Astro News
Compass 2020: Power On Alanton & Reach for the Stars!
January 25-29
MId-Year Goal Review & Formative Option 1 Reflection
- Mid-Year Goal Review – Due January 29
- Formative Option 1 Reflection – Due February 5
Report Card Timeline & Expectations:
- Jan. 29th - Art/Music/PE grades & comments all finalized by 5:00 pm
- Feb. 1st - Homeroom teachers’ grades and comments all finalized by 5:00 pm
- Feb. 2nd – Katie reviews all report card comments and returns edits to be completed by Homeroom teachers
- Feb. 3rd – All edits completed and returned to Katie to be passed on for Admin review by 5pm
- Grades K – 2 and IEPs for those grade levels to Mr. Clarke
- Grades 3 – 5 and IEPs for those grade levels to Mrs. Garran
- Feb. 5th - All final edits/corrections made by the homeroom teacher and notify Katie Z. for final printing by noon
- Feb. 8th - Issue report cards and IEPs
Report Card comments:
Much thought should be given when creating report card comments. Teachers also have the opportunity to use pre-populated comments. Teachers should provide specific suggestions for student improvement. Statements included should be meaningful,
positive, and accurate, yet tactful. Begin with something positive and include achievements earned by the student.
*As a reminder, Katie will be checking all 649 report card comments. Please take your time to edit your comments before submitting them. You may want to swap comments with a colleague to check before submitting them to Katie. The final copy will be submitted to Administration for review and there shouldn’t need to be any final edits.
TIDEWATER COUNCIL OF TEACHERS OF MATHEMATICS 2016 WINTER CONFERENCE
*If you are interested in attending, I will cover the pre-registration cost of $30 for you & you get 3 PLP Points - Please let Beth know if you plan to attend.
The Department of Teaching and Learning is hosting a winter conference sponsored by the Tidewater Council of Teachers of Mathematics (TCTM). Topics for breakout sessions include math tools and technology, assessment, classroom management, tools for flipping the classroom, and more. Teachers are encouraged to bring their own devices for a hands-on experience.
The event will be held on Saturday, Feb. 20, from 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at Plaza Middle School. Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) teachers will receive three professional learning points (PLP) for attending. VBCPS teachers will register only through TCTM at www.tctmva.org. Names of participating teachers will be submitted to the Office of Professional Growth and Innovation for PLP credit by the secondary mathematics office staff. Please distribute the attached flyer with registration information to all staff members. Thank you.
Tidewater Council of Teachers of Mathematics Winter Conference 2016
- @ PLAZA MIDDLE SCHOOL
- 3080 South Lynnhaven Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23452
- Saturday, February 20, 2016
- 9:30 AM - 2:30 PM
In response to the survey results from the summer conference we bring you…
- Math tools and technology!
- Assessment! Making student thinking visible!
- Classroom management!
- Tools for Flipping the Classroom!
- Family Math Night!
BRING YOUR DEVICE!
Schedule:
- 9:30 - 10:00 Check-in 10:00 - 10:25 Welcome
- 10:30 - 11:55 Round Robin Sessions
- 12:00 - 12:55 Lunch, Vendors, and Networking
- 1:00 - 2:30 Breakout Sessions
Cost: Pre-registration: $30 includes conference, lunch and membership extension
At the door: $35 includes conference and membership extension (no lunch will be
provided to those that pay at the door)
** Pre-Service teachers will receive a $10 discount **
Registration options (please note important deadlines)
- Register and pay online at www.tctmva.org** until February 17th. If you pay online, you will receive a computer-generated receipt via email.
- Register at the door on the date of the conference. Payments must be made with cash or check. No lunch will be provided to that pay at the door.
- If registration assistance is needed or you cannot register in advance online, please contact: Reagan.Davis@cpschools.com.
Join teachers from all over Tidewater for this professional development opportunity!
PE - 1/2 Day schedule for 2015-2016
Staff, I apologize for any confusion with PE and thank you to the staff that worked out the plan with me by reminding me that Grades 1 & 2 had PE on 12/23. Good news - Grades 1 & 2 were already planned for this morning not knowing we were having an adjusted schedule - all should have been fine.
This is for the remainder of the year:
- 2/25 - Grades 1, 2
- 4/12 - Grades 3, 4, 5
Please note the schedule may be adjusted if we have conflicts with our schedule due to snow or other circumstances.
