GATE Staff Newsletter
10.6.19
Happy Sunday everyone!
This will be an exciting week! I just checked the Fun Run webpage and as of 1:25 pm we only have $250 left to reach our fundraising goal of $8,500! I'm sure come Monday morning we will have reached it! Wow! Great job promoting it in your classrooms and newsletters - you have done a fantastic job with it so far AND you'll get to see the fruits of your efforts with 5% back for classroom supplies. We also have such a great group of supportive parents helping us to grow and succeed!
This week is also the start of our GATE Spirit Week! Please feel comfortable participating and encouraging your students to do so. Please also feel free to set some boundaries in your classrooms this week with any accessories students may bring in to go along with spirit week. If it's distracting to the learning environment, just ask them to put it in their lockers or away.
Please notice that I am in Lansing at my last two 5D training sessions Monday and Tuesday. There will be someone here each day to help support you if needed and help with recess duties.
I'll be sending these newsletters out every Sunday/Monday. Please take 10 minutes and read this newsletter thoroughly - there's a lot of information in it and hopefully many of your questions answered. Let's have another great week of learning!
Coming Up...
- 10/7: Kate out at 5D training in Lansing. Erica and Adrianna - carpool duty in afternoon. Colleen Brunni will be at GATE to help if needed. Lesson plans due in google folder (linked here) each Monday.
- 10/8: Kate out at 5D training in Lansing. Erica and Adrianna - carpool duty in afternoon. Sarah Stickney will be at GATE to help if needed.
- 10/9: Coffee with the Superintendent in the Media Center from 8:30-10:00am. This is just a chance for parents of GATE, SKILL, and Academy to chat with Dr. Schwarz about questions, comments, etc. they have.
- 10/10: Fire Drill at 8:15am. Girl scouts meeting at 6pm. PTO meeting at 7pm.
- 10/11: Fun Run Day!!!! See details below. Hive Huddles @2:30pm.
Other School Dates
- Oct. 7th: Spirit Week - Monday: PJ Day, Tuesday: Crazy Hair Day, Wednesday: Character Day, Thursday: Career Day, Friday: Spirit Day
- Oct. 7th: Some clubs begin
- Oct. 9th: Coffee with the Superintendent @ Meadows Media Center 8:30-10:00am
- Oct. 10: Girl Scout Information Meeting 6pm, room 153
- Oct. 10: PTO Meeting 7pm in Media Center
- Oct. 11: GATE Fun Run! (See flyer below!)
- Oct. 12: MAGC (Michigan Association of Gifted Children) Fall Conference
- Oct. 16: Avondale Resident Information Night 6:30-7:30pm in Media Center (For Avondale residents interested in applying to GATE for next year)
- Oct. 17: Early Dismissal (12:53)
- Oct. 24: GATE Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:30-8pm (Teachers will send out sign-up)
- Oct. 25: GATE Family activity night 7-9pm (room 163)
- Oct. 29: GATE Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:30-8pm (Teachers will send out sign-up)
- Oct. 29: Hearing/Vision Screening during school
- Oct. 31: Classroom Fall Parties (Time determined by your classroom teacher) & Halloween parade at 2:15.
- Nov. 4-15: Internal Application Window for residents and students already enrolled in Avondale thru schools of choice
- Nov. 5: 1/2 Day - Election Day
- Nov. 12: Fall Photo Retakes
- Nov. 14: PTO Meeting 7pm, Media Center
- Nov. 22: 1/2 Day; Teacher Records in PM.
- Nov. 26: 1/2 Day; Teacher Records in PM. End of 1st Trimester.
- Nov. 27-29: No School
Fun Run
Times are as follows:
9:00-9:45
2/3 Merrill
2/3 McDermid
3/4 Breeden
9:50-10:35
4/5 Gierman
4/5 Burmann
6 Bigelow
Be sure to have the students set goals - either by number of laps they'd like to have the goal of running or timing their miles. The students will also need to choose if they're running in the competitive race or the "just for fun" race. Students in the competitive race will wear a check off sheet on the back of their shirt and will need to have an adult mark their sheet each lap!
Parent/Teacher Conferences
- Oct. 24: GATE Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:30-8pm
- Oct. 29: GATE Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:30-8pm
Please create a sign-up genius for your parent/teacher conferences at the latest by Friday. The parents know to look for that soon from you. Please be mindful of any students that might have siblings at GATE and coordinate so the parents can get a close time. All teachers are required to be here on these nights so that you can be available for conferences. Please coordinate with Ms. Spencer if you'd like her to be present for meetings with students/parents on her caseload. I can also sit in any conferences if you'd like.
