Spruce Scoop
Joy. Hope. Resilience.
October 28 - November 1, 2019
TARDY SWEEP(S) THIS WEEK: (10/28- Nov. 1st)
Tardy Sweep: Monday, October 28th, after the 2nd to 3rd period transition
At the end of these transition periods please lock your doors at the tardy bell and do not allow students in who do not have the tardy/detention pass as before. When they return to class with the pass, please allow them back in and mark them tardy in attendance.
Leadership Hosts Waffle Breakfast Tuesday AM in Room 128
Baby Hogan is Here!
Staff October Perfect Attendance Luncheon
This Thursday come down to room 128 during all three lunches and get lunch.
Common Assessments
Progress Report Grades--Due 10/21
Remember:
- At least 2 grades for classwork per week (a total of 6 classwork grades)
- At least 3 major grades (tests, projects)
- Students must be given the opportunity to make up grades (see attached policy)
- Do not leave any student grade blank
- Do no give any student a grade above 100
Please reach out to Ms. Boyer if you have any questions!
Staff Costume Contest ~ 10/31
1. Full Costume (see below)
2. Masquerade face masks (see below- center)
Winners (Full Costume & Masquerade):
- Staff member wins Gift Card
- Staff member earns a donut party for class or office
Compliance Videos - Due Date 10/31
- Staff meetings (Tuesdays or Wednesdays, once a month)
- Sporting Events
- Fine & Performing Events
- Campus Wide Events
- Testing Days & Campus Testing Meetings
Staff meetings are subject to change. The goals is to communicate monthly staff meetings via the calendar and to have one a month.
Highlights Week of 10/28
Monday - SWAG Sessions
Monday - Fall Choir Concert
Tuesday - Leadership Hosts Staff Waffle Breakfast (room 128)
Tuesday - Staff Meeting 4:30 pm
Wednesday - Staff Meeting 8:00 am
Thursday - Staff October Perfect Attendance Lunch (room 128)
It is important that we recognize ALL the Excellence in Teaching occuring in all of areas of our academic programs. The highlights are on a weekly rotation throughout the year. Each content/department will be highlighted on a weekly basis.
Social Studies for the WIN!
The Social Studies team makes history and world geo come alive for their students-through readings, story telling, and rigorous analysis.
The US History team especially is working hard to increase the amount of reading and writing their students are required to do. Using collaborative students groups to teach each other. Check out some great action shots below!
Ms. Amran
Mr. Felts
Ms. Doyle
Catch a Timberwolf Staff member being ELITE in their 20 Square Feet, Joyful, Hopeful, Resilient, SEL Champion, or simply did or said something that was the spotlight of your day/week!
Thank you for taking a moment to highlight your fellow staff member! You made someone's day!!
Spotlight on Mrs. Hudgens
From the moment I met Mrs. Hudgens she has been positive and always about service. This past month she has been on the go in a Super Spruce Way! From scholars reading donated books at our neighboring elementary, to organizing the Fall Festival (starting a tradition), to collecting items for those in need as the weather begins to shift. She has been so supportive and flexible with our Phoenix scholars as they continue to grow in Reading; many preparing for EOC December retakes. Of course, can not fail to mention continuing to mentor and coach our athletes!!
She is an example of drive and heart all rolled up into one and it is an honor to work with you Mrs. Hudgens. Thank you for all you do and for all you bring to this community in and outside our walls!
Spotlight on Timberwolves
As I head on maternity leave, I want to give the biggest shout out to the math team. Over the past week I have visited almost every classroom. I heard students sparring, I saw teachers aggressively monitoring, students were annotating with CUBES, and there was genuine joy! A special thank you to Mr. Ball, Ms. Rudd, Mr. Hastings, Ms. King, Ms. Davis, and Mr. Martinez who all have leadership roles and will take on extra responsibilities in my absence. I look forward to returning in January.
Spotlight on Mr. Hastings and Ms. Lad
Shoutout to Hastings And Lad for really taking the initiative to show the students how to treat a child appropriately (most of the time) so creative!
*A student left their "baby" in Mr. Hastings class, so the baby got a math lesson and parent was there too :-). Ms. Lad filmed.
Spotlight on Ms. Willie
Ms. Willie is our wonderful and knowledgeable diagnostician! She goes above and beyond daily . She’s a wealth of knowledge. The entire SPED department appreciates her!!!!
Spotlight on Mrs. Peterson
She is always super sweet to staff and students. She goes out of her way to make sure she acknowledges team members who she sees going above and beyond and is always willing to hop in and help whenever she is asked.
Spotlight on Mr. Berlanga
Best Teammate!
I could not have asked for a better teammate. Our day begins with talking about what we will do and soon after the class is dismissed we reflect on the lesson. Mr. Berlanga is honest and knowledgeable to reiterate and helps kids. They love him so much and miss him if he is not there by the time they walk in the door. Totally blessed to have this gentleman for a genuine co worker.
Spotlight on Mr. Guinn and Ms. Gladney
Please congratulate Mrs. Erica Gladney and Mr. Brent Guinn for their tremendous support for our students's extra curricular clubs. Mrs. Gladneys supports Varsity Cheer and Mr. Guinn supports the Spanish Honor Society (SHS) . Through the SHS our students will be able to have the opportunity to become Licensed Court Interpreters for the State of Texas and also will be guided in the process of obtaining the Official Texas Bi-literacy Seal. They took the time out of their busy schedule to sell jeans passes this week.
Spotlight on Ms. Taylor
I would like to highlight you Ms. Taylor. In all 13 years that I've been an educator, I've NEVER seen a Principal teach a class. I passed by an English class on my planning period and saw you putting in WORK! Cheers to you!
