Global Gazette
Week of November 26 - November 30
Growing into our Greatness...Not a Moment to Waste!
We hope you had a relaxing break and that you enjoyed quality time with family and friends. In this season of giving thanks, we give thanks for each of you. We love and appreciate our awesome staff and thank you for all that you do for the scholars of GLA.
This Week at GLA...ITS CHARTER RENEWAL TIME!
School Closed - Thanksgiving Break
Terrific Tuesday - Circus Field Trip
Attire: Jeans, Sneakers and any GLA Button Down shirt
- GLA Day at the UniverSoul Circus Field Trip
- Annotated LPs/Scholar Due to Instructional Coach 8a
- Off-Site PD assignments due by 8am
Cultural Wednesday
Attire: Cultural Wednesday Attire
- Full Day of School
Thrilling Thursday - Charter Renewal Day
Attire: School Spirit Uniform - Blue GLA Button Down Shirt with Dark, Solid Bottoms
- Charter Renewal Site Visit 8-4p
Fantastic Friday
Attire: Brown shirts, Jeans, Sneakers
- Integrity Jewel of the Month assemblies
- Staff Salad Day
UniverSoul Circus Field Trip Tomorrow
Scholar Attire: GLA gym uniforms
Transportation: We will be walking over to the Mann Center (please ensure that scholars are dressed in appropriate outerwear)
Departure Time: 8:30am for performers, 9:00am for everyone else
Staff Chaperones:
Rising Stars: Stoecker, Wolff, Thomson, Mackey, Williams
Legendary: Lamb, McKinley, Jordan, Forrest, Downey, Sanchez, Thompson, Gray
Collegiate: Douglas, Holiday, Robinson, Roman, Fleming, Dean
Coverages (remaining scholars)
2nd Grade: Hannibal
3rd Grade: Goldstein
4th Grade: Minor
5th Grade: Marazas
6th Grade: Wilson
7th Grade: Montgomery, Twyman
8th Grade: Leonard, Wright, Riley
Dance (TBD)
Charter Office Site Visit Overview
Thursday, November 29th
8am – 3pm
Staff Attire: School Spirit (Blue GLA Button downs, dark, solid bottoms)
In preparation for our site visit, please take note of the following look fors:
Evidence of Community Building
· Community Names (Rising Stars, Legendary, Collegiate)
· Class Names
· Community Building Restorative Circles or Morning Meetings
· Harambee Circles (in class or community)
Instructional Model
· Small group instruction evident
· Lesson format and delivery includes: Do Nows, Hooks, Mini Lesson for new concepts being taught, Practice (which may include: small group, collaborative or independent practice with or without additional teacher support), and ends with a structured debrief to close the lesson or an exit ticket/assessment.
· Use of technology (iReady, Zearn, etc.)
· Academic Success Block: Scholars participate in a daily intervention/ enrichment block where they can receive targeted instruction based on data artifacts.
Classroom Environment
· There is a labeled “Focus” board where teachers list the day’s learning objectives written in “I can statements”, standards posted, stamina chart, agenda for upper school, etc.
· Student academic work is posted throughout the room
· The classroom décor also includes resources related to character: Jewel of the Month posted (Integrity); November Growth Mindset Mantra (I am a valued member of this learning community) jewels, having a growth mindset and/or social/emotional learning.
· Classrooms floors and are clean and free of trash
· Libraries, shelves, countertops and teacher desks are organized
· Data boards visible with up-to-date trackers highlighting “iReady Lessons passed” in ELA and/or Math
Classroom Norms
Classroom teachers post a list of roughly five classroom behavioral norms (labeled norms or expectations – not “rules”) which scholars are expected to follow. These norms vary within and among classrooms and Academies, but all are positively framed and stress basic values of community and respect.
Positive Narration
Teachers use positive narration as a classroom management strategy so they can employ consistently affirming language and messages in all classroom activities.