The PTO has graciously offered to provide dinner for all staff on both nights. It will be an early dinner set up around 4.
Phone Extensions
NEW Early Dismissal/Sick Student Routines
Positivity Project (P2)
Don't forget - all resources are available at posproject.org
Clubs
Club registration has closed. If a student expresses interest in a club, please email me directly and we might be able to work something out. Club sponsors- please communicate with your parents/students from now on. Thank you!
All clubs have more than enough participation to run and will be fantastic!
Weekly Newsletters - REMINDER
Staff Meeting Dates
Well, the survey results were 50% wanting AM and 50% wanting PM. As a compromise we'll do every-other staff meeting at 6:45am-7:45am and every-other at 3:05pm-4:05pm. Please mark your calendars.
11/12 3:05pm-4:05pm
12/10 6:45am-7:45am
1/14 3:05pm-4:05pm
2/11 6:45am-7:45am
3/10 3:05pm-4:05pm
4/14 6:45am-7:45am
5/12 3:05pm-4:05pm
6/9 6:45am-7:45am
Kalpa Hours - Tracking your PD
The course codes are 1019050 & 101952
The Kalpa link is in the HUB.
Book Room
Please check in the book room for updated book sets - there are new books coming in each week!
Weekly Dose of Encouragement
OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW
GATE Applicant/Interested Parent Tours
Most dates are on some Fridays at 9am, but there are some parents that cannot attend those that will come on other days/times. I'm giving you all a heads up now - if you see us walking around the school or peeking in your classroom - you won't be surprised. No need to stop and have a quick chat about what your students are doing unless you have time. In other words, don't stop teaching. :) It's a fantastic opportunity for interested families to see what we have to offer. It benefits all of us when we are able to show them what a fantastic environment we provide for our students!
Here's the link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080a49aca62da0f58-avondale
GATE Application Dates - FYI
Every year I coordinate all of the application process for next year's students. This involves two important "windows" - one for resident students of Avondale, and one for students outside of the district that we call "school of choice" students. Any student can apply if they live in Oakland county or any county contiguous to it. Students come in for testing and take the MAP math, MAP reading, and complete a narrative writing assessment. These are scored and students must score in the 93rd percentile or higher in both MAP tests in order to be considered. You are always welcome to attend the information nights or be a part of the selection teams. Please let me know if you're interested.
2019-2020 Applications: Important Dates
October 2nd 6:30-7:30: INTERNAL Information Night at Meadows
October 16th 6:30-7:30: INTERNAL Information Night at Meadows
Nov 4 - Nov 15: INTERNAL Application Window
Nov 20th: Writing assessment conducted at each home school
December 13th: Selection team meeting at Meadows
December 16th-17th: Internal Parent Notification
January 10th: Letter of intent OR Appeals DUE
January 16th: Internal appeals meeting
January 17th: Notification of decision for internal appeals
January 29th 6:30-7:30: SCHOOL OF CHOICE Information Night at Meadows
February 5th 6:30-7:30: SCHOOL OF CHOICE Information Night at Meadows
February 3rd - March 3rd: SCHOOL OF CHOICE application window
March 9th and 11th: Writing assessment and Math MAP assessment.
March 16th and 18th: Reading MAP assessment.
March 23rd: Selection team meet
March 26th-27th: School of Choice Parent Notification
April 3rd: Letter of intent OR Appeals DUE
April 13th: School of Choice appeals meeting
April 16th- 17th: Notification of decision for school of choice appeals
FOSS Kits
Please let me know if you have any questions about the FOSS kits you received.
We will have two FOSS kits this year. They will be used during Trimester 1 and Trimester 2.
2nd-Pebbles, Sand, Silt (Fall drop off, ? PU), Solids and Liquids (Nov Drop off, Feb 19 PU)
3rd- Water and Climate (Fall drop off, ? PU), Motion and Matter (Nov Drop off, Feb 19 PU)
4th- Soil, Rocks, and Landforms (Fall drop off, ? PU), Energy (Nov Drop off, Feb 19 PU
5th- Earth and Sun (Fall drop off, ? PU), Mixtures and Solutions (Nov Drop off, Feb 19 PU)
2nd/3rd: Amanda Merrill - 2nd grade kit
2nd/3rd: Kimberly McDermid - 3rd grade kit
3rd/4th: Rachel Breeden - 3rd grade kits
4th/5th: Michelle Gierman - 4th grade kits
4th/5th: Erica Burmann - 5th grade kits