HAWK HAPPENINGS
The official newsletter of Hillcrest Elementary Staff
Every single student, every single day, in every single way.
March 31, 2019
MUST READ
Weekly Announcements
Teachers: when it is your class' turn, please send your 2-3 volunteers to the office right away so they can begin announcements at 8:30.
ALL THINGS ELA
Library test pick up: please enter the doors closest to Ms. DelPilar's office, follow signs for the proper line (grade 4, grade 5, or Mods)
Active proctoring
Please do not use cell phones or computers while proctoring
Please actively walk around the room and check on students
Please refrain from giving candy to students until 45 minutes into test- mints will be provided
Please use the runner to make sure students get to the bathroom and back
Remind students to fill in ALL bubbles and check to make sure that they do
Require that students reread their test and answers at least once
Let's try to encourage students to keep working and reviewing -- students shouldn't take out a book before 10:30.
Signing tests back in the main office
Please SEPARATE answer sheets from booklets and alphabetize BOTH.
Opt out students AND exempt students will go to cafeteria with a book ONLY
Classroom aides will supervise opt outs with Josh
Eileen Lepore
Ashley Lape
Sal Dodaro
Gerri Reeves
Any 1:1 aides who do not have their child present in school
Specials teachers will go to the rooms to cover preps
If a staff member has to use the restroom, call the main office at 5502
Withhold from making calls to other classrooms to minimize distractions
Make sure to tape attendance on the door before you begin the test
Read over the attached teacher directions
We will operate on a 3 hour delay lunch schedule and gauge the time accordingly to see when lunches will start; if we can start earlier, we will.
AFTER SCHOOL
Parent-Teacher Conference change
There will be no official Parent-Teacher conference Day, so no early dismissal day, no evening conference night.
Parents will be informed that they can arrange a time with teachers the week of April 22nd if they wish to meet
No 4th or 5th grade meetings will be held so that teachers can meet/call parents who request a conference
A letter will go out to parents regarding the change
BREAKFAST CHANGE
Cold and hot breakfast will be separated to speed up the line.
We may also start staggering the 5th grade getting their breakfasts (delaying their start time to 8:10) if needed, and students are able to eat breakfast in classrooms but are encouraged to finish by 8:30.
AESOP
Parent workshop April 4
1st Parent workshop is happening on April 4th- the theme is “How to Motivate Your Child to Read”. Please join us if you can.
HAWK HEROES
SPECIAL THANKS TO THESE HAWK HEROES:
Parent and Community Engagement Committee for planning and executing the parent workshops:
Laura Pena
Jen Bruno
Emily Diaz
Heydi Rodriguez
Ana Bueno
Jamie Rossi
Jonathan Sicherman
Marlix Hernandez
Marisa Anzovino
Marisa Anzovino for organizing the ELA Pep Rally
REMINDER re: QUICK WINS: Actions Required
If you have not already done so, please follow up on the three actions required so we can move forward with our QUICK WINS from the state visit:
1) Provide Differentiated Professional Development: Please complete the survey Mary sent via email so we can learn about the areas you feel you would like more support. While this was initiated as a Hillcrest Quick Win, Mary is sharing this across the elementary buildings for professionals in all of the buildings. If you have not already taken the survey, please click here so we can plan for YOU. PD SURVEY
2) Provide Student Choice on Reading Response Homework: We committed to providing students with a choice of ways to respond to their reading, rather than just writing. We would like to provide students with a menu of ways in which to respond that would require little to no additional work on teachers' parts. Before we roll something out with students, we would like your input on some of the response options, and to see if you have some additional ideas. Please click here -- it should only take 3 minutes. Reading Response Menu Survey
3) Create a school-wide system for sending at least 2 pieces of student work home to parents each week. Weigh in with your opinions here, because whatever is selected, it will become a consistent practice across the school. Student Work Survey
ELA HAPPENINGS
Christine McCourt will be back next week!
SEL (Social/Emotional Learning) Happenings
MATH HAPPENINGS
Math Madness Kick-Off will be April 8th
Multiplication Mondays
Take-Away and Total it (Subtraction/Addition) Tuesdays
What’s Inside It? (Division) Wednesdays
Think it Through (Problem Solving) Thursdays
Fraction Fridays
Everyone who sees children in the hallway, gym, cafeteria, outside, etc. should ask students questions that pertain to the daily math theme.
Math Madness Announcements will include a math riddle relating to the theme
Each teacher will use 5 minutes each day to assess students on chromebooks through Google forms with questions. (2 on grade level, 2 below grade level, and 1 above grade level.) The results will get posted to a spreadsheet that Gerald has created and will be shared with teachers for analysis. (Chromebooks will be back in the building when we do this.)
We are piloting this system for next year so that we can work out the kinks now.
Math Lighthouse schedule will also begin April 8th. This is a slight shift that builds upon the work that Gerald has been doing. He will soon take other teachers with him on his classroom visits to watch others "in action" doing something he has been focusing on during his PD and visits thus far. Guests may be selected based on a specific teacher's request, on observation Gerald has made that a teacher is ready to incorporate something different into their math block, or simply scheduling convenience.
Dr. Ardito will be here on Thursday only this week due to the ELA exam. Here is his schedule:
- Dr. Ardito's Math Observation Schedule 4/4/19
- 8:00 Pop-In Visits
- 8:45 Perlowitz- Room 14 (Hess will cover at 1:15 for debrief)
- 9:30 Esposito-Room 6 (Mendello will cover at 1:15 for debrief)
- 10:15 Pena- Room 29 (Grey will cover at 1:15 for debrief)
- 11:00 Diaz- Room 27 (Alvarado will cover at 1:15 for debrief)
- 11:45 Fernandez- Room 30 (Badurski will cover at 1:15 for debrief- Ashley Lape will assist)
- 12:30 Lunch w/ Randy
- 1:15 Debrief- All above teachers-Art Room
STUDENT PORTFOLIOS
YOGA for Friday Gym Classes
LESSON PLANS
Reminder: THREE THINGS TO FOCUS ON IN 2019
1). Authentic, caring relationships with every student
2) Differentiated, data-informed instruction
3) Common, standards-based assessment with timely, actionable feedback
If we are successful with these three priorities, we will truly positively impact every student, every day, in every way.
SHOULD READ
Teacher Behavior Management System by Gerry Brooks
https://www.facebook.com/gerrybrooksprin/videos/2167698703308390?sfns=mo
https://www.facebook.com/gerrybrooksprin/videos/2286906408294827?sfns=mo
"THAT" kid...
One is more geared to a parent perspective, and the other is geared towards a teacher perspective. Both good reads, with important reminders for us all.
ARTICLE 1 Huffington Post
ARTICLE 2 BoredTeachers.com