Monday Memo
May 29th - June 2nd
"I have no illusions about what little I can add now to the silent testimony of those who gave their lives willingly for their country… Yet, we must try to honor them—not for their sakes alone, but for our own. And if words cannot repay the debt we owe these men, surely with our actions we must strive to keep faith with them and with the vision that led them to battle and to final sacrifice." -Ronald Reagan
Between pool parties, game nights, a concert, laundry and binge watching our new favorite show, by any measure, the Littles fully embraced the time off. I am grateful to have been able to be fully present in those moments with my family and friends. I hope all of you were able to do the same.
Many of you are aware of the room changes that impact your team directly, but in effort to keep everyone on the same page, I have included a room move update below. In addition to needing your help moving teammates, I also need to ask that you complete the furniture inventory for your current room asap. Knowing where all of the extra furniture is located will help tremendously as we make sure that every classroom has the furniture that is allocated to it. Please have this done by the end of the day on Wednesday.
Melanie has communicated that chat trees need to remain in the room in which they have been assigned. Given that the chat trees were an expensive investment, we are asking that TLs verify that each team member has accounted for them and that they are left in the assigned classroom even if the team member is moving rooms.
Please remember that you cannot have enough structure or supervision this last week of school. Unstructured time and meaningless tasks are recipes for disaster. These last few days of school might be where the saying, "An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure," got its start. Be purposeful and present these last few days with your students, and everyone will get to enjoy this week.
Make today count,
JL
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2017 - 2018 Staffing Update
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Important EOY Information
A-Team Yearbook Signing
- 2nd - 8:05-8:20am
- K - 8:20-8:40am
- 1st - 8:40-9:00am
- 3rd - 9:00-9:20am
- 5th - 9:20-9:40am
- 4th - 9:40-10:00am
Resource Students
As part of the EOY checklist, you will be giving Jaime a copy of our shared students’ report cards. In addition, please complete the following:
- Provide Jaime with a copy of EOY DRA2 protocol
- Return Manipulatives, reference charts, Assistive Technology devices, and/or noise-cancelling headphones
- Shred your copies of Accommodations/IEPS/Schedule of Services pages after the last day of school
Forethought
If anyone on your team is leaving McGowen or MISD, you need to remove them from your plans. If this isn’t done, it’s too late and we can’t fix it after the person leaves the district. This link will provide instructions of how to accomplish this task. The instructions can also be found in McGowen General > 2016–2017 > EOY Staff Folder.
Students' Last Day
- Remind students to bring their backpacks
Student Medication
Please note:
- All medications that are left in the clinic are disposed of at the end of the last day of school
- A parent or guardian must pick up the medication
- We are unable to send any medications home with a student
Cum Folder Procedures
The district’s CUM folder procedures were updated, again. This means the last two pages of the End of Year Checkout packet that you received during the staff meeting are not correct. Please tear off and discard the last two pages of your yellow End of Year Checkout packet.
The updated procedures have been copied on bright pink paper and have been placed in your mailbox. When you are updating your CUM folders, please make sure to go by the procedures listed on the bright pink paper. **Please leave legal documents in the manila folder marked “Legal” inside the CUM folder.**
RtI
During RTI meetings, each of you were asked to pick up the purple RTI EOY Status form. This form will be filled out for each student on tier 2 or 3 and placed in the front of the RTI folder.
Shiela will have At Risk procedures spelled out for everyone as well, but we wanted to remind you that you will need to do your EOY update on each At Risk form. Don’t forget to attach the documentation. If you need a new plan, that can be found on the Google Drive.
** Note to 4th and 5th grade teachers **
If you will remember, we did not receive last year’s STAAR scores and CSRs until after the school year ended last year. That means that this year’s grade level was responsible for identifying students who failed STAAR last year as At Risk and attach copies of the CSR. (ie, This year’s 4th grade teachers were responsible for identifying students who failed 3rd grade STAAR as At Risk and attach a copy of each 3rd grade CSR to the student’s At Risk plan. This year’s 5th grade teachers were responsible for identifying students who failed 4th grade STAAR as At Risk and attach a copy of each 4th grade CSR to the student’s At Risk plan.)
