Eagle News
July 2015
Letter From Principal Spears
Dear Eagle Families,
Welcome to the 2015-2016 school year! You are about to embark on a journey into the world of education which allow you to assist in designing and constructing your child’s own destination. We are engaging our students and staff in opportunities that will empower them to become leaders of their own learning. Our goal at Quail Valley Elementary is to help our students become independent, responsible leaders who make valuable contributions to our community and ultimately our world. Therefore, our staff will provide opportunities for our students to think critically, reflect on and monitor their own progress, and embrace experiences that will help them to become successful learners. We are not preparing our students to become CEO’s or managers, but to see themselves as leaders in any role they decide to pursue.
Last year we introduced students to the language of leadership habits that would not only help them in school, but prepare them to live a successful life. This year we are taking this initiative one step further as we provide students with concrete examples of how to apply these habits in their daily lives. These leadership principles will continue to empower members of our community to adopt common values and beliefs that will help guide their decisions, develop a respect for others, take responsibility for their learning and their lives, and plan ahead for success. We know that in order to compete in the 21st century, our students will need to be able to think critically, work creatively with others, communicate ideas effectively, and deal positively with praise, setbacks, and criticism. These habits of successful leaders will help “all” students accomplish these goals.
I look forward to continuing our partnership as every member of our school community exercise their skills and talents to change our community, and ultimately the world!
Will you join us?
Take care and enjoy the rest of your summer!
Principal Spears
QVE introduces Innovative Solutions to Learning!
Learning PODS
We are taking collaboration one step further with the introduction of our Learning PODs! Students in grades 3-5 will have the opportunity to be grouped by content area instead of grade level. For instance- all 3rd, 4th, and 5th – Math/Science teachers will be in the same hall. Here are just a few of the benefits:
· Improvement of student outcomes as this model encourages alignment and opens discussions amongst teachers who teach the same content.
· Pinpoints strengths and weaknesses (teachers/students) in a particular content area
· Promotes communication and data discussions across content area/grade level.
· Increased awareness amongst each grade level for specific content areas.
· Supports common language across content.
Can you say Money, Money, Money?
Ms. Harper and Ms. Spears submitted grants to Ecolab 2015-2016 Visions for Learning Teachers Grants Program in March. Ms. Harper hoped to receive more money for our Outdoor Science Classroom and Ms. Spears wanted additional money to fund the NEW State of the Art ELA/Writing Laboratory coming this FALL! Ms. Harper and Ms. Spears received initial funding for these projects through the Fort Bend Education Foundation.
We are proud to announce that on July 15th - both educators received award letters congratulating them on these endeavors. Ecolab Visions for Learning Teachers Grants Program awarded an additional $3000 to support further development of our Outdoor Classroom and $2500 to purchase more resources for our State fo the Art ELA/Writing Laboratory.
These projects will provide all students (PreK-5th) with opportunities to participate in hands-on learning activities that will enable them to think critically while observing and testing everything around them.
We are excited about these wonderful opportunities and look forward to sharing these innovative experiences with our students and teachers!
Teacher Leader Spotlight: Rebecca Blevins, 2nd Grade
QVE is a leadership development school that encourages and recognizes student and teacher leaders who go above and beyond to make Quail Valley the best place to learn and discover. Our first Teacher Leader Spotlight goes to Ms. Rebecca Blevins whom will be co-leading our second grade team for the 2015-2016 school year. Ms. Blevins will be entering into her my 8th year teaching and second year living in Texas. She is originally from Kansas City and lived and taught in Oklahoma for six years prior to moving to Texas. The most rewarding thing she gets out of teaching is building great relationships with her students and their families. Ms. Blevins believes that she wouldn't be where she is today without the teachers that have supported and guided her over the years. Ms. Blevins says she chose Quail Valley because she loves the vision and the direction of the school. She is able to help build a new foundation upon cultures and components that she is excited about for her own children to benefit from as they will be students of Quail Valley in the future. Ms. Blevins is working hard this summer with the leadership team to help align our systems and processes to ensure our students and teachers have a successful start! We are honored to recognize Ms. Blevins and congratulate her on being - our first Teacher Spotlight!
