Monday Memo
January 29, 2018 - February 2nd
"Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out." Robert Collier
Great news! I found out at Ad Council last week that Layne Pethick will be presenting at our next waiver day PD. I've attached the schedule so that you can preview it to see all that will be offered. The district will be using an app to sign up for sessions. As soon as they share the link for the app, I will pass it along to you so that you can sign up for the sessions you want to attend. I'm sure that Layne's sessions will fill up quickly.
In preparation for our next Kid Chat, we ask that each team collaboratively generate a list of students that you would like to discuss during our time together and email it to Shiela, Michelle, Sylvia and me by the end of the day on Wednesday, January 31st. Having this list will help us manage our time so that we are able to get to everyone you would like to discuss.
As you use assessment data to plan your grade level I & E Time, I want to encourage you to pay close attention to how our economically disadvantaged students are performing. This is a subgroup in need of improvement that we have specifically identified in our Campus Improvement Plan, and it is also currently a group that is consistently performing below expectations across the board. Please let us know if we can support you in any way. We are happy to plan with you and participate in being a part of the solution.
Make today count, stay healthy and wash your hands!
JL
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Kudos to Kinder!!
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Student Transfer Requests for Employees
Student transfer petition requests for MISD employees for the 2018-19 school year will only be accepted from January 9 to January 31, 2018. Petitions submitted outside the acceptance dates will not be processed or retained. The student transferring must be the child of an MISD employee. This benefit does not extend beyond the parent-child relationship. Substitutes and contracted services employees (Durham Bus Services and Aramark Food Services) are not eligible.
The 2018-19 transfer petition form is located at : http://www.mckinneyisd.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2018-19-Employee-Transfer.pdf
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Action Items
- Submit student transfer requests for your personal children by Wednesday, January 31st.
- Email team's list of students to discuss at Kid Chats by EOD Wednesday, January 31st.
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Warm-Up Wednesdays
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Shoparoo
Did you know that each week I give out jeans passes to the three highest scoring staff members 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. Please feel free to push this information out to your parents as well.
Congratulations to Krista Daniel, Barbara Peebles and Jennifer Little for being the highest three staff contributors to Shoparoo this week!
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Focus for 2017 - 2018
In order to help all children achieve their personal best, McGowen teachers and staff will:
- Knowledgeably speak about our current practices that contribute to McGowen becoming a Level 2 Certified High Reliability School.
- Engage in collaborative team planning and lesson design that addresses the four essential questions of a PLC.
- 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!
January
Laura Garro - 10th
Renata Sanchez - 10th
Gail Fein - 13th
Lisa Pedersen - 15th
Jean Possehl - 16th
Holly Bianchetta - 19th
Krystina Ticehurst - 24th
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APPRECIATIONS
- Tanya – Thank you for covering my class last week so I could take care of my student’s needs. -JD
- Cab – Thank you for helping me with one of our students last week and for guiding me through a tough phone call. -JD
- Prugh-Thank you for your help with my sweet friend! lp
- To whoever nominated me for teacher of the year, thank you! I am truly humbled. lp
- SL and JL - thank you for always coming when needed! I appreciate it more than you will ever know. lp
- Kinder Team - I'm thankful to do what I do with you! lp
- 2nd grade team- Thanks so much for always being there and for checking on me when I was sick! So lucky to have such a wonderful team :) --- Henry
- Kincaid- Thanks for helping out when I was out sick! So thankful to have teammates to rely on :) Also, thanks for the drink earlier this week! You are so thoughtful!! ---Henry
- Thank you 1st Grade Team for being so amazing and helpful to each other! Love LL
- Deanna- Thank you so much for the amazing treats last week! You are so thoughtful!!!! -Am
- I want to thank Jaime/John/Karol for taking care of things for me in so many ways when I was out sick this week – what a WONDERFUL Team to be a part of! The Dream Team It is!!!! -Mrs. Oliphant
- AmberE./MandyM. – 3rd grade - Thanks for helping out with our Special Friend in 3rd Grade while I was out sick two days this week! You are wonderful teachers to have worked with this year! I love your HEART for kids! -Mrs. Oliphant
- Lisa – Thank you for sorting my construction paper. It really helps save time for projects in my classroom. We appreciate all of your help. -AE
- Lindsey – Thank you for always being willing to help out with cutting, printing, etc., to help us with materials for our classroom lessons. Your time and support is always appreciated. -AE
- Oliphant, Hardy, Cissik, Snyder, and Butler – Thank you for being so patient and working with us and our new schedules on Fridays for our Intervention/Enrichment groups. -3rd Grade
- Karol, Jaime, Jennifer & Krystal – Thank you for your quick response on Thursday to help support me and another child, while also allowing me to get to my meeting on time. AE
- Noble- Thank you for always coming up with best activities for us to to do in science. You are making me a better science teacher this year and for that I am grateful. -AE
- Moore – I appreciate your positive attitude you come to school with each day and have really enjoyed being your partner this year. Thank you for staying a few minutes later on Friday to contact some parents with me. -AE
- Larpenteur – I always appreciate all you do for our team and your willingness to find odd times to meet due to our ever changing schedules & meetings. You are always so flexible and such a hard worker. I am so grateful to have you on our team. -AE
- O’Connor – I feel so lucky to get another year of teaching 3rd grade with you this year and always appreciate you being there to listen. Thank you for watching my class when my meeting ran late on Thursday. -AE
- Melanie H. & 2nd Grade Team~ Thank you all so very much for making my 22nd birthday ;-) extra special!!! ~KT
- Relle & Shiela~ The birthday announcements were epic! Thank you for including my little guy!!! ~KT
- Lindsey – Thank you so much for getting all of the biography books organized and ready for 3rd grade! The system that you came up with has been amazing! We truly appreciate everything you have done to help us out! Above and beyond! - 3rd Grade Teachers
- JL thank you for allowing/approving me to go to the first grade conference. It means the world to me that you are investing in my career! - Alisa
- Thank you first grade team for being there for me when I really need it!! I appreciate you!! -Tebo
- Ms Irma- for being so quick to clean up a friend's messy emergency.- Lindsey
- Thank you for welcoming our 5th grade leaders into your rooms! - 5th grade team
- All of SPED team = Thank you so much for helping me with my new student on Thursday and Friday!!!! All of you have been helpful, flexible, and so accommodating. I appreciate you and everything you have done for me. I’m so grateful I have an amazing team. You are all the best!! -Jenny ***
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BAD DUDE
Join us in congratulating Amber Noble as this week's Bad Dude! Even with Amber being new to McGowen, she has jumped right in with leadership roles and happily agreed to facilitate our last Science PLC. She’s doing many great things her classroom utilizing technology and teaching students to be problem solvers and does a great job leading a student-centered classroom.
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Important Pay Day Information
Due to the holiday breaks, paydays are slightly different. Here are dates so you can plan accordingly.
- Nov 15 (includes extra stipend)
- Nov 30
- Dec 15
- Dec 22 (Dec 31 check paid early)
- Jan 12
- Jan 31
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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.