Anchor Weekly
A newsletter for Alta Vista Staff~Week of January 6, 2020
Don't Forget! Next Week's Calendar
- Staff Professional Development on Monday, January 6 (See Below for Details)
- New Year Celebration for students on Tuesday, January 7 (How will you welcome back students?)
- Library closed for training on Wednesday, January 8
- Faculty Meeting on Wednesday, January 9 (Swivl Lessons) **Bring headphones and laptop to review video**
- Behavior PLC on Thursday, January 9
- Science 1/2 Day Planning with Region 12 (1 Teacher/Grade) on Friday, January 10
- Tribe Pow-Wow on Friday, January 10 during Specials
- GT Fair (Grades 1-3) after school on Monday, January 13
- GT Fair (Grades 4-5) after school on Tuesday, January 14
- ELAR 1/2 Day Region 12 Coaching (Gr 5) on Tuesday, January 14
- Math Region 12 Coaching on Tuesday, January 14
- Faculty Meeting on Wednesday, January 15
- Math PLC on Thursday, January 16
Coming Up Soon: MLK Day (No School) on January 20; After-School Tutoring starts January 21
Captain's Log
The holiday break is one of my favorite times of year. Not only does it allow me to spend extra time with my family (late morning snuggles with the kids, date night with the hubby), but it also gives me a chance to "reset." I have the time to slow down, reflect, and correct the paths that I'm on. I haven't decided on my #OneWord yet, but I know it will be reflective of the changes happening this year.
I encourage you all to also slow down and reflect on where you want your path to lead in 2020. How will you start off the New Year with enthusiasm and passion? What will be your focus? Our leadership team will be sharing our revised campus goals on January 6, and we are really excited about the upcoming work and challenges that lie ahead of us.
Some of you may have noticed some new faces helping in the cafeteria in the mornings. I have asked our leadership team to step in to support our aides in the mornings since I'm outside. Here's the rotation schedule:
- Monday-Salazar
- Tuesday-Spark
- Wednesday-Ochard
- Thursday-Boggess
- Friday-Maynard
Mrs. Helton's Week At A Glance
- Monday-Attending PD with staff
- Tuesday-District leadership PD off campus (tentatively)
- Wednesday-District leadership PD off campus
- Thursday-Behavior PLC
- Friday-Tribe Pow Wows
Teacher To-Do List
- Take home your laptop/HMH Teacher Edition & 1 Student PAL/planning materials so you have it for off-campus PD (1/6)
- Plan how you will kick off the New Year with students (1/7)
- Recruit and practice with your UIL teams
- Prepare report cards, Intervention Reports, and Tutoring Letters to go home (1/9)
Open Building Dates/Times
12/23 and 12/27 (8:00am-2:00 pm) - Mrs. Jaime will be here
12/30 and 1/3 (8:00am-2:00 pm)- Mrs. Geneva will be here
Professional Development Plans for January 6
Dress Code: Jeans and official Alta Vista or WISD Shirt (most staff will be off campus so please look professional in your choice of jeans/shirt).
- Grades K-2: HMH Training at Brazos High School from 8:30-11:30 AM (Bring ELAR HMH Teacher Edition book, 1 teaching PAL (student edition), laptop, HMH Login Information, Lesson Planning Materials
- Grades 3-5 ELAR: See above (HMH Training)
- Grades 3-5 Math & Science: Planning with Region 12 at JH Hines Library from 8:30-11:30 AM (Bring laptop, post-it notes, TEKS Resource Center Login information, Lesson Planning Materials)
- PK Teachers & Aides: Common planning from 8:30-11:30 AM at Alta Vista (teacher-led)
- Specials Teachers: Common planning from :30-11:30 AM at Alta Vista (teacher-led)
- Paraprofessionals/Aides: See Connie/Koenig for tasks; work in classrooms when tasks complete
LUNCH (11:30-1:00) ON YOUR OWN
AFTERNOON
- All Staff: Campus Goals & Leadership Survey from 1:00-2:30 in Cafeteria
- Paraprofessionals Only: Student Expectations/CHAMPS from 2:30-3:00 in Cafeteria
Tribes
Conscious Discipline & CHAMPS
We are excited about our new CHAMPS Classroom Coaches-thanks to Ms. Haskett, Ms. Gray, Ms. Rawles, and Ms. Malcom! We will be sharing more about classroom management coaching at our January Behavior PLC on Thursday, January 9.
