PKMS Update 1.20.20
A Close Look At How We Did & Will Do Our Work
Good Day, PKMS Family.
Thank you for another successful week of instruction! There are two additional weeks left in Quarter Two. The year is moving very rapidly.
We continue to be appreciative of your engaging learning environments, dedication, planning, collaboration, assessment of students, focus, and hard work.
This week’s quote speaks to our Social Emotional Learning Theme of Collaboration: "The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team." - Phil Jackson
As has become a part of the PKMS culture, please allow these words to inspire you as you design and redesign lessons, tasks, and questions, and reflect on practice.
Remember, to SMILE (Show My Infectious Lovable Energy) as it is the first thing students, families, and colleagues see.
Let's Keep These Thoughts in Mind:
- Laugh a little. Laugh a little more.
- Gladden the heart of a child.
- Always operate from a honest place.
- Give a soft answer
Turning Up The Heat!
Thank you to Sadika Clarke for her RtI presentation and conversation
Thank you our Special Education staff for 2020-2021 Student Projection Conversations - Thank you to Ellen Gerace discussing 2020-2021 with our staff
Thank you to Stacey Nichols, Vital Behavior Services, for assisting our teachers
Thank you to Dr. Sobrin for her work with our Math and Science Departments (Problem Attic)
Thank you to the ELA Department for its ELA Simulation Analysis
Thank you to Ms. Simon for organizing our Hillcrest Program Presentation - Thank you to Mr. Litchenwalner and his team for welcoming us
We thank every department member for your discussions and focus during this week's department meetings- Thank you to those who are training staff in the weekly sessions
We thank Ms. Detres, Ms. Fervan, Ms. King, Ms. Mahy, Ms. Settembre, Ms. Tual, Ms. Zupa, Mr. Harrison, Dr. Robinson, Mr. Hatch, and Mr. Coster for their work during our After School Program - We are also thankful to Andrew Weisman and Parketha Evans for providing a snack and drink (they will provide this until May 7)
Thank you for the RtI Meetings and Discussions this past week
Thank you to our security: Chemay, Nigel, Merriweather, Billy, and David for their work
Thank you to Tim, Mike, Mark, Kristen, Billy, Keith, and Manny for their work
Thank you to Parketha Evans and her Food Services Team
Thank you to our Clinical Team for continuing to support students, families, and staff
Thank you to staff for parent and family outreach and meetings conducted this week
Middle of Year F&P Administration - January 21- February 28th - Specific Information sent to those administering it - Thank you
STUDENT ASSISTANCE SERVICES
Victims Assistance will be going over with our newcomer/ESL students on January 22nd
On Thursday, January 30th from 6-7:30pm at the Chappaqua Crossing Conference Center, Dr. Stumacher will be speaking to parents about the Vaping Epidemic - Thank you to Katie Geider (Mondays & Wednesdays) and Casandra Lewis (Tuesdays and Thursdays)
A Humanities Lens
Students understanding key Muckrakers of the Progressive Era and their role in reform and understanding the temperance movement and how it lead to Prohibition - identifying the significance of the French and Indian War through text dependent questions - discussing the story elements of the film To Kill a Mockingbird as we prepare for our study of the class novel - discussing how “Taking a Stand” shows integrity - understand how conflict can guide decisions, that identity is a multifaceted concept with different components, and that people’s sense of identity can change over time
The Arts Live Here
Students identifying what a coat of arms is and what it is used for, reading an article and answering questions, designing their own coat of arms shield, and sketching a design using 4 symbols that represent themselves - learning about the traditional hand building technique of coil building - creating a pinch pot that is inspired by Peekskill pride - describing music and interpret intent/meaning of musical themes - comparing and contrasting themes by analyzing musical scores - applying knowledge of previous bow and rhythm patterns to new scales and patterns - singing at least 3 harmonies at once (Soprano, Alto, Baritone) by learning to blend with their section - learning proper enunciation and diction by practicing warm ups that utilize their jaw muscles - learning how to follow their part in a score by annotating sections of their music
A Health-Conscious Mind & Body
Students engaging in identifying and explaining the cues for passing, shooting, and dribbling, - be able to referee their own basketball game - identifying leagues and places they can play basketball within the community and surrounding area
We Got STEM!