Writing Samples
At our last Writing PLC, the group determined that there is value in passing up writing samples to the next year teacher. As you recall, the group agreed to use the same grade level prompt for students to produce a cold write. Students may use graphic organizer or blank piece of paper to plan, but this would not be a piece that they would spend several days peer editing or conferring with you about in your writing workshop. We will include the writing sample on the EOY checklist. K-2 will staple it to the DRA. 3-5 will turn a grade level folder into Michelle Caballero. Each grade level should also meet to review samples with the teams to ensure alignment with grade level writing expectations and determine their next steps.
EOY Slideshows
For those of you who are preparing end of the year slideshows, please remember to include any student in your grade level who participates in one of our self contained programs. Pictures of them interacting with their general education peers are preferred. Please feel free to contact Jenny, Krystal and/or Sharon if you need any help. They may already have some to share with you.
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Room Move Update
- The Science Lab will return to a 5th grade classroom. - This will mean that some of the grade level science materials that were stored in the lab will have to return to the grade level closets. This will also mean that we will need to implement a new process for checking out and returning materials from that room.
- The Literacy Library will be used for dyslexia. - This will likely mean that we will have to trade out the conference table for more student friendly/small group furniture. It will also mean that the Literacy Library will be closed to teachers during the half of day that the dyslexia teacher is working with students.
While we recognize this is not what we would choose in a perfect world, after a great deal of time, energy and effort from a lot of people working on the solution, we see this option as the best we have for all involved.
This plan will require quite a few moves and impacts every team but Specials. Because of this, we are asking collectively for your help. Many hands make light work. If everyone helps move people who have to change rooms on Friday, what seems daunting right now, can easily be knocked out in a few short hours.
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Shoparoo
Did you know that each week I give out jeans passes to the three highest scoring staff members on Shoparoo? I know that many of you have already joined, but if you haven't, it is not too late. Simply go to www.shoparoo.com to create your account. If you use veft4467 as a referral code, McGowen will earn money for you just signing up. Please feel free to push this information out to your parents as well. Once you sign up, Shoparoo will give you a referral code for your parents to use when they sign up. Schools with just 40 supporters are earning an average of $1,000 every year.
Congratulations to Barbara Peebles, Ashley O'Connor and Jen McCartney for being the highest three staff contributors to Shoparoo this week!
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Focus for 2016 - 2017
In order to help every child their personal best, McGowen teachers and staff will:
- Knowledgeably speak about our current practices that contribute to McGowen becoming a Level 1 Certified High Reliability School.
- Actively participate in grade level and content Professional Learning Communities.
- Engage in collaborative team planning and lesson design that addresses the four essential questions of a PLC.
- Present lessons in such a way that students understand and can speak knowledgeably about posted learning and language targets.
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Remind for Staff
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Happy Birthday!
June
Sylvia Lloyd - 1st
Krystal Holguin - 17th
Donna Fabian - 17th
Lynn Gerton - 24th
Lhauren Chitwood - 24th
Ashley O'Connor - 24th
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Appreciations
- Many thanks to all of you who worked to figure out our room moves. I appreciate your time and dedication to finding the best solution for the good of the group. -JL
- Shana - Thank you so much for organizing Stepping Up. The students really enjoyed it! -JL
- Shiela - Many thanks to you for organizing Career Day. That took a lot of work at a very busy time of year, and you made it look so easy! -JL
- Office Team - Thank you for being you and doing what you do. Last Monday was just another example of why I wouldn't want to walk through fire with anyone but you! -JL
- Tebo - I would like to thank you for all your help with inclusion, your hard work and dedication to each student during every single day of of the school year.GW
- Jen M., Tracey, Ashley, Melanie and Lyn – Thank you so much for your hard work, time and dedication to the lit library. Your work is very much appreciated! - Michelle C.
- Tara J. - Thank you for sharing with me the wonderful letter that my friend wrote about me. It really meant the world to me and I am grateful that you have been so flexible with my schedule. - Michelle C.
- Shannon – Thank you for including me on your lunch order the other day! It definitely was good timing. :) - Michelle C.
- Sylvia – Thank you for the Sonic drink surprise for our LPAC meeting. Always a treat! - Michelle C.
- Shana – Thank you for organizing “Stepping Up”. My son was really looking forward to it and it seemed to go very smoothly. Great job everyone! - Michelle C.
- Shiela – I think the Career Fair was a huge success! I am grateful for your work with coordinating this first time McGowen event! - Michelle C.