From Ms. Taylor ~ Ms. Cameron, the actual English teacher :-), will be rotating this responsibility with me and we are super excited to be in the classroom with our scholars. We have a viable candidate and doing our part until they arrive.Thank you Ms. Gladney for the Spotlight!!
WAIP information that is specific to an individual, team, grade, content, will be emailed directly.
Junior Meeting ~ New Class Ranking System
Support Team Always Modeling Unity!
Nohelya Salas Recognized for 3rd Place Veterans Art Competition
Ms. Lad
Ms. Fisher
Mr. Hirji
Colonel Smith
Spruce Shows Love for TJHS during Saturday TJ Homecoming
We are all DISD Proud!
Spruce Donates from the Heart to TJHS
Mrs. Solis and Mrs. Fisher delivered the items to TJ
Spruce Represents @ Susan G. Komen Walk
Class of 2020 Haunted House Volunteers @ Spruce Fall Festival this Saturday
Everyone was so committed to their character!
Fall Festival!
Clubs Supported Fall Festival with Game Tables!
Walking for a Cure!
Anchored by Family
Super Spruce Readers @ Dorsey ES
Staff Parking in Rear
MANDATORY CLOCK IN
- Monitors & Parking Attendant: 7:30 am
- Administrators: 7:50 am
- Clerks: 8:00 am
- Teacher Assistants: Ranger 7:30, 8:00, or 8:15
- Teachers: 8:15 am
8:20 AM Duty Begins
Please be at duty post ready to go a couple minutes early so that doors are opened at 8:20am. Teamwork makes the Dream Work!!
Tardy AM Procedure (Amended for 'C' Days)
Rear Entrance - ALL DAYS (9:00 am to 9:20 am)
- Our late door entrance, rear of campus/upperclassmen entrance, is open from 9:00 to 9:20 am.
- Scholars will be given a colored tardy pass (see picture ABOVE) with the time/date written on it by late door check in monitors (Rubio/McWhorter/Espinoza). We need this process to be fast and will only involve the monitor putting the time/date on the slip and sending scholars off to class. Students may pick up breakfast but they have the time/date stamped on their pass and are to move quickly to class (5-7 minutes).
- The late door (upperclassmen entrance) is closed at 9:20 am.
Front Door Entrance - A/B DAYS (9:21 am to 9:40 am)
- Scholars that arrive after 9:20 am enter through the front of the building and check in with Ms. Edison.
- Between 9:21 am and 9:40 am scholars will receive the colored tardy pass from Ms. Edison or designated staff member when she is absent.
- If a scholar arrives after 9:40 am they will sign into the Late to School Log and be escorted to ISS for the remainder of the period.
Front Door Entrance - C DAYS (9:21 am to 9:48 am)
- Scholars that arrive after 9:20 am enter through the front of the building and check in with Ms. Edison.
- Between 9:21 am and 9:48 am scholars will sign into the Late to School Log and be escorted to ISS for the remainder of the period.
Teacher Moves:
- Every student that has arrived late should be allowed into class and still be marked tardy in attendance by you the teacher.
- Every* student should have a pass and show their teacher their pass upon entrance into class. ( * See exception below)
- Teachers should check the time on the pass against the time the student arrives in class to make sure it is reasonable. If not, teacher should follow-up accordingly with appropriate student interventions such as student conference, parent contact, etc.
- No teacher hallway passes allowed before 9:45 am. There are some scholars in the halls with hallway passes, please let's NOT slip on this expectation.
- The color of the tardy pass this week is PINK.
* exception - Keep in mind tardy passes will not begin being issued until 9 am. That means students arriving just minutes before 9 am will not be getting a pass yet will probably still be tardy to class. Please allow some leeway with students within the first 5 - 10 minutes of class time each day for not having a pass depending on what time they actually come through the metal detectors. This is a great opportunity to have a conversation with your student about not arriving at the last minute to school and being caught in this awkward situation of being asked for a pass and not having one.
Monthly Fire Drills
BEFORE THE DRILL:
· Review the e-mailed evacuation map for your floor;
· Review the e-mailed color-coded buddy system and find your buddy teacher/staff member; and
· Print a copy of the attendance rosters.
DURING THE DRILL:
· Use the proper stairway/exit,
· Exit the building quickly and orderly with students,
· Take attendance and ensure that all students are present once outside,
· Communicate to your buddy and person in charge of your stairwell if a student is missing, and
· Wait for the bell to ring before re-entering the building.
AFTER THE DRILL:
· Use the proper stairway/re-entry point,
· Enter the building quickly and orderly with class,
· Report DIRECTLY back to class with students,
· Take attendance and ensure that all your students returned to class, and
· Reset class and resume teaching and learning.
H. Grady Spruce High School
Located in the heart of the Pleasant Grove region of Dallas, Texas, H. Grady Spruce High School serves a diverse population of students and their families. Our neighborhood maintains a strong tradition of community, hard work, and pride. Families have made Pleasant Grove their home for generations, and many of our students can claim a legacy of Spruce alumnae that go back to the founding of the school.
H. Grady Spruce High School was built in 1963, replacing Rylie High School. The school is named for Henry Grady Spruce, a native of Omen, Texas, who earned degrees from Southern Methodist University and the University of Chicago. He devoted much of his 35-year YMCA career to youth, including 25 years as director of the Dallas YMCA's Camp Crockett near Granbury.
Email: frataylor@dallasisd.org
Website: https://www.dallasisd.org/spruce
Location: 9733 Old Seagoville Road, Dallas, TX, USA
Phone: 972-892-5500