Hoot Hoot Herald
April 3 - 7
Doss Reminders
April 14th Staff Development Day:
My goal for April 14th is to give you more time to plan and do the things that you need to do. As a result, you will be given the PD agenda ahead of time to complete as a team when you have the time. You can do it on or before the 14th. Your team lead will be given the forms that will need to be turned in.
Here's the basic agenda:
April 14th Professional Development Day
1. Complete Pink and Blue Cards.
Pat will put these in your box by Wednesday of next week.
2. Review the two AISD SMORES on Problem Based Learning.
These are included in this HOOT. Please view these together or as individuals and discuss as a team.
3. Complete template for PBL / Innovative Learning Week.
I will be delivering this form to team leads ( see the paragraph below about this activity).
4. Select 3 Dates for Class making.
The list of available dates can be found below in the HOOT. Email Adriana your 3 preferred dates. We will actually meet twice as a team to put together classes. So, select one date earlier on in April and one later (end of April or May). Select three dates in case there are conflicts.
5. Discuss and make recommendations for the modernization of Doss.
Make recommendations (from a design standpoint) for Doss facility updates which include modernization and an addition. Think about how we can design a facility that meets our academic and cultural needs. I will provide a form for your brainstorming ideas.
6. Register for the May 26 AISD Innovation Summit (HCP).
This will be our professional development on this day. All staff are expected to attend.
7. Complete Recess Supervision Training (if you have not already completed this requirement. You can find this module in HCP).
8. Review master schedule options and provide team feedback to Alicia Hill.
Alicia will be providing a rough draft of the 2017-2018 master schedule. This will be in your box by Wednesday of next week. Please discuss as a team and provide feedback.
9. Participate in Team and Individual Planning for the remainder of the year.
More information will be coming out through team leads. Let me know what questions I have created.
STAFF YELLOW TICKETS:
We will be giving out more STAFF Yellow tickets in the following weeks -- cause we know how hard you are working! And, at assembly we will be giving out two or three instead of one prize. WE APPRECIATE YOU!!
STAAR AND BENCHMARK TESTING:
3rd and 4th grade will benchmark testing on Monday and Tuesday. Please keep that in mind while transitioning and carefully check any emails from Vickie, Alicia and Shanna.
INTERVENTIONS:
A friendly reminder that there will be no interventions the week of April 3-10. Interventions will resume the week of April 10th.
REGISTRATION:
Thank you for turning in your forms and proof of addresses in to Pat and for working with your parents to get registered. If you haven't turned in the envelope, please go ahead and do that.
PHOTOS:
Please collect the Spring individual photo orders in your envelope and return to the Front Desk In Box by Tuesday, April 4.
ARABIC TUTOR:
Do you have a student who would benefit from seeing an Arabic tutor? Please see or email Monique (monique.wright@austinisd.org) and let her know a) the student needing help and b) two times during the day that are best to pull the student. Let's take advantage of this resource!
Update on Staffing
I had my staffing meeting with AISD Human Resources on Monday and here's where we stand right now.
STAFFING - Projections/Allocations 2017-2018:
Kinder – 142 / 7 classes = 20.2 per class
1st – 147 / 7 Classes = 21 per class
2nd – 143 / 7 Classes = 20.4 per class
3rd – 141 / 7 Classes = 20.1 per class
4th – 147 / 7 Classes = 21 per class
5th – 150 / 6 Classes = 25 per class
Staffing Openings:
Kinder 1 = Chris Vrba is retiring. GO CHRIS!
Life Skills 1 = Sherrie Bevis is retiring. Have fun with that grand baby Sherrie!
SPED Resource 1 = Anna Roberts is joining her husband in Florida and is leaving in April. We will miss you!
5th grade 1 (all subjects) = Annie Daly is going to work on her PhD full time. Good Luck Annie! Stephanie Hawkins will move to Math and Science.
Art part time = Mrs. Cremens is moving on from public education. Good Luck Jen!
Other moves: We have 1.5 allocations for counselors and 1.5 allocations for Asst. Principals. Shanna is going to part time. And, we will be getting a .5 AP. The part time AP positions are typically appointed by downtown as they have to be matched with another school.
