GATE Staff Newsletter
10.20.19
Happy Sunday everyone!
Well, we are mid-October and halfway through one of the hardest months of school. The exhilaration and excitement of starting the school year has died down, and now the reality is in the day-to-day teaching! I couldn't help but feel like there was a bunch of new things I piled on your already full plates at the PD days, but along with that I want you to know that I value your mental and physical health as well. It's important to give yourself a break, too. Check out the quotes below and the website link.
Our internal application process has begun and we had 2 big turn outs for both resident information nights. The word is continuing to spread about GATE because of all of our hard work. Great job! The next step is the resident application window, open from Nov.4-15. Once parents apply I'll pull their child's MAP scores and then go to each elementary school to administer the writing assessment. If you're interested in participating in the selection team or the appeal team, let me know.
I'll be sending these newsletters out every Sunday/Monday. Please take 10 minutes and read this newsletter thoroughly - there's a lot of information in it and hopefully many of your questions answered. Let's have another great week of learning!
Coming Up This Week...
Tuesday 10/22: Kate meetings from 8-12
Wednesday 10/23: Kate @ Elem. Principal's meeting @ 9am. Meeting with Kristin Richey to "fix" MiStar scheduling issues after.
Thursday 10/24: Parent Teacher Conferences night 1, 4:30-8pm. Dinner provided by PTO following dismissal.
Friday 10/25: Tours @ 9am...Hive Huddles at 2:30pm.....Movie night "Toy Story 4" 7-9pm
Other School Dates
- Oct. 24: GATE Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:30-8pm
- Oct. 25: GATE Family movie night 7-9pm (room 163)
- Oct. 29: GATE Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:30-8pm
- Oct. 29: Hearing Screening
- Oct. 31: Classroom Fall Parties (Time determined by your classroom teacher) & Halloween parade at 2:15 in the carpool loop.
- Nov. 4-15: Internal Application Window for residents and students already enrolled in Avondale thru schools of choice
- Nov. 5: 1/2 Day - Election Day
- Nov. 7: PTO Event - Cookies and Canvases 6-8:30 @ GATE
- Nov. 12: Fall Photo Retakes
- Nov. 13: Vision Screening
- Nov. 14: PTO Meeting 7pm, Media Center
- Nov. 22: 1/2 Day; Teacher Records in PM.
- Nov. 26: 1/2 Day; Teacher Records in PM. End of 1st Trimester.
- Nov. 27-29: No School
- Dec. 2: Art Gallery Walk 6pm @ GATE
- Dec. 2-6: Scholastic Book Fair all week!
- Dec. 12: PTO Meeting 7pm @ Media Center
- Dec. 20: Classroom winter parties - time TBD by classroom teacher
- Dec. 23-Jan. 3: Winter Break
- Jan. 9: PTO Meeting 7pm @ Media Center
- Jan. 16: Early Dismissal @ 1:05pm
- Jan. 17: Blanket Making event sponsored by PTO - details to come
- Jan. 23: GATE Open House Showcase Event - details to come
- Jan. 27-31: NWEA MAP Winter Testing week
Positivity Project
Parent/Teacher Conferences
- Oct. 24: GATE Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:30-8pm
- Oct. 29: GATE Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:30-8pm
All teachers are required to be here on these nights so that you can be available for conferences. Please coordinate with Ms. Spencer to be present for meetings with students/parents on her caseload. I can also sit in any conferences if you'd like.
The PTO has graciously offered to provide dinner for all staff on both nights. It will be an early dinner set up around 3:30.
Professional Development Slides - For Your Reference
Halloween Parade Info
Our Halloween celebration will be begin at 2:15pm on Thursday, October 31st with our parade. The parade will occur outside this year around our carpool loop, weather permitting. Some classes may have their party prior to the parade and others may have their party after the parade. Please communicate your party time to both the parents and me.
Costume expectations: Costumes should be able to be put on OVER your child's school clothes. Please keep in mind the following building guidelines for costumes at school:
- We ask that children NOT wear costumes depicting violence or violent acts. This includes fake blood, gore or imagery that would not be "G-rated".
- We will also be restricting masks during the parade to avoid any potential tripping hazards.
- School policy prohibits any and all toy guns, knives, swords, wands or weapons.
