GATE Staff Newsletter
9.15.19
Week 2
Happy Sunday everyone!
I hope you all had a chance to rest this weekend. We had the first games for Hayley and Claire's soccer teams....and it was hilarious seeing a 3 year old and 6 year old run around trying to figure out the game. This weekend I also went to the MAGC (Michigan Association of Gifted Children) Board Meeting, and I was blown away by the buzz that's going around about our school. You are all the reason why - and our students, parents and community are noticing what an amazing staff we have here! Great job - and keep it going!
Please note that our early dismissal time has been moved back a few minutes - 1:05pm!
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...
- 9/16-9/20:
-MAP Testing Week! Please email me which dates/times you'll be MAP testing for reading and math. Complete both tests within this week. See further details below.
-Start thinking about creating a sign-up genius for conferences to share with parents. Please share a sign-up with parents no later than Friday the 20th, being considerate of those parents that have multiple students at GATE. I'd give about 20 minutes per conference. Think about how you want the format to be. Student-led? Teacher-led? Hybrid?
- 9/17:
-Kate at 5D Training in Lansing all day (AM Carpool -Adrianna, PM Carpool -Erica)
-Central office admin will be available and will be here at Meadows.
-Brenda's extension is 6400. Please call her using your room phones if you need anything.
-Text me if you have questions - 248-421-0089 or 248-915-2211
- 9/18:
-Kate at 5D Training in Lansing all day (AM Carpool -Adrianna, PM Carpool -Erica)
-Central office admin will be available and will be here at Meadows.
-Brenda's extension is 6400. Please call her using your room phones if you need anything.
-Text me if you have questions - 248-421-0089 or 248-915-2211
- 9/19:
-DK-12 Early Dismissal @ 1:05 - PD in afternoon for GATE in workroom til 3pm.
-PTO Meeting at 7pm in Media Center
- 9/20:
-Hive Huddles 2:30-2:50
MAP Reminders
-To test, the students don't log into the computer. They click "Apps" in the bottom corner, and then click on NWEA.
-You need to create the testing sessions before starting your test.
-PAUSE: You might pause a student's test if they go to the bathroom. Resume when they return. For instances less than 30 minutes.
-SUSPEND: You might suspend a test if you're stopping and testing later in the day or another day. To continue the test and not lose progress, you'd go back into the same testing session and choose test again.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Other School Dates
- Week of Sep. 16th: Fall MAP Testing (Reading and Math)
- Sep. 19: Early Dismissal (12:53)
- Sep. 19: PTO Meeting 7pm in Media Center
- Oct. 1: P2 Assembly/Fun Run Intro 2pm (Parents not invited)
- Oct. 2: Avondale Resident Information Night 6:30-7:30pm in Media Center (For Avondale residents interested in applying to GATE for next year)
- Oct. 4: Picture Day in Media Center. Schedule to come.
- Oct. 10: Girl Scout Information Meeting 6pm, room 153
- Oct. 10: PTO Meeting 7pm in Media Center
- Oct. 11: GATE Fun Run! (More info to come)
- Oct. 12: MAGC (Michigan Association of Gifted Children) Fall Conference
- 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. 29: GATE Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:30-8pm (Teachers will send out sign-up)
- Oct. 31: Classroom Fall Parties/Halloween parade (Time TBD)
Positivity Project (P2)
Don't forget - all resources are available at posproject.org.
I can't wait for our Hive Huddles on Friday! Check out the link to the Huddle list below. I'll make announcements and have small groups of students travel at a time.
Clubs
This coming week the students should be bringing the bottom slip back to you if they'd like to register for a club. Please send all of those slips back in your "notes for the office" folders. I will be sorting through those and determining which clubs (hopefully all) we can run.
Once I know we can run a club, I will put the flyers for the interested students in your mailboxes by the next Friday.
Weekly Newsletters - REMINDER
Emergency Sub Folders - REMINDER
Please have this folder completed and returned to the Kate no later than Sep. 20th.
Communications Sheet & Other Forms
Please make sure your students have turned in ALL Required Forms: Communications, Emergency Card, Technology Agreement. You need to follow up with any families that have not turned in those forms. Update the doc below ASAP.
LOOK AT THE TOP 2 STATEMENTS.
YES- IT'S SIGNED. If they are signed, you're good to use their image and name anywhere. Even if the parent initialed in other places, you're good.
NO-IT'S BLANK. Look below at what was initialed. These are your students you need to keep out of public photos/names.
Staff Meeting Dates
Originally I had shared that staff meetings would be in the workroom from 6:45-7:45am. I'd like to get your opinions, however, before solidifying the time. Please complete this 1 question survey by Friday. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfBBxslMxZ2qBBa_gQI1VxVjvjsr6e6ZJ_y3sG9jw0xoQOJ3w/viewform?usp=sf_link
11/12
12/10
1/14
2/11
3/10
4/14
5/12
6/9
A Word on Student Behavior and Motivation...
I had some really fantastic conversations with many of you on this topic. One of the things that came out in just about all of the conversations was balance. Of course we live in a society which leans on the concept of extrinsic motivation. You get paid a salary and benefits to work - that's largely extrinsic. So the moral of the story - is find a way to include balance in your classroom. Should it be the focus of your classroom - no. Can you still include it - yes.
