May 28, 2018
A Communication Tool for the Seven Hills Staff
Bump Up Day is Tuesday:
Bump Up Day Explained:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1kqSMyJJw-NtZJp1xtNvOCH5evEqDFnOue79mIlVWxJU/edit?usp=sharing
This is such an exciting day for Seven Hills! Thank you Marisa Tindel and ILT for your work on this!
Marisa will be sending updates, reminders, schedules, etc. to you this weekend. Please read everything carefully. Bump Up Day does not impact lunch and recess schedules. It does not change the specials schedule times, but it does change WHO goes when...please read the details in the communication from Marisa!
Help support former 7 Hills Star, Anna Thornell, and her DI Team! This was the ONLY NISD Team to make it to Globals for DI this year!
2018 - 2019 Theme Planning:
A folder for the theme for next year has been created:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1aLtcz4tR1Y-GYi-O7OWLSPY3ADssEPhp
In the folder you will find the slides from the reveal if you would like to take a closer look. There is also a sign-up for you to choose which team you would like to work with (note: all staff will be a member of a team).
- Shout out to those who already signed up.
- The tree team is full. Trees, please designate a team lead to be the point person on this. We will want to make a template and give out paper for cutting before you leave for summer.
- We will need staff on all teams, and we will need a lead on each.
Q also included a map of where each feature will be included from the theme team. If you find an idea you can add a picture to the folder.
There were discussions about feeling as if everything had already been decided. Very little is 100% set in stone. And, the team welcomes ideas and input. Each team will create their own scoreboards - 4 of them to be exact. And, door designs are not 100% decided either.
Thanks!
End of Year Awards, Parties, and Clap Out Schedules/Information:
With reaching the summit comes the opportunity to celebrate public victories! Please read the information in this email and in the attachments carefully.
Awards Assembly Schedule:
- Kindergarten Graduation: Thursday, May 31 at 8:15
- 1st Grade: Wednesday, May 30 from 9:00 – 9:45 am
- 2nd Grade: Wednesday, May 30 from 10:00 – 10:45 am
- 3rd Grade: Wednesday, May 30 from 8:00 – 8:45 am
- 4th Grade: Wednesday, May 30 from 11:00 – 11:45 am
- 5th Grade: Thursday, May 31 at 6:00 pm
Awards Assemblies Location: The Gym
Specials Schedule on May 30:
We will still have a regular specials schedule on Wednesday, May 30. The times given should not conflict with lunch or specials schedules, however, the schedules are tight. We must stay on schedule and be efficient. Specials teachers, because he gym is being used for awards, please come up with an alternate plan for specials on this day. We have multiple ARDS on this day, and will need for teachers to have their planning period. Thank you so much.
End of Year Parties:
- On the purple calendar it indicates that the End of Year Parties will be on Wednesday, May 30. CHANGE OF DATE: End of Year Parties will be on Thursday, May 30 from 9:45 – 10:45 am. Yes, all parties will be at the same time. With Kindergarten Graduation and Early Release, this simply must be the plan. We will share the plan for lunch times soon.
5th Grade Students vs Seven Hills Staff Volleyball Game:
- Friday, June 1 at 8:00 am
5th Grade Clap Out:
- 11:15 am on Friday, June 1
- The clap out is similar to the Senior Memory Walk, except no caps and gowns and our 5th graders do the memory walking.
Please help share the information with parents.
Every attempt to capture all pertinent information for these events has been made. Perhaps there is something that has been missed or confusion remains. Just let me know, and we will work to resolve.
Awards Clarifications:
Principal’s Award:
1 boy and 1 girl from each homeroom class with outstanding leadership/character, work ethic, achievement, etc. for the year. This is the student that could have easily been the Star Leader EACH grading period. They exemplify what it means to be a leader and our core beliefs. In order to be prepared for the awards, this form must be completed by Tuesday, May 29. https://goo.gl/forms/CTwpupre8yvLpNQh2
6th 6 Weeks Star Leader Award:
Same routine as grading periods 1-5. Please make sure you inform parents!
