Springhill Style
Springhill Elementary Staff Announcements
October 14, 2019
Vision
Standout: with Strong Hearts and Strong Minds
Mission Statement
"I feel the capacity to care is the thing which gives life its deepest significance." Pablo Casals
"Children live with nightmares. Whether it is the trauma of living through a hurricane or earthquake , feeling uncertain of where one's loved ones are, or living in a neighborhood of poverty or neglect, their trauma surrounds us today. Whether is is domestic abuse, school shootings, or graphic displays of killing on television and in video games, violence is all too prevalent. All too often young children living with fear, anxiety, or violence, their experiences and unvoiced reactions create layers of damage." (Mindfulness Practices)
We have students in our building suffering from trauma ... from poverty, neglect, and others. They may not always be able to communicate to us about this using their words but they do communicate to us with their behavior. Every behavior is communication. It's up to us to look past the behavior and try to find what the student is trying to communicate to us. This isn't always easy especially when we are already so busy with ALL of our other responsibilities and things we need to get accomplished. We are quick to sometimes take the behavior at face value and forget to look past it and try to find the why behind it.
I had a big dose of that this week. I have a student that we have been working through some behaviors with and trying to figure out ways to motivate him and get him to complete his work or at least attempt some of the tasks we were asking him to do. I had him in my office one day trying to get him to finish some of the work he was refusing to do and I noticed it. He was turning his head and squinting ... but he was trying to do what I had asked him. It hit me like ANOTHER slap in the face .... I don't think he can see it. Turns out ... NOPE ... he couldn't see it. He is far sighted and can't see up close. After thinking back to many of this refusals ... yes, it was while he was being asked to do tasks that required him to attend to things up close and he couldn't see them. We were able to get him some glasses and he is pretty happy now! I am certain that this wasn't the reason for ALL his behaviors but it was for some of them. He still has some opponents to overcome but we have defeated ONE! Don't get blinded by the behaviors and ask for help if you need it. Sometimes another perspective is just what you need.
ONE MORE ROUND ... for kids!
StandOUT Award
Mrs. Caldwell passed the StandOUT to Mrs. Aitchison.
I am passing the Standout torch to a teacher who has been so helpful to my students this year. She brings a smile, praise and a positive attitude everywhere she goes. She has prepped for students to succeed in my classroom as well as hers. I have enjoyed working with her and I know my kids love to see her each day. I am happy to pass the torch to Mrs Aitchison!
Catching Up on StandOUT pictures from the past few weeks!
Congratulations ..... another "A" year!!!
Announcements
Announcements:
Link to student news! Make sure to show this to your students on Monday morning! - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1meeNUVnR09k5yCkPnFuA2mRIZ4Kk--PF/view?ts=5da0f654
- ACT Interim this week for grades 3-5. Schedule is here along with small group info.
- https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1HUWBapf7GUB6dy6e7VjS_gSzgz8ybBARK3bnusZHv3s/edit#gid=130857159
- Awards Assemblies are Tuesday. 3-5 at 8:30 and K-2 at 9:30 - Please make sure you have talked to your students about behavior expectations for this time.
- Report cards will be printed Tuesday morning the 22nd. Please have your report card information entered in by Monday the 21st before you leave.
- Make sure you have sent home your P/T conference forms and remember to turn in your schedule to Ms. Sharon. Please also make sure you have put on your newsletters that 3-5 will be student led and K-2 will be a modified student led and that parents should arrive early so their student can share with them.
- 3-5 please also make sure your students are prepared to lead their conference and take ownership for their learning. K-2 make sure that your students are prepared to show their parents their work and goals before they conference with you. Students should be prepared for this and have some choice in what they share with their parents that night. You can set the folders outside your door so students can get theirs and share with their parent without interrupting you.
- After school meeting Monday at 3:30 for staff members on summative track this year. We will go over your steps. If you are unable to make it then let me know and I will find a time to meet with you.
- Lunch and Learn/Pump It Up Meeting for new Staff members Tuesday. Invite was sent out. Remember to let us know if you have topics you would like to have more information on.
- Classroom teachers please make sure you have updated your intervention documents if students have changed groups. The link to the hub is here. Please also remember to have decodable books out and ready for your interventionists ready to use.
