January 6th, 2020 Pony News
Game On! Let's Create Champions!
How do we support the Mission and Vision each day?
WELCOME BACK! Blesses instead of Stress
Think about the following:
- Simple as a Smile: “Too often we wait for something in life to make us smile. We wait until we feel positive and a smile happens. But you don’t have to wait to feel positive enough for a smile to happen. You can generate a positive feeling by smiling."
- Feed with Laughter: “Studies show that laughter improves your mood, reduces stress, boosts your immune system, relaxes your muscles, and adds joy to your life."
- Take a Thank-You Walk: "While you are walking you just think of all the things that you are thankful for. You think of all the positive things about your life.”
- Build Your Gratitude Muscle: "To build your gratitude muscle, what I want you to do today is to identify all the things, even small things, you are grateful for. Even when a negative thought or complaint comes into your mind I want you to replace it with gratitude."
- A Day of Gratitude: "Feeding the positive dog really does make a difference, and gratitude is the ultimate food for those who want to be more positive."
- Tell Yourself Positive Stories: “How you see the world defines your world. So if you want to live a positive life, you must feed the positive dog with positive perspectives."
- Get to instead of Have to: “One of my favorite ways to change the story you tell yourself is to say "get to" instead of "have to. You get to go to a job while so many are unemployed."
- Blessed instead of Stressed: "Anytime you are feeling stressed you can turn it around by feeling blessed. When you count your blessings you’ll reduce your stressings.”
- Turn Complaints into Solutions: “Well, instead of mindlessly complaining and venting to yourself and others, you can think of solutions to your complaints."
- Fear or Faith: “The most important decision we can make is to choose faith instead of fear. All of our negativity is rooted in fear. If neither the positive or negative future has happened yet, why not choose to believe in the positive future? Why not believe that great things are coming your way."
The Positive Dog by Jon Gordon
10 Things about Being a Pony Family Member
- We are nice to students. We treat students with respect. We build relationships with students. We discuss behavior with students privately and in a respectful manner.
- We are nice to parents and value their partnership. We provide proactive, not reactive parent communication with the expectation of building positive relationships with all parents.
- We are nice to each other. We are more than a team, we are a family. We collaborate as a professional learning community and support one another because we believe they are ALL “OUR” kids.
- We maintain high expectations for our students and for ourselves. We give 100% every day and expect the same from our students. We support them, encourage them, and are purposeful in our instructional decisions.
- We are open to change, growth, and strive for continual improvement.
- We plan collaboratively and seek the BEST ideas.
- We use flexible grouping in math and reading.
- Lessons, assignments, and learning stations are rigorous, relevant and engaging without exception.
- Lesson plans should be a tool for guiding instruction, thorough, well planned, and connected to the TEKS at all times.
- Our school wide expectations, developed through PBIS and CHAMPS, should be taught, modeled and followed by all. The use of common language helps our students experience success behaviorally AND academically. We are overwhelmingly positive and work to catch our students being good.
Welcome to the newest member of the Pony Family!
A message from Mrs. McCallion : I've been married for almost 14 years to my highschool sweetheart, Ryan. I have 2 very active boys, Trevor 5th grade and Tristen 3rd grade. We've lived in Little Elm for almost 14 years. I love spending time with my family, watching my boys play baseball and wakeboarding and love my animals, 2 labs, 1 cat, 1 guinea pig and my mini pot belly pig. I have taught PPCD and Life Skills. I am very excited for the new year.
Monday, January the 6th
- It follows your regular working schedule.
- This is your day to work in your classrooms. No professional learning or meetings are required.
- You are welcome to meet with your teams or request help from any of the instructional coaches for planning.
- Attire: You are welcome to wear jeans or long shorts. Be comfortable.
- Help us have your classrooms clean and ready for instruction on Tuesday. This includes having all school supplies put away.
- Have your Guided Reading/Math tables clean and ready for instruction. Your guided reading binder must be visible on the small group instruction table.
- Copies: All copies and paper will be available. Please remember to only copy what is needed. Always ask yourself if the copies you are making are aligned to the standards and have the appropriate rigor of instruction.
- Lunch: You are welcome to take an hour lunch. :-) Enjoy.
A special Thank you!
