GATE Staff Newsletter
10.13.19
Happy Sunday everyone!
Thank you so much for your help and support during the fun run! Megan Marx will be contacting classroom teachers soon with how much money you have left with your reimbursement. 5% of your classroom earnings will be added to your total. Just submit reimbursement for what you purchase. (Form and receipt)
I'll be sending these newsletters out every Sunday/Monday. Please take 10 minutes and read this newsletter thoroughly - there's a lot of information in it and hopefully many of your questions answered. Let's have another great week of learning!
Coming Up This Week...
Tuesday 10/15: Staff Meeting 6:45-7:45am. I'll bring snacks!
Wednesday 10/16: 6:30-7:30 Internal Information Night
Thursday 10/17: Students receive cider and doughnuts for Fun Run incentive. Early dismissal in workroom immediately following.
Friday 10/18: Tours @ 9am - I will be walking around with prospective parents and students. Please just continue teaching if we come in and prepare your students for it. If you have an opportunity you're welcome to come introduce yourself and tell us what your students are working on - but not necessary. Rep from Costco in the middle teacher's lounge.
Other School Dates
- Oct. 16: Avondale Resident Information Night 6:30-7:30pm in Media Center (For Avondale residents interested in applying to GATE for next year)
- Oct. 17: Early Dismissal (1:05)
- Oct. 24: GATE Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:30-8pm (Teachers will send out sign-up)
- Oct. 25: GATE Family activity night 7-9pm (room 163)
- Oct. 29: GATE Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:30-8pm (Teachers will send out sign-up)
- Oct. 29: Hearing/Vision Screening during school
- Oct. 31: Classroom Fall Parties (Time determined by your classroom teacher) & Halloween parade at 2:15.
- Nov. 4-15: Internal Application Window for residents and students already enrolled in Avondale thru schools of choice
- Nov. 5: 1/2 Day - Election Day
- Nov. 12: Fall Photo Retakes
- Nov. 14: PTO Meeting 7pm, Media Center
- Nov. 22: 1/2 Day; Teacher Records in PM.
- Nov. 26: 1/2 Day; Teacher Records in PM. End of 1st Trimester.
- Nov. 27-29: No School
Staff Meeting and Early Release Day PD Topics
Staff Meeting on 10/15 at 6:45-7:45am in workroom
Early Release PD on 10/17 at 1:10-3:00 in workroom
-Parent communication re: grades and progress
-Report Cards - on MiStar and Narratives
-5D+ Rubric and process understanding
-Oakland Schools STEM check out system
*Part-time staff - Please notify me of your schedule for these days. If you were with another staff for their meeting you should be at ours next. Adrianna - plan to attend GATE's staff meeting and early release PD sessions.
PLEASE BRING: Purple folder from the beginning of the year, 5D rubrics, notebook/pen.
Parent/Teacher Conferences
- Oct. 24: GATE Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:30-8pm
- Oct. 29: GATE Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:30-8pm
Please create a sign-up genius for your parent/teacher conferences at the latest by Friday. The parents know to look for that soon from you. Please be mindful of any students that might have siblings at GATE and coordinate so the parents can get a close time. All teachers are required to be here on these nights so that you can be available for conferences. Please coordinate with Ms. Spencer if you'd like her to be present for meetings with students/parents on her caseload. I can also sit in any conferences if you'd like.
The PTO has graciously offered to provide dinner for all staff on both nights. It will be an early dinner set up around 4.
GATE Entrance and SafeEd - Important Update
We are making some changes to alleviate crowding in the front office, and to reduce the time it takes for tardy students to get to class. STARTING MONDAY, a SafeEd staff member will be stationed at the GATE entrance to allow for parents/students to sign-in or out.
ARRIVAL/TARDIES/VOLUNTEERS: From 8:00-9:15am parents will be able to enter through the GATE doors to sign in late students, sign in to volunteer, or for any other reason you may be in the building.
EARLY DISMISSALS: From 2:15-2:53 parents will be able to enter through the GATE doors to sign out late students or to volunteer.
SPECIAL EVENTS: If we are ever having school-wide special events, the GATE doors will be available as an entrance. (i.e. the Halloween Parade)
While this is an added convenience, my hope is that all students are getting to school on time by 8am. However, tardies happen, and I think this will still help students get to class quicker.
Coming anytime between 9:15-2:15? Go to the Meadows Front Office.
Halloween Parade Info
Our Halloween celebration will be begin at 2:15pm on Thursday, October 31st with our parade. The parade will occur outside this year around our carpool loop, weather permitting. Some classes may have their party prior to the parade and others may have their party after the parade. Please communicate your party time to both the parents and me.
