Murphey Memos
Weekly Updates
Loving to Learn, Learning to Lead, Leading the Future
Character Trait of the Month: Courage
Brown's Buzz
Let's take a moment of reflection to ponder our role as teammates. The nature of our teamwork is our collective responsibility for our students and their success. However, there are so many other ways we can support each other. We have a lot going on in our building that you may or may not be aware of. It's a fine line to protect the privacy of others but to also provide support. and compassion
We have 3 students in our building with life threatening ailments. We have at least 2 staff members who have lost family members. We have 3 teammates that have loved ones in some sort of medical stress. We have at least 3 dealing with concerns with their personal children.
You will never know all of what someone else is dealing with and I can't share more specific details. But no one on our team is isolated. The situations that you do know about, reach out and provide support. Share a smile or an encouraging word.
If there is anything that I can do to support any of you in what you may be dealing with, please let me know. If not me, reach out to a colleague. I'm sure they will be glad to provide a listening ear.
We are a team, not just for our students, but for each other.
Star Staff Member of the Week - Ms. Julie Greenwood
Ms. Greenwood is the perfect picture of cool, calm and collected. She has a firm yet quiet manner with her students, enabling them to stay focused and grow in their academics. You are a wonderful addition to our team. Thank you for loving Murphey’s students!
Shout out
Well done
HUGE shout out to Ms. Brown
National Counseling Week
We appreciate it.
Something to Think About
"Every system is perfectly designed to get the results it gets."
W. Edwards Deming
Our Goals
Reading composite from 40.1 to 45.1.
3rd Grade Reading From 28.9% to 30.7%.
4th Grade Reading from 37.9% to 42.9%.
5th Grade Reading from 51.0% to 56.0%.
3rd Grade Math from 44.7% to 49.7%.
4th Grade Math from 34.5% to 39.5%.
5th Grade Math from 37.3% to 42.3%.
By 2019, Murphey will decrease the achievement gap between all students and students with disabilities in reading from a 25.8% gap to a 20% gap as measured by the NC End of Grade tests.
By 2019, Murphey Traditional Academy will reduce the number of office discipline referrals from 58 to 50.
February 4th
5:30 - PTA board Meeting
February 5th
Math/Science PLCs – 5, K, 1, 2
- ELA PLCs – 4, 5
- 3:10 SLT
- 9:00 - 11:00 5th grade to Opera (This will count as specials for 5th grade)
February 6th
- ELA PLCs – 5, K
- Math/Science PLCs – 5, 3
- NAEP testing 4th grade
- Pettis out a.m. - SW meeting
- Brown out at 2:00
February 7th
- ELA PLC – 3rd
- Restorative Practices Training (Pettis, Littlejohn, Hathaway, Greenwood, Bartell)
- Brown out - personal
February 8th
- Plans uploaded by EOD
- Restorative Practices Training (Pettis, Littlejohn, Hathaway, Greenwood, Bartell)
February 9th & 10th
Future Events
2/4
- K-1 Data Day
2/6
- Report cards go home
- Brown out - personal
- Tied Up Tuesday
- Eureka Coaching Day
- CF Meeting
- First Semester Awards Day
- BT Coffee House
- 3rd & 4th grade to symphony
- Interim Reports go home
- Black History Door contest judging
- SW Meeting
Announcements
Guidance this week is 4th and 5th grades.
Thanks to everyone who had their parent teacher conferences this week. Remember, we are required to conference with 100% of our families. When you have completed 100%, please email Principal Brown. Also, this is the time to alert parents if you have concerns about promoting them to the next grade. Please make sure you have PEPs on all students with concerns.
In honor of Black History month, the ambassador's are hosting a door decorating contest. You and your students can decorate your door to represent an important person, event, or contribution made by African Americans. We are looking for accuracy, neatness, and creativity. We are also looking for something that shows your class contributed to the door and not just the teacher. The display could reach beyond door and include your display area in the hall. Judging will be February 25th. The winning class will get bragging rights and a popcorn/movie party on a day of your choice. Remember to be creative.
This week, walk throughs will focus on what students are doing. We will provide feedback on how to engage students in conversation and/or grade level work.
Silent lunch will not be monitored by the lunch duty monitors. If your class or a group of students from your class is on silent lunch, you are expected to stay with them.
Computer lab schedules will be posted on the door of the lab. Please sign up when you want to utilize the space. Actively monitor students to make sure they aren't mistreating the equipment.
If you need to tell your students what they will be having for lunch, here's the link to the lunch menus: Lunch menus
Make sure you read the February chapter of Growth Mindset Coach. You will need to activities for your class meetings. Also, post this month's mantra in your classroom.
Mid year PDPs are due soon. I will schedule meetings soon after the break. Remember to update your PDP details to describe the progress you are making toward goals. Be sure to include any relevant data.
Second round observations for those on the comprehensive and standard cycles have started. These observations are unannounced.
