Mustang Message
October 26, 2015
Kagan Structure in Action!
Message from the Principal
What a powerful week of professional learning - the Unconference, Instructional Rounds and the Discovery Ed Fall Virtcon. I know that all of you like me participated with an open mind and walked away with valuable learning you can put to use in your work. According to Stanford researcher Carol Dweck, "adopting a growth mindset is something that we can deliberately choose and its directly tied to the idea of positive professional development, which asks us to always be thinking, "What can I learn from this situation or experience?"
Although I learned something from each of the activities, such as how to simultaneously tweet from three different accounts using tweetdeck.com; and tips and tricks for setting up an interactive notebook, my most valuable learning came from having the opportunity to participate in instructional rounds and witness and discuss student engagement, alongside two teams of teachers.
According to Dr. Marzano, instructional rounds are one of the most valuable tools that a school or district can use to enhance teachers' pedagogical skills and develop a culture of collaboration. The primary purpose is for observing teacher is to compare their own instructional practices with those of the teachers they observe. The chief benefit of this approach resides in the discussion that takes place among observing teachers at the end of the observation as well as in subsequent self-reflection."
Thank you to those of you who who shared their instructional round reflections. One teacher wrote, "the chance to witness student engagement as an objective observer was valuable—so too the discussion that followed". Another teacher commented, "I didn't know learning could be so much fun", it wasn't fun when I went to school". Another commented, "you have some great high school teachers". And just to think that those comments came as a result of observing what students were doing.
So as you continue to reflect on the experience, let us know how we can continue to provide opportunities for you to collaborate with your peers and continue to learn from each other. Although sometime in January or February you will all have a chance to observe student engagement on the post-secondary side, you don't have to wait until then to collaborate with your peers; let us know what we can do to facilitate any classroom visits between now and then.
I know the logistics and scheduling for coverage for the instructional rounds wasn’t easy but thank you for working with Jeff to make it happen. We are well on our way to going from good to great.
Photos from the Haunted High School Lock-In
Tech Corner
This week’s Web on Wednesday, Wed, Oct 28th, at either 2:00pm or 2:30pm in room 2-233 will focus on part 2, Microsoft Sway. Those who attended part 1 (two weeks ago) will share their Sways and ‘tips and tricks’ they learned along the way. Sway is a relatively new tool to create presentations, digital stories, and ‘how to’ tutorials. It emphasizes visually rich media with text. Sway can be done on either an iPad or on the web. You are welcome to attend even if you were not able to be there for part 1.
Need a new assessment tool? Quizalize is similar to Socrative’s Space Race with an emphasis on team game-like competition based on answering multiple choice questions. Though students work in a group to earn points, their individual answers are provided with an emphasis on measuring strengths and weaknesses of each student’s responses. Check it out and let me know how you like it.
Thanks again for your participation and comments in our 2nd Unconference. :) Your positive comments about choice and learning from your peers demonstrated that the primary goals were met...and your intentions of applying what you learned in the classroom sound fabulous. Keep us posted as you try those strategies/tools. If you have not completed your Unconference evaluation, please do so as soon as possible - not only for your MIPs, but also to provide feedback to presenters and to properly assess this event. ALSO, keep checking back as I will be posting presenter resources in the Unconference agenda presentation descriptions as I receive them.
CC Photo credit to BK on Flickr
Happenings
- Welcome to Rosormerie Morales who is joining the staff as the financial aide secretary filling the vacancy left by Emily Bordner. Rosemarie is a 2015 graduate from LWTHS and the LWTC accounting program. Congratulations!
- Vision screening is taking place for all students at LWTHS on 10/28 throughout the day in the media center. Students will take part during HOPE, Computing for College and Careers and LWTHS 1st and 3rd block. The schedule was sent out to teachers that are taking classes through the vision screening. Make-up date is 10/29.
- Red Ribbon Week begins this week and commences with the Pep Rally on Friday and our annual Powder Puff game at East Naples Community Park at 4:00 p.m. The spirit days are listed below.
