Thoughts from Toni and Friends
Believe...Growth Mindset for Student Success!
Our School Vision
Knight Vision: To share in the commitment of rigorous and high quality instruction to meet the needs of every child.
Our 2017-2018 school theme “Believe...Growth Mindset for Student Success!” is directly aligned with our continued vision and instructional expectations for Knight: to share in the commitment of rigorous and high quality instruction to meet the needs of every child.
Instructional Focus:
*Implement the AKS (Common Mini-Lessons and Assessments)
*Implement Authentic Literacy (Purposeful Reading, Writing, and Discussion)
*Implement Effective Instruction (Workshop Model/Gradual Release)
Knight Mission: To provide a positive, stimulating, and secure environment that empowers the individual to grow socially, emotionally and intellectually in order to meet the challenges of an ever-changing world.
Knight Belief: We believe all kids can learn…
…and we will establish high standards of learning that we expect all students to achieve. It is our job to create an environment in our classrooms that engages students in academic work that results in a high level of achievement. We are confident that with our support and help, students can master challenging curricula, and we expect them to do so. We are prepared to work collaboratively with colleagues, students and parents to achieve this shared educational purpose (DuFour, 1997a).
Highest Performing Reward School!!!
The Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) recently released the list of 2017-2018 Reward Schools. Knight Elementary has been named a Highest Performing Reward School! To be recognized as a Highest Performing School, a school ranks among the top 5% of all Title I schools in the State with the highest absolute performance over three years for the all-students group as measured by CCRPI. Congratulations to the Knight Elementary students, teachers, staff, parents and community for this recognition!
Knight Elementary will be recognized as a Highest Performing Reward School at the Thursday, March 15 board meeting. The board meeting starts at 7:00 PM in the Board Room at the Instructional Support Center (ISC), 437 Old Peachtree Rd., Suwanee 30024. If you would like to attend, please send me an email by Monday, March 12. For those attending, dinner will be provided before the board meeting.
Odyssey of the Mind
This past Saturday was the day for our Odyssey of the Mind teams - competition time! Odyssey of the Mind is a creative problem-solving competition where team members work together to solve a problem. During the competition, teams present their solution to the problem. Teams also participate in the spontaneous portion where they present solutions to a problem they have not seen before.
We had three teams to compete and all teams performed well! Ms. LaPerre's (Knight volunteer) team placed 2nd and will travel to the state competition!
Thank you, Dawn Arnold, Rachel Storey, Rosi Beckman, and Chris Gordon for volunteering your time to serve as coaches and for supporting our students not only on Saturday, but throughout the year! In addition, thank you to Barbara Homans, Megan Donat, Rebecca Reynolds, and Patrick Mugan for supporting our students at the competition!
GEAUX KNIGHT!!!
Read-A-Thon
March 12th - 16th
March 1 - 15: Read-a-Thon
March 5 - 21: District Assessments
Monday, March 12th
No School-wide Events
Tuesday, March 13th
8 AM Day
PLC Work during Planning Periods
Wednesday, March 14th
KDG Planning Day
Thursday, March 15th
Spring Picture Day
APTT PLC during Planning Periods
Wedding Shower for Vanita Williams - After School
Friday, March 16th
No School-wide Events
Saturday, March 17th
Readers Rally 8:30 AM
GCPS Teacher Job Fair
UPCOMING EVENTS
Monday, March 19: 3rd Grade Hearing and Vision Screening
Monday, March 19: APTT Night (K-2) 6 PM - 7:15 PM
Tuesday, March 20: 1st Grade Planning Day
Tuesday, March 20: GKIDS Data Pull (GCPS)
Tuesday, March 20: APTT Night (3-5) 6 PM - 7:15 PM
Tuesday, March 20: Trickum Parent Q & A in the Cafeteria 7:15 PM
Tuesday, March 20: Chick-fil-A Night 6 PM - 8 PM
Wednesday, March 21: 2nd Grade Planning Day
Thursday, March 22: Cafe Chat 7:10 AM
Thursday, March 22: Cluster Literacy Vertical Team Meeting
Thursday, March 22: After School Social hosted by 2nd Grade
Friday, March 23: Breakfast with the Principal
Friday, March 23: Parent Workshop - GMAS
Friday, March 23: 3rd Grade Planning Day
Monday, March 26: 5th Grade Planning Day
Tuesday, March 27: Cafe Chat 7:10AM
Tuesday, March 27: Cluster Literacy/Knight STEM Vertical Team Meeting
Tuesday, March 27: PLC Work during Planning Periods
Tuesday, March 27: Area Board Meeting at Parkview HS 7 PM
Wednesday, March 28: 4th Grade Planning Day
Thursday, March 29: STEM/PBL PD
Friday, March 30: Progress Reports Go Home
March Cafe Chat Update
Thursday, March 22: Cafe Chat-Performance-Based Teacher Compensation System
Tuesday, March 29: Cafe Chat-Testing Meeting
School is in Session ~ Inclement Weather Make Up Days
Please plan accordingly:
- March 23rd
March Planning Days
Wednesday, March 14 - Kindergarten
Tuesday, March 20 - First Grade
Wednesday, March 21 - Second Grade
Friday, March 23 - Third Grade
Monday, March 26 - Fifth Grade
Wednesday, March 28 - Fourth Grade
GCPS Certified Staff Contracts Timeline
March 26 - Deadline to Sign Contracts
Breakfast with the Principal - Friday, March 23
Breakfast with the Principal is Friday, March 23. Please send the name of the student selected from your class to Lisa Burton by Wednesday, March 21. Your student will wear the “Breakfast with Dr. Ferguson” lanyard when he or she joins me for breakfast (8:20 am-8:45 am). If you need a new lanyard, please email Lisa Burton. We will have a special section in the cafeteria for the “Breakfast with the Principal” participants.