New Teachers LIteracy Academy - February 16 @ 3:45-5:45
Mandatory Training
Please complete all Annual Mandatory Online Training.
Each school is asked to make sure all faculty and staff are in compliance with this requirement.
#VBPLPower (Ed Camp Style)
Please use the survey link below for the professional learning session slated for February 1, 2016. This is the last call to respond to the survey!
Please post questions for the February 1- EdCamp. https://vbschools.getspeakup.com/live/4k6?share=true
To access the site, teachers will need to click the link above. When they are on the site, they then enter their name (optional), and then post a question. Examples of questions could be –
1. Can we learn about Coding?
2. Can we focus on the Kindergarten Curriculum?
3. How about Google Apps for Education?
4. What’s new in SharePoint?
5. What strategies can I use to implement the new Science objectives?
Once questions have been answered, teachers can either 'thumbs-up/thumbs-down' the question. When you click on either thumb the question will either gain or lose a point. The questions with the most thumbs up will appear at the top of the list. Those with the least thumbs up will appear at the bottom of the list.
Those at the top of the list should be the topics that are discussed during the EdCamp.
Professional Development Notes for this Meeting:
- Location: J.B.Dey Elementary School - Please try to carpool
- Time: 8:00-11:30 a.m. (Lunch on your own afterwards)
- Registration & LIght Snacks 8:00-8:30 a.m.
- Begin promptly at 8:30 a.m.
- Wear Alanton Shirts :)
- Bring your own device - laptop, iPad, Phone
MORE information to follow next week! :)
January is READING Month - Finish Strong!
ADVENTURES IN READING -
- January 28 - Wear Red for Reading
- January 29 - Tides Reading Long - Turn In
- January 29 - Character Dress Up Day & Parade (End of Day)
SOL Schedule (Tentative):
- Grade 3 Reading: June 2 & 3
- Grade 3 Math: June 6 & 7
- Grade 4 Reading: May 19 & 20
- Grade 4 Math: May 23 & 24
- Grade 5 Reading: May 25 & 26
- Grade 5 Math: May 31 & June 1
- Grade 5 Science: June 8
- Grade 5 History: June 9
Half-Way There - Staff Party
Please join us for the Staff “Half-Way There” Party on Saturday, February 6th, 6:00-9:00pm at Finn McCools’s in Landstown Commons.
The cost is $5.00 for each member who paid into Staff Welfare and it’s $10.00 for non-members and guests.
(Staff Welfare has to pay $25 per person, so your cost of $5/$10 is a great deal!)
We will enjoy chicken tenders, fried shrimp, finger sandwiches, meatballs, crab dip, fruits, veggies, and cheese.
RSVP by Friday, January 22 to Heather Thomas for an accurate head count.
Please give your check (made out to Alanton Staff Welfare) or cash to Brenda Hogge by next Friday as well.
Finn McCool’s is a great venue that we used last year. What a great opportunity to socialize with our school family! We hope to see everyone there!
