Galloping Gazette
A newsletter for the Faculty and Staff - Week 10/29-11/2
Put Students First • Seek Growth • Be Open to Change . Do Great Work Together • Value Differences
Shout Outs
Thank you to Mr. Doss and Mrs. Mounce for coming to the rescue at my first attempt of giving a test in Schoology! You literally saved the day. - September
Thank you to Mrs. Rockwell for being so gracious and flexible! - September
Big shout out to Mrs. Cooley and Mrs. Shutter for the extra hands. - September
Thank you to all the teachers who go that extra mile to bring Chromebooks to music. - September
Shout out to Mrs. Minehan’s class for using Flipgrid to have virtual discussions! - Al
Shout out to Mrs. Nicolosi’s and Ms. McNeely’s classes for using Tinkercad to have students create a 3D Regions of VA project! - Al
Shout out to Ms. Love’s Class. They created candy towers in the Innovation Lab! - Al
Huge Shout Out to all the Teachers and Staff recognizing Colts being Ready, Responsible, and Respectful! -PBIS Team
If you have any shoutouts, please send them to Mrs. Backer and Mrs. Jacobs by Thursday.
Principal's Message for the week
Remembering the WHY
During pre-service week this school year, we spent a good deal of time examining our WHY. I recently saw the blog post below by A. J. Juliani and thought that it brings together our work from pre-service with the work we will be doing at the farm this year, especially as you start to submit your Talent Ed goals (Due 10/31 :) )
"Trevor Ragan of Train Ugly points out, we have the choice between easy or better all the time:
- It’s easier to eat out. It’s better to cook at home.
- It’s easier to play someone that you know you can beat. It’s better to play the person who might beat you.
- It’s easier to read the SparkNotes. It’s better to read the book.
- It’s easier to do it how it’s always been done. It’s better to challenge, stretch, and experiment.
- It’s easier to talk about goals. It’s better to lace up and go to work on them – off stage.
- It’s easier to enhance your strengths. It’s better to go to work on a weakness.
We’re presented this choice literally all of the time. The problem is: easy is fast, easy is fun, easy is comfortable – and we’re wired to lean in that direction. But we grow by choosing better.
Finding your why isn't easy, but it makes life better. Finding your why takes time, but it changes the trajectory of your life. Finding your why is empowering, because you own the choices you make and the things you do, design, and create. Keep this notion in mind as you dig into your formative assessments and create lessons around them that have high levels of rigor and student engagement. How can your WHY motivate to create lessons that challenge your students?
-Robyn
Colts Pride in Action
Innovative highlight:
BRAVO to Mrs. Johnson as she went completely outside of her comfort zone with Schoology this week. She had her students complete their first assessment in Music in Schoology!
Schedule for upcoming weeks
Oct. 29th - Nov. 2nd
Disability History and Awareness Month
National Bullying Intervention Awareness Month
National Dyslexia Awareness Month
Fairness is our Character Trait
Math Quarterly is to be given this week - (will review data week of November 5)
Monday, October 29th
- SCA Ceremony 8:30a - 9a (Cafeteria)
- Girls on the Run 2:40p - 4:20p
Tuesday, October 30th
- PBIS Team Meeting @ 3pm (Library)
- SCA Meeting 2:45p-4p (Cafeteria)
Wednesday, October 31st
Girls on the Run 2:40p - 4:20p
Happy Halloween!! - Please do not assign homework this night.
Thursday, November 1st
- Today is National Author's Day! Introduce your students to some books by great authors.
- National Sugar Rush day - most students will be coming off a night that was full of excitement and sugar. Consider planning for some extra brain breaks and movements today.
Friday, November 2nd
- 1st Grade Gifted Screening'
- Grade Level Plans for Virtual Learning Day are due to admin.
- 7:00 pm Kellam vs. Landstown High School Football Game - All Feeder schools will be able to run across the field at half time.
