Ridgeview Review
Week 32 ~ April 27, 2015
10 ways to finish the school year strong From @justintarte
1). Make the word 'intentional' your new favorite word. Be precise and be focused on how you use this time. There are a lot of things happening at school during the last few weeks, so keep the focus on doing a few things really well rather than trying to simply 'cover' a lot of things to finish out the year.
2). Try something new you've never done before. Your kids have seen all the plays you have to offer in your playbook. So, now is the perfect time to take a risk and do something you've never done before. Perhaps it's something you've read about... heard about... or simply thought about... now is the time!
3). Focus on maximizing this time and amplifying the learning opportunities your students have engaged in so far this school year. You've by now built a solid learning and experience foundation with your students the last 7 or 8 months. Now is the time to take something and build upon it and take it to the next level. Perhaps you simply didn't get to go as far or as deep as you originally wanted, so take advantage of this time and take that 'good' to 'great.'
5). Spend a little extra time to get to know those students with whom you just haven't been able to connect. You've got a lot of students, and just like all our relationships, sometimes some grow more quickly than others. Specifically target and engage a few students with whom you haven't been able to develop a strong rapport. Learn more about these students and focus on asking good questions and listening to what they have to say. It's these most recent interactions that could make all the difference.
6). Connect your classroom or an activity you are doing to the global world that surrounds us all. The world continues to get smaller and more connected. Use these last few weeks to help your students understand and appreciate the connectedness we all share. Whether it is doing a Google Hangout or Skype session with an expert in the field or another group of students, now is the perfect time to show that we may be thousands of miles apart, but what happens in one part of the world affects and impacts what happens in other parts of the world.
7). Start getting excited for next year by searching out your 'next big' thing. Sure, this year isn't over yet, therefore don't shut that door just yet. But, there's nothing wrong with looking ahead toward the future. Think about that new approach or that new activity you want to do next year. Start building up that excitement and anticipation for how it might look or the resources you might need. Keep one eye on the present and one eye toward the future.
8). Fresh air and physical activity benefit us all... figure out a way to include them in your classroom activities. Go outside since the weather is most likely more accommodating and while you're out there get your students moving. There is a ton of research that supports movement and different landscapes/learning environments. This time of the year is perfect for both... bonus, figure out a way to use the outside as a learning precursor to something else to make the learning more connected and relevant.
9). Disengage to stay engaged... taking care of yourself. This time of year it's especially important to take time to take care of yourself. Don't be afraid to take an evening off and/or enjoy the weekend without thinking about or doing any school related work. Take the necessary time to enjoy your family and make an effort to disengage your brain from work. It's this personal disengagement that will keep you fresh to keep what happens in the classroom completely engaged.
10). Keep it together... remember, we can expect to get what we expect. Don't take off the last few weeks of school. Don't turn on cruise control and coast your way through the end of the year. There will be plenty of temptation (both students AND your colleagues), but don't take the bait. Keep your expectations both high and realistic, and recognize that finishing strong is just as important as starting strong.
CHAMPS
This summer Ridgeview and Freedom Elementaries will be combining for a 2-day CHAMPS training, brought to our school from Region 11. Although attendance cannot be mandatory, CHAMPS implementation will be and I encourage you to take advantage of training from the experts.
The 2-day workshop will be July 28-29. We hope to be able to offer this as equivalency time for next year's school calendar. Please mark your calendar and plan to join us!
KISD Hudson Transformation Grant Voting
Ridgeview has 3 grants entered. Please take the time to go in and vote!
* Brick Buddies
* Coaching Reading in the 21st Century
* Every Kid Needs a CHAMPion
Region 11 Literacy Institutes
KISD Summer Intervention Program
Also - Clayton will be hosting it's summer program at Ridgeview in our cafeteria and gym. It will be a busy summer at RES!
RES Helping Hands Blood Drive
If you cannot donate, but still want to wear jeans, we are looking for someone to wear the blood drop mascot costume from 7:30 - 8:00!
Sign up here:
https://ww2.greatpartners.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/61108
Monday, May 4, 2015, 08:00 AM
RES Parking Lot
Keller University - July 20 - 23
This 4-day conference will provide numerous mini-sessions for you to choose from based on your own professional goals and learning needs, as well as 4 dynamic guest speakers. It will be well-worth your time!
You will receive your equivalency time for next year's calendar and your 6-hour GT update, but most importantly, you will spend 4 days learning with and from your peers. I hope you will join us!
The return of Eduphoria Workshop
Summer Intervention Teacher Positions - Now accepting application
You must be a current Keller ISD teacher or support personnel to apply for a Summer Intervention Program position.
