K-2 Team Newsletter
September 16, 2019
Principal's Message
What an amazing week of learning and celebration! We made it through Friday the 13th and a full moon unscathed! We not only had a chance to celebrate our scholars’ families with a Grandparent’s Day Luncheon but we also had our first schoolwide paycheck party - K-2 Magic Show. While this day was a hussle for all teachers it was a double hussle and bussle for our admin team. I would like to take this time to again say a huge thank you to our wonderful admin team who had to support in many places to ensure our Friday the 13th events were successful but also a thank you to our awesome teachers who show up for our scholars everyday! THANK YOU - THANK YOU - THANK YOU!!
“Never take anything for granted.” ~ Benjamin Disraeli
“I’m just thankful I’m surrounded by good people.” ~Jon Pardi
Grandparent's Day Luncheon - Highlights
Reminders
The next progress report will be coming out Sept. 27th. There was an error on our comprehensive calendar. K-2 will be sending home one progress report to families at the end of every month. Ensure you have all your grades up-to-date and in Illuminate by Wednesday 8 am (the day before) so they can be run and placed in your mailboxes by Thursday 9 am.
School Wide Focus
Priority #2 - No Opt Out Academics
After Fall Break, we will begin shifting our focus towards Priority #2 - No Opt Out Academics. Take some time to familiarize yourself with this priority over the next few weeks. We have begun to implement a few elements of this priority but full roll out is after break!
Scholar Support & Interventions
Last week Crystalline and I completed our RTI-Behavior Tier 2 fidelity checks and we were happy with what we saw. Feedback was provided for glows/grows as well as family support meetings scheduled. Key highlights included behavior trackers being utilized, positive narrations used to illustrate when the scholar showed the replacement behavior, and whole class cheers for scholars participating/getting the answer correct. Keep up the positive inputs and investment in the RTI- Behavior system!
This week Ayana, Molly, and I will start RTI-Academics Tier 2 & 3 fidelity checks. Please ensure you are beginning your small groups on-time and are utilizing the correct intervention for your group.
Attendance
Deans of Academics
ELA: Step Wave 1 is officially starting Monday, September 23rd! However, if you want to start late this week the Step tool will have switched over to Wave 1 on September 16th. If you would like to be a part of the STEP reliability group, we will be meeting Wednesday after school from 3:45 to 4:30 in the Academic Dean’s Office!
RTI: Please finish benchmarking your scholars who are in Tier 2 & 3 by Wednesday. A link to the RTI Groups document can be found here (RTI Groups K-2). We will begin to progress monitor on Friday, September 27th. K-1 can use their dedicated RTI time to progress monitor that day.
Photo Shout Out: Check out our Kinder ATs getting ready to lead RTI Academics small groups for literacy by first observing Ayana model leading a phonics small group! #wewatchwelearn
Dean of Culture
Congratulations team we made it to week seven and this school year is off to an amazing start!!! In week seven our core value focus is: ACHIEVEMENT! This past week I pulled scholars and asked them three questions. Do you love your school? What are you learning in class right now? How many more dollars do you need in order to go to the Magic Show? Every child responded by saying they love their school, knew exactly what they were learning in class, and knew how much they need to go to the Magic Show. THIS IS A HUGE WIN! Scholars are smiling in the hallways, enthusiastic in class, and most scholars are brought into our “House of Cards: A School is a Magic Place” theme. Our school has been filled with the joy of magic! THE MAGIC SHOW WAS A SUCCESS! Scholars had so much fun and our families as well. Teachers you did an incredible job investing scholars in earning and 272 out of 333 scholars earned. I have emailed a link to a google folder to upload photos from the Magic Show for House of Cards. I will also reach out to a few classes to create thank you cards as well.
Let’s continue to grow our positive school culture! Our culture focus this week is making sure our lunch procedure and restroom breaks meet our standard of excellence.
Lunch time - is safe, calm, and scholars are being respectful to the space. Scholars should only be speaking at a whisper to friends near them and never loudly talking across the table or tables. Scholars are to remain in their seat until their lunch is finished and can only get up when they received permission to do so. Teachers are monitoring the entire time and managing voice volume, cleanliness, and making sure scholars are choosing to eat healthy foods first before their snack. This week teachers this week teach and train a scholar to whip down tables when the transition begins. I will be in lunch to help support rolling out this new job.
Restroom Breaks - the expectation is that scholars clean up after themselves to show respect to our custodial staff! Please review the restroom expectations and check the condition of the restroom prior to leaving to ensure scholars are picking up after themselves. Below are some pictures of restrooms....please show your scholars the photos as you review the expectations this week during morning meeting.
Dean of SEL
Our focus in SEL for the next month will be dealing with “hard feelings” such as anger or sadness, and how to appropriately handle those feelings. I will be adding in a unit about safe and unsafe body touch in kindergarten as well. If first a second grade teachers would like this unit as well, please let me know.
One piece of feedback (that I also need to implement for myself) is around giving scholars corrections/feedback in the hallway. When you are having a consequence conversation with a scholar in the hallway, please make sure that you are not backing scholars into the wall as you talk. Scholars may escalate if they feel “trapped” and the conversation will be more effective if the scholar has space.
LIM Habit of the Week: Habit #3 - Put First Things First
Work first then play. Reach your goals.
In class, I focus only on the content and don’t let other things get in the way.
I spend the full time working hard during center time and independent practice because I know active play or the end of the day is just around the corner.
I make the most out of class by listening carefully to my teachers and my friends utilizing my habits of discussion.
Important Information
First Grade Sept. Team Builder
Tuesday, Sept. 17th see the flyer that was emailed.
Yearbook
Just a friendly reminder to send pictures for the yearbook of events, activities, etc... to Jaquandria Hayes or Jessica Moore.
Upcoming Events
Priority Walkthrough
Sept 16th
Refer to Jim's email
First Grade Teambuilder
Sept 17th
4:00-4:45 pm
Upstairs Gym - bring workout clothes
Friday K-2 PD
Sept 20th
2:25-2:30 pm - Teacher of the Week (Kentucky)
2:30-4:00 pm - Schoolwide PD (Upstairs Cafe)
Birthdays
Sept 18th - Jaquandria Hayes
Sept 25th - Mia Shaw
Staff Absences
Sept 18th-19th
Crystalline Jones (Admin)
Sept 18th
Tori Rokicki (Admin)
*1/2 Day
Sept 19th
Dr. Perrault (Admin)
*1/2 Day
Sept 20th
Liza Graham (Kinder)
Mary Hood (1st)
Shout Outs
Congrats to our G.R.E.A.T. Winners of the Week and check out the Class Photo of the Week!
Teacher of the Week
Thank you for showing GRIT! Shelly holds a high bar for both academics and behavior. She goes above and beyond to make sure that all scholars are meeting behavior expectations in all spaces - even if that means giving up her lunch and planning times. Shelly is one of those people who truly gives her all to her classroom. Shelly is a rockstar!