Students determining the best method for solving various systems of equations and graphing - writing and explaining inequality statements involving rational numbers - justifying inequality statements involving rational numbers - defining a ratio, simplifying rations, and understanding the importance of order - exploring chemical vs. physical changes - examining photosynthesis, cellular respiration, and levels of organization - exploring atmosphere, relative humidity, and dew point - engineering design process to create a vehicle that keeps an egg safe when it crashes - designing straw tower project - using Lego and Sphero robotics to build and code their robot to complete several challenges using different sensors - video processing, using software, cameras, exploring various editing and producing processes
Town Hall - Student-Building Work
- This week’s quote speaks to our Social Emotional Learning Theme of Collaboration: This week’s quote speaks to our Social Emotional Learning Theme of Collaboration: "Teamwork makes the dream work." - John Maxwell
- Please refer to the counselors' email on the Town Hall's New Format/Structure - See them for any questions for additional details
- Tuesday - Friday (Work Completion Days – Please structure it so that students can complete homework, work on projects, and get work from other teachers - Fun Days - Students who have met behavioral expectations will enjoy recess or whatever classroom activity designed)
Collaborative & Department Work
- Full Department Meetings from 3-3:40PM: 1/27, 2/10, 3/9, 4/20, 5/11, 6/8
- January 21 & 28 - Department Meeting - Please meet with your Grade Content Colleague
ANNOUNCED & UNANNOUNCED OBSERVATIONS
Grade-Level Work
- RtI Meetings where applicable - Leslie Detres will communicate specifics
- January 22 - DASA & Attendance Information
GOT DATA???
We thank everyone who continue to create authentic, challenging, and standards-based assessments - We thank you for the analysis and task/lesson design to enhance learning - #datadriveninstruction
Must ask: Are Our Students Learning
What do my students need to learn? Why?
What have my students learned? How do I know?
What are my next steps? Why?
Task Predicts Performance
Questioning - are we posing low-level questions that address the standard or are we challenging students to think critically while addressing the same standard
LEVEL OF MASTERY THAT WILL BE REACHED IS DETERMINED BY WHAT SORT OF QUESTIONS STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO ANSWER
Work Dates
- January 23rd - Hudson River Museum - Grade 8 Science/STEM Classes
- January 24th - PKMS Musical @7PM
- January 25th - PKMS Musical @3PM
- January 27th - Department Meetings @3PM
- January 28th - SLT Meeting @7:45AM in Library
- January 31st - End of Quarter Two
- February 3rd - Faculty Meeting @3PM - Discipline & Attendance Data
- February 6th - Data Team Meeting @7:45AM in Room 230
- February 10th - Full Department Meeting @3PM
- February 13th - BERT Meeting @7:45AM in Library
- February 14th - Department Leader Meeting @7:45AM
- February 14th - Talent Shows
- February 17th - February 21st - NO SCHOOL - Winter Recess
- March 2nd - Faculty Meeting @3PM - NYS Testing Information
- March 10th - PKMS' Board Presentation of our School Comprehensive Education Plan (SCEP) @7PM in the Ford Administration Building - We'd love for you all to join us as we present
- NYS ELA Computer-Based Exam - April 19 – April 26 - We will most probably have staggered administration so as to minimize building impact - More info to come
- NYS Math Computer-Based Exam - May 3 - May 10 - We will most probably have staggered administration so as to minimize building impact - More info to come
Work Reminders
- Take attendance for each of your instructional periods
- Ensure 504 and IEP Plans are being supported
- Ensure grade content colleague planning - reflecting Rubicon Atlas
- Ensure Gradebook and Teacher Webpage/Google Classroom reflect current information and assignments
- Communicate with families and maintain that communication in PLP
- Data Driven Instruction Model
- Always Ask: Have They Learned? How Do You Know?
- Training One Another
- Discussing Student Performance Information
- Designing Tiered Instruction
- Reflecting on Daily Practice
- Reviewing Assessments from All Content Areas (Formative, Summative, Interim)
- Discussing Progress Monitoring Efforts
- Pacing through Rubicon Atlas
- Lesson Plans Should Be Designed with the following in Mind
- Questions Posed - What is the level
- Tiered Instruction
- Guided Instruction
- Driven By Data
- Clear and Articulated Assessment Throughout (assessments must contain spiraling back questions)
- Groupings (Fluid)