Thomas Jefferson Tribune
"WE ARE IN IT TO WIN IT!"
WEEK OF OCTOBER 23-27
THOMAS JEFFERSON FEEDER PRIORITY PLAN
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
QUALITY OF INSTRUCTION
CAMPUS CLIMATE AND CULTURE
MISSION, VISION & CORE VALUES
MISSION:
The TJ Feeder schools embrace high quality learning opportunities which honor the unique strengths and diverse needs of all Scholars.
VISION:
The TJ feeder schools will be the premier feeder to attract and educate all Scholars to positively impact our community and world.
CORE VALUES:
Innovation, Collaboration, Excellence and Integrity
A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR..........
Patriot Leaders,
"There is no substitute for hard work. " -Thomas Jefferson
The work of ensuring that our scholars receive the best education possible does not come easy. There are many administrative tasks that must be completed on a daily basis alongside the instructional aspects of being a leader. The job will NEVER get easier; YOU just get better and better and stronger and stronger each day through your commitment to EXCELLENCE! Your commitment to our scholars on a daily basis is appreciated and does not go unnoticed. Your perseverance has come through time and time again. You are appreciated more than you know!
Additionally, thank you for your flexibility during the past week while meeting with the Dual Language department confirming the correct information to work towards having no exceptions. YOU DID IT! Way to go team for having ZERO EXCEPTIONS in the Thomas Jefferson Feeder!
PPR Checkpoint #2 has been completed for each of you. All of you should have received notification on Cornerstone regarding your Praise, Probe and Polish section from our PPR Checkpoint #2 . Ensure that you work on your PPR goals and place emphasis on revisiting and monitoring those goals throughout the school year to ensure you are on target to meet those goals.
Next week, each of you will be engaging in learning walks that I have set up to 'Sharpen your Saw'-Habit #7. This will provide you with opportunities to see other campuses strengths that you can take back and share on your campuses. Remember, we are not competing with each other; we are competing as a district, together.
In the next few weeks, we will spend time discussing various data points for your campuses such as: PLC protocols, Balanced Literacy, student work, six weeks failure reports, Achieve 3000 and I-SIP data and other student progress measures. This is the time to make those instructional adjustments through RTI to ensure that your scholars have the opportunity to master the content using the data points above.
As I continue to highlight Stephen Covey's messages on the 7 Habits, think about how you have been utilizing the Habits discussed in the newsletters each week. How can you incorporate those Habits and make them part of your campus daily culture? This week's habit is : Habit 6: Synergize. The word synergy comes from the Greek synergos meaning 'working together'. Stephen Covey says, “Synergy is everywhere in nature. If you plant two plants close together, the roots commingle and improve the quality of the soil so that both plants will grow better than if they were separated. If you put two pieces of wood together, they will hold much more than the total weight held by each separately. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. One plus one equals three or more.”
In Habit 6 Covey directs our attention to the power of effective relationships. We can achieve so much more when we engage in effective relationships with others than if we acted alone. Stephen Covey notes that synergy is difficult for many of us as independence is promoted as a strong value in the Western world today. Achieving synergy requires high trust and high cooperation and can lead to better solutions than anyone thought of alone. Habits 4, 5, and 6 work together and create an opportunity to discover alternative and creative solutions. If you're concerned about synergy because you know you don't trust people easily it's okay, go back to Habit 1 and Be Proactive about your response to situations or other people. You don't have to get it all right first time. This is part of a life journey of learning and developing. You will get there if you're willing to spend the time and effort in developing new habits.
Here's to another WONDERFUL week of teaching and learning!
THE TJ FEEDER IS IN IT TO WIN IT!
Ms. Torres
Thomas Jefferson Executive Director
THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE
Monday, October 23, 2017
- Stephen Foster Campus visit w/ED and Math AF
- Burnet Campus visit w/ED and Math AF
- Trail of Breadcrumbs-Writing Training-Gretchen Bernabei-Region- Reading AF and TJ campuses
- Thomas Jefferson Learning Walk@ Molina HS-1:00 p.m.
Tuesday, October 24, 2017
- Dialogue with School Leadership- 7:30 a.m.@ North Dallas High School-(All TJ Principals ONLY-please arrive 10 min. prior to start time.)
