Ram Nation News
Week of December 9, 2019
Vision
#EXCELLENCE, Back At It Again
This week, our students will begin taking their ACPs, let's be very intentional to provide a great learning and testing environment for our kids. Let's be very purposeful and have a laser focus as we work on having double digit gains across all subjects in all buckets (Masters, Meets, Approaches) and reach number 1!!! ACPs results will not only measure our school’s progress from last year’s fall ACP, it will also provide feedback as to whether all that we have implemented this semester has been effective. I want to thank all of you for not slowing down in our efforts to make our vision come true, I know that we continue strong on our pursuit of EXCELLENCE.
Remember, a great deal of student achievement lays on the level of motivation students have. A discouraged or unmotivated student will not put forth the effort required to perform above the average. Motivation is key in the success of students. Teachers play a very important role in encouraging and motivating students. MOTIVATE our students to do their very best so that they would not miss the opportunity to be and feel successful.
- Let's ensure that we are following the testing procedures we will discuss during our testing meeting. We need to be constantly monitoring students so that they are on task actively working on their test; if they are not, please communicate with Mrs. Mooty, Ms. Guerra, Ms. Scott, Ms. Ford, Ms. Tucker, Ms. Wells, or Mr. Cordoba in a timely manner.
- Be familiar with and implement the accommodations that our Special Education, 504, and sheltered students have during testing; if you don't know, please ask!!!
- Let's be very intentional in the type of work and tasks that we are putting in front of our students; have a laser-focus on the learning that is critical for each grade level and focus on the must knows.
- Have conferences with students about goals and recruit support from counselors and administrators for assistance with behavior, academics, absentees and tardiness. We need to make sure that we create partnerships with all stakeholders and that we hold everybody accountable.
Attendance
- 6th Grade - 95.46%- an improvement of 1.44%
- 7th Grade - 95.28%
- 8th Grade - 94.26%
6th grade takes the lead!!!
Let's continue to encourage our students to be present and on time on a daily basis. It really makes a huge difference when our students are present learning.
As a reminder, our school attendance goal is to achieve 97.5%; therefore, grade levels will be recognized with a popcorn party or other incentive when they reach this goal on a given week.
Thank you
- Coach Bey for her leadership with our athletic department; our teams are working hard and she is working with our athletes to make sure they are well-rounded individuals.
- Mr. Thornton and Coach Clark for their dedication and leadership with our boys' basketball teams this week. Both A and B Teams won their games; we are very proud of the work done by our students and coaches. Kudos to Mr. Harris for his support as he came out to the game.
- Mr. Salazar, Ms. Winton, and Mr. Alarcon for their dedication and leadership with our soccer teams. Both girls and boys teams continue to show great improvement. We have been able to see students' hard work and improvement; we are very proud of our coaches for their impact in the lives of our kids!
- Ms Michael and Ms Gray for their leadership and commitment to building pride and spirit. Put cheerleaders team consistently participates and supports our various games. Way to represent!!!
Collaboration
Principals and other leaders analyzed our practices and engaged in role plays based on the Aggressive Monitoring executed by both of our teachers. Congratulations!!!
Parent Engagement
One of our goals is to increase parent participation in school events. We know that establishing positive and productive parent relationships will make a huge difference in the educational career of our students.
- Huge congratulations and kudos to Mr. Alarcon for his leadership and commitment to make our band program a success. He started the tradition of holding Bandsgiving; we had 227 participants who were able to enjoy of various delicious dishes, desserts, and drinks. Also, students exchanged gifts with each other and wrote cards and notes to staff members.
- Thank you so much to Ms. Eddy, Ms. Ingram, Ms. Guerra, Ms. Ford, and Mr. McCann for coming out and participating of this event.
Climate and Culture
Our goal for our climate survey is to rank in the 4th and 5th quintile in all areas. This means that all of our areas of our climate survey will be green!!!
- We want to provide a welcoming and collegiate working environment for each person who comes to make a difference in our community.
- Our goal is to improve morale knowing that pressure is on and our students must be the priority.
- I trust you have enjoyed the first few gifts from your 12 Days of Christmas. Thank you so much to our Mrs. Gomez, Ms. Rodriguez, Ms Reyes, Ms. Herrera, and Ms. Miranda for their service and collaboration to ensure you are taken care of so that in turn our students have a happier and more motivated teacher.
REMINDERS FOR THE UPCOMING WEEK
- Our Remarkable Rams will begin testing on Friday and will continue testing through December 19, 2018. Remember to incorporate the testing message/script you prepared for your students. During testing, we should be intentional as we actively monitor and provide accommodations to identified students. Please refer to the handout provided during PLC - Testing Expectations.
- We must have 100% presence in the hallway during transition times. Our students notice when there is a lack of adult presence in the hallways and will take advantage of it.
- It is critical to be prepared with lessons and materials to avoid having issues with students. When we are not prepared, our students can tell and will find their own way of entertainment.
- As we work on documenting the progress our students are making, remember our policy regarding failure rates and the various opportunities needed to ensure our students are successful. EIA (Regulation) (TEI 2.2, 4.2, 4.5)
- We must have 100% presence in the hallway during transition times. Our students notice when there is a lack of adult presence in the hallways and will take advantage of it. (TEI 3.3 and 3R Positive Attitude/Enthusiasm).
