Anchor Weekly
A newsletter for Alta Vista Staff~Week of February 17, 2020
Don't Forget! Next Week's Calendar
- No School on Monday, February 17
- 3rd Gr Jazz Field Trip on Tuesday, February 18
- Math Planning with Mr. A (Select Teachers) on Tuesday, February 18
- Mock STAAR Math (Gr 5) and Writing (Gr 4) on Tuesday, February 18 (No pull-out services/interventions/library/lab/limited SpEd)
- Mock STAAR Reading (Gr 5) on Wednesday, February 19 (No pull-out services/interventions/library/lab/limited SpEd)
- Science Planning with Lisa (Select Teachers) on Wednesday, February 19
- Faculty Meeting on Wednesday, February 19 at 3:30 pm in Library **Be prepared to share the innovative ways you are using technology in the classroom**
- Behavior PLC on Thursday, February 20
- TELPAS Calibration #2 (As Needed) on Thursday, February 20 at 3:30 pm
- BU Board of Regents Spouse Visit on Friday, February 21 at 9:45 am **Wear BU/green/gold**
- Region 12 Data Meeting for Leadership Team on Friday, February 21 at 8 am-12 pm at Region 12
- Grades due on Friday, February 21
- Six Weeks Awards due on Friday, February 21
- Team Australia treats in lounge on Friday, February 21
- "Love Notes" in lounge on Friday, February 21
- Baby Shower for Ms. Santoy on Friday, February 21
- Math Coaching with Region 12/Mr A (Select Teachers) on Monday, February 24
- Transformation Waco Board Meeting on Tuesday, February 25 at 5:30 pm at Zone Office
- Online Mock STAAR Practice (Gr 4 Writing, Gr 5 Math/ELAR) on Tuesday, February 25-26 **Lab Closed**
- YMCA "My Book Adventure" Delivery to K-2 Students on Wednesday, February 26 at 1:00 pm
- Tribe Pow Wow on Friday, February 28 (8:30-Australia; 9:30-Africa; 1:15-Asia; 2:00-South America)
Coming Up Soon: Texas Independence Day (Wear Cowboy/Patriotic) on March 2; Tribe Buddy Day & Dr. Seuss Day on Friday, March 6
Captain's Log
Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays because I love the focus on love and kindness (...and also the pink hearts and candy make me smile). When I was growing up, my mom would make our family a Valentine's Day scavenger hunt every year-it's one of my favorite memories. When I found out I was pregnant with Joshua, it was a tradition that I couldn't wait to start.
I hope everyone at Alta Vista knows how much I love and care about them. There's no other school I would want to lead because of the dedication and love for students that all of our staff share. I appreciate the countless hours, late nights, and long weekends you spend to make sure our students are getting a first class education. You care and love our students like no other, and I see that daily. THANK YOU for all that you do.
Mrs. Helton's Week At A Glance
- Monday-Enjoying an extra day with the family!
- Tuesday-DDI Training with Ms. Boggess off campus (all day)
- Wednesday-Meetings on campus (morning)
- Thursday-Behavior PLC
- Friday-Region 12 Data Meeting off campus (morning)
Teacher To-Do List
- Record next lesson, share with friend, write reflection (2/21)
- Six Weeks Awards and Grades (2/21)
- Week 2 TELPAS Writing Samples (2/21)
- Prepare for PLCs (2/27)
- Bring the SPIRIT for Tribe Pow Wow (2/28)
- District Culture & Climate Survey (staff, students, parents) (3/3)
- Plan next Tribe Buddy Day for Dr. Seuss Day (3/6) **Email Helton with materials requests**
- Plan a time for your students to practice NWEA Map with an aide (it's only 5-6 questions!) (ongoing)
District Culture & Climate Survey
The surveys will be done online at www.wacoisd.org/safety and they are DUE MARCH 3
Staff Survey
- REQUIRED FOR ALL STAFF (Including all aides, office staff, custodians, CNS team, etc)
- When 70 surveys are done, staff will receive 2 "Out of Dresscode" days.
- Staff ID: STAFF_AVE
- Staff Passcode: H2A8G6K5
Student Survey
- REQUIRED for all students in grades 3-5
- Have students complete at the beginning of your small group math teacher station (or as a class first thing in the morning if you have enough devices)
- Student ID: STUDENT_AVE
- Passcode: L7N6M5R5
**Email Helton when your students have completed the survey!**
Parent Survey
- Encourage parents to complete the survey! We will have an Ipad in the office for them to use
- We will be putting it online and in newsletters; please include in your 5th Six Weeks Grade Level Newsletter also
- Parent ID: PARENT_AVE
- Passcode: G3W2L4T5
PLCs
Don't forget to prepare the following for PLCs on February 27:
- PK-Analyze CLI Data and identify classroom trends
- K-2: As a team, create a Know-Show document for the first unit of the 5th six weeks; write a formative assessment task (independent activity) aligned to the objective for each day of the unit (or at least first 10 days). As a PLC, we will review alignment of the tasks and discuss teacher exemplars.
