Team Thomson News & Notes
November 19, 2017
Important Information for You!
A Time to be Thankful
I love the entire holiday season...Thanksgiving through New Years! However, each has it's own special purpose. Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on all that we are thankful for. Personally, I have lots to be thankful for beginning of course with my family and all that we have and can do, but I am also thankful for the work that I get to do everyday with each of you, for the support we give our students and each other, for the obstacles we are able to overcome together, and for the friendships that I have been able to develop through the work I get to do everyday. The work we do can be challenging but it is worth it and for that I am very thankful!
This week, a wonderful topic for your classroom circles would be to name 1-3 things that you are thankful for.
MDE Literacy Announcement
As we focus our attention on getting back to Balanced Literacy, we have been reviewing and referencing the Essentials of Literacy put out by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE). I am very excited to share a useful link with you from the MDE. Here is an announce they made last week:
The Department of Education, in conjunction with their professional learning early literacy partners, is pleased to announce the roll out of a series of online modules developed to support K-3 teachers and administrators in the essential instructional practices necessary for good literacy instruction. The Introduction and Module I are available today athttp://literacyessentials.org/. The additional nine modules will roll out about every two weeks over the upcoming months. This free resource includes slides, narration, and video clips of Michigan teachers utilizing the practices in their classrooms.
This site is very useful and allows you to develop your understanding of the Literacy Essentials and is a terrific addition to the conversations we have been having all year. I highly encourage you to visit the site to see what is available.
Child Study
Our next Child Study date will be December 12th. Please send any names of students you'd like a Child Study on and the reason (academic and/or behavior) to Jason and myself by November 21st. Please remember that any child being brought to Child Study should have been discussed with your PLC team prior.
Cool to Care
Thank you to Sara Howes for contacting the NHS sponsor from DHS! Unless otherwise notified, NHS students will be here after high school dismissal on Mondays and Wednesdays to collect cans from your classroom and sort them for us. However, please remember to keep the running total in your classrooms and should you choose to move items to the 'staging area' in the north wing on your own, you must sort the items into the appropriate boxes.
5D+
I have enjoyed getting into classrooms and observing teaching and learning. I plan to continue observations this week. Remember, once you receive the noticings and wonderings you have 48 hours to respond and then I will leave feedback for you. As you know email notifications are sent every time there you or I add something to the observation, however know that I am trying something a little different right now. In order to do an observation I need to be in your classroom, to code, then notice and wonder, I do not. So, I am trying to do as many classroom observations in the times laid out in my schedule and I am saving the coding, noticing, and wondering for office time or evenings. You can expect notification within 48 hours of an observation. Also, remember that responses should not be made during classroom time. Thank you for keeping the focus on the students and the learning taking place in your classrooms.
Quotes Worth Reading
"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough."
-Oprah Winfrey
"Happy are those who take life day by day, complain very little, and are thankful for the little things in life."
-thegoodvive.co
Thomson Elementary
Home of the Thomson Teddies!
And..
Where Kids Come First and Futures Begin!
Email: nmiller@davisonschools.org
Website: www.davisonschools.org
Location: 617 East Clark Street, Davison, MI, United States
Phone: 810-591-0911
Celebrations & Announcements
Happy Birthday to: Erin O'Connor and Staci Lambaria, both November 22nd; myself, November 24th....I don't know about Staci and Erin, but pumpkin pie is my favorite type of birthday cake. LOL!
Don't forget if you'd like to purchase a Wojo's poinsettia or wreath from our PTO, please fill out the form on the whiteboard in the lounge first thing Monday morning. Payments should be given to the office. Thank you for your consideration and support of our PTO.
Happy Black Friday Shopping to those of you who venture out!
Important Upcoming Dates:
- November 20th and 22nd-STAR Progress Monitoring Testing
- Monday, November 20th-PTO Flower Fundraiser Ends, PTO Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, November 22nd-District $5 Jean Day to support Cool to Care
- Thursday, November 23rd-Thanksgiving Day, No School, Enjoy your time with family and friends!
- Friday, November 24th-Black Friday, No School, Happy Friday!
- Week of November 26th-PLC Week
- Tuesday, November 28th-Picture Re-take Day
- Wednesday, November 29th-Staff Meeting, 7:35 a.m. (Agenda: Behavior Data Review, Star Testing Review); Early Release Day, PD from 1:45-4:45 p.m.
- Thursday, November 30th-Elementary Principals Meeting (Natalie)