Cottonwood Creek Monday Memo
September 7th- 11th
Greetings, CCE!
Here we go! One last (short) week before students return! So much has already been accomplished by you, TEAM! I am very proud of each of you and the work that you have done to get your classrooms and your instruction ready for students!
Each of you is a super STAR! With all the hard work that has been given, please take the time this weekend to enjoy "you" time, family time and your Monday off! Practice a safe and healthy Labor Day!
Thank you to each of you for being a BIG part of this TEAM! Stay positive, avoid negativity, and rock on! You've got this! Thank you, CCE, for being the best!
Stay Close, Stay Connected, Stay Informed, Stay Healthy & Be Well~
Virtual Hugs & Fistbumps,
Linda
Back-to-School Date for In-Person: September 14th
Math Teachers: Be on the Look out for your trial SNEAKPEEK for STEMSCOPES MATH!
You should have received your complimentary trial SNEAK PEEK Email like the one above with your user name and password. If not, reach out to Dr. Marquez.
We plan to get the actual subscription and PD for teachers soon! Stay Tuned! In the meantime, play around with the great resources and lessons!
Celebrations, Good Things, and Launch!
Celebrating Birthdays!
Happy Birthday! Enjoy your day! Felicidades!
9/8: Dr. Gloria Marquez
Good Things...
CCE got a shout out from the Austin YMCA/Extend-A-Care Afterschool Program!
Out of the blue, my good friend Emma (who is a director for Extend-A-Care/Austin), sent me a text message:
Linda, just want to say thank you to Cottonwood Creek Elementary! Your campus was able to collect lots of great furniture due to your new furniture! You may not have known that Hutto ISD really does give back to it's community! We were able to pick up all the old furniture that was donated to us from your campus and I can tell you how happy our afterschool program kids were when they got to play with the kitchen wooden sets and sit on the new furniture! Thank you, Cottonwood Creek Elementary and Hutto ISD for your generosity!
Let's Launch! 3....2....1....Go!
Neurons that work together, fire together.
~Cherise Duxbury.
Don't Forget to Pitch In for the HEF Basket! Thanks, Janet & Ashley for supporting our campus as HEF reps!
Since its beginning HEF has hosted an annual gala supporting the foundation. This year the tradition will continue with the very first virtual gala! Each campus has been tasked to donate a themed basket by September 25th for the gala's silent auction. Our basket theme is THE ULTIMATE TAILGATER!!
HEF would LOVE your additional support in making a difference by giving a one time tax-deductible donation, or a small contribution taken directly out of your paycheck each month. As a small gesture for your contribution, HEF staff contributors will receive the following:
- Star on the website staff directory (for any donation amount)
- $10 monthly or one time $120 donation receives a star, a yard sign and a t-shirt that can be worn with jeans on specific days.
- New employees who sign up for at least a $10/mo donation will also receive a succulent plant.
Last, but not least, the Excellence in Education Grants will be awarded this month! HEF is still working out a few details on how to execute the delivery, but you will find out soon if your grant was selected. Good Luck!
Please reach out to janet.johnson@huttoisd.net to contribute and learn about your support for the basket!
Tech Tip of the Week
Dr. Gloria Marquez highlights how Freckle can make life easier!
Speaking of technology....what will happen to the student chromebooks when students return?
David Oestreicher and the Tech Team will send out information on Tuesday about the process that teachers need to know about to check-in the chromebooks the first day of in-person learning. Stay tuned and be ready for the collection.
We will place an empty chromecart in each IN-PERSON teacher's classroom to get you ready to receive the chromebooks when students arrive, plug the cart in to be ready. Thank you!
Buc-ee's has Updates!
We are almost done with finalizing systems! Woo Hoo!
- Specials Schedules & Rotations Now Added in "Specials" Tab
- Committees Created- Academic & Social Committees (All teachers will belong to both, IAs/Paras will be part of the Social Committees)
- NEW: We added an "IMPROMPTU Meetings TAB" where staff can find the google link for any virtual meeting that is called that is not a PLC or STAFF meeting!
Remember Staff Meetings- Every Tuesday & PLCs- Wednesdays- See Buc-ee's for Agenda/Links
Coming on Tuesday: Duty Lists, Early Release Schedules!
Thank you for your patience as things evolve for all things education!
Your SubPops/Class Rosters have an update!
GLLs- this is another good topic to review and demonstrate with your team, if needed.
