Galloping Gazette
A newsletter for the Faculty and Staff - Week of 2/17
Put Students First • Seek Growth • Be Open to Change . Do Great Work Together • Value Differences
Principal's Message
As we wrap up mid-year assessments and move into starting to analysis them to drive our instruction, we most often look for the big celebrations. Like when a specific fourth grader goes up over 300 Lexile points or when a specific third grader goes from a DRA 6 to a DRA 28. These celebrations are wonderful and fabulous.
However, we must not over look the small wins that paved the way for the big celebrations.
* I am talking about celebrating a student who has refused to use scratch paper - finally use it for a quarterly and was so proud that he rushed down to the office.
* I am talking about celebrating a staff that has now had its third 100% attendance day of the year in the midst of flu season. Now that is dedication
* I am talking about celebrating a student who finally asks for the cool down spot on his own after months and months of work on this skill.
Don't always look for the huge gain wins.. Keep your eye out for the smaller wins that got you there.
I look forward to our extended collaboration time this week as we dig into our data and set our course for this next quarter. As we know a goal without a well thought out plan is just a wish.
-Robyn
Frindle School-wide Activities
- · Beginning Wednesday, February 5, their will be K-2 and 3-5 trivia questions on the bulletin boards in the foyer. Students can write their answer and put it in the correct envelope. 1 name will be selected each day from each envelope. Winners will be awarded a special pen. Please be sure students put their first and last names and room number on the entry.
- · There will be chapters read by “celebrity readers” but not all chapters will have a reader. You may invite parents in to read a chapter to your class. (List is coming)
- · On Monday, February 10, the frindle is introduced in chapters 6 & &. This is a crucial day!
- You will receive t-shirt templates for after the reading of chapters 6 &7.Please have each student design a t-shirt to advertise a frindle. (There will be a sheet for the “rough draft” of their shirt and then the final design sheet. (Center activity…) Please hang the final designs in the hall by Thursday afternoon (2/13). On Friday during announcements, Mr. Bud Lawrence will tell students he is interested in purchasing some of the t-shirts he saw in our building. This will be a lead-in to a math challenge the following week.
- · Week of 17th- Bud Lawrence will notify classes of how many shirts he wants to purchase. The class will record the transactions.
- · Week of 17th- Each student will make up a nonsense word to stand for a common object. They will need to write and illustrate their word. Collect these and have students vote for 1 class word. (If they all vote for their own words, switch with another class and have them vote for you) BE SURE TO KEEP ALL WORDS. STUDENTS WILL NEED THEM FOR THE WORD PARADE and CLASS DICTIONARY THE NEXT WEEK!
- · Each grade level needs to try and convince the other kids on the grade level to use their word. Let’s see who can really make a new word. All grade level pages will be collected and made into a “___ grade’s New Word Dictionary.”
- · On Friday, February 21, we will have an SCA Book Character Dress Up Day.
- · On Friday, February 28, we will have our “New Word” parade. Students need to dress or wear something that explains and displays their new word.
Class Connections:
This is a great story for character traits, how a character changes over time, plot mountains, summarizing, and theme. The characters are rich!
I will be putting chapter summaries in your box along with some lesson ideas. You can do as much as you would like with this book. I really hope you use it and wring all the goodness out of it. It is truly a delightful story.
If you come up with some fun activities, please share them with us.
Random Acts of Kindness
February 16-23 is Random Acts of Kindness week! Check out some sample lessons on kindness and mindfulness as well as a daily kindness challenge calendar
Shout Outs...