A Honor Roll and Perfect Attendance Medals:
I will read off of a list from e-school for the awards. You must come to Wilma’s office on Tuesday, May 29th to confirm your records match the e-school report. This is VERY important, as there is always a chance for error. By checking your records against the report, we reduce the chance that there could be disappointed students at awards assemblies.
Specials Awards:
Because awards for 1-4 grades are going to happen at the same time specials classes are occurring, the teachers will not be able to present these awards. Please do not announce these as one of the 1-3 awards for students. I will announce these awards separately in order to give them their proper recognition as an award of distinction. Specials teachers will read their awards for Kindergarten and 5th grade. This is special, as they are able to honor the first and last end of year awards assemblies for these Star Leaders.
Certificates:
Classroom teachers are responsible for printing any certificates. Club sponsors, etc. are responsible for printing for club participation. There are templates for some of these awards in the Google folder linked below. These are where the 1-3 awards received will largely come from. Templates available:
- Good Attendance
- A-B Honor Roll
- Certificate of Completion
- Outstanding Leadership/Legendary Leader
- Boy and Girl Academic Star (can be used for math, science, reading, social studies, writing Star award…you simply chance the content area listed)
For ALL of the certificates you download the certificate in the folder. When you select the award you are wanting, click on the blue “download” button. This will download the Publisher file for you to use. PLEASE read the awards CAREFULLY and make the necessary changes such as content area, date, student name, teacher name, grade level, etc. Nothing is more embarrassing than having mistakes on awards. Lecia has paper for awards…colored…parchment…etc….
You can create awards as well, I have the simple expectation that everyone in the grade level be the same…if one does an award…all do the award…
The Google Folder is linked here for you: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1_S9CqcSrWKFIDnox3Tp3xcD37c4gk85d?usp=sharing
Habit Focus for the Rest of the Year: Habit Review
NISD Professional Learning Expectations and Opportunities:
NISD offers teachers comprehensive and highly regarded professional learning opportunities. I have tried to capture the key components here, but if you would like to peruse a little on your own, the following links might be of interest:
- NISD Professional Learning Website: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pHjJQTJSTVIW9mAVNJu0fpm7ApbfroRshrP4-heeBg0/edit
- NISD Professional Learning Framework: https://www.nisdtx.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=232201&pageId=7912537
Staff Development Flex Days:
Each professional must accumulate a minimum of three flex days (18 learning hours) between July 1, 2018 and March 10, 2019 to be used for the November 21, 2018, December 21, 2018, and April 19, 2019 staff development days. Classes offered in June may be used with principal approval.
All professional development applicable to flex days must be taken during off-contract time.
Prior approval from the principal is required for all sessions and must be documented on the Flex Days for Staff Development form.
Any changes to the form must be approved by the campus principal.
Core content teachers are required to attend a 3 hour content institute as part of their 18 hours.
ALL Instructional Staff (Everyone except Paraprofessionals) will complete 6 hours of FLEX on August 10 during our Leader in Me Empowering Instruction learning.
9 of your required 18 hours will come from Leader in Me required PD in August and the Required Content Institutes offered this summer.
FLEX Approval Form: http://www.nisdtx.org/departments/professional_learning/flex_days
Required Annual Training Updates:
NISD has developed a series of annual updates that meet district, state, or federal guidelines for employees. Each campus shall provide expectations regarding timelines for completion and verify staff compliance. A complete list will be available in August 2018. You may begin completing these courses through Eduphoria on July 1st.
General Summer Dates:
August 1-3, 2018 ENGAGE Professional Learning Conference
August 13-15, 2018 New Teacher Professional Learning
August 16-24, 2018 All Staff Professional Learning
The chart pictured below outlines the All Staff Professional Learning Schedule. This schedule is subject to change based on campus needs or scheduling. Report to your home campus on August 16, 2018.
