Monday Memo
March 14th
Don't wait until conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes conditions perfect. -- Alan Cohen
Team,
I hope you all had a wonderful and restful break. Thanks to those of you who shared memories of your week. You're adventures looked amazing! I spent the majority of the week attending SXSWedu and wouldn't have traded a minute of it. I met the founders of Kahoot, participated in the launch of Kahoot Team Mode and attended many incredible sessions. In addition, Temple Grandin, Ayah Bdeir, and Jane McGonigal were all keynote speakers who are well worth learning from, if you have the time.
Our next Team Leader Meeting will be on Monday, March 21st. If you would like to add anything to the agenda, please click on this link and submit the agenda item.
This week, we will officially begin the Dismissal Management System. At the end of each day this week, we will make a reminder announcement for you to check your email for the dismissal report. It is imperative that you check this each day. While we are all human and make mistakes, this is a mistake that you cannot make. If you have trouble remembering to take attendance, this will probably also be a challenge for you. Please be proactive and assign reminding you as a student job. Without fail, we must send students home correctly every day. Even though change can be challenging, I am confident that we can quickly adapt to this new system and will enjoy the benefits of a more streamlined process.
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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Easing Into ELM
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TELPAS Online Reading Assessment
Wednesday 8:15-10:15- 2nd & 3rd
Thursday 8:15-10:15- 4th & 5th
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Converge 2016
Please see the link below for the Converge 2016 Website. The site includes registration information for MISD educators, MISD parents, and educators from other districts. The request for presenters form is also available here and we will be taking proposals through May 1. Karen Green has blessed Day 1 as GT Update Day, so those who attend the entire day (June 21) will receive their 6 hour GT update credit. Conference strands for Converge this year include:
- Future Ready Skills
- Personalized Learning
- Digital Leadership
- Blended Learning
- Authentic Assessment
- Autonomous Learning
- Gamification
- Parent Education
We are very proud and excited to offer this conference to MISD educators and parents and we have lots of surprises up our sleeves for these 3 days ;o) Keep checking back on the website for new information and updates! In the meantime…follow the Converge Code and “Radiate Innovation”!
https://sites.google.com/a/mckinneyisd.net/misdconverge/home
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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 Krista Daniel and Barbara Peebles 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!
March
4th - Gaby Shambo
14th - Alison Tebo
17th - Colleen Everett
21st - Valerie Larpenteur
22nd - Lora Lovell
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APPRECIATIONS
- Bonnie - Thanks for hooking me up with so many geoboards. - JL
- Thank you, Everyone for all the birthday wishes. You know how to make a girl feel special! - Gaby
- Bonnie – Thank you so much for covering my duty on Friday afternoon so I didn’t miss my plane! It’s the little things that just make your heart happy!!
- 3rd grade team – A week away from you (at school :) will feel like an eternity!!! Love y’all! Thank you for being you! Thank you so much for letting me talk it out this week!
- Goody – Thanks for being the best teaching partner EVA! I don’t think I tell you enough how much I appreciate you!
- Admin – Thanks for the yummy lunch!
- 2nd Grade – Thank you for your support and including me in the team. Tanya
- Maria – Thank you for answering my never ending questions! Tanya
- MC – Thank you for your trainings and assistance with my parent conference. Tanya
- Krystina – Welcome Back! You’ve go this! Tanya
- SL-Thanks for all the encouragement and the change of venue for the calibration test. Laura G.
- First Grade Team-Thank you for being so supportive!-Laura G.
- Marci C.-Thank you for always giving some of our friends that need that extra TLC extra praise and attention-Laura G.
- Keri – Thank you for your technology skills! The video was a hit! Lp
- A Team – Thank you for lunch! It was so great to have one less thing to think about! Lp
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Action Items
- Complete TELPAS Writing Collections by EOD, Tuesday, March 15th
- Send Report Cards home on Wednesday, March 16th
- Submit MVM by EOD on Thursday, March 17th
- Scan all K-5th Grade Math DAs by EOD on Friday, March 18th
- Scan all 4th Grade SS DAs by EOD on Friday, March 18th
- Schedule 3rd, 4th and 5th grade DAs with Bonnie
- Job applications for Summer School submitted by 5:00 PM on Friday, March 18th
- Thursday, March 24 is the last day to submit requisitions
- Scan all 3rd and 4th Grade Sci DAs by EOD Thursday, March 24th
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Bad Dude
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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.