- Thank you so much to Ms. Paris, Ms. Rodriguez, Ms. Becker, Mr. Thomas, Mrs. Blake, Mrs. Hayes, Mrs. Echevarria, Mrs. Norton, Mrs. Green, Coach W., Mrs. Rowland, Mrs. Veronica Hernandez, Mrs. Oden, Mrs. Rutherford, Mrs. Rodriguez, Mrs. Anguita, Mrs. Arocha and Mrs. Salazar, Mrs. Burleson, Ms. Lawson and Mrs. Meyer for making our holiday celebration a success. You gave joy to our students and the Pony Family. I am forever grateful. :-)
Resetting the year! Let's begin strong
- Restorative Practices Implementation is Required. Please continue doing your Green circles once a week and your sparks/Connections daily. It is important to Connect before you correct.
- Behavior Contracts/Treatment Agreement: Each of you created in your classrooms behavior contracts with your students at the beginning of the school year. January is a perfect time to review your behavior contracts with your students. Have your students sign their behavior contracts and refer back to them often. Have your behavior contracts available in your classrooms.
- Classroom Management/Safe and Civil: Take time in the next two weeks to review Safe and Civil procedures. Have students practice the way you want them to enter your classroom, the way they need to walk in the hallways, cafeteria expectations, etc. Having a strong classroom management system provides students with clear expectations and consistency. Remember to use your CHAMPS classroom management strategies to set up expectations for transitions, stations, small group, etc.
- Using the LISD Curriculum: We received so many celebrations and recognitions by the district for our great job using the LISD Curriculum and focusing on the TEKS. Let's continue shining and adding rigor into our instruction. We've got this!
- Absences and substitute folders: During the fall semester we had some challenges with unexpected absences and/or appropriate preparation for unexpected absences. Let's be fair to our teams and have our sub folders well prepared and ready. Please see information below for sub folders.
- Lesson Plans: Team Planners should be submitted in Eduphoria by the end of the day each Thursday (11:59 p.m) prior to the upcoming week. Admin. and special ed should have access to both team planners and Individual lesson plans. Individual lesson plans should be in eduphoria by Monday before 7:15 AM.
Substitute and Substitute Folder
Every day that the teacher is not in the classroom, students do not receive the highest quality instruction possible. Inevitably, various occasions will arise when you will need to be absent. It is important that we secure the best subs possible and ensure that we leave them with clear plans so that student learning can continue in your absence.
To ensure substitutes have the necessary information for the class during your absence, all teachers must create a substitute folder which will be left in the teacher mailbox by January 10th.
The following items should be included in the sub folder:
Master class schedule (start time, end time, lunch, recess, specials, schedules for students who leave the classroom, schedules for support staff who may do inclusion, etc.).
A list of your class divided in case we have to split your class.
1 day of generic lesson plans in case of emergency.
Specific lesson plans for planned absences. Please make sure you leave detailed lessons that will keep your students engaged and learning during your absence.
Instructions regarding student medications, fire drills and other emergency instructions.
Instructions for any life-threatening allergies, health plans, etc.
Seating chart of students (must stay current).
A list of supervisors, team leads, and other helpful adults.
Responsibilities, such as duties, and anything else important during your absence.
Children need consistency. If you will be absent more than 1 consecutive day, please attempt to secure the same sub for each day that you will be absent.
Videos are not to be shown by the substitute unless movie procedures are followed (see “Movies” in this handbook).
Please refer to the Substitute Binder checklist to ensure that your binder is prepared prior to your first absence.
Absences
Restorative Practices
A message from the District- Rebecca Clark Director of Student Services Lewisville ISD:
Student and Staff Survey
The RP Leadership Team has developed a short survey for staff and another for students to gather some qualitative data about the impact of restorative practices on the classroom experience. The links to the surveys are below.
Sending out the surveys is required!
ACTION #1: Administer the surveys to all teachers in this window - January 6 - January 10th. We need 100% teacher Participation. STAFF (all teachers only, NOT admin/counselors/paras) - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7ZBDTYN
ACTION #2: Administer survey to STUDENTS (give only to students in grades 3 and up) January 6 - January 17th. STUDENTS: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GFJ2YZR
LVES Campus Targeted Improvement Plan
Cycle 1: Create a system of mini lessons for behavior management that will be presented bi-weekly in the staff newsletter.
Treatment Agreement
Cycle 1: Campus Leadership will create a focus approach to look for specific skills in lesson plans during observations.
