Cat Tracks
Spring Shadows Elementary Wildcats Staff Newsletter
April 6-10, 2020
Our Vision
Our Mission
Core Beliefs
- Each student has unique intellectual, emotional, social, and physical qualities.
- We embrace a child’s individual values, interests, and personalities.
- Parents are confident in their child’s social and intellectual educational growth.
- Educators lead their craft by preparing learners in our fast changing world
Principal's Message
May you have enjoyed a restful weekend! I have to say that my birthday weekend was spot on. Cheesecake and a good old fashioned grilling session with my favorite foods was the top of my list today to enjoy. That an a trip to the garden store to continue the work on my garden. Anything to get away from working from the computer screen!
The more I hear about the pandemic, the more I encourage you to protect yourself and your loved ones, and take it one moment at a time. As we navigate through all these images, articles, news media, and all from our home, you must take time to find some other hobbies or connect with loved ones to distract from this! Pickup a great book, work on a puzzle, start painting, creating, doing, fixing, or just take a nap.
For those of you- especially our amazing Special Education teachers and staff: It's okay not to get it all done. That long long list SPED dept. gave you. It's okay if you get through some of it only.
Friends- I will repeat myself. We are navigating the unknown. It's okay not get it all done. And it's incredibly important to create boundaries at this moment too. We are trying to manage families, pets, our own feelings navigating through all this, AND work. So, please take a load off and forgive yourself. Do the best you can each day.
I sincerely hope that this week brings you joy, love, connection, and fulfillment in the work you are doing!
Wildcat love,
Rachel Martinez
I wanted to take the time and give you an update on a few district wide items for this week. Some of them are just reminders.
Last Day before Anticipated Return on May 4:
Monday is the last day any staff members are allowed on campus until May 4th. Please fill out the SSE appointment book if you plan on attending. Wash hands going in and out, clorox wipe areas you have touched, and text me upon arriving and leaving.
Big Work for this Week:
Please help us update the addresses on skyward by confirming with your homeroom the correct addresses and input only changes to SSE Parent Check-In. This will help us make some corrections as the Digital Backpack packets for Weeks 5 and onward will be mailed to students. We can have up to people each hour, so please take the opportunity to get any personal items or work items you need this month.
Itslearning Basic Training:
Excellent! I've been receiving a lot of Itslearning Basic Training Certificates! I'm confident we will get to 100% by the end of this week!
Appraisals:
Just a friendly reminder that we will not be having end of year appraisal or summatives this year.
TEA Accountability:
TEA just released last week that this year all campuses are not rated due to no testing.
Grading:
The district will be approving the new grading guidelines for school closure (pandemic) on Tuesday with the board's approval. Teachers will receive a simple form to fill out with grades and to be used for GPCs. Further info to come.
Faculty Meeting: Thursday @ 1:00 p.m. with Jepi Matthis. Remember we have Good Friday and Good Monday off.
General Questions Document and Appointments
Open Forum Google Doc for Questions.: We still have this document open for general questions you have. I will answer.
SSE Appointments- Document you are coming in and I will be there! Just make sure to maintain 6 foot distance from people and please clorox wipe anything you have touched out of precaution. Wash your hands coming in and going out. :)
Week 3 Priorities
1) PLCs with Grade Levels: Teachers, you asked it and we decided to do your PLCs on Mondays so that you can review the Digital Backpacks and anything released on itslearning to plan your week. Remember to invite your instructional support folks to your meetings. Together as a grade level, decide on a routine schedule for your students.
2) Student contact is 3X a week. One point of contact may be a general newsletter blast through email or class dojo. Then, you want to keep track of the two other points of contact with your students- whether its a zoom meeting, a phone conference, or emails responses. Please find out about emails!
3) Monday Logs: These logs need to be turned into your Lesson Plans google folder by end of every Monday at 4:00 p.m. for the previous week. DOCUMENT WHAT YOU DO!!
Calendar
Monday, March 29
- 9:00 a.m. Kronos Check-In
- 9:00-10:00 a.m. 4th PLC
- 10:00-11:00 a.m. 2nd PLC
- 11:00-12:30 p.m. 1st PLC
- 12:00-1:00 p.m. 3rd PLC
- Rachel on Campus
- 1:00-2:00 p.m. 5th PLC
- 2:00-3:00 p.m. Kinder PLC
- 1:00-3:00 p.m. Principal Meeting Curricular Updates
- 4:00 Logs
Tuesday, March 24
- 8:00-9:00 Team Leader/ ILT Huddle Zoom
- 9:00: KRONOS CHECK-IN
Wednesday, March 25
- 8:00 Math Zoom K/1- by Lindsey
- 9:00: KRONOS CHECK-IN
- 9:00 Math Zoom 2/3- by Lindsey
- 10:00 Math Zoom 4/5- by Lindsey
Thursday, March 26
- 8:00-9:00 ILT Check-In
- 9:00 AM KRONOS CHECK-IN
- Zoom Faculty Mtg with Jepi Matthis @ 1:00 p.m.
- 1:30-3:30 Principal Updates
Friday, March 27
Holiday- Good Friday
Wildcat Love, Rachel Martinez
Shout Outs
Spring Shadows Elementary
Email: rachel.martinez@springbranchisd.com
Website: https://cms.springbranchisd.com/sse2/
Location: 9725 Kempwood Drive, Houston, TX, United States
Phone: (713) 251-7100
Twitter: @twitter_rachelmartinez4