Please reserve elaborate costumes, frightening masks, face paint and make-up for trick or treating as these things can create a school disruption. Halloween is an exciting time. Let's all help to make sure it is a safe and positive experience for the children while at school. Thank you for your support with these guidelines.
Please Note: Children who do not participate in Halloween activities will be offered an alternate option during the Halloween celebrations. Please let me know if you have anyone that has contacted you regarding this.
Staff Meeting Dates
Well, the survey results were 50% wanting AM and 50% wanting PM. As a compromise we'll do every-other staff meeting at 6:45am-7:45am and every-other at 3:05pm-4:05pm. Please mark your calendars.
11/12 3:05pm-4:05pm
12/10 6:45am-7:45am
1/14 3:05pm-4:05pm
2/11 6:45am-7:45am
3/10 3:05pm-4:05pm
4/14 6:45am-7:45am
5/12 3:05pm-4:05pm
6/9 6:45am-7:45am
Weekly Dose of Encouragement
OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW
Phone Extensions
GATE Applicant/Interested Parent Tours
Most dates are on some Fridays at 9am, but there are some parents that cannot attend those that will come on other days/times. I'm giving you all a heads up now - if you see us walking around the school or peeking in your classroom - you won't be surprised. No need to stop and have a quick chat about what your students are doing unless you have time. In other words, don't stop teaching. :) It's a fantastic opportunity for interested families to see what we have to offer. It benefits all of us when we are able to show them what a fantastic environment we provide for our students!
Here's the link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080a49aca62da0f58-avondale
GATE Application Dates - FYI
Every year I coordinate all of the application process for next year's students. This involves two important "windows" - one for resident students of Avondale, and one for students outside of the district that we call "school of choice" students. Any student can apply if they live in Oakland county or any county contiguous to it. Students come in for testing and take the MAP math, MAP reading, and complete a narrative writing assessment. These are scored and students must score in the 93rd percentile or higher in both MAP tests in order to be considered. You are always welcome to attend the information nights or be a part of the selection teams. Please let me know if you're interested.
2019-2020 Applications: Important Dates
October 2nd 6:30-7:30: INTERNAL Information Night at Meadows
October 16th 6:30-7:30: INTERNAL Information Night at Meadows
Nov 4 - Nov 15: INTERNAL Application Window
Nov 20th: Writing assessment conducted at each home school
December 13th: Selection team meeting at Meadows
December 16th-17th: Internal Parent Notification
January 10th: Letter of intent OR Appeals DUE
January 16th: Internal appeals meeting
January 17th: Notification of decision for internal appeals
January 29th 6:30-7:30: SCHOOL OF CHOICE Information Night at Meadows
February 5th 6:30-7:30: SCHOOL OF CHOICE Information Night at Meadows
February 3rd - March 3rd: SCHOOL OF CHOICE application window
March 9th and 11th: Writing assessment and Math MAP assessment.
March 16th and 18th: Reading MAP assessment.
March 23rd: Selection team meet
March 26th-27th: School of Choice Parent Notification
April 3rd: Letter of intent OR Appeals DUE
April 13th: School of Choice appeals meeting
April 16th- 17th: Notification of decision for school of choice appeals
FOSS Kits
Please let me know if you have any questions about the FOSS kits you received.
We will have two FOSS kits this year. They will be used during Trimester 1 and Trimester 2.
2nd-Pebbles, Sand, Silt (Fall drop off, Dec. 1 PU), Solids and Liquids (Nov Drop off, Feb 19 PU)
3rd- Water and Climate (Fall drop off, Dec. 1 PU), Motion and Matter (Nov Drop off, Feb 19 PU)
4th- Soil, Rocks, and Landforms (Fall drop off, Dec. 1 PU), Energy (Nov Drop off, Feb 19 PU
5th- Earth and Sun (Fall drop off, Dec. 1 PU), Mixtures and Solutions (Nov Drop off, Feb 19 PU)
2nd/3rd: Amanda Merrill - 2nd grade kit
2nd/3rd: Kimberly McDermid - 3rd grade kit
3rd/4th: Rachel Breeden - 3rd grade kits
4th/5th: Michelle Gierman - 4th grade kits
4th/5th: Erica Burmann - 5th grade kits