Cardinal Flyer
"Launching the Next Generation of Lifetime Learners"
Week at a Glance:
CAPS lessons during guidance
February 22:
5th Grade One-to-one training
*today is a full school day
February 23:
PLC Day
Connect Team Planning Day
TIPS (2:45)
Investigations for new teachers/teachers new to grade level (3:30-5:00)
*order Local Joint by 2pm
February 24:
Resource PLC (7:30)
Career Dress-up Day for Students
School-wide Career Day (8:15-10:15)
Local Joint Lunch
Midterms go Home
II Planning (1/2 day pm)
Curriculum Leadership Team (11:40)
Playground Night at Local Joint
February 25:
No LAUNCH
Staff Meeting (3:00) *kindergarten covers 2nd Load
PTA Night at Nachos and Beer
February 26:
1st and 5th grade planning day
Classroom door decorating completed by today
Free Jeans and Spirit Day!
ValuTeachers breakfast goodies in lounge
II Field Trip to Asheville Pizza
Mindfulness...contributed by Amanda Herbert
So, what is mindfulness? Mindfulness is simply the art (and act) of being aware. I’ve had days (too many) of being on autopilot. Days of feeling rushed and stressed. Days where my objective is simply to move from one task to the other so that by the time I go to bed, I have no clear memories of where I really was during the day. I have no clear memories of living my day, instead it feels more as if my day ‘lived’ me. We can probably all relate to those days.
Mindfulness is the opposite. Mindfulness is simply taking the time to really experience and to be aware of your experience, to be present. We do this through stopping ourselves and reminding ourselves that we are alive, that everything around us is important and worth noticing. We also practice mindfulness through conscious breathing – the awareness of each breath.
The Vietnamese monk, Thich Nhat Nanh, reminds us that ‘we are very good at preparing to live, but not very good at living. We know how to sacrifice ten years for a diploma and we are willing to work very hard to get a job, a car, a house, and so on. But we have difficulty remembering that we are alive in the present moment, the only moment there is for us to be alive. Every breath we take, every step we make, can be filled with peace, joy, and serenity. We need only to be awake, alive in the present moment.’ (from ‘Peace is Every Step’).
It is difficult to feel the peace, joy and serenity when it feels as if every moment is filled with stress and pressures, but with mindfulness and a focus on breathing, it is possible. Next week, we will look at how to practice mindful breathing and how even stressful times can be made peaceful.
News you can use
The Caring Cardinals Activities Committee has requested staff jeans days for school beautification. They will be sprucing up the Teacher's Lounge and purple hall upstairs bathroom. The cost will be $2 per Friday or $5.00 for all 3 Fridays...The Fridays are: February 19, March 4 and March 11.
Just a reminder that next Wednesday, February 24th is Career Day. Career Day will start for all students at 8:15 and end at 10:15. Career Day is composed of five time slots (four for Fourth Grade), with the schedule being: 1st slot (8:15-8:35), 2nd slot (8:40-9:00), 3rd slot (9:05 - 9:25), 4th slot (9:30 - 9:50) and 5th slot (9:55-10:15). There is a five minute transition period between each time slot. Grade levels should ensure that they have their rotations mapped out before Career Day for smooth sailing! All teachers should have received a link to a google document outlining preliminary and post Career Day activities. Mr. Cheatham, Mr. Whyte and Ms. Lewis have all kindly agreed to be back up presenters on the day itself if there is a last minute cancellation by a presenter. Ms. Yutzy has agreed to be on hand for any technical questions. If you need anything from either Ms. Herbert or Ms. Jenkins during Career Day they will both have radios to ensure communication. If you have any questions at all about any aspect of Career Day, please do not hesitate to email Ms. Herbert!
A few reminders from Christen...
- Meg McKee will be at Fairview on February 23rd. Please welcome her and Christen into your classrooms as they walkthrough during your scheduled math times.
- The teacher assistant training that was scheduled for Feb 25th has been moved to March 3rd from 8:10-8:55. This training will be for title one assistants and classroom assistants that work with K-3 students during LAUNCH. We will focus on Progress Monitoring students to determine needs based on accuracy, fluency oral comprehension and written comprehension. Please see Christen if you have any questions.
- Here is a reminder from the beginning of the year about the agenda for grade level intervention meetings. An anchor chart is also hanging in the PLC room to remind grade levels.
Review the TIPS schedule document and make sure all paperwork that needs to be filled out is completed before the TIPS meeting the following day.
Using the TIPS schedule document make sure parent letters have been sent home at least two weeks prior to the meeting. There is a parent letter for the initial meeting and a different one to remind them of the follow up meeting.
Use the interventions google doc to update student progress and add any relevant information or students. You should update students every 4-6 weeks. (Grade levels may need to meet a couple of weeks in a row in order to update current benchmarks and make adjustments to interventions as needed.)
Other items your team could discuss (This is just a possible list. Any interventions based on concern or need could also be an agenda item.)
Math intervention groups
Launch groups
Special Education students and their interventions/needs
Discussing/researching interventions based on student needs
Lexia, mclass or Kathy Richardson data
Update/Create PEP's
Please use the link below to enter our school to win a visit from Jan Brett!
If you would like to contribute articles or information/celebrations for the Cardinal Flyer, please let Mrs. Reed know. She would appreciate contributions from any staff member!
Fairview Elementary School
Email: jennifer.reed@bcsemail.org
Website: www.buncombe.k12.nc.us/fes
Location: 1355 Charlotte Highway, Fairview, NC, United States
Phone: 828-628-2732
Facebook: facebook.com/FairviewElementary