Monday Memo
October 23 - 27, 2017
"Schools with the greatest gains in student achievement consistently use common assessments.” -Doug Reeves
Many thanks to all of you for the beautiful orchid and sweet card in recognition of Boss' Day. I am so blessed to be able to come to work every day with the most talented and caring people I know. You deserve nothing less than the best, and I am actively working to become that for our team. One of the unique aspects of our profession is that even though we teach, we are also tasked with continuous learning. I'm just so grateful that we are on this journey together.
Report cards will be shared with you to proof today. Please take this task seriously. When proofing, look for a specific glow and grow, spelling errors, grammatical errors, no exclamation marks, and no shouty caps. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask another peer or anyone on the A-Team. We would be more than happy to help you with this.
Last week I shared math data reflections from Misti, the Elementary Math Coordinator for our district. I hope that you were able to review that information and determine ways to better support the areas where we collectively tend to struggle. This week I have included science data reflections from Marie Hayes. Please do the same with this information. Anything we can do to support these weaker areas will not only be beneficial for our students, but it will also help our overall district data.
While I love teachers looking for alternative ways to fund innovative ideas, I want to remind you that you must get principal approval for all grant requests, including MEF, Donors Choose, Sonic, etc. prior to submitting them. Our district is closely watching these requests and often call me to ask my rationale for approving the request and how it supports our Campus Improvement Plan. Needless to say, it becomes a very awkward situation and I can't support your request if I don't know about it. Another important note is that Go Fund Me accounts for campuses or the district are never allowed.
Our next Mav Fan Jam will be held this Friday. Prior to that time, please review appropriate assembly behavior with your students. I was embarrassed on Friday when Generous George had to redirect our students because of their behavior. By now, we should know which students do not make good choices when sitting next to each other. Please feel free to strategically separate them and/or remove them from the group to sit next to you if they need more than one reminder to behave during the assembly.
Remember that A-Team is happy to sit in and support you with any parent conferences you are concerned about holding on your own. If you would like us to attend a parent conference and haven't already scheduled that with us, please do so this week in effort to avoid any scheduling conflicts.
Make today count!
JL
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
Science Data Reflections
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
Spirit Stick Sales
---------------------------------------
Parent Conference Information
As you prepare for upcoming conferences with parents, we have included an agenda to use as a guide for planning including documents that you will need to print prior to the conference. Please note that some documents (talking points, for example) are for you to reference, but not distribute to parents. If you have any questions regarding any of these reference materials, please let us know. New teachers, it would be a good idea to review with your mentor.
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
Action Items
- Follow Report Card Timeline
- Pick up picture order forms for any new students from Lynn and send home with those students.
- Call any parents who have not yet signed up for a conference to get that scheduled.
- Review Team Leader Mtg minutes with your team.
- Determine who will sell Spirit Sticks and email Donna by EOD Friday, October 27th.
---------------------------------------
Support 5th Grade Camp
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
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. Please feel free to push this information out to your parents as well.
Congratulations to Krista Daniel, Barbara Peebles and Ashley O'Connor for being the highest three staff contributors to Shoparoo this week!
---------------------------------------
Focus for 2017 - 2018
In order to help all children achieve their personal best, McGowen teachers and staff will:
- Knowledgeably speak about our current practices that contribute to McGowen becoming a Level 2 Certified High Reliability School.
- 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.
---------------------------------------
Remind for Staff
---------------------------------------
Happy Birthday!
October
Mayella Torres - 7th
Sadie Hunsaker - 13th
Lori Peterson - 13th
Jenny Snyder - 13th
Melanie Burford - 15th
Marilyn Oliphant - 24th
---------------------------------------
APPRECIATIONS
- Jenny - Many thanks to you for handling a difficult situation very well last week. - JL
- Shiela - Thank you for bringing Generous George to our campus to kick off Red Ribbon Week. -JL
- Kinder Team & Jaime - Thank you for staying late on Thursday for CogAT training on Thursday. -JL
- Amy - Thank you so much for your flexibility last week. I really appreciate your understanding and grace. -JL
- Jenny - Another thanks to you for your understanding and flexibility in moving your observation. -JL
- Alison and Nikki A. - Thank you for your collaborative spirit and working to figure out how to best meet the learning needs of a student. -JL
- Donna - A very heartfelt and huge appreciation goes to you for managing the fundraiser pick up on Wednesday. - JL
- Peebles - Thank you for keeping up with our attendance totals each day. I am hopeful that by bringing awareness to these numbers, they will begin to decrease. -JL
- MC & SdL - Thank you for leading us in our RtI Mtg on Thursday. I know that it is a big job, and I appreciate all that you do to support the needs of our students. -JL
- Sylvia - Thank you so much for covering for me at the PTA Board Mtg on Monday. I cannot imagine doing this job with anyone else! -JL
- Jennifer L.– Thank you for being my saving grace in the hallway on Tuesday. It may have been a small gesture for you, but it was huge for me! Thanks again for your assistance! :-)
- Thank you Laurie L. for being the monster fairy! You made my day!
- Thanks first grade team for helping me out so much this year!
- Alison, Gail, Maria, Jenna, and Alisa: Thank y’all for covering my duty for me. I appreciate it so much! - J.Hardy
- Marilyn and John: Thank y’all for covering my ARDs for me on Monday when Peyton was sick. It was nice to be able to focus on her and not worry about that. Y’all are the best! - J.Hardy
- Karol: I have to brag on you — you take great data!! Thanks for being prepared to discuss student progress with me. - J.Hardy
- Krystal: Thank you for covering the TL meeting for me and getting me up to speed. I love working with you!! - J.Hardy
- Sharon: Thank you for covering for me at the Fall Festival, so that could be with Peyton. I appreciate you!! - J.Hardy
- Rachael: Thank you for always stopping by to check-in when you are on campus. I appreciate that time to collaborate together more than you know. -J.Hardy
- I would l LOVE to APPRECIATE Coach Relle and Shambo for covering my carpool duty while I went to ARD. They were so gracious to take care of it for me right away without hesitation. Just wanted to tell them they are APPRECIATED and their KINDNESS is showing!!!
---------------------------------------
Bad Dude
Join us in recognizing Quin Hance as this week’s Bad Dude! Quin does an amazing job of establishing and nurturing relationships with her students. She manages challenging situations with patience and grace and is always willing to go above and beyond to help her students. Congratulations, Quin!
---------------------------------------
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.