I had a quick board meeting with the PTO last Monday night - and it was ironic because we were discussing the topic of the upcoming Fun Run and what rewards our students could earn for reaching their personal, class and school goals. I was very intentional about asking to "tone down" the extrinsic rewards the students were receiving for their parents donating money. It's a good motivator - but the only reason they'd get rewards would be if their parents could afford it. So it's going to be a balance...of a few rewards but also more of a focus on making class goals and working together. Compared to the Fun Runs I've been a part of at past schools, this one will still have some incentives because we are working toward a goal of supporting our school, but it's nowhere near what I've experienced in the past and I'm really excited about it.
I have a fantastic book on restorative practices called Hacking School Discipline if you're interested in borrowing it. We will have some PD sessions based on this topic this year. Again, my goal for this school is to be a place where students are inspired to learn through authentic engagement, not enticed with points or rewards.
If you have any questions specific to your classroom, don't hesitate to ask.
Fun Run
- We are having a Fun Run to raise money for our school! (Book room, classroom supplies, etc.). This will be our PTO's biggest and most involved fundraiser in order to help support your classrooms and our school.
- The Fun Run is scheduled for October 11th, and beginning our donations on Sep. 20th.
- Goal: The school goal is $8,500 with all families at least registering. The individual donation goal is $75 per student. Your classroom goal would be $75 x # of students.
- The PTO will be using a company called "Get Movin" and for a small fee, they allow us to use their website to collect donations, track progress, and communicate with families. All families will receive a link to register with a unique ID. To donate, families can use this website, but it's better to encourage them to send in a check so we don't have to pay the credit card fees.
- Since the AMS track may not be finished by October, we will be using our drop off loop for the Fun Run race! One time around is .15 mile, so about 7 laps is one mile. We will be allowing students to choose between running in the competitive or the non-competitive race.
- Here's the BEST part for CLASSROOM TEACHERS: 5% of YOUR classroom's donations will go back to YOU to spend for any classroom supplies you need!!! It will be added to your PTO reimbursement monies. You can also choose to create a classroom incentive for meeting your classroom goal if you'd like. Something simple and easy to do - like a popcorn party or similar. If the school goal is met, the PTO will be providing cider/doughnuts and I will be dressing up in something....not sure yet what exactly the PTO has in store for me!
- This Friday is the kick-off - the PTO will be bringing around large butcher paper for your class to take 10 minutes and create a class/team name. It can be something fun and silly! Make the team name LARGE on the paper and decorate it! Hang is somewhere around your classroom or in the hallway! The students will break through it during the fun run!
Updates on Supplies...
-Agendas are STILL on backorder. My hope is that you are using some sort of paper option to keep track of assignments/home expectations/communication while we are waiting for them to arrive.
-I bought some AAA batteries and will put them in the supply room on the island if you need any for your mouse, etc.
-I bought some small American flags for all of your classrooms. Please come grab one by the temporary mailboxes on Monday.
Thanks for your patience! I'm trying to hunt down the things we need!
Surveys from MDE
F & P Training Opportunity
Attention Avondale Educators!!!
Are you new to Fountas & Pinnell Benchmarking? Have you been using it but would like a refresher? Please plan to join me at one of the following dates to learn best practices in the F&P process.
- Monday September 16 4:15-5:15 Woodland Elementary or
- Wednesday September 18 4:15-5:15 Auburn Elementary
Use the following link to register! Fall Benchmark Training
Compensation and Kalpa hours available.
See you there!
Happy Reading !
Weekly Dose of Encouragement
School Wish List
We still have people willing to donate toward our school's extra needs. Please feel free to add to this list any items that you'd like to have for your classroom above and beyond what has been provided. Please use the "comments" feature after you add an item to designate it for your classroom and/or to change the quantity. This includes ALL teachers and staff!
Editable link for teachers only: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/dl/invite/1VXvfg5?ref_=wl_share
UNEDITABLE Link to share with parents in your newsletters, etc......: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/OKEWU5GBR40L?ref_=wl_share
Changes in 3/4 Classroom
I will let you all know ASAP once I have hired a replacement.
OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW
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
I have continually reported that we haven't received our FOSS kits yet for the first units - and finally on Friday I found out that they were never ordered. Ugh. So I talked to Coleen Brunni, our new Asst. Sup. of Curriculum and Instruction - and she submitted an order for the kits they didn't order. She said the turn around time should be short. I'm sorry that it's been a struggle with supplies this year - you all are fantastic and patient! I will let you know ASAP when they get delivered.
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, Nov 6 PU), Solids and Liquids (Nov Drop off, Feb 19 PU)
3rd- Water and Climate (Fall drop off, Nov 6 PU), Motion and Matter (Nov Drop off, Feb 19 PU)
4th- Soil, Rocks, and Landforms (Fall drop off, Nov 6 PU), Energy (Nov Drop off, Feb 19 PU
5th- Earth and Sun (Fall drop off, Nov 6 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: Amy Dixon- 3rd and 4th grade kits
4th/5th: Michelle Gierman - 4th grade kits
4th/5th: Erica Burmann - 5th grade kits