Monday Morning Motivation
Central Elementary Staff News----September 4-September 8
Try
Dear Staff,
I appreciate that at Central we never give up and we always try to do whatever we can for our students and families.
10 Steps 2 Success
1. Try
2. Try again
3. Try once more
4. Try it a little differently
5. Try it again tomorrow.
6. Try and ask for help.
7. Try to find someone who's done it.
8. Try to determine what is not working.
9. Try to determine what is working.
10. Just keep trying.
The just keep trying attitude was very evident in our data meetings this past week and through the conversations that followed Thursday and Friday. Several schedules have been changed for the better to help give our students and teachers more opportunities to fill in the math gaps.
Thank you for continuing to inspire me to never give up and to try harder!
Have a great week!
Julie
ISTEP and Online Testing: Important Information for grades 2-5
The district will recommend that all students take both parts of the ISTEP online except for 3rd grade. We will try to receive a waiver for 3rd grade students to take the applied skills portion paper/pencil this spring. However, we may not get this.
Knowing that the test will be online for both parts of the test this early in the year, you should purposely drive instruction toward more technology enhanced experiences, more online reading and response to literature, focused math experiences using online tools, and written expressions using word processing techniques.
Teachers, I am making you aware, so you can model how to use virtual tools and use technology enhanced questioning as a key instructional strategy throughout the school year.
Since 3rd grade students will NOT have a choice for the 2019 test, 2nd grade teachers should be intentional regarding the development of keyboarding skills and find ways to develop word processing skills. 3rd grade teachers also need to incorporate keyboarding and word processing skills as part of their curriculum to prepare students for 4th grade test taking.
We all knew this was coming, so please be sure you are fully aware of these changes and students have adequate practice throughout this school year.
ISTEP to ILEARN
Did you KNOW? This is the last year that we will take ISTEP. The state of Indiana is move to ILEARN.
The purpose of Indiana’s Learning Evaluation Assessment Readiness Network (ILEARN) is to measure student achievement of the content within the subject areas of English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science (Grades 4, 6 and Biology), and Social Studies (Grade 5). ILEARN reports student achievement levels according to the Indiana Academic Standards that were adopted by the Indiana State Board of Education. The assessments will be administered in a single test window that must take placed at the end of a school year on dates determined by the state board. An end of course assessment may be administered at the end of the course for that particular subject matter. Learn more here…
http://www.doe.in.gov/sites/default/files/news/ilearn-faq.pdf
NEW from the DOE--Science Test Blueprints
Test blueprints for science based on the 2016 science standards are now posted on the IDOE website: http://www.doe.in.gov/assessment/istep-grades-3-8-10. Our content team is busy preparing the science item specifications (grades 4, 6, and Biology) for schools and corporations and will post them on the IDOE website in September. Once we have transitioned to ILEARN, we will make available the new test blueprints and item specifications for all other content areas.
Central Calendar
MONDAY, September 4
- No School
TUESDAY, September 5
- ELL Certified Meeting
- Imagination Lab Steering Committee (meet at the lab)
WEDNESDAY, September 6
- Building Discussion Meeting 4PM
THURSDAY, September 7
- Faculty Meeting 7:30 LGI (specials and office to host)
Friday, September 8
MONDAY, September 11
- High FIve for Heroes 9:00
- District discussions meeting
TUESDAY, September 12
- WIDA/SIOP training 7:15 a.m.
- Cabinet Meeting
- ELL Parent Meeting 6:00 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, September 13
- Bus Driver Breakfast (FYI)
- Central Celebration and School Theme Committee Meeting
THURSDAY, September 14
- Team Leader Meeting 7:30 a.m.
- New Teacher Meeting 4:00-6:00 p.m.
- School Board Meeting 7:00 p.m.
Friday, September 15
- Fire and Tornado Drill
Announcements and Reminders
Attendance: We submit attendance by 9:15am every day.
- Schedule Observations: Please begin sending me calendar invitations to observe you the weeks of September 18th- October 12th. This may take a few attempts because I only want to do two a day and there are some things already on my schedule. Thank you!
