CANNON TIMES
A Newsletter For Cannon Staff 2018-2019
Principal Points- Week of April 1, 2019
The BIG construction news at Cannon last week was ALL about those new parking lots!! How exciting to see LOTS of cement being poured and our front exterior areas beginning to take shape, in order to offer us a glimpse at what it will look like once construction is finally completed! Who knew we could get so excited about something such as PARKING LOTS?? LOL!!
As our school gets closer & closer to completion, our district will frequently utilize our campus for various district events. The construction of a new school in GCISD is a BIG deal and they are eager to begin "showing off" our beautiful new school through a variety of forums. You will note on the April calendar that there are five events coming up which involve district or community meetings at Cannon. In addition, there are two large district events scheduled to take place at Cannon during May. Some of these April/May events are in the evening, while others are during the day. While most of these events will not involve classroom visits, the district is excited for us to provide an opportunity for their guests to tour our building and check out our new spaces.
Please make sure that there is evidence of quality student work on display in your grade level spaces. A great example can be found when visiting the common areas in 1st grade. There is consistently student work proudly displayed and it is always evident how students (whether they are present or not!) have the opportunity to participate in extended learning experiences in these spaces, through the content-based activities that are available for students to access in these areas. I encourage you to take a quick walk around all grade level areas and see what "feel" you get for the learning that happens in these spaces. Some of our grade level common areas currently appear a bit "sterile" and without any evidence of student work, it is difficult for others to realize how these spaces actually add any value over more traditional classroom/school settings.
Displaying student work sends an important message not only to guests at our school, but also to our students. Research supports how hallway environments where student work is visible and shared can dramatically shape a student's view of their own abilities! Effective displays:
- Communicate what we value most & our expectations of students
- Demonstrate clearly to students that they are capable of high quality creative and critical thinking
- Elevate student pride in their own work
- Provide opportunities for students to learn from each other
- Support students in reflection on their learning
- Promote teacher reflection on student learning
You and your students are doing amazing things every day! Let others see the efforts of all this hard work and the creative minds of our scholars!
Proud to be your principal,
Tona :)
#BeCannonProud
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Lisa's Coaching Corner
Happy April! This week I have been amazed watching the front of our property shape up with outlines of the parking lots!
I have three action items to share with you:
1. On behalf of the Curriculum and Instruction Department, Dr. Newell would like for you to complete this survey Last year this survey was not sent out until late May when things were very hectic so please take a few minutes to complete it by mid-April. Thank you!!
2. K-4 GRADE teachers will be receiving an email from SEE-SAW very soon. Watch for your email. Our district has entered a 3-year contract and you can access the PREMIUM features NOW!
3. Since this is our first year with eSTAR and the RTI process, PLEASE DOUBLE CHECK to make sure you are up to date with progress monitoring. If you NEED ANY HELP, please just send me an email and we can meet during your planning and I will gladly assist!!
T2 Students should complete their Progress Monitoring every 2 weeks!
T3 Students should complete their Progress Monitoring every week!
What am I using for Progress Monitoring?
Remember that you can check out their intervention goal in eStar to remind yourself what progress monitoring measure you are using. Just log into eStar using ClassLink. Click on T2 (or T3) on the left. Find your student. Then click on the top drop down and look for Intervention Plan. (See screenshot below.) RTI Handbook
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DATES TO REMEMBER
04/01 UCAN @ 3:05 in Learning Commons
04/02 PLC Week B - Kindergarten 2:15-3:45
04/03 PLC Week B - 1st grade 2:15-3:45
04/04 Kindergarten performs musical for 1st & 2nd grade 2:15
04/04 PLC Week B - 2nd grade 2:15-3:45
04/04 Kindergarten Musical - 6:00 pm
04/08 STEM Leadership 3:00 in PLC room
04/09 STAAR Testing - 4th Writing/5th Math
04/09 PLC Week A - 3rd grade 2:15-3:45
04/10 STAAR Testing - 5th Reading
04/10 PLC Week A - 4th grade 2:15-3:45
04/11 PLC Week A - 5th grade 2:15-3:45
04/12 5th Grade College Day
04/16 PLC Week B - Kindergarten 2:15-3:45
04/16 Cubs Night Out @ Spring Creek BBQ 5:00-9:00
04/17 PLC Week B - 1st grade 2:15-3:45
04/17 NTX School Board Association Meeting @ Cannon 4:00-8:00 pm
04/18 GCISD Community Showcase @ Cannon 8:30-9:30 am - Learning Commons
04/18 PLC Week B - 2nd grade 2:15-3:45
04/18 District Excellence Committee Meeting @ Cannon 6:00-7:30 pm Learning Commons
04/19 Bad Weather Make-up Day - No School!