- Grade 3 ELAR/Math & Gr 4 Math: Review Six Weeks Assessments and identify the Readiness Standard that needs the most improvement for your class; bring student tests sorted low/medium/high) based on the performance on that particular standard.
- Gr 5 ELAR/Math and Gr 4 Writing: Review Mock STAAR data and identify the Readiness Standard that needs the most improvement for your class; bring student tests sorted low/medium/high) based on the performance on that particular standard.
Upcoming PLC Schedule:
- 2/20-Behavior
- 2/27-Reading (PK-CLI Data)
- 3/5-Region 12/Judy York
Resources: PLC Notes Template
February Attendance Contests
The grade level with the best attendance each week in February will receive extra recess. The recess will come immediately before or after lunch so teachers will have an extra 30 minutes for lunch! Your grade level will work with Mr. Ward to schedule this time.
The grade level with the best attendance for the month will receive a week of “Out of Dress Code.” This will include staff on this grade level!
Conscious Discipline & CHAMPS
The Coaching Classroom Management Team will be doing walk throughs and leaving treats in your classroom during February. Just keep on teaching!
We love seeing your student work in the hallways! Ms. Noel's class read "Each Kindness" this past week and students recorded ways they planned to show kindess this week. This is a great example of connecting ELAR to social-emotional learning.
January/February Morning Meeting Suggestions for Growth Mindset
TELPAS/LPAC Reminders & Deadlines
- February 17-21: Writing Collection #2 (Personal Narrative & Social Studies)
- February 20: Calibration #2
- February 24-28: Writing Collection #3 (Familiar Topic & Math)
- February 26: Ellevation STAAR Accommodations & Instructional Accommodations Due
- Week of March 2: TELPAS Online Training for students
- Week of March 16: MOY LPAC
- March 16-27: Holistic Ratings Window (in Orchard's office)
- March 16-27: TELPAS Online Testing in lab
**REMINDER that TELPAS Essays are secure documents; they must be turned into Orchard's hands and locked immediately. You may NOT make a copy of the essays because they are secure testing materials.
Alta Vista Wish List
Self-Care for You!
Positive thinking in the workplace
Yep, I’m talking to you!
Kendra Cherry at Very Well Mind describes positive thinking as “approaching life’s challenges with a positive outlook. It does not necessarily mean avoiding or ignoring the bad things; instead, it involves making the most of the potentially bad situations, trying to see the best in other people, and viewing yourself and your abilities in a positive light.”
A positive work environment can make all the difference in productivity and feelings of encouragement and means that we can all benefit from and reap the rewards of positive thinking on our own campus! This is evidenced by people with a positive attitude:
- Being more productive than others
- Being evaluated more positively by their supervisors/peers
- Less likely to show job withdrawal (compassion fatigue, absenteeism, turnover, burnout)
- More likely to lead a healthy lifestyle
Ideas for promoting a positive mindset:
- Use positive words to describe your life
- Replace “have” with “get” (I have to go to work à I get to go to work) *notice the difference one word can make!
- Make someone else smile & make yourself smile (watch funny TikTok videos, read a joke, listen to your favorite song)
- Practice gratitude
- Thank/compliment/appreciate others
- Celebrate successes – big or small!
*CHALLENGE* - next Monday, wake up and think “thank God it’s Monday!”. Even if it’s not 100% true, we can trick our brains and bodies into being excited for the work week – sarcasm can work wonders!
NWEA MAP Practice
The practice test website is: https://practice.mapnwea.org/
Username: grow
Password: grow
Staff of the Week
Congratulations to Mrs. Monroy for being our STAFF OF THE WEEK. She has great rapport with our students and encourages them to do their very best.
Congratulations to Mrs. Spark and Mr. Holmstrom for being chosen to move forward to the next round of the Waco Education Foundation Grants! We wish them well as they tackle the more challenging parts of grant writing.
District Employee of the Month Nominations
Completed nomination forms should be sent to Keri White in Human Resources: keri.white@wacoisd.org.
Attached below are the procedures we will follow for Employee of the Month along with the nomination form.
TEKS Guide for NEW ELAR TEKS
Vertical Planning & Coaching Days
- Math Planning Dates (Grades K-5): February 18
- Science Planning Date (Grades K-5): February 19
- ELAR Coaching Days: March 23 (3rd Grade)
- ELAR Planning Dates: April 22 (3rd-5th Grade Full Day)
For math and science, planning will be 1/2 day each from 12-4 pm. You will need to create a 1/2 day school business absence in TEAMS for the afternoon if you plan that specific subject (1 per grade level). Grades K-2 will use the aides assigned to their grade level.
For reading in grades 3-5, planning will be a full day; you will need to create a full day school business in TEAMS for that day if you plan reading in grades 3-5. Please work with Ms. Bonnie to secure subs for these days (grades 3-5 only).