UHMS Rising Phoenix
Uplift Hampton Middle School March 21, 2020
"Be Committed, Be Consistent, Be Courageous"
Life By Design
Hello Phoenix Nation,
What a rollercoaster week it has been. So many changes and so much done in such a short amount of time. Yes, the schools, restaurants, gyms, and other places are closed, but that’s not what we’re talking about. You have accomplished so much in such a short amount of time, and it has been astonishing to see. With very little notice, you have jumped all in attending digital meetings and creating virtual classrooms in rapid succession. Learning how to use unfamiliar resources and offering help when someone else isn’t an expert. Holding digital parent conferences, ARDS, and reaching out to scholars via online video chat or phone call; all of it is truly amazing to witness. With many societal changes being determined without us having a say, it has been impressive to see that we have chosen to live our lives by design rather than by default; extremely purposefully and intentionally. We encourage you to continue being intentional with everything you do. Continue to identify what you want to accomplish for your scholars and yourself. Plan out exactly what you want to happen and go after it. We may have some new restrictions in place in life, but there is still much that is in our control. Now is the time to get in the driver's seat, buckle up and enjoy the ride.
“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.” – Pele
With Gratitude,
Priscilla, Chataqua, Chrissy, and Jabez
Things To Do
End of Year Self-Assessment: If you have not completed your EOY self-assessment do so by Friday, March 27 @ 5pm.
Virtual Learning: Practice and review: The optional enrichment activities for the next 2 weeks should be for practice and review. Based on what we see happening in other districts, the school closures will more than likely be extended, we will re-evaluate this, but for now, please do not provide materials, activities, etc. that require students to self-teach new material. Plan for Monday Launch – Keep it simple and relevant
Field Trips: Cancel field trips that have been scheduled through the middle of April. we can hold on any trips planned for May or later.
Connect: Message families and scholars about the importance of completing virtual assignments. Inform them of incentives for attempting and completing work.
ARDs: We must complete any ARDs that are scheduled. Accept ARD invites from Toni and the SPED team
March Virtual Parent/Scholar/ Teacher Conferences: It our expectation that a conference be held with all of your parents. Please be sure your parents have been informed that all conferences are being held over the phone. Start with scholars who are failing or in danger of being retained first. Scholars who are doing well can wait until later. I suggest you to set up a google number or block your number and let parents know you will be calling from a blocked number. Everyone should send an electronic conference form with the scholar data and summary of the conference for the parents to reference during the conversation.
Some parents can be contacted as a group if needed. Please keep a log of all conferences made with parents. A log will be provided in the near future.
Advisory Teachers - Please get in the habit of reaching out to all of your scholars in your advisory via phone call at least once a week. Attached below is a script to help guide you during those discussion.
Things to Know
In-Person Meetings: It has been brought to our attention that some teachers might be trying to coordinate in-person study groups and in-person class gatherings for students. During this period when schools are closed for safety reasons, please do not set any in-person study groups, in-person tutoring sessions, or facilitating anything else that would involve in-person contact with students during the duration of the closing.
Paid Time Off (PTO): Because there is an expectation for staff to work remotely to the extent they can – this is not a time-off moratorium.
- Any previous requests for PTO should remain in the system unless staff communicates otherwise.
- If someone is unable to meet work remote expectations (i.e. they become ill and cannot work; they are traveling; etc.) they should request time off and go through the regular channels for doing so.
- If your plans have changed and you no longer need the PTO request that you originally made between March 16 and May 1 because you are able to meet remote working responsibilities, send your evaluator an email with the days that you no longer need your PTO leave request because you are able to meet remote working responsibilities on those days.
Translation Support: if you need support with translation during phone calls or written translation, please email your evaluator and let them know. We will work on getting you the support you need.
Password Resets: IT is making changes to the password reset requirements so that they can be reset from home. I’ll let you know when this is up and running.
Grading and Promotion: We will receive guidance on grading and promotion criteria from CMO within the next week. There is a committee working on the formal grading and promotion criteria. We will let you know as soon as we know.
March 27: March 27 was scheduled as an inclement weather day but given the waiver we received from the state to provide online education, we are unsure at this time whether March 27 will still be considered a staff and/or student holiday. Updates forthcoming. Please prepare to be available for work on this day.
