Monday Memo
February 15th - 18th
Lineage, personality, and environment may shape you, but they do not define your full potential." -- Mollie Marti
Team,
This week, Sylvia, Michelle, Melanie and I will be attending ELM training with grade level representatives. With this many people off campus, things have the potential to go wrong fast if you are not proactive and skillful in your approach. Please be mindful of the students who tend to struggle with a sub. Carefully monitor lunch and recess, and check in with those friends throughout the day. Knowing that someone else cares for them as much as their teacher does just might be enough to help them get through the day without incident. If you know that you have a student who will not be able to manage three days with a sub, please work out a plan so that they can spend those three days with a teammate. What people say about an ounce of prevention is especially true when the office will be short handed and limited to the support they can provide.
We are excited to provide your teams with extended planning time on Wednesday. The training tomorrow morning will help guide how you will need to spend that time. Make sure that you decide as a team how you want to spend that time so that you have time to prepare and show up Wednesday ready to maximize that gift of time.
The next Team Leader Meeting will be held on Monday, February 22nd. If you have anything you would like for us to discuss, please utilize this link to submit your agenda item.
It is my understanding that many of you have had trouble signing up for tomorrow in Eduphoria. While I cannot help you this evening, please do not stress. We will figure out a solution in the morning and get it worked out. Thanks for reaching out to friends to find a solution. I love that you are problem solvers!
As we continue to pray for The Prugh Family, count your blessings and make today count!
JL
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Teacher Scales for Reflective Practice
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Warm-Up Wednesdays
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Shoparoo
Did you know that each week I give out jeans passes to those who are one of the top three participants on Shoparoo? I know that many of you have already joined, but if you haven't, it is not too late. Simply go to www.shoparoo.com to create your account. If you use veft4467 as a referral code, McGowen will earn money for you just signing up. Please feel free to push this information out to your parents as well. Once you sign up, Shoparoo will give you a referral code for your parents to use when they sign up. Schools with just 40 supporters are earning an average of $1,000 every year.
Congratulations to Donna Fabian, Jennifer Little and Krista Daniel for being in this week's top three!
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Focus for 2015 - 2016
In order to help every child their personal best, McGowen teachers and staff will:
- Develop a common language needed to become High Reliability School.
- Develop an understanding and process for effective Professional Learning Communities.
- Engage in collaborative team planning and lesson design to promote higher level thinking and student engagement.
- Present lessons in such a way that students understand and can speak knowledgeably about posted learning and language targets.
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Remind for Staff
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Happy Birthday!
February
3rd- Keri Walsh
7th- Marci Caldwell
8th- Tracey Stevens
29th- Kelli Cantu
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APPRECIATIONS
- McGowen Peeps--Thank you for the well wishes and concern on Thursday, and throughout the weekend. For those of you that are unclear about what happened, my heart decided to play some tricks on me that morning. And even though leaving school on a free jeans day, to enjoy 36 hours as a hospital patient was not on my to-do list when I woke up, I certainly have learned some valuable lessons. For that, I'm more than thankful. --CaThomas
- Nurse Vicky--Thank you for your close monitoring, and for doing what I know had to be done. I am thankful you were there, and because of you, I'm now getting the tests and treatment needed, to ensure this kind of thing never happens again. --CaThomas
- Third Grade Team--What can I say? Before Thursday morning I thought you hung the moon, and Thursday you merely proved it. I love you guys so much, and appreciate everything you did in order for me to not worry about my students and job. You're way better than my team, you're the best friends anyone could ask for.--CaThomas
- JL and SL--Thank you for reassuring me that my job could wait, and that my health was more important. I appreciate you for having my back (and my heart), and I look forward to returning, and picking up right where things left off. Thanks again. --CaThomas
- Martha – I can never thank you enough for all you do! You’re the best!! - Michelle C.
- Donna - Thank you so much for picking up lunch! You’re awesome!:) - Michelle C.
- Jaime H. - Thank you so much for coming to meet with us a couple times at the last minute so we could use your expertise.:) - Michelle C.
- Syl – Thank you for the Valentine! Love you! - Michelle C.
- K/1st/2nd Grade – Thank you so much for your time and discussion on Wednesday at data meetings.:) - Michelle C.
- I want to sincerely thank all of the teachers that came to help me when my back went out Monday after school. I absolutely LOVE this staff so much! - Michelle C.
- Aly – Thank you so much for the cookies! You are such an amazing “baker”! So kind of you! - Michelle C.
- David and Bonnie- Thanks for collaborating with us to provide duty coverage! SL
- Shiela- Thanks for holding down the fort while we were out at Learning and Leading! SL
- Jenna & Jenny- I appreciate your collaboration and quick response to a parent! SL
- Sharon, Martha, JL- Thanks for being proactive and working together to create a workable solution for a student! SL
- Amber & JL- Thanks for meeting to brainstorm additional ways to support a student! SL
- Holly B- Thanks for another wonderful concert! SL
- Donna- Thanks for managing the Spirit Stick sales! SL
- Coach Relle – Thank you for tying my shoe :) You’re a true gentleman! ~ Lovell
- Lhauren – Thank you for organizing the surprise from our students! ~ Lovell
- Kinder Team – Thanks for a fun and relaxing Team Time! Lp
- Lisa – Thank you for my fabulous coloring book! Lp
- A-Team - Thank you so much for all that you did to support a very busy week. You are amazing, and I am blessed! - JL
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Action Items
- Register in Eduphoria for February 15th Waiver Day
- Schedule 5th Sci Assessment with Resource
- Identify your extended planning focus by EOD Monday, February 15th
- Submit MVM names by EOD Thursday, February 18th
- Submit grade level school supply lists by EOD Friday, February 19th
- Scan 3rd grade ELA Assessment by EOD Friday, February 19th
- Submit agenda items for the next Team Leader Mtg by EOD Friday, February 19th
Bad Dude
Congratulations, Jean!
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McKinney ISD's Vision, Mission and Beliefs
Any time we have an idea, concern, solution and/or comment, this is the filter through which we should speak. Let's help each other live up to our vision, mission, and beliefs.
Vision:
We are a cohesive, diverse community providing engaging learning experiences for all.
We will provide engaging learning experiences so students can become effective communicators, quality contributors and socially responsible citizens.
Beliefs:
- Partnerships between students, parents, community members and staff are foundational to educational success.
- Positive school culture and a safe environment foster growth.
- Everyone has inherent value and deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.
- Learning is an active process requiring engaging tasks and engaging minds.
- Relevant and authentic experiences ignite continuous, deeper learning.
- Meaningful relationships enrich learning.
- Confidence fuels risk taking and higher achievement.
- Financial stewardship ensures a tomorrow for education.