Sunday Shakedown
Weekly Memo for Washington Elementary
Principal Post
Optimism is one of our State Department of Education core values...I have highlighted a few key phrases that stick with me after reading:
Optimism - We believe in the potential of all Tennessee students to reach high levels of academic achievement. We believe that, in collaboration with our colleagues across the state, we can and will build a system that helps our students meet their potential. We operate with a strong sense of possibility that we can accomplish difficult tasks, and we foster innovation in ourselves and others.
The very children who give our work the deepest meaning are also many times the same children who we have to work the hardest to serve. I am humbled and excited when I think about our faculty. I see you working with optimism and hope every day. I was especially struck by this on Monday during our faculty meeting when you discussed which children give you inspiration and which of your own teachers inspired you to succeed. It would be so easy to look at some of the situations that we face here at Washington and think of all the reasons our work is hard. It would be less work and less stress to think that there is “just nothing else we can do.” I have never heard those sentiments shared at Washington. What I DO see and hear are teachers and assistants that are willing to do whatever it takes to support our students. From carving out time in schedules to reach struggling students multiple times a day, to sharing your teaching assistants in order to help another teacher help support their students, to being patient and flexible within the classroom with students who learn differently… these are ALL examples of optimism that demonstrate a commitment to alternate pathways in order to ensure that ALL students have access to EXCELLENCE in their education. As always, I am a #proudpatriot
Fabulous Fridays in February-fun times ahead!
Employee Recognition
This year, there is a new way to highlight the work of these outstanding educators! The KCS Employee Recognition Initiative serves to award those that go above and beyond in their service to the students, staff, and families of KCS.
How can you nominate an employee for this honor?
Simply submit a nomination form to your principal/supervisor by clicking here!
Thanks, celebration and appreciation:
- Thanks to Riverfront restaurant for their generosity. They are paying over $2000 to be added to the over $600.00 we raised for our Stop Hunger Now Event
- Thanks to Nancy Marshall from our food and nutrition department who will be managing the cafeteria until Peggy is replaced. Peggy's last day would have been Friday.
- Thanks to Katrina, Cherie, Renee and Kim for a great plan for Read Across America Day. Let them know if you'd like to be a part of the skit and song. We will meet at 2:30 on March 3rd for a school wide assembly celebrating that "Reading Saves the Day"
- Thanks to our great custodial staff for their relentless efforts Thursday and Friday in getting our building cleaned and sanitized.
- Thanks to Michelle for her work to clean the office and to Diane and staff for a thorough cleaning of SACC.
- Prayers for Lisa Marcello's family as her father receives hospice care
- Prayers of comfort for Billy Etter as his father in law passed away in Pennsylvania. Thankfully, these days off allowed his family to travel there to see him before he passed.
- Thanks to our SPED department for staffing meetings and open minded ideas about how to better meet the needs of all students
Innovation Tool
KCS has developed a new innovation tool to allow all stakeholders to share an idea (new or could be an improvement on a current practice). Sometimes a great idea comes to mind and when we collaborate on it, it gets even better. This tool can assist us in "giving legs" to those great thoughts. If you are like me, these are the ideas that keep you awake at night, but sometimes feel impossible. Lose sleep no longer! Your idea can be submitted and it can help our district constantly grow and develop.
The KCS new Innovation Tool is up and running. KCS wants your ideas! This tool is active for use. It can be accessed here.
Week of Feb 13-17
ASAP teachers to meet with Jacki Wolfe (3:00)
Tuesday:
3-5th Data conference with Michael Hubbard regarding ELA and Social Studies during related arts times. (Leslie please arrange with Kristen to cover so you may attend at LCC's related arts time). Will occur at another time.
2:00 LCC Celebration of Learnng school performance; helath fair and evening performance 6:00
Wednesday:
Wolf out of the office in the AM
Alvis at Triad training all day
Birthdays with the Principals
Club day
Thursday:
Alvis at Triad training all day
RATS planning day and Google Classroom training
RTI data conferences. Please have your "Celebrate, recognize, consider" paperwork prepared with embedded graphs and email either before or following the meeting.
