Friday Connection
K-3 Staff Weekly Newsletter - Week of 9/23/19
Memo from Mary and Todd
Substitute Information
You can access all the information through the intranet. https://sites.google.com/newvisioncharterschool.org/nvcs-staff-intranet/employee-absences?authuser=0
Frontline Absence request link:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1C0KRlsprg1BcfnKAGDpbaAf55XAkY55iKDUTdaHGw-c/edit?usp=sharing
Conversation with Mary
To add your name to a slot - in the “what” box just add your name. I am excited to get to know each and everyone of you better. This is for all family members. If the slots available to do not work, please email me and we will find a time.
Counselor Corner
MTSS Memo
You may VIEW the MTSS Meeting Calendar to see "Open" slots, but it will not let you directly schedule on it.
Coach's Corner - Hannah Planansky
Every instructional minute counts as we are fully launching into curriculum and beginning targeted instruction time. High student engagement is also critical for student growth. There are some awesome things happening in classrooms with engagement such as the use of whiteboards for students to show work and share work quickly, think pair shares, and partner reading. Thank you so much for inviting me into your classrooms and welcoming me into your space, I love working with you. Teach on!
Calendar of Events
September 24
Todd off Campus
Staff Meeting -
4:00 - 4:10: Brief Staff Meeting - Lockdown Procedures
4:10 - 5:00: Committee Meetings
MTSS - Hannah P.'s Room
Sunshine - Heather W.'s Room
Health and Wellness - Kate W's Room
PTO and SAC - This is a time to work on your own as you have other meeting obligations
September 27
No School for Students - PD Day - NVCS 4-8 Campus
8:00 - Thrivent Presentation - Breakfast provided by Thrivent
8:30 - 4:00 - Moby Max Training
Lunch Provided - If you have dietary restrictions, please let me know ASAP.
Happy Birthday
Celebrations
Samantha - Creating a plan for a school wide art project.
Savannah - Immediate feedback to students on math and setting up clear expectations for collaboration.
Todd - Giving actionable and manageable feedback to staff. Making it a point to get into every class every day.
Aubrey - Holding all students accountable for their reading and encouraging students to give their all.
Ashley - Incorporating science into everyday lessons. Creating contagious energy and excitement in learning.
Autumn - Developing picture connections to vocabulary resulting in a high level of engagement in a task that could be mundane.
Becky - Developing running club. The kids are so excited to go run, what a great way to start the day and energize the brain.
Rachael - Engaging in her own professional development to ensure that she is the best for the students.
Nicole - Being so flexible with the schedule and learning on the go.
Anita - Knowing the kids that need intervention so well and can speak to their needs and develop a solid plan around them.
Kelsey - Building relationships with not only kids but parents. Taking the time to make positive phone calls home.
Melissa - Being so willing to help in the lunchroom on hot lunch days and coming back a second day.
Dan - Braving a raccoon to make sure our school is taken care of.
Tona - Making every student feel like a genius and creating the belief that they are the smartest kid on the planet.
Jessica - Solid standards and expectations. Positive feedback for students meeting those expectations and highlighting students doing the right thing.
Aaron - Developing an incredible soccer team, which is shaping up to be the best soccer season in NVCS history. Not only that but coaching the boys to play with integrity and developing men.
Nicole - Integrating art and reading into the library with The Dot.
Fran - Being willing to figure out a problem on IC for me and had an answer within the hour.
Will - Learning targets posted. Immediately praising students for expected behavior and reminding of expectations.
Erin - Engaging with the classroom teachers to develop lessons that meet the needs of all students.
Charlotte - Creating "sign language lunch" in the cafeteria. Kids and teachers loved this fun experience.
Marc - Tackling not so pleasant cleanups in the boys restroom.
Stephanie - Building incredible relationships with students, especially those that are struggling. They know they are well loved.
Brandy - Keeping the dignity and worth of a student that is struggling by correcting privately.
Kristin - Setting a high standard for test expectations by reviewing vocabulary and having students answer with because statements and restating of the question.
Kendra - Effective group model so students are getting their needs met. Effective and quick transitions. It took less than 10 seconds to switch groups.
Hannah - Coaching teams through the data process and developing plans for student success.
Robin - Differentiated strategies for students in math. Reminded kids of expectations and trusting they will do it. Resetting the students when it was not at expectation.
