Parsons Weekly Update
January 15, 2024
"Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve." Dr King
What a great week back! I appreciate all of your flexibility in our weird schedules this week. Overall, I would say this was a success. Keep reteaching those expectations!
Dearborn’s Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation is hosting several events to celebrate the life and legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., including free admission. There will be featured programs, performances, living history demonstrations and film screenings. In honor of the federal holiday, admission and parking to the museum, 20900 Oakwood Blvd., are free on Monday, Jan. 15.
I have taken my own children many times on Dr. King day. Henry Ford can be so expensive for families and this is an awesome opportunity to attend the museum. They also have the original Rosa Parks bus where students can sit in the same seat that Rosa Parks sat on!
I hope whether you participate in a service activity on Monday or you relax and enjoy family time that you have a great week!
Wednesday PD Resources
Here is the link for the powerpoint from our PD on Wednesday about ASD Strategies, Inclusion, and Presuming Competence. Thank you for your attention and engagement!
I do own Shelley Moore's book One without the Other: Teaching with Diversity and Inclusion if anyone wants to borrow it.
Mid Year Evaluations and Unannounced Observations
Do students understand the task?
Do students demonstrate genuine caring for one another?
Do students take pride in their work and initiate improvements in it by revising?
Do students contribute to explaining concepts to their peers and ensure everyone's voice is heard?
Do students assess and monitor their own work?
iReady Diagnostic 2: Planning for Winter iReady Diagnostic
Questions we asked our i-Ready presenter:
If a child has already met their typical and stretch growth goal at Diagnostic 2, does the spring goal change or how do teachers ensure or know what to tell students their next goal is?
The spring goal does not change, so the teachers want to encourage students who have already met these goals to see how much more they can grow by the end of the year - maybe call it a Super Growth Goal.
Is there a strategy or a way for teachers to know what the winter goal should be?
By the midyear (winter) diagnostic, we like to see students having made at least 50% (and possibly more) progress toward their Typical Growth goal. Students who have not made at least 50% progress toward their Typical Growth may benefit from additional supports or interventions.
Here's the i-Ready Central page on Growth: https://i-readycentral.com/articles/setting-growth-goals/. Check out the pdf below about mid year growth.
The iReady window will be open from Monday, January 8th - Friday, January 19th. I would encourage you all to plan to test the week of January 8th, so you can use the following week for makeups.
It is important we ensure we "get good data" on the winter iReady diagnostic. Below are documents that can help you plan to administer the second diagnostic.
Remember you can use the padlet, the iReady presenter gave us. If you scroll you will see the different powerpoint presentations you can use with your students to prepare them before the test. Remember that our language matters when presenting this to students. We want to focus on the importance of the test to see their growth and if they have met their goals. I will be putting some goal sheets you may use in your mailbox.
Tech Reminder
For any/all tech needs, please create a ticket. It is the most efficient way to ensure the department responds to needs effectively. You can use the RESA Service Desk site (https://servicedesk.resa.net) or email the support email (gb.support@resa.net).
PBIS
I have seen so much goal setting going on! Great job!
PBIS Pillar of the Month for January: Goal Setting
Here are some resources for goal setting (pdfs are below).
Create Vision Boards
Goal Setting Banner
New Year Resolution Activity
Slides:
PBIS Meeting Dates: 1/18, 2/15, 3/14, 4/11, 5/23
We meet at 8:05 in the Staff Lounge.
PBIS Weekly Focus:
I have been reviewing these daily in the lunchroom as well.
1/15 Classroom
1/22 Hallway
1/29 Cafeteria
Emergency Behavior and Intervention Team
Shout Outs
Thank you to Ed for hanging our Marauders Include poster.
Thank you to Kendra for helping out at Drama Club.
Thank you to Danielle for helping our student in Mrs. Bannon's class. He is doing great with you!
Thank you to our lunch staff and lunch moms for being flexible this week with low staff.
Thank you to Cara for giving up her space on Thursday for the space dome.
Parent Shout Outs:
Staff Shout Outs:
To Ms. Scheetz, Ms. Cook, and Ms. Gurney...Thanks for being flexible when I needed to teach in your classrooms this week. I am blessed to get to work with you all and your students this year!!
Who would you like to Shout Out? Fill out the form here.
Orange Frog
Kristyl nominated Danni for the following reasons.
Danni is always positive! She never complains and she always reminds us of what is important!
- What brings you joy? My family and friends
- How do you bring joy to others? I try to be a giving person.
- Who is someone that brings joy to you? My coworkers
Spark Student of the Week: Blake
Blake is Mr. Positive. He always is excited to come into school in the morning. He gives hugs and compliments. Blake is always willing to help out in his classroom or school community.
Blake
- What brings you joy? To see everyone be happy
- How do you bring joy to others? By playing with them at recess, being a friend, or helping someone who needs help
- Who is someone that brings joy to you? Everyone in Ms. Fairris's class!
Bite Sized PD
This year we have strived to be intentional with technology use in the classroom. We have to intentionally teach our students (and often ourselves and our own children) to be thoughtful about the way they engage with technology.
Here is an engagement strategy from CBD Consulting.
20-20-20
WHAT IT IS:
20-20-20 is a self-management strategy to encourage good focus and attention habits especially related to technology use.
HOW IT WORKS:
Simply put, for every 20 minutes of technology use for students, pause in looking at a screen and look at an object or location at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds. The goal of the strategy is deliberate self-management to help reduce eye fatigue and attention difficulties. To increase the value of the strategy, consider having students get up and move, as well.
Website News Article
Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark Assessment Calendar
Check out the GSD Handbook!
Trusting Readers Book Study
The next book study is January 23rd at 8:00 am in the lounge.
What to expect:
We will meet twice per month for 30 minutes each time
Everyone reads at their own pace, please attempt to keep up
Safe zone: this is where we can ask questions and discuss to deepen our understanding
Practice respect
Be willing to participate
Upcoming Dates
January 15th: MLK Day, No School
January 16th: Crisis Meeting 4 pm
January 18th: Drama Club Begins, Lock Down 11:00, PBIS meeting 8:10
January 22nd: Principal's Meeting 1:00-3:30
January 24th: MTSS
January 25th: Drama Club, MTSS
February 6th: Cabinet Meeting at Stark 8:30-11:30
February 7th: Count Day
February 8th: Drama Club, Town Hall 2:00, Staff meeting 7:45,
February 13th: PTO 6:00
February 15th: PBIS meeting 8:10, Drama Club
February 19th-20th: Winter Break, No School
February 22nd: Drama Club
February 27th: PD Day, No School
February 29th: Drama Club
March 1st: Trenton Theater Kindergarten Field Trip 9:00
March 7th: Drama Club
March 12th: PTO 6:00
March 14th: Drama Club
March 15th: Dress Rehearsal Drama Club
March 21st Drama Club Final Performance
March 22nd: Talent Show
March 25th-April 1st : No School, Spring Break
April 2nd: School Resumes
April 5th: Half Day, Dismissal 11:55
April 9th: PTO 6:00
April 11th: Board Meeting 7:00
April 17th: No School, PD day
May 9th: Mornings with Mom, Board meeting 7:00
Math 14th: PTO 6:00
May 16th: Bike to School
May 20th-May 22nd: 5th Grade Camp
May 27th: Memorial Day, No School
May 30th: Donuts with Dad, Real Life Farms Kindergarten 9:00
May 31st: 5th Grade Party 5:00-7:30
June 5th: Senior Clap Out at Parsons
June 7th: CHS Graduation
June 10th: Field Day
June 14th: Last Day of School, Half Day 11:55 dismissal