#SamuellPride
Week of March 21, 2016
Samuell Feeder Pattern Key Actions
Increasing Student Achievement
Supporting Quality Instruction
Supporting Positive School Climate & Culture
*******************************************************************
Welcome Back!
Whether your time off was spent at home or away, I hope that you were able to unplug and enjoy life! I hope you all had a wonderful spring break and are ready for a terrific 4th quarter!
Lots of things happening in the madness of March and we all are tempted by the ever-present Spring fever!! The next few weeks will be busy with budget meetings, staffing decisions, student assessments, and TEI requirements. Let's ensure that TEACHING AND LEARNING are our main focus. Let's follow our game plan and support our teammates.
Here's to a short, but productive week!
Ms. Harris
Do You Have a Basketball Mindset?
Here's an excerpt from a blog post regarding Basketball Mindset Strategies:
Your “In Game” Routine
The game of basketball is made up of many layers that are important to keep in mind as you step out onto the court. This is especially true if you seek to play to your highest potential at all times.
There are a lot of things we could effectively discuss here, however, that would probably be rather overwhelming and confusing for most players. I have therefore pieced together only the most important key components of the game of basketball that you MUST keep at the forefront of your mind from the moment you step out onto the basketball court, till the moment you hear the buzzer sound for the end of the game. These are in fact key components of the game that all Basketball Coaches expect each and every one of their players to master. So it is in your interest to go out there and give it your very best effort.
Here they are in random order:
Communicate Vocally with Enthusiasm
Communication is of critical importance on the basketball court. You should be communicating both on the defensive as well as the offensive end of the floor. However, don’t communicate and shout just to create noise. Instead ensure that you communicate with purpose by vocally supporting and empowering your Teammates and Coach with motivating words and inspiring emotional outbursts.
Also communicate on the defensive and offensive end of the floor by giving your Teammates another pair of eyes at the back of their heads. And finally, when you are resting on the bench, stand up, cheer and support your Teammates with all your mite.
Box-Out and Rebound Aggressively
As soon as a shot is released on the offensive or defensive end of the floor be sure to get into the Key area and Box-Out your Opponents aggressively. Once you have Boxed-Out, move in with commitment and determination to pull down the rebound for your team.
Share the Ball with Teammates
Nobody likes playing with a HOG who doesn’t share the ball with their Teammates. Basketball is all about the team game. You will become more effective and efficient on the basketball court when you learn to share the ball around with your Teammates. Your Teammates will not only appreciate you passing the ball to them, they will also gain confidence in their own ability, and this can only help to better your chances of winning the game.
Play Defense with Intensity
Master the fundamentals on how to play effective and solid defense. Your shooting will have a tendency to let you down at times, however your defensive intensity should never fail you no matter how ineffective you are on the offensive end of the floor.
Hustle Aggressively for Loose Balls
Coaches absolutely love players who fight and hustle aggressively for the basketball, doing whatever it takes to win the ball for their team. This is a sign of a committed and determined player who is respected and admired by their Teammates and fans.
Avoid Turning the Ball Over
Basketball is a game that is all about minimizing mistakes. By all means, it’s perfectly okay to make mistakes on the basketball court. However, we must learn from them immediately so that we minimize the long-term impact they could have on the game. That is of course how we grow as a player and improve our skills in the long-run.
Keeping all of this in mind, be sure to look after the ball, passing with precision and care to your Teammates and not dribbling unnecessarily when a quick pass is the better option to take.
Question Your Personal Weaknesses and Strengths
Throughout the game it is important to continuously question your personal as well as your team’s weaknesses and strengths, and then adapt your game tactics accordingly in order to maximize these strengths while minimizing the weaknesses. There are in essence a myriad of questions you could effectively ask yourself. However, here are just a few to get you started:
How can I best utilize my personal strengths throughout this game?
How can I best hide my personal weaknesses throughout this game?
What are my Teammate’s strengths in terms of passing, shooting, dribbling, rebounding, handling pressure, etc?
What are my Teammate’s weaknesses in terms of passing, shooting, dribbling, rebounding, handling pressure, etc?
How can I play to my Teammate’s strengths throughout this game?
How can I nullify my Teammate’s weaknesses throughout this game?
What must I do to get my Teammates more involved in the game?
Question Opponent’s Weaknesses and Strengths
In the same way you questioned your personal and your team weaknesses and strengths, you must also ask similar questions about your Opponents. In this way you will gain better insights about the way your Opponent’s play the game of basketball and can as a result adjust your game strategy and tactics to gain an advantage out on the basketball court. Here are a few questions to get you started:
What are my Opponent’s strengths?
What are my Opponent’s weaknesses?
How can we as a Team best exploit the other team’s weaknesses?
How can we as a Team best nullify the other team’s strengths?
Adapt Your Game Accordingly
By answering all the above questions, you should now have enough insight and understanding about yourself, your Team and your Opponent in order to adjust your game plan accordingly and improve your chances of winning. And if you don’t yet have the answers, than you simply have not yet asked the right kinds of questions.
For the full post: click here
******************************************************************
Samuell Feeder Pattern will expand Two-Way Dual Language Program to all elementary schools
Dallas ISD is creating global citizens everyday by providing our students with the opportunity to learn two languages. English speakers can learn Spanish and Spanish speakers can learn English within a program called the “Two-Way Dual Language Program.” In this program, students will learn to read, write, and think in both languages, helping students to:
- Become bi-literate
- Become bilingual
- Propel them into their roles as global citizens
Since 2006, the Dallas Independent School District has implemented a Dual Language model to serve Spanish and English Language Learners (ELLs). The Two-Way Dual Language model is a plan in which both English and Spanish speaking learners are placed in the same classroom to learn from each other while acquiring the non-native language.
