Galloping Gazette
A newsletter for the Faculty and Staff - Week of 2/3
Put Students First • Seek Growth • Be Open to Change . Do Great Work Together • Value Differences
Principal's Message
This week a dear, dear colleague, Dr. Paulette France, shared a video from her "Recharging Your Batteries" PGI session.
This inspirational video reminds us of the small (yet significant) things we can do each day. As educators, there are things both out of our control and within our control in this profession. Let us take pride in what is in our control. We can build positive relationships with students and fellow staff. We can uplift colleagues having a difficult time. We can exhibit grace under fire. We can bring out best selves to CFES each day. We can celebrate student growth and we can be grateful for all that is going well day-in and day-out. "Making your bed" reminds me that change starts with me. I can...and I will.
Here is my favorite excerpt from Admiral McRaven's speech:
"So if you want to change the world:
1. start each day with a task completed
2. find someone to help you through life
3. respect everyone
4. know that life is not fair and you that will fail often
...but if you take some risks, step up when the times are the toughest, face down the bullies, lift up the downtrodden and never ever give up...if you do these things, the next generation and the generations that follow will live in a world far better than the one we have today."
-Robyn
Shout Outs...
- Thank you to our entire supportive CFES staff who promoted and participated in our Great Kindness Challenge! Special thanks to Robyn & Travis for coordinating our school photo, SCA for the compli-mittens and the PTA for the awesome “I” in KIND wall. -Nicole
- Thank you to Travis for squeezing the Kindness Kick Off video into morning announcements with the recent YouTube ban (lol)!-Nicole
- Thank you to Travis & Robin for trying to save my laptop.-Nicole
- Thank you to Jenny Rockwell and 5th grade team for completing middle school Math rubric spreadsheet and teacher recommendations for classes, AVID & school programs.-Nicole
- Thank you Ms. Backer & Ms. Beda for covering my check ins when I’m double-booked with that and SRT.-Nicole
- Kimberly and Alainya for being the MacDaddy’s of gifted forms, setting the bar high. Deb
- Liz P for allowing her students to go on tour creating and teaching 3 Act Tasks. Deb
- Tammy and Miriam for sparking JOY and spreading sunshine around CFES. You both are always positive and make my day! Deb
- Thank you, Ms. Vickery, for inviting us to participate in a challenging 3-Act Task activity prepared by 5th graders. Sra. Dorbin
- Thank you to Ms. Rockwell for all the support and feedback you provide me. Sra. Dorbin
- Shout out to the first-grade team for planning lessons and being willing to ‘think outside the box.’ Anne Young
- Shout out to Alainya Kemper and Ally Crouch for being so positive to work with. Anne Young
- Thank you to the person who gave the “emotional support” M & M’s to us in the office. They are truly appreciated!
- Debra- Thank you for making my floor look amazing! Danielle
- Shout out to Berkley Highton for stepping in with Mrs. Goodman! You are so patient and kind!! What a great addition to the TEAM! Thank you for all you do! Jill
- Thank you, Michelle J. and Anna, for keeping an eye on my class when I have needed to step out for one reason or another. . . so helpful! Susan
- Thank you to Debbie Vickery for taking the time to review my RC comments. It helped to have a second pair of eyes! Susan
- Thank you to Ms. Jones for the paint supplies and Mr. Chaka (our new counseling intern from Hampton University) for his help with getting our student thumb prints on to our Kindness Banner.-Nicole
- Shout out to May Robertson for always pitching in when she sees a need. Heart of gold! Michelene
- Thank you Shacori for always being willing to help! Ally
- Thank you Mrs. Olds for all of your help this year!! Ally
- Thank you Ashley for pulling a student to help with small group accommodations during the quarterly. Ally and Lauren
- Karen Ratner: Thank you for working so hard with one of my sweet students. She loves you Karen and I am so thankful that you dedicate time from your busy schedule to help her. -Cindy
- Marissa, Amanda, Stacey, Lisa, Olivia, and Glenna for being such a great team supporting me as I have had run to many doctors appts for my Dad and John this month. Sharon
Schedule for upcoming weeks
** PLC Focus: Language Arts **
National School Counseling Week
Monday, February 3rd
- Report Cards Issued
- SCA Meeting 2:45-4:00
Tuesday, February 4th
- Math Tutoring Begins 4th/5th Grades 7:00 am Library
- Watch Dog Dad Dustin Kwok
- PBIS Meeting 3:00
Wednesday, February 5th
- Watch Dog Dad Bill Brody
- Colt's Store 7:55-8:20
- PLC/Collab:
- 2nd 11:00-11:45
- 1st 12:45-1:30
- 4th 1:35-2:20
- Newspaper Club 2:45-4:00
Thursday, February 6th
- Math Tutoring 4th/5th Grades 7:00 am Library
- Zach from Spanish Immersion @ CFES
- PLC/Collab: 5th 8:30-9:15
- 3rd 9:20-10:05
- Robotics 2:45-4:00
- Spanish Immersion Meeting 4:00-6:00 Library
Knd 10:10-10:55
Friday, February 7th
- Watch Dog Dad Saulo Ortiz
- ACCESS for Ells Testing Opens (Until 2/14)
** PLC Focus: Math **
** ACCESS for Ells Testing **
** Candy Gram Sales Continue thru the 12th **
** Grandparent's Week **
Monday, February 10th
- 1/2 Day Collab 1st Grade 7:50-10:50
- 1/2 Day Collab Kindergarten 10:50-2:20
Tuesday, February 11th
- Math Tutoring 4th/5th Grade 7:00am Library
- Gifted Testing, Grades 2-5
- 1/2 Day Collab 3rd Grade 7:50-10:50
- 1/2 Day Collab 2nd Grade 10:50-2:20
- PAC/Leadership Meeting 3:00 Library
Wednesday, February 12th
- PLC/Collab:
- 2nd 11:00-11:45
- 1st 12:45-1:30
- 4th 1:35-2:20
Thursday, February 13th
- Math Tutoring 4th/5th Grade 7:00am Library
- PLC/Collab:
- 5th 8:30-9:15
- 3rd 9:20-10:05
- Knd 10:10-10:55
- Robotics 2:45-4:00
Friday, February 14th
- Spirit Day- Wear red, white, or pink for Valentine's Day
- Watch Dog Dad Rudy Sandoval
- Candy Grams Delivered
- 1/2 Day Collab 4th Grade 7:50-10:50
- 1/2 Day Collab 5th Grade 10:50-2:20
- PTA Parent's Night Out 6:00-9:00
News and Notes....
