Staff Newsletter
December 1, 2022
Our Mission:
We are student focused educators committed to facilitating authentic relationships that support and empower every student's growth, socially, emotionally and academically to be future ready learners. We are #SMITHSTRONG
OUR VISION:
We will be leaders of life long learners that champion for the whole child.
OUR CORE VALUES:
We value leading with the whole child in mind.
We value using data to drive instruction and track student growth.
We value effective and respectful communication.
We value establishing boundaries to promote trust and accountability.
We value fostering the individuality and creativity of each student through equitable learning experiences.
We believe all students can succeed at high levels.
WHAT WE HOLD TIGHT:
Supporting Our Family
Making a Difference
Intervention and Enrichment (W.I.N.)
Teamwork and Collaboration
High Expectations about Learning
Smith Important Dates
SMITH IMPORTANT DATES GOOGLE DOC--Make sure to access this often, as dates change throughout the year!
- December 1: Smithmark Channel's Countdown to Christmas Begins!
- December 2: November PA Winners Announced @ Celebrate Smith!
- December 3: Merry Main Street Smith Treblemakers Choir Performance @ 4:30 PM
- December 5-9: Smith Fall Bookfair in Library
- December 6: Donuts with Grownups at Book Fair @ 7:00 AM in Smith Library
- December 8: Smith Treblemakers Choir Winter Concert and PTA Meeting @ 6:00 PM
- December 7: Wednesday PD: K-2 SST/3-5 Name & Need
- December 14: Wednesday PD: 3-5 SST/K-2 Name & Need
- December 15: Lifetouch Retakes & Class Pictures
- December 16: DATE CHANGE: Smith Spelling Bee (4th & 5th Grade Only)
- December 21: Staff Discussion (Zest!) & Smith Connects
- December 22: Winter Parties (more information to come!)
- December 26-January 6: WINTER BREAK
- January 9: Staff PD Day - 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM - TENTATIVE Schedule
- January 16: Holiday--NO SCHOOL; Smith Treblemakers Choir Sing at Texas Legends Game @ 3:00 PM
December Birthdays
1 ANGELA HURWICH
9 MIDGE SCHMIDT
11 LAURA WEISS
14 SARA WOODY
16 CHANDLER WRIGHT
17 LESLIE ELLEDGE
23 SYDNEY MARCHBANKS
CELEBRATIONS
Amber Rader - During math celebrations walks we saw students engaged with practicing a variety of strategies with their math partners during station work! -The ILT
McKinna McCaffrey - During math celebration we saw the students doing some great productive struggle during small groups! - The ILT
Morgan Hicks - During math celebration walks we saw so much great use of math vocabulary during the mini-lesson -The ILT
Lindsey Redburn - Great differentiation happening during stations, providing students with the appropriate amount of math challenge. -The ILT
Carissa Vanstory & Cheryl Hendrix - Student Service Society (SSS) does so much for our school because Vanstory and Hendrix organize and come up with so many fun activities. They go above and beyond for our kids!! :) - Kinsella
3rd Grade Team, Xochitl, Catherine, Tran, Sunshine Committee, and Smith Staff - I cannot adequately express my gratitude to you all for everything you did to step in and help me the week before Thanksgiving when I had to be out due to my brother's death. You guys did not miss a beat in covering my class, finding subs, creating sub plans, and everything else on such short notice. I never once felt overwhelmed with all that I was missing because you each took on extra work to allow me to care for my family during that time. Thank you also to Sunshine Committee and staff for the beautiful flowers, card, notes/texts throughout the week and into Thanksgiving break. I am so thankful to work with a school community that never hesitates to help each other and care for one another in the hard times. Thank you all...it meant the world to me.
Congrats to Ms. Madden! Smith's 2022 Teacher of the Year!
Family Vacations/Extended Leave
Smith Staff New Year's Party--RSVP!
The Sunshine Committee is gathering a head count for our upcoming staff party. Sunshine will be paying to have food catered in, raffle prizes will be handed out, and an optional white elephant gift exchange will take place. Don’t miss out on the fun!
Please take a minute today to let us know if you will be able to attend our staff New Year’s Party on January 14th.
FISD Collaboratives and Calendar Days 2022-2023
The Elementary Teaching and Learning team will be offering the following optional learning opportunities for teachers. Please register for courses using the links provided prior to the course offerings. Participants must register in Strive before the session in order to receive credit.
This document will be updated frequently with additional information, including dates, topics, locations, and Zoom links.
Smith Certification Inventory
Thank you!
