Staff Newsletter
Van Wyck Elementary School - January 19, 2024
Weekly Message from Dr. Ramey
Hello VWES Staff,
Thank you so much for a great 4-day week! We have busy days ahead with our ACCESS testing, which beings on Monday for our Multilingual students. Please see the details below from Erin Brock in the newsletter about this testing. Also, we need to strive to do our best to provide our students with a quiet testing environment in the hallways during our testing dates.
Our administrative team will be visiting each of the grade levels this week to discuss upcoming Coaching Cycles that will begin on Monday, January 29th. We are excited about where you all are as a group and individually but we want you ALL to continue to grow.
We have 86 more chances to change lives this school year! Stay focused, have a rest-filled weekend and we will see you all Monday morning!
You ALL are AWESOME!
Dr. Ramey
Upcoming Events:
Tuesday, January 23rd - The new District Superintendent, Dr. Fitzpatrick, will be visiting our school during our late planning day on the 23rd. While Classified staff members are not required to stay for this meeting, I would love to have everyone at this meeting, if possible. This meeting will take place in the Cafeteria. Please be on time!
Wednesday, January 24th - Our PTO volunteers will be in the building to cover your lunch for you this day!
VWES - Staff Spotlight
Heather Steinman - 3rd Grade
The administrative team would like to recognize Mrs. Steinman for her outstanding effort and performance in her first year at VWES!
Mrs. Steinman has been an active participant in her PLC meetings and is always willing to share ideas for the betterment of the team and all of the 3rd Grade students! Her class has shown outstanding academic growth and we appreciate the knowledge and wisdom she has brought to our school!
Thank you Mrs. Steinman for all you do for your students and the positive impact you have had upon VWES this year!
VWES - January Birthdays!
Megan Yeargin - January 4
Naomi Burns - January 14
Adam Wade - January 21
Michelle Smith - January 23
Greatness Target #4
Target #4 - Be a Team Player - Take AIM at Teamwork!
Weekly Schedule
Monday, January 22nd
Specials Day: D
Jeans Day
Tuesday, January 23rd
Specials Day: E
Staff Meeting w/ Dr. Fitzpatrick (2:45pm in Cafeteria)
Wednesday, January 24th
Specials Day: F
Jeans Day w/ VWES Shirt
PTO Lunch Duty Coverage
Thursday, January 25th
Specials Day: G
Friday, January 26th
Specials Day: A
Perfect Attendance Jeans Day
Hat Day
Lunch Menu
Monday, January 22nd
Rotisserie Chicken Wings
Steak Nuggets
Au Gratin Potatoes
Green Beans
Blue Strawberry Cup
Fresh Fruit Choice
Whole Wheat Roll
MILK,1% Lowfat
MILK,Skim
Tuesday, January 23rd
Rotini Pasta & Meat Sauce
Grilled Chicken Chef Salad
Garden Salad
Mixed Vegetables
Strawberries and Bananas
Garlic Texas Toast
Fresh Fruit Choice
MILK, 1% Lowfat
MILK, Skim
Wednesday, January 24th
Mandarin Orange Chicken
Chicken Nuggets
Fried Rice
Oriental Vegetables
Pinto Beans
Peach Slice Cup
Fresh Fruit Choice
Whole Wheat Breadstick
MILK, 1% Lowfat
MILK, Skim
Thursday, January 25th
Spaghetti and Meat Sauce
Chef Salad
Corn on the Cob
Mixed Greens
Pear Slice Cup
Fresh Fruit Choice
Whole Wheat Roll
Whole Wheat Crackers
MILK, 1% Lowfat
MILK, Skim
Friday, January 26th
Asian Glazed Popcorn Chicken
Fish Sandwich
Mashed Potatoes
Lima Beans
Strawberry Cup
Fresh Fruit Choice
Whole Wheat Breadstick
MILK, 1% Lowfat
MILK, Skim
2023-2024 School Meals
Students can apply for free or reduced meals by clicking the link below. Here are the new breakfast and lunch prices for the 2023-2024 school year.
Student Breakfast:
Elementary - $1.50
Secondary - $1.50
Student Lunch:
Elementary - $2.20
Secondary - $2.75
Titan Family Portal, our meal application and payment site, is changing its name and application to LinQ Connect. Returning parents and staff can still log on to Titan Family Portal and nothing has changed with accounts. You will be direct to the newer site. Links, getting started for new accounts, and other information is linked below.
ACCESS Testing - Erin Brock
ACCESS testing will take place at VWES from January 22nd through February 2nd. Teachers, you will be receiving a schedule in advance so you know when I will be pulling your students. Please note that this is our version of a state assessment. This is mandatory for all active ML students.
Please make sure if you see a testing sign outside my door or Mrs. Torres', that the hallways are quiet to maintain a positive testing environment. I will be administering testing through the district till the end of February.
Even though I will not be pulling small groups, I am still here to support you in whatever way I can. If you need anything or have any questions, let me know! Thank you for all that you do!
Monitoring Forms Due
Reclassified/Exited Student Monitoring forms and Active ML Progress Monitoring forms will be due- Friday, 2/2 in Ellevation.
Reclassified/Exited Student Monitoring
This form will be generated for the ML students who are monitored. Please answer the questions to the best of your ability. One of the questions will ask what the student's current grade in your class is. If you teach more than one subject, please list the overall average for each subject area.
Active ML Progress Monitoring
This form will be generated for the ML students who are active in the program. If the question does not apply to your class, please select/type “N/A." Again, these forms will be due Friday 2/2. These forms need to be completed in order to stay compliant with the state department. Please make these a priority.
Multilingual Learner Update!