- ** Mandatory Training ** is due February 14! Don't let it sneak up on you....You can log onto it directly from the home page of VBCPS.
- Our "Good Phone Call of the Day" Wall is very empty. Please send more students our way. We want to fill it up.
- Teachers with Assistants- When/if you get a sub, or have to enter it in Aesop, please make sure you enter it as "no sub needed " for yourself so your assistant can bump up to a teacher. You need to notify the assistant so they can then enter their position (subbing for teacher). This clears up a lot of confusion when the sub comes in. The only time the assistant does not bump up is for Professional leave.
- The Girls on the Run Program is looking for another coach or 2 for the spring session. The current coaches have a few obligations, and might not be able to make the practices each week. This is such a great program for the girls, and we would love to be able to continue it, but may not be possible without some help. Please consider helping the girls, and as an added plus.... get ready for bathing suit season :) If you have any questions or interest, please see Jennifer.
- Please don't forget to turn in your 2020 Intent Form in to Ms. Backer's Mailbox.
Talent Ed Reminders - Due Feb. 7th
When you are completing your formative focus mid-year update the following questions should be answered:
*Reflecting on what you have learned about PBIS and Love and Logic; consider your current classroom management system, is it aligned with the principles of both systems? Explain the aspects that are and if there are aspects that are not aligned how are you considering changing them?
*What is one area of strength that you are proud about in regards to classroom management?
*What is one area of your classroom management that you would like to improve upon and what type of support would you need to do so?
When you are completing the data review, please include all updated mid-year data by copying and pasting or by attaching it. In addition, please be sure to consider and address the following questions when completing the section of New Strategies/Professional Learning: Based on the data review, list any new strategies or professional learning needed.
*Is the data painting the picture that you want?
*What are the strategies that you are seeing the results that you are proud of?
*What strategies are not working, why do you think they are not working, and how will you adjust for the rest of the year.
Lastly, just as we are asking you to reflect and adjust, we have done the same with the remaining PLCs for the year. We will be going to a three week rotation for the most part so that there is less time between Math and LA. Next week, please do not worry about an agenda as we will be doing a LA/Math combo as we dig into how to bring fire to independent tasks without burning yourself out https://docs.google.com/document/d/17ikFch7PZcN5USW39lC6gGpaE6KXeji_2_0irek25Jo/edit?usp=sharing
We love Ms. Yoshida and Ms. Beda!
Transfer Procedures for 2020-2021
We have not received our allocations for next school year. Once we do, we will speak with staff members/grade levels that will be affected (if any). If you are planning to resign, retire, or put in for a transfer, please speak with Ms. Backer as soon as possible.
- February 5-24: Registration opens for the Transfer Meet and Greet event using Frontline Professional Growth, and vacancies begin to be posted on Intranet for all transfers.
- February 13: Principals must notify individuals if they are a priority transfer
- February 27: Transfer Meet and Greet event at Green Run HS from 4:30-5:45 p.m.
- May 1: Target date by which priority transfers are notified of placements
- June 30: Last date by which principals can make hiring recommendations from other area school divisions
- July 15: Last date teachers may voluntarily transfer
Meet & Greet Info:
Teachers who have been designated as priority transfers and those who are eligible for consideration for voluntary transfers may attend.
Classified employees who have been designated as priority transfers and those who are eligible for consideration for voluntary transfers or promotions may also attend the Meet and Greet.
Only teachers who will be on continuing contract during 2020-2021 (currently P3, PC, or C) and who are not on Performance Improvement Plans are eligible for voluntary teacher transfers.
A teacher who receives a voluntary transfer must spend three years in that assignment before being eligible for another voluntary transfer. (A teacher accepting a voluntary transfer for the 2020-2021 school year will be eligible for a transfer in fall 2023.)
Morning Meeting Moment -
As we discussed in PLC this week, this is a great time of the year to revisit routines, procedures, and expectations during small group instruction. Remember to transfer the work to the students; let's not do the work for them! Allow them to brainstorm the pitfalls that could arise and then ask them to solve the solutions. Set the bar high!