AAC Basketball team to visit GWES. LCC and LCD are invited to the auditorium to visit and hear the story. (Lauren, can you please pull the copy of Salt in His Shoes?) from 10-11. The name of the team will be announced after the tournament begins.
Virtual math PD for Lisa Marcello
BOE meeting that evening
Friday:
Fantastic Friday in February- Giveaway Day
No collaborative meetings with K-3
Stop Hunger Now event 12:00-3:00, see picture below of the schedule.
Professional Musings
Jessica Chase is offering a Computer Club at Jefferson on Tuesdays. This week she will focus on the using Canvas and making Rubrics to assess learning. Email Jessica if you would like to attend jchase@k12k.com
In addition there are two mini ed-camps that are planned:
Mini-Edcamp (PK-12) at RNR on Thursday, March 2ndfrom 3:45-5:15 registration link: https://goo.gl/forms/EfFShUPvzhMMZyCg2
Mini-Edcamp Google Make and Take (PK-12) at DBExcel on Tuesday, April 11th from 3:45-5:15 registration link: https://goo.gl/forms/3jUmW0n3F05SXDMA3
A word from Shasta:
I am in the process of identifying the types of support and professional learning that teachers are asking for across the district. This process is being called an Educator Case Study. I am only required to include 4 teachers in the study, but the more people who are willing to participate the more data that we will collect. No names will be used in the Educator Case Study. Nothing that would identify you as the educator would ever be reported. In fact, my name will not be included in the Educator Case Study either. All of this information is being compiled by someone outside of our district. This is VOLUNTARY. If you decide to participate, I will let you read through anything that I am asked to type up and submit. Here are a few questions I am sure you are wondering about:
What would a teacher have to do?
Identify a practice, instructional strategy, etc. that you want to know more about. Meet with InDeS 20 minutes per week at the end of your planning. The reason for the 20 minutes being at the end is because I do NOT want to take an entire planning time during your week. Also, some weeks it may be 20 minutes of the InDeS in your classroom with you and NOT during planning. This is something the two of you would decide.
Why would a teacher want to do this?
The teacher chooses one area that they would like to strengthen. It does NOT have to be something you consider a weakness. It could be something that you know you are great at doing but want to do an even better job. The InDeS provides support through job-embedded professional development in the area you choose. All of this would occur within the 20 minutes each week. It would not require extra time on your part at all other than the 20 minutes per week with the InDeS. The goal would be to work on an area approximately 4-6 weeks; however, there is NO required length of time. This work has already started at Lincoln. I'd be happy to share what we are currently doing if you are looking for more information or ideas.
What will administration think if they see the InDeS in my room? Will they think I'm struggling?
Absolutely NOT -- this has been highly encouraged by all principals. If anything, it will show your love for learning and working with others.
Will the InDeS help me come up with something as a focus?
Yes, if you want to participate but don't have any idea what you'd like to focus on, just let me know.
If you still have questions after reading this, let me know. Also, do not feel obligated. You do NOT have to participate. I have already started this work at Lincoln, and I'd be happy to share any of it with you. I've worked with new teachers, Related Arts teachers, assistants, and teachers at all grade levels and content areas. The focus has been about working together to support our students. Many of you are already working with me weekly. I look forward to working with you.
Great Summer Learning Opportunity!
KCS Employees - Experience the EdCamp "Unconference" June 22, 2017, 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Dobyns-Bennett HS Kingsport City Schools is excited to bring the EdCamp “unconference” experience to East Tennessee. Anyone interested in education is welcome to attend. EdCamps are professional learning opportunities that are created by teachers for teachers, but all people who are stakeholders in education are welcome. EdCamps provide a pathway for dynamic conversations with dedicated educators, relevant sessions created and led by participants and cutting edge pedagogy that will inspire and motivate. If you are a teacher, administrator, education student, or simply someone with a genuine interest in teaching and learning, please join us for a day filled with limitless opportunities for acquiring knowledge! Register for this free event below!
