News from the Nest
Week of January 29, 2018
Vision
"Wendell Phillips 63 will establish a positive, engaging, and rigorous learning environment that allows each child to “SOAR to Excellence” as a member of the Cardinal Family."
Places to be!!!
Jan 29- Lesson Plans Due in Google Drive (9:00 am)
Jan 30- Extended Learning Mtg- 4:30-6:00 (Media Center)
Jan 30- Math PLC's
Jan 30- FUTSAL K-3 (After School)
Jan 30- Extended Learning (4:30-6:00)
Jan 31- Smekens Writing PD (PLC's)
Feb 1- Wirth OFF Campus All Day- Principal's Mtg
Feb 1- FUTSAL 4-7 (After School)
Feb 1- Extended Learning (4:30-6:00)
Feb 2- Jeans Day!
General Need to Knows
So....about that consistent schedule. Maybe this week? I want to celebrate you all for your efforts this week. The schedule threw us for some curves, but you hit it out of the park. I look forward to a full week and getting everyone healthy and back into the building. Besides...Friday is Groundhog Day. Lets keep fingers crossed and/or pray we get an early spring!!!
Extended Learning will begin next week on Tuesday. The weather days and making sure we give students and parents the opportunity to return slips drove this decision. Students will remain in the cafeteria and be picked up after a snack for their learning opportunity. REMINDER- the Extended Learning Team will meet in the conference room on Monday to plan.
Courtney Gordon will be coming out for PLC's this week on Wednesday, Jan. 31st. We will continue our support around writing.
Benchmark 3 Testing concludes this week. We will compile data and review at PLC's the following week. This is a predictor for potential ISTEP performance.
Long observations will wrap up next week. Mid-Year Conferences will be held upon completion of these observations. I will also be sharing feedback with you from the principal instructional rounds. I want to have an open dialogue with you as opposed to just sending them along for your review.
KRONOS....KRONOS....KRONOS! We are through the first pay period...yay! Please continue to follow your daily routine to clock in and out per your specific role. Also, please make sure to put your absence requests in the system as soon as you report your absence via email. I am going to keep the KRONOS Sharepoint site link below for your use.
Vision Aligned Thought Provokers
Positive Learning Environment- We have had some good conversations about how trauma impacts our students. We have learned some tools to support our work. However, this doesn't make our job easier. Take a look at the Rita Pierson video below. Perspective is crucial to get us through some days. Remember though...we are teaching a lot more than academics. Perspective....
Engaging instruction: We have purchased a new math software for our students- IXL Math. We are in the process of getting student rosters prepped and teacher accounts set up. Here is a link to the website: https://www.ixl.com/math/ Look for some PD on this and a roll out to students soon!
RIGOROUS Instruction: See here for some additional resources for upping RIGOR in the classroom. https://www.teachthought.com/pedagogy/how-to-add-rigor-to-anything/