HAWK HAPPENINGS
The official newsletter of Hillcrest Elementary Staff
Every single student, every single day, in every single way.
April 7, 2019
MUST READ
Weekly Announcements
Teachers: when it is your class' turn, please send your 2-3 volunteers to the office right away so they can begin announcements at 8:30.
AFTER SCHOOL
Parent-Teacher Conference change
There will be no official Parent-Teacher conference Day, so no early dismissal day, no evening conference night.
A letter will go out to parents regarding the change
Stay tuned for more information.
PHOTOS OF CRYSTAL'S BABY!
Reminder: BREAKFAST CHANGE
Cold and hot breakfast will be separated to speed up the line.
We may also start staggering the 5th grade getting their breakfasts (delaying their start time to 8:10) if needed, and students are able to eat breakfast in classrooms but are encouraged to finish by 8:30.
Parent workshop April 4
Kudos to the Parent/Community Engagement Committee and the teachers who ran workshops for our first Parent Workshop “How to Motivate Your Child to Read”. While it was not the most well-attended event, our teachers did an incredible job preparing and executing their workshops! Thank you to everyone who helped! See the photos below!
HAWK HEROES
SPECIAL THANKS TO THESE HAWK HEROES:
Parent and Community Engagement Committee for planning and executing the parent workshops:
Laura Pena
Jen Bruno
Emily Diaz
Heydi Rodriguez
Ana Bueno
Jamie Rossi
Jonathan Sicherman
Marlix Hernandez
Marisa Anzovino
Marisa Anzovino for organizing the ELA Pep Rally
REMINDER re: QUICK WINS: Actions Required
If you have not already done so, please follow up on the three actions required so we can move forward with our QUICK WINS from the state visit:
1) Provide Differentiated Professional Development: Please complete the survey Mary sent via email so we can learn about the areas you feel you would like more support. While this was initiated as a Hillcrest Quick Win, Mary is sharing this across the elementary buildings for professionals in all of the buildings. If you have not already taken the survey, please click here so we can plan for YOU. PD SURVEY
2) Provide Student Choice on Reading Response Homework: We committed to providing students with a choice of ways to respond to their reading, rather than just writing. We would like to provide students with a menu of ways in which to respond that would require little to no additional work on teachers' parts. Before we roll something out with students, we would like your input on some of the response options, and to see if you have some additional ideas. Please click here -- it should only take 3 minutes. Reading Response Menu Survey
3) Create a school-wide system for sending at least 2 pieces of student work home to parents each week. Weigh in with your opinions here, because whatever is selected, it will become a consistent practice across the school. Student Work Survey
ELA HAPPENINGS
Christine McCourt will be back this week! We will have a 7:40 Faculty Meeting with Christine on Wednesday, and she will follow the same visit schedule as her last visit.
Reminder: SEL (Social/Emotional Learning) Happenings
* An article about the best classroom management technique: establishing relationships. Click on this link for a short but interesting article.
* REMINDER: The Office of Special Services has ZONES Nook materials to gift to your classroom! You can get a bean bag chair and a kit of "cool down" tools if you would like to carve out a ZONES Nook in your classroom, where students can go to help "re-set" when they become dis-regulated. The idea is to provide a space within the classroom setting where students can re-set without having to leave the room and have an extended absence from learning. If you would like to have a ZONES Nook kit sent to your classroom, please sign up on this Google Doc.
MATH HAPPENINGS
Math Madness Kick-Off will be April 8th
Multiplication Mondays
Take-Away and Total it (Subtraction/Addition) Tuesdays
What’s Inside It? (Division) Wednesdays
Think it Through (Problem Solving) Thursdays
Fraction Fridays
Everyone who sees children in the hallway, gym, cafeteria, outside, etc. should ask students questions that pertain to the daily math theme.
Math Madness Announcements will include a math riddle relating to the theme
Each teacher will use 5 minutes each day to assess students on chromebooks through Google forms with questions. (2 on grade level, 2 below grade level, and 1 above grade level.) The results will get posted to a spreadsheet that Gerald has created and will be shared with teachers for analysis. (Chromebooks will be back in the building when we do this.)
We are piloting this system for next year so that we can work out the kinks now.
Math Lighthouse schedule will also begin April 8th. This is a slight shift that builds upon the work that Gerald has been doing. He will soon take other teachers with him on his classroom visits to watch others "in action" doing something he has been focusing on during his PD and visits thus far. Guests may be selected based on a specific teacher's request, on observation Gerald has made that a teacher is ready to incorporate something different into their math block, or simply scheduling convenience.
- Here is the schedule for Dr. Ardito for this week:
Val (covered by
Julia (covered by Mendello)
Emily E. (covered by Hess)
Emily D. (covered by Alvarado)
Dr. Ardito's Math Observation Schedule
4/9/19
8:00 Lighthouse Debrief w/Troy
8:45 Lighthouse Visit in Troy’s Room on Math Centers Visitors include
9:30 Calabro- Room 12 (Hess will cover at 1:15 for debrief)
10:15 Valenzuela- Room 23 (Grey will cover at 1:15 for debrief)
11:00 Rossi and Tama-Room 25 (Mandello will cover at 1:15 for debrief)
11:45 Lunch w/ Randy
12:30 Bruno-Room 20 (Rodriguez will cover at 1:15 for debrief)
1:15 Debrief- All above teachers- Art Room
Dr. Ardito's Math Observation Schedule
4/11/19
8:00 Pop-In Visits
8:45 Perlowitz- Room 14 (Hess will cover at 1:15 for debrief)
9:30 Esposito-Room Room 6 (Mendello will cover at 1:15 for debrief)
10:15 Pena- Room 29 (Grey will cover at 1:15 for debrief)
11:00 Diaz- Room 27 (Alvarado will cover at 1:15 for debrief)
11:45 Fernandez- Room 30 (Badurski will cover at 1:15 for debrief- Ashley Lape will assist)
12:30 Lunch w/ Randy
1:15 Debrief- All above teachers-Art Room
WANT TO SEE PHOTOS OF CRYSTAL'S BABY?
Reminder: STUDENT PORTFOLIOS
YOGA for Friday Gym Classes
FINALLY! MORE PHOTOS OF CRYSTAL'S BABY!!!
SHOULD READ
Teacher Behavior Management System by Gerry Brooks
https://www.facebook.com/gerrybrooksprin/videos/2167698703308390?sfns=mo
https://www.facebook.com/gerrybrooksprin/videos/2286906408294827?sfns=mo