- Thank you Robyn for the cheese dip and tortilla chips at the last PLC. My favorite snack! Kelly Zajac
- Shout out to the 5th grade team for meeting and planning some great lessons for their students. Anne Young
- Shout out to Jill for providing advice and being a supportive sounding board for me! Ashley
- Thank you Kim J for all of your help!! Ally
- I want to give a MASSIVE shout out to Glenna for taking such great care of my kiddos while I've been home with Larson. It has been such a relief knowing that they are in wonderful hands! Megan
- To my 2nd grade team, Patti, Jenny, Sharon, Marissa, and everyone else that checked in on Glenna and helped her along the way, THANK YOU! I wish I could put into words how much I appreciate each of you! We have the best Farm Family!!! Megan
Schedule for upcoming weeks
** PLC Focus: Math **
** ACCESS for Ells Testing **
** Candy Gram Sales Continue thru the 12th **
** Grandparent's Week - No Colt Cafe ! **
Monday, February 10th
- 1/2 Day Collab 1st Grade 7:50-10:50
- 1/2 Day Collab Kindergarten 10:50-2:20
- Chapters 6 & 7- Frindle
- Design a t-shirt for Frindle Day
Tuesday, February 11th
- Math Tutoring 4th/5th Grade 7:00am Library
- Gifted Testing, Grades 2-5
- Chapter 8- Frindle
- 1/2 Day Collab 3rd Grade 7:50-10:50
- 1/2 Day Collab 2nd Grade 10:50-2:20
- PAC/Leadership Meeting via email
Wednesday, February 12th
- Chapter 9- Frindle
- PLC/Collab:
- 2nd 11:00-11:45
- 1st 12:45-1:30
- 4th 1:35-2:20
Thursday, February 13th
- Math Tutoring 4th/5th Grade 7:00am Library
- Chapter 10-Frindle
- Hang T-Shirts in the hallway
- PLC/Collab:
- 5th 8:30-9:15
- 3rd 9:20-10:05
- Knd 10:10-10:55
- Robotics 2:45-4:00
Friday, February 14th
- Spirit Day- Wear red, white, or pink for Valentine's Day
- Watch Dog Dad Rudy Sandoval
- Chapter 11- Frindle
- Candy Grams Delivered
- 1/2 Day Collab 4th Grade 7:50-10:50
- 1/2 Day Collab 5th Grade 10:50-2:20
- PTA Parent's Night Out 6:00-9:00
PLC: Focus- Content/STEM
Monday, February 17th
- No school for staff and students- President's Day
Tuesday, February 18th
- "Sweat it Out" Day
- Math Tutoring-4th/5th Grade, 7:00am Library
- 4th Grade Field Trip to the Planetaruim- Kesner, Dorbin, and Cucuzza 9:30-11:00
- Chapter 12- Frindle
- Faculty Meeting 3:00, Library
- Zoup Cashola Night 5:00-8:00
Wednesday, February 19th
- Colt's Store 7:55-8:20 Foyer
- Chapter 13- Frindle
- PLC/Collab:
- 2nd 11:00-11:45
- 1st 12:45-1:30
- 4th 1:35-2:20
- Newspaper Club 2:45-4:00
Thursday, February 20th
- Math Tutoring- 4th/5th Grade, 7:00am Library
- Chapter 14- Frindle
- 4th Grade Field Trip to the Planetarium 9:30-11:00- Mcneely and Nicolosi
- PLC/Collab:
- 5th 8:30-9:15
- 3rd 9:20-10:05
- Knd 10:10-10:55
- Robotics 2:45-4:00
- PTA Meeting 3:00 Library
- Reflections Ceremony @ Cox HS 6:30-8:30
Friday, February 21st
- Frindle Character Dress-Up Day
- Chapter 15-Frindle
Welcome...
I am Chaka Diarrassouba, a second-year graduate student at the illustrious Hampton University, studying to attain my Master's Degree in counseling with a concentration in school counseling. I was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia by Sindou Diarrasouba and Aminata Fofana. In my free time, I like to read books and go to the gym to workout. Upon graduation from Hampton University, I aspire to be a full-time school counselor within the state of Virginia.
News and Notes....
- Everyone has done a great job submitting leave forms, both personal and professional. Thank you for putting absences in AESOP when you are unable to find someone to cover for you. We definitely understand that certain things pop up unexpectedly overnight or during the day. When this happens, please just make sure that you notify someone in the office that you will be leaving.
- ** Mandatory Training ** is due this Friday! You can log onto it directly from the home page of VBCPS.
- Teachers with Assistants- When/if you get a sub, or have to enter it in Aesop, please make sure you enter it as "no sub needed " for yourself so your assistant can bump up to a teacher. You need to notify the assistant so they can then enter their position (subbing for teacher). This clears up a lot of confusion when the sub comes in. The only time the assistant does not bump up is for Professional leave.
Did you know that we have an alternative to an office time out or ISS?
Our student mediation program will focus on developing mediating skills within twelve 4th and 5th grade students. The students equipped with these skills will be used as a resource to help other students with their disputes. These mediators will not be used as a tool to justify bullying or an imbalance of power. But will be used as an anchor to dissolve conflict and stabilize their community.
Virginia Beach Reading Council
Winter Warm-Up! Let’s enjoy learning together and some cozy treats!
Details:
When? February 20, 2020 5:00-7:00 PM
Where? Woodstock Elementary
How Much?
Free for VBRC Members
$5 for nonmembers
How do I register?
Fill out the Google Form: https://tinyurl.com/VBRC2020
Please send payment to Shelly Welsh at Three Oaks Elementary School.
Checks payable to Virginia Beach Reading Council
On-site registration will also be accepted!