- Maria – Thank you for my sweet surprise on Wednesday. You are so generous and I love you dearly. - Michelle C.
- Lori – Thank you so much for being so helpful with being my backup person when I am off campus. You always do it with a smile too! You are the best! - Michelle C.
- Kinder Team – Thank you for taking time out of this insane last few days of school to learn about the new screener. I appreciate you all so much! - Michelle C.
- Thank you for making Stepping Up 2017 such a big success! - Prugh
- Sheila – thank you for including me in the career day presentations. You did a good job planning and organizing. Everything ran smoothly, and the children seemed engaged - Gaby
- Melanie and Lynn- Thank you both so much for helping me with all of my mishaps with technology and with MAP testing, especially this last one where the students continued getting kicked out! :-) Deanna
- Kristi- Thank you so much for being the best mentor a gal could ever have! Love you! :-) Deanna
- Barbara and Stacie – Thank you so much for always taking care of us! :-) Deanna
- Maria – Thank you so much for all your help with my student! I appreciate you! :-) Deanna
- Shiela – Thank you Shiela for organizing the Career Day! The kids loved it! :-) Deanna
- Lynne and Melanie-Thank you for being so helpful with everything, no matter how busy you are!-Garro
- Stacie, Barbara, and Donna-Thank you for all you do to keep McGowen running-I could never begin to o your jobs!-Garro
- JL & SL-Thank you for letting me interrupt your meetings to answer my questions. I also appreciate all the support and kind words from the two of you this year!-Garro
- Quin-I'm so happy you came to McGowen this year, I truly treasure you!-Garro
- Krista-Thank you for all you do and for taking on Team Leader every year! Your love for your students shines through, I guess that is why you were voted Little Miss Sunshine!-Garro
- Laurie L.-I'm so happy we got to keep you at McGowen, you are always a true team player and a friend!-Garro
- Michelle-I don't know how you do what you do? I know it has to get overwhelming at times, just know we all appreciate you!-Garro
- 3rd Grade Team- Thank you for making me feel so welcome these past few weeks! You all are incredible!! I hope you have a wonderful summer! Hugs!! Jen B
- Thank you to administration, front office, and all the teachers for making my first year at McGowen a fabulous year! -Quin Hance
- Shana – Thank you for planning Stepping Up. It was great and so fun to see our old kiddos!!! -jen
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Summer Professional Development Options
Below are the links for both days of Converge 2017 for this summer. Both days will count for GT update training.
Converge Day 1- Monica Martinez Keynote Speaker
https://eduphoria.mckinneyisd.net/wshop/default.aspx?cid=15458
Converge Day 2- George Couros Keynote Speaker
https://eduphoria.mckinneyisd.net/wshop/default.aspx?cid=15459
Another Option for GT Hours
Come join us for Growing Greatness Gifted Conference on August 7th at Collin College Conference Center.
Help your students grow and flourish next school year! Join us for an engaging and exciting day with Ian Bryd from Brydseed.com and Lisa Van Gemert from Gifted Guru sharing practical differentiation, depth and complexity strategies! They are truly brilliant presenters!
Also some amazing MISD teachers will also be presenting at the conference in Curriculum Potpourri! The Curriculum Potpourri sessions will be hands-on, engaging and relevant sharing of growth mindset activities, engaging strategies, social/emotional understands and many gifted resources!
Start your year off great! Register today on Eduphoria! If you have any questions, please email kjgreen@mckinneyisd.net! Participants will receive 6 hours of GT PD and PD credit.
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Important BOY Information
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McKinney ISD's Vision, Mission and Beliefs
Any time we have an idea, concern, solution and/or comment, this is the filter through which we should speak. Let's help each other live up to our vision, mission, and beliefs.
Vision:
We are a cohesive, diverse community providing engaging learning experiences for all.
We will provide engaging learning experiences so students can become effective communicators, quality contributors and socially responsible citizens.
Beliefs:
- Partnerships between students, parents, community members and staff are foundational to educational success.
- Positive school culture and a safe environment foster growth.
- Everyone has inherent value and deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.
- Learning is an active process requiring engaging tasks and engaging minds.
- Relevant and authentic experiences ignite continuous, deeper learning.
- Meaningful relationships enrich learning.
- Confidence fuels risk taking and higher achievement.
- Financial stewardship ensures a tomorrow for education.