Monday Memo
March 26th - 30th, 2018
Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential. -Winston Churchill
It is about time for us to have the spring unannounced lockdown drill. Please make sure that you are prepared and have everything you need. Remember to review the process with any sub that is on your grade level as well. While they might know what to do, I would hate for one of them to be missing a window covering or the cards. In addition, if you have any new students in your room, it would probably be a good idea to review the process with them as well.
This time of the year also brings an increase in the number of ARDs and 504s. Please remember that if you are on a departmentalized grade level, whoever attends either meeting is responsible for checking with the partner teacher(s) so that you can knowledgeably speak about how the child is doing in all content areas. While this expectation does create an additional task for you to manage, ultimately, it saves time by not requiring all teachers to attend.
Make today count, and take care of each other!
JL
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Instructional Rounds Update
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An Oldie But A Goodie
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PLC Lite or PLC Right?
This simple activity created by Thomas W. Many and Brian K. Butler (Moving Schools from PLC Lite to PLC Right), will help you understand whether your team is operating as more PLC lite or PLC Right. As a team, begin by reviewing the words and phrases in the columns below. You may hear or see evidence of these beliefs or behaviors in your team. You may also decide that neither of the descriptions is a perfect match, but highlight the one that best describes the current state of the Professional Learning Communities process in your team. The column with the most highlighted words or phrases will be a pretty good indication of where your team is currently operating as a PLC and can help you determine your next steps in our continuous improvement cycle.
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Layne Pethick is Back!
Behavior and the Brain: Neurological Factors that Affect Behavior and Learning
Participants in this session will gain information on neurological factors that affect the behavior and learning of children and will include such topics as stress and the brain, biological factors of the brain, neurological factors related to attention and emotion and the effect on behavior and learning. This presentation will be an open forum style with several engaging activities and the opportunity for inquiry and discussion by participants (Other topics addressed include: trauma; trauma informed instruction; social-emotional health; mental health, and socioeconomic issues). ** Please note: the main focus is the school environment and all educators and staff that interact with students at all levels. **
3 Part Series:
Part 1
February 5th OR February 6th
Part 2
March 5th OR March 6th
Part 3
April 2nd OR April 3rd
Sign up through Euphoria
All sessions are from 3:30 –5:00
McKinney North Cafeteria
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Action Items
- TELPAS writing samples and Rating Roster due by SL by EOD on Wednesday, March 28th
- Make sure you have installed a printer on your laptop by the EOD, Thursday, March 29th
- Provide Jaime with a copy of your Design Time artifact by the EOD, Thursday, April 5th
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Shoparoo
Did you know that each week I give out jeans passes to the three highest scoring staff members 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. Please feel free to push this information out to your parents as well.
Congratulations to Barbara Peebles, Laura Garro and Jennifer Little for being the highest three staff contributors to Shoparoo this week!
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Focus for 2017 - 2018
In order to help all children achieve their personal best, McGowen teachers and staff will:
- Knowledgeably speak about our current practices that contribute to McGowen becoming a Level 2 Certified High Reliability School.
- Engage in collaborative team planning and lesson design that addresses the four essential questions of a PLC.
- 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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APPRECIATIONS
- JL: Thank you for standing up for what is right. I love that you are a fighter! I continue to learn so much from you. –Jaime
- SL: Thank you for being you. And, thank you for all of the hugs you’ve been handing out this year; I need them just as much as you do! :) –Jaime
- Sharon: Thank you for asking a very thoughtful question about paperwork, and for making time on Friday to talk about a situation. –Jaime
- Jenny: Thank you for meeting with us on Friday. I am so proud of the work you do, and I am excited to see our friend begin to thrive with your support. –Jaime
- Tebo: Thank you for always jumping in to help when I’m dealing with a crisis and can’t make it to duty. –Jaime
- Tina: I am so excited to have you on our team, and I continue to hear great things about the work you are doing! I am excited to get to know you better! –Jaime
- Mandy & Amber: Thank y’all for helping us design a program that is truly tailored to our friend’s needs. Y’all have been so amazing throughout this entire process! –Jaime
- Sadie & Rachael: Thank y’all both for your friendship and for always keeping me in the loop. I value our conversations so much! –Jaime
- Trisha, thank you for covering my duty for me last Thursday! You are always so sweet! -Amy
- Trisha~ Thank you so much for all of the work that you did getting ready for our TOY video! Your creativeness blows me away!!!!! I know our video will turn out amazing, thanks to you!!! We are so lucky to have you on our team :) Love, KT
- Michelle Haas~ Thank you for thinking of me and letting me switch duties when you had a sub! There’s nothing like the gift of time!!!!! Love, KT
- Tara~ Thank you for after school on Thursday! My boys loved it!!! Love, KT
- Melanie H., Lori P., Nikki A. & Office Staff~. Thank you so much for the glue sticks!!! I’m convinced my kids eat them!!!!! ~KT
- Shiela, thank you for always being patient and humorous through my learning curve this year!! Jean
- Melanie B. thank you for helping us with our video and being so flexible with the time! Haas
- JL-Thank you for supporting first grade and helping us start our Rise and Shine notebooks. Garro
- First Grade-Thank you for being such a great team that puts so much effort into helping all our kiddos do and be their best. It takes a village and can't imagine our village without each of you! Garro
- Lynne-Thank you for your help with the notebooks! Garro
- Barbara-Thank you for always taking care to the report cards in such timely manner and for never complaining when fixing my mistakes! Garro
- JL-Thank you for helping me with the MEF Grant money. Garro
- Kincaid- You are amazing and make the BEST anchor charts/ posters :) Thank you for your amazing ideas and determination! 2nd grade is so lucky to have you!!!
- Sharon - Thank you for being so flexible with the last minute change of plans on Friday. -JL
- Jaime - Thank you for everything! I appreciate your help so much. -JL
- SL - I am so grateful for your partnership. Thank you for navigating this sometimes unbelievable journey with me. -JL
- Rico, Gail, Rachael, Shiela, Jaime & Sylvia- Many thanks to you for the time and effort you put into supporting a student. -JL
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GT Training Opportunity
- Foundations 1: April 21st at Cockrill MS Library
- Foundations 2: May 19th at Cockrill MS Library
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BAD DUDE
Please join us in recognizing Nikki Atterberry as this week's Bad Dude! Nikki is an amazing first-year teacher and is always looking for new and creative ways to support her students! She is always prepared and remains calm and collected in times of crisis. In addition, she runs an ARD like someone who has been doing this job for 30 years. She is a fabulous teammate and a true advocate for her students. We are so proud of her and blessed to have her on our team.
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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.