BESTeam Tidbits
January 14, 2018
Thank you each for a great week with our Texans! They were rested and ready to engage in the wonderful learning you each designed for them.
Last week, we spent time reflecting on expectations, more specifically expectations of ourselves, our teammates, our students, and our community. Your feedback and insight is invaluable as we continue to grow in our profession and learn to be better educators each day, we will review these expectations on Tuesday and focus on our instructional expectations. As you prepare for our staff meeting, think about expectations in each content area so our Texans' learning builds from year to year.
Looking forward to seeing each of you this week as we set the stage for an amazing week with our Texans!
Jamie
Celebrations!
So excited to have all our Texan staff and students back!
Students benefiting from reviewing expectations and routines! Thank you for taking time to set the stage for our students!
Welcome to our newest Texans!
Great work happening all around the building this week!
Three day weekend!
Abel has joined the day crew!
Welcome to our two student teachers!
Congratulations Heather on earning your ESL certification!
Big Rocks
Share the Love: The new year is the perfect time to remove excess and organize! We will be purchasing literacy resources to make sure the needs of all students can be met. In order to do this, we need to reorganize and inventory what we currently have on campus. Please take some time this week to clean out your instructional resources. Bring any books purchased with school and/or PTA funds that students aren't currently using to the literacy library. Once we have an inventory we will be seeking your input on needs and titles to add to the literacy library.
Proactive steps: Please take time to wipe down desks and door knobs at the end of each day. Research shows that absences can be decreased by up to 50% if done daily at the end of the day! Clorox Wipes will be delivered to to each team on Wednesday.
Personal day policy: Please remember board policy states all personal days need to be approved three days before the absence. Next year's staff calendar is already on our Google Master Calendar. Please note staff development days and holidays when making plans as these days are restricted from personal days. Thank you for being proactive!
Emails and Texts: All communications are public record. When discussing a student, thank you for using initials and writing facts, not opinions.
PTA Update from Lauren: We are truly fortunate to have such a supportive PTA! Our parents are continually being pro-active and looking for ways to make our school the BEST! PTA is looking for more ways to support our needs. Begin talking with your grade levels about any big needs you may have: Recording booths, innovative classroom needs, technology/coding activities, etc. PTA is itching to grant our requests! Our next meeting is February 2nd. Here are some highlights from this week's meeting:
- The parents recognize the need for supplies in the classroom and Angela Greenlaw is heading up the creation of an Amazon Smile account. Amazon Smile is like creating a registry for our classroom. More information coming soon!
- The PTA has been looking into how to better support our needs by researching the "consumables" rule. We may be receiving support for these needs soon!
- Talent Show will be held on February 23rd with tryouts occurring on February 6th and 7th.
- Yearbook order forms are coming soon! A link will be sent out to upload pictures from any classroom activities.
- Funding Request Approvals: Congratulations to Megan Harris and Christine Hy on their classroom grants!
Small Rocks
Digital Citizenship Week: Mark your calendars for Digital Citizenship Week January 8 - 19, 2018. All our GCISD Digital Citizenship resources may be found here - https://sites.google.com/gcisd.net/digitalcitizenship/home
District Dyslexia Simulation: From Amy Montemayor ~ I wanted to make sure you and your staff were aware of two upcoming opportunities for the dyslexia simulation in addition to the link in Eduphoria for the session this coming Tuesday.
As a reminder, it is asked that all faculty and staff attend a dyslexia simulation as part of ongoing learning in regards to characteristics of dyslexia (what to look for in the classroom) along with building an understanding and empathy of what students with dyslexia may experience daily while reading and writing.
For new faculty/ staff or those that weren't able to attend a training in August, we will be holding two upcoming dyslexia simulations.
Tuesday 1/16 4:30-6:00 at PDEC
Eduphoria link -
https://grapevine-colleyville.schoolobjects.com//wshop/default.aspx?cid=4662Monday 1/22 READ/GCISD Dyslexia Simulation 6:30- 8:00 at PDEC that faculty and staff are invited to attend in addition to parents.
Our literacy intervention team is now the proud owner of our own district dyslexia simulation kit (same as what Shelton School has utilized) and will be providing the training for these sessions.
LOVE YOUR DEVICE CONTEST: The idea: Capture the spirit and creativity of our students to promote better care of the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD student devices. Create a sense of student pride in our one-to-one initiative. Encourage our students to exercise self/peer governance.
The dates: Technology Services will be accepting a wide range of presentations, posters or other public service projects through February 7.
Student winners will be announced on February 14
The prizes: Our coveted #Love Your Device t-shirt, district and school recognition, snack vouchers....plus many other cool items.
Teachers who actively participate will receive a voucher good for class and/or duty coverage of their choice, and will be eligible for a t-shirt. Your campus technologist will have a poster with a QR code linked to our district website with more details. The district website link is also included below:
http://www.gcisd-k12.org/Page/46181
Please consider announcing the contest via morning announcements. Your assistance in creating excitement for this contest is greatly appreciated. Attached are district device care expectations and a poster describing the contest. Please let me know if you have any additional questions.
SBRC plans for next year: All 4th grade will be moving forward with SBRC for 2018-2019. For next year, we are not moving forward with piloting in 5th grade.
Fitness Force: Fitness Force starts up again Feb 7th.
Watch D.O.G.S.: This is the live link for our awesome Watch D.O.G.S.
VALOR: VALOR applications will come out next month. Be on the lookout for applications for this wonderful professional learning experience.
Furniture Update: The first phase of new furniture from our bond will be in place this summer. BES is on the third round, meaning we will get new furniture in three summers. Please click here for more information.
Humanities Tips From The Two of Us!
Week at a Glance
Monday
Staff/Student Holiday
Tuesday
Tonya at ARD - 8:55
Tonya at ARD - 9:45
Cathy @ C&I
Staff meeting (instructional staff)
Play It Safe Parent Preview: 10am or 6pm @ GCISD Board Room
Wednesday
Nancy K’s b’day
Jamie principal meeting a.m.
Tonya to AP meeting - 1:00
Thursday
5th grade girls puberty program
Denise H. @ mtg. 1:30pm
Janice Kane's retirement party 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Colleyville Center
Friday
School Supply List Feedback Due (Thank you for your input!)
5th grade boys puberty program
Lauren, Brittany & Hayden @ VALOR
Hayden’s b’day
Wendy’s b’day
Be Proactive ~ A look ahead!
- February 19: Student Holiday & Staff Professional Learning Day
- Spirit Events ~
Luna Grill Spirit Day January 29th 11 am-9:00 pm Colleyville
Chick-Fil-A Spirit Night has been rescheduled. The new date is:
- Calendar 2018-2019
BES Forms
- Field Trip Request Form
- PTA Grant Request: All PTA grant requests are due the Wednesday before the executive board meets.
Jamie Halliburton
Email: jamie.halliburton@gcisd.net
Phone: 806-441-6518
Twitter: @BESHalliburton