Pow Wow Principals Press
September 1
Dear Amazing Tribe,
I was nominated by the Florida Department of Education to attend the 2017-2018 Dr. Brain Dassler Leadership Academy. Being a part of this group will allow me to continue to be a lifelong learner as I grow professionally as an instructional leader. The academy is working collaboratively with the Center for Educational Leadership at the University of Washington, College of Education around a unified vision of outstanding teaching. Being with educators from every district in Florida, my goal is to increase my knowledge and expertise in instructional and providing purposeful feedback to help support great classroom instruction.
I will be out of the building for a total of 10 days. Five days will be in professional development with the Center for Educational Leadership and the Florida Department of Education, and four other days will include visiting other schools within my cohort during “Learning Walks” with my team. My cohort includes St. Lucie County, Indian River County, Okeechobee County and Martin County.
I am happy to share with each of you; one day of my journey will be spent here, at Vero Beach Elementary, with my cohort members. We will be hosting our group of experts and guest on November 14, 2017. As a group, we will be visiting classrooms, collecting informational data, and collaborating on the work being done in our classrooms.
As I grow and learn new things, I will share with each of you along the way. First will be the results of an assessment I completed by the Center for Educational Leadership with a focus on feedback. This assessment was done based on my responses to observing a video of a teacher’s lesson. I will be transparent about what the team shares after visiting our school and possibly your classroom. Of course, any learning I do will be demonstrated by my actions.
My growth and learning will help support your continued work in the classroom each and every day. My goal is to have more positive, meaningful impact on the support I give each of you as you do the hard work with each and every one of your students.
If you have any questions, please feel free to see me. I look forward to a year of learning.
Educationally yours,
Cynthia Emerson
**iReady Assessments - WINDOW CLOSES TODAY**
Cafeteria Reminders
The data wall in the front office will be tracking the categories listed below. The first walk-through for accountability will take place for next week with grade chairs.
A Message from the Homeless Transition Team
We are Margaret Hearndon, and Kathy Karinja the Homeless Transition Team for Vero Beach High School and Vero Beach Elementary.
We are available daily at 564-4547 with the same phone number at all three campuses, we can come over to each campus for parental, teacher, or student meetings as needed.
We are here to identify then assist all homeless students assuring they have all that they need to be successful academically. It may be to assist with, school supplies, assignments, clothing needs, social and problem-solving skills, and supply a contact list for community resources. We also work with transportation to keep school the one constant for the student that may be moving frequently throughout the school year.
It is important to identify these students so that they can benefit from services as provided by federal law. It is important for teachers and staff to be our eyes and ears, because students do not always complete the McKinney Vento Residency Form which denotes homelessness, which has to be updated every year.
If you see a student hoarding food, not bathing or wearing dirty clothing, sharing housing due to loss of housing, or if a student is couch-surfing (staying at different homes from friend to friend), etc. please send us an e-mail and we will make a contact to see if they are homeless and require our assistance.
Here is a link from our district that explains federal services and homelessness services. A child and youth in transition are individuals who lack a regular, and adequate nighttime residence. https://www.indianriverschools.org/federal-programs
Thank you,
Margaret Hearndon & Kathy Karinja
Title 1
Important-
Hearndon’s daily campus schedule may look like:
VBE-Monday and Tuesday
VBHS Main campus- Thursday, Friday
FLC-Wednesday
As the numbers change our days could change.
Open House = Huge Success!
A HUGE shout out to our Tribe and for all those that continued their night helping out in the Cafe during Open House. What a great success! Great PR SVB. Our beautiful greeter, Sherry White, The Amazing Servers, Harvey Lee, Sharon Keeley, Darrae Norling, Jean Volbracht, Margaret Hearndon... Our undeniable VBE Custodians and helpers, the creative face painter, Patti C. The ONE and ONLY, Miss Yvette!!! Our TEAM work makes the DREAM work. Thanks to all for making this a great one for the books!
Our #VBEVIP is Ms. Castillo! Enjoy your special parking spot, and keep making those nominations on Twitter!
Updates from Ms. Ragley, Math Coach
Charting a Flight Plan for Change...Empowering Students to Use Math and Think Mathematically. The Standards for Mathematical Practice describe ways in which developing student practitioners of the discipline of mathematics increasingly ought to engage with the subject matter as they grow in mathematical maturity and expertise throughout the elementary, middle and high school years. —Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, page eight
Mathematical Practice #3 – Construct Viable Arguments and Critique the Reasoning of Others
What it means?