Shelbey - Creating a level of excitement with students and reading.
Ella - Doing a body check with students and resetting the expectations
Megan - Using a timer with music to transition with clear expectations. Clear 1st and next directions.
Denise - Loving on every student that comes into the nurses office.
Mark - Building solid relationships with kids and finding ways to connect, encourage, and empower.
Gina - Requiring process in math instead of just the answer.
Sara - Listening intently to the needs of students and teachers in the MTSS process.
Debbie - Always handling every situation with professionalism and grace.
Heather - Redirecting students in a way that maintains the dignity and worth of every student.
Kate - Teaching signals to students to reinforce expectations.
Shout Outs
From Parent Amanda Hillman to Kelsey:
I wanted to send a positive shout out for your new Spanish teacher Ms Kelsey Easton (teaches my son Elliott in 3rd grade) as she called me on a Friday at 5 pm a couple weeks ago to tell me how well Elliott had done in class. I was totally expecting a negative message given a teacher phone call (although Elliott is almost always in line, I just haven't had a teacher go to such efforts for a positive thing!). Anyway I thought you should know this and how much its appreciated!!
Anonymous to Cindy in the lunchroom:
Thank you for all of your hard work everyday! The patience and kindness you show students is greatly appreciated.
From Nicole:
Shout out to Denise Schulz. Her quick response to our friend on the playground yesterday put me at ease. She is learning such a complex job and she is doing a great job!
From Tona:
Heather W. for leading the sunshine committee with a smile and love for us all!
From Rachael:
I'd like to give a shout out to Samantha Auster for beautifying our school with her students' beautiful art!
From Kelsey:
Shoutout to Denise for staying later and helping out a kid whose parent forgot to pick her up! Denise chatted with the kid and escorted her to Boys and Girls Club so the kiddo was always under adult supervision :)
Shoutout to Charlotte for always staying later with kiddos if their parents are a little later. And also personal shoutout for Charlotte in the beginning of the school year helping me with tips for how to use magic and keep the kids engaged. Her help has been priceless for me :)
Shoutout to Becky for helping us new specials teachers with resources and tips for teaching specials in this school. It's thanks to her that I feel specials is unified and has a more predictable environment for kids with day-to-day dealings.
And shoutout to MARY putting in SO much hard work and making sure we feel appreciated as a staff! I only have experience student teaching and practicum teaching, but I never saw the principals in those schools and didn't even know if the principal at the school I student taught knew I was there. Here I know how much effort is put into making sure the entire staff has support, and it makes me feel so much more welcome :)
From Sheryl Daneman:
My shout outs are for the caring staff you have here. They are so invested the kids and I love working with them.
Also, I work most closely with Sarah on the ESS team so far and she goes above and beyond for the team. I so appreciate her.
From Todd:
To All K-3 Staff, Classified and Certified-What an amazing group of educators we have at NVCS!!! As I visit classrooms, help in the lunchroom and recess, walk the halls, etc. I observe care and kindness towards our students. Even if the student has been naughty, they are treated with love and respect. When students feel safe, challenged, and cared for they will do amazing things. I see it everyday in our building. It is an AWESOME responsibility to see to the education, safety and well being of each student within your classes. I appreciate you taking on this challenge. Thank you for all each and everyone of you do for the students and their families at NVCS.
To Mrs. Baker-she has demonstrated, time and again, great leadership. Her communication with staff is great. We are all informed about what is happening. She is willing to take duties to assist and help out. Mrs. Baker played a lead role in getting our students hot lunches. She is knowledgeable with curriculum and data and encourages our staff toward greatness. Mary cares about each and every staff member and wants to support them so they are successful. Thank you Mary for being involved, assisting when needed, setting the expectation bar high, and for being the outstanding leader you are.
From Robin:
Shout out to Megan Rudolph! When ever I have a computer problem, she is on it. Thank you Megan!!
From Tona:
Shout out to Sara V. for running Data meetings that honor our time, but give us the necessary information we need.
From Debbie:
Nicole - for being such a great source of help and daily delight in the front office! I appreciate your help so much!
Denise - For staying in close proximity and having my back when handling a tricky situation in the office. I Thank you for being so kind and thinking of me!
From Hannah:
3rd Grade Team: They worked really hard today during their plan time to dig into their data and be purposeful about how we are grouping kids to best meet their needs and accelerate growth.