Monday Memo
April 25th - 29th
Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits. -Thomas Edison
Team,
Friday, April 29th will be a No Tracks Day. Once you have confirmed that all of your students are gone, we are encouraging you to take advantage of a 3:15pm departure. PTA has been working very hard to create something special as a token of appreciation for all that you do for their children, and they are coming in to decorate for Teacher Appreciation Week. I know it would mean a lot to them for you to wait and experience the grand reveal on Monday. If this is absolutely not an option for you, please refrain from being near or around the library, front office and security vestibule on Friday afternoon. In addition, please exit from a side or back door when you leave.
As we begin to prepare for our Kinder and 5th grade EOY celebrations, please let Donna know if you have a personal child participating in either of these events. When possible, we like to provide coverage so that the parent may attend. However, this does take some effort, so knowing in advance is really helpful.
On June 20th, all campuses will be participating in a district data meeting. During this time, we will be able to reflect on McGowen's data as well as data at the district level. This will also be an opportunity to begin revising our Campus Improvement Plan for next year. If you are interested in participating in these meetings, please let me know. While I completely understand the constraints of child care issues and summer plans, if it works with your schedule, you will receive PD credit for the day. Please do not feel pressure from me to attend. Instead of just inviting Team Leaders, I wanted to open it up to everyone. For those of you who are interested in dabbling in more leadership opportunities or just want to contribute to the direction of McGowen as a whole, this would be a great opportunity.
Our first round of STAAR results are back. While we are all aware of the multiple challenges 5th grade has faced this year, you would never know it by our students' performance. 5th grade STAAR Reading for the first round of testing was 94%. To date, I'm not sure if we have ever scored this high on the first round. 5th grade STAAR Math was 88%. This may not seem as impressive, but if you knew where JD and Amy Arnold started, you wouldn't believe it! Both content areas scored the highest out of the campuses most similar to us in the district. To say the least, I could not be more proud. This is a true example of the difference dedicated teachers providing quality lessons can make in the lives of students. These ladies worked countless hours strategically planning lessons, supporting each other with duties/extra responsibilities, and offering multiple opportunities for tutoring above what is required to provide the support needed to be successful. Please give them a hug or a word of praise if you get the chance. This was no easy ride!
As we continue to pray for The Prugh Family, count your blessings and make today count!
JL
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Teacher Scales for Reflective Practice
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Easing Into ELM
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Start, Stop, Continue
While you do not have to identify yourself on the form, this is not to be used an anonymous personal attack on anyone in this building. Unprofessional documents will be discarded. The goal is to give you an opportunity to be part of a solution. If you identify a problem, please also make a suggestion of how to fix the issue. We will review your input at the Team Leader What's Next Meeting and plan our next steps.
One special note - Like last year, the one thing that I can promise that will remain in place is our current Jeans Passes on Tuesdays. With that in mind, please refrain from requesting more casual days.
Please have this completed by Friday, May 6.
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OVERVIEW
- 5 hours of G/T credit will be awarded with ELM training
- G/T credit can also be earned on the first day of Converge
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Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Hardy
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Shoparoo
Did you know that each week I give out jeans passes to those who are one of the top three participants on Shoparoo? I know that many of you have already joined, but if you haven't, it is not too late. Simply go to www.shoparoo.com to create your account. If you use veft4467 as a referral code, McGowen will earn money for you just signing up. Please feel free to push this information out to your parents as well. Once you sign up, Shoparoo will give you a referral code for your parents to use when they sign up. Schools with just 40 supporters are earning an average of $1,000 every year.
Congratulations to Barbara Peebles and Donna Fabian for being in this week's top three!
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Focus for 2015 - 2016
In order to help every child their personal best, McGowen teachers and staff will:
- Develop a common language needed to become High Reliability School.
- Develop an understanding and process for effective Professional Learning Communities.
- Engage in collaborative team planning and lesson design to promote higher level thinking and student engagement.
- Present lessons in such a way that students understand and can speak knowledgeably about posted learning and language targets.
