Anchor Weekly
A newsletter for Alta Vista Staff~Week of November 18, 2019
Don't Forget! Next Week's Calendar
- Donation Drive all week of November 18
- Data Meetings with 4th/5th Grade Students ALL WEEK of November 18
- Math Coaching with Mr. A on Tuesday, November 19 at conference time
- OPTIONAL Campus Tech Training (Epic & SmartyAnts) on Tuesday, November 19 at 3:30 pm
- ELPS Training due to Helton (Select Teachers) on Tuesday, November 19
- Transformation Waco Board Meeting on Tuesday, November 19 at 5:30 pm
- Staff Thanksgiving Potluck (Sign up in Lounge!) on Wednesday, November 20
- Great Turkey Hunt for Staff on Wednesday, November 20
- OPTIONAL Campus Tech Training (Google Classroom with Lisa Monthie) on Wednesday, November 20 at 3:40 pm in Library
- Behavior PLC on on Thursday, November 21
- Thanksgiving Lunch on Friday, November 22
- Wear a Thanksgiving/Fall tshirt on Friday, November 22
- Sunshine Dues to Ms. Boggess on Friday, November 22
- Thanksgiving Break on November 25-29
- NWEA MAP Testing starts Monday, December 2
- Outstanding Teacher Award Ceremony on Tuesday, December 3 at 6:30 pm at Waco High
- Faculty Meeting (Vertical Alignment) on Wednesday, December 4 at 3:30 pm
- Baylor Lady Bears Celebrate Transformation Waco on Wednesday, December 4 at 7 pm at Ferrell Center
- Reading PLC with Region 12 on Thursday, December 5 (Gr 3-5 Math & Reading)
- 5th Grade Field Trip to CCMS on Thursday, December 5 at 8:15-10:30 am
Coming Up Soon: Holiday Concert on Tuesday, December 10 at 6:00 pm at Austin Ave. United Methodist Church
Captain's Log
I want to include a brief summary of my schedule each week so you know where I'll be (or why you can't find me sometimes). Please understand it may change suddenly. You are always welcome to text me at 254-644-4304.
Mrs. Helton's Week At A Glance
- All Week-Meeting with 4th & 5th grade students to review progress
- Monday-Transformation Waco Principal Meeting (10:00-1:00)
- Tuesday-Campus meetings and TTESS
- Wednesday-HR Training (1:00-3:30)
- Thursdsay-PLCs
- Friday-Serving Thanksgiving Lunch
Teacher To-Do List
- Have students update their data notebooks (11/18)
- Complete ELPS Training (Select Teachers) (11/19)
- Sign up to bring something for our staff Thanksgiving Potluck (11/20)
- Pay your Sunshine dues to Mrs. Boggess (11/22)
- Email Mrs. Helton your strategies for #NoExcusesNovember (11/22)
- Update student work on bulletin board to reflect 3rd six weeks standards (don't forget TEK) (12/4)
#NoExcusesNovember
From Ms. Haskett: My class is talking about trying our best on our work, even when it’s hard and we want to give up.
Email Mrs. Helton how your class is implementing #NoExcusesNovember to earn Tribe points!
Conscious Discipline & CHAMPS
We are excited to announce that Ms. Rawles, Ms. Haskett, and Ms. Gray will be trained to be CHAMPS Classroom Management Coaches in December. They will be able to support you with CHAMPS implementation starting in February.
Resources:
PLCs
Make sure you check the PLC Notes Template to review "To-Do" items prior to PLCs each week. Bring your laptop, planning calendar and materials, assessment data, and student work samples each week.
11/21: Behavior
12/5: Reading with Region 12 (Gr 3-5 Both Subjects)
12/12: Math (Gr 3-5 Both Subjects)-We will be planning for the 4th six weeks
Resources:
Self-Care for You!
What is stress?
Stress comes in all shapes and forms. We experience different types of stress throughout our days—the important thing to remember is that stress can be good or bad, depending on how you perceive and respond to it!
