GATE Staff Newsletter
January 12, 2020
Please...
1. Sign up for your mid-year inquiry meeting on the sign-up genius.
2. Turn in your teacher lab request menu. (green paper)
3. If you haven't taken a field trip yet, please meet if needed and let me know where you're going. The goal is to have 2 per year. EACH CLASS has $300 toward reducing the costs of field trips. PLEASE USE IT!
4. Everyone received a copy of Emotional Intensity. Please read the introduction, Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 by the early release day of January 16th.
5. Remember - you have about a month left to finish your second FOSS kit before pick up.
6. F&P: Make sure you've gotten this into Illuminate - I sent separate directions last week.
7. See info below about blanket-making event.
8. Please keep track of intent forms that come back using the roster I gave you.
9. PTO Items:
- Please think about what you'd like to use your PTO money on! They are ready to spend for items you need but you need to ask! See below for your amount remaining. You can either email Megan Marx with what you'd like purchased or use the reimbursement form in the workroom and attach receipts. Either way - use the money!
- PLEASE come to the next PTO meeting on February 13th. It's from 2-4pm (you'd just go after dismissal) on purpose to allow for more parents and teachers to attend.
Coming Up Next Week...
Monday:
Kate @ Trauma-Informed Schools session @ Oakland Schools 12-3
Kate @ Ad Council 3:30-5pm
Winter MAP testing begins - make sure you accommodations are figured out if needed!
Tuesday:
Kate 10am meeting
Kate 1pm Avondale/MSU meeting
Staff meeting 3:00-4:00pm in workroom. Jordan Johnson (MSU CHAMP professor) presenting
Wednesday:
10am Resident appeal meeting
P2 meeting - Time?
Thursday:
Shelter/Lockdown in place @ 9am. THIS IS A CHANGE IN TIME!
Early dismissal @ 1:05pm. PD in the workroom following dismissal - starting book study. Make sure you've read Ch. 1-2 and are ready to discuss!
Friday:
Dentist visit - TBD. Please let me know ASAP if any students turned in the form.
9:30-9:50 Kate watch McDermid's class
GATE Blanket Making Charity Event- Please come immediately following dismissal! We need to get at least 75 people in attendance to get free Disney tickets to auction off. Even if you can only come for a little bit. Food provided. See flyer in GATE Gazette.
Other School Dates
- Week of Jan.13-24: MAP math and reading test in your classroom
- Jan. 16: Early Dismissal @ 1:05pm
- Jan. 17: SMILE Makers Dental visit -TBD
- Jan. 17: Blanket Making event sponsored by PTO
- Jan. 31: F&P: All students suspected of performing below grade level in reading tested by today.
- Feb. 3-Mar. 3: School of Choice Application window
- April 21: 4-5pm: SAVE THE DATE/TIME! Board listening visit. Avondale's Board members will be at Meadows from 4-5pm in the media center on this day. This is the GATE staff's opportunity to share successes and also pose questions and concerns. It's your chance to have a voice with the board.
Academic/Behavior Concerns
-Discipline Form: When sending to office/Kate
-Referral Process & Referral Form: For chronic concerns regarding academic, speech or behavior evaluation
NWEA MAP Testing
Communicate with parents so they know.
Remind students of their goals - they should reach 1/2 their spring goal - do they want to set personal goals as well?
Create a low-stress environment - it's just to see what they know right now so we can make adjustments in class.
Other useful resources:
Teacher Lab Menu & Recording Sheet
Mid-Year Inquiry Meeting Sign Up - Required for all 5D+ Evaluated Staff
Book Study for remaining PD sessions this year!
I will be putting it in your mailboxes early this week so we can start our study of this topic/book. A more detailed study guide will be coming. We will be discussing this book during future early release days/staff meetings.
Please read the introduction, Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 by the early release day of January 16th.
Healthy 2020 Challenge!
For all Future Parent/Teacher Conferences During Conference Time....
If you still have a copy of your sign-in sheets from the fall conferences, please make a copy for me and place it in my mailbox. If you don't have the sign-in sheets, please email me with the % of parents you had a conference with (phone or in person).
Thank you!
FREE Gifted SEL Professional Development....
Raptor and Volunteers
Weekly Dose of Encouragement
OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW
Positivity Project
Professional Development Slides - For Your Reference
FOSS Kits
Please let me know if you have any questions about the FOSS kits you received.
2nd-Solids and Liquids (Nov Drop off, Feb 19 PU)
3rd- Motion and Matter (Nov Drop off, Feb 19 PU)
4th- Energy (Nov Drop off, Feb 19 PU
5th- Mixtures and Solutions (Nov Drop off, Feb 19 PU)
2nd/3rd: Amanda Merrill - 2nd grade kit
2nd/3rd: Kimberly McDermid - 3rd grade kit
3rd/4th: Rachel Breeden - 3rd grade kits
4th/5th: Michelle Gierman - 4th grade kits
4th/5th: Erica Burmann - 5th grade kits
Staff Meeting Dates
1/14 3:05pm-4:05pm
2/11 3:05-4:05pm
3/10 3:05pm-4:05pm
4/14 6:45am-7:45am
5/12 3:05pm-4:05pm
6/9 6:45am-7:45am