For our Dyslexia support, we have the funds to continue with a .5 dyslexia teacher (Lisa V.). I suspect that this will not be enough support for our numbers. So, I will be looking for additional funding if our numbers indicate the need.
Farah’s .5 position has been renewed! YEAH!
Problem Based Learning
As part of your April 14th Professional Development day, please review these two SMORES and discuss as a team.
Problem-Based Learning (Part 1):
https://www.smore.com/s3skxProblem-Based Learning (Part 2):
CLASS MAKING DAYS
April 18th - 7:00AM, 3:30PM
April 20th - 3:30PM
April 25th - 3:30PM
April 26th - 7:00AM, 3:30PM
May 2nd - 3:30PM
May 3rd - 7:00AM, 3:30PM
May 4th - 3:30PM
Problem Based Learning Modules/ Innovation Week
As we discussed in your grade level planning meetings, I am inviting you to create out of the box lessons for the last week or so of school. Think about what you are passionate about--gardening, Fairy Tales, Shakespeare, origami, glass blowing, environmental studies, History of Rock and Roll, drumming circles, Native Americans or ELVIS!
Find your passion...your interest! And develop a unit for your class or for your grade level. Development a grade level theme and teach each other's classes. Collaborate with Bonnie or James Young. Recruit parent volunteers to help. Or do a career day with parent volunteers. Start with a problem....guide the kids to solve it utilizing the Problem Based Learning Model. Make it a two week unit. Or one. Or one day. It's up to you!
All that I ask is that you try something, invite us to watch, take lots of pics and have fun!
I will email you a template that you will need to complete as a team or as an individual. If you don't like my template, you are welcome to use your own.
DISTRICT OF INNOVATION INFO
The Innovation District Advisory Committee has convened to begin looking into possible exemptions as allowed by HB 1842 and TEC Chapter 12A. The committee has reviewed Innovation Plans from Spring Branch ISD, El Paso ISD, and Round Rock ISD to learn how other Texas districts are taking advantage of flexibilities allowed by the Texas Legislature. They also reviewed feedback from campus principals and district administration on how allowable flexibilities could assist with the implementation of the AISD Strategic Plan and improve educational outcomes. Common themes from the feedback included additional professional development, campus and district operations, and staffing. Committee members also learned about the initiatives the district plans to implement over the next few years around language acquisition, early college, and academic programming. Armed with the district plan and feedback, the committee has begun to explore possible TEC exemptions.
To provide feedback to the committee, please go to the Innovation District Advisory Committee Feedback page: https://www.austinisd.org/advisory-bodies/idac/feedback
The school board has approved this plan for AISD.
KINDERGARTEN ROUND-UP
Incoming Kindergarten registration will be on Tuesday, April 4th, in the library from 9:00-12:00. The copier in the library and the copier across from the library (in the old Read Naturally room) will be off limits during this time.
SPRING PARTY - DOSS CITY LIMITS
Teachers and Staff: Don't forget to turn in your ticket request form for Doss City Limits by March 31st! Extra copies of the form are available in the PTA office.
The Doss Spring Party is a FUN night and one of the biggest fundraisers for our school. The funds raised at this one event are a huge part of the PTA budget. Thank you in advance for supporting the DOSS PTA! Teachers & Staff: Don't forget to turn in your ticket request form for Doss City Limits by March 31st. Extra copies of the form are available in the PTA office. We hope to see you there!
COUNSELOR CORNER
TESTING SCHEDULE AND INFORMATION:
BENCHMARKS:
Monday, April 3rd - 3rd and 4th Math
Tuesday, April 4th - 3rd and 4th Reading
*make-ups on Wednesday
STAAR DATES:
May 8 - 3rd and 4th Math
May 9 - 3rd and 4th Reading
May 10 - 5th Science
During the month of April, the counselors will focus on Personal Safety for the guidance lessons.
COMPUTER LAB NEWS
The March testing madness is over and the Computer Lab should be open every day in April!