CONTENT INSTITUTES
Content Institutes are required for all Pre-K-5 teachers, Dual Language Teachers, Secondary ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies teachers, World Languages teachers and Special Education teachers. If you have questions, please verify with Kim Blackburn which Institute you should attend. DON'T WAIT TO SIGN UP! COURSES FILL UP FAST!! You can find the dates that these required courses are offered here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pHjJQTJSTVIW9mAVNJu0fpm7ApbfroRshrP4-heeBg0/edit#
ENGAGE
- Need a babysitter? Alphabest will be open for school-age children. If you are attending ENGAGE, Alphabest is FREE to you!!
- You will not want to miss the great sessions at ENGAGE this summer. We have fantastic featured presenters as well as over 150 other amazing sessions to choose from. The following sessions will be offered at ENGAGE as well as others.
- A final ENGAGE Schedule will be posted in June.
- Opportunities listed under all contents are geared to support teachers that teach all subjects. Courses are listed under one Domain, but most crossover and support many of the T-TESS Domains.
DO NOT WAIT TO REGISTER FOR COURSES YOU ARE INTERESTED IN!
COURSES FILL UP FAST!
Campus and District Announcements and Updates:
End of Year Checklists were placed in mailboxes last week. Please do not remove hall displays until you are given the "go ahead."
Please let parents know that all medication must be picked up from the clinic and students need to check the lost and found!
If you were not able to attend our staff meeting 2 weeks ago, please take a few minutes to complete The Leader in Me staff survey. This is something TLIM asks us to do each year and it gives us valuable information for the program. Thank you! https://theleaderinmeonline.org/assessments/assessment/c9a55b41fd6f19bf
Morning Arrival and Duty Reminders: A gentle reminder that we receive students at 7:20 am. Teachers should be in their classrooms ready to monitor students and prepare students for the day at 7:20. This is an important part of the day, and has the potential to set students up for success for the rest of the day. What are students engaged in/with from 7:20 - 7:40 am? Staff who do not have homeroom class assignments do have morning duty assignments. It is very important that staff are on duty promptly at 7:20 am in order to support a safe arrival for everyone.
- Save the Date for Campus Based PD in August: Seven Hills staff will complete The Leader in Me Empowering Instruction professional learning on August 10, 2018. All instructional staff are required to attend, and because this is a non-contract day, this will count toward FLEX credit. The location is TBD, as we may opt to have this off site for a more engaging PD.
Save the Date:
Habit Focus: Review All Habits, including Leader Expectations, this week so we can end the year on a positive note!
May 28:
- School Holiday in Observance of Memorial Day
May 29:
- Bump up Day
- Hat Day fundraiser for NISD DI Team (see flier)
- Lecia's Retirement Party, 3:30 pm
- Staff wear jeans and Seven Hills shirt and/or western attire for Lecia's Happy Trails party
- School Board Meeting 6:30 pm, NISD Writer of the Month recognized
May 30:
- Awards Assemblies 1-4
- Staff wear professional attire for awards assemblies. Staff not involved in awards may wear jeans and a school shirt or school colors.
May 31:
- Early Release Day, 11:40 am
- Kindergarten Graduation, 8:15 am (Staff involved in graduation wear professional attire)
- 5th Grade Graduation Celebration, 6:00 pm (Staff involved wear professional attire)
- End of Year Parties 9:45 - 10:45 am
- Staff not involved in awards may wear jeans and a school shirt or school colors.
June 1:
- Last Day of School
- Staff vs 5th Grade Volleyball Game 8:00 am
- 5th Grade Clap Out 11:15
- Early Release, 11:40 am
- Staff wear jeans and "fiesta" attire
- Staff End of Year Party/Staff Meeting, 12:00 in cafeteria
Save the Date:
Happy Birthday to You: