Carnegie Updates
for the week of March 21st
Principal Pollard
Dear Carnegie Professionals,
CTU’s "Day of Action" is scheduled for April 1st. The district has placed the following guidance on how benefit day requests will be handled on April 1, 2016.
- Employees who participate will not be paid on April 1, 2016 and are not eligible to use benefit time.
- CPS policy permits sick day benefit time only for the personal illness of an employee or a person who is a dependent of the employee. Fraudulent use of benefit time is dishonest and violates CPS’s disciplinary rules. Employees who do are subject to discipline.
- Requests for sick leave benefit time use on April 1, 2016 will not be granted unless supported by a medical provider's certification.
- Requests for personal business day use on April 1, 2016 will not be granted unless the employee has an emergency and submits both credible evidence of the emergency and a demonstrated need to be absent on April 1st.
If you have any further questions, please see Ms. Hegwood, Union Representative.
There are a large number of parents who have NOT received Parent Letters or other school information. You are to ensure that you send all Parent Letters to your parents via ClassDojo, Remind or email. Currently, Rooms 204, 206 &208 shared their ClassDojo with me. If you communicate with your parents via ClassDojo, you are to share your class/ClassDojo with me ASAP.
Reminder: There are still a large number of staff members reporting the wrong start and end time in AESOP. When reporting your absence in AESOP. You are to ensure that you change the start time to 8:45 a.m. and the end time to 3:45 p.m.
Missed Swipes: The number of missed swipes are increasing. Therefore, please be reminded that all staff members are required to swipe in and out daily. In the event that you miss swiping, please see Mrs. Percy for a Punch Edit Approval Form. I am the only one who approves pay. Therefore, failure to swipe in and out may delay your pay.
There will be NO SCHOOL on Friday, March 25th. It’s a mandated district Furlough Day.
The PAC will sponsor in collaboration with the Cook County Sheriff's Department a “Mind Your Child’s Business” Part 2: Parent Workshop on Thursday, March 24th at 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Room 201. This workshop will help increase parents’ knowledge of Internet safety information and guidelines. The one-hour session includes information on protecting children while using the Internet; how young people are using the Internet; social networking sites; electronic bullying; and how to report and block illegal or questionable Internet activity. Light refreshments will be served.
REMINDER: The School Nurse is at our school on Mondays. Only students with a major illness that require the student to be sent home or otherwise are to be sent to the school nurse. All other minor medical issues are to be handled by teacher. First Aid kits were delivered to your class last week. Additional ice packs & band-aids are available in the main office. Teachers/staff are required to call parents concerning any minor medical issues and document calls on the Telephone Log Sheet.
Career Day will be held on March 29th for Kindergarten-3rd grades and March 30th for 4th-8th grades from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Everyone is asked to seek out a guest speaker for Career Day. If you know any family or friends that would like to participate in Career Day, you are to give their contact information to Ms. Hegwood by Monday, March 21st.
The 2016 Local School Council Election will be held on Spring Parent-Teacher Conference Day, Wednesday, April 13, 2016 from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The LSC Candidate Forum on Wednesday, March 30, 2016 at 4:00 p.m. in the gym. During the LSC Forum, LSC Candidates will prepare a short speech to the school community. The candidates are as follows: Teachers: Mrs. Daisy Anderson, Mrs. Nekia King & Mrs. Gina Blanchard. Non-Teacher: Mr. J. Bush. Parents: Yolanda Hatch, Chausii Roberson, Wonda Stubbs, Tina BeyMuhammad, Zaid BeyMuhammad, Brian Harris, Ethel Butler and Jameelah Shareff. Community: Delois Chatman & Chellie Fernandez
Domain 1: Planning & Preparation
- Gradebook feedback for the week of March 14th-18th will placed in your mailbox on Monday, March 21st.
Domain 3: Instruction
- We will administer the PARCC Assessments to all 3rd through 8th grade students on April 4th through 14th. 3rd & 4th grade students will take a paper/pencil assessment and 5th-8th grades will take an on-line assessment. All vital PARCC testing information and Testing Manuals will be shared with you on Tuesday, March 29th, Principal-directed Meeting.
- PARCC Practice Test can be accessed via http://parcc.pearson.com/practice-tests/.
- In preparation for PARCC, Trent will continue to check your Chromebook cart. You are to limit Chromebook use on Wednesdays, to allow time for Trent to update all chromebooks.
Domain 4: Personal Responsibilities
- Network 9 will host a Literacy Meeting at the Colman Building 4655 S. Dearborn (47th & State St.) (Room: Gym-3rd Floor) on the following date: Ms. Johnson, Monday, March 21st from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 pm. You will need to bring a charged laptop, your MOY data and teacher edition materials. You will also need to bring a lunch and snack. Substitutes has been scheduled and you will need to leave class work for your students.
- This week's grade-level meeting will be lead by the Team Chairperson. The focus of the meeting will be Paired Passages, PARCC Practice Test & Sadlier-Oxford Online Resources.
- Our attendance rate for last week was 95.51%. That's a .16% increase from the previous week. You are to input attendance into IMPACT by 9:30 a.m. and send your Attendance Folder to the Main Office (Mrs. Morgan-Percy). Mrs. Percy will call each classroom daily to cross check that students marked absence in IMPACT are absence. You are to immediately change late arrival from "ABSENT to TARDY" in IMPACT.
- In an effort to increase our attendance rate; for the last two weeks in March through June. The following attendance incentives will be offered to individual students and classes: All students and teachers with perfect attendance for the last two weeks in March through June will receive a Jimmy Johns gift card. The Top Three classrooms with the Highest Attendance Rate each month will receive a paid field trip to: 1st Place Winner each month may choose: Willis Tower Skydeck, Legoland, Shoreline Sightseeing’s Architecture Exploration Cruise, 2nd Place Winner each month may choose: Navy Pier Children's Museum, Navy Pier IMAX Theater or John Hancock Center and 3rd Place Winner each month may choose: Lincoln Park Zoo, The Field Museum or the Shedd Aquarium. PLEASE ENCOURAGE YOUR STUDENTS TO COME TO SCHOOL DAILY BY SHARING THE ATTENDANCE PRIZES DAILY!
- REACH Component 4b-4e Procedures Educators who will receive a summative rating following the 2015-16 school year are encouraged to submit evidence for components 4b-4e using one of the options explained below. This is especially important for the following groups of educators: PATs, Tenured educators on annual plans & Tenured educators in Year 2 of a biennial plan. Final 4b-4e evidence should be submitted in RLS on or about May 27, 2016. Evaluators provide final ratings in RLS on or about Friday, June 17, 2016. For additional information, please refer to CPS Knowledge Center.
ESP/MSU Student Interns:
MSU Student Interns are required to assist during lunch and recess time. You are to refer to your schedule.
- Indoor Duty: During inclement weather students will enter through the main entry and will be directed to the cafeteria and/or gym at 8:30 a.m.
- Outdoor Duty: You are to be outside near your entry/exit door promptly at 8:30 a.m. You must circulate throughout school grounds.
- Resources teachers must be visible on the 2nd floor at your designated location from 8:45 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
"Small Grant Opportunities"
There are a few grant opportunities available for CPS teachers and schools. See the below list of grants that are currently available. Please apply, if interested.
LearnStorm 2015 Chicago Innovation Seed Grant
Schools may apply for 1 of 10 $5,000 grants to provide funding for classroom technology. Learn more about this grant opportunity by clicking here.
McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation
The Teacher Development Grants support small teams of teachers in the formation and implementation of groundbreaking k-12 classroom instruction. The grants provide opportunities for teachers to integrate fresh strategies that encourage critical inquiry and to observe their effects on students. $10,000 per year for a maximum of $30,000 over three years. April 15, 2016 at 11:59 PM Mountain Time
http://mccartheydressman.org/teacher-development-grants/
Pets in the Classroom
Pets in the Classroom is an educational grant program that provides financial support to teachers to purchase and maintain small animals in the classroom. Various, up to free starter kit and ½ of pet and other pet products. Rolling. http://www.petsintheclassroom.org/grant-app/
Voya Unsung Heroes-Voya Financial
Each year, educators submit applications for a Voya Unsung Heroes grant by describing projects they have initiated or would like to pursue. Each project is judged on its: Innovative method, creativity, and ability to positively influence the students.
100 finalists receive a $2,000. The top three receive: $25,000 for first place; $10,000 for second place; and $5,000 for third place. April 30, 2016.
https://unsungheroes.scholarshipamerica.org/
USA TODAY Charitable Foundation and its Education Partners
USA TODAY Charitable Foundation and its Education Partners are looking for educators that would like to receive access to the USA TODAY Electronic Edition (digital) at no cost. This includes usernames and passwords for you and your students and is available now until July 2015. Terms for receiving a grant: Returning a Confirmation Delivery Form at the end of the school year is a requirement of receiving a grant. Free USA TODAY Electronic Edition for teacher and students. Rolling (until July 2016)
http://usatodayeducation.com/k12/usa-today-education-grant-request
Karma for Cara Community Service Youth Microgrant Program
As part of our efforts to support youth volunteerism, we started a microgrant program in fall 2014. We are encouraging kids 18 and under to apply for funds between $250 and $1,000 to complete service projects in their communities. Whether it is turning a vacant lot into a community garden, rebuilding a school playground or helping senior citizens get their homes ready for winter, we want to hear what project you’re passionate about.
$1,000 for students under 18. Rolling
http://karmaforcara.org/get-involved/apply-for-a-microgrant/
Safe Places to Play-U.S. Soccer Foundation
Urban areas often lack available space for children to play outside. In order to provide an opportunity for all children to play soccer, we have taken on the task of providing children across the nation with places to play. Our Safe Places to Play program provides grants to organizations to help them build or enhance a field space in their communities. To date, we have helped create over 1,100 safe places for children nationwide.
New “mini-pitch” soccer field. LOI Due 5/27/16. Application due 6/3/16
http://ussoccerfoundation.org/programs/safe-places-to-play
Build it with KaBOOM!-Youth Service America
A Build it with KaBOOM! grant provides the facilitation and support of an experienced Project Manager as community members embark on a 5–12 week planning process. After selection, all partners will join together for a community Design Day, inviting play experts (the kids, of course) to design their dream playspace. Your hard work and required weekly planning will result in a six-hour community day, where you will transform your community space to include a permanent play structure (equipment will be ordered by your Project Manager from Playworld Systems, Inc.) as well site enhancements that will make your space 100% unique to your community.
New playground. Rolling. https://kaboom.org/grants/build_it_with_kaboom
Wish You Well Foundation Grant
The Wish You Well Foundation supports programs that foster and promote “the development and expansion of new and existing literacy and educational programs." If you school or organization has developed a project that supports and promotes literacy, this is the grant program for you. To apply, submit a brief questionnaire online, as well as supporting documents. The Wish You Well Foundation reviews donation requests with a wide array of funding needs. Most requests range from $200 to $10,000
Rolling. http://www.wishyouwellfoundation.org/apply-for-funding/
Academic Enrichment Grants from the McCarthey Dressman Foundation
Deadline: April 15, 2016
The McCarthey Dressman Foundation provides funds to educators who are developing in-class and/or extra-curricular programs that improve student learning. The foundation "considers proposals that foster understanding, deepen students’ knowledge, and provide opportunities to expand awareness of the world around them" and preference goes to programs that benefit children from low-income households. Prize: Grants for individuals are available up to $10,000 per year for a maximum of $30,000 over three years.
Advancing Student Achievement Innovative Math Grants
Deadline: March 31, 2016
These grants from The Actuarial Foundation "support innovative math programs that open students’ minds to the practical power of math!" The focus is on learning programs that bridge the gap between classroom and real-world math, and there are support and sustaining grants available. Prize: There is a pool of $10,000 for five new grants and one-year extension grants.
Deadline: April 15, 2016
Do you have an idea for changing K-12 instruction? Considering applying for a Teacher Development Grant from the McCarthey-Dressman Foundation. Beginning January 15, small teams of teachers can apply for grants to form and implement "groundbreaking K-12 classroom instruction" programs. These grants are available to help teachers integrate new ideas for encouraging critical inquiry and gather the results to share with the community. Prize: Grants are available up to $10,000 per year for a maximum of $30,000 over three years.
Scholarships for Spanish Course in Mexico for Spanish Teachers
Deadline: March 31, 2016
The Cemanahuac Education Community Scholarships enables U.S. ACTFL Spanish teachers to attend two-week intensive Spanish courses in Cuernavaca, Mexico. College upperclassmen and graduate students, as well as current teachers, are eligible to apply.
Prize: Scholarships include tuition, registration and room and board during the two-week program.
Outstanding Special Education Teacher Awards from the NASET
Deadline: May 1, 2016
Each year, the National Association of Special Education Teachers recognizes an educator who has "demonstrated outstanding achievement in the field of special education." Educators must by nominated by their school, district, a colleague, or parent of a student, and nominees must be in their third year of teaching. Candidates are judged in three areas: teaching, service, and professional activities. Prize: There are several awards bestowed each year.
Congratulations to our newest Discovery Education DENSTAR!
Ms. E. Boateng, Room 210-4th/5th
Ms. C. Clark-Room 214-8thTeaching & Learning Through Technology
"Spotlight on Instruction"
Ma & Pa Kettle Math Misconceptions
School House Rock - U.S. Constitution Videos
Supplemental Resources
Sadlier Vocbulary-https://www.sadlierconnect.com/login.html
- Sadlier Connect Online Assessments prepare students for the new online Common Core assessments.
- Access content from multiple grade levels to scaffold instruction.
- Saves time with an abundance of ready-to-use preformatted program tests that are easily assigned to students.
- Offer a quick option for teachers to build customized practice worksheets and assessments to administer online or in print form.
Readworks-http://www.readworks.org/
- Reading two or more texts on a related topic, theme, or story element can help improve your students' reading comprehension. Practice comparing, contrasting and making connections with your students with the texts and questions in our newest collection: K-12th Grade Paired Texts & Question Sets. Each pair comes with questions that explore the relationship between the two texts. To find the paired text of a passage, go to the passage page and click the green tab labeled “Paired Texts.” You can find the paired text questions on this tab as well.
iReady Teacher Toolbox Resources-https://teacher-toolbox.com/
- PARCC Assessments. Click Ready Assessment Book Tab.
- Look for "PARCC" in the blue highlighted area.
- Click on Paper clipart & download student and/or teacher assessment.
LearnStorm 2016 - http://www.learnstorm2016.org/
LearnStorm (3rd-8th) began in January and will end on April 21st. Students in grades 3rd-8th can master math skills to earn rewards and recognition for themselves and our school. I am encouraging you to sign up your students now at LearnStorm2016.org. Please support our school in getting students registered for the challenge. Schools who register students have a chance to win a swag box, chromebooks and other prizes from Khan Academy. Feel free to take a look at their introductory video: https://youtu.be/hkUXi3J5TNo.
Discovery Education Featured Content & Resource
- Lively Lessons - Sunday Blog Series: Every Sunday this blog series will provide you with Discovery Education content and lesson plan ideas!
- Women’s History Month: Celebrate with and join Discovery in amplifying the bold voices and actions of women past and present.
- Content Collections bring together resources, lesson starters, and activities around key curriculum areas, Holidays and most frequently searched topics. Featured Content Collection: Inventors and Innovators. Investigate inventors and their innovations. Do any of your students have an idea for a new invention or solution to solve or impact an everyday problem?
- Interactive Training Modules provide Free Professional Development to your educators with these courses featuring integration strategies for using digital content. Featured Module: FLIPping the Classroom. Learn how to utilize digital media to flip your instruction, moving the lecture and foundational content out of the classroom and bringing constructive practice and application in.
- Spotlight On Strategies: Simple, research-based instructional strategies presented by teachers for teachers. Featured SOS: Visual Walkabout: Set up a gallery of images in your classroom and have your students “walkabout,” making connections and asking questions at each image. Assess your students’ prior knowledge and address early misconceptions.
- Virtual Field Trips: Take your students beyond the classroom walls and into unique locations for rich and immersive learning experiences. Featured Virtual Field Trip: The Magic of Madden. Join us live on April 14th as the makers of EA Sports “Madden NFL” provide us with a behind the scenes look into the science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) that go into making the world’s coolest games.