_____________________________________________
LA Quarterly is to be given this week - (will review data week of November 12)
Monday, November 5th
- Girls on the Run 2:40p - 4:20p
- Art/Music/PE grades/comments finalized by 5:00 p.m. Homeroom teachers should NOT transfer grades until after 5:00 p.m. on Monday or else you will not capture specialists grades and comments.
Tuesday, November 6th
- Staff Day/ Virtual Learning Day
- Leadership Meeting @ 3pm (Library)
- Homeroom teachers finalize grades/comments by 5:00 p.m. Please send a PDF to Mrs. Mounce when you are complete.
Wednesday, November 7th
Girls on the Run 2:40p - 4:20p
Thursday, November 8th
- Eco Club 2:40p-5p
- All revised edits are due by 3:00pm. This includes turning in your awards list as well. Please have a colleague proof read your comments.
Friday, November 9th
- Watch D.O.G.S (Ivory Knight) will be in the building today!
Extra Collaboration Schedule
Report Cards are coming!
Here are some important reminders about report cards:
- Remember that VBCPS grading policy currently states that a DP or N should not be issued on the report card unless the parent has been notified prior to issuance.
- Please remember, with Standards-based grading, the proficiency mark on the report card should reflect the student’s current mastery level on that standard. Various data points may be used to determine the student’s proficiency level (anecdotal notes, exit tickets, summative assessments, etc.)
- Report card comments should not be the same for your entire class. They do not need to be super lengthy, but they should reflect that you know the student, and they should address any concerns especially any DP's or N's. Please make sure comments are tactful. Put yourself in the parents' shoes. How would you feel reading the comment if it was your child? Begin with something positive and include any quarterly awards earned by the student.
*As a reminder, Mrs. Porter and I will be checking all 650+ report card comments. Please take your time to edit your own comments and then swap comments with a colleague to check before submitting them.
We will once again recognize our students’ accomplishments each marking period with the following awards.
- Extraordinary Colt – is in the Productivity, Part & Collab, & Citizenship- All Ps AND at least 1 AP (no DP or N
- Academic Excellence- is 5 APs in core subjects with no DP or Ns anywhere on RC
- Attendance Award will be awarded to students in grades PreK through 5 displaying excellent attendance.
· 2 tardies (excused or unexcused) = 1 absence
- Leaving school early – Teacher monitoring – please report any patterns of early dismissal to Robyn
2020 Teacher of the Year Nominations
It is time for 2020 Teacher of the Year Nominations. Please send any 2020 TOY nominations to Patti Porter by Friday, November 2nd. A nomination must Include a paragraph on why you are nominating this teacher.
Eligibility Criteria are:
-Hold state certification in assignment area
-Be a current full-time classroom teacher to include librarian, counselor, ITS, reading specialist, math specialists, ESL teacher, and special education teachers.
-Have a minimum of 5 full years teaching experience
-Have received proficient standard or higher in all standards on summative evaluation
-Planning to continue as an active teacher
SCA United Way Coin Wars Drive / United Way Staff Support - Jeans Day
The SCA will have a Coin Wars Drive to support the United Way. This will take place during the week ofNov. 5th-9th with more information coming from the SCA.
We will also have a Staff Jeans Day for all of those contributing to the United Way. This Staff Jeans Day will be Wednesday, November 7th. You will need to print a copy of your receipt after you have donated electronically. Here is the link for you to donate:
https://vbsts.vbcps.com/adfs/ls/idpInitiatedSignon.aspxloginToRp=https://vbcps.uwshr.stratuslive.com
If you did not donate online but would like to participate then donate $5.00 to Mrs. Porter by Nov. 6th. You will receive a sticker for supporting the United Way and allowing you the extra Jeans Day!
Morning Meeting Moment
#RealTalk
Colts P.R.I.D.E in action
#Rockstar
#unity
#Sweetness
#pbis
#JOY
#newclay
Important Links
#Goodphonecalloftheday
Keep these coming!
Please check out our form below to see how Mrs. Porter and myself will be celebrating our students and continuing our positive culture and environment.