Mustang Message
September 13, 2015
Message from the Principal
One of the characteristics which distinguish effective educators from others is their commitment to life-long learning. Life-long learning is essential to keep up with all of the changes occurring in educational technology, the curriculum, pedagogy, and andragogy. However, one of the enemies of life-long learning is “lack of time”. Teachers sometimes fail to participate in after-school professional development opportunities because they don’t have time with all their commitments to extracurricular activities, providing extra help to students, lesson planning, grading and trying to balance work life with home life.
At LWTC/LWTHS, we strive to reorganize how we use the time that we have so teachers can participate in meaningful professional learning which is tied to replaced faculty meeting with professional learning time (PLT). This means that each month you have 35 minutes to engage in job embedded professional development which can include:
- collaborating with colleagues
- reading articles/books
- participating in webinars
- attending Web on Wednesdays
In selecting your learning keep in mind how it will lead to improving student achievement and how you will put what you've learned into practice. At the end of each month, you are expected to complete an online PLT reflection form which poses the following questions:
- How did you use your professional learning time this month?
- How did the use of your professional learning time relate to your deliberate practice plan, technology skill goal and/or content?
- How will you use the results of your professional learning time to implement change in your instructional practice?
This is the second year, that as staff, we are engaged in PLTs and below are the thoughts that Joann Cassio shared with me last year regarding PLTs:
“Your Mustang Messages give us all the nitty gritty of everyday business. But even further is the need for faculty members to spend time in self-evaluation and time for concentration on what we do in the classroom and how to enhance or change the instruction and the support that we are doing the right things with our kids. This in my estimation is essential to a smooth sailing high school. So to have time to read professional articles, learn new software/apps or to spend time with colleagues we don’t get to otherwise spend time with has been a successful initiative.“
Have a great week!
Yolanda
Tech Corner
Constitution Day is Thursday, September 17th. Participate in a virtual field trip to Constitution Center with your class at 12:00pm to meet Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer and/or take a tour of the Center and converse with Judge Marjorie O. Rendell at 1:30pm. Other lesson activities and resources are located here.
Are you in the market for one of those shiny new Apple iPhones? Getting a phone these days has become more complicated - this article, What's the Best Way to Buy an Apple iPhone 6s? helps to de-mystify the process. I may be sticking with my old one longer than I planned...;)
To Teach Students First in Edutopia reminded me of our constant challenge of focusing on student needs and developing variety in lessons to keep students engaged. As the first month of school is well underway, it is sometimes easy to rely on the traditional lesson plan. Why not take one of those plans and add a 'hands-on', experiential and/or technology component to it?
News from our Wellness Champions
We are eager to start planning and prepare fun activities for both campuses. Please take a minute and complete this survey so we know how we can meet your needs. If you have any ideas that are not covered in the link please email Pam Wilkin and Khris Betten-Jutasi. Thank you
http://goo.gl/forms/vSPOvRmA4G
Friendly Reminders and upcoming events:
- Mobile Mammo is coming to LWTC and LWTHS on September 17th from 8:00 am- 4:00 pm. Call 239-936-4068 to schedule an exam.
- September 29th is National Heart Day and the Collier County Health Department will be in Mustang Alley promoting their initiative for "Press the Chest" - making the public aware that anyone can start CPR. They will have manikins set up to show how to correctly "Press the Chest". Come by and check it out!
- Keep an eye out for a ‘shopping healthy’ contest starting soon--- more to come!
Thank you and make it a wonder, healthy, stress-free week!
Pam and Khris
Happenings
- Student Services is hosting the first " LWTC Student Connections" of the year on 9/18 during adult break times in Mustang Alley so make sure to show your team spirit by wearing your favorite team apparel and joining the students for some refreshments. The Student Services department worked tirelessly this summer recruiting, retaining and registering students. They work hard to accommodate all the needs of prospective and current students. They are the first team to connect with each and every student; share stories, laughter and sometime tears with them. Thank you student services for filling the classrooms with enthusiastic students who are following their dreams to achieve their goals and realize their potential.
- On Monday 9/14 Dexter Russell Knife Truck Trailer will be in the south parking lot at 9 am. Culinary Arts students will be taking tours and getting demos. I know we have many staff who have an interest in cooking so feel free to stop and see all the products Dexter has to offer.
Monday is early release day. For the in-service schedule make sure to visit the lwcampus.wikispace.