LIBRARY NEWS
April 3-7
A Week
Hodges - Monday with GQ @ 10:30
Tuesday, April 4th - adjustment to schedule:
***Please return books in advance in order to reduce the potential for chaos!!!
8:10 Mowry
8:20 Elbrecht
8:30 Evans
8:40 Warner
9:00-12:00 - Kinder Round Up (Library Closed)
12:30 Bones
12:45 Hall
1:00 Singerman
1:15 Stone
1:30 Eddelton
1:45 Means
IMPORTANT DATES AND UPCOMING LIBRARY EVENTS:
Thursday, April 13 @ 8:30 in the cafeteria - Andy Griffith author visit for 2nd, 3rd & 4th grades (http://www.treehousebookseries.com/)
MUSIC NOTES
Spring Concert - April 20th
Music Class Informances (Kinder-2nd) - May 15, 16, 17
All-City Music Memory Contest - May 20th (Saturday)
4th & 5th Grade Symphony Field Trip - May 22nd
Teacher Talent Show - May 30th
Student Talent Shows - June 1st
WHOOOO HAS A BIRTHDAY?
Candace Ellison - April 2nd
Susan Truesdale - April 3rd
Computer Lab Schedule
Apr 3 - 7
Monday
8:00 Soong (1)
8:45 Chiu
9:30 Stover
11:00 Mowry
11:45 Hello
1:15 Francis
Tuesday
8:00 Sprague (K)
8:45 Barrick
9:30 Collins
10:15 Jones
11:45 CI 4th
12:30 Evans
1:15 Hyvl
Wednesday
8:00 Schwarz
8:45 Smith
9:30 Elbrecht
11:45 Carroll
12:30 Hall
1:15 Bones
2:00 Truesdale
Thursday
8:00 Johnson
8:45 Warner
9:30 Vrba
10:15 Folts
11:00 Raup
11:45 Means
1:15 Gall
2:00 Singerman
Friday
8:00 Hodges
9:30 Hayes/Baehr
10:15 Eddleton
11:00 Stone
11:45 Lauck
12:30 5th Grade
1:15 5th Grade
2:00 5th Grade
Calendar
Monday, April 3rd
Happy Birthday to Mrs. Truesdale!
BENCHMARKS, 3rd and 4th grade Math
Principal Tours, 1:45
Faculty/Staff Meeting, 3:00, Library
Tuesday, April 4th
BENCHMARKS, 3rd and 4th grade Language Arts
Kindergarten Round-Up/Registration Day
(Library closed from 9-12)
Wednesday, April 5th
Thursday, April 6th
Library & Gallery Greats Collaboration – Humanities
CAC Meeting, 3:00, Library
Friday, April 7th
First Friday Teacher Treats, Lounges
Library & Gallery Greats Collaboration – Humanities
Saturday, April 8th
Spring Party, Doss City Limits
6:30 - VIP
7:30 - General Admission
Monday, April 10th
Library & Gallery Greats Collaboration – Humanities
Fire Drill 2:00
Faculty Meeting - EXTENDED TIME 5:00
Tuesday, April 11th
Library & Gallery Greats Collaboration – Humanities
G/T Committee Meeting, 12:00 (Griffin providing subs)
Wednesday, April 12th
My Lunch Rocks, Cafeteria
Preschool Club Library/Classroom Visit, 11:00-12:00
Thursday, April 13th
Library & Gallery Greats Collaboration – Humanities
Author Visit for Grades 2-4, 8:30, Cafeteria
CAC Meeting, 3:00, Library
Friday, April 14th
Staff Development/Student Holiday
Library Schedule
April 3-7
A Week
Monday, April 5th
Hodges with GQ @ 10:30
Tuesday, April 4th - adjustment to schedule:
8:10 Mowry
8:20 Elbrecht
8:30 Evans
8:40 Warner
9:00-12:00 - Kinder Round Up (Library Closed)
12:30 Bones
12:45 Hall
1:00 Singerman
1:15 Stone
1:30 Eddelton
1:45 Means
April 10-14
B Week
April 17-21
A Week
April 24-28
B Week
May 1-5
A Week
May 8-12
B Week