The Meeks Messenger
2nd Edition, Vol. 9 October 2019
Hey, hey Mustangs!
The curriculum team is still making the final adjustments to the reported standards to help simplify the system for teachers. All adjustments should be completed by Wednesday, 10/9. Jason Johnston and his team will have open door assistance throughout the Continuous Improvement Conference for technical support, and the elementary curriculum team will be offering two sessions for additional support and exploring the possibilities with online grade reporting. Specials teachers will also utilize this platform to communicate grades!
The Continuous Improvement Conference is a week away!
We have some wonderful featured presenters so please encourage your teachers to check out their sessions. See the website for details about our featured presenters and much more.
We will meet at 8:00am in A1816, A1817 on Monday morning! Make sure to give yourself plenty of time to arrive, park, and get to our Base Camp! There will be LOTS of traffic, so you might consider carpooling. ALL staff is expected to be at the conference in its entirety. Please reach out to Lauren, Maggie, or Erin with questions regarding attendance. A parking map is attached below.
The library will be a Digital Learning Lab and will feature an “Empowered Learning Integration Station” where teachers can get individualized support. It will also have classes geared towards innovative strategies and practices that focus on technology integration, student-centered learning, and pedagogical practices that encourage the use of the 5 C's (creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and citizenship).
Don't forget to share our story with the world by using #TheGreatestParkside and #1LISD on Twitter! You can also tag our campus @Parkside_ES. Your PLN (Professional Learning Network) wants to learn from you! Y'all have so many great things to share! Enter your Twitter Handle here so we can follow you!
Thank you for all you do!
Maggie, Erin, & Lauren
LEADS Goal Setting Conferences
Erin and Lauren will be meeting with teachers groups to discuss professional goals and approve them in Strive. Please make sure your professional and SLOs are updated in Strive by that date. Also, please make sure your professional goal has at least 3 action steps associated with the goal.
CIC is a great action step to add if you're planning on attending a session aligned to your professional goal!
Lauren will meet with the following grade levels/departments in the library:
- 1st grade at 1:30
- 3rd grade at 2:00
- 5th grade at 2:30
- SPED at 3:00
Erin will meet with the following grade levels/departments in the Pride Room:
- Kinder at 1:30
- 2nd at 2:00
- 4th at 2:30
- SPROG/Specials at 3:00
ESL Academy - Registration Open...Email Erin if you would like to attend!
The cost of the Academy including, trainers, materials and substitutes will be covered by the EL Department. PLEASE NOTE: Starting with this Academy, testing cost and adding endorsement to certificate will be the responsibility of the participant. ***There will be no reimbursements for testing cost nor fees to add to teaching certificate.
ESL Academy One-Day “Refresher Course” November 6, to be held in GHS Lecture Hall: This one-day training is designed for teachers Pk-12 who have already attended the ESL Academy in the past and have not tested and/or have not passed the ESL Texas exam. This training is available on Eduphoria for registration. *** (Substitutes for the one -day refresher are not covered by EL Department and will need to be covered by the classroom teacher).
Science District PLC Days
The science department is looking forward to their first District Science PLC's with 3-5 grade teachers for the 2019-2020 school year! All Science PLC's will be held at Naumann Elementary. Below are the dates and times:
5th Grade - October 22 (7:30-10:30)
3rd Grade - October 22 (12:30-3:30)
4th Grade - October 23 (7:30- 10:30)
4th Grade - October 23 (12-4) - Earth's Patterns and Resources Module Training
Please reach out to Russell to let him know what teachers will attend the PLC for your grade level (1 rep per grade).
Abrams Publishing, BookPeople and Leander ISD Library Services present...Jeff Kinney!
The Wrecking Ball Show is crashing into Austin! Come meet author Jeff Kinney to celebrate Diary of a Wimpy Kid #14!
The Wrecking Ball Show is jam-packed with opportunities to build your own cartoons, destroy the trivia competition, manufacture some dance movies, and collapse with laughter. If you're not completely wrecked, stick around after the show for a photo with Jeff Kinney! The Wrecking Ball Show is one hour in length and fun for the whole family!
Tuesday, November 5, 2019 at 6:00 pm.
Hill Country Bible Church-Austin, TX
12124 Ranch Rd 620 N, Austin, TX 78750
Event & Ticket Guidelines:
This is a ticketed event. There are two ticket options:
- TICKET Option #1 -includes ONE copy of Wrecking Ball, a pre-personalized bookplate signed by Jeff, a photo with Jeff, and entry for ONE person to The Wrecking Ball Show
- TICKET Option #2 -includes ONE copy of Wrecking Ball, a pre-personalized bookplate signed by Jeff, a photo with Jeff, and entry for TWO people to The Wrecking Ball Show
When you purchase your ticket, you will be asked to whom you would like your bookplate pre-personalized. Please answer the question with the person's first name and include your campus name (campus name will not be personalized in the book)
Buy your tickets here - http://bit.ly/WimpyKidLISD
Tickets are required for this event. Leander ISD families and staff have advanced access to ticket sales through October 31; remaining tickets will open to the general public on November 1st. Don’t miss out on this very special literacy event!
College Awareness Day! October 30th
Please wear college t-shirts on Oct. 30th and share your college and career stories with our students. This is a great time to talk to kids about college and expose them to what life could potentially look like for them in years to come. Here are some questions to guide your discussions:
- Explain where you went to college and why you chose that school.
- What did you study and why?
- What was your favorite class and why?
- What food did you most often eat while attending college?
- What was the most exciting part about going to college?
- How did you meet friends and what was important about that?
- What was your college mascot? School colors? Can you still sing the fight song, etc?
- What college organizations where you involved in? ( Sorority, Fraternity, School Newspaper, Charity Organizations, Sports, Academics)
Important Dates to Remember!
October 9 - Campus Leadership Meeting & Site Based Meeting in Library 3:15-5:00pm, Social Committee Meeting
October 14-15 - Continuous Improvement Institute (ALL staff must attend)
October 16 - Faculty Meeting (IAs do not have to attend, but are welcome!)
October 17 - NP4H Board Meeting @ 6:00pm
October 24 - Fall Picture Day, Coffee Chat with Admin 6:00pm in Community Room
October 25 - Family Fitness Costume Ball
October 28 - National First Responder's Day!
October 30 - Faculty Meeting (ALL staff), College Awareness Day (wear a college shirt)
October 31st - Literacy Day: Dress as your favorite book character! We will have two author visits this day with an alternate specials schedule (coming soon!), Kinder Pumpkin Carving
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!
- Kate Lindeman (10/6)
- Dianne Beard (10/6)
- Cherly Adair (10/8)
- Tasha Rodriguez (10/9)
- Jamee Randall (10/18)
- Beth Barr (10/25)
Box Tops!
Parkside Elementary is collecting box tops through October 25. If we collect more than $1000 worth, I will kiss a PIG!
Instructional Coach Newsletter
Counseling Corner
Please reach out to Julie if you have questions!
We Are Here for YOU!!!
Email: lauren.meeks@leanderisd.org
Location: 301 Garner Park Drive, Georgetown, TX, USA
Phone: 17110
Twitter: @TheRealMrsMeeks