Ed Tech Appreciation Day
Google Drive Storage Limits
In response to Google’s placement of storage limits on user Google Drives, each employee should take the following actions to ensure continued access to your account. As of December 9, 2022, Frisco ISD employees will be limited to 10GB of Google Drive storage. Once the 10GB storage limit is placed on user accounts users with accounts above the limit will no longer be able to edit existing or create new documents. When a user has exceeded the 10GB limit they can no longer copy or edit existing files, upload or create new files, or backup images and video.
Please complete the following steps:
To review your storage use and delete large or unnecessary files in Drive, go to https://drive.google.com/drive/quota.
To review and delete large or unnecessary files in shared drives, go to https://drive.google.com/drive/shared-drives.
Consider deleting Drive content that you may have copied to a shared drive.
If there are large files in your Drive that you do not wish to delete, consider transferring them to your FISD-provided Microsoft OneDrive, where all users have 1 TB of space. Instructions for using OneDrive are available at this link.
Once you have followed the steps above, please delete your trash to permanently remove the deleted items.
Safety Updates
Anticipate a monthly fire drill the week of December 5-9th.
An updated Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) and EOP Addendum have been added to the Emergency Roster Folder in the Smith Google Shared Drive. You can refer to this for detailed information about what to do during drills/emergencies, alongside other safety details.
COUNSELOR CORNER
- Teachers, thanks for your help in organizing the Angel gift program in your classroom. It is such a great opportunity for our students to practice giving to others!
- Grief for the Holidays Resource for FISD Staff
BOOK THE COUNSELOR-
How can I help you with Morning Meetings, Class Meetings, PBIS, SEL? Book the Counselor
MORNING MEETINGS/CLASS MEETINGS
This is the Pathway to finding resources for the entire year:
- STAFF PORTAL
- COUNSELOR RESOURCE TAB
- PK12 CURRICULUM RESOURCE
- CHARACTER STRENGTH MONTHLY FLYER
December Morning Meetings and Class Meetings
Morning Meeting Idea of the Week:
- Activity: Laughing Handkerchief
- Talk about an appropriate noise level for the classroom and practice controlling voice volume before beginning the game.
- Actions-throw a handkerchief high into the air. While it is in the air, everyone laughs. As soon as it touches the ground, everyone goes silent.
- Variations: Add other actions when the handkerchief is up in the air, such as clapping, talking, singing, etc.
CISF Updates
- First grade will be taking CogAT the morning of January 25th and January 26th. If you serve first grade, please plan accordingly.
- Important 2023 STAAR Updates – This document will be updated as new information is provided.
- Smith's 2022-2023 Testing Calendar – It is also a tab on Important Dates. Please refer to this for planning purpospurposesse note when grade levels you serve are testing. See me with any questions or concerns.
- Please contact me if you need any support with your 504 students or need help implementing their accommodations.
NEW FURNITURE DAMAGED OR BROKE? IF SO, PLEASE COMPLETE THIS FORM!
ONLY PUT NEW FURNITURE ISSUES ON THIS FORM!!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/13UFgJXenXEXr2jtk72mYWU8XiLbOFQPkUfu8QZy5LSo/edit?usp=sharingNEW BUILDING RENOVATION ISSUES? IF SO, PLEASE COMPLETE THIS FORM!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/16X3Wj0Dr9CgKXERC9qDaqPXOfXMkgbqAcM_ghhhCEwY/edit
Principal Award Information
Also, refer to the link below to make sure you are not submitting a name of a student who has already received the Principal Award in the past!
Link to document:
After School Content Collaboratives and Calendar Days--AT LEAST 1 TEACHER FROM EACH GRADE LEVEL PARTICIPATES IN EACH COLLABORATIVE!!
This school year, each content area will offer optional professional learning opportunities during the day (Calendar Days- literacy) and after school (Collaboratives) for teachers and other professional staff. These learning opportunities will support participants in deepening their understanding around content and best instructional strategies.
Participants will need to register for Collaboratives in Strive in order to receive 1 hour of non-contract PD credit.
MTSS Reminders and Updates!
For SST and Name and Need, please refer to the following documents to review the agenda for SST or access the spreadsheet for Kid Talks. As a reminder, if you have a student coming for an initial SST for the 2022-2023 school year, please remember to complete the Strengths/Weaknesses, Effective Teaching Strategies, and Request for Intervention forms prior to coming to SST. If you are unsure if you need to complete these forms, please see the SST spreadsheet below to see if those action items have been "checked off". If you are bringing a student to reconvene/follow-up, please do not forget to complete progress monitoring through Frontline.
If a student has been in Name & Need and it is time to consider an SST referral, please complete this google form at least a day prior to the Name & Need meeting so that Catherine can ensure that she schedules herself to come to your grade level team.
