The Meeks Messenger
2nd Edition, Vol. 6 September 2019
Hey, hey Mustangs!
We would like to welcome the newest members to Parkside...Ashley Northcutt, Anne Bedard & Michelle Carino! Ashley will be our new first grade teacher, and Anne and Michelle will be our newest support staff! Please help us in welcoming them to our Parkside family!
Reminders:
- Make sure you have all Assessment dates in your calendars. It is very important that we have assessments turned into AWARE by the deadlines. If you are having any issues with AWARE, the help desk number is 10566 and you will need to submit a help ticket by logging in to Eduphoria, clicking on "Help Desk" and then clicking on "Eduphoria Aware Request." All assessments dates are on the campus calendar as well as Russell's IC Newsletter.
- Please make sure you take your grade level walkie outside to recess.
- This is another reminder to make sure all teachers are spread out on the playground. Most behavior infractions occur during recess, so it is important that we are actively monitoring our students.
Don't forget to share our story with the world by using #TheBestParkside 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!
Thank you for all you do!
Lauren, Maggie, & Erin
LEADS Self-Assessment & Goal Setting
We will begin our LEADS Orientations in PLCs this week and next. The first step in the LEADS process is to Self Assess and begin to think about what professional goals you would like to set for yourselves this year.
Developing reflective practitioners is at the heart of the LEADS cycle. In the self-assessment component of the cycle, teachers objectively assess their practice in relation to the LEADS dimensions and descriptors and rate their practice along the continuum of performance levels. Thoughtful engagement in this activity provides a catalyst for focused goal setting and strategic professional learning.
Goal setting targets instructional practices based upon reflection and student data, creates a mechanism for teacher refinement of practices, and increases effectiveness of instruction via the teacher’s continuous professional growth.
Teachers will set two goals: a professional growth goal (based on the LEADS rubric) and a student growth goal (SLO).
All fulltime teaching staff MUST complete a self-assessment in Strive. If you did one at the end of the 2018-19 school year in Strive, you do not need to do another one. If you did not submit a self assessment in Strive at the end of the year last year, you will need to submit yours by September 27th along with your professional and SLO goals. If you need help, we are here!
You can use the worksheet provided in the button below if you'd like, but you must input the information in Strive.
Here is the link to the Teacher LEADS Timeline for your reference and to help keep you organized.
Thanks!
Continuous Improvement Conference Straw Poll!
Do you get frustrated when a conference session is full and you can’t get in?!? Help us help you!!!
The straw poll is our way to get a pulse on what sessions people are most interested in so that we can look for ways to maximize access to that content. But it only works with your participation! Please set aside a few minutes to give us the critical information needed to make the conference as impactful for you as possible!
PLUS, by completing the 2019 CIC STRAW POLL, you will be automatically entered in our PRIZE DRAWING!
2019 CIC STRAW POLL DIRECTIONS
- Access the 2019 STRAW POLL at: https://2019cic.sched.com/
- LOGIN (with your previous username/password) or SIGN-UP (upper right corner of your screen). Need help using SCHED? Check out this Attendee Guide.
- Browse the sessions in a variety of ways – explore the site by clicking on the colored categories and filters to the right, the “Speakers” tab in the toolbar above the session list, or just scrolling down and hovering over the various titles.
- Cast your 10 STRAW POLL votes:
· Add a checkmark in the circle next to the session title or using the “Add to my SCHED” button when viewing session details. These actions will mark that session as one of your Straw Poll “votes.”
· Continue to add up to 10 sessions to your SCHED as your STRAW POLL votes.
· You can click on your user icon (the circle with your initials or picture) just left of the “Schedule” tab to view the choices you have made.
· *PLEASE NOTE – Casting your STRAW POLL votes and/or choosing sessions to add to your
SCHED in no way guarantees an actual “seat” in that session. All session seats at CIC 2019 will, as always, be on a first come, first served basis.
Please make your choices by September 20, 2019 (10 pm). At that time we will deactivate the event and begin scheduling sessions based on your votes. We will assign session times and locations and send out the official schedule for the 2019 CI Conference catalog/schedule in early October.
Thank you for partnering with us to make this conference the best yet!
Mix It Up Lunch
Grades 3-5 will participate during the same time each grade typically eats lunch.
Students will get their lunches from the line or basket as usual.
As students enter cafeteria, teachers will give them a card from a standard deck.
They are to sit at the table labeled with that same face card or number;
suit (spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs) does NOT matter.
Students will locate and sit at the table labeled with that same card.
On the table, they will find questions to be conversation starters with the goal of meeting or laughing with someone new.
Students are encouraged to see this as an opportunity to share a little of themselves, build communication skills, and possibly make a new friend. Here is an example of how a student might respond to a discussion question: “Hi, I’m Daneal and my answer to the question about what I would eat everyday for the rest of my life? It’s pizza, for sure.”