All positions require current certification:
- PK-K Bilingual/ESL Program: June 8-26 and July 6-9
- K-4 Summer Intervention Program: June 8-25
- 5th & 8th Grade Summer Intervention Program: June 8-25
Summer Intervention Program Teacher pay is $25.00 per hour. Teachers are expected to:
- Be present each day that the Summer Intervention Program is in session
- Attend the two additional work days for the specific Summer Intervention Program for which they have been selected to work
- Assist in retesting students for the summer administration
Please submit your application to any of the Summer Intervention Program Principals listed below by May 8, 2015, for consideration. Please note that the schools listed beside the names of the administrators below are the administrator's current KISD campus and not necessarily the summer school locations:
Oliver Mujica (NRES) oliver.mujicaguerra@kellerisd.net
Casey Riles (FES) casey.riles@kellerisd.net
Charlie Rodriguez (WRES) charlie.rodriguez@kellerisd.net
* Casey Riles will be the Summer Intervention Program principal at RES
FYI - Resignation without penalty date is July 10
All contracted employees under a Probationary, Continuing or Term Contract, as per Board Policy DFE (Legal), may resign from their respective employment contract without penalty by filing a written resignation not later than the 45th day before the first day of instruction for the 2015-16 school year. This year’s deadline is July 10, 2015.
Because the resignation deadline date occurs during the time that the district will be closed, resignations must be hand delivered to Human Resources by close of business on Thursday, July 9, 2015 (4:00 p.m.) or mailed USPS and postmarked by July 10, 2015.
Teachers and other contract employees have the right to resign prior to the resignation without penalty deadline date, but any resignation received after that date may be accepted by the district, but it is not automatic. You may be expected to remain in your position until a suitable replacement is hired.
MAY 1
Assembly Schedule for May 1
8:30 - Character Assembly
9:00 - Rockin' Rattler Performance
9:20 - Ridgeview Players Performance
Planning Times
Co-curr: 8:00 - 8:45
4th grade: 10:00 - 10:45
3rd grade: 10:50 - 11:35
1st grade: 11:40 - 12:25
2nd grade: 1:00 - 1:45
Kindergarten: 1:50 - 2:35
* Lunch times will remain the same with the exception of co-curr teachers who will all have lunch from 12:25 - 1:00
MAY EVENTS (And there are A LOT of them!)
April 27-May 15 - EOY TPRI Testing (K-2)
May 1 - Character Assembly, PTA Family Movie Night
May 4 - May 15 - EOY AIMSWEB Testing (3-4)
May 4 - RES Helping Hands Blood Drive; Author Visit for 3rd and 4th
May 5 - 4th Grade Play Day
May 6 - Birthday Book Club Party
May 7 - 4th graders to BCI; Open House/Fine Arts Night
May 8 - Pastries with Parents
May 11 - May 15 - CPAA Testing (K-2)
May 12 - Theatre performance; Film Festival Awards Night
May 13 - 4th grade to Art Museum
May 14 - P.S. It's My Body; Modules 3 and 4 of Literacy for Learning
May 15 - Flip Flop Visits due; Fire Drill
May 18 - May 22 - BOOK FAIR
May 19 - Rockin' Rattlers to NRH2O; Kid's Hope Mentor Party after school
May 21 - 4th graders to TMI; GLC Meeting
May 22 - RES Field Day
May 25 - NO SCHOOL
May 26 - TSMS Jazz Band performance; Reading Olympic Celebration
May 28 - Modules 5 and 6 of Literacy for Learning; Kindergarten Orientation
May 30 - KISD Graduations
June 3 - PTA Luncheon for Teachers
June 4 - Kindergarten graduation; EOY Class Parties
June 5 - Character Assembly; 4th Grade Send-off; Early Release
This week at RES....
MONDAY
Kelli Rutledge's diaper shower - 3:30; lower library
TUESDAY
PTA General Body Meeting - 8:15 AM; cafeteria
PTA Executive Board Meeting - 9:00; cafeteria
Fire Drill - 9:45
WEDNESDAY
Jacque off campus AM
Lunch provided by GLP and Associates in teacher's lounge (see flyer)
THURSDAY
Jacque off campus all day
Faculty Meeting - 3:30; cafeteria
FRIDAY
Becky off campus
Ridgeview Regent Meeting - 7:30 AM; lower library
Jacque to PTA Brag Lunch mid-day
PTA Movie Night - 7:00 PM
Ridgeview Elementary School
Email: becky.wilder@kellerisd.net
Website: http://campus.kellerisd.net/schools/res-129/Pages/default.aspx
Location: 1601 Marshall Ridge Parkway, Keller, TX, United States
Phone: (817) 744-6600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RidgeviewElementaryKISD
Twitter: @RidgeviewKISD