Stressor: an event that causes feelings of anxiety, fear, nervousness or worry. It can be small like a red light that lasts too long, to something large like a new job.
What are some basics you can do to reduce your stress?
- Structure your time
- Set realistic goals
- Devote some time to silence (can be two minutes!)
- Create positive self-talk for yourself
- Monitor your eating and sleeping habits
- Become aware of your surroundings
- Surround yourself with people you trust
- Be active!
Everyone is different so it is important to know yourself and take time to find out what works for you!
“In times of stress, the best thing we can do for each other is to listen with our ears and our hearts and to be assured that our questions are just as important as our answers.” -Mr. Fred Rogers
Extra Resources: https://www.wgu.edu/heyteach/article/9-stress-management-strategies-every-teacher-needs-know1612.html
Resource for helping your students with stress: https://www.accreditedschoolsonline.org/resources/student-stress/
UIL Sponsors Needed
- Art Smart (Gr 4-5)
- Chess (Gr 2)
- Music Memory (Gr 2-5)
- Creative Writing (Gr 2)
- Ready Writing (Gr 3-5)
- Dictionary Skills (Gr 5)
- Listening (Gr 5)
- Number Sense (Gr 4-5)
- Spelling (Gr 3-5)
- Story Telling (Gr 2-3)
- Oral Reading (Gr 4-5)
The contest will be in late January most likely.
Staff of the Week
Congratulations to Mr. Crump for being our STAFF OF THE WEEK. He has done an amazing job of organizing enriching activities for his Boys to Men group.
Movement!
Blended Learning Resources
Matt Miller from "Ditch that Textbook" has put together a great collection of blended learning templates students could use. Many would work well with SeeSaw with only slight modifications. If you want to learn more about creating assignment in SeeSaw, Ms. Haskett is a great resource!
Math & Science Vertical Planning Days
- Math Planning Dates (Grades K-5): December 10, February 18
- Science Planning Date (Grades K-5): November 12, January 10, February 19
Please work with Ms. Bonnie to secure subs for these days (grades 3-5 only). Grades K-2 will use the aides assigned to their grade level.
Upcoming Reading Coaching
- November 19: On-site in-class coaching in morning ; planning with select teacher in afternoon (Long, Villela, V. Martinez, Foreman, 5 Martinez)
- December 5: Reading PLC
GT Update Opportunities
Foundation 30 Hours of GT Training OR Initial Administrator/ Counselor training (Deadline December 13, 2019)
Day 1: Nature and Needs of Gifted Learners, Responsive Learning
Link:http://txgiftedcourses.responsivelearning.com/SelfRegistration/
Registration Code: c11277WISD11371
Day 2: Screening, Assessment and Identification, Responsive Learning
use the link and code provided above
Day 3: Differentiating in a G/T Classroom, Google Classroom (oqa726)
Day 4: Critical and Creative Thinking, Google Classroom (mslr7j)
Day 5: Depth and Complexity, Google Classroom (eg3pzl)
Annual Update Options- All annual updates are due no later than May 1, 2020
Book Study (September 1-December 20, 2019) 6-Hours Credit Each
Living with Intensity, Susan Daniels (Eduphoria course link)
Mindfulness in the Classroom, Season Mussey (Google Classroom 2mp2z0i)
Frames (ebook)- J. Taylor Publishing. (Must be purchased and downloaded from JTayloreducation.com. Item # JTE-5D) (Google Classroom q359noe)
90 Minute Google Classroom Updates- Complete 4 to fulfill your 6-hour Update
Depth and Complexity: Creating Tiered Instruction (Google Classroom wtda9jh)
Differentiation in the Classroom: The Basics (Google Classroom ifxecn)
Depth and Complexity: Creating a Choice Board (Google Classroom F5gm8ec)
Depth and Complexity: Creating a Frame (Google Classroom 67xr2h)
*Additional courses will be added throughout the year.