Suwanee Express
Week of August 26th
As we approach the end of August, continue to make connections with your students and colleagues. How are you adding to our success story at Suwanee? Together we can do great things!
Please make sure you're reading through the newsletter. We are trying to put more and more in the weekly newsletter to avoid numerous emails throughout the week. If you would like to add a shout out, or have a school-wide announcement, please send it my way. Thanks for all you do!
Your Biggest Fan,
Mary Taylor
Calendar at a Glance
Brief Observations will begin this week
8/26 - Safety and Security Committee Meeting 8:30AM (Bulldog Rm)
8/27 - Count Day
8/27 & 28th - Watch our amazing TOTY nominees' videos on Eclass. Ms. Duncan is providing a link to the videos on eclass.
8/29 - All certified staff and paraprofessionals please come to the Suwanee Cafe and vote for TOTY @ 7:30AM
8/29 - Y'all Come Session facilitated by LSTC Leanne Scoggins
8/29 - Chick Fila Spirit Night (5th grade is sponsoring)
8/29 - Teacher and Staff Favorites survey completed by today.
8/30 - Teacher of the Year Parade 2:15PM (Have students sitting and lined up in the hallways to cheer for our TOTY).
8/30 - Kona Ice Day $3.00
There's a lot of details about meetings and due dates in September. Please read the newsletter for further descriptions.
9/2 - No School Labor Day
9/3 - CLT
9/3 - LAST COUNT DAY
9/3 & 9/4 - Cogat meetings (see details below)
9/4 - Game ideas for 4th and 5th grade due to Lisa Taylor (PTA - see details below)
9/5 & 9/6 Grandparents' Luncheon (see detailed schedule pictured below)
9/6- 2nd & 3rd grade will switch schedules today. Please give parents a heads up in yournewsletter.
Suwanee! Everyone please click below and fill out your "Favorite Things" at the end of the form hit submit
We have two more count days, Tuesday, 8/27 and Tuesday, 9/3. Please enter information by 9:00 on count days.
8/27 Count Day Link Below
COGAT News You Can Use! From Mrs. Katie Sample!
SAVE THE DATES
Cogat Proctors
It's time to support Suwanee's Sunshine!
It's nice to have a work family that is there in a hurry when we need to celebrate OR when we need extra love during life's storms. This week, please consider donating to our sunshine fund. A little or a lot every penny makes a difference in our Suwanee family
Please send all donations to Jenn Jones (5th grade teacher)
Super Scoggins News!
8/29- Y’all Come Session for eCLASS and Adobe in the Mind Meld Room. Stop by during your planning and I can help with your eCLASS page if you need support. Mr. Byrne can help you download some new software tools from Adobe. A great resource to have is a version of Adobe that will allow you to edit a PDF. Also, Melissa Campbell, the NG Cluster eCLASS specialist, was transferred to the Norcross cluster a few weeks ago. As of right now she is scheduled to return at a later date.
In addition, I found a resource that you might like for vocabulary. This is a Google Slide that has a main page with the letters of the alphabet and links to vocabulary pages. You can give a copy to students through Google Classroom so they each have a copy where they can search the GCPS databases for pictures and write in their own definitions. You could also add in QR codes to link to specific videos or resources for support. Click here to see it embedded in eCLASS on the Suwanee Training Page- scroll down until you see the Vocabulary Word Wall widget. If you like it, we can work together to see how you would like to use this with your classes. There are also some helpful reminders on the training page- for mirroring a student, how to forward your Gmail account to Lotus Notes, and how to add a YouTube link into Safari Montage so students can watch the YouTube video at school.
Leanne Scoggins, LSTC
Suwanee Elementary School
Look at the lunch times for Grandparents Day! You may have a different lunchtime than normal.
It's time to sign up for the Dunk Tank!
Jaguar Jamboree Fall Festival September 13th
Sign Up sheet will be in the Bistro!
- 3 jeans passes
- Entered in raffle for gift cards
- Being that amazing teacher that got in the dunk tank ------ PRICELESS!
Attention 4th, 5th grade, and Specials teachers please read
The Jaguar Jamboree Fall Festival is September 13th. It was a big hit last year when 4th and and 5th grade classes created the games for the gym. PTA is asking for our students to join in on the fun again this year. Specials teachers maybe you could support these efforts as well. Please see the team leaders to discuss how (Jones/Fidero). PTA VP Lisa Taylor is the lead organizer for the event. Below are the guidelines.
1. All games will be set up inside the gym (or moved into school hallways in the event of rain) and therefore all supplies required for the game need to be appropriate for inside use.