~Staff Welfare/Hospitality Committee
Weekly Happenings
CLC Focus: Educational Technology Team (ETT)
Monday, 1/25/16
- 9:35-10:50 Grade 3 CLC
- 11:00-12:15 Grade 4 CLC
- 1:00-2:15 Grade 1 CLC
- 3:15-4:30 Newspaper Club meeting, room 37
- 3:30-4:30 Staff Fitness Class, in library
Tuesday, 1/26/16
- 8:55-10:10 Grade 5 CLC
- 1:45-3:00 Grade 2 CLC
- January STAR Student Names - Due to Jodi
- 3:30-4:30 Staff Seminar: Math Differentiation w/ Johanna Ortiz, in library
Wednesday, 1/27/16
- 11:30-1:30 Gr. 3 field trip to Greco-Roman Museum at ODC/Kemps Landing Magnet School
- 12:10-1:10 Kindergarten CLC
- 3:15-4:00 Battle of the Books meeting, in library
- 6:00-8:00 Annual Services Awards Dinner @ VB Convention Center
Thursday, 1/28/16
- 8:00-12:00 Charlene OOTB for a meeting @ Christopher Farms ES
- 12:30-3:30 Bruce OOTB for special education training @ Laskin Road Annex
- 3:30-4:30 Staff Fitness Class, in library
Friday, 1/29/16
End of 2nd grading period (52 days)
Future Events -
CLC Focus: Data
Monday, 2/1/16
- Staff Work Day - no school for students
- ED Camp @ John B. Dey *8:00-8:30 a.m. Registration/Light Snacks
- 12:30-3:30 SRT meetings for students with attendance concerns
Tuesday, 2/2/16
- Beginning of 3rd grading period
- 8:55-10:10 Grade 5 CLC
- 1:45-3:00 Grade 2 CLC
- 3:15-4:00 All City Chorus rehearsal, in music room
- 3:15-4:15 SCA meeting for officers & executive council, in room 3
- 3:30-4:30 Leadership Team meeting, in room 1
Wednesday, 2/3/16
- Staff Jeans Day (w/ $25 staff welfare dues)
- 12:10-1:10 Kindergarten CLC
- 3:15-4:00 Battle of the Books meeting, in library
Thursday, 2/4/16
- 8:00-5:00 Charlene OOTB for Principal Meeting with Dr. Spence
- 1:00-4:00 Bruce OOTB
- 3:15-4:00 All City Chorus rehearsal, in music room
- 3:30-4:30 Staff Fitness Class, in library
Friday, 2/5/16
- Deadline for completion of all online mandatory training courses
- Formative Option 1 Reflection due
- 8:00-12:30 Fara F. OOTB for professional learning session
- 2:30-4:00 Bruce OOTB for LEAD training
- 5:00 Doors open for PTA Bingo Night & Raffles
- 6:00-8:00 Bingo games
- 6:45 Auction of One-Day Disney World Hopper Passes
Saturday, 2/6/16
- 6:00-9:00 Staff ‘Half-Way There’ Party, Finn McCool’s @ Landstown Commons
Celebrate Good Times, Come On!
Happy Birthday to...
January Birthdays
- Kristin Lineberry - 27th
- Patricia Ebron - 27th
- Kendra Randolph - 29th
February Birthdays
- Donna Kovalcheck - 2nd
- Caye Harvey - 7th
- Julie Macalusa - 15th
- Lorena Wornom - 16th
- Lori Clarke - 18th
- Tasha Pitts - 23rd
- Margaret Graff - 25th
#ShoutOuts
- #StaffWelfareRocks - Thanks to the Staff Welfare Committee for the wonderful birthday lunch! It was a super special treat. ~Charlene
- #SmoothDismissal - Thanks to Emily for the very early morning coordination of our early dismissal. She was up very early emailing all of our daycare providers about the status of their operation.
- #ProblemSolvers - Thanks to all the scheduling problem solvers - PE & lunch scheduling!
#OregonTrail - Thanks to the 4th grade teachers and students for the awesome job they did or are doing with the Oregon Trail Performance Task.
#MissingMatt - Thanks to Matt for always being willing to be a team player. We will miss you so much and are already lost without you. We are happy for you and your new position, well deserved. Caye
#WelcomeBack - Welcome back to Donna K. I have missed you and will be there with you every step of the way. We have your back. Caye
#GrandCentralSupport - Thanks to Mary Nutter and Sandra Willie for their support with behaviors this week. It has been a busy week with many active friends.
#ITSRocks - Thank you to Fara Faust for coming in to my classroom this past week to work with my class on an amazing Ancient Greece Nearpod lesson! Fara also came in to help me try out and practice videotaping in my classroom with a Swivl camera. Our ITS rocks! J
#MissedDonna - We are so glad to have our beloved Donna K. back with us in third grade! We’ve missed you so much, Donna! :) -The Third Grade Team
Please welcome Francesca Garland to Alanton! Ms. Garland is student teaching in with Debbie Torres in Grade 4.
Kindness Counts - Our Golden Ticket Raffle Winners Rock!
Sharing writing with Mrs. Simmons on a chilly day.
Emily, Thanks for keeping us organized for dismissal!
Teaching & Learning Framework - Alanton teachers living the life with the VBCPS framework.
Click on the link for the video:
Charlene Garran, Principal
Email: Charlene.Garran@vbschools.com
Website: www.alantones.vbschools.com
Location: Alanton Elementary School, Stephens Road, Virginia Beach, VA, United States
Phone: 757-648-2000
Twitter: @AlantonAstros