The goal of Dual Language is to provide opportunities for all students, regardless of their native language, to obtain a second language while interacting with students from a range of diverse cultures and backgrounds setting the stage for cultural awareness, understanding, inclusion and global citizenship.
Two-way dual language classes will be offered in the following schools and grade levels:
JQ Adams ES - Kindergarten through 3rd grade
Hawthorne ES - Kindergarten and 1st grade
Ireland ES - Kindergarten
Pleasant Grove ES - Kindergarten and 1st grade
Richardson ES - Kindergarten and 1st grade
Runyon ES - Kindergarten
San Jacinto ES - Kindergarten
Titche ES - Kindergarten
*******************************************************************
A Terrific Partnership!
Samuell Early College High School will now be able to help the feeder pattern grow it's own teachers! As students participating in the early college program graduate with an associate's degree and are interested in becoming a teacher, we have developed a partnership to get them teaching in our schools in one short year!
Key features of TechTeach
There are four key features of TechTeach that set it apart from other programs, and (in combination) make this experience so powerful.
- Specific framework for developing effective teaching behaviors: TechTeach uses the TAP rubric to clearly define effective instructional behaviors, and provide concrete ways for teacher candidates to improve.
- A higher quality, and greater frequency of clinical experience: TechTeach candidates begin working in classrooms in the first semester, have their courses at real school campuses, and begin student teaching one full semester earlier than other programs.
- Digital recording to observe and improve instruction: TechTeach candidates use state of the art digital technology to capture and review their own instruction. Starting in the first semester, candidates use their own video footage for evaluation and improvement.
- Co-teaching with an exceptional mentor teacher: TechTeach candidates work in partner districts alongside an experienced, handpicked mentor teacher committed to the professional growth of their teacher candidate. Co-teaching involves working together to plan, carry out, evaluate and adjust instruction in whole-group and small-group settings.
For more information on this program, click here
It is also worth mentioning that in one of the photos of the new cohort on the Tech website is one of our very own Samuell Early College High School students. She will graduate in the first class of Samuell ECHS this May with her Dallas ISD high school diploma and associate’s of science degree from Eastfield, and begin 2+1 TechTeach in July! She has the potential, and is on-track, to become the first 19 year-old holding a bachelor’s degree, teacher’s certification, and working as a DISD bilingual elementary teacher!
*******************************************************************
The Young Men's Leadership Academy at Florence Middle School
It's official!.....Florence MS will welcome 1200 boys to the new Young Men's Leadership Academy at Florence MS for the upcoming year. Partnering with Balch Springs MS that will transform to the Young Women's STEAM Academy at Balch Springs MS, principal Dawn Walker is making the rounds at all the elementary schools that feed into both middle schools. She and Clarita Rivera, principal at Balch Springs, are meeting with all students and parents to share the great news and the wonderful plans underway at each school for the upcoming year.
*******************************************************************
TEI Expert Training
Designated Campus TEI Experts
Tuesday, March 22nd
Richardson ES
4:45-5:45pm
*******************************************************************
Congratulations Hood MS students!
*******************************************************************
TEI Dates to Remember
In May, teachers will verify their rosters in order to verify the students will be included in the calculation of their student achievement results.
MAY 19th is the last day that administrators can score the SLO Goal Accomplishment for teachers. Please plan with your teachers to ensure that they enter appropriate information in a timely manner so that this goal can be met.
MAY 19th is also the last day to enter extended observations and summatives in schoolnet.
May 23-June 6 will be the teacher rebuttal window in oracle for summative performance evaluations.
June 2 is the last day to conduct spot observations and the last day to hold the summative conferences.
*******************************************************************
*******************************************************************
Richardson ES hosts Healthy Texas Kick-Off Event
Monday, April 4th
11:00am-3:00pm
Healthy Texas Week, presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, is an annual initiative of IT’S TIME TEXAS, an Austin-based non-profit dedicated to making healthy easier for Texans. During this week-long celebration, Texans are encouraged to Sweat more, Shop healthy, Serve their community, and Pledge to support a healthier Texas. IT’S TIME TEXAS and Blue Cross and Blue Shield will be hosting a Healthy Texas Week Kick-off Event, which includes hearing from great speakers, a group activity, and healthy snacks.
Service Projects:
· Garden (2 8x4 plots)
· Mural in cafeteria
· Active play stencils on sidewalks and basketball court (ways to move and hopscotches)
· Healthy messaging gym wall
· If time and enough volunteers, messaging at front of school (parent waiting area)
If interested in helping with the service project, please sign up here
*******************************************************************
UPCOMING TESTING DATES
MARCH
7-April 6--TELPAS (K-12)
29--STAAR EOC English I (9-12)
29--STAAR Writing (Grades 4 & 7)
29--STAAR Math (Grades 5 & 8)
30--STAAR Reading (Grades 5 & 8)
31-STAAR EOC English II & 7th Grade Pre-AP
APRIL
4-22--STAAR ALT 2 Assessment Window (3-8 & EOC)
4-8--ES & HS Art Performance ACP (Grades 5, 9-12)
12-15--Student Survey Window (Grades 3-12)
12-22--ITBS/LOGRAMOS Window (K-2)--WILL CLARIFY
18-19--ES Gym ACP (Grade 4)
18-29--Secondary Band Performance ACP (Grades 6-12)
20-21-ES Music Performance ACP (Grade 3)
*******************************************************************
Menay Harris, Executive Director
Samuell Feeder Pattern Schools
Email: meharris@dallasisd.org
Website: www.dallasisd.org
Location: 408 N Haskell Ave, Dallas, TX, United States
Phone: 972-925-4630