Anchor Weekly
A newsletter for Alta Vista Staff~Week of March 19, 2018
Don't Forget! Next Week's Calendar
- TELPAS Testing for Gr 2-5 ALL WEEK **Computer Lab Closed**
- TELPAS Ratings for Teachers ALL WEEK
- STAAR Training Camp/Information Night (Gr 3-5) on Tuesday, March 20 at 5:15-6:30 pm **You can wear "baseball" attire on Tuesday to remind students!**
- STAAR Security Training (Faculty Meeting-Mandatory for ALL professional staff) on Wednesday, March 21
- STAAR Security Training for all Auxiliary Staff/Aides/Paraprofessionals/Custodians/Etc. (Mandatory) on Thursday, March 22 at 8:15 am in Cafeteria
- Reg. 12 Writing Coaching on Thursday, March 22
- Math PLCS on Friday, March 23
- Mayborn Museum Discovery Box (Gr 4) on Friday, March 23 **Library Closed**
- PK Transportation Parade on Friday, March 23 at 2:00 pm
- Waco ISD Job Fair on Saturday, March 24 at 9:00-11:30 am at University High
Coming Up: Family Arts Festival (Gr 1-2 Performances) on Thursday, April 19 at 5:30-7:00 pm
Interventions & Tutoring
Next week is MATH for intervention times for grades 2, 3, and 5 during the school day. Materials were placed in your mailbox on Thursday, including rosters.
FOURTH grade will be doing WRITING interventions next week.
STAAR Training Camp
We are having our STAAR "Training Camp" Night for grades 3-5 on Tuesday, March 20. Here's the schedule of events:
• 5:15-5:45-Hotdog meal for all families
• 5:45-Choir performance
• 6:00-6:30-Dr. Tanner will do presentation; Students will go to gym for some STAAR "training" activities (math/reading games)
• 6:30-Everyone meets back in cafeteria for closing remarks; students receive FREE DRESS CODE PASS and FREE BOOK
Each grade level (Grade 3-5)will need to put together:
• Parent handout about STAAR with sample questions and tips
• Math and reading game to be played in gym
**Teachers will supervise students in gym as they play math/reading games during parent presentation. Teachers will return students to cafeteria at 6:30 pm and be present for parent questions at the very end.
You can wear "baseball" attire on Tuesday to remind students!
Math PLCs
From Your Captain
Right now is busy and the pace is fast but we are in the home stretch. This is the time in a marathon when the runners want to give up but don't because we have come to far. It is also that time for our students. Please be diligent in monitoring students especially at recess and in common areas that are less structured. We know everyone is working hard and we want to really bring it this year and let our campus and students really shine.
I have some great Growth Mindset resources to share if you are interested! Come check them out when you have time.
From Ms. Plemons-
Glows:
· Teachers are reinforcing the expectations of Istation and Achieve3000 and students are in a good routine with their use.
· Teachers are focused on meeting student needs
Areas identified that we need to improve on based on Istation data:
· Students at all grade levels still need instruction and practice at the sound and/or word level, according to Istation data.
· Clear connections need to be made between Saxon Phonics and core reading instruction and intervention.
Conscious Discipline
Kuddos to PreK classes for great morning meetings!
The 3 C's
Remember the 3 C's for student success: connected, capable, and confident. Morning meetings are a great time to reinforce this belief with your students. Here's one of my favorite motivational videos and it covers all three C's! Great way to get some discussion going on!
March Makerspace
PK-2 students will use random objects to create a robot. They will draw a picture of their robot and label the 2D and 3D shapes found on their robot.
Students in gr 3-5 will also create a robot. They will then use grid paper and a ruler to draw a picture of their robot and calculate the perimeter and volume of their robot.
Email Mrs. Helton if you would like to check out the Makerspace Cart this month!