Being able to talk about math, using mathematical language, to support or oppose the work of others.
Teachers create a safe environment that encourages discussion and risk taking.
Modeling effective questioning and appropriate ways to discuss and critique a mathematical statement.
What does it look like?
Students explain their thinking and make connections between models and equations.
Students participate in mathematical discussions asking questions - "How did you get that answer?""Why is that true?", "What I did differently was.." "I understand _____ but I am confused by _____."
Students critically evaluate their own thinking and the thinking of others.
Science Updates from Ms. Keeley
Just like in ELA we talk about text evidence, in science we talk about scientific evidence. This is a great way for students to make a connection. Science is based on observing. collecting evidence, recording, interpreting, and analyzing data, drawing conclusions. and communicating and comparing with others.
In each grade level the Nature of a scientist standards are extremely important in students' understanding of the practice of science. This is built upon each year from Kindergarten up and represents 17% of the 5th Grade Statewide Science Assessment.
In lower grades (K-1) students are observing, collecting information with a partner, and keeping records as appropriate - such as pictorial records then written records.
In grade 2 students start to compare observations with other groups and understanding how repeating the investigation should yield similar results.
In grades 3-4 students really start to understand the scientific process and are comparing observations, using simple charts and graphs, understanding communication with others, checking others' evidence.
In grade 5 students identify a control group and its importance as well as the need for repeated experimental trials.
This is why science fair is so important. It is not necessarily the final product, but the process that students go through to complete the project.
On that note, science fair information will be coming to you shortly.
Please send me an email when you are doing a lab. I would love to come help.
Xtramath
XtraMath is now accessible for teachers and students via ClassLink. All elementary teachers and students have been imported. Students will just need to log in to ClassLink and click on the XtraMath app. No need to enter a username or password, they will be “automagically” logged in toXtraMath!!! Teachers will need to log in to XtraMath using their email address as the username and Select “Forgot you password?” from the teacher sign in page.
Once you have set up your password, you can return to Classlink and store your credentials in the XtraMath app. (Remember to check your junk mail for the password reset email).
Teachers who have students not appearing on the roster can add or remove them as needed. (Please use Password7890 for ALL students for CLASSLINK Automagic sign in!)The I.T. department loaded the bulk of the students, but will not be editing class lists as students come and go.
If you or your students do not have Xtra Math Icons on Classlink-
Click on the + sign at the top of Classlink
Type xtramath (one word) into search window- enter
Click on the 2nd icon to download
Thanks to Tiffany and the I.T. Department for all of their hard work!
Updates from Sue Fred
Just a few Housekeeping items this week:
1st Grade Running Record Data will be extended through Sept. 15.
Updated Writing Rubrics and Student Information Data Sheets and Grade Level Fundations Unit Trackers can be found in One Drive under ELA in your grade level by Monday. Please use these rubrics with your Cold Writes.
You should be collecting some good data now and that should be entered onto your Student Information Data Sheets. It is important to keep up with documentation of your student’s data, especially for tracking for MTSS. These data sheets should always be updated and complete before you come to an MTSS meeting and our monthly Data Meetings. Please let me know if you have any questions about any of these forms.
We are in the process of developing a Literacy Lab on the 2nd floor of Building 2. We currently have volunteers working to organize this room. This will be for all grade levels K-5. When it is complete, we will have intervention resources stored there as well as many leveled readers that can be checked out to use in your classroom libraries. We are also receiving lots of new donations of books that we will be adding to the selections. I will keep you in the loop of the progress so that you know when you can begin using the resources.
I have also received 3 big tubs of prizes from a former parent that was kind enough to donate to our school. I have placed them under the table in the Teacher mail room. Please feel free to take what you like and use for prizes in your class.
Happy Reading
Updates from Sarah Van Brimmer
Unit Assessments for Grades 3-5
Just a reminder that this week begins the window for the first unit assessment for ELA in grades 3-5. This assessment consists of two passages and covers the standards RI.1.1, RL.1.1, RI.1.2, and RL.1.2. Please make sure this is completed in a quiet testing environment. You may choose to use the computer lab or paper pencil tests for grade 3. Please see Ms. Van Brimmer if you have any questions!