) or Above Grade Level placement?
o Which students need support to accelerate growth? For these students, plan teacher-led instruction (utilize the Tools for Instruction and other resources that are evidence-based and align to the grade-level standards) and ensure that online instruction is maximized (minutes and pass rate).
o Prioritize support for students who are Somewhat Unlikely to meet their growth measures AND be On or Above Grade Level. Then consider the needs of students who are Likely to meet growth measures but Somewhat Unlikely to be On or Above Grade Level.
Meet Dr. Smith
A former special education teacher, Dr. Alex Smith received his Ph.D. in special education from the University of Missouri and is now an assistant professor at USM. Originally from Batesville, he has worked in the field of special education for almost 20 years in the states of Mississippi, Georgia, Missouri, and Oregon as well as in the countries of South Korea and Abu Dhabi. His areas of expertise are literacy, especially early writing, and using data to select and monitor interventions across content areas as well as in behavior (i.e., data-based instruction). As a new professor at USM, he is interested in:
- Building collaborative partnerships with local teachers, schools and districts
- Developing a better understanding of the challenges local schools face
- Collaborating with teachers to improve student performance
Dr. Smith asked Selena Merrell if she recommended any local schools in which he could help support in these areas. She recommended us! I am excited about the opportunity for us to learn from Dr. Smith. He will be here on Thursday, February 6, to meet with teachers during grade-level meetings. Please reserve this date on your calendars and try not to schedule any meetings during your planning time. His goal on this day is to clarify grade level needs/concerns as identified by teachers and recruit teacher interest in observations and feedback. I think this is a great opportunity for us to help our students grow academically and behaviorally.
Note: Kindergarten teachers, Dr. Smith won’t arrive until 9:30. I will be sure to follow up with your grade level after our meetings. 2nd grade teachers, we will let you know when we are ready to meet once he arrives.
Access to World Book
To access from school, follow these steps:
- School Website (des.pc.k12.ms.us)
- Students
- World Book
To access from home, follow these steps:
- Same as above
- Username - PCSD
- Password - PCSD
School Safety
The library doors have not been catching and locking behind teachers as they exit from the library. Many days, Mrs. Ramond comes to school and notices that the door has been unlocked all night. We are working on getting this issue resolved. In order to prevent these doors from being left unlocked overnight, please do not use the library doors as an exit. If you are parked on the east side of the building, use the C-Hall doors that are used when you enter the building.
In addition, the back door to the office needs to remain locked. You can exit from that door, but will not be able to enter without a key. This will ensure that all visitors, parents, and students go through the front door so that Mrs. Noyes is aware. We are working on having a swing door built so that Mrs. Noyes' space remains protected. Parents should not be past this point unless being escorted by the nurse or a teacher for a meeting.
Thank you for your assistance with these safety efforts.
Let's Go, Dignatio!
Reading - Week of January 27-31
Math - Week of January 27-31
Company's Coming!
Coming Up This Week
Feb. 3 - Feb. 7 - National School Counseling Week
Monday, February 3
- Admin Meeting (8:00)
Tuesday, February 4
- Lacy Out (CEO Academy - Meridian)
- Faculty Meeting (3:00) *Read next chapter for book study
- Progress Reports issued
- Beasley Out (EPIC II)
- Principals Meeting
Thursday, February 6
- Happy Birthday, Mrs. Deschamp
- Dr. Smith to meet with grade levels
Friday, February 7
- Budget Meeting - 1:00
Save the Date
Pirate Parent Academy – Thursday, February 13 (4:30-6:30)
Focus on Math and Science – See Mr. Beasley’s email to sign up.
Book Fair – opens at 4:30
Sessions begin at 5:00 – (3) 20-minute sessions
Saturday, March 7 - Read, Write, Run for Renaissance
DeLisle Elementary School
Jonathan Beasley, M.Ed., assistant principal
Email: mlacy@pc.k12.ms.us
Website: des.pc.k12.ms.us
Location: 6303 W. Wittmann Road
Phone: (228) 255-6219
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeLisleElementary/