Team Thomson News & Notes
#ThomsonRocks Week of: November 4, 2018
Important Information for You!
I hope that you all enjoyed Intersession 1.0 and return feeling energized and ready for the push from now to Christmas!
Parent-Teacher Conference Week
Please remember you have until Monday, November 5th at 4:00 p.m. to complete report cards. Anna will be printing report cards on Tuesday, November 6th for distribution at Parent-Teacher Conferences on November 7th and 8th. Please remember that you should be making personal (phone call) contact with parents that have not scheduled a conference yet.
Parent-teacher conferences were always an exciting time for me as a classroom teacher as it gave me an opportunity to sit down with the parents of my students and have honest conversations with them about the strengthens (both academic and social), sometimes the struggles their child was experiencing in school, the worries or concerns of parents, and to hear from them what their child was liking best about school. It is important to remember, parents are sometimes nervous to sit and talk with you and for some it will be their first parent-teacher conference ever as a parent. Treat them as an honored guest and help them feel at ease. Remember, the child you are discussing is their precious child. Give them honest feedback in a caring, compassionate manner. This will help them feel how much I know you care about each of your students. Even the most difficult conversations can end with a positive plan. As always, if there is a conference you would like me to sit in on, please work with Anna to get it added to my calendar.
In addition to reviewing the report card you will review the following with parents:
- IRIPS with any parents of children receiving one
- GISD Parent Literacy Booklets to all parents. I recommend highlighting a couple of pages in the booklet so that parents see the value in reading through it after they leave you.
- Thomson Parent Compact as required by Title I to all parents. If you are unsure about what to say about the Parent Compact, please see me prior to conferences.
- NWEA Student Goal Setting Sheet to all kindergarten parents. Remember you must add a goal onto the math and reading lines before handing these to parents. These to not have to be in-depth, please see me if you have questions or would like to work through a couple.
Company is coming ...Clean Your Room (or Work Space)!
When you were young, how many of you heard your mom say this...or maybe you've said it to your own children. I recommend standing at your classroom door and scanning your classroom. Does it look the way you would want it to look for company? If not, take time early this week to clean house. I encourage you to create a comfortable area to meet with parents. Take time to organize your materials for conferences. Plan the order you intend to address items so that you are able to make the most of the time you have for each meeting. SMILE and greet each parent warmly.
This includes our parapro work spaces, please take time to clean and organize your areas and ensure that all binders and booklets are put away and that they look neat and tidy.
Our hallways are the first thing our parents will see entering our buildings. In addition to the parapro work spaces, hallway displays should be put up in an organized manner and include a title of what it is that is being displayed....pictures of student names in pencil from, "Room 25 is 'On Point'"....pictures of Pete the Cat that students drew, "Pete the Cat Visits Room 11"...you can print these and put a construction paper frame around them or use cut out letters.
Cardinal Code Focus of the Week: Office
The Cardinal Code focus for this week is Office. Please intentionally reteach the Cardinal Code for the arrival and dismissal focusing on:
- Walking quietly into the office and stepping up to the counter.
- Wait for someone to address you, the ladies may be on the phone or helping another student.
- Start with your name and room number before making your request...be sure to speak clearly and loud enough for the ladies to hear you so they can help.
Thank you for intentionally revising and reteaching the Cardinal Code focus of the week..feel free to stop by the office with your class sometimes this week to review if you'd like.
October 26th Professional Development Follow-up
Thank you so much for your participation in our Professional Development session before we left for Intersession! At the end of our time together, I asked you to commit to implementing at least one thing from the Literacy Essential Module you participated in...what will you be implementing this week? How will you implement it? How will you maintain your commitment to implementing the practice?
Also don't forget to review the Restorative Practices Quick-Reference. I will also be sharing this with our support staffs as these are all things that each of us needs to remain mindful of!
Please watch for a return to Essential 1, Bullet 5 next week...this week focus on the implementation of your Literacy Essential instructional practice and parent-teacher conferences.
Quotes Worth Reading
While there is lots to cover at parent-teacher conferences remember...
"Life isn't a list of bullet points. You have to connect the dots."
-Michelle Sandlin
"The most important things in life are the connections you make with others"
-Tom Ford
Thomson Elementary
#ThomsonRocks
Home of the Thomson Teddies!
And..
Where Kids Come First and Futures Begin!
Email: nmiller@davisonschools.org
Website: www.davisonschools.org
Location: 617 East Clark Street, Davison, MI, United States
Phone: 810-591-0911
Celebrations & Announcements
Birthdays: There are none this week, but Michelle Buszek celebrated her birthday on November 2nd....Happy Birthday to You!
I will be providing dinner for everyone between school and conferences on Wednesday. It will be ready for you in the lounge by 3:45 p.m. The doors for conferences will open at 4:30 to allow you time to eat and stop in the restroom. Stay tuned for what will be served. Enjoy!
Don't forget...Cool to Care begins November 5th! A flyer with our 'contest' is begin sent home on Monday.
A huge 'Thank You' to Jim and Justina...they worked very hard over Interesession to add a little 'sparkle' to the building!
Important Upcoming Dates:
Monday, November 5th-Cool to Care Kicks Off, Report Cards are to be done by 4:00 p.m.; Board of Education Meeting, 7:00 p.m. in the H.S. AMR
Tuesday, November 6th- Elementary Principals Meeting, 9:30 a.m. (Natalie)
Wednesday, November 7th-Parent-Teacher Conferences, 4:30-8:30 p.m. (Dinner will be provided and read by 3:45 p.m.)
Thursday, November 8th-No School for Students; Parent-Teacher Conferences 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (with a 1 hour lunch) and 4-8 p.m.
Friday, November 9th-No School for Staff or Students (enjoy the long weekend)
Week of November 12th-PLC Week
Tuesday, November 13th-Lockdown Drill; Child Study Day; FLU Shot Clinic in the library from 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. for any staff member, please sign up on the Google Doc that Michelle Edwards included in her email...if you need help, let me know.
Wednesday, November 14th-Staff Meeting, 7:35 a.m. (Agenda: Holly and Angie-SE and ELL, Jason-McKinney Vinto)
Thursday, November 15th-Family Math Game Night, 5-7 p.m.
Friday, November 16th-GISD Elementary Principals Meeting 7:30-11:00 a.m. (Natalie)