Res Weekly Update #12
The Way to Stay in Touch with All Things Res: 2/18 - 3/1
Principal's Corner
“Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses." -St. Pope Paul VI
Spring is almost here (well MLS soccer at least)! As we approach middle February, which I believe to be the most challenging month of the entire academic calendar, I am reminded of all the great work that we have done......and all that remains!
The work on our units, mapping, assessment, college readiness and our own development is bearing fruit. We have data that supports our students are learning more and retaining longer. We have anecdotal evidence that more effort, more time, and more intentionality is taking place in our planning and preparation for courses.
Remember, we are DEDICATED to the education of our young women and to their development of God-given skills. How privileged are we to be called to make such contributions? In the coming weeks, we will unveil our STREAM program which will be on the forefront of STEM/STEAM/STREAM programs and will help our young women to profoundly and authentically explore their talents.
Moving into the mid-point of the semester, I ask that we keep in mind three items:
1. Intent to Return forms are in faculty mailboxes. Please return them to me on or before March 8.
2. Grades and grade-books. We fully expect 1-2 meaningful grades per week per course. If you need suggestions or more guidance, please see your coordinator or me.
3. Summer Courses! We have some new and exciting courses offered in the summer. Here is a link to the guide. Please see me before March 8 if you are interested in teaching a course.
As always, know of my continued support for all that you do!
Until next time,
Dr. P
What's Happening at Res This Week?
Week 24 2/18 - 2/22
After enjoying a three day weekend, we come back Tuesday with two ResU opportunities being offered. Other than ResU, it is a pretty traditional academic week!
Week 25 2/25 - 3/1
ResU workshops will continue throughout the week and Tuesday will be a regular schedule (no activity). Wednesday will be our noon dismissal and Thursday/Friday is Aspire testing! Please see the special testing day schedule that we will use. It is essentially a modified Pink Day schedule without a 7th period. I have made a slight change in that I added five minutes to P1 where it will be more useful. Freshmen and sophomores will have their Chromebooks in Kiosk mode throughout the whole day.
Pink Day/Aspire Testing Day (No 7th Period)
Pd 1 8:20 to 9:15
Pd 2 9:20 to 10:10
Pd 3 10:15 to 11:05
A Lunch (Jr/Fr) 11:10 to 11:40 Seminar (Sr/Sph) 11:10 to 11:40
B Seminar (Jr/Fr) 11:45 to 12:15 Lunch (Sr/Sph) 11:45 to 12:15
Pd 4 12:20 to 1:10
Pd 5 1:15 to 2:05
Pd 6 2:10 to 3:00
Daily Breakdown
Monday February 18 - NO SCHOOL
Tuesday February 19 - White Day
- Activity 3 Schedule
- Kairos #3
- Aligning Goals & Assessments: 7:30 am, location TBA
- Classroom Culture: 7:30 am, location TBA
Wednesday February 20 - Red Day
- APUSH Seminar B Review: Seminar B in Ms. Lenihan's room
- ResU/Data Wise: 2 pm in the Library
Thursday February 21 - White Day
- Aligning Goals & Assessments: 7:30 am, location TBA
- Classroom Culture: 7:30 am, location TBA
Friday February 22 - Red Day
Saturday February 23 - Charity & Truth Gala
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Monday February 25 - White Day
- Soph Class Meeting - Aspire results: Sem A in the Theater (please take attendance and then bring your seminar down)
- Freshmen Class Meeting - Aspire Results: Sem B in the Theater (please take attendance and then bring your seminar down)
Tuesday February 26 -Red Day
- NO ACTIVITY
- Non-Activity Groups (Pictures) - Seminar A & B
- Designing Assessment Plans (unit level): 7:30 am, location TBA
Wednesday February 27 - White Day
- Noon Dismissal Schedule
- Differentiation of Student Feedback: 7:30 am in Room 123
- ResU/Data Wise Meeting + Elyssa's Mission PD: 12:45 - 3:15 pm
Thursday February 28 - Testing Pink Day Schedule
- Designing Assessment Plans (unit level): 7:30 am, location TBA
- Aspire Interim Test #3: See schedule and details above
- Academic Council Meeting: 3:15 - 4:30 pm in the Board Room
- STREAM Parent Meeting: 6:15 - 7:15 pm
Friday March 1 - White Day
- Aspire Interim Testing: Period 7 only
- Women's History Month Guest Speaker: Seminar A (Soph & Seniors), Seminar B (Frosh & Juniors) - Please take attendance before bringing your seminar down to the Theater.
Instruction & Technology Updates
Utilizing Effective Student Feedback
This week, one of the topics explored in ResU was the use of effective student feedback. Why is this an important topic?
Research indicates that feedback, when appropriate and timely, can double the rate of learning (William, 2011)
Recognizing the importance of feedback in learning and assessment, please watch the short video below and consider the four characteristics of effective feedback:
- Specific: Feedback is a tool for future change. It works best when tied to specific standards, objectives or learning targets.