Save the Date! Area Board Meeting
Mark your calendars! Our Area Board Meeting District IV - Dr. Robert McClure is Tuesday, March 27 at 7 PM in the Parkview High School Theater, with refreshments served at 6:30 PM. We will provide dinner before the Board Meeting. If you would like to attend, please send me (Toni) an email by Thursday, March 22. We look forward to seeing you there!
GMAS Schedule 2018
Thursday, April 12 ~ ELA Section 2
Friday, April 13 ~ ELA Section 3
Tuesday, April 17 ~ Math Section 1
Wednesday, April 18 ~ Math Section 2
Friday, April 20 ~ Science Sections 1 & 2
Monday, April 23 ~ Social Studies Sections 1 & 2
Password Synchronization with Notes Email
The next phase of password synchronization is near! If your passwords have not previously been synchronized, starting Wednesday, 3/14/18, your AD and portal password will now work with Lotus Notes. You will use a single password for access to the following:
- AD Network (i.e., computer log on)
- Employee Portal
- Sametime (if applicable)
- Traveler/Verse (if applicable)
- IBM (formerly Lotus) Notes email
Reading Goals
A-K ~ 12-15
L-N ~ 6-8
O-Q ~ 4-6
R-T ~ 2-4
U-Z ~ 1-2
Growth Mindset ~ Will to Skill
Which skill will you focus on the remainder of the school year?
Accept Failure ~ Accept failure as part of the learning process…for yourself…for your team…for your students
Reflect and Move Forward ~ When having difficulty achieving a goal, identify what could have been done differently, and then move forward
Elicit Feedback and Course Correct ~ Elicit explicit and concrete feedback about your teaching/leadership practices and make changes if needed
Improve Teaching and Learning Through Innovation ~ Actively seek out ways to improve your teaching practices and your students’ learning experiences
Ask for help ~ Regularly ask colleagues for help and advice
SUNSHINE NEWS
Join us for a wedding shower for Vanita Williams after school on Thursday, 3/15, hosted by 3rd grade.
Our Kindergarten team is hosting the March After School Social on Thursday, 3/22.
The March baby picture is up now!
COUNSELOR'S CORNER
Michele presents the 4th grade lessons on sexual abuse prevention/safety skills.
On the morning announcements, Michele is highlighting 1st graders and students in Britney Washington's class who are great role models of our March Character Ed Trait - FAIRNESS.
SAVE THE DATE ~ Math Institute
Instructional Focus: Mathematical Literacy – The Math Institute supports instructional practices that promote students asking questions, determining the significance of information, drawing on their background knowledge, making inferences, developing mental models, reflecting on their thinking, learning from their mistakes and synthesizing what they learn to effectively speak, listen, read, and write in mathematics.
Content Focus: Number and Base Ten – Cluster Trainers will deepen content knowledge and redeliver Math Institute content, prepared and modeled by Master Trainers, to peers on the conceptual development of algebraic thinking.
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Dates: June 4 - 8
Stipend: $300
*If interested, please email Shaketa Gillard.
SAVE THE DATE ~ Summer School 2018
PD Day 1: May 19 District Led at Discovery HS (Math 8-11:30 & Reading 12:30-4)
PD Day 2: TBA
Who: Students in grades 3-5
When: June 11 - 29
PBIS Minute
During testing season, all our kids are dealing with extra stress. Remember that stress is not just something that affects us as adults! Take a few minutes this week to help your kids find ways to deal with their stress.
Here are a few quick tips for your kids:
1. Take deep breaths
2. Play outside
3. Start an art project
4. Give self-soothing hugs
5. Practice yoga (or use GoNoodle yoga-style videos)
Not all of these things can be done during the school day, but they can be encouraged to help your students deal with the stress they are feeling. By helping our kids be mindful of their feelings, they will also be mindful of their actions.
Source: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/29/stress-relief-for-kids_n_3155848.html