- Hillcrest/Conrad HS and Cary MS principals and ED attend Demo day at TJ-9:30 a.m.
- Thomas Jefferson P-Tech ECHS Campus visit w/ED
- Thomas Jefferson Comprehensive Campus visit w/ED
- Math AF @ CIC Training @ Hulcy MS
- Leadership Team Meeting-9400 NCX-2nd floor1:30 p.m.-Ms. Torres
- Trail of Breadcrumbs-Writing Training-Gretchen Bernabei-Reading AF and TJ campuses
- Reading AF @ District CIC Training
Wednesday, October 25, 2017
- TJ Elementary Principal/ED Learning Walk-Mosley Elementary @8:45 a.m.-12:00-(Be sure to bring your 4 copies of your Literacy Plan with you to Mosley Elementary
- Cigarroa Campus visit Math AF
- Reading AF training w/Achieve 3000-Hulcy MS-2:30 p.m.
TJ HS Calibration Walk @ Seagoville ECHS P-Tech-2:00 p.m.
TJ ECHS P-Tech Advisory Board @ 2:00 p.m.
Campus Teacher of the Year District Reception-Frontier of Flight Museum-5:00- 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 26, 2017
- Walnut Hill Campus visit w/ED
- Task Force Team Leader Meeting @ Walnut Hill-9:30 a.m.
- Joe May Campus visit w/ED
- Reading AF CIC Training @ Hulcy
- Sigurdson, Dickerson and Rothermund- Learning Walk @ Travis-1:00 p.m.
Friday, October 27, 2017
- PEIMS Snapshot Day
- ED Meeting w/Deputy Chief Lusk @ 8:00 a.m.
- Cary MS Campus visit w/AF's- Principal and CIC check in's
- ED/AF Planning Time
- Last Day for Elementary Staff Audits
- Middle School Student Focus Group- MS principals attend with 1 chosen student to represent your campus @ Haskell Building-10:30-11:45 a.m. (lunch will be provided)
- High School Student Focus Group -S principals attend with 1 chosen student to represent your campus @ Haskell Building-11:45-1:00 p.m. (lunch will be provided)
- ED Torsh-tranining 12:30
THOMAS JEFFERSON FEEDER DIALOGUE WITH SCHOOL LEADERSHIP
ELEMENTARY LITERACY LEARNING WALK FOR PRINCIPALS
On October 25, from 9:00-12:00, we will engage in a Literacy Learning Walk at Mosley Elementary grades 1st-4th With all Elementary TJ Feeder Principals. This Literacy Learning Walk will focus on the components of Balanced Literacy which will provide us with an opportunity to observe classrooms with this lens.
The walk will be as follows:
- · Principal Bernal Literacy overview
- · Literacy Walks ( 2-3 groups)
- · Calibration
- · Discussion
- Strengths of classrooms visited
- Wonderings
- Feeder Pattern Next Steps
- TJ Principal Action Plans for Balanced Literacy
Please plan accordingly and ensure that you are on time as we will start right at 9:00 a.m.
Annual Policy and Compliance Acknowledgement for Principals
For any discrepancies on the report such as employees that no longer report to you or have left the District, notify the HCM talent partner for your campus. The employee will continue to appear on the report until Oracle has been updated.
The report sent to principals will include all employees assigned to the campus which will include employees from Custodial Services and Food & Child Nutrition Services.
Employees must be logged into the District network to access the web-based application located at http://PolicyAcknowledgement.dallasisd.org. The application cannot be accessed remotely.
If employees are unable to log into the application using their EAD user name or password, please have them contact the IT Service Desk at (972) 925-5630.
For more information about the annual acknowledgement process, please visit www.dallasisd.org/HCMPolicy or send an email to Dpolicies@dallasisd.org.
'UNITED TO LEARN' FULL NETWORK MEETINGS
2017 United Way giving campaign kicks off Novemeber 1st!
Dallas ISD's Annual United Way Employee Giving Campaign kicks off November 1, and everyone's help is needed to reach the goal. Superintendent Hinojosa has set a challenge goal of $80,00 to support United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. The campaign runs from November 1st through December 15, 2017, and all departments and campuses are encouraged to have 100% participation.