- Actionable: Emphasize what could be done differently next time.
- Timely: Immediate and frequent. Must provide ample time for students to process and apply the specific feedback.
- Respectful: Look for the good while still focusing on future solutions.
If you would like to learn more about how to utilize effective student feedback, please visit the resources and course in the Schoology ResU folder.
"Feedback is among the most powerful influences on how people learn." - Dr. John Hattie
New Guide Browsing options in Hapara Teacher Dashboard
In addition to sharing links with students and focusing students on specific websites, you now have the option to guide student browsing by filtering websites. You can set up a Filter Session that blocks students from accessing up to 5 websites for a period of time. This is great when you want to give students a little more freedom, but don’t want to give them full access to the web. It’s another tool for you to use as you build digital citizenship with your students.
Filter sessions will not replace our school web filter, but do give you the option to temporarily filter sites as needed - like when you absolutely don't want your students going to YouTube!
Just like Focus Sessions, Filter Sessions can be set at the individual, group and full class level.
Click here to watch a short tutorial video
Lesson Plan Template
Looking for an effective UbD based lesson plan template? Here is a terrific option that was shared to us by Suzanne Zajack! UbD Lesson Plan Template
Video of the Week
Curriculum and Academics!
Academics
The Academic Council has broken into subcommittees addressing issues such as academic policy, professional development, and engaging ways to teach and learn. Additionally, we had a good discussion about grades and what they actually mean. We thought about what it really means when we assign grades. What does it mean to all the stakeholders? and What issues are associated with the grades we assign? We will likely have more of these discussion in the future. The link below is from Stanford and discusses factors related to grading as well as ideas for assessment. We think you might find it is a useful tool.
Curriculum
UbD
Curriculum Coordinators have received feedback from Dr. Piwowarski regarding Wednesday's Res U sessions. Dr. Vallone will be sharing feedback on department curriculum maps by next week's session, so each department can have an idea where changes may need to be made. All of the PD session have been designed by Dr. Piwowarski to complement the work you are doing in your departments. The puzzle pieces are coming together!
Placement Appeals
Placement is -for the most part-completed except for a few outliers. Remember to let your students know if their placement appeal was not approved, they can work during the semester to meet the criteria upon which the denial was made-for example: low ASPIRE scores. If they are successful, they can submit an appeal at the end of May.
The English proficiency test has been administered for those new freshmen students who would like to test their readiness for various courses. Those results will be going to the parents next week. The Math proficiency test is Tuesday, February 19th @ 3:30. The World Language Proficiency Test is on Monday, February 25 @ 3:30. Finally, counselors are meeting with each student to go over their schedule prior to registration on March 11th.
Ordering Books
Please remember the cutoff date for submitting new book orders is February 22nd. If you would like any assistance with that, feel free to contact Dr. Vallone.
We appreciate all of your work as we collaborate to make our school one of the BEST!
IMPORTANT NOTE: Please be sure to have your phones available between the hours of 7:30 a.m.-8:15 a.m. as Dr. Vallone may need to ask you to cover a class period in the event of someone's absence. At those times, it is very important for her to get a a quick response. Thanks!
If you are in need of a same-day substitute, please follow the procedure below:
1) Text Dr. Vallone @ 708-674-4397 as early as possible. Also send an e-mail to tvallone@reshs.org.
2) E-mail your department's curriculum coordinator.
3) Call the school and leave a message at extension 500. This line will be set up this week.
If you have further questions, contact Dr. Vallone
Spiritual Reflection: St. Peters Chair
Happy Birthday!
Barbara Petrovich - March 8th
Nicole Oberschmied - March 16th
Meredith Rogers - March 16th
About Us
Mission
Resurrection College Prep High School is a Catholic Christian community dedicated to the education of young women, and to the development of their God–given talents. Convinced of God’s unconditional love and nourished by the Risen Lord Jesus Christ, we are committed to the spiritual, ethical, intellectual, physical and social growth of our students.
Sponsorship
Resurrection College Prep High School is sponsored by the Sisters of the Resurrection, an order founded in Rome by Blessed Celine Borzecka and her daughter Mother Hedwig. Resurrection College Prep High School was established by the Sisters in 1922 and is built on the Sisters’ mission of transforming society by uplifting women through education and preparing them for leadership. Resurrection is focused on young women and their needs. The faculty and staff are fully committed to developing young women of faith who are educated, confident, articulate, dynamic, inspiring and service oriented leaders who will help build stronger families, communities, parishes and places of work.
Email: Resurrection@reshs.org
Website: www.reshs.org
Location: 7500 W Talcott Ave, Chicago, IL, United States
Phone: 773-775-6616
Facebook: www.facebook.com/reshs.chicago/
Twitter: @ResurrectionHS