Collegiate Academy Heartbeat
Sunday, February 23, 2020
From the Heart
Team,
The pursuit of buses to change our start and stop times is ongoing! However, it is now time to begin planning for next year. We need a master schedule and a school 2020/21 calendar. We have begun to create those following the same school day times as this year, but with a shift in our class periods that I believe will allow us to serve our students more efficiently and see even greater success. It is a work in progress....
The plan is to share the new and improved Master Schedule on Friday, March 6 and also share with you your teaching assignment for next year. (that will be a first for CA ;-) ). I am very excited about the schedule and I believe you will be too! The goal is to be aligned with TCC as much as possible and the new schedule allows that, beginning at 9:30am, Monday - Thursday! More to come....
Don't forget to nominate someone for Teacher of the Year, if you haven't already and would like to. Next week's Heartbeat will have the TOY voting google form!
Teacher of the Year Selection Process
2019-20
Since the inception of LEAD 2021, GCISD schools have changed significantly. Classroom instruction is more engaging, student voice is highly valued, technology is an integral tool for learning, and campus cultures are more inclusive places to learn and work. In keeping with our LEAD 2021 and LEAD 2.0 work, the selection of GCISD’s elementary and secondary teachers of the year is an innovative process that recognizes our best and brightest educators.
Teachers being nominated as a campus Teacher of the Year should routinely demonstrate the following essential characteristics:
Engaging and personalized classroom instruction tied to the curriculum’s learning objectives
Meaningful use of technology and other innovative tools to extend learning
Attention to students’ unique needs to ensure academic growth
The process of selecting the GCISD campus Teachers of the Year is as follows:
Teachers will be nominated by their peers using a campus-based Google form. The form will include a space for the nominating staff member to include evidence to support the way the teacher demonstrates the essential characteristics.
Nominees may include teachers, librarians*, and counselors* who have not received this honor at their campus for the past 3 years. (*Librarians or counselors must teach students 4 hours per day in order to be eligible per the state guidelines.)
Prior to the beginning of voting, nominees will be asked to accept their nomination before being put on the campus ballot.
Using the evidence cited in the nomination forms, nominees will be voted on by their campus peers.
The process for selecting the GCISD district Teachers of the Year is as follows:
Each campus Teacher of the Year winner will submit a 5-6 minute video clip of their teaching to the district Teacher of the Year committee. The purpose of the video is to capture evidence of teaching strategies and/or classroom environmental factors that exemplify the essential characteristics of a GCISD teacher. The video can be shot with an iPhone or iPad.
Each campus Teacher of the Year will participate in a 10-15 minute interview with the district Teacher of the Year committee.
The timeline for the process will be as follows:
Campus nomination timeline: February 17-February 28, 2020
Nominees will be asked to accept by the campus principal.
Campus voting timeline: March 2-6, 2020
Campus announcement and names of winners shared with Dr. Newell on March 16, 2020
District information sent to all campus winners from Dr. Newell: March 18, 2020
District video submissions due to stephanie.heppenstal@gcisd.net: March 31, 2020
District interviews (time TBD): April 13, 2020
District announcement: TBD
Region 11 Teacher of the Year application due to be submitted to Region 11 by GCISD Teachers (send copy to Dr. Newell on or before May 31): Date TBD
Teacher not eligible: Jessica Waters
Counselor not eligible: Riley Cavanagh
This week:
Preparation for UIL competitions ( Julie, Kristinia, Sarah)
Soccer and Volleyball games (Tito, Yvonne)
Talent Show Tryouts. (Jessica)
Expo at Cannon Elementary (Lauren)
Jose P speaks to 150 Superintendents about his CA experience (Bobbe - his UBER)
If you have some free time, the teachers above might need your help!
Thursday 9:30am - 12:30pm
All freshmen, sophomores and juniors with high school classes attend the TCC play. Please accompany your students to the performance. Enjoy!
Thank you Jessica and STUCO for an incredible night at Skatetown last Thursday. Students were all talking about it on Friday and asking me to plan another one....lol. I said, see Mrs. Waters.
Our first ever Parent Orientation Night was a HUGE success! Thank you Yvonne (the master mind), Robin, Kristinia, Lauren, Riley and Matthew! What a great night! You know it was good, when after 2 hours of training, you close the night and parents spontaneously start clapping. Job well done!!
As we close out Black History Month, I have included a video bio of Condoleezza Rice. We were born the same year and not only did she break barriers for black citizens, she broke barriers for women. Even if you aren't a fan of her politics, you should be a fan of all she accomplished! Enjoy the video!
One last reminder: Please email or text me when you are going to be out, after you have entered it in Frontline! Thanks in advance!
Spring Break - Two weeks away!
Let's do this in love,
Bobbe
The courage to love unconditionally breaks all barriers.
#PhoenixFierce
Together we will make a difference!
Matthew's Thought for the Week by Matthew
It's Always Interesting with Cav
Lauren's Learnings
Upcoming Events
March 5 UIL One Act District
March 9 - 13 - Spring Break
GCISD Staff News
After School Clubs and KidzU
Please make sure your students attending KidzU check in with KidzU staff before attending after school clubs and activities.
Staff and Student Ipads - *Cyber Security Action Required*
Over the past few months notices have been sent out regarding the need to update staff and student iPads to OS level 13.1. Currently, there are 1,200 iPads that are below 12.4. Due to security issues, these iPads will be disabled on February 21, 2020. To ensure there is no disruption to instruction please check your iPad IOS version ( \follow the link for help).
HELP ARTICLE ON HOW TO UPDATE IOS
For elementary classrooms it's best to ask the students to follow the steps as well to be sure their iPads are updated.