04/22 Bad Weather Make-up Day - No School!
04/23-25 Kindergarten Registration
04/23 PLC Week A - 3rd grade 2:15-3:45
04/23 Kindergarten Meet & Greet - 4:00-6:00 pm
04/24 Principal Instructional Rounds @ Cannon
04/24 PLC Week A - 4th grade 2:15-3:45
04/25 Community Champions @ Cannon 8:30-10:00 - Learning Commons
04/25 3rd grade field trip to UTA Planetarium - 9:00-2:00
04/25 PLC Week A - 5th grade 2:15-3:45
04/25 Cubs Night Out @ Cici's Pizza
04/27 Rachel's Challenge Rally @ CHHS 9:00-11:00 am
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STAAR TESTING DATES
STAAR testing begins SOON! ALL staff needs to make sure these dates are on your calendar.
- 4th Grade Writing (Tuesday, April 9)
- 5th Grade Math (Tuesday, April 9)
- 5th Grade Reading (Wednesday, April 10)
OTHER STAAR TESTING DATES FOR THIS SPRING;
May 13th - 3rd & 4th Math STAAR (5th Math retakes)
May 14th - 3rd & 4th Reading STAAR (5th Reading retakes)
May 15th - 5th Science STAAR
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CONGRATULATIONS CORNER!!
CONGRATS ADDI FREINER!
This annual event is presented by The Young Men & Young Women of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Colleyville and has grown in scale and scope over the last few years to include teacher recognitions from GCISD, Carroll ISD, HEB ISD, & Keller ISD. In addition to selected educators, students and their families, it is attended by many community leaders, including mayors, city council leaders, district administrators, and school board members.
CONGRATULATIONS ADDI, you are so deserving of this recognition! We are proud of you!
CORA SIMS JOINS CANNON TEAM!
Ms. Cora Sims, GCISD custodian, will be joining Mr. Jose on a staggered schedule beginning this week. She will come in daily at 10:30 am and will stay until 6:30, in order to provide support to both our day & night custodial staff. Cora has worked in GCISD for many years and has most recently been supporting GHS. Please introduce your scholars to Ms. Cora and help us welcome her to Cannon!
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REMINDERS AND UPDATES
SIGN UP FOR YOUR U.CAN SESSION ON MONDAY!
U.CAN SESSIONS - MONDAY APRIL 1st - 3:05 pm - 3:50 pm
USE THIS LINK TO SIGN UP FOR A SESSION NOW!
Communication: It’s Not Just Talking!
Location: 5th Multi-purpose room
We all communicate daily to get what we want, but are our words efficient? Join us for a dual interactive presentation on communication. Teaching students to look past mindless chatter when communicating with each other in order to convey a precise message. Teaching teachers how to thoughtfully reflect on the way they communicate with their students. Material is easily adaptable to any grade level or content.
Designing Engineering Notebooks
Location: Makerspace Room
Want to take your STEM Design Challenges to the next level? Learn how to implement Engineering Notebooks with your students emphasizing each stage in the design process using precise communication and detailed drawings. This session is appropriate for any grade level/content area and will provide strategies you can utilize in your classroom tomorrow!
