Olympian High School
"Where Champions Are Made"
Mission
College Readiness Skill - Describe July 23 - August 20
Weekly Calendar
- First day of Fall Sports Clearance
- 8:00 Calendar Meeting
Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - Regular Day
- Welcome back packets will be distributed Period 2, packets will be hand delivered to your class.
Wednesday, July 30, 2014 - Block Day (1,2,3) no ATP
- Picture Day #1 MPR by English classes
- 2:45 FAC - Principal's conference room
Thursday, July 31, 2014 - Block Day (4,5,6) no ATP
- Picture Day #2 MPR by English classes
Friday, August 1, 2014 - Regular Day
- Grade Level Assemblies MPR
Teachers that have all one grade level please escort and stay with class in MPR, those teachers that have mixed take roll and send students to MPR
- 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. Welcome Back Dance $5.00
Olympic Training Center
Cheerleaders gather for a group shot before heading out to Magdalena to welcome the Olympian Families
Welcome
- Campus Assistant - Miriam Prieto. Her hours will be 11:00 - 3:00 p.m.
- Special Education Teacher - Torrance Norris
- Administrative Intern - Michael Salamanca
OPENING DAY
Kudos and a very big thank-you to EVERYONE--teachers, nurse, librarian, counselors, instructional assistants, campus assistants, IT Technician, cafeteria staff, custodial staff, clerical staff, psychologist, our cluster substitute - Jesse Matias, and all four assistant principals--for working very hard to ensure that the first day of school focused on setting a positive academic tone with students. Everyone was solution-oriented and helpful, especially since we were dealt with some curve balls. Overall, it was a good opening. However, I acknowledge that the first day of school did not go as smoothly as we had envisioned and planned it. The A-Team has already made note of how to improve upon the challenges that have been identified.
- Big Kudos to the ASB and the cheerleaders who were outside cheering and waving flags to welcome students on the first day.
- The Welcome back assembly was well received and allowed the latecomers to not miss class. We were able to celebrate our first CIF banner!!
- The hallways were clear before 7:45.
- The campus was calm. After lunch, the campus was generally clean.
- Teachers quickly set the tone for the school year.
- All staff were helpful with students, parents, and with each other.
The Challenges:
- There was a challenge in determining the students who did not clear residency. Many did and we kept them out of class while trying to figure out where there paperwork was placed.
- Students who cleared residency were missing their locator card?? Not sure why that happened.
Thank you to those who gave feedback, both positive and constructive, so we can fine tune our services and routines.
WALK THROUGH FEEDBACK - Week one
- Teachers conveyed expectations and started with getting to know activities or delved straight into content area instruction from the very first day of school.
- Academic routines (notebook organization, notetaking, vocabulary structure, etc.) were being modeled in classes.
- Some classrooms are structured to encourage student interaction: sentence starters, active word walls, and seats arranged in groups of four were seen.
- Not all classes had DLT's. DLT's inform your students what skill they will be mastering and how they will show you they have mastered it. An agenda is not a DLT. A standard is not a DLT. It's great to say your DLT verbally, but please write it down so you can refer to it every so often. Also for the students who need a visual connection it allows all students to see the DLT throughout the period.
- For those who had DLT's, majority were in the emerging implementation. Only a few were constructed according to the template. All DLT's should have the following components: timeframe, college readiness verb/Bloom's Taxonomy, concept/skill, activity/measurable verb, product or assessment.
- Many classes were pre-testing students to gather data on their skills.
- Academic language was being developed in classes. Teachers ask questions which allow students to answer using the vocabulary they are learning. Vocabulary words were defined by or for students and written down as notes.
- Students were given some opportunities to work together and talk to each other by answering worksheets together, create dialogue, or practice conversation.
- Instruction was bell to bell.
MASTER SCHEDULE UPDATE
- All no-shows were contacted and dropped last Friday. We dropped total about 80 no-shows.
- Our enrollment is at 2452, just under the 2492 that was predicted by Planning.
- This is still about 300 more students from last year. As a result, we have opened new classes to accommodate the needs of our enrollees.
- The growth in classes has been handled by a combination of postings and 1/6 stipends. Additional 1/6 stipends was sent to staff last Friday. The positions will be posted August 1. In the meantime, we will have substitutes covering these classes. Please welcome our subs and assist them by providing materials. Every attempt has been made to get subs who are credentialed in the classes they will be covering.
- Some of the classes that we opened will build daily. Please welcome the students. Thank you for your flexibility.
- Our growth has also necessitated the need to share rooms. Thank you to all who have, and will, open their doors to our new staff. The relos are anticipated to be ready when we return from fall break.
- Our counselors are multitasking: making class changes, seeing students who have requested changes, assigning classes to new enrollees, and balancing classes. Thank you for your patience as we move towards fulfilling our contractual obligations. We are running the 180 reports everyday.
- All classes will be balanced by Tuesday, August 5.
For The Common Good
- PLCs - We will have our first PLC tomorrow, all staff are required to attend, if you have new teachers in your department, please let them know where there should report.
- iPad Deployment Part II - Over half of the 9th graders have received their iPads. The rest of the 9th graders will be issued their iPads during the English 9 textbook distribution this week.
- Enrollment - Current enrollment is at 2452 and we have identified additional sections to open based on these numbers.
- Dress code - Please remind students of our dress code and enforce in the classroom - no sagging pants, only Olympian hats, no beanies and hoods; for girls - no spaghetti straps and strapless shirts/blouses, no midriff showing and short shorts.
- Gum - we have a no gum policy and we will need your help in making sure it is enforced in the classroom
STARTING THE YEAR STRONG
Words to Inspire - Don't forget Rita Pierson's message:
Every child deserves a champion; an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists they become the best they can possibly be. Is this job tough? You betcha. But it is not impossible. We can do this. We're educators. We were born to make a difference.