Spruce Scoop
Joy. Hope. Resilience.
December 16, 2019
Principal Message
It is our final week of school for the first semester. We want to appreciate all the celebrations and the lessons learned. I know, I have had many lesson's taught to me :-) over these last few months. I love my new home and am very thankful I have the opportunity to serve this tremendous staff and scholar body.
Take a moment to be grateful for those big wins and those seemingly unassuming things, those are normally the ones that make your heart smile the longest. We have a full week ahead of us and we want to stay true to THE PLAN and WORK THE PLAN. 100% of us working THE PLAN brings JOY every day all day.
This week is about our scholars showing us what they have learned and the connections they are making when it comes to their mastery of the TEKS, curriculum standards. It is also our time to see our scholars shine in their soft skills, how they approach the days of assessments that they may be worried about, or ones that they feel "I Got This!!" Or, how they make mindful and positive decisions this week.
This week for staff is is about being that encouraging voice or friendly face to them as they move throughout the day. It is about finding and communicating the importance of the days assessment tasks at hand and still maintaining our supportive environment. Their performance on each and everyone one of our ACPs matters.
All hands on deck is the mindset that will get us there. Please, read through the Dr. Porter emails, see the information below in the Scoop, and if you are still not clear, ask. We all want to be on the same page and help each other have a phenomenal days ahead.
F. Taylor
Proudest Principal In DISD
H Grady Spruce High School
My heart was a little heavy and that is why it meant so much to me to walk down the halls, be in classrooms, in the cafeteria, listening to Dr. Frantzen's announcement, and have my Spruce Family take a moment to say congrats! Spruce is an amazing place and again, so thankful for you all and what everyone pours into our scholars day in and day out. Your actions meant alot to me.
SEE SOMETHING SAY SOMETHING
Most of our scholars will be focused, on task, and enjoying their week before break.
As adults - Please be UBER aware of your surroundings: during arrival, in the hallways, testing environment, dismissing and welcoming scholars into class / testing room, during lunch release, after school.
We cannot read the minds of our scholars, but we can pay attention to what they say and do so that we can be proactive. Let's get ahead of anything the best we possibly can so that our week is peaceful for them and for us!
REVIEW @ Take Appropriate Action: 1ST SEMESTER GRADING PROCEDURES
Spruce: Info
This will be final exam week. If you have not done so already, please submit your teacher made test to Erica Draper and seating charts to Dr. Porter. See e-mails from Draper and Porter for more information.
Tardy Sweep - Week of Dec. 16th
Tardy Sweep:
Due to ACP Testing there will be NO TARDY SWEEPS THIS WEEK.
FINAL EXAM TESTING PLANS
Fall 2019 Exams and ACP Reminders
- There was a change made to the Fall Exam Schedule due to lunch restrictions. Please destroy the old version and only use the one below.
- Teachers will give their own teacher-made tests for any classes with no ACP. You are responsible for your own copies, pencils and other testing supplies.
- All teachers retain their regular planning periods. (PLCs will not meet during regular PLC periods due to duty assignments.)
- ALL teachers, regardless of content, have a scheduled duty assignment during Final Exams. Please be at your post, visible, and on time, for the entire time. Please make sure that students are not milling in the halls or disturbing test sessions in your assigned area.
- Admin will be checking to make sure you are at your duty post.
- ACP Teachers cannot test within their own content area so switch plans are added below.
- ACPs will be checked out from room 123 between 8 and 8:30 am each morning. Please do not be late.
- PLEASE DO NOT BE ABSENT!!! It causes chaos!
Attendance for Credit Staff Sign Up
Tuesday - Thursday - NO BINDERS OR BACKPACKS
Thank you so much for your assistance and this note will be posted on the schools IG page as well.
WINTER BREAK CLEAN UP
1. No food left out - Take all food home with you.
2. Organize your space - papers,supplies, resources all put away
3. Desks organized, areas clean
4. Make sure all chromebook carts are plugged in
5. Classroom Pets taken home.
6. Water those Ivy's :-)
7. Calculators put away
We do not want any critters to be happy to come to Spruce over the break! Make sure we are not inviting anything unwarranted.
Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter.
- Staff meetings (Tuesdays or Wednesdays, once a month)
- Sporting Events
- Fine & Performing Events
- Campus Wide Events
- Testing Days & Campus Testing Meetings
Staff meetings are subject to change. The goals is to communicate monthly staff meetings via the calendar and to have one a month.
ACP Testing Week
Full and Hall Days of Instruction
Grading and End of Semester Wrap Up
Staff Semester 1 Meeting
End of Semester Staff Meeting
Have a wonderful week!
It is important that we recognize ALL the Excellence in Teaching occurring in all of areas of our academic programs. The highlights are on a weekly rotation throughout the year. Each content/department will be highlighted on a weekly basis.
SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
Biology PLC (Banks, Lalani, and Daniels)
Mr. Herrera observes on his planning
Rocha and student Kendra discuss anatomy together
Young Men of Distinction-reaching beyond the classroom
Catch a Timberwolf Staff member being ELITE in their 20 Square Feet, Joyful, Hopeful, Resilient, SEL Champion, or simply did or said something that was the spotlight of your day/week!
Thank you for taking a moment to highlight your fellow staff member! You made someone's day!!
SUPER SPOTLIGHT ON DR. PORTER!!!!!!!!
Behind the scenes, calm, patient, and positive ~ I say a tremendous thank you for our Retest Week!
There are SOOOO Many moving parts and you orchestrated this with thoughtfulness and made any adjustment as needed. Our scholars benefitted from all the work put into this process and it does not go unnoticed.
Thank you Ms. Cameron as the Administrator over Testing for providing constant support to Dr. Porter and ensuring the process is executed with fidelity.
Spotlight on Ms. Stauffer
Ms. Stauffer presented ALL of her students with a book for Christmas. She asked her family and friends to buy a book for a particular student. Ms. Stauffer told each person about the student they had been given, so that the books would fit the interest of that student. Each book contained a personal note written just for them. Way to go Ms. Stauffer--Fostering a love for reading in our Spruce Scholars!!
Spotlight on Ms. P. Price
Ms. Price is always going and above and beyond at Spruce High School. She volunteers to work the athletic games, credit recovery, and other school functions without hesitation. Ms. Price also works with Mr. Jewell on the 504's, and she doesn't mind offering her assistance with last minute adjustments. I have watched Ms. Price mentor Spruce students since 2012, and she demonstrates active listening skills, intelligence, and ambition. She works lunch room duty, morning duty, and substitutes in the Spanish class weekly without complaining. When I was assigned to SpEd Inclusion, Ms. Price took the time out of her schedule to show me the ropes, and how to be an effective Paraprofessional.
Thank you Ms. Price for always assisting others.
Spotlight on Ms. Loera
Words cannot describe how thankful I am for the hard work and contributions Ms.Loera brings to the FLS Program. Without her help in my classroom I would not be able to teach, support nor give 100% to our SpEd Scholars! Behind every special education teacher is their rock, their pillar of support and I am thankful I can call Ms.Loera mine!
“The heartfelt hero, using their talents to help students discover their own. Dedicating their time and energy each day to the students in their care, and doing it all while meeting the individual needs of many”
- Teresa Kwant
Spotlight on Ms. Taylor and Mrs. Walker-Reed
Please congratulate two outstanding staff members for making evident that great things are happening at Spruce:
Our principal Francine Taylor, for her well deserved Secondary Principal of the year. Our kiddos will remember you as someone who has helped prepare them better for life after graduation.
Please also congratulate Mrs. Walker Reed for her beyond outstanding contributions as a librarian in the academic life of the students. She has been recognized as one of the 10 best librarians in the country.
Mrs. Walker-Reed in the New York Times!!
Spotlight on Ms. Gurley
Ms. Gurley building rapport with Ms. P's 6th period at ACP review
Spotlight on Ms. Mai
I am nominating Ms. Mai for all the work she does for the students, myself and the Reconnect Program. Without her we definitely would not be as successful of a program as we have been. She helps the students and myself in such a wide variety of ways that are too numerous to mention.
So a huge THANK YOU, great amount of Appreciation and Admiration for all you do, Ms. Mai!!!! You are an irreplaceable asset!
Spotlight on Administrative Staff
Everyday I see the administrative staff (not all pictured) hustling to make things go according to plan. They have demonstrated that their job and is just not about them, but the students. They cover a variety of tasks such as student conferences, lunch duty (picking up trays when they don't have to!), compliance, budget preparation, leadership and coaches meetings, and the list continues to go on. But EVERY single day they are here making SPRUCE STRONG by their genuine qualities without complaint. These WILL be reflected, because your work is definitely being seen! They may not hear it much, but thank you for all you do.
-Coach Whitaker
Spotlight on Mr. Rubio, Ms. Espinosa, Mr. McWhorter, Ms. Cortez, and Coach Richardson
Thank you to Coach Richardson and Ms. Cortez (not pictured) for setting the tone at the door, checking uniforms and reminding scholars of the expectation. As soon as scholars approach the door they are welcomed and the expectations are given. A wonderful balance of clarity of the Spruce Way and kindness.
Tremendous thank you to Mr. Rubio, Ms. Espinosa, and Mr. McWhorter for implementing the reset at the UpperClassmen Metal detectors. Scholars have been asked to do specific things upon entry to promote are more safe environment. With anything new and especially when we are well into the year, it was slow moving.
However, they have been all diligent and consistent and this past week (week 4) we saw 90%+ scholars doing what is expected and starting to remind each other (that is music to my ears :-).
I am a firm believer in when you see a change is needed and it is for the greater good, make the change- be resilient, consistent, and kind and all of these individuals stepped up and made the changes. Thank you all very much!!!
WAIP information that is specific to an individual, team, grade, content, will be emailed directly.