The SAC Committee is having its first meeting of the year on Tuesday, 9/15 at 6:00 p.m.in the principal’s conference room. Meetings are held the third Tuesday of each month. The School Advisory Council (SAC) is a team of people representing various segments of the community-parents, teachers, students, administrators, support staff, business industry people and other interested community members. The function of SAC is to assist in the preparation and evaluation (developing and evaluating) of the results of the school improvement plan, review data, identify problem areas, develop improvement strategies, monitor their implementation and assist the principal with the annual school budget. If you are interested in serving on the SAC committee email Darlene Crete. Even if you do not serve on the committee, you are always invited to attend the meetings and share items that you would like to be included on the agenda.
- This past week the Veterinary Assisting Program received a $5,000 donation to be used for student scholarships from the Community Foundation of Collier County. The donation came as a result of Anne Hughes, Partnership Developer for the Community Foundation taking a tour of the school and connecting us to a donor with an interest in veterinary programs.
- Make sure to follow the schools on Twitter. The handle for LWTC is @LWTechCollege and the handle for LWTHS is @LWTHSMustangs.
Reminders
- Early Dismissal on September 14 and 23rd: No projects due, no tests, no CCPS scheduled events.
- September 22: No CCPS event scheduled after sundown.
- Teachers - Deliberate Practice Plans are due September 28, 2015. Time will be set aside during the September 14th in-service for you to work on your plans.
- LWTHS teachers -Please remember to enter your PLC meeting minutes into Data Warehouse after each meeting.
- LWTC instructors -Course syllabus are due Friday Sept 18th.
- LWTC instructors remind students that there is plenty of parking on the East side of the campus. They should not be parking on the grass on on the curbs.
- PLT Reflection forms due September 30th.
Don't forget to nominate a staff member for the month of September by clicking on the Padlet link . Type the name of the nominated staff member in the "Title" portion of the Padlet post and your reasoning in the body of the post. Also you can nominate by grade level a student for the month for September by clicking the link appropriate link below. Follow the same protocol of putting the student name as the title and reason for nominating in the body of the post.
Spotlight on LWTHS Staff Member
Steve Parnell is an avid outdoors-man and adventurer! He left a cubicle in the financial world of Chicago to become an educator. All his free time however is spent in the woods. He even makes his own bows and arrows! Steve was born in Hawaii and also lived in the Philippines. He loves to travel and intends to spend his retirement in an RV, volunteering at National State Parks. When Steve was 19 he lost his eye in a July 4th firecracker accident. Nothing could deter him from being a student centered educator who embraces and enjoys life!
Spotlight on LWTC Staff Member
Donna Erb may have the distinction of being the longest tenured business education teacher in the school district. She moved to Collier County from upstate New York in 1990 where she was a teacher and a licensed life guard for ten years! Donna is a gambler! She loves to travel to Las Vegas, Biloxi and New Orleans to practice her craft. She also loves to gamble on the stock market which she tracks every day. An avid exerciser, Donna is a happy person and enjoys Christmas time on Fifth Avenue with all the special events. We look forward to the reveal of the on-line business education program Donna is creating.
Kudos
- All the high school teachers for a successful Open House
- Chef Geri, Chef Chris, Jean Cardarelli, Deb Young and Denise Duzick for hosting the Marco Leadership group
- Dr. Becker and veterinary assisting students for a successful "Yowls for Towels" drive to benefit the Humane Society
- Joann Cassio, the National Honor Society, and the Senior Class Officers for a moving Patriot Day ceremony
- Shauna Kelly for preparing for and surviving the annual audit of internal accounts
- Rick Ponton and Peter DiMaria for creating the Open House video
- Neil Fehr for representing LWTHS at the "Dessert with the District" event for new teachers
- Laurie Lattarulo for giving of her time to be at the open house to help set up for the entire event, she greeted families, and served refreshments afterward
- Marcela Ugarte for translating materials for the Open House and giving of her time to be at the open house to help with greeting families, translation and serving refreshments afterward
- Marie Coleman, Adam Janowski, Rita Kentros and the Yearbook Club for always capturing the images of LWTC/LWTHS events
Happy Birthday
13 - Claudia Rivero
Upcoming Staff Meetings and Trainings
- See the lwcampus.wikispaces.com for the LWTC/LWTHS meeting calendar.
- Save the date for the 2015 "Staying Alive" Benefits & Wellness Fair at the Admin Center, 10/10/15, 8:00 a.m. - noon.
Upcoming Student Events
- 9/8-9/22, Before/after school, NHS Candy Sale
- 9/14, Sophomore College Experience, Dining Hall 7:20-10:15 a.m.
- 9/14, Early Release
- 9/17, Dunkin Thursday, NHS selling Dunkin Donuts,Mustang Alley, During lunch
- 9/18, Senior Pictures, Gym 7:15-1:30 p.m.
- 9/19 , 8:00 -11:00 a.m., Keep Collier Beautiful Coastal Cleanup