Falcon Flyer
Week of August 27, 2018
What an Amazing Week We Had!
I received the following comments from parents:
Great first day! Loved the music as the children arrived!
Loved the music being played the morning and the warm greeting to each of them. I think it not only help students but this mama too!
Thank you for making me feel comfortable knowing my baby is safe here. I can not wait to see this new year grow.
My daughter hasn't stopped talking since she walked in the door!
From a parent that had students here, but then chose to do virtual school last year, but came back this year:
I'm excited to see how this year turns out. The whole vibe seems different.
Rise Up Rock Star
https://www.facebook.com/LibertyMiddleFalcons/videos/2156482821236559/
Uncle Bert
When my Uncle Bert was in high school, he was drafted into WWII. As such, he never finished high school. He returned home from the war and went straight to the steel mills to work. As you can imagine, life in a steel mill was anything but easy. So, Uncle Bert made sure that each of "his girls", as he called us, understood the importance of education. He made sure that all three of his children went to college at a time when few did, and then also kept behind his seven grandchildren and my sisters and I to make sure that we all kept pushing forward.
In 2002, the Catholic high school that Uncle Bert attended all of those years ago awarded him his high school diploma at the age of 84! I would venture to say that it is his most prized possession as it hangs on the living room wall right next to a framed army photo of him.
Though not an official grandchild, on the opposite wall, paneled in wood, my senior photo hangs right next to all of the other grandchildren. Anyone that enters his home will hear him tell of how all of his kids got an education.
On Saturday, amidst all of the hoopla of the 100th birthday celebration, Uncle Bert proudly told anyone that would listen that his "Sneaky Pete" (his childhood nickname for me) was now his "Dr. Sneaky Pete...I don't think anyone else from the run ever got their doctorate."
You see, if not for my Uncle Bert (and my parents), this little girl that grew up in a run down part of town with parents who only had a high school diploma, surrounded by neighbors that didn't have that, may not have known that receiving her doctorate was even a possibility. Sadly, this is the case for so many of our students. They don't have an Uncle Bert which makes it so very important for us to stand in that role for our students. How do we show our students that the world is much larger for them? How can we build their confidence so that they understand that even though the challenge may be hard, they are capable? I challenge you to be an "Uncle Bert" to each and every student that enters our school.
Sneaky Pete
Happy 100th!
Dirty Sally
Notes from Jeremy
Demerits
This week marks the beginning of the new LMS demerit behavior system aimed at motivating students and improving our overall school behavior. I realize this is new territory for everyone, but I would like to thank you each of you for your willingness to embrace something new that has the potential to yield great dividends in improving our school-wide behavior. As you begin issuing demerits below are some reminders you may find helpful.
· Make sure to fill out demerits completely
· Copies - white admin, yellow student, pink teacher
· Please place admin copy to file bin outside my office door no later than the next school day
· Remind students that they must bring signed demerits back within two days after the issuing date
· Homeroom teachers are responsible for collecting signed parent/student yellow copies and returning to Chari Arnett
· Remember that you have access to the Discipline folder on the google drive for all things related to demerits
*Please do not rely on demerits as your only vehicle for parent communications. It is important to continue using phone and email as part of your parent communication methods.
Safety
1) Remember that everyone has access to the Safety/Crisis folder on the Google drive. In that folder you will find an assortment of information ranging from safety team minutes, school wide crisis plans, drill timelines/dates, and much more.
2) As you know, we will use the GroupMe app as another form of communication for emergency situations. If you do not have the app you will still receive emergency messages, but we have found that GroupMe functions better if you have the app. Best of all the app is free!
Inventory
An accurate account of your classroom’s inventory is very important. These documents will assist in filling for insurance coverage in a loss due to fire or other catastrophic events. I want to thank those of you who made last Friday’s deadline for turning in your inventory, and for everyone else, please get a printed and signed copy in my box ASAP.
Phones
AITS is backed up with all things technology including phones. I want to ask for your continued patience as they are working as quickly as possible to process new phone assignments and make needed repairs. Once that is completed I will send you the instructions needed for your voicemail set up.
RAPTOR Sign In
The Importance of Taking Attendance
The state has recently changed its “attendance” definitions, so the district has updated its policies to match this. I cannot stress to you enough how important it is for you to take attendance each class period and to be sure that it is accurate. Our attendance data is now pulled for the school report card, the Office of Civil Rights and for our funding purposes. I know it is one more thing to worry about when your plate is already full, and for this I apologize.
As a teacher, I always had a hard time remembering to take attendance. For me, it was easiest to assign a student as my "attendance reminder." It was this students job to remind me to take attendance so that I would not forget. The state looks at the percentage of time a student is present each day, so our period attendance is of utmost importance.
Josh Black, our new attendance interventionist, is contacting parents on a regular basis when students are absent. We all know that we cannot teach a student that is not present!
Words from Wendy
How do library cards--with 24/7 access to books through Overdrive--and independent reading (IR) go together?
Well, like peanut butter and jelly. Our reading goal this year is an additional 10 minutes of reading per day, and we’ve looked at data showing an extra 10 minutes of reading a day can push a student scoring at 30% in their reading to approximately 70%. Giving students 24/7 access to books through library cards allows students to read anywhere and particularly during independent reading in our classes.
Last year we discussed that silent sustained reading (SSR) has a purpose in pushing for stamina, which is, per Doug Fisher, difficult but not complex. SSR requires work, effort and time, and relies upon perseverance and grit. These traits are certainly worth cultivating, but a reliance upon SSR comes at a cost, as the benefits of independent reading (IR) with conferring has a larger effect size for the time spent. Independent reading (IR) not only asks students to read and practice their reading, but it seeks to improve reading competence through instruction, and enables students to manage and keep records of their reading; it also requires reflection. When reflection is tied with feedback and conferring, it has a .61 effect size, or a 23% growth, and thus it is a top 10 strategy for best practices, per Marzano. Independent reading with conferring needs the feedback hinge of consistent conferences with individual students and a record of goals set and met if true progress is to be made.
A class that is set-up to function independently of the teacher, per the gradual release structure of Reading and Writing Workshop, enables the teacher to meet one-on-one with the student. The procedures in place ensure that even as the teacher steps away from direct instruction, the class is still engaged and learning. As we push for more access to books, and ask our parents to sign-up for library cards, and read with their child, we pull our community to a level of success that benefits the group. Through our LMS Library Card Drive we now have over 300 new library cards in our community. Let’s continue to push for more reading, and more cards in our community, through our Fall Literacy Festival in Liberty on Saturday, October 27th from 11-2, and through our conversations with families.
High Riser Information (from Colin)
High Risers
We will begin recognizing High Risers this week. On Wednesdays, I will send a reminder email which will include the link to the google form. The google form will not change, so feel free to bookmark in your web browser. It is difficult to juggle late additions on Friday morning when I am announcing High Risers, so please be sure to submit each week before you leave for the day on Thursday.
Please remember that this is for that ONE student who rises above the rest. I understand that there may be times when several students appear to fit the bill. However, by emphasizing those special qualities that made ONE student stand out not only emphasizes the honor associated with the recognition, it also reinforces the high expectations we value in the classroom. As teachers and motivators, we naturally reward what we value. Choosing a High Riser each week should serve as an opportunity to reinforce the character you value, the expectations you hold, and the desired vision you have for your classroom.
During our brief, modest ceremony on Fridays, the kids absolutely love hearing what you have to say about them, especially because it is in front of their peers. Thanks for taking the time to be specific and encouraging…it has quite the impact! It also makes quite the impression for our united school when I call home about a High Riser and can share your words with parents.