Old Town Star Staff News
April 21- May 2
Our Next Week...
Monday, April 21
Mya’s Coaching Day
Tuesday, April 22
STAAR Math 3rd & 4th
PTA snacks in the Lounge
Wednesday, April 23
STAAR Reading 3rd & 4th
PTA snacks in the Lounge
Thursday, April 24
STAAR Science 5th
ARD Mtgs (separate schedule)
PTA snacks in the Lounge
Friday, April 25
CAT Mtg 8:50am
SST K-2, 5 (SSI)
BAS Test Window Opens
Eat in Classrooms Today
PTA Spring Carnival 4-8:00pm
Saturday, April 26
Happy Birthday Brittany Gundersen!
Weekly Reminders...
- Attendance must be taken at 9:00am. Please feel free to share an effective system that works for you here--> http://goo.gl/ZhFqnl
- Get a head start on those Spring Conferences by beginning early! The official day for Spring Conferences is our Early Release Day, May 7th.
- Please take time to post an affirmation or two for your colleagues in the staff lounge!
- Check out our Professional Learning and Events Calendar regularly as revisions/additions are made often...http://goo.gl/u8peV
PBL Spotlight: Our Grade Level Driving Questions for Project 2
Kinder: 1) What is a happy habitat? 2) How can we teach others to recycle in the cafeteria?
1st: How do animals survive in their world?
2nd: How would the disappearance of honey bees affect me and the Round Rock community?
3rd: How is soil formed?
4th: How can we use camouflage to entice birds to build nests?
5th: How can we provide information about ways to reduce, recycle, or reuse resources in our community?
TaG Math: How can geometry be taught through the alphabet?
Music: How can we create an Orff Ostinati with a known song?
Check out https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/group-contracts-ntn for additional PBL ideas happening at similar schools!
Be better than you were yesterday. Jon Gordon, The Energy Bus
Star Gazing...
Congratulations to Debbie Clifton, star First Grade Teacher...our STAR Teacher of the Week having the most nominations! You are entitled to a week long jeans/shorts pass and designated parking!
Her colleagues write:
- Debbie handles any challenge with compassion while standing firm with her expectation that all students can succeed with the school and home working as a team.
- I love her caring heart for her kids, balanced with clear procedural directives. Whenever I have a classroom conundrum, she always offers practical advice that works.
- Debbie is an excellent teacher--clear expectations and lots of love for her students! I love how she gifts each one with a $5 scholastic book pick on their birthdays. She grows them and knows them and has been an incredible example for each of us to follow.
Aiming for the Stars...
HUGE thanks to Linnea Vargas and team for another amazing learning experience at Outdoor School and to the Kinder Team for planning a fun experience for your Texans at The Thinkery! Congratulations to our 2nd grade Team on the having your PBL Bee project videotaped and featured at the PBL World Conference this summer! Warmest appreciations to our rock star Office Team the great flexibility and teamwork you showed this week!
What another fast paced, full and exciting week! Thank each you for your hard work in striving to deliver world class instruction to our STAR Texans! Remember to post an affirmation or two for your colleagues in the staff lounge and have an awesome weekend!
Starrrrific Websites!
Very unique and interesting web site regarding science and technology for kids! http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/
Looking for additional topics/ideas for future PBL Projects?http://www.fno.org/nov97/toolkit4.html#anchor228022
Eye on the Gifted...
Interested in some fundamentals of formative assessment? Take a look at the following article by Carol Ann Tomlinson, an American educator, author and speaker. She is best known for her innovative work with techniques of differentiation in education.
Professional Resource of the Week! Check out your copy today!
"Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other." -JFK
The Week After...
Monday, April 28
Mya’s Coaching Day
Happy Birthday Vicki Arms!
Tuesday, April 29
Minor’s Coaching Day
Volunteer Appreciation Day (Science lab)
Blanton Art MuseumField Trip 9:00am
Kg Texan Tours 12:50pm
Wednesday, April 30
Mya’s Coaching Day
Kg-2nd Character Ed Awards 7:45am
Popcorn Day
Thursday, May 1
ARD Mtgs (separate schedule)
3rd – 5th Character Ed Awards 7:45am
Fire Drill 9:15am
Park Ranger PBL Presentation 4th Café 1:15pm
Happy Birthday Kathryn Warner!
Friday, May 2
CAT Mtg 8:50am
3, 4 SST’s Academic Danger
2nd grade field trip to YMCA Twin Lakes 9:00am
Happy Birthday Marie Schmidt!
Old Town Elementary Mission
Email: mya_mercer@roundrockisd.org
Website: http://schools.roundrockisd.org/oldtown/
Location: 2200 Chaparral Dr, Round Rock, TX
Phone: (512) 428-7600
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OldTownElementaryPTA
Twitter: @OTESchool