Principal's Nest
September 26-30, 2022
WEEK
Vision
To inspire all scholars to become inquisitive thinkers, who confidently and respectfully embrace the global challenges of the future.
Mission
Jose H. Damian Elementary will nurture our scholars so that they are healthy, feel safe, are engaged, feel supported, and are challenged through culturally responsive teaching and learning.
A message from the Principal
The JDE 30th Anniversary event was a success! Thank you for all the gifts and everything you did to make this a successful morning. The Damian family was very moved and I am glad we got the opportunity to celebrate all the years that JDE has been present in the community, touching the lives of many families. Unfortunately, some of the family members were on a tight schedule, but we are glad that we could still sing happy birthday to them.
The HoCo parade was great and our float was a favorite for so many! Thank you to all the volunteers, faculty and staff who stepped up to the plate to put this together. It was my first and my heart was full after seeing all of the efforts made to make this happen.
As we approach the end of the first 9 weeks of school, I would like to thank you for all that you do for every firebird, every day! It has been a very busy couple of weeks. I hope your intersession weeks are restful and that you are able to recharge and spend some time with your loved ones.
We're making success stories at JDE and no one is more ready than us!
Intersession
SAFETY - PLEASE READ!
Intruder Detection Audits
The TxSSC will begin intruder detection audits at CISD on Monday, Sept. 19, in partnership with regional educational centers. The purpose of these audits is to assess the access control measures of a campus during the school day. For example, inspectors will check to see if they are able to gain unauthorized access through exterior doors and if the campus is conducting required exterior weekly door sweeps.
Key Points:
Communication: They will communicate with Dr. Galaviz and the primary law enforcement entity as they conduct these intruder audits. Following each campus intruder audit, inspectors will provide any findings to the district to enable districts to remedy findings as soon as possible.
Tone: Audits will be conducted by trained inspectors, in plain clothing, who if stopped by school personnel, will self-identify and proceed with the rest of the intruder audit. They will NOT be simulating an intrusion.
Collaboration: The intent is to work collaboratively with school districts in supporting them as they remedy any issues identified through the Intruder Detection Audits.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR FACULTY AND STAFF ON CAMPUS?
ACCESS INTO THE BUILDING
- ALL doors that lead to outside always remain be locked and closed.
- There WILL NOT be anything nearby the doors that could prop them open.
- EVERYONE will close doors behind them as they walk inside or outside.
- NO DOORS WILL BE LEFT OPEN INSIDE THE BUILDING OR DOORS TO THE OUTSIDE.
- Visitors will be asked to show ID before they are given access into the building.
- ALL visitors must check in at the front office, even district personnel.
- ALL visitors will sign in at the front office. Non district employees will be given a badge and their ID will be held at the front desk until they check out.
- District employees have to sign in and check in. Their district badge must be visible while navigating the campus.
INTRUDER OR STRANGERS IN THE BUILDING
- Everyone is responsible for stopping strangers in the building. You can say: "May I help you?" "Who are you here to see?" "Did you check in at the front office?" "I don't see your badge or visitor's pass." "Please come with me so you can sign in."
- When they check JDE, they will test to see if EVERYONE they encounter in the hallway stops them. After that person stops them, they will explain who they are so they can continue with the audit.
If you have any questions, please let me know. It is important that we look out for each other.
PLC Tuesday
Week D - Plan for Week 10
Remember that for PLC, you must bring the high leverage low TEKS for your grade level. You must come with this information ready to be discussed. Be prepared to model a strategy for your colleagues so that we can implement in other classrooms and put it in our lesson plans. EVERYONE must participate and BE PREPARED!
Grade Level Meeting Rooms
PLC Room: 4th, 3rd, PK, 1st
Instructional Coach's Office: 5th, 2nd, Kinder
Facilitators:
PK - Plaza
K - Davila
1st - Plaza
2nd - Davila
3rd - Lee
4th - Plaza
5th - Davila, Lee
BIRTHDAYS!
We are celebrating...
September
Jose H. Damian Elementary School turns 30!
Melissa Chavez, Sept. 8
Yvonne Urquidi, Sept. 11
Suzanne Graham, Sept. 22
Melissa Ramey, Sept. 24
Susana Felix, Sept. 27
*If you have a birthday coming up in September and it was not listed, please let me know so I can add it.
