Bobcat Beat
Week of Nov. 25-Dec. 6
Making EVERY DAY 1% Better....
I have just read this book and am dedicated to trying to improve myself and my surroundings every day. This is my focus on helping us meet our goals by making every day better along the way. By utilizing different activities such as the Gratitude Calendar, the GroupMe app, SO Strong, collaborating with Merrill, the book studies, etc. we find more ways to interact and support one another OTHER than through our classroom/student/academic focus. We take care of OURSELVES first, then others. In a flight emergency, we are instructed to put the oxygen masks on ourselves first, then help those around us because we have to take care of OURSELVES FIRST. Join me in helping make your day 1% better each day, and in turn, ultimately making everyone around you better along the way. Check out this author's video below....
Resource Restroom Breaks
Please remember to take your students to the restroom PRIOR to delivering them to their resource teacher for the day. Especially now with the shorter resource blocks, the resource team cannot be responsible for also managing class restroom breaks. We, of course, understand that students have emergencies, and those will be handled accordingly by the resource teachers. Thank you so very much for your assistance!
GroupMe
If you are interested in joining us in the GroupMe app, you can log in on your desktop, if you choose. In my opinion, it works more fluidly on your smart phone, only because you can post and add photos, like any social media type app. (pic below of the desktop platform) Please remember, this is JUST FOR FUN! :) We all need a little fun as a part of our daily work routine, right?!?! :)
If you're having trouble logging in and/or setting it up, come see me and we'll figure it out together. I believe you can create a user name independent of your "school login" if you'd like to do it that way. I think some people are having trouble connecting using their duvalschools.org info. I'd love to have you join us!
Data Chats (Core Classroom Teachers)
Ms. Almon, Ms. Pipkin, Ms. Mitchell and myself will be conducting our individual data chats with you following the Thanksgiving Break on December 4th and 5th. The only thing you are asked to bring with you is your data. I have attached our mid-year data chat form below that we will complete during our meetings with you. As always, you are not expected to complete this form prior to your chat.
The sign-up sheet for your chats will be in the mail room. Please be sure to sign-up with the leadership team members that primarily support your content area (i.e. ELA - Almon & Pipkin). We will have a roving sub that will cover your class during your chat. Don't hesitate to reach out with any questions! (There will not be ROAR on that Thursday, Dec. 5th.)
Standards Walk-Through
As you will recall, at the beginning of the year we had discussion regarding the Standards Walk-Through tool Leadership Teams are being asked to complete weekly. It is designed to provide input regarding the curriculum we are given to use in our classrooms. During these walk-throughs, we are looking at the standard being taught, how it is being used, the materials being used, and what students are expected to do as a result of those materials.
This tool is only designed to reflect upon our core materials. Therefore, if we happen to walk in and you are not in 'core,' we can't complete the walk-through. As a result, if you see us walk in and then back out, you'll know why! :) Also, if you happen to see us in a query while we look at the work on our tablets or phones, it's because we are jumping back and forth between the standard, the items specs, and the learning arcs present as a part of that standard. Please remember, these standards walk-throughs are NEVER about HOW YOU are teaching. They are NOT EVALUATIVE. There are about the WHAT, not the HOW.
We hope this helps explain some of the recent questions we have received regarding these walk-throughs. If not, please don't hesitate to ask!
IDs/Lanyards - Field Trips
We had a GREAT question come up on Friday regarding lanyards and field trips! I would recommend not taking them on your field trips UNLESS you are going on the Library Field Trip in 4th grade. For the Library field trip, students need their IDs to check-out books. For all other field trips, I think we are just creating a bigger risk for loss. Please see me with any questions.
Thanksgiving Break
Please be sure to remove any food items before leaving on Tuesday. Our custodians will be emptying everyone's trash Tuesday night, so PLEASE be sure you have discarded any leftover food items so we can avoid any unwanted 'critters' setting up resident during our absence. :)
There will be no one here on Wednesday, so please be sure you take everything you need with you and enjoy an amazing Thanksgiving Break!
Growth Check - Monday, 11.25.19 @ 3:15 pm
Book Fair
Our Fall Book Fair will run Dec. 9 - 13. With our family movie night during that week, we are sure to have a lot of awesome opportunities for our families to get some holiday shopping completed! In addition, you may end up with some awesome teacher gifts....be sure to complete those WISH LISTS when Ms. S gets them to you!
Family Movie Night - Frozen
Our December Title I event will be a family movie night on Tuesday, Dec. 10th from 6 - 8 pm. We will have a food truck available for anyone interested in purchasing dinner. We will be showing the movie, "Frozen," and we will provide free popcorn to those in attendance during the movie.
Flyers will be going home soon with students, as they will be asked to RSVP for this event. We hope you will plan to join us and our families at this FUN event!
School Choice Expo
It's almost that time of year again!!!!!!! We can't wait to enjoy this yearly public relations opportunity to promote our school community and interact with so many parents, guardians, students, and community members!!!
This year's School Choice Expo is Saturday, Jan. 11th from 11 am - 3 pm @ the Prime Osborn. Our Don Brewer Elementary School booth will be staffed by members of our Leadership Team, as well as staff who are willing to help spread the word about how incredible our school community is! This is always a really fun Saturday with thousands of potential students/families!
This district required event is impossible to pull off without your support. Please check the sign-up sheet and sign-up to help staff our booth. There's NO ONE better at selling our product than YOU! (Ms. Almon and I will be here to answer the tough questions about enrollment, choice applications, and such.) Don't hesitate to reach out with any questions.