How to Complete:
- Strengths/Weaknesses Form - refer to Frontline Manual
- Effective Teaching Strategies - refer to Frontline Manual
- Request for Intervention - refer to Frontline Manual
- Progress Monitoring - refer to pages 23-28 in the Frontline Manual or watch the video that is on slide 16
Smith Name & Need & Potential SST Candidate Checklist
Have the following documents pulled up on the device:
Name & Need Spreadsheet - Teachers will type in this spreadsheet
Potential SST Candidate Form Teachers will fill this form out if applicable
Potential SST Candidate Response Form *Facilitator Access Only
SST Agenda - Facilitator types in this agenda
Follow up about students who are on the Potential SST Candidate Response Form and ensure that the following criteria are met prior to moving a student to the SST agenda.
At least 4 weeks of RtI documentation on the area(s) of concern (beyond work samples and data - this is what the teacher has implemented to support student growth)
If there is a behavior concern, ensure that the teacher(s) have reached out to our CIC, Hailee Parks through this form.
Confirm that parents have been notified of concern(s)
Add students to the SST agenda if there is sufficient documentation
Discuss students who are on the Name & Need spreadsheet
Teachers are typing in the spreadsheet their concerns and action steps
Standing Ovation Nominations
Behavior & eSchool Discipline
Behavior Resources
eSchool Discipline
If you are needing to document a behavior incident. Please use eSchool discipline! Here are videos on how to do this:
- Entering a Conduct - Video
- Creating a Classroom Issue - Video
- Teacher Access Center - Issue Actions
- Teacher Access Center - Issue Codes
- Teacher Access Center - Locations
If you require additional assistance with navigating eSchool Discipline, please see the Teacher Discipline Locker. This resource has videos and clicksheets available for any user.
PBIS Reminders
- All staff members have tickets they can pass out to any student they observe demonstrating one of our ST.R.O.N.G. characteristics in ANY setting (i.e. classroom, hallways, recess, cafe, specials, etc.)
Whole Class Stars:
- These are provided when a WHOLE class demonstrates expected behaviors in common areas (lunch, recess, bathrooms, cafeteria).
- If you have not posted pocket charts, please do so ASAP! Let's display how great our students are doing in common areas! Remember, if it matters to you...it matters to them. :)
Clear the Board:
- Students who have tickets displayed on the board will participate in a 15-minute extra recess with administrators! There will be a K-2 time and a 3-5 time. More information will be communicated when the board is filled.
***Remember, we want to be intentional when we are handing out individual tickets or stars! So, please be specific with your praise and be on the lookout for some outstanding student behaviors!***
2022-2023 Smith Elementary Staff Favorite Lists
KINDER TEACHERS-https://drive.google.com/.../15.../view...
1ST TEACHERS- https://drive.google.com/.../17arMscp5j8sHgliOanN.../view...
2ND TEACHERS- https://drive.google.com/.../1vzhKa1KX21rN355vz87.../view...
3RD TEACHERS- https://drive.google.com/.../1dcHprlCtr3ia4gM9f1P.../view...
4TH TEACHERS- https://drive.google.com/.../1Ze4K6JJSKwf3m.../view...
5TH TEACHERS- https://drive.google.com/.../16j9ctHW7_JwuESE378Q.../view...
SPECIALS TEACHERS/ LIBRARIAN- https://drive.google.com/.../1ShQZEKsc0.../view...
OFFICE STAFF/ADMIN- https://drive.google.com/.../1Uht9cpKHVzsd1HcDsdi.../view...
SPED- https://drive.google.com/.../1vgLyk6VcZIsIe63VqkZ.../view...
SUPPORT STAFF- https://drive.google.com/.../1xFqIoCriVkwLhl3XugI.../view...
OFFICER VARNER- https://drive.google.com/.../1125c5MfngGHczYoLkrt.../view...
Jury Duty-Willsub Plus Entries
Staff members who require a day off for Jury Duty must upload the Jury Duty Summons at the time of the request. Most counties allow jurors to check their status the day before to see if they are required to report. Subs can be canceled up to 12 hours in advance. If a staff member finds out they are not required to report for jury duty they are obligated to cancel the substitute if it is within the 12-hour window. If the staff member is required to report to jury duty they must bring their court attendance letter for the secretary to upload to Willsub Plus. If a staff member is released from jury duty early they should return to campus for the remainder of the day. Jury Duty reason codes should not be utilized for placeholders, for personal court appearances, or without the appropriate documentation (summons and attendance letter).
Watch D.O.G.S. Reminders!
Smith Elementary
Email: smith@friscoisd.org
Website: http://schools.friscoisd.org/ES/smith/site/home
Location: 9800 Sean Drive, Frisco, TX, United States
Phone: 469-633-2200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Noel-Smith-Elementary/171764046491667
Twitter: @smithelem_noel