Differentiated small group lessons
Behavior Contracts
Staff Learning Agenda for January 15th - After School
1. Celebration
3. Cultural Proficiency:
- Please read this article prior to the Staff Learning: Two Minutes to Better Behavior
- Small Group Things in Common - 5-10 minutes
Please read December's and January's Chapters. Think on the following as you read:
"I will apply this knowledge in my class by ________.”
“The impact on my teaching will be ________ because ________.”
“The impact on the students’ learning will be ________ because ________."
“In order to be a more effective culturally responsive teacher, I will _________."
TELPAS Training - Game On
January 29th: Mrs. Rowland and Mrs. Burleson will deliver all the details of TELPAS & provide training on Safety and Security after school from 3:15-4:15 p.m.
** Writing calibration has changed an additional calibration training will be needed. More details to come after district training.
Our Pony Week!
Monday, January 6th
- Teacher Work Day
- 2nd 9 week grades due @11:45 p.m.
- Grade Level Team Meetings - After School
Wednesday, January 8th
- Delay MS counselors visit 5th graders
- Team Leader Meeting
- Dress for Success
- LA TEKS Study 5th Grade
- 2nd 9 weeks report cards go home
- LA TEKS Study 4th Grade
- ACE after school program begins again
- Tutoring
Friday, January 10th
- Spirit Day
- NEU Rally
- Staff Luncheon - Kinder. & Cafe. Host
- Input Awards into google form and send invitations home
Upcoming Events
Monday, January 13th
- Optional Lunch with the Principal During Scheduled Lunch Time
- LA TEKS Study 2nd Grade
Tuesday, January 14th
- 5th graders visit Delay MS
- Grade Level Team Meetings - After School
Wednesday, January 15th
- Staff Learning - Kindergarten Hosts
- TELPAS safety & security trainings end (during conference times)
- WEATHER AND SAFETY DRILLS
- LA TEKS Study 1st Grade
Thursday, January 16th
- Tutoring
- LA TEKS Study Kinder.
- Burleson & Lawson RTI
Friday, January 17th
- Spirit Day
- Awards Ceremonies during Specials
Monday, January 20th
- School HOLIDAY
- MLK DAY
Tuesday, January 21st
- Grade Level Team Meetings
- LA TEKS Study 3rd Grade
Wednesday, January 22nd
- Principal U
- LA TEKS Study 5th Grade
- Tutoring
- Burleson & Lawson 504
- LA TEKS Study 4th Grade
Friday, January 24th
- Spirit Day
Shout-Outs!
All Shout-Outs will be placed in a bucket, and students will draw one name for a week-long jeans pass, and draw three (3) names for week-long Pony Pride Parking spaces.
Thank you to Mrs. Salazar for being a wonderful partner on making the Spelling Bee happen!
- Thank you Mrs. Kilam for offering your tea to our district visitor during the Spelling Bee! She was impressed with your tea selection!
- Thank you Mrs. Troyer and Mr. Colon for coming to support your students during the Spelling Bee! Not all of our parents were able to make it so it is so nice for our students to have a familiar face in the audience!
- Ms. Jones for being such a high spirited teammate. YOU are awesome!
- Ms.Kilam for buying festive hats for all the students on the Circle R field trip!
- Ms.Kilam, Ms.Green, Ms.Echevarria, and Ms.Norton for taking the kids on a field trip on the weekend! They had a blast!
- Thank you to Lance Thomas who spent most of his planning period to help unload 220 Lovepacs boxes. So thankful for you!
- Thank you to all the front office, counselors, and other staff who helped to get Lovepacs out to families this week!
- Thank you so much to Ms. Paris, Ms. Rodriguez, Ms. Becker, Mr. Thomas, Mrs. Blake, Mrs. Hayes, Mrs. Echevarria, Mrs. Norton, Mrs. Green, Coach W., Mrs. Rowland, Mrs. Veronica Hernandez, Mrs. Oden, Mrs. Rutherford, Mrs. Rodriguez, Mrs. Anguita, Mrs. Arocha and Mrs. Salazar, Mrs. Burleson, Ms. Lawson and Mrs. Meyer for making our holiday celebration a success. You gave joy to our students and the Pony Family. I am forever grateful. :-)
Happy January Birthdays!
- Kilam, Kim - January 05
- Dickinson, Rosemary - January 20
- Wieczorek, Paul - January 23