Jr. Master Gardening & Field Sketching
Location: K-2 Multi-purpose room
Dig into guiding students to verbalize and develop drawings that are detailed and specific. Analyze and observe the world around them; allowing them to question themselves by documenting their observations, questions, and wonders using their field journals.
Explore the Learning Garden and share ideas for lessons that correspond to the TEKS as well as learn about resources available for the garden. Implement garden-related lessons into your Science teaching.
STUDENT VOICE SURVEY RESULTS
Click here to see Kindergarten-1st grade results
Click here to see 2nd-4th grade results
Click here to see 5th grade results
COMPLETE THIS STUDENT VOICE DATA REFLECTION FORM - ONE FORM PER GRADE LEVEL
Please complete and submit by April 15th.
RECOGNITION FOR OUR AWESOME PARENT VOLUNTEERS!
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES - HOW TO STAY CURRENT
BIG thanks to Deena Crawford for putting together this slideshow which provides information on how to:
- find out who your representatives are
- stay aware of current topics
- make contact with your representatives in order to share your voice
- register to vote & find out where to vote in upcoming elections
Postcards will be placed in all staff mailboxes this week, so that after you review the information in this slideshow and identify which representative you want to share your message with, you can use this postcard as one quick method to ensure your voice has been heard. After you write your postcard, please return it to Tona's mailbox. These must be received by April 8th and they will be hand-delivered by a GCISD representative to Austin!
Finally, remember that our local elections are coming up soon and:
You MUST be registered by April 4th
Early Voting is April 22-April 30
Election Day is May 4, 2019
VEGGIE BAR @ LUNCH!
Please talk with your scholars about the free Veggie Bar and encourage them to only take small servings, in order to avoid a lot of waste. We want to establish the Veggie Bar as a healthy habit that our Cubs enjoy and will be excited to contribute to with items from our own garden soon!
T-TESS End-of Year Conferences
PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING FORM AT LEAST 3 DAYS PRIOR TO YOUR SUMMATIVE CONFERENCE AND INCLUDE ALL DOCUMENTATION & EVIDENCES AS REQUESTED.
FROM THE MAKERSPACE
t's time for April Tech Talks!
Happy Making!
UPDATES FROM THE LEARNING COMMONS
REMINDERS FROM MRS. WAGNER
Mrs. Wagner will be gone the following days for PLC, Conferences, STAAR etc. Do not schedule a library lesson on these days:
- March 28
- April 9,10
- April 15, 16, 17, 18
- There will be no library lessons in May
- Deadline to finish the GCISD Reads challenge is May 1- celebration dates coming soon!
- All library books are due May 17
MARCH/APRIL BOOK OF THE MONTH
We are SO excited about this month's Book of the Month! This nonfiction book follows an elementary school in New Mexico for an entire calendar year as they plan, plant, tend, and harvest their school garden.
As part of this month's design challenge, our Cannon scholars will be challenged to help us plan our new Cannon Garden! Each grade level is assigned 3 hexagon shaped raised planters to plant and take care of in the Cannon garden area. Scholars will research plants that grow in our area and select a theme for their garden plan, then they will create a diagram of how they will be arranged in the garden beds and submit their ideas! We will be selecting the best ideas and using those ideas to get our garden started!
Check out all of the design challenge criteria and details in the Book of the Month S'more below and please share the Adobe Spark video with your Cubs so that they understand all of the details of this month's design challenge. Thank you for encouraging your Cubs to participate!
Live Stream of the Future of Texas Public Education Event
On April 1-2, The Texas Tribune will sit down with top lawmakers, educators, advocates and more in Austin for a two-day conversation on education policy in Texas. To learn more about the event on the most pressing issues facing students and educators across Texas or to find out how to live stream, visit:
https://www.texastribune.org/2019/03/13/watch-public-education-event/
JEANS & KINDNESS MONDAYS IN APRIL!
Leading up to the GCISD annual Rachel's Challenge Rally on April 27th, the district is claiming every Monday in April as Rachel's Challenge Day.