Growth Mindset - A Goal Without a Plan is Just a Wish
Learning how to set goals and creating a plan for achieving them is important in a growth oriented classroom. Without the critical component of goal setting, students won't focus on where they want to take their learning. Goal setting is also important to developing the personal characteristics of grit. The idea of grit has gained popularity in educational circles recently.
In February, we look at what grit is, how you can teach your students about grit, and how to help them develop it by helping them pursue goals worthy of their passion and perseverance.
ELA Curriculum Updates
DIBELS/TRC Assessments: DIBELS/TRC are just about complete! There is a light at the end of the tunnel! Thank you for your hard work. We'll finish stragglers on Monday and Tuesday. In the mean time, dig down in your data. Comprehension is still extremely week for our students. Look at your DIBELS Next data as well and let the progress monitoring begin! Remember, progress monitoring is useless if you don't take corrective action in yoru instruction.
Data Collection Sheets: Remember to update your progress monitoring and any other on the data collection sheet located in the data collection files in the lesson planning folder.
Paideia Seminars will focus on courage in February. I'm continuing to add seminars to the folder as I find them. Remember you aren't limited to seminars in the file. I encourage you to write your own. Please share once you've done that.
Math Curriculum Updates
3-5 EOG:
Teachers, please be aware that the math EOG for this year is a brand new test. Scores will be delayed in getting back to us. Please use the released test for your instruction. The Math standards have been reweighted on the new test. Here's the link: http://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/accountability/testing/technotes/eogmthspc18.pdf
REMINDER: Eureka Student Books for Transferring Students
When a student transfers from one Guilford County School to another, please send all three books the student is currently working in to the new school. If a students comes to you without materials, please let me know and we'll contact their former school.
New NCDPI Released EOG Tests
NCDPI has finalized a released form for each end-of-grade (EOG) mathematics test. The forms are available in a paper/pencil version and online through NCTest. The paper/pencil released forms are available at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/accountability/testing/releasedformsScience Curriculum Updates
Environmental Programs at Kathleen Clay Library The Kathleen Clay Library offers a variety of environmental programs, including professional learning opportunities for K-12 educators in all subject areas. View this flyer for a calendar detailing January-May events for children, families, and educators. Contact Melanie Buckingham, Environmental Resources Librarian, at 336-373-2923 with questions. School Gardeners School Gardeners are invited to pick out free flower, herb, and vegetable seeds for their gardens. There will be two opportunities in Guilford County: · February 2, from 10:00am - 2:00pm at Guilford County Cooperative Extension, Greensboro · February 9, from 10:00am -1:00pm at the City of High Point Public Library, High Point Contact Quina Weber-Shirk, Extension Agent, with questions.
Title 1 Updates
- Please submit a copy of a report card--1 per teacher--to Mrs. Thomas for Title I documentation. In addition, she still needs copies of conference schedules from January 28th.
We are always in need of Title I documentation. Help us remain compliant by submitting any of the following items to Mrs. Thomas.
parent contact logs
Parent/Teacher conference logs and documentation
Parent communication including social media posts, newsletters, etc.
Sample data reports
- Signed copies of the Parent Involvement policies from each classroom teacher. If you need additional forms, please ask.
Professional Development
Content Academy PD for 3rd grade reading, 8th grade math, and NC Math 1 teachers
GCS will be offering specialized professional learning for teachers in select areas: 3rd grade reading, 8th grade math, and NC Math 1. There will be monthly 3-hour sessions in February, March, and April. If teachers choose to attend, they can attend weekdays from 1:00 – 4:00, or Saturday morning from 9:00 – 12:00. If teachers choose to attend the weekday 1:00 – 4:00 sessions, the district will pay for the cost of their substitute. If teachers choose to attend the Saturday morning sessions, they will receive a $75 stipend for each session. Seats are limited and will be filled on a first come basis.
Please share with appropriate staff in your building. Teachers should search for the following course codes in Performance Matters:
3rd grade reading #10643
8th grade math: #10619
NC Math 1: #10627
For additional information, please contact Jen Arberg (Math) and Joy Cantey (Literacy).
Webinar for Mentors and Lead Mentors
We shared plans for our first mentor webinar with lead mentors last week! We hope your mentors and lead mentor will join us on Feb 11th for professional learning and support around working with new teachers. The webinar will run for elementary mentors from 3:00-4:00 and secondary mentors from 4:15 to 5:15. Lead mentors received the outlook invitation and skype link to forward to their mentors on January 24th. For additional information, please contact Crystal Vandiver, 336-665-8000.
Mentor Training
Face-to-Face
Now is great time to get mentors trained in anticipation of known vacancies in the 2019-2020 school year. New teacher support will be offering another face-to-face mentor training for teachers that would like to become mentor trained. This training will take place Saturday, April 6th from 8:30-12:30 with a 1 hour take home product at Laughlin. Participants will receive certification as a GCS trained mentor by participating. We hope you will use this opportunity to recruit and prepare for the mentors you will need for the 2019-2020 school year. Teachers may register in Performance Matters with the course number #10387. We have also shared this information with lead mentors and CFs. For additional information, please contact Crystal Vandiver, 336-665-8000.