Winter Lights Dance Production
Spruce Food Pantry Providing For the Community!
Counselors checking in test administrators - Crossing the "t's" and Dotting the "i's"
Sugar & Spice Choral Program
Saturday Attendance for Credit Session
Scholars Taking the Opportunity Seriously
Ms. Ashlee Jefferson's Scholars Create a life size Ginger Bread House
Ms. Gurley Highlights Excellent Scholar Annotation Moves
Showing some LOVE to our AWESOME Office Assistants!
Staff Parking in Rear
MANDATORY CLOCK IN
- Monitors & Parking Attendant: 7:30 am
- Administrators: 7:50 am
- Clerks: 8:00 am
- Teacher Assistants: Ranger 7:30, 8:00, or 8:15
- Teachers: 8:15 am
8:20 AM Duty Begins
Please be at duty post ready to go a couple minutes early so that doors are opened at 8:20am. Teamwork makes the Dream Work!!
Tardy AM Procedure (Amended for 'C' Days)
Rear Entrance - ALL DAYS (9:00 am to 9:20 am)
- Our late door entrance, rear of campus/upperclassmen entrance, is open from 9:00 to 9:20 am.
- Scholars will be given a colored tardy pass (see picture ABOVE) with the time/date written on it by late door check in monitors (Rubio/McWhorter/Espinoza). We need this process to be fast and will only involve the monitor putting the time/date on the slip and sending scholars off to class. Students may pick up breakfast but they have the time/date stamped on their pass and are to move quickly to class (5-7 minutes).
- The late door (upperclassmen entrance) is closed at 9:20 am.
Front Door Entrance - A/B DAYS (9:21 am to 9:40 am)
- Scholars that arrive after 9:20 am enter through the front of the building and check in with Ms. Edison.
- Between 9:21 am and 9:40 am scholars will receive the colored tardy pass from Ms. Edison or designated staff member when she is absent.
- If a scholar arrives after 9:40 am they will sign into the Late to School Log and be escorted to ISS for the remainder of the period.
Front Door Entrance - C DAYS (9:21 am to 9:48 am)
- Scholars that arrive after 9:20 am enter through the front of the building and check in with Ms. Edison.
- Between 9:21 am and 9:48 am scholars will sign into the Late to School Log and be escorted to ISS for the remainder of the period.
Teacher Moves:
- Every student that has arrived late should be allowed into class and still be marked tardy in attendance by you the teacher.
- Every* student should have a pass and show their teacher their pass upon entrance into class. ( * See exception below)
- Teachers should check the time on the pass against the time the student arrives in class to make sure it is reasonable. If not, teacher should follow-up accordingly with appropriate student interventions such as student conference, parent contact, etc.
- No teacher hallway passes allowed before 9:45 am. There are some scholars in the halls with hallway passes, please let's NOT slip on this expectation.
- The color of the tardy pass this week is GREEN.
* exception - Keep in mind tardy passes will not begin being issued until 9 am. That means students arriving just minutes before 9 am will not be getting a pass yet will probably still be tardy to class. Please allow some leeway with students within the first 5 - 10 minutes of class time each day for not having a pass depending on what time they actually come through the metal detectors. This is a great opportunity to have a conversation with your student about not arriving at the last minute to school and being caught in this awkward situation of being asked for a pass and not having one.
Monthly Fire Drills
BEFORE THE DRILL:
· Review the e-mailed evacuation map for your floor;
· Review the e-mailed color-coded buddy system and find your buddy teacher/staff member; and
· Print a copy of the attendance rosters.
DURING THE DRILL:
· Use the proper stairway/exit,
· Exit the building quickly and orderly with students,
· Take attendance and ensure that all students are present once outside,
· Communicate to your buddy and person in charge of your stairwell if a student is missing, and
· Wait for the bell to ring before re-entering the building.
AFTER THE DRILL:
· Use the proper stairway/re-entry point,
· Enter the building quickly and orderly with class,
· Report DIRECTLY back to class with students,
· Take attendance and ensure that all your students returned to class, and
· Reset class and resume teaching and learning.
H. Grady Spruce High School
Located in the heart of the Pleasant Grove region of Dallas, Texas, H. Grady Spruce High School serves a diverse population of students and their families. Our neighborhood maintains a strong tradition of community, hard work, and pride. Families have made Pleasant Grove their home for generations, and many of our students can claim a legacy of Spruce alumnae that go back to the founding of the school.
H. Grady Spruce High School was built in 1963, replacing Rylie High School. The school is named for Henry Grady Spruce, a native of Omen, Texas, who earned degrees from Southern Methodist University and the University of Chicago. He devoted much of his 35-year YMCA career to youth, including 25 years as director of the Dallas YMCA's Camp Crockett near Granbury.
Email: frataylor@dallasisd.org
Website: https://www.dallasisd.org/spruce
Location: 9733 Old Seagoville Road, Dallas, TX, USA
Phone: 972-892-5500