We will focus on a Kindness Aspect of Rachel's Challenge and will post messages on social media developed by Kindness Club members.
Every Monday in April, staff may wear jeans if they are wearing a Rachel's Challenge shirt.
Kindness messages will be shared via the announcements and on social media every Monday in April. Please ask your students to participate by wearing their Rachel's Challenge shirts on Mondays in April and by continuing Rachel's messages of kindness, compassion, and respect.
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Worth A Read, Watch or...Listen!!
DRAWING APPS TO CHECK OUT were featured recently on GCISD's technology blog. If you are looking for an alternative to Doodle Buddy, check out this quick blogpost!
CREATIVE IDEA FOR HOW TO CHECK IN WITH YOUR SCHOLARS! The teacher who wrote this blogpost used a simple and creative method to check in with her students to see how they were doing/feeling about upcoming STAAR tests. This strategy could become a regular practice in your classroom to allow students an opportunity to share their feelings with you in a private way! Check it out here!
SMITHSONIAN LEARNING LAB is a FREE resources which allows teachers to create and search for documents, images, videos, interactive animations, and lesson plans from a wide range of Smithsonian-hosted resources. It also lets you create collections to share with others as well as create assignments to give to your students. The one minute video below show you how to use this awesome resource. Check it out!!
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CURRICULUM & INSTRUCTION CORNER
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INFORMATION TO SHARE IN PARENT NEWSLETTERS
Congratulations To These Cannon Art Students!
Congratulations to all of our Cannon students who will have art on display!
Kindergarten - Kayden Luna; Ruby Grange; Rowan Nanney; Judson Welsh
1st grade - Jackson Badger; Lindsay Rodriguez; Sophie Stovall; Austin Doran
2nd grade - Bridget Beeman; Catelyn Kelley; Ambry Jensen; Edgar Granados
3rd grade - Ian Lizardi; Saige Staley; Anjeli Nguyen; Crimson Shope
4th grade - Elyssa Paul; Lyla Vesce; Aila Huff
5th grade - Gavin Wright; Jon Nguyen; John Torres; Fatima Ruvalcaba Zambrano; Marlene Chang
CAREER DAY 2019
We are looking for individuals to come present at our Career Day for all students K-5 on Monday, May 20th. Our hope is for students to gain knowledge about possible careers/jobs and the college and/or experiences required to obtain these professions.
We would love for our guests to bring any hands on materials or pictures that will help the students better understand your job/career.
Please complete this survey to let us know if you are interested.
Contact Mandy Coburn, Cannon Counselor, if you have any questions. (817) 251-5684 or amanda.coburn@gcisd.net
IT'S YEARBOOK TIME!
MATH TELESCOPING EXAMS
Lee esta información en español
Testing opportunities for telescoping in math for the 2019-20 school year are available in the spring and summer for GCISD students who are completing Grades K - 7.
The Math Telescoping Information Packet will be available on the district website under the For Parents and Students Directory by selecting the link for Acceleration Exams, Math Telescoping, Grades K - 7.
Parents will find information about the requirements to qualify for Math Telescoping and instructions about the TWO STEP Online Registration Process. There will be links to print the Information Packet, begin the TWO STEP Online Registration Process to register for the spring exams, view the TEKS on the TEA website, and download Study Guides for the exams purchased from UT-Austin.
The online registration form will go live on May 6th for the June 19th test administration.
The summer exam dates and registration deadlines for each exam date are listed below:
Summer Exam Date: Wednesday, June 19, 2019 9 a.m. Heritage Middle School
Online Registration Opens – Summer Exam Date: May 6, 2019
Online Registration Closes – Summer Exam Date: May 20, 2019
The online registration form will not be unavailable on May 21, 2019
Exam Fee Payment Deadline – Summer Exam Date: May 21, 2019
GOT OLD ELECTRONICS?
Do you have any small old, broken electronics gathering dust? We are collecting these for our Breaker Space and our 4th grade scholars also have a project coming up and could use your old electronics to explore!