- ELL Parent Meeting: There will be a parent meeting held at Central Elementary on September 12, 2017 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
New Sub Coverage Plan for Elementary – Our ISTEP data shows we need to grow and one way we do that is with our RTI program. Due to this, we are limiting the use of Instructional Assistants when we do not have sub coverage.
When we do not have substitute teacher available and a teacher is absent we will do the following:
1) Pull a specials teacher to cover the class and we will either double up in a special or divide the class by the remaining specials
2) The grade level teacher's class will be divided among teammates in that same grade-level
3) We are no longer able to pull an IA as a first choice, as those covering classrooms for a full day must have a teaching or substitute license. Also, we need to maintain fidelity in our remediation programs.
- Title One Data: Make sure you have updated your data on the spreadsheet. There were some notes which needed to be added from our data meetings.
- Bug Update: Mosquito Joe is coming out over Labor Day weekend and the next to fog the area. Still keep students away from the fence.
- Common Assessments for Math: First semester K-2 not giving common assessment. For 3-5 Use Q1 Envision Benchmark Online. Later add writing portion to inform instruction. In PowerSchool call the Benchmarks CA1, CA2, CA3, CA4
- Emergency maps: Last call on updating your emergency maps. Get these to Tracy, so she can laminate.
PTO Meetings: Teachers please plan to attend one PTO meeting this year. Just this year alone they have given our school almost $5,000. It means a great deal to both board members and parents to see you in attendance. At PTO meeting it was requested by parents that we make sure to let parents know if their children are getting an award at Central celebration.
Information from the PTO to include in communications:
*Newsletter https://www.smore.com/6pf4c
*Updated mini grant form - now fillable online - on Central website under PTO documents (First deadline 10/6)
Legacy Grant Application: This is available for any teacher interested in applying for the grant. The due dates Fall due date is October 15, Spring due date is March 15. Please consider applying.
Spanish Students to Visit: November 3 high school Spanish students will be here to work with all classrooms, grades 1 – 5 from 9:00 – 9:30
2017 American Fidelity Assurance Company to Visit: They will be here on September 21st and 22nd.
Body Safety Grades K, 2, and 4:It’s almost certain that our Body Safety Presentations this year will be held on Friday, December 1st. This year for the first time our own Hendricks County child advocacy center, Susie’s Place will provide the presentations. They have three people who will give the presentations, and as in the past couple of years, these presentations will be for K, 2 and 4.
Professional Development Day on September 20th
Math & Mindsets
8:00-11:00 K-2 enVision Training – Online Tools presentation by enVision
~Central Office Board Room
3 – 5 Growth Mindset in the Math Curriculum- Laurie Ferry
~Clarks Creek LGI Room
11:00-12:00 Lunch on your own
12:00-3:00 K-2 Growth Mindset in the Math Curriculum- Laurie Ferry
~Clarks Creek LGI Room
12:00-3:00 3-5 enVision Training – Online Tools presentation by enVision
~Central Office Board Room
Special Area Teachers and Special Education Teachers who do not teach K-5 math must attend one of the Growth Mindset sessions. They will present additional professional development activities they wish to pursue in lieu of the enVision math training, to be approved by the principal no later than Sept. 15th
2017-2018 Central Elementary Crisis Team
Team Members:
- Julie Thacker
- Nicole McClatchey
- Staci McDonald
- Mandi Klinger
- Courtney Carmichael
- Jennie Menser
- Curt Pickard
- Diana White
#Quaker Faces Campaign
Staff Celebrations!
- Awesome job with science day! If you have the opportunity, please let Wendy Taylor know how much you enjoyed the day!
- Thank you to the School-wide theme committee for creating a bulletin board that celebrates all staff members. We are a great Central Team!
- Although I mentioned earlier a huge shout-out to the grade-level teams for your out of the box thinking during data team. I like how we set emotion aside and focused on helping our kids.
- Many thanks go to our assistants for your flexibility in allowing us have longer meetings that day.
Happy Summer Birthdays
September
Krista Bullington
Make a Note to get the Word out THIS WEEK!
SCIENCE DAY 2017
Our Mission
Providing engaging academic experiences, the Central Elementary Community will inspire and support students to become caring, confident, lifelong learners.