Costume expectations: Costumes should be able to be put on OVER your child's school clothes. Please keep in mind the following building guidelines for costumes at school:
- We ask that children NOT wear costumes depicting violence or violent acts. This includes fake blood, gore or imagery that would not be "G-rated".
- We will also be restricting masks during the parade to avoid any potential tripping hazards.
- School policy prohibits any and all toy guns, knives, swords, wands or weapons.
Please reserve elaborate costumes, frightening masks, face paint and make-up for trick or treating as these things can create a school disruption. Halloween is an exciting time. Let's all help to make sure it is a safe and positive experience for the children while at school. Thank you for your support with these guidelines.
Please Note: Children who do not participate in Halloween activities will be offered an alternate option during the Halloween celebrations. Please let me know if you have anyone that has contacted you regarding this.
Weekly Newsletters - REMINDER
Staff Meeting Dates
Well, the survey results were 50% wanting AM and 50% wanting PM. As a compromise we'll do every-other staff meeting at 6:45am-7:45am and every-other at 3:05pm-4:05pm. Please mark your calendars.
11/12 3:05pm-4:05pm
12/10 6:45am-7:45am
1/14 3:05pm-4:05pm
2/11 6:45am-7:45am
3/10 3:05pm-4:05pm
4/14 6:45am-7:45am
5/12 3:05pm-4:05pm
6/9 6:45am-7:45am
Weekly Dose of Encouragement
OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW
Phone Extensions
GATE Applicant/Interested Parent Tours
Most dates are on some Fridays at 9am, but there are some parents that cannot attend those that will come on other days/times. I'm giving you all a heads up now - if you see us walking around the school or peeking in your classroom - you won't be surprised. No need to stop and have a quick chat about what your students are doing unless you have time. In other words, don't stop teaching. :) It's a fantastic opportunity for interested families to see what we have to offer. It benefits all of us when we are able to show them what a fantastic environment we provide for our students!
Here's the link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080a49aca62da0f58-avondale
GATE Application Dates - FYI
Every year I coordinate all of the application process for next year's students. This involves two important "windows" - one for resident students of Avondale, and one for students outside of the district that we call "school of choice" students. Any student can apply if they live in Oakland county or any county contiguous to it. Students come in for testing and take the MAP math, MAP reading, and complete a narrative writing assessment. These are scored and students must score in the 93rd percentile or higher in both MAP tests in order to be considered. You are always welcome to attend the information nights or be a part of the selection teams. Please let me know if you're interested.
2019-2020 Applications: Important Dates
October 2nd 6:30-7:30: INTERNAL Information Night at Meadows
October 16th 6:30-7:30: INTERNAL Information Night at Meadows
Nov 4 - Nov 15: INTERNAL Application Window
Nov 20th: Writing assessment conducted at each home school
December 13th: Selection team meeting at Meadows
December 16th-17th: Internal Parent Notification
January 10th: Letter of intent OR Appeals DUE
January 16th: Internal appeals meeting
January 17th: Notification of decision for internal appeals
January 29th 6:30-7:30: SCHOOL OF CHOICE Information Night at Meadows
February 5th 6:30-7:30: SCHOOL OF CHOICE Information Night at Meadows
February 3rd - March 3rd: SCHOOL OF CHOICE application window
March 9th and 11th: Writing assessment and Math MAP assessment.
March 16th and 18th: Reading MAP assessment.
March 23rd: Selection team meet
March 26th-27th: School of Choice Parent Notification
April 3rd: Letter of intent OR Appeals DUE
April 13th: School of Choice appeals meeting
April 16th- 17th: Notification of decision for school of choice appeals
FOSS Kits
Please let me know if you have any questions about the FOSS kits you received.
We will have two FOSS kits this year. They will be used during Trimester 1 and Trimester 2.
2nd-Pebbles, Sand, Silt (Fall drop off, ? PU), Solids and Liquids (Nov Drop off, Feb 19 PU)
3rd- Water and Climate (Fall drop off, ? PU), Motion and Matter (Nov Drop off, Feb 19 PU)
4th- Soil, Rocks, and Landforms (Fall drop off, ? PU), Energy (Nov Drop off, Feb 19 PU
5th- Earth and Sun (Fall drop off, ? PU), Mixtures and Solutions (Nov Drop off, Feb 19 PU)
2nd/3rd: Amanda Merrill - 2nd grade kit
2nd/3rd: Kimberly McDermid - 3rd grade kit
3rd/4th: Rachel Breeden - 3rd grade kits
4th/5th: Michelle Gierman - 4th grade kits
4th/5th: Erica Burmann - 5th grade kits