Tiger Beat
Acton Weekly Update: 2/2/18
FTCSC Hedgehog Focus
1. Accepts LEARNING as the fundamental purpose of our district and therefore are willing to examine all practices in light of their impact on learning.
2. Is committed to working together to achieve our collective purpose. We cultivate a COLLABORATIVE CULTURE through development of high-performing teams.
3. Assesses our effectiveness on the basis of RESULTS rather than intentions. Individuals, teams, and schools seek relevant data and information and use that information to promote continuous improvement.
Social Skills Focus
This week we discussed the yellow zone. In the yellow zone, is where we need to proceed with caution. This is where we start to lose control and we need to slow down and TAKE A BREAK!! Some of the emotions that belong in the yellow zone are: frustrated, worried, silly/wiggly, excited, nervous, anxious, annoyed, overwhelmed, scared, jealous, upset, uncomfortable, confused, embarrassed, grouchy, and crabby.
When we see students in this zone, this is where we need to prompt them to take a break, in order to try and calm ourselves, instead of entering the red zone!
Nuts and Bolts
Upcoming schedule changes:
IA's will be covering classrooms for Instructional Rounds- Please refer to the schedule.
Jan. 30th, Feb. 7,8,12.
Third Grade will be administering the IN ONline Test infrastructure test on Feb. 7th at 9:30. They will be using the 3,4,5th grade chromebook carts.
If you are not receiving the automated calls you have to go into your esuites account to update your phone numbers.
The Franklin Township Education Foundation (F*TEF) announces its 2018 Spring Grant program.
Please review the attachment for guidelines and application requirements.
All applications are due by Monday - April 9, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. for consideration.
No proposals will be accepted after the deadline. Our Grants Committee will review each application and may request additional information from the applicant, school administrators or curriculum coordinators, if needed.
Curriculum
Tuesday - PD- Special Services Team will present Positive Praise vs. Negative Attention
Wednesday-PLC- Grade Level Data Focus
RA staff will be at BH both days for Kid by Kid book study.
Engrade: Our final round of Engrade begins this week. The window is 2/5-2/23 for the ELA and the Math testing. Teachers, please look at your rosters to ensure all students are included BEFORE you begin testing. Haley will need to be notified to make any changes.
Friday 2/2/18 is the end of the midterm. Grades should be posted y 3:00 on Wednesday 2/7/18
Instructional Rounds
We are going to have instructional rounds here at Acton on January 30th and February 7th, 8th, and 12th. Instructional rounds is a collaborative process through which teams of teachers can learn more about their practice in order to develop a collective understanding of teaching and learning. The main goal of having rounds is to gain understanding of how different grade levels are adapting to teaching mini-lessons and to create conversations that will further our growth as a teacher in the new FT Literacy Block.
During these few days, you will have an opportunity to see a peer teach a mini-lesson. The host teachers were extremely generous to open their rooms to you and are developing vulnerability-based trust with their peers.
IAs will be covering rooms to make this happen. Again, this place couldn't function without them. Thank you!
Please let me know if you have questions about the schedule. I will be sending out calendar invites to next week.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sXPLwHTbedGi-yHmrBKQFMIizSsns1oY0-kmp3FsmGQ/edit?usp=sharing
Two New ISTEP Resources Released!!!!!
New Educator Resource: Scoring and Rubric Training for Math and Language Arts
Several new scoring courses are now available for educators. These courses provide information and training regarding ISTEP+ open-ended items and rubrics.
This memo provides additional course details and access information. Click the link below.
The DOE just released more applied skills writing prompts and math examples along with scoring guides and rubrics. GREAT STUFF!!!! Please look through and use with students as you see appropriate.
What's Coming Up
February
5 Counselor Appreciation
5 Evacuation Drill
5 midterm ends
5-23 Acuity ELA/Math/Sci/SS
5 FTMS East band/orchestra parent night
7 mid term grades posted
8 Student Council
8 4th grade music program
9 Friendship parties
14 Robotics club
16 All Pro Dads
16 4th grade field trip
19 President’s Day
20-23 Read Across America Week
23 PTO Father/Daughter dance
26-Mar 9 ISTEP
26 School Board Meeting
28 Robotics club
March
5 Chow with the Cow
5 Evacuation Drill
6 5th grade field trip
9 End of grading period
9 JRFH winners to SkyZone
12-16 IREAD
13 KDG Field Trip
14 Principal Appreciation
16 All Pro Dads
19-30 SPRING BREAK