Cat Tracks
Spring Shadows Elementary Wildcats Staff Newsletter
September 25-29, 2017
#Limitless Learning
Our Vision
Our Mission
Core Beliefs
- Each student has unique intellectual, emotional, social, and physical qualities.
- We embrace a child’s individual values, interests, and personalities.
- Parents are confident in their child’s social and intellectual educational growth.
- Educators lead their craft by preparing learners in our fast changing world
Principal's Message
Dear Wildcats,
As we continue to grow this week, I wanted to report to you a few facts as we start the week:
- 704 students enrolled as of 9/22/2017 with more families coming this week.
- 97.1% attendance rate as of 9/22/2017.
My challenge to you are the following:
- Each class will create a welcome plan to welcome students into their classroom. We are a school and welcome all students. Be highly aware of your non-verbal communication, our students should feel as welcome as we want to feel when we are about to embark on a new journey.
- Each class will create an attendance chart/incentive & each teacher shall personally communicate with parents to see how they are doing when a student is absent. If done before 8:30 encourage them to drop off their child- they will count for the day if here by 9:00 a.m. Have evidence of this attendance incentive chart by October 1st. The classes with the best attendance will be awarded monthly over the PA system and with a popcorn party from Ms. Garza. Don't forget all perfect attendance students are eligible for the monthly drawing on the 1st of the month.
Finally, the school is going to kick off reading with a Reading rally! Read more about it in Ann's section and let's have some reading fun!
Let's have a positive week my friends!
Wildcat Love,
Rachel Martinez
Collaboration at its best!
MAP testing and making it work!
Front row and center!
Calendar
- Happy Birthday, Rocio Vazquez!
- Digital Citizenship - Be Safe
- Dr. Cavazos will work with K-2 Classes (Conference Room)
- ILT Meeting @ 1:00 (Rocio's Room)
- 1:30 - Dr. Cavazos will work with 5th grade (Noe's Room)
- Dismissal 2:30
- Technology Café @ 2:45
- CIT Meeting @ 2:45
Tuesday, September 26, 2017:
- Digital Citizenship - Be Safe
- Dismissal 2:30
- 2:30-4:00 PBIS Meeting
- 4:00-5:00 Hooves of Hope Parent Meeting
Wednesday, September 27, 2017:
- Digital Citizenship - Be Safe
- Spiral Day
- Dictionary Project for 3rd Grade @8:00-8:45 (Library)
- Dismissal 2:30
- Pachuca Bridal Shower @ 2:45
Thursday, September 28, 2017:
- Digital Citizenship - Be Safe
- PLC DAY
- At-Risk Training (Cindy G. and Demetra)
- Dismissal 2:30
Friday, September 29, 2017:
- Digital Citizenship - Be Safe
- Kinder field trip to Children's Museum
- Dismissal @ 2:30
Deadlines/Priorities
- Add your parent email addresses by the end of the week; request email addresses for all of your students' parents that you don't have. Thank you Kinder- you have almost all of your classes in!
- Follow your Beginning of Year Assessment Schedule.
- Ensure you are following the district curriculum and intentionally planning for each day for bell to bell learning.
- Have an attendance incentive chart in your classroom by October 1st.
PBIS and Project Class
Project Class and PBIS are off to a great start! Thank you to everyone for continually practicing the routines and expectations with your students. Jaci and Luz will be here on Monday to continually support you with any of your Project Class needs. Please reach out to them. Continue to turn in your referrals for groups and please don't forget to put a copy in my box (Cindy R.) and the Project Class box. If you have not reviewed the matrix with your class since returning, please take time this week to go over the R.O.A.R.S expectations.
An area of focus: Cafeteria.
Point to remember: Recognize good things your students do and praise them for it. This will go a long way in helping your students feel safe, secure, and appreciated.
Instructional Specialists Message
Keep an eye out for a DRA/EDL and OS/PAPI training in the coming weeks. This will be for new teachers, those who haven't given these assessments in awhile, and those who would like a refresher.
Your friendly Instructional Specialists,
Katie & Elizabeth
Library Notes
Hi,
Thanks for your patience and cooperation as we worked through the first week of regular schedule last week. We will have a few changes for this week. We can still continue to change times if needed. Please try to get the books to the library by 8am on your library day. I do have boxes and a wagon to help collect them.
Next week is the book fair!
Plus it is the Reading Blast Off Rally!
October 2 is Space day - you can come as a space martian, alien, star, spaced out, etc.
1:00- 1:25 4 & 5th Graders will come to the library on Monday Oct. 2 for 25 minutes to kick off our school wide reading incentive.
1:30- 1:55 K-3 will come to the library for their kick off. It will be full but I think we can do it. : )
I will put a rocket in your mailbox. Please decorate and return it. It must have your grade and teacher name on the rocket. I would like all the rockets ready for launch on October 2.
October 3: Visit your Space Buddies (former Superhero Buddies; sign up will be sent by Katie) & Make a bookmark together!
October 4: Best Decorated Door (Space Theme with reading connection/content): Students help decorate the door with teachers.
October 5: Favorite Book: Students select their favorite book to showcase to their parents at Open House. Have your door ready for Open House!
October 6: Best Decorated Doors Winners Announced:
- Grand Prize: A Collection of Books for the Classroom Library!
- 1st Prize: A set of 5 books from Barnes of Noble (your choice) to be added to the
- classroom library.
- 2nd Prize: A teacher wishlist item from the Scholastic Bookfair.
Thanks for all your support!
Your friendly librarian,
Ann
Sunshine Updates
The deadline for turning in your Sunshine dues has been extended to Friday, September 29th. Dues are $20 for professionals and $15 for paraprofessionals.
Jeans Pass
- 7 passes for $10
- 3 passes for $5
You may use your pass any day of the week. Here are the "rules" for jeans passes.
- Jeans need to be without holes or rips
- Wear with a blouse or nice shirt (not a T-Shirt)
- Wearing jeans without a pass already bought is a $2 fine (to Sunshine)
Please pay Katie Gentry or Rachel Menefee. They will give you a receipt and log your name and number of passes into a Google Doc. Each day you wear jeans, just send BOTH of them an email stating that you are using one of your passes.
If you have any questions surrounding Jeans Passes, please contact Katie or Rachel Menefee.
Staff Shout-Outs
- Thank you Bus Dismissal team- the duty is running tighter and we received a compliment from Transportation!
- Thank you team leaders for staying a little bit later during TL meeting to collaborate for best practices for grade level PLCs!
- You are on a roll Katie and Elizabeth-helping with PLC's, map, SSC's, and everything else in between!
- Many thanks are in order to Maria for leading her PLC with our 20% personalization goal of teaching her team how to create a class on itslearning! Amazing- please tap into Maria to show you and your team how to create classes on itslearning!
- Thank you 5th grade for being flexible with team scheduling and substitutes!
- Thank you Noe and Rocio for supporting students when they need a little more for above and beyond assistance.
- Congratulations Kinder for a PLC that ran smoothly igniting many ideas and bringing it all to the table- reflecting on data processes and integrating teaching time.
- Thanks to all the folks that are making it all their duties on time and taking extra time to make sure PBIS is rolling out right!
I know there are many unsung heroes out there that I did not get to mention. If you see someone out there going above and beyond and want me to recognize them on cat tracks, please send me an email.
Spring Shadows Elementary
Email: rachel.martinez@springbranchisd.com
Website: https://cms.springbranchisd.com/sse2/
Location: 9725 Kempwood Drive, Houston, TX, United States
Phone: (713) 251-7100
Twitter: @twitter_rachelmartinez4