The Dream Team
11/16/15 Weekly Memo 17
This Week Our HERO focus is...
Table of Contents
- Week at a glance
- Upcoming Events
- Cultural & Instructional Focus Areas
- Good Things
- Duty Schedule
- Message from the Coach
Week at a Glance
Monday, November 16th: B Day
Professional Dress
Arrive by 7:20 am
Morning Meeting 7:25 am
Lesson Plans Due (If you are using CTL plans- you must submit the modification protocol)
Tuesday, November 17th: A Day
Professional Dress
Arrive by 7:20 am
Morning Meeting 7:25am
Progress Reports go home
Wednesday, November 18th: B Day
Jeans and House of Pride Shirts
Arrive by 7:20 am
Morning Meeting 7:25 am
Pietroboni Out
MS Assembly in the gym during Enrichment
Staff Luncheon in the library at 3:15pm
PD beginning in the library at 3:45 whole group (you will need your laptop)
Break Out Sessions by Content
Math- Rm. 257
Science- Rm. 353
Humanities- Rm. 152
English- Rm. 142
Spanish- Rm. 258
Specials- Rm. 349
Thursday, November 19th: A Day
Professional Dress
Arrive by 7:20 am
Morning Meeting 7:25 am
Peters Out
Smart Out
Friday, November 20th: B Day
Jeans and a Hampton/College Shirt
Arrive by 7:20 am
Morning Meeting 7:25 am
Lesson Plan revisions due on blackboard
DaVerse Lounge @6pm- 2 Volunteers Needed
Annotated CA due to Parks by 5pm
Smart Out
Coming Soon...
November 23rd-27th- Fall Break
December 4th- $2 dressdown
December 9th- CA #2 Testing Begins
December 11th- Whole School Skating Trip
December 14th-17th- 12:45pm Release & Blackout dates for Staff
December 15th- Progress Reports Go Home
December 17th-
Q2 Ends
Enrichment Showcase (Let Mrs. Parks know if your Pride Time will perform at the event by December 9th)
December 18th- Collaboration Day for ALL staff/Scholar Holiday
December 21st-January 4th- Winter Break
Instructional & Cultural Focus Area
We want to focus on three very specific areas.
1. Scholars speaking in Complete Sentences
2. Teacher to Scholar talk ratio
3. Checking for Understanding
Complete Sentences- we want our scholars to be able to communicate in any environment in which they are placed and that starts with their ability to speak.
We want to make sure that scholars are speaking in complete sentences in your classes and that scholars are holding one another accountable to this expectations by holding up the letter "C" with their hand.
Teacher Talk vs. Scholar Talk- decrease the amount of time you are spending lecturing to scholars in the INM & GP components of the lesson and have scholars own their own learning and think critically.
We want to increase the amount of scholar talk in the classroom and decrease the amount of teacher talk in the classroom. Consider scripting when scholars will speak in your class- planning this out helps to make this process more efficient. Scholars have to be able to think critically.
Checking for Understanding- it is imperative to check for understanding during every component of the lesson and prior to transitioning to the next component of the lesson. This provides you with an opportunity to see who has mastered what you've taught.
Focusing on these areas will increase our scholars' ability to communicate effectively.
Good Things!
Mrs. Parks says...
Thank you all so much for keeping everything together in my absence. It is really tough to be away and genuinely be away but I really appreciate each of you for steppping up and keeping things together!
Ms. Brown, thank you for spearheading the dresscode plan!
Mr. Houston, thank you for spearheading the teacher to teacher tool. I think this is a great way to improve our school's culture!
Ms. Fluker, Ms. Trachta, & Ms. Wright thank you for an awesome fall dance!! Everyone had an amazing time.
Ms. Pietroboni, Ms. Golledge, Ms. Thomas, Ms. Smart, & Mr. Shepherd thank you all for being there! Scholars loved seeing you dance!
Ms. Golledge says…
Shout out to Ms. Brown for being the best teammate EVER this week. Shout out to Mr. Houston, Ms. Iwule and the entire 8th grade team for doing everything possible to make the hallways perfect. Shout out to Ms. Smart for always looking to help me. Shout out to Mr. Parmer for being a great support for middle school!
Duty Schedule
Lunch Duty-
6th Grade Lunch- 6th Grade Lead, Specials Team Lead and Administration
7th & 8th Grade Lunch- 7th and 8th Grade Team Leads and Administration
Lunch Duty- Teachers must arrive to pick up your class from the cafeteria at 11:39am (10:39am on Wed) for 6th grade and 12:23am (11:22am on Wed) for 7th & 8th grade teachers.
After School Duty- See details in the body of the email
Science Heroes say HELLO!
A Message from the Coach
Dearest Dream Team-
Keep on Keeping on
by Michael Sage
We’ve all had times, when the going gets tough
The smooth ride suddenly, feels bumpy and rough
The good times are gone, it’s all rather gruff
You let out a sigh and exclaim – “I’ve had enough”
We are all entitled at times, to gripe and to moan
What’s happened to my life, you say with a groan?
My backpack seems weighed down, by a very big stone
How do I move away, from this miserable zone?
When a curved ball hits you, through a trick or a con
Remember the good days, when the sun always shone
Go forward with the belief, that you already have won
The best advice I can give, is to keep on - keeping on
I hope this helps you get through the tough times, days, and experiences that you may encounter. Just keep on- keeping on.
The Dream will Fight,
Andrea
Strategic Priorities
Goal: We will build upon the knowledge & skills of all staff members
Parent, School, & Community Ties
Goal: We will engage ALL stakeholders in the school’s culture.
School Learning Climate
Goal: We will create a safe and orderly environment that promotes the sense of urgency required to climb the ladder of academic and behavioral excellence.