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Remind for Staff
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APPRECIATIONS
- Peebles - Thank you for being my Sonic Fairy last week. As always, your timing was perfect! -JL
- MC & SdL - Many thanks to you for your 11th hour scramble to make sure that a student has the best shot at getting the support he desperately needs. -JL
- Stacie - Thanks for the home delivery of great moving boxes! -JL
- Stacie & Barbara - Thank you for managing all of the visitors on Friday with such a positive spirit. You represent McGowen so well! -JL
- Chitwood and SL - Thanks for a great meeting last week. Both of you were amazing! -JL
- SL, Holguin, Barton and Bonnie - Thank you for Thursday and for doing what is right. -JL
- 2nd and 5th Grade Team- Thank you for throwing Jessica and I the best shower ever! Everything was amazing! ~Valerie L.
- McGowen Team- Thank you so much for your generosity and gifts! I’m so thankful that I get to work with such an amazing team! I don’t know what I’d do without y’all! ~Valerie L.
- Bonnie- thanks so much for all of your help with preparing for STAAR communication! SL
- Bravo, Chitwood, JD- thanks for collaborating and supporting each other with STAAR communication! SL
- Shiela & MC- thanks for rallying together to prepare a Dyslexia folder in a time crunch! SL
- JL- your leadership and support are so appreciated! You are a constant model of grace under pressure!! SL
- Relle- Thanks for watching my class so I could watch my little girl run in the Fun Run! You rock! -Rico
- Coach Relle - Thank you for covering my class so I could go watch Jovie at the Glow Run! It was awesome of you to think about us teaching parents! - Trisha
- Gaby: Thanks so much for holding down the fort last Friday! We owe you! -Amanda
- I appreciate everything Stacie and Nurse Vicki do for everyone. They always do it with a smile on their face. You can tell they love their job, and that's what it is all about!! -Trent
- Relle- Thank you so much for covering my class so that I could see Pierce run in the Color Run for a few minutes on Friday! The kids loved it, too!!! Feel free to come back anytime!!!!! -Ticehurst
- Peebles & Tracey – Thank you for always being such thoughtful and generous Sonic fairies! I love you both! - Michelle C.
- Stacie, Donna & Barbara – Thank you for always pitching in with whatever is needed and always with such a happy heart! I realize there is always so much being thrown at you and you always handle it with such grace. - Michelle C.
- Melanie – Thank you for picking lunch up in the chaos on Friday. So nice of you! - Michelle C.
- Bonnie – Thank you for all your help--always! - Michelle C.
- Rico & Tracey – Thank you for just being awesome in more ways that I can express! - Michelle C.
- JL – Simply put…thank you. I am hoping you know all the reasons why, but I doubt you do. Just know I am truly grateful for you. - Michelle C.
- 5th & 2nd – Great shower on Wednesday! It is always so much fun to celebrate and step away from work for a bit! - Michelle C.
- Shiela – I appreciate all your collaboration on Friday morning. Great team work – always! - Michelle C.
- Martha – Thank you for pulling through in a pinch! You are AMAZING!! - Michelle C.
- 5th Grade – WOW….that is all I will say….WOW!!!!!!!!!! -Michelle C.
- Trent – We are all so blessed to have you on our campus! You are always so willing to help us all out anytime and it is greatly appreciated. - Michelle C.
- Kinder – Thank you for always being there at the right time when I am just needing time to laugh and enjoy your company (even for just a few minutes). It is good for the soul:). –Michelle C.
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Action Items
- Send home Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon Invitations in Tuesday Folders on April 26th
- Plan for Team Time on Wednesday, April 27th
- Start, Stop and Continue due by Friday, May 6th
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Bad Dude
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McKinney ISD's Vision, Mission and Beliefs
Any time we have an idea, concern, solution and/or comment, this is the filter through which we should speak. Let's help each other live up to our vision, mission, and beliefs.
Vision:
We are a cohesive, diverse community providing engaging learning experiences for all.
We will provide engaging learning experiences so students can become effective communicators, quality contributors and socially responsible citizens.
Beliefs:
- Partnerships between students, parents, community members and staff are foundational to educational success.
- Positive school culture and a safe environment foster growth.
- Everyone has inherent value and deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.
- Learning is an active process requiring engaging tasks and engaging minds.
- Relevant and authentic experiences ignite continuous, deeper learning.
- Meaningful relationships enrich learning.
- Confidence fuels risk taking and higher achievement.
- Financial stewardship ensures a tomorrow for education.