Galloping Gazette
A newsletter for the Faculty and Staff - Week of 6/8
Put Students First • Seek Growth • Be Open to Change . Do Great Work Together • Value Differences
Principal's Message
As this school year comes to a close, I believe I can speak for everyone and say that this year was one that we will never forget. While there was so much change and uncertainty, there was still so much good that occurred! We continued on our journey of common language and common practices in how we respond to behavior and saw great decreases in our Colt Trackers and referrals. At mid-year, we were seeing students already meeting their year-end growth based on PAST results, DRA results, and RI results. Lastly, we had already held 5 expos featuring authentic student learning!
Then March 13th came and we left school hoping we would only need to use our two weeks of prepared work. When the Governor told us that we would not return, reality sunk in that we would not be returning back to CFES. As sad and disappointed as we were, we leaned on each other, rallied around each other, and presented a strong front for our students. Instead of stepping out of your comfort zone, you lived outside your comfort zone and quite frankly CRUSHED it.
Your dedication never wavered as you consistently found ways to connect with your students to support their SEL needs, answered countless questions on how to access materials while talking parents off the ledge. Not to mention the numerous emails you answered and phone calls you made to ensure students stayed engaged. This is all while balancing your own family/life/deployments. You are the real superheroes.
I have told you often and will continue to tell you often, that I am beyond grateful to be able to serve alongside you and in awe of just how talented all of our staff is. I hope you take time to reflect on your hard work and be unbelievably proud of how far you have come in such a short time period. Please enjoy your summer and time to dedicate to your family and friends. I can't wait to celebrate with all of our staff and honor those that are leaving on June 12th.
-Robyn
Week Ahead
Monday, June 8th
Last week of SY 2019-2020
9:00 - ALL school staff meeting via Zoom
School Open from 8:30 - 2:30, please enter in the front door and check in and check out with Ceci.
3:00 - 6:00 - K selfie drive by celebration
Tuesday, June 9th
School Open from 8:30 - 2:30, please enter in the front door and check in and check out with Ceci.
3:00 - 6:00 - 5th grade celebration - Mrs. Bagnall's Class
Wednesday, June 10th
School Open from 8:30 - 2:30, please enter in the front door and check in and check out with Ceci.
3:00 - 6:00 - 5th grade celebration - Sra. Armada and Mrs. Zajac
Thursday, June 11th
School Open from 8:30 - 2:30, please enter in the front door and check in and check out with Ceci.
Report Cards due
3:00 - 6:00 - 5th grade celebration - Mrs. Pascual, Mrs. Cochran, and Mrs. Hayes
Friday, June 12th
#Fri-YAY
School wide Google Meets - info to come at staff meeting
School Open from 8:30 - 2:30, please enter in the front door and check in and check out with Ceci.
End of year celebration at Patti Csenar's house starting at 3:00 pm -
I make a difference...
Days and nights spent perfecting LOOMs to deliver ongoing quality instruction to students. Emails and Schoology messages answered in a timely matter to provide parents and students with the appropriate guidance. Technological skills learned quickly and on demand to guide extraordinary asynchronous learning. Social-emotional support delivered effortlessly on a needed basis.
For that and much more , you , the CFES staff make a difference. Thank you for your diligent work to support our students and families. Have a relaxed summer!
Tell me something good...
Team ✌️: I have loved spending the last 2 years with you. I couldn't have asked for a better team to learn from and work alongside. Thank you for being an incredible team and friends!
Farm Family: I have felt so loved at the Farm and I am incredibly sad to leave (although very excited to be home with my little guy!). Thank you for making me part of the best family at the Beach! Until next time! - Megan
I would like to thank everyone for my time at Christopher Farms. I have had the privilege of working with some great people and teammates who became friends who I will miss seeing each day but look forward to seeing at HHs in the future! - Alainya
I would like to thank Miriam Rodriguez for the birthday visit and awesome end to the week!!! He apreciado el ano de la risa juntos y la oportunidad de conocerte! - Alainya
News and Notes....
- As you have likely heard by now, Virginia’s governor has mandated face coverings be worn inside all public buildings. Therefore, as of tomorrow, Friday, May 29, visitors to all VBCPS schools or administrative buildings must wear face coverings while conducting business. A face covering includes anything that covers your nose and mouth, such as a mask, scarf or bandanna. If you are unable to wear a face covering due to a medical condition, please contact the school before your visit so that accommodations can be made for your safety.
VBCPS employees will also be wearing face coverings as they enter and exit buildings and when in common areas where social distancing can’t be maintained. Those employees who have regular contact with the public---such as security assistants, food service staff and receptionists--- will be wearing a face covering while performing their job functions.
Staffing Updates...
*Sra. Greer will be leaving CFES to spend more time with family. She wanted to thank the staff for all of the support she has had in working with everyone during her time here at the farm.
Welcome to the Farm - Mrs. Dodson - PreK
- I met my husband in 7th grade and we have two daughters, Ellie is 4 and Caroline is 10 months.
- I love spicy food.
- My favorite place in Virginia Beach is Sandbridge.
Welcome to the Farm - Mrs. Hunger - K
- I am from Michigan and moved to Virginia Beach 12 years ago.
- I have a 100 year old grandmother. I was lucky to have celebrated this big milestone with her this past fall back home in the Mitten! (She’s 100 but still acts like a teenager).
- I’m a mom of three (Anna-5 years old, who is currently a Colt. Colin who is 2 and my stepson Jon is 16 and lives in Pennsylvania).
Welcome to the farm - Mrs. Reasland - K
- I lived in Italy for 15 years.
- I love to read.
- I have dual citizenship, USA and Canada
Welcome to the Farm - Ms. Royal - 2nd grade - Spanish Immersion
- My favorite animal is a flamingo!