Students may want to know: Why do we ask them to sit with someone new?
Sometimes we follow the same routines and talk to the same people every day, even though we don’t really mean to. When we step outside our comfort zones and connect with someone new at lunch, we help get to know those who might think differently than we do.
This also helps make our school a safe, fun and welcoming place.
Watch a 2 minute video on why we do this here: https://www.tolerance.org/mix-it-up
“Students consistently identify the cafeteria as a place in their school where divisions are clearly—and harshly—drawn. So we ask students to move out of their comfort zones and connect with someone new over lunch. It’s a simple act with profound implications that we encourage educators to include in year-round efforts to promote healthy, welcoming school environments. Studies have shown that interactions across group lines can help reduce prejudice. When students interact with those who are different from them, biases and misperceptions can fall away.”
Bus Evacuation Drill - Updated!
9:30 - Kinder, 4th, 5th
Bus 1: Guerra, Looman, 1/2 of Davis
Bus 2: Lindeman, Williams, 1/2 of Davis
Bus 3: Metzger, Bryant
Bus 4: Carson, Dyke
Bus 5: Williams, LeCaptain
Bus 6: Worcester, Miller, Mull
Bus 7: Regehr, LaTouf, 1/2 Ehrsam
Bus 8: Randall, Troller, 1/2 Ehrsam
Bus 9: Jamar, Newman
10:00 - 1st, 2nd, 3rd
Bus 1: Newton, Molenaar
Bus 2: Forward, Thompson
Bus 3: Strickland, Rodriguez
Bus 4: Patrick, Churchill
Bus 5: Martinez, Armstrong, Barr
Bus 6: Locklear, LaFevers, Reid
Bus 7: Hoffman, Janda
Bus 8: Moseley, Bolton
Bus 9: Markus, Rose, Bleakley
Bus 10: Flores, Westbrook
Bus 11: Uhlaender, Rourke
Please be patient with us! Transportation is not able to give us a definite number of buses, so these bus numbers are estimates! We will try our best to make this as easy as possible, but know that bus numbers and times might vary. Please have your kids down to the buses at your scheduled time...this means you will need to leave your classroom a little earlier to get down to the buses. The buses will load in the bus loading zone (in the back by cafeteria).
Comprehensive Literacy Institute
Register in Eduphoria to attend!
Dates: 9/14 (Saturday) and 9/21 (Saturday)
Time: 8:00-4:00
Location: TECH A & B
Teachers who attend BOTH Saturday sessions can use these days as exchange days for the District PL days on Nov. 4th and Feb.17th.
Yearbook Time!
Instructional Coach Newsletter
Counseling Corner
Please reach out to Julie if you have questions!
Important Dates to Remember!
September 16 - Dot Day (a day late)! Wear your DOTS and encourage students to wear their dots, too! How can you make your mark?
September 18 - RtI T3 Meeting in Pride Room
Bus Evacuation Drill - more info coming soon!
September 19 - Required Student Bully Training at the beginning of Specials. Classroom teachers: Please drop off your students in the MPR for Specials on this day. You will pick them up from their Specials' classroom. and Talk like a Pirate Day - AARRGGG!!
September 24 - Lockdown Drill @ 2:15pm
September 25 - Early Release @ 12pm (Parent/Teacher Conferences)
Rouse HS Homecoming Parade @ 6:00pm (meet at Rouse front entrance)
September 26 - PTA Invention Night @ 5:30pm-8:00pm with a PTA General Mtg. @ 6pm
September 27 - Set up for Book Fair - Library will meet in Community Room Sept. 27 - Oct.4
September 30 - October 4 - Scholastic Book Fair
September 30 & October 1 - Student Preview
September 30 - Teacher Preview - 3:15 pm
October 1 - Book Fair Family Night: Student Preview Sign Up sheet will be posted in the workroom. Those coming to the library on green and red day will come during their class time - no need to sign up!
October 2 - Faculty Meeting in MPR (Instructional Staff Only)
October 31st - Literacy Day: Dress as your favorite book character!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!
- Lisa Blizzard (9/8)
- Devin Lane (9/8)
- Ann Marie Churchill (9/8)
- Sarah Armstrong (9/11)
- Jennifer Gonzales (9/19)
- Alyson Rose (9/20)
- Pat Baranowski (9/20)
- Heather Moseley (9/23)
- Margo Van Der Bogart (9/24)
- Diane Loza (9/25)
- Anna Webber (9/29)
We Are Here for YOU!!!
Email: lauren.meeks@leanderisd.org
Location: 301 Garner Park Drive, Georgetown, TX, USA
Phone: 17110
Twitter: @TheRealMrsMeeks