Thank you, Mrs. Jeffers and Mrs. Fox for streamlining the collection of the data view on that column!
Why the postcards?
We only had 21 teachers turn these in on Friday, please bring them in no later than Tuesday afternoon. We want to send them out that afternoon. All kids will be excited to receive them! Thank you!
*If you don't have yours, come by to see Ms. Pachicano, she may have an alternate idea for you.
What's Happening at the Creek:
RenSTAR Student Screener Window Opened last week! See Dr. Marquez' email with all the information that you need to share with your families during this window.
Small Group Safety Meetings all Week (Check your Invite from Mr. Althoff)
9/7: Labor Day (Staff/Student Holiday), Enjoy!
9/8: Art Tuesdays with Mrs. Stepanov (Students join all day virtually, see Specials Schedules)
CCES Virtual Staff Meeting Topic: T-TESS (Teacher's Only) 3:10 PM (See Buc-ees for Sign-In Sheet/Agenda)
Note: T-TESS Teachers Only: Before the meeting- review what you shared that you
wanted to work on at the EOY Summatives- we will use this to set goals this year.
9/9: Dismissal Run Through Practice #2 @3:00-3:45 PM
9/9: Return to School Parent Q&A Google Meets (Pachicano/Althoff) 4-5 PM
9/10: Physical Fitness Thursday's with Coach Hull & Mrs. Vicki (Students join all day virtually,
see Specials Schedules)
9/11: Leadership Team Meeting @ 9:00 AM (Pachicano/Althoff/Marquez/Kozak)
9/11: BOY LPACs 10:30-1:30 PM (Althoff, Pachicano, Flor Garcia, Marquez)
Virtual Teachers! Great News, your PLCs will be held Wednesdays from 3:30- 4 PM! We will begin September 16th :) Thank you!
PEIMS/ATTENDANCE/GRADE UPDATES
From our District, What teachers need to know:
Daily: Teachers should be updating their Google Attendance Spreadsheet, Skyward needs to match this spreadsheet. You enter in attendance the NEXT day in Skyward, not the day of, don't "save" the day before. Once school begins, in-person teachers will return to normal 10:00 AM attendance (No MORE SPREADSHEET). Virtual Teachers will continue with Next Day Attendance Submission for Prior Day & Google spreadsheet daily.
Attendance:
1. Teachers should start with the campus registrar or Attendance Clerk if they have questions regarding attendance. If these individuals cannot answer their questions their registrar can reach out to the PEIMS department for assistance.
2. Some teachers have been overriding the V (Asynchronous Present code) with an in person present code in skyward. Please do NOT override this, students are pre-coded V and teachers only need to update those students who are absent in skyward.
3. If you have a student who is not pre-coded they need to add the V code and contact the campus registrar or attendance clerk to investigate this student's default code.
4. Campus registrars support with absences by running necessary daily reports in order to check 3rd period absences and teacher posting status and compliance with Attendance Policy.
5. Per Region 13 guidance, a teacher or administrator must request the update via email or written notice if an attendance change is needed.
6. Skyward Attendance has added an a Q code for students who are quarantined and will be learning Asynchronously during their quarantine. Teachers will enter that Q code as long as the student is "attending" in the virtual learning.
7. PEIMS will be providing further guidance for the in person start of September 14th as we will be doing Asynchronous and in person simultaneously. Yes, in person will be taken based on a snapshot time which is 10:00 AM for elementary campuses.
8. Truancy Letters and emails will be turned on starting the week of 9/14/2020. Parents will receive their skyward automated letters and principal will begin to designate which students/families are in need of Truancy Meeting Scheduling.
Grades:
1. Elementary: Progress reports will be open for teachers on September 16th through 18th and will be posted on September 21st.
2. Elementary: 9 week grading cycle. Teachers can start posting on 10/5 through 10/7. October 8th the grades will be pulled and reviewed and posted at 4pm. All grades must be in, including FA. Report cards published in Family Access October 13th .
3. Principals will begin looking at schedule changes for virtual and in-person opting out choices on October 9th.
4. All teachers will review and sign for their receipt of the Grading Guidelines for 20-21 School year. The Guidelines are located on Buc-ee's "Staff" Tab.
NOTE:
Initial grades are being submitted two days early to facilitate schedule changes each marking period. This will NOT be communicated to families since this is confusing. Late work or work done during those last 2 days can still be counted and grade change can be requested through Estella. Try to have review tasks/practice/not-for grade assignments the last 2 days of that grading period.