- I lived in Spain for a summer!
- I have an orange and white cat that likes to chase his tail and beg for treats!
PALS certification for ALL
PALS offers online tutorials for PALS certification in Pre-K, K, and 1-3. These can be accessed through your PALS account. You can register for the tutorials in Frontline to receive points for participation. Here is a brief video from Monica Bennett on how to access the tutorials:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bXD3bSfzc-RhnbjTUQZQ6JypvMkH0W_S/view?usp=sharing
Here is a document that provides directions for how to search for your PALS account, reset your password, and create an account (if one doesn’t already exist) using a VBCPS registration code: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_JV_HpWj_8zf86YtdSe9lk0yrt4iSve1HdlQMP7rkgA/edit?usp=sharing
VASCD SUMMER PD OFFERINGS
Professional development opportunities are available this summer from VASCD:
-Designing Virtual Assessments, Tasks, and Activities This is a self-paced workshop including strategies and tools for online instruction. Choose June 1- 30 or June 10-July 10 as your completion window.
-Profile of a Virginia Classroom Virtual Conference: Join designers of the Profile Briefs as well as leaders who are using them in their schools. Receive resources for job-embedded professional learning in your school. July 14-15, online.
-Student-Centered Coaching Online Course: VASCD has affiliated with Diane Sweeney to offer the self-paced course based on her new book, The Essential Guide for Student-Centered Coaching. The course can be completed independently, as well as with support for VASCD members with facilitate discussion groups.
COMMUNICATING WITH PARENTS/GUARDIANS VIA SYNERGY TEACHERVUE
In order to streamline and centralize communication with parents and guardians about student grades and related matters, teachers are now able to easily email them through Synergy TeacherVUE. A benefit of communicating in this manner is that message history is stored and accessible through TeacherVUE. Please refer to the TeacherVUE Student Information User Guide to learn more about how this feature works and how to access historical communication records. Questions should be directed to the Customer Support Center (263-1111).
HOW TO TALK ABOUT EQUITY, RACE AND RECENT EVENTS
How to Talk About Equity, Race and Recent Events
Tuesday, June 9, 2020 at 5 p.m.
Attend via Zoom and Facebook Live
Conversations – courageous conversations – about equity, race and recent tragic events can be difficult to have, yet, individual and cultural conceptions of race impact every aspect of our daily lives. Words have impact, but so does silence.
Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS), in partnership with equity leaders across Virginia, invites you to participate in a virtual community discussion on equity, race and recent events that are impacting us locally, nationally and globally. The panel discussion includes VBCPS leaders and community members whose diverse backgrounds have influenced their personal, educational and professional endeavors toward inclusive excellence.
Moderator:
- Barbara Hamm Lee: Executive producer and host of Another View on WHRV 89.5 FM. Barbara is currently chair of the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority; second vice chair of the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) of South Hampton Roads; chair of the Norfolk Education Foundation Board of Directors; chair of the Community Advisory Board for Dominion Virginia Power; and board member of The Planning Council, and Bennett College Alumnae Association.
VBCPS Panelists:
- Dr. Aaron C. Spence, Superintendent
- Dr. LaQuiche Parrott, Director, Opportunity and Achievement
- Dr. Admon Alexander, Director, Family and Community Engagement
Community Panelists:
- Beatrix Amberman: Human Rights advocate for more than 38 years, founder of the Hispanic Community Dialogue Organization of Hampton Roads, and dedicated to promoting civic participation and deliberation of issues impacting the community. She is chair and founding member of the Virginia Coalition of Latino Organizations and vice chair of The Virginia Latino Leaders Council. She is a founding member of the Democratic Latino Organization of Virginia (DLOV), and an appointed member to the Virginia Beach Human Rights Commission.
- Jonathan Zur: President & CEO of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC), an organization that works with schools, business and communities to achieve success through inclusion. An experienced facilitator and consultant on issues of diversity and inclusion, Jonathan was appointed by the Governor of Virginia to the Commonwealth Commission on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, formed in the aftermath of the tragedy in Charlottesville in August 2017.
We ask that you send us any pressing questions or comments you might have so that we can work to address the subject matter that is most important to you, our community members. Please help us frame the conversation.
Self Care Recommendations
JOYful June
Mic drop moment
Book for the moment
Such a Fun Age is a page-turning and big-hearted story about race and privilege, set around a young black babysitter, her well-intentioned employer, and a surprising connection that threatens to undo them both
Game Changer Moment
Helpful List of Resources
VBCPS 2019-2020 Emergency Learning Plans for Elementary Schools
Newly updated VBCPS 2019-2020 School Calendar
Emergency Learning Plan Webpage
VBCPS Mental Health Resources: You are taking care of our students. Here are some resources to help take care of yourself also.
Meals for families: These are the locations you can give to families in need of food. Kids must be with the family to receive food.
Chromebook Repair: Here are the sites families can exchange their broken Chromebook for a new one.
Dr. Spence's Deskside Chats: Closed- captioned videos shared every Tuesday and Thursday on YouTube, where Dr. Spence tackles a few questions and provide some updates.
VBCPS General Updates: Most current updates on nearly everything here.
Technology Tips: These are tips on working from home. You need to be logged in to your VBSchools account to access it. As always, the DoT Help Desk is available at (757) 263-1111 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday should you need support as you work to ensure our students continue to learn.
CDC Guidelines: Tips to keep you and your family safe. We love you. Stay safe.
The Office of Employee Relations has published FAQs for employees regarding work locations/hours, pay, leave, FMLA, as well as the new Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) on the Intranet. Here is the direct link to this information: https://vbcps.sharepoint.com/sites/Intranet/Pages/COVID_19FAQs.aspx