Show your support of the United Way Employee Giving Campaign by donning your favorite pair of jeans. Participations is encouraged with a minimum donation of $5 per Jean Day and $15 for Jean week. Employees can make donations in three ways. Oracle, eWay, and check/cash. Additional information to follow in coming weeks!
Jean Days
- Friday, Nov 3
- Friday, Nov 10
- Friday, Nov 17
- Friday, Dec 1
DIFFERENTIATED MATH STATION PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR GRADES 3-5
The STEM Department would like to cordially invite you to theElementary Math Professional Development session entitled Differentiated Math Centers. They are hosting three sessions, one for each grade level (Grades 3-5). The training will be held at George W. Truett Elementary School in their Library located at 1811 Gross Rd, Dallas, TX 75228.
The following schedule details the dates and grade levels.
- GRADE 3: Monday, October 30, 2017 at 3:45 to 4:45 p.m.
- GRADE 4: Wednesday, November 1, 2017 at 3:45 to 4:45 p.m.
- GRADE 5: Thursday, November 2, 2017 at 3:45 to 4:45 p.m.
Participants in this session will receive one Differentiated Math Center Kit to incorporate in their math lesson cycle. The Differentiated Math Center Kit is property of Dallas Independent School District and will remain on the assigned campus at the close of each academic year.
Please sign up on SchoolNet with activity number 1000009781 for the Differentiated Math Centers professional development training.
Take advantage of this opportunity!
Early Learning Beginning of Year ISIP Curricular Documents
All K-2 students should participate in ongoing formative assessment at the beginning, middle and end of the year. The assessment will be done using Istation’s Indicators of Progress (ISIP). The beginning of year window is October 1, 2017-October 31, 2017.
To help campuses prepare teachers for this administration, Early Learning has created a training slide deck for Istation’s ISIP. The deck can be accessed here and should be used to support both new teachers and returning teachers.
Early Learning provides many curricular documents for teachers to utilize while planning for instruction. Did you know that our department provides daily routines and activities for Word Study in both English and Spanish? These documents provide teachers with systematic, explicit routines to teach Print Awareness, Phonological Awareness, Phonics, and Spelling Student Expectations (SEs) throughout the year.
Click here for information on how to access and utilize all of the Early Learning curricular documents.
THOMAS JEFFERSON EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL P-TECH
PEIM's DAY IS OCTOBER 27TH
THOMAS JEFFERSON FEEDER PATTERN KUDOS
ELEMENTARY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SIGHTINGS IN OUR FEEDER
SECONDARY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SIGHTINGS IN OUR FEEDER
Teachers at Cary MS collaborated to develop strategies for annotations across contents.
Teachers at TJ attended Interactive Word Wall breakout session lead by Campus Instructional Coaches
Teachers at TJ attended Technology Tips breakout session lead by Campus Instructional Coach
WALNUT HILL ELEMENTARY
Ms. Diaz is using menus in her classroom to drive instruction.
Ms. Cardoso is implementing OUTSTANDING
CROSS_CURRICULUM MENUS in her classroom!
Pre-K Teachers are using Piaget strategies to plan meaningful learning experiences for their students.
MEDRANO MIDDLE SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS
JOE MAY ELEMENTARY
PLEASE CLICK TESTING LINK BELOW
UPCOMING DATES & REMINDERS
OCTOBER
29-Kids Teaching Kids 21 Day Challenge Ends
30-Ms. Torres, Mrs. Phillips and Ms. Campos Fair Day
30-Commmon Assessment #2 Window opens
31-APPROVED POSITIONS & SIGNED JOB DESCRIPTIONS due today in Virtual Notebook
31-TRAVEL GUIDANCE (OUT-OF STATE/FIELD TRIPS)
31-New AP Task force meeting @ Foster Elementary-2:00 p.m.
31-Reading AF @ Tom Field for I-Station Support
31-Mandatory Accountability Data Template Training REDO- w/Mrs. Luellen @ Joe May 10:00 a.m. (Each campus may bring up to 4 individuals who can support the campus- the 4 includes the principal!)