T-TESS
T-TESS GOALS AND SLO WERE DUE ON AUGUST 31ST
Morning Announcements
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ARE LOGGING IN TO THE ANNOUNCEMENTS BY 7:40 EVERY MORNING. All students, faculty and staff must watch daily announcements. As of now, the views of these videos are very low and it is evident that not all classrooms are watching. Please help keep open lines of communication and watch announcements every day, and help keep our Journalists on campus encouraged to continue!!!!
To access the announcements, please go to the Announcements Google Classroom:
https://classroom.google.com/c/NTI3NDc3Mjk4NTc2
Also, subscribe to the Youtube channel.
I appreciate your support for our Firebirds!
September 2022
Annual Calendar: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xKwv0h3VU22U9I89FKxK2mRhkyYbyOo0ZMeLGIvzk3k/edit?usp=sharing
Week D
Sept. 26 - IC/C&I Meeting - Ms. Davila out in the afternoon
Safety/Crisis Team Committee Meeting - invitation sent to committee members
Counseling Advising Committee Meeting w/Mrs. Anchieta - invitation sent to selected faculty/staff
Sept. 27 - Coding Coach Training
PLC DAY
Select members of the 3rd-5th grade levels @Bill Childress for Lead45Ward Math training - Please make sure you request a sub. If you do not secure a sub, you will be asked to come back to campus.
4th Grade Math PLC w/Dr. Valverde - covering Dayrit and Urquidi are Gaytan and Fierro. The rest of 4th grade will be at Bill Childress E.S.
Sept. 28 - Chat with the Principal @9:30AM and 5PM
1st Grade to La Union
Select members of the 3rd-5th grade levels @Bill Childress for Lead45Ward Reading training - Please make sure you request a sub. If you do not secure a sub, you will be asked to come back to campus.
3rd Grade Math PLC w/Dr. Valverde - covering Truong and Kory are Gaytan and Fierro. The rest of 3rd grade will be at Bill Childress E.S.
Sept. 29 - ESTAR/MSTAR Fall Screener Window Closes
Fire Safety Presentation for PK-2
TEPSA Student Council Meeting
AFT Visit in Teachers' Lounge
CIC Meeting
High School Ed Students Orientation/Campus Tour
Sept. 30 - Data Dialogue - Please meet with your team to discuss your grade level data.
1st 9-week grading period ends
National Family Health and Fitness Day
PBIS Celebration
CLI and iStation ISIP Windows Close
Fall Festival
High School Early Childhood Education Student Orientation/Hands-On Training
The parameters of their work are shared with you below. As of now, we know that they can work with students as they are cleared by the district. The goal of this program is to expose the Ed. students to real, hands-on experiences in the classroom.
Students will start shortly after the intersession. Below is a link with the CTE student protocols and documents shared with me, in case you would like to see the specifics of it. Also below is a picture of the uniform shirt these students are required to wear. They must also wear their school ID at all times. All safety protocols present at JDE are also required of these students.
The High School will be on campus on Thursday, Sept. 29 to receive an orientation and do a school walkthrough. Hopefully, we will know exactly how many students we will have on campus so that we can start assigning them to the classrooms.
I am available to answer any questions you may have.
Posting ATTENDANCE
The attendance posting reminders sent to classrooms are increasing every week. I ask that you please set reminders for yourself to complete this process. As we are trying to tighten up our attendance processes, this daily component is essential.
Thank you for your cooperation!
PERSONNEL CHANGES
Ms. Lopez is joining the 3rd Grade Team and starts on Monday, Sept. 26th.
Ms. Gonzalez is joining the 2nd Grade Team. She should be contacted with a start date this week.
Ms. Daily is coming to JDE as an academic tutor for RLA in 4th and 5th grade. She starts on Monday, Sept. 26th.
Ms. Monroe has received a promotion at the High School and Ms. Venegas has moved on to do something she is passionate about outside of the district.
Welcome to our new Firebirds and good luck to Ms. Monroe and Ms. Venegas on their new endeavors!
FOR FACULTY AND STAFF ONLY: Please use the 2 links below to report your positive diagnosis after notifying Dr. Lee.
Please complete the form below on your 5th day of isolation in order to receive clearance to return to work from Human Resources