- Monday: Senior Citizen Day
- Tuesday: Pajama Day
- Wednesday: America Day
- Thursday: Nerd vs Jocks Day
- Friday: School Spirit Day--Wear your class color
- Daylight Saving Ends on Sunday, November 1st. Remember to reset your clocks!
- PLT reflections are due October 31st.
- Check out the LWTC/LWTHS tent at Spooktacular on 5th 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Halloween – Saturday, October 31, 2015, along 5th Avenue South.
- Join the Community Conversation on Monday, November 9 at Hodges University for the 2015 Champions Challenge that will bring educators, students,parents, business people and community members together for a conversation around what it would look like for our community to identify and work together toward shared goals in early learning and college and career readiness. Staff and students are invited to attend and register on the Champions for Learning website. Last year there were several staff and high school students who attended and enlightened community members on all that we have offer on our campus.
Reminders
- If you plan to use a laptop cart make sure to reserve it on the laptop scheduler found on the wikipace. Also, make sure to return laptop carts to their designated location and make sure they are left charging so they are ready for the next teacher to use. The laptop scheduler was set up to be able to maximize our technology resources and be able to access where additional resources might be needed.
Don't forget to nominate a staff member for the month of October by clicking on the Padlet link . Type the name of the nominated staff member in the "Title" portion of the Padlet post and your reasoning in the body of the post. Also you can nominate by grade level a student for the month for October by clicking the link appropriate link below. Follow the same protocol of putting the student name as the title and reason for nominating in the body of the post.
9th grade Link:
10th grade Link:
11th grade Link:
12th grade Link:
Spotlight on LWTHS Staff Member
Kevin Monahan (Coach Mo) is one of the two HOPE teachers at Lorenzo Walker Technical High School. He is a father of one and is most proud that his son is a great young man. He enjoys working out, fishing, and snow skiing. In fact, the favorite place he has ever traveled was Utah because the snow skiing was great! Before he lived in Naples, he lived in Bergen County, New Jersey where he enjoyed autumn when the leaves changed colors. If he could live anywhere in the world, it would be Lake George, New York. If he could describe himself in one word, it would be honest because he doesn’t like liars. Coach Mo is inspirational!
Spotlight on LWTC Staff Member
Joseph Martino came to Florida from Haiti about 7 years ago for a better life for his family and to help others. If he wasn’t working here, he would be working with a computer firm because repairing computers is one of his passions. Joseph Martino is all about others, and giving back to the community and if one word could describe him it would be helpful. Joseph has worked in a number of capacities at LWTC, but most recently in our school store. Joseph has three children, the oldest attends LWTHS and is in the Nursing program. Stop by and say hello to Joseph next time you are near the school store.
Kudos
- Marie Coleman for organizing the Unconference and the Fall VIrtcon viewing party.
- Pat Metcalf and Jeff Rexford for organizing the Instructional Rounds.
- Ann Fredette, Chris Fowler, Rick Ponton, Ann Genovese, Tara Barr, Dave Gabriel, Joann Cassio, Lindsey Simmons, Katherine Cummings and Marie Coleman leading workshops during the Unconference.
- All teachers for participating in our 1st ever Instructional Rounds.
- Rick Ponton for putting on a great Haunted High School Lock-In.
- Peter DiMaria, Laurie Lattarulo, Sabrina Medal for helping out with the Haunted Lock-In.
- Chef Geri and Chef Chris for organizing a delicious advisory committee luncheon.
- All Tech Teachers for the wonderful Advisory Committee meetings.
- The 9th grade team for supporting the students and having 83 freshmen reach their quarter 1 goals.
9th Grade Quarter 1 Goal Celebration
Happy Birthday
No Birthdays this week
Upcoming Staff Meetings and Trainings
- See the lwcampus.wikispaces.com for the LWTC/LWTHS meeting calendar.
Upcoming Student Events
- 10/26-10/30 Red Ribbon Week, Campus Wide, Joann Cassio
- 10/28 Vision Screening, 7-2 pm Media Center, Jeff Rexford
- 10/30 Powderpuff, 4-8pm East Naples Community Park, Joann Cassio