Gentry Update
12/14/2018
Dear Teachers,
I want to start this week bringing to your attention a conversation we are having at district level.
You might recall that last year we discussed the possibility of changing our bell schedule. After some discussion we decided that as a building we were not ready to change our bell schedule, and therefore we would wait for the other schools to implement different models before we created our own.
This year, Oakland, West, and Smithton all implemented different models. After looking at the different approaches, as a district we believe Smithton has the best bell schedule because it allows more release time for elective teachers. As you are aware, elective teachers teach 6 classes a day, and normally have multiple preps. They also teach 6-8 grade, making their preps really challenging. In contrast, core teachers teach 4 sections of one grade level, and one RtI class.
It is in our best interest to serve all the teachers in our building the best we can. However, our population size presents some limitations to us. In the next few weeks we will be looking at Smithton schedule and see how we could implement it here at Gentry. Our major concern would be the increased numbers in Rti/advisory, since elective teachers would use that as release time, but once we have a model schedule with numbers, we will share it with you to gather your feedback!
MeM donation
Please, see below some pictures of the Choir performance at MeM today!
Cocoa--Cookies--Keys
January 2
Please, remember that you need to work on your mandatory MSBA Essential Staff Training videos if you did not complete them during the time we provided for you to do so. The deadline to complete the videos is February 15th.
RtI Update!
Thank you for all your hard work this semester with RtI! Chrissy, Aly, and Amy are busy analyzing student progress for the semester to make placement adjustments for next semester. We appreciate your willingness to learn something new in order to enhance student learning.
December 18th Celebration
Who are we celebrating?! All of us - because Winter Break is here! Yay!
Tuesday, December 18th: Taco Bar
Please sign up to bring a taco style meat, cheeses, toppings (lettuce, chopped tomatoes, onions, olives), salsa, queso, guacamole, tortilla chips, desserts, drinks.
Advisory Week Dec. 17-21
During the week of Dec 17th to Dec 21st are lessons on “Character Trait of Caring.” This week students will learn what it means to be caring and learn various ways to discover and demonstrate caring in their own lives as well.
Monday: Silent Sustained Reading
Tuesday: Advisory Lesson (Character Trait of Caring)
Wednesday: Academic Day!
Thursday: Advisory Lesson (Character of Caring)
Friday: No School!
Link on how teachers can show they care :
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/caring_teacher_student_relationship
Winter Spirit Assembly
Gentry Spirit Week
Tuesday - Gentry School Spirit Day
Wednesday - Pajama Day
Thursday - Ugly Sweater Day
You may wear jeans all week!
It's time to clean!
It is time for refrigerator clean out again!!!!! The RACC committee will be cleaning out the refrigerators on December 19th right after school. We will be throwing away items that are not marked “SAVE” and will be wiping down shelves, etc.
Please have all of your stuff either out of the refrigerators or marked “SAVE” by December 19th or it will be thrown away.
Media Center Minute
- PLEASE do not ask your students to remove their cases from their iPads in order to get them to charge. We have advised all students that they should never remove their cases. Please send them to the media center and we will find out why they are not charging. Removing the case is just a temporary fix.
- Air Drop vs Air Serve. Several weeks ago I told you that we removed Air Drop from student devices. This is the process kids use to send pictures to each other, usually unsolicited. Air Serve is when they display their device on the screen. They do still have this option.
- We have seen an issue with kids submitting assignments from Notability to Schoology and they going through but can’t be open or read. If this happens, please have them remove the app and reinstall it. If that does not solve the problem, please send them to the media center.
- We have a new middle school OPTIONAL restriction for admins to use with students. It is removing YouTube access from their devices. This is less restrictive than removing Safari, so might need to be used with kids who are extremely distracted with YouTube.
AVID News
March 14th: 7th and 8th grade AVID classes will be going on a campus visit to MIZZOU. We will be gone all day.
Supervision
Bishara's Schedule December 17-21
Tuesday - Out of the building but available by email/phone (My husband has a minor surgery.) Will be back after school for Secret Pal and will supervise the concert that night.
Wednesday - In the building
Thursday - In the building
Friday - No School
*These are only events out of the building during school hours, does not include in building meetings or after school*
Jaguar News
Shout Outs
- Shout out to Kelsey Sutherland for going above and beyond with all the students in her team and for being such a strong leader for her ELA department. We are so excited to work with you every day!
- Thank you to all the Secret Pals out there that make each other happy every day!
- Shout out to Bri Noltie for the level of energy you bring to everything you do! You make people smile and happy just with your presence! Your StuCo kids are lucky to have you!
- Shout out to Andy Laws and Sam Bornhauser for partnering to do what is best for our 6th grade kiddos!! And the students love Andy!
Dates to Remember
12/14/18 – Faculty Christmas Party @ Tiger Shrine Club @ 6:00 p.m.
12/18/18 – 6th Grade Winder Orchestra Concert @ 6:00 p.m.
12/19/18 – Faculty Learning Workshop @ 2:55 p.m.
12/21/18-1/1/19 Winter Break (No School)
1/3/19 – Grades Due
1/7/19 – Grades Cards Sent Home
Fairouz Bishara
Email: fbishara@cpsk12.org
Website: https://www.cpsk12.org/Domain/17
Phone: (402) 980 1884
Twitter: @fairouzbishara