You are invited to Thursday, June 22nd, 2017 from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM (EDT) Dobyns-Bennett High School 1 Tribe Way Kingsport TN 37664 US
For Your Information
We have opened the annual Homeless Education Program survey, the collection of information necessary for Michele Wilder to ensure compliance with federal laws and ensure our students are receiving all of the services for which they are entitled. Please distribute to your staff for their attention and completion, including individuals such as bus drivers and custodial staff, as they may have information about a change in a child’s living situation. The survey will remain open through Friday, February 24, 2017. The sign off form is in the workroom should you not have any HEP children in your class. Here is a link to the online survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3562YSN
March 1 - “KCS Centennial Stroll” -Community tours of Washington require visitors to RSVP by calling the school to schedule- Tour times: 11-12 or 1-2- Bring with you: a valid ID/driver’s license
Inaugural Tennessee STEAM Festival Planning
On October 12-22, Tennessee will holds its inaugural Tennessee STEAM Festival in a state-wide event based on the celebration of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. This is not a one location event...we are invited to sponsor STEAM events in our schools and community. It is suggested that these would be a perfect fit for libraries. The planners of this state-wide event are looking to fill a calendar of events including symposiums, educator/expert talks, lunch and learns, community/family events, entertainment events, etc. for all ages. Other festivals like the Philadelphia Science Festival and North Carolina Science Festival serve as inspiration for what the TN STEAM Festival can be.
Submit your STEAM event by April 3rd and be included in the state wide promotion of the Tennessee STEAM Festival in October. By participating, you will also receive promotional materials to use in marketing your event. Contact Becca Baker at the Blount County Public Library if you have questions.
Library of Congress 2017 Summer Teacher Institute
The Library of Congress is now accepting applications for its week-long summer institutes for K-12 educators. KCS educators who have attended one of these in the past describe them as great professional learning events! Click here for more information. Applications are due on March 17 and require a letter of recommendation. The institute and course materials are provided at no cost to participants, but participants will be responsible for travel expenses and hotel accommodations.
Commissioner McQueen's Town Hall Meeting Regarding ESSA
If you missed seeing Commissioner McQueen’s town hall meetings as she explained the transition to the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), click here. On this video, in addition to Dr. McQueen, Executive Director of Consolidated Planning & Monitoring Eve Carney, who has worked directly with the Commissioner in developing this transition, shares how our state is implementing Tennessee Succeeds. The following links may be helpful as you listen to the recorded webinar:
If you have any questions regarding the webinar, send them to Essa.Feedback@tn.gov .
We will be celebrating National School Breakfast Week March 6-10. This year’s theme is “Breakfast of Champions” and if you have any ideas to help us promote breakfast during the week let me know. One idea is to invite “champions or heroes” that you know to come and eat breakfast with your students during the week J Your cafeteria staff will be giving each student who eats school breakfast a small surprise that is different each day during this week.
MARCH
- Wed. 3/1 - College/Career Shirt Day
- Wed 3/1 Centennial Stroll
- Wed 3/1 Barter Theater presents the Ugly Duckling at GWES
- Thu. 3/2 - Read Across America Day (We will celebrate on Friday)
- Tue 3/7 - BOE Meeting - TN Room (ASC), 6 p.m.
- Fri. 3/10 - In-Service Day, NO SCHOOL, ASC operating under normal schedule
- Tue. 3/21 - BOE Work Session, TN Room (ASC), 6 p.m.
- Thu. 3/23 - KCS Kindergarten Registration (all elementary schools), 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
- Thu. 3/23 - KCS Pre-K Screening (Civic Auditorium), 5:30 - 7 p.m.
- Mon. 3/27 - Fri. 3/31 - Spring Break, NO SCHOOL, ASC operating under normal schedule