- Interventionists remember the conversations we have had about targeting PAST skills and then coaching in decodables. I have already been hearing about the benefits of what you are doing with students!
- Cook off is Friday. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fOCV-XFJFoAT4FH9pKrW4QCROWWzTa9Xw8NbxTw_dys/edit?usp=sharing
- Team meetings will be Wednesday. Agendas are on the Springhill Site and we will be GRADE LEVEL this week! No Team Meetings NEXT WEEK for P/T conferences
- Student Conversations on Friday during your lunch recess. We will be finishing up assessment wall updates and sharing out of focus students.
- Fall Festival Games are this Saturday. Please make sure you are on time for the time you signed up to work and make sure you have your sweet walk treat there also.
- Sign Up for Fall Festival - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MsryG0L1smhgwgQ9UzB7vXlozFFWvE35eQrOt_x9Zzo/edit#gid=0
- Attendance Reward Friday- We are planning to make up our attendance reward this Friday. Please make sure your students understand that this is a total of two days missed .. excused and unexcused.
- Pineapple Board! - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1n0bha5mhSqESD7897Wn-2uQUIjS5qYL6hyISePWT5rs/edit
- SIT will meet on Tuesday. K-2 it is your week to update and K-2 will progress monitor.
- Exciting News- Through a partnership with the Museum of Discovery we are going to get to host a STEAM parent night on November 4th. This is an extra parent night in addition to our Christmas Open house and Wellness Night. The good news is that the Museum of Discovery will be doing the event for us. They will do a 30 min science show and then have some hands on stations set up for parents and students to do as well. You are NOT required to work this night as it is an extra night. The leadership team will be helping to facilitate with set up and take down and could use a few volunteers to help if you are able. Please email Mrs. West and myself if you are available to volunteer. We will be sending out more details closer to the event but please go ahead and put this on your news!
- Don't forget to see ways you can earn points for your team! - They are listed below.
- Shuttle Bus will leave at 3:10. Ms. Sharon will call for them at 3:08 ... make sure you are aware of which students will be leaving at this time! Set an alarm on your phone if you have trouble remembering to send them.
- Westside Kids Day Out Van will pick up at 3:20pm- Please send them at 3:18
- Kiddieville Van will pick up after busses at 3:35pm- Send them out with our bus riders
- Please make sure your I Can statements are posted and you are referring to them during your lesson and ensuring your students understand the success criteria.
- Don't forget to post lesson plans and newsletter to the shared google classroom
Pack the Panther Pathway!
Thanks to Mrs. Glenn for our awesome banner!
Congrats Ms. Shinn's Class
They have grown so much already this year!
Springhill Olympics - Ways to Earn Points
Congrats to our Winning Teams! Let the games continue!
- Attendance Challenge for StandOUT teams: The StandOUT team with the best percentage of attendance for the month of October will earn points for their team! First place earns 5 points, Second Place earns 3 points, and Third Place earns 1 point.
- At the end of the month we will add up the points to award medals for the month! We will award medals each month and will have an end of year medal count as well! These Olympic Games will last ALL school year!!
Mrs. Crymes standing OUT!
Stations in Science
Data Nuggets is a resource used to create stations. Here is the link for anyone wanting to incorporate data into your instruction.
Fun with Fractions
Mrs. Martin StandingOUT
Save the Dates
Oct 14 - 18 - ACT Aspire Interim 1
Oct. 15- 1st Nine Weeks Awards Ceremony
October 19th - Fall Festival Games
Oct 22 - 1:30 Dismissal time (Elementary PD in buildings)
Oct 24 - 1:30 Dismissal Time - P/T Conferences 2:00 - 7:00 PM
Oct 24 and 25 - Fall festival royalty coronation practice at 9:00 AM (Panther Pavilion)
October 26th - Fall Festival Coronation
Oct. 29- K Pumpkin Patch Trip
Oct. 28-Nov. 1 - Red Ribbon Week
Oct. 30th - Flu Shot Clinic
Oct. 31- Book Character Parade, Kona Ice purchase
Nov. 4 - Museum of Discovery STEAM Night