- Be very consistent in the effective implementation of various practices discussed during our TEI orientation and lesson alignment conversations. With regards to Alignment (learning objective), the proficient rating states: Focuses students at the beginning and throughout the lesson, by clearly stating (TEI 2.1)
- What they are learning
- Why it is important
- What mastery looks like
- How to connect it to prior knowledge and their own lives and explaining to students
- During 8:00 a.m. - 8:20 a.m., students must be engaged in meaningful activities: homework support, Grade checks, organizing binder, CNN news with reflection sheet.
- Submit lesson plans by Thursday at 8:00 a.m. (TEI 4.2)
DAILY EVENTS
Monday, December 9-
- A Day
- 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - School Leadership Visit - Mr. Kastl
- Campus Climate Survey Continues - Remember to send confirmation of completion to Ms. Rodriguez, CC Mr. Cordoba.
- United Way Campaign - Wear your jeans and sweats on designated days (see e-mail from Mrs. Gomez) for $5 a day M-Th or $15 for the four days. The easiest way to contribute is to do it via Oracle. United Way supports many nonprofits organizations in our area to support the approach to education that spans from cradle to career ensuring every child gets a strong start in life, that our teenagers have the tools to learn and grow, and young adults thrive in the job market.... please, consider contributing to reach our goal as a campus of $800.
- Meet with your grade level teams to align your Lesson Plans and follow up on the implementation of ACP action plan (address high leverage TEKS, low performing TEKS, map out TEKS to be covered in the remaining of the instructional days - ACPs begin December 13).
- We will be walking classrooms checking for alignment, exemplars, and aggressively monitoring.
- 4:45 - 6:00 p.m. All Staff Testing Meeting - Library.
- Girls Basketball Game at Cobb Field House MS Vs. Medrano - 6:30 p.m.
- B Day.
- We will be walking classrooms checking for alignment, exemplars, and aggressively monitoring.
- Meet with your grade level teams to align your Lesson Plans and follow up on the implementation of ACP action plan.
- 4:30 p.m. After School Program Continues. Let's make the best out of this time being very purposeful in the material covered with students and the students who must attend your sessions. We need to work on the recruitment of students for our after school program since it impacts student growth, our school performance, progress, and, ultimately, part of our stipends are tied to the attendance of our students to our tutoring/enrichment sessions. As a reminder, students do not have the option to opt out; if you need assistance with parents, please let anyone from the leadership team know.
- Remember to clock out at or after 6:00 p.m. during the 2 days that you will stay after school.
- 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. - Holiday Concert - Band and Cheerleaders
- A Day
- Climate Survey window ends - Currently we have 56 out of 79 (70%) staff members who have responded to the climate survey. Remember that our goal is at least 85% participation. Please, encourage each other to complete this very important component of our practices so that we can continue to improve as an organization. Thank you so much for the 56 staff members who have responded already!
- We will be walking classrooms checking for alignment, exemplars, and aggressively monitoring.
- During PLC time - Work on getting materials and classroom ready for testing (create seating charts and cover content materials inside and outside of the classroom.)
- 4:30 p.m. After School Program Continues. As a reminder, students do not have the option to opt out; if you need assistance with parents, please let anyone from the leadership team know.
- Remember to clock out at or after 6:00 p.m. during the 2 days that you will stay after school.
Thursday, December 12-
- B Day
- We will be walking classrooms checking for alignment, exemplars, and aggressively monitoring.
- During PLC time - Work on getting materials and classroom ready for testing (create seating charts and cover content materials inside and outside of the classroom.)
- 4:30 p.m. After School Program Continues. Remember to clock out at or after 6:00 p.m. during the 2 days that you will stay after school. Last day for after-school for the semester.
- 5:15 p.m - 7:15 p.m. at Adamson HS - For our SW4 Northeast/ Southwest SWAG event, you'll experience critical moments from 2 exemplary turn-key lessons delivered by Northeast and Southwest Network teachers and walk away with 4 ready-to-go lessons for the 4th 6 weeks! - Separate invites sent. Let me know if unable to attend.
- Boys Basketball Game at Cobb Field House MS Vs. Medrano- 6:30/7:30 p.m.
- Soccer games at 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. for the girls and boys respectively at Loos Stadium against Walker MS.
Friday, December 13-
- ACP Testing Begins full day - 1A, 3rd period, 1B. No Jeans for staff
- Snapshot for documenting student involvement in extracurricular and co-curricular activities - Ms. Michael
- 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Winter Dance - Athletics/Cheer/AVID Fundraiser event.
Saturday, December 14
- UIL Academic Competition - See Ms. Michael if you are interested in coaching and competing in one of these competitions.
Upcoming Events
December 13 - 19
- ACP Week
- Dec. 13 and Dec. 16 full days
- Dec. 17 - 19 Early Release
December 19
- 4:00 p.m. Staff Holiday Party at Big Al's
December 20
- Teacher Work Day
January 6
- Staff Development
Complete all 3 Modules.
Happy Birthday -
We want to wish you the best and many blessings for the years to come.
- Coach Bey - 12/12
- Mrs. Gomez - 12/13
- Mr. Johnson - 12/29
Rusk Middle School
Email: jcordoba@dallasisd.org
Website: www.dallasisd.org/rusk
Location: 2929 Inwood Road, Dallas, TX, United States
Phone: 972-925-2000
Twitter: @RuskAllTheWayUp