2. Each game will need to be played in a space that is roughly 6' wide x 8' deep
3. Each game needs to have a specific goal that needs to be met in order to win a prize. For example, a certain number of points, or a certain objective that must be met.
4. Games should not take more than about a minute for a person to complete.
5. Games should not cost more than $20 to create (excluding prizes).
6. Game ideas should be sent to Lisa Taylor by Wednesday September 4th. Any drawings for how the classes want the game to look as well as materials required would be great.
Thank you so much for your help with this and your support of PTA! If you have any questions about any of these guidelines, please let me know.
Thank you,
Lisa Taylor
Department: Accountability and Assessment
- Quick Checks
All Language Arts and Mathematics Quick Checks have been scheduled in Schoolnet and are available for teacher use. Quick Checks are a resource for teachers that provide students an opportunity to engage in the types of questioning they will encounter on Milestones including open response items. They are intended to be used as a complete document and are appropriate as a Common Assessment. However, Quick Checks are copyrighted and should not be deconstructed or modified for use as part of a Common Assessment. Additionally, they are for classroom use and may not be sent home with students or uploaded into other platforms or web pages.
BREAK FOR BOOKKEEPING NEWS FROM BECKY
Most of you do not collect money throughout the year, however a few of you do. So if you collect money it has to be recorded on a RMC. We have a new one this year, so if you have forms you have printed off, please replace with this one.
If you don't collect money, please disregard.
Thanks for all your patience and understanding as I learn this new position,
Becky
Quality Plus Teaching Strategies Highlight Series
QPTS - Assessment and Feedback
This week’s QPTS Highlight Series focuses on Assessment and Feedback. The linked tool models how teachers can Fine Tune their feedback to students to ensure it is specific, task focused, age appropriate, improvement oriented, regular, and selective. Teachers please begin to review this first highlight. We will have a digital staff development reflection coming up on this highlight very soon. So, get ahead and start reviewing by clicking on the link below.
GCPS Math Department
- Math Boot Camp Professional Learning
This professional learning is designed to develop and deepen understanding of the Mathematics AKS for grades K-5. Each session will focus on aligning AKS, assessment, and instruction using the lowest performing AKS from the semester. This is a great opportunity for learning and collaboration. All teachers are encouraged to attend.
What: Math Boot Camp
When: September 21, 2019 (8:00 AM – 12:00 PM)
Where: Discovery High School
Register in PD&E, course #23914
- Math Advanced Content Professional Learning for Grades 3, 4, and 5
The professional learning is designed to support third through fifth grade teachers teaching an advanced content math class. The focus will be on modeling and developing instructional practices to increase the depth of understanding grade level content through the process of problem-based learning opportunities. Participants will leave each session with the knowledge and skills to implement the Math AKS with a focus on supporting the advanced content math student.
What: Math Advanced Content
When: September 26, 2019 (4:30 PM – 6:30 PM)
Where: Discovery High School
Register in PD&E, course #23912
Excellent Opportunity!
Teacher Leader Series
The Teacher Leader Professional Learning Series is available to all teacher leaders which includes but is not limited to department chairs, grade chairs, team leads, instructional coaches, local school technology coordinators (LSTC), mentors, and aspiring teacher leaders. This series will equip teacher leaders with a deeper understanding of adult learners and the knowledge and skills needed to lead effective collaboration that align with the Plan, Do, Check, Act cycle of continuous quality improvement as well as how to infuse coaching practices in a manner that promotes growth and reflection of teacher practice.
What: Teacher Leader Series
Where: J. Alvin Wilbanks Instructional Support Center; Grayson Room
Please see link for Cohort Dates. Please register in PD&E using Course #23865 and Section #37425 (Cohort A) and #37426 (Cohort B)
Nominate or Apply
The Teach On Project aims to elevate the quality of public education by identifying excellent educators and empowering them to expand their impact. The $7,500.00 grant is open to Pre-K through 12 grade Teachers, Assistant Principals and Principals with at least 2 years of experience in education. The educator must have been employed by Gwinnett County Public Schools in 2018-2019.
What: Teach On Project Grant
When: August 30 – September 20, 2019 (application and nomination window)
Where: Nominate or apply at www.teachonproject.org
Classroom Highlight - 4th Ms. Nguyen & Ms. Craig (ELA)
Clear Learning Target
Students pair share about theme!
Ms. Nguyen conferences with students.
Ms. Craig conferences with student! Asking open-ended questions
The Gradual Release is right there for students to use!
I spotted this on their desk from Math!
Teaching students HOW to discuss and collaborate!
Congratulations again to our SES finalists for TOTY!
Mary Taylor :)