Teacher Leader Spotlight: Rebecca Moragne
Teacher Leader Spotlight: Rebecca Moragne, 2nd Grade
Our next QVE Teacher Leader Spotlight goes to Ms. Rebecca Moragne. Ms. Moragne is entering into her 7th year of teaching and learning and her second year at Quail Valley. Ms. Moragne will be co-leading the second grade team along with her partner Ms. Blevins. Ms. Moragne taught 3rd her first year at QVE and 3rd and 4th grades in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She is excited about the upcoming year and the team she is helping to facilitate for the upcoming school year. Ms. Moragne has done an outstanding job leading our school-wide behavior management plan, putting together our 2015-2016 school calendar, and will be assisting Ms. Blevins in training our teachers and staff in Differentiated Instruction (DI). Ms. Moragne states that she enjoys making learning fun and providing students with skills they need for a lifetime. She shared that she enjoyed and appreciated her first year of being a Leadership School at QVE as it not only helped her students, but it also helped her become more aware of the habits to better herself. Ms. Moragne has been very beneficial in helping to plan this summer for the upcoming school year. We are fortunate to have such a passionate, dedicated teacher and congratulate her on being our Teacher Leader Spotlight!
QVE Upcoming Events - Update Your Calendars!
Kindergarten Round Up - Wednesday, August 5th from 9:00 - 10:30
Monday, August 10th - Dessert with Principal Spears (Kindergarten - 2nd grade parents)
Tuesday, August 11th- Dessert with Principal Spears (3rd-5th grade parents)
August 17th - Teachers Return to prepare for the 2015-2016 school year
August 20th - Meet the Teacher Night from 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Information: Students will be invited to meet their new teachers and drop of school supplies prior to the first day of school.
August 24th- First Day of School for Students
September 3rd - PTO Meeting at 6:30 pm
Septmber 7th - Labor Day Holiday/No School
September 17th - Open House from 6:00pm - 7:30pm
September 22nd - QVE Celebrates 40th Year Anniversary from 4:00 - 5:30
QVE Students (Pre-K-5th) Track Learning using Data Notebooks
Our goal at Quail Valley Elementary is to help our students become independent, responsible leaders who make valuable contributions to our community and ultimately our world. This year, your child will be monitoring his/her own learning by using a data notebook. The data notebook will be an interactive tool that enables children to set goals and track their progress.
It will also be used as one way to communicate to you how your child is progressing as well as offering an opportunity for you to work with your child on possible areas that need improvement.
This notebook will be kept in the teacher’s classroom but we want to encourage you to take time with your child to review the data notebook and discuss your child’s personal goals. We also hope that you will use this notebook as a means for communicating your ideas, questions, and concerns.
We appreciate all that you do to support our teachers, staff, and students at Quail Valley Elementary and hope that the data notebooks will provide you with the information you need as we work together in making sure that our children are leaders of their own learning!
Watch the video below and see how this process will benefit your child!
QVE's Dynamic Literacy Team
Ms. Portugal, our NEW Reading Specialist (left)
Ms. Eapen, our NEW Reading Recovery/Literacy Coach (middle)
Ms. Vasquez, our NEW ESL Teacher (right)
We're excited about year!
Donuts with the Prinicpal
After dinner- stop by and have dessert with the QVE Principal!
Prinicpal Spears will host two parent information sessions in an effort to provide families with news and updates about the upcoming school year. You will have an opportunity to hear all the innovative learning solutions happening at QVE this year as well as how you can become a partner in their child's education! QVE is making an impact in the world of education and would like you to be a part of this amazing journey.
There will be two sessions:
Kinder - 2nd on Monday, August 10th from 5:00 - 6:00
3rd-5th on Tuesday, August 11th from 5:00 -6:00
Hope to see you there!