Monday Morning Motivation
Central Elementary Staff News---January 22-January 26, 2018
Our Mission
Providing engaging academic experiences, the Central Elementary Community will inspire and support students to become caring, confident, lifelong learners.
Creativity Abounds at Central
Dear Staff,
Our mission statement begins with the subordinate clause, providing engaging academic experiences, and while walking through the halls this week, I saw many examples of teachers doing just that.
Kindergarten and first grade celebrated our 100th day of school, which made us all pause to think all we have done and how few days we have ahead of us to reach our grade-level academic benchmarks. In second grade, students honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in a creative way using cups and emphasizing vocabulary. Third grade students had a terrific day at the Wonderlab in Bloomington. Several teachers shared how fun it was to see students thrive in the hands-on environment and are looking forward to monthly visits to our own Imagination Lab next year. Fourth grade students set goals and were excited when they met them, celebrating their hard work with donuts. As I observed classrooms, teachers had students up and moving around the room in creative ways solving problems and developing vocabulary. Fifth grade students were collaborating and enjoying themselves during art stations. Wouldn't it be fun for us all to participate in Mrs. Loudermilk's art class each day? This is just a small glimpse of all that is happening on your classrooms. Please continue to share through photos or classroom visit invitations.
January and February can be difficult months not only because the weather is dreary, but because of all the upcoming testing. Thank you for all the ways you are providing engaging and creative lessons for our students. Keep up the good work!
Have a great week!
Julie
Central Calendar
Monday, January 22
- Cogat practice begins
- Mrs. Thacker Tea 6:30 p.m. before 7:00 p.m. PTO meeting
Tuesday, January 23
- Team Leader Meeting 7:30 a.m.
- WIDA Testing-See schedule
- Office Meeting 2:30 p.m.
- Read Like a Champion Night 5:30-7:30
Wednesday, January 24
- WIDA Testing-See schedule
- 1st Round Battle of the Books 2:20 p.m.
Thursday, January 25
- RTI/PBIS Committee 8:00
- WIDA Testing--See schedule
- Elementary Principal meeting 9:30 a.m.
Friday, January 26
- Cogat practice
- Battle of the Book Rounds 9:00
- STEM/Brag Tags
Monday, January 29
Tuesday, January 30
- Cogat
Wednesday, January 31
- Cogat
Thursday, February 1
- Cogat
Friday, February 2
- Cogat
- Battle of the Books Final Round Clarks Creek
Announcements and Reminders
- BRAG TAGS---please place your list in Amy's Mailbox by Thursday, January 25. These will be passed out to students on Friday
- ISTEP Statewide Readiness Test--February 7th from 10:00-11:00 We need to be on every computer which we think we might use for testing.
- Opening Minds--Please read the first four chapters, while notating your thoughts before the faculty meeting in February.
- Schedule Observations for Second Semester--You all should be scheduled.
- Domains 1 and 3--Just a reminder to continue to collect documentation and place in Standards for Success
- See WIDA Schedule--Computer Lab 1 will be used to test
- FYI COGAT-We begin practice this week. Jacki has done a great job organizing. See Schedule below--note the days and times the labs are not available
- ISTEP Moodle presentations for teachers in grades 3, 4, and 5--Please invite me to team meetings to discuss these once you all have viewed them.
WIDA Testing Computer Lab 1 January 23-25
COGAT Schedule 2018
Great article about the power of silence and wait time
Staff Celebrations!
Attendance--97.65 for the month of January. Our weekly rate was only 95.36%. Last Monday hit us hard.
- Congrats to Erin Shelley and Sarah Tobey for being Central's Teachers of the week from January 22nd- 26th. Enjoy your front row parking spot!
January Birthdays!!!
Happy Birthday to you!
Guy Boltinghouse 3
Kelly Gowen 7
Jim Tharp 18
Shannon Todd 25
Patty Price 29