Sunday Shakedown
Weekly Memo for Washington Elementary
Principal Post
Thank yous, appreciations, and celebrations:
- Thank you to Michelle and Sue for covering for me Friday while we traveling out of town for a funeral
- Thanks to Li for contributing to a great presentation of the Chinese instruction at GWES and in KCS
- Thoughts and prayers to the Wehking and Arwood families on the loss of grandfathers for each of their spouses this weekend.
- Thanks to Renee B for working with parents through changes to IHPs
- Congratulations to Jayson Arnold, GWES teacher of the year
- Thanks to all who have been pitching in during the absence of peers
- We will have cocoa in the mailroom after car duty this month to warm you back up!
- Thanks to Kim B for her collaborative work with the other media specialists
- Prayers for Howard Dale's mother as she battles illness. Howard was out all last week.
- Thanks to everyone for a smooth transition to Google Gmail
- Well done to Donna F in SACC/ECLC for her first year of budget prep
Week of January 15-19
No school-MLK, Jr. Day
Heather to present budget to new superintendent and BOE
Tuesday:
Andrea Fissel at GWES to meet with teachers to share new Science standards-during planning time
Wednesday:
Oral spelling bee-9:00 for those qualifying
New date for Math Data Conferences during planning in grades 3-5
Trent at STREAM and AP meeting for a portion of the day
Thursday:
RTI meetings
DMI training
Club day!
Friday:
Leadership team meeting at 7:45
Patriot Pals 5th grade 10:30/ 4th grade 12:50
A look ahead:
Monday, Jan 22- Faculty meeting, lead by HR director. Topic: Harrassment
Tuesday, Jan 23- Literacy collaboratives all day
For Your Information:
Science Standards Resources Available
To support educators in the transition to the new Tennessee Academic Standards for Science in fall 2018, the department has released two new documents: the TN Science Standards Reference and the TN Science Standards Implementation Guide.
The TN Science Standards Reference is an exploration of all three dimensions of science instruction: science and engineering practices, crosscutting concepts, and disciplinary core ideas. This document contains progressions of learning for each discipline, connections to the Framework for K-12 Science Education, and content support for each standard in grades K-8, biology, chemistry, and physics. The TN Science Standards Reference adds to the initial support offered by the TN Science Standards Implementation Guide, which includes activities, readings, and questions designed to provide a deeper understanding of three-dimensional science instruction for participants in a series of professional learning sessions. Please reach out to Brian.Caine@tn.gov with questions.
Since we are all now living in the Google world, I wanted to share a quick way everyone can add the KCS Professional Learning Calendar to their "Other Calendars". Everyone will be able to see the calendar with a simple click of a button and be aware of live updates as they are made and can look ahead in the year. This will replace the 10 day PL Calendar typically sent.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TnP8coW70cUnlW0gLTJ6H4Oy5FNS8Sbw/view
Application Open: Performance Level Descriptor Committee
TDOE is currently accepting applications for the Range Performance Level Descriptor Committees for grades 3-8 in social studies as well as for grades 3 and 4 in English language arts. Performance Level Descriptors (PLDs) are statements that describe the knowledge, skills, and abilities expected of a student at each performance level of the TNReady assessment. Educators who are chosen to participate on these committees will write Performance Level Descriptors alongside fellow educators. Applications are available at the links below.
- ELA Grades 3-4
- Social Studies Grade 3
- Social Studies Grade 4
- Social Studies Grade 5
- Social Studies Grade 6
- Social Studies Grade 7
- Social Studies Grade 8
Weather: Reminder that if the temperature is below 35 we will have indoor dismissal.
Opportunity: My name is Derek Voiles, and I'm a seventh-grade teacher in Hamblen County and a member of the Tennessee Department of Education's Teacher Advisory Council.
My fellow Teacher Advisory Council members and I are working together to support new teachers with a day of free peer-led professional learning. On Saturday, Jan. 27, we'll host a New Teacher Summit at LMU's Cedar Bluff campus (421 Park 40 North Blvd., Knoxville) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET. This professional learning opportunity is planned specifically with new teachers in mind. Sessions will be developed and led by teacher advisory council members and include topics that appeal to all grade levels and content areas, such as student engagement and classroom management. Facilitators include Nancy Miles (2017-18 First Tennessee Teacher of the Year) and Kristin Burrus (2017-18 Southeast Tennessee Teacher of the Year). Participants who attend all sessions will receive a certificate of participation.
Registration is currently open to all new teachers who are teaching in a public school in east Tennessee. This opportunity is ideal for teachers in their first or second year of teaching who eagerly seek out professional learning opportunities and display exceptional leadership potential. There is no registration fee, and lunch will be provided. Please share this invitation and registration link (here) with new teachers to register by Jan. 22.
Beyond academic interventions: New addition: The room across from LCG that is a therapeutic calming space is rarely in use due to the combination of both Billy and Cherie into one space. To meet the needs of some of our most underdeveloped students, we have added a therapeutic play space to this room (geared for K/1 students). It contains educational materials to build social skills, turn taking, role playing, sensory, and oral language skills. Our thought was, as an intervention for children who lacked these experiences, 20 minutes sessions in the room for small groups could be scheduled. Any sped or reg teacher or assistant may hold a group session in the room. We have not received all materials yet, but will soon.
In addition, don't forget, our sensory room is also a therapeutic space for students to have sensory stimulation to improve engagement of different areas of the brain, helping students absorb and retain information follow sensory stimulation. Other benefits include improving balance and spatial orientation to help with visual processing and fine and gross motor, and provide comfort and calm to help children with self-regulation when overactive or distressed by working through a circuit that utilizes high energy and ends with focused attention to task.
it is a requirement that each teacher be present and attentive in the zones of playground supervision. See photo below for a reminder.
Read to Be Ready Summer Camp: Please send me student recommendations and if you as a teacher are interested in teaching please let me know. At this point, your interest does not guarantee participation. This is simply a measure of interested teachers (must have PK-3 experience).
Lower SES and DRA. 10 students at Title Schools and 5 students at non-title Schools. This will take place the entire month of June. Do not contact parents. Just send list of students that would benefit from this programming. Kids could repeat. Participating last year would not eliminate them.
WSIC News
Link to the WSIC, please be certain to watch each day: https://goo.gl/vjw2eP