NOVEMBER
2-New Principal Meeting w/ED @ 1:00
2- New AP Meeting w/ED and AF's 2:00
6-First Day of Secondary Staff Audits
10-Drill Log for the Fall Semester is due TODAY via email submission to the Office of Emergency Management
10-Technology update due today by COB
DECEMBER
5-Math AF TOT for CIC Content Training
7-Reading AF TOT for CIC Content Training
15-Last day of Secondary Staff Audits
JANUARY
30-Math AF TOT for CIC Content Training
FEBRUARY
1-Reading AF TOT for CIC Content Training
23-Title I Requisitions due today
MARCH
9-Drill log for the Spring Semester is due TODAY via email submission to the Office of Emergency Management
27-Math AF TOT for CIC Content Training
29-Reading AF TOT for CIC Content Training
MARSHALL MEMO #707
Boosting the Proficiency of High-School English Language Learners
In this Teachers College Record article, Rhonda Bondie and Akane Zusho (Fordham University) report their study of teachers in a South Bronx high school working with a small group of ELL students with disabilities in a high-stakes testing environment. “With few years before aging out of public schools, adolescent English language learners must race to acquire a new language while learning academic skills to pursue career and college goals,” say Bondie and Zusho. The teachers they observed used the mastery-oriented ALL-ED program (All Learners Learning Every Day) with some success.
At the end of the study, students were asked for their reactions and any advice they had for teachers. Here were their main points:
We improve from feedback and clear goals.
We need repeated, calm explanations.
Speaking speed is related to student confusion or understanding.
Competition does not motivate us; helping us see evidence in our work does.
Welcoming questions and repetition is necessary for our learning.
In addition, say the authors, “student perceptions of a teacher’s confident expectations in their ability and noticing progress as success influenced students’ report of wanting to take risks, such as speaking in English to a group of people.”
Reflecting on students’ advice and their experiences during the year, teachers listed their most effective instructional practices:
Setting small, realistic goals;
Tailoring instruction to individual students;
Giving students time to think;
Providing ways for students to ask for help;
Establishing and maintaining classroom routines.
Bondie and Zusho found this approach allowed teachers to place high-stakes assessments “within a cycle of learning and feedback that together, along with many other experiences, provide evidence of growth and academic competence.”
“Racing Against Yourself: High Stakes for Adolescent English Language Learners with Disabilities” by Rhonda Bondie and Akane Zusho in Teachers College Record, September 2017 (Vol. 119, #9, p. 1-42), http://www.tcrecord.org/library/abstract.asp?contentid=22008
THOMAS JEFFERSON SCHOOL LEADERSHIP
- Thomas Jefferson High School: Principal, Sandi Massey
- Francisco Medrano Middle School : Principal, Theresa Sigurdson
- Edward Cary Middle School: Principal, Ben Dickerson
- David G. Burnet Elementary: Principal, Sonia Loskot
- Leonides Cigarroa Elementary : Principal, Douglas Burak
- Tom W. Field Elementary: Principal, Shondula Whitfield
- Stephen C. Foster Elementary: Principal, Irma De La Guardia
- Joe May Elementary: Principal, Israel Rivera
- K.B. Polk Elementary: Principal, Misty Rathermund
- Julian T. Saldivar: Principal, Chaundra Macklin
- Walnut Hill Elementary: Principal, Robert 'Chase'McLaurin
- Sudie Williams Elementary: Principal, Michael Jackson
Thomas Jefferson High School
Franscisco Medrano Middle School
Edward Cary Middle School
David G. Burnet Elementary
Leonides Cigarroa Elementary
Tom W. Field Elementary
Stephen C. Foster Elementary
Joe May Elementary
K. B. Polk Elementary
Julian T. Saldivar Elementary
Walnut Hill Elementary
Sudie L. Williams Elementary
Marelenise Phillips-Roberts
Ashley Campos
Erica Rosas
Trustee Edwin Flores District 1
Trustee Marshall District 2
Trustee Miguel Solis District 8
DISD GOALS
- All students will exhibit Satisfactory or above performance on State assessments. Students below Satisfactory performance will demonstrate more than one year of academic growth
- Dallas ISD schools will be the primary choice for families in the district
- The achievement gap by race, ethnicity and social economic status will be no greater than 10 percentage points on all academic measures
- 95% of students will graduate. Of the graduates, 90% have qualifying scores for community college, college, military, or industry certification
- 95% of entering kindergarten students are school-ready on a multidimensional assessment
- All students will participate in at least one extracurricular or co-curricular activity each year.