Behavior Management Strategies
· Teachers make reference to universal management tools (Rising Stars: Clipchart, Legendary: LiveSchool, Collegiate: LiveSchool
· Use of Safe Place as tool to manage behaviors
· K-2: Evidence of Paths (Paths kid of day, feelings charts, etc.)
· language support (ex. sentence stems), breathing or writing strategies.
Transitions
· Sense of Urgency
· Hallway transitions are silent, orderly, quick
· Teachers model hallways expectations
Uniforms
· Scholars in full GLA uniform, not permitted to wear hoodies, outerwear, etc.
12/21 Off-Site Professional Development Assignments
Thanksgiving Off-Site PD Assignment:
Classroom Teachers: Attached template for iReady and PSSA data. This is your pre-work for your data meetings with Ms. Snyder before intercession break.
S3s: You will be planning two intervention circles for high need scholars in your community.
IAs: You will read and reflect on the enforceable statements document attached.
Cultural Arts: You will be completing your Kwanzaa showcase action items.
Special Services: You will be completing your progress monitoring and paperwork.
*All assignments are due to your academy leader and Ms. Snyder on Tuesday Nov. 27th.
Teaching and Learning Corner
This Week's Look Fors:
Instructional: Small Group Instruction: Meeting the needs of individuals scholars, and providing multiple “at-bats” with a concept is a core value at GLA. Please ensure you are planning for explicit instruction during your small group, that the other centers are tied to the standard you are teaching, and the use of technology is aligned to curricular resources.
Culture: Restorative Circle: As we move into the final stretch between Thanksgiving and Winter Break, ensure you are consistently hosting restorative circles or implementing PATHS in morning meeting.
Announcements and Reminders
IReady & PSSA Data Review & Planning
In order to use the data from your Thanksgiving Assignment to plan for the new year, each homeroom teacher will meet with Ms. Snyder and your Academy Leader in the next two weeks. Please look out for calendar invites during your prep period.
National Honor Society
4th grade teachers, we are accepting nominations for National Honor Society Scholars until December 3rd at 8am so that we can send applications home over break. Scholars should exhibit leadership, community service and have at least a 3.0 gpa.
Save the Date
Friday, December 7th: Trimester One Success/Honor Roll Assemblies (1pm dismissal)
2-4pm: Staff Holiday Celebration at the Belmont Mansion
Encourage your family/friends to give the gift of travel this giving Tuesday.
All staff members are being asked to get five families/friends to pledge to support our 2018-19 global excursions!
November: Lets be Intentional with our Integrity!
Anti-bullying month has come to an end. Moving forward, we want to continue to promote a safe and inclusive environment through our intentional efforts.
November's anti-bullying message ties into the Jewel of the Month of Integrity.
Message: Integrity is not only what you do when no one is watching. It is also what you do when everyone is watching.
Affirmation: We want to be intentional with our integrity and unapologetic in our greatness!!!
Discussion topics per academy:
Rising Stars - Conflict around friendships
Legendary Leaders - Spreading rumors
Collegiate - Video taping fights
In addition to having discussions in your restorative circles and morning meetings, we are asking each class to be prepared to showcase what your scholars have learned. This can be in the form of a bulletin board, writing assignments, multimedia videos/songs, etc.
Kudos Corner
Kudos to all of the Rising Stars Staff for your effective collaboration, to ensure a fun-filled Round Robin for our scholars, as well as your contributions to our Harvest Feast. It was beyond a success. What a great way to start our Thanksgiving break!
Well done to Ms. Wolff for having the highest number of parents attend Family Fun Night and to Ms. Stoecker for having the highest amount of Anti-bullying contracts submitted. Building relationships (Pillar 5) between home and school is key. Thank you for making these connections!
Kudos to Ms. Davis for her flexibility with scholar and parent meetings.
Kudos to Mrs. Blanding-Choice and Mrs.Dean for getting scholars ready for the circus performance.
Kudos to Mrs. Greene for your organization of the Universoul Circus trip