Weekly Update
Friday, September 9, 2022
From the Principal's Desk
Happy Friday!
Here we are closing out week two of the school year and we are off to a solid start. It is my goal in the next week to visit all classes with our instructional lead team to conduct informal observations. This week I spent time in PreK, K, 1st, 3rd, and 5th grade classes. I saw students engaging with their peers through small groups and turn and talks. I heard teachers encouraging students and asking students questions to support their responses. I saw students writing in journals and engaging in the writing process. I also saw classrooms that were inviting to students with items labeled and/or readily available to students.
Next week we will begin with collaborative planning with the ILTs present to support in planning. In most curriculums, teachers were provided the first 5, 10 or 20 days. We want to make sure we are monitoring our pacing as we continue to engage students in learning.
As you head into the weekend, please be intentional about self-care. The first weeks of school are tiring as we are also getting back into the swing of things. Take time to rest and relax.
Dr. Dunn
Upcoming Events and Deadlines
September 9 - Grandparent Gratitude Day
September 13 - Back to School Night - Virtual
September 14 - PBIS Pep Rally
September 24 - Cora L. Rice Beautification Day
Library Media Specialist
Daily Attendance
The attendance policy states that a family is contacted after 3 days of absence. If you have any students who have been absent 3 days, please contact the family. The truancy checklist should be utilized.
Classroom Environment
Please review the classroom Non-negotiables. If you are not sure or need support please reach out to our Instructional Lead Teachers - Mrs. Payne, Math, and Mrs. Kessler, Reading and Science.
During my classroom visits this week, while rooms were ready to receive students, many rooms are missing some of the non-negotiables for your classroom. Table name tags are being ordered for K - 2. Again, please reach out if you need support.
Dismissal Procedure
Please continue to be diligent during the dismissal process to ensure all students get home safely by the intended method.
Building a Sense of Community - SEL
What is in your toolkit? How are you intentionally integrated SEL into your day? Need some ideas?
Curriculum and Pacing
One trend from this week's walkthrough was pacing and alignment to the curriculum. If you need support accessing the curriculum documents, the ILTs have sent out emails for you to sign-up for assistance.
Mathematics
The first week of school is focused on setting up the classroom culture for the year and developing routines that support the development of the Standards for Mathematical Practice. Teachers will get to know their students as the students get to know themselves as math learners.
Reading - Building a Reading Community -
During the first five days of school and the first two cycles in the quarter, necessary rituals and routines for classrooms to become literacy communities are introduced. In a literacy community, students spend the majority of time reading, discussing texts, and writing in Response to Texts.
Please follow the lessons as written in the Cycle planner, in order to thoughtfully and purposefully teach the MCCR Standards, as they may differ from the sequence in the HMH Teacher’s Guide. Refer to the calendar in CIM overview for pacing guidelines.
Student Accident Reporting
The Student Accident Reporting System (SARs) is an online application for Prince George’s County Public Schools that replaces the previous, paper-based accident reporting procedure. When a student is injured at school, on a school bus, or during a school-sponsored activity or trip, a report must be submitted.
This report must be completed by the school-based employee who observed the incident. If the injury is reported by the parent, then the person receiving the report should enter the SAR. Please review the directions on how to access SAR and complete a report.
Professional Attire
Business casual is not: shorts, flip flops, tights, spaghetti strap tops, leggings, sweat pants, or ripped jeans.
Overall, most of us are representing ourselves as professionals who are coming to work, a place of business. We want to be comfortable for the work we do, however, we must remember the "business" part of business casual. This is being shared so that we are all on the same page when we say professional attire.
Goal Setting Conferences Unit I Employees
Here are the evaluation documents shared in pre-service week for your review. Please make sure all goal-setting activities are completed in eDoctrina at least 1 day before your scheduled time.
Ms. Thomas for sprucing up the teacher's lounge.
CLRES staff for a good first two weeks of school. We had bumps but we worked together to make it work for children. #beststaffever
Previous Updates
Cora L. Rice ES
Email: mickelli.dunn@pgcps.org
Website: pgcps.org/coralrice
Location: 950 Nalley Road, Hyattsville, MD, USA
Phone: (301)636-6340
Twitter: @CoraLriceES2