Suggestions for small items to donate: (No items with GLASS screens please! )
- Electronic toys - we LOVE these!
- Keyboards
- Remotes
- Small appliances (hair dryers; coffee makers; toasters; styling tools, etc...
- Clocks
- Phones
- Smoke detectors; Flashlights; Tools
- We would love to learn from anything you might have!
Please drop these items off in the front office or send them to school with your students to be taken to the office. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!
Parent Technology Academy
Come and learn along with others about the ever-changing
world of technology in which your children are living!
Spring Parent Technology Academy Sessions
GCISD Technology is excited to announce our Spring Session line up with several new sessions. Stay tuned as more will be added to our list as we keep receiving the request from the community.
April 16th - Apps Parents Need to Know -SIGN UP HERE
Take part in this interactive discussion around the growing world of apps that students are using. Go being the scenes to hear the truth behind the apps and what dangers there are to those who use them
Virtual Session Coming Soon - Fortnite ( a Parents Guide ) - SIGN UP HERE
Many have asked some come and experience Fortnite for parents. Hear about details of the game and dive into parental settings for the various gaming systems students use to play online.
All sessions can be found on the Parent Technology Academy Webpage
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TWITTER REMINDERS FOR @canSTEM
BIG thanks to all of our staff members that have already been actively tweeting about the great learning going on in your classrooms!
Please help us reach our campus goal for all staff to participate in a 5-minute a day communication plan, as stated in George Couros's quote shown here. It's truly a simple way to SHARE & LEARN from the best minds in GCISD! I am going to be highlighting our school twitter account HEAVILY with parents & our school community, to help create our own "outward culture of celebration"!!
As a reminder, please include our school's handle, @canSTEM, and our hashtag, #BeCannonProud in all of your tweets, so that they can be automatically retweeted on our school account. At the end of the day, simply go to @canSTEM and scroll through our school's tweets for 5 minutes and see what your colleagues are sharing! If you want to learn more from them about an idea they shared....you will only have to walk across the building to get more information firsthand!
Please click here to see our staff list of social media accounts. Please add/update any information so that we can make sure we follow each other!
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TO-DO LIST
- Set a timer and complete daily attendance ON TIME every day!
- Don't forget to wear jeans & Rachel's Challenge shirts on Kindness Mondays in April!
- Sign up for a U.CAN session on Monday & attend UCAN @ 3:10 on Monday!
- Review student voice survey data with your team & submit a team reflection form by April 15th.
- All staff evaluated by T-TESS needs to complete & submit the T-TESS Domain 4 & SLO document at least 5 days before your scheduled Summative Meeting date.
- Work with your grade level teams to ensure your grade level spaces reflect the awesome learning experiences you provide your scholars!
- Complete the C & I Survey found in Lisa's section of this newsletter.
- Submit parent volunteer names for PTA recognition asap!
- Check out the slideshow shared by Deena to become informed about now to contact your representatives & current education topics in this legislative session. Use the postcard in your mailbox to share your voice & return to Tona by April 8th.
- Share BoM information with your Cubs & parents - encourage them to participate!
- 1st & 2nd grade classes - plan to attend the Kinder musical on Thursday @ 2:15 in Café.
- Attend Tech Talk Friday & learn all about our STEM Backpacks for our Cubs!
- Start reminding parents NOW that we will have a closed campus on STAAR dates. No parents or guests for lunches or volunteering.
- Check out information in the new spring C&I newsletter!
- See the Information To Share With Parents section of this newsletter for communication about campus events & other district news that needs to be included in your own newsletters, blogs, etc...
- Please click here to see our staff list of social media accounts. Please add/update any information so that we can make sure we follow each other!
- Review the information in this newsletter about the 5-minute a day communication plan. Tweet & blog about all of the great things you are doing in your classroom/grade! Don't forget to use @canSTEM and our hashtag #BeCannonProud this year in all of your tweets!