Don't forget the importance of re-teaching expectations as we come back from the holiday break. ALL STUDENTS are going to need explicit reminders about what we expect, and consistency is important! What are your plans to reteach procedures and also reconnect students with their peers and with you.
PLCs
Make sure you check the PLC Notes Template to review "To-Do" items prior to PLCs each week. Bring your laptop, planning calendar and materials, assessment data, and student work samples each week.
1/9: Behavior PLC
1/16: Math PLC
1/23: Reading PLC with Achieve/Smarty Ants Training
Resources:
Self-Care for You!
As we move closer and closer to holiday break, I think it is pertinent to discuss burnout. Whether you yourself have been experiencing burnout, or you are noticing signs of burnout in those around you, it is everyone’s duty to notice these signs in ourselves and others and engage in self-care or offer support to those around us.
The Four Stages of Burnout:
I. Enthusiasm. When beginning a job, a person may have high enthusiasm and expectations of him/herself, as well as the job itself.
II. Stagnation. This happens when various needs of the person (financial, personal, career) are not being met. If the individual views that the organization isn’t providing enough positive reinforcement, or if pressures begin to build at a rate that isn’t anticipated, this stage will evolve into the next stage.
III. Frustration. The individual will begin to question the values and effectiveness of the organization, as well as the impact of his/her own work within it. Pressures continue to build, making the person begin to feel helpless and/or hopeless, which leads into the final stage.
IV. Apathy. When this stage is reached, the person experiences chronic indifference to his/her situation, little interest in seeking help with the belief of “why bother” or “what’s the point”. This is complete burnout.
What does burnout look like?
- Poor coordination Insomnia or excessive sleeping
- Pessimism or inability to cope
- Increased irritability with students/co-workers
- Increased dread of work
- Self-criticism
- Lack of engagement
- Rapid mood swings
- Avoidance and isolation
- Increased bouts of depression or anxiety
- Constant exhaustion
- Over or under eating
- Integration of professional and personal roles
- Loss of enjoyment
- Suicidal thoughts
- Use and/or abuse of substances
What can we do this during the break to rejuvenate?
- Meditate
- Stretch
- Talk to someone you trust
- Grounding
- Deep breathing:
- Do the things that bring you joy:
- If you don’t know what brings you joy, what a perfect time! Don’t be afraid to bring out your inner child this holiday break.
Staff of the Week
Congratulations to Ms. Bernal for being our STAFF OF THE WEEK. She is a constant and dependable person that all of us can count on for a smile and a friendly "hello", especially her PK students.
Vertical Planning & Coaching Days
- Math Planning Dates (Grades K-5): February 18
- Science Planning Date (Grades K-5): January 10, February 19
- ELAR Coaching Days: January 14th (5th grade); January 27 (4th Grade); March 23 (3rd Grade)
- ELAR Planning Dates: February 11 (3rd-5th Grade Full Day); April 22 (3rd-5th Grade Full Day)
For math and science, planning will be 1/2 day each from 12-4 pm. You will need to create a 1/2 day school business absence in TEAMS for the afternoon if you plan that specific subject (1 per grade level).
For reading in grades 3-5, planning will be a full day; you will need to create a full day school business in TEAMS for that day if you plan reading in grades 3-5. Please work with Ms. Bonnie to secure subs for these days (grades 3-5 only). Grades K-2 will use the aides assigned to their grade level.