Meals for Scholars: Starting next week, families can get their breakfast and lunch at the same time rather than going to campus twice for food! Peak is still a central meal distribution location. Meals will now be available for pick up between 9:30 and 11:30 daily.
- Side note: I learned today that several DISD scholars came through our carline for food and we fed them without question. The state is working on language informing families that they can get meals at any traditional or charter public school.
Communication: Priscilla will continue to send end of day update emails but only on an as-needed basis. Hopefully, we will begin to have days with no new updates!
At-Home Instructional Resources
Let's continue to support one another and share when there is a resource we come across that you feel will benefit our scholars. These are our kids and we will have them for the rest of this year and many of them next year. Let's continue our push to ensure high academic success!
Helpful Websites
Region 10 - Remote Learning Resources
Virtual Yoga
Flocabulary - Free 60 Days
Kim Marshall Resources: Math Book A Math Book B Reading Book 1 Reading Book 2 Writing Book
Two Weeks At A Glance
Shout Outs
Uplift Education
- The network had over 124,000 views of the YouTube videos over 2 days.
- There were almost 9,000 meals served by the network with over 700 served at Uplift Hampton.
- The network distributed approximately 3,000 chrome books with approximately 200 from Uplift Hampton.
Toni, Tammy, Stedmon, Katricia, Carmen, and A Candler for making sure 100% of tour SPED scholars have access to Unique
L. Thomas - for continuous communication and leadership with parents and her teammates.
David Bailey for sharing your knowledge or goggle classroom and volunteering to lead to support conference on it!
Jones, T.Thomas and Davis for not missing a beat and continuing to hold ARDS
Kelsie for all that she does for the scholars and staff of UHMS. You are so appreciated!
Tammy for completing
Charles Ensuring our building is safe and secure while there are limited bodies attending the building now.
Hall for her engagement and asking questions to ensure she continues to give our scholars an excellent learning experience.
Clark for communicating her plans with parents and scholar immediately when school closed.
6th Grade for working as a team and knocking out group conferences.
McWhorter for troubleshooting login issues
Ms. Sanchez - for setting up 6th grade group conferences
Ms. Edison - For walking ELAR through how to navigate aligned resources.
Everyone! - For adjusting and adapting to many changes
STAAR Goals
March Expectations for Increasing Rigor
Literacy Instruction: Reading and writing occurs in every Core class daily and in Electives at least monthly
· Every period starts with some form of writing. Writing is the most difficult thing you can have the brain do
· All Core classes are using Close Reading Strategies
· Scholars read and use textbooks and other complex readings daily
Teaching Strategies: 100% of teachers will use these 3 strategies to help scholars Interact with New Knowledge
· Compare and contrast
· Note Taking – Identify critical Information
· Chunk content into “digestible bites”
Scholars Show Their Work: Ask scholars to show their work and identify content areas strengths and weaknesses.
Cite Evidence: Have scholars support conclusions with evidence
March Expectations for a Brilliant School Culture
Celebrate: Call out scholars who have their efforts and attitudes dialed inside. Celebrate the scholars who are doing the right thing.
Hero Usage: Teachers are utilizing HERO to track scholar behaviors and habits.
- 100% of UHMS scholars have at least 1 positive HERO recognition
- 100% of UHMS teachers have used the HERO system to give positive praise (Precise Praise)
Classroom Management: Scholars don't respect waffling or inconsistency. Be consistent. It's difficult and it's worth it.
Show Passion: Excitement is contagious! Unfortunately so is boredom. Be excited about what you teach.
Phoneix Nation Rise Up
Here's How to Reach Us!
Priscilla Parhms 469.236.2900 pparhms@uplifteducation.org
Chrissy Cormier 214.326.3002 ccormier@uplifteducation.org
Chataqua Mangum 972.897.4659 cmangum@uplifteducation.org
Jabez Deacon 414.562.7592 jdeacon@uplifteducation.org
8915 S. Hampton Rd. Dallas, TX 75232
(972) 421-1982 https://www.uplifteducation.org/Domain/47