Have something great to share with colleagues? We would love to have you present a breakout session! Fill out the session proposal by January 27th! https://tinyurl.com/Breakout2020
Transfer Meet & Greet - IMPORTANT DATE CHANGE
Talent Ed Reminders - Due Feb. 7th - TODAY
When you are completing your formative focus mid-year update the following questions should be answered:
*Reflecting on what you have learned about PBIS and Love and Logic; consider your current classroom management system, is it aligned with the principles of both systems? Explain the aspects that are and if there are aspects that are not aligned how are you considering changing them?
*What is one area of strength that you are proud about in regards to classroom management?
*What is one area of your classroom management that you would like to improve upon and what type of support would you need to do so?
When you are completing the data review, please include all updated mid-year data by copying and pasting or by attaching it. In addition, please be sure to consider and address the following questions when completing the section of New Strategies/Professional Learning: Based on the data review, list any new strategies or professional learning needed.
*Is the data painting the picture that you want?
*What are the strategies that you are seeing the results that you are proud of?
*What strategies are not working, why do you think they are not working, and how will you adjust for the rest of the year.
Lastly, just as we are asking you to reflect and adjust, we have done the same with the remaining PLCs for the year. We will be going to a three week rotation for the most part so that there is less time between Math and LA. Next week, please do not worry about an agenda as we will be doing a LA/Math combo as we dig into how to bring fire to independent tasks without burning yourself out https://docs.google.com/document/d/17ikFch7PZcN5USW39lC6gGpaE6KXeji_2_0irek25Jo/edit?usp=sharing
#GoOpenVA Resources
For the past three years, the VDOE has been working with school divisions, businesses, organizations and other stakeholders to develop a platform for sharing OER which are free materials licensed under Creative Commons to be used or modified without traditional copyright restrictions. The VDOE’s OER platform, #GoOpenVA has officially launched. Teachers in Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) will be able to access the repository from their Clever portal, and a Schoology resource app is currently under development to allow seamless integration into our district learning management system (LMS).
#GoOpenVA is designed to support educators who want to find quality, free, openly-licensed, digital resources. The #GoOpenVA search engine provides several fields to help teachers refine their search, including drop-down menus for Virginia Standards of Learning (SOLs). In anticipation of the launch, #GoOpenVA has been seeded with over 10,000 resources from partners including Eureka/Great Minds, EL Education, the Digital Public Library of America, TeachDesign, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Additionally, select Virginia educators have added Virginia SOL-aligned material. VBCPS teachers are invited to share new or re- purposed resources that are not copyrighted and that are their original work in #GoOpenVA. Teachers and staff should not share VBCPS division curriculum, assessments or resources on the platform, as many of those documents contain copyrighted materials.
It is important to note #GoOpenVA is not a replacement of the VBCPS curriculum. In addition, the materials available on #GoOpenVA have not been vetted by the Department of Teaching and Learning. Teachers will need to determine the effectiveness and appropriateness of resources and ensure they align to the SOLs.
With #GoOpenVA, VBCPS gains an easy and convenient, technology-based method for teachers and other educators to communicate and collaborate, locally and outside of our region, thus cultivating mutually supportive partnerships. Museums, universities, professional organizations and non-profits can easily network with teachers about their resources and recommend approaches for using them in the classroom.
Our vision is that the platform supports teachers with supplemental materials as they promote deeper learning, integrate social emotional learning and personalize learning experiences for students. As of now, the platform may be most useful for our secondary schools; however, it is not limited to secondary educators and is intended to benefit all levels. In order to maximize the benefits of this repository, professional learning will be offered to teachers to ensure they understand best practice in utilizing this resource and how to share their own resources.
Instructional technology specialists and library media specialists, as well as various curriculum coordinators and specialists will lead the charge by facilitating teachers’ participation in several self-paced online learning opportunities or by conducting blended learning training sessions on OER using the “Workshop in a Box.” Details regarding these opportunities will be available in Frontline and launched in conjunction with #GoOpenVA.
Virginia Beach Public Utilities hosts a Water Awareness Calendar Contest
Virginia Beach students grades K-5 can submit original artwork illustrating how they use water wisely. In order to partner and promote water conservation in our area, VB Utilities sponsors this contest yearly for our students.
The themes for this year are:
● Water Conservation
● Backflow Prevention
● Keeping Fats, Oil and Grease out of the
Sanitary Sewer System
● What Not to Flush/Only Flushing the 3 P’s:
Pee, Poo and (Toilet) Paper
Entries are due by Feb. 8, 2020. Entry forms and more information can be found at: www.VBgov.com/CalendarContest.
Morning Meeting Moment - Problem Solving
This month, our character trait is Problem Solving. This trait is one that we could spend a whole year on! This first week goes over scenarios in the classroom, at recess, and at lunch. As you go through this week - send me some feedback on where your students struggle with problem solving so that we can provide resources for you to explicitly teach this difficult but vital character trait.