ML Services & Outreach Center
https://sites.google.com/lcsd.k12.sc.us/lcsdmlservicesoutreachcenter/home
Girls on the Run - VWES Coaches Needed!
Information from the Instructional Team
Ms. Moore - STEAM Coach
Ms. Gulledge - Math Coach
Ms. Cole - Reading Coach
MATH
Math Manipulatives:
Remember, that these are an extremely important part of every math lesson. Please reach out to me if you are in need of specific tools/materials or want a model of how it can be used effectively in the classroom
MAP Testing:
MAP Testing will take place January 29 - February 7. Here is the schedule. Students in K and 1st will need their own headphones if they are taking Math or regular ELA. I will provide the headphones for fluency testing. We will be pulling students on the last day (Feb. 7) to do makeup testing, but you are more than welcome to do makeup testing in your classroom at any point. More details to come in a separate email.
STEAM
Science Materials
As you are planning science investigations please know that we have a lot of materials you can use! All of the cabinets in my classroom are labeled with what materials are inside. If you have trouble finding something, or just don't have the time to gather materials, let me know! (You do not need to check out cabinet materials. Just grab what you need!) Click Here to see our STEAM Lab Inventory List. Can't find it in the lab? Check your science kit in your hallway teacher lounge!
Upcoming Scheduled Labs
Week of January 15th- Kindergarten Adaptations Lab
Week of January 22nd- 1st Grade Adaptations Lab
Week of January 29th and February 5th- MAP Testing/3rd Grade Stop Motion LifeCycle Collaboration Project in Technology
Week of February 12th- 2nd Grade Water Changes Lab
Week of February 19th- 4th Grade
Week of February 26th- 1st Grade Biomimicry Lab
ELA
LAP
As Quarter 2 has come to an end, we need to review and update LAP folders for those students that qualified in Q1. We will do this together so find a 15 minute time below that will work for us to meet. Click here to revisit your sign up time.
F&P
K-4 students should be assessed using F&P Benchmark Assessment during the month of February. Once the instructional level is identified, please make sure to update your data sheet.
January Walkthroughs
I have seen some GREAT examples of "I Do, We Do, You Do", students independently practicing skills and being collected for progress monitoring, as well as intentionally planned read alouds/passages to support a specific topic.
*Don't forget that pacing and structure of your lessons are super important! It can allow for students to be less engaged if the expectations are not clear.
Mental Health Awareness
Here is a mental health tip from our Counselors this week!
Self Care
Focus on positivity. Identify and challenge your negative and unhelpful thoughts.
Important Dates
January
Jan 29: 100th Day of School
February
Feb 5: PTO Lunch Coverage
Feb 5: PTO Penny Wars Begin
Feb 8: Coffee w/ Counselors
Feb 9: Staff Chili Cook-Off
Feb 16: District Holiday
Feb 19: Teacher Workday - Student Holiday
Feb 21: PTO Lunch Coverage
March
Mar 1: Read Across America Day - ILHS Guest Readers
Mar 8: Teachers Comp Day (PT Conference Night) - Student Holiday
Mar 11: PTO Lunch Coverage
Mar 14: Adventure Away Concert (1st Grade)
Mar 15: Three Nanny Goats Gruff Concert (Kindergarten)
Mar 18: Spring Individual Pictures
Mar 27: PTO Lunch Coverage
Mar 28: Kindergarten Graduation Pictures
April
Apr 1 - 5: Spring Break
Apr 8: PTO Lunch Coverage
Apr 11: STEAM Showcase
Apr 19: Special Olympics (District)
Apr 24: PTO Lunch Coverage
April 25-26: Field Days
May
May 24: Last Day of FIT Kids
May 24: ILHS Senior Walk @ VWES
May 27: Memorial Day (No School)
May 30: Early Dismissal (No FITKids)
May 31: Early Dismissal (No FITKids) (Last Day of School)
VWES Social Media Accounts
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VWESeagles (VWESeagles)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vweseagles (vweseagles)
Please follow our VWES PTO Social Media Accounts:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vwespto (vwespto)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vwespto (vwespto)
VWES PLC Norms
VWES - Unencumbered Time
SECTION 59-5-63. Unencumbered time requirement; policies; school district adoptions.
The State Board of Education shall adopt and periodically revise as necessary a statewide policy that each local school board shall use to develop and implement a plan that directs the principal of each elementary school to provide at least thirty minutes of unencumbered time on each regular school day to all full-time teachers teaching in a grade between kindergarten through fifth grade.
Our certified classroom teachers’ unencumbered time will be the first 30 minutes of your planning period each day. You will be expected to maximize the other 15 minutes minutes of your planning each day.
Student Reporting & PT Conferences 2023-2024
VWES Staff Handbook
LCSD Employee Handbook
VWES Team Store
If you are interested in purchasing any VWES Clothing Items our school has a team store through BSN Sports. Click the link below for more details.
VWES Staff Links
Please use the Teacher Resources page HERE to access all Staff Links for this year!
LCSD Wellness
LCSD - Safe Schools Training
We use Safe Schools to present mandatory training about healthy and safe schools. There are several training modules that have been assigned to you. You need to go to https://lcsd-sc.safeschools.com/login to access the training modules that have been assigned to you. Your login is your employee ID. If the system prompts for a password, it is also your employee ID. Your school bookkeeper can help you if you do not know/remember your employee ID.
Troy Fitzpatrick (troy.fitzpatrick@lcsd.k12.sc.us) can assist you with any technical issues you may have accessing the site.
District/State Testing Dates
January 22nd-February 2nd: ML ACCESS Testing
January 29th-February 7th: Winter MAP Testing
March 20th-March 29th: Spring CASE Benchmark
April 15th-19th: Spring MAP Testing
May 3rd-31st: SCReady and SCPass Testing