Monday Memo
May 7th-11th, 2018
"Data creates a connection, or lifeline, to student learning and progress, giving insight to instruction and pushing us to reflect on our practice. -Karon Hhaleel
First, I want to thank those of you who were able to make it out to La Hacienda Ranch last week. I think it speaks to our culture that so many of you made it out, and I had so much fun! Given the speed at which our day moves, it was so nice to slow down and enjoy each other's company for a few hours. It was truly one of the highlights of the year for me, and I hope it was for you as well.
I also hope you enjoyed the showering of appreciation last week as well. While nothing can ever fully express the gratitude parents have for all that you do for their children, I know PTA goes to a great amount of effort to make the week special. If you haven't done so already, please make sure that you write them a note. Please remember that PTA does not have access to our staff email, so unless you include them, they will not see it.
Miss Irma's birthday is on May 17th. Each year we take up a collection to give to her as a gift. Participation is optional, but if you'd like to participate, Donna will have an envelope in her office.
Recently, we have had students show up to school wearing full make-up. This is considered a distraction at this age and is not appropriate. Please remind all of your students and send out a reminder in your newsletter to parents if you have students wearing make-up to school.
Given the results of our recent lockdown drill, please make sure that you are absolutely certain of our lockdown procedures and review this as a team to make sure your understanding of them is accurate. While it was only a drill, if it had been the real thing, we could have lost the lives of many students and staff. In addition, many of you still have your blinds closed and windows covered from our lockdown drill. If that is the case, please open the blinds back up and remove the covering from your window.
Below is an email I received from a parent last week. I've already shared it with the people mentioned in it, but I'm sharing it in the newsletter because I thought everyone should see it. While you may have never had these two students, you do have students who need you just as much, with families who, whether they tell you or not, recognize and appreciate what you have done for their children. What we do every minute of every day matters, because in those minutes, when you are fully invested, you are changing lives. I've never been more proud to be a McGowen Maverick. Thank you for all that you do for our families.
As you begin planning for the week of May 14th, I would like for 3rd - 5th grade to carefully consider what they have planned for non-testing days, particularly on Thursday and Friday. Given the amount of quiet seat time students will have during the first part of the week, engaging and collaborative work should be on the agenda for Thursday and Friday. Readathons, movies, etc. have the appearance of time wasters and would not be appropriate.
Make today count, and take care of each other!
JL
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Never Underestimate Your Impact
Mrs. Little,
I want to thank you and your staff for everything that you all did for Blake and Austin. I believe the teachers at McGowen were extremely biased in the treatment of my kids! Many occasions it was as if my kids were the only children that were in each teacher’s class. I know they looked out for them as if they were their own sons. A parent could not ask for more and my boys were blessed being a part of such a wonderful environment. It hurts my heart and even brings tears to my eyes knowing that they will no longer be at your school.
I could fill this email with all the superlatives in the world and they wouldn’t be descriptive enough to do the staff at McGowen justice. The McGowen family has had such huge impact on my boys and will be remembered extremely fondly.
- Mrs. Barton: I still have the video of Austin laying in the floor and students walking over the top of him. So dang funny.
- Mrs. Daniel: I still have the text you sent about Austin when he said, “you know why I was kinda gooder in class today, its because I prayed about it” Thank you for all you did for him!
- Mrs. Garro: Thank you for loving Blake. I know Second Grade was tough for him!
- Mrs. Possehl: Thank you for being firm with Blake and holding him accountable. He absolutely loves you!
- Mrs. Larpenteur: Austin was a struggle, but you and he persevered! I appreciate you so much! I probably came to your class 30 times. Wow! Thank you!
- Mrs. O’Connor: Austin was scared to death of you and Mrs. Goodwin and when he learned he had you he cried and cried. By the end of the year, you both were his favorites!
- Mrs. Goodwin: You were so lucky to have Austin two years in a row! I still haven’t figured out how you drew the short end of the stick! I will never be able to thank you enough. You changed a little boy and made such an impact on his life. You are greatly appreciated.
- Mrs. Prugh, Ms. Hoye, and Ms. Nocella: Blake had nothing but high praise for you three. Thank you so much for loving him and teaching him so many life skills.
- Finally, Coach Relle: the impact you have on kids is immeasurable. Life skills, discipline, accountability, fun, competition, and just being a good person, that is some of the skills you have taught my boys. It is up to them to continue to implement them.
I don’t know what life has in store for Blake and Austin, I just know that the teachers at McGowen had a great impact and are appreciated. Keep loving the kids! Elementary school is the most important, yet most ignored part of a child’s education. Thank you.
I have attached a poem my mom, a teacher for 37 years, sent me when I first started teaching. I believe in it and it is more special to me now than ever before.
Thank you,
James Rodgers
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Enroll Now
Operation Converge 2018 is now listed in Eduphoria for registration! Teachers will receive their 6 hour GT update credit for both days of Converge. We have some exciting things planned for this innovative 2-day event. Check out the CONVERGE WEBSITE for more information on our plan for this summer and the link for breakout session proposals!
Don’t miss out! It’s going to be AMAZING!!
Links for registration:
Day 1-
https://eduphoria.mckinneyisd.net/wshop/default.aspx?cid=17156
Day 2-
https://eduphoria.mckinneyisd.net/wshop/default.aspx?cid=17157
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Instructional Rounds Update
Once everyone on your team has observed another teacher in May, you may select a day other than a Tuesday to wear jeans.
The purpose of this practice is to learn from each other, and sometimes it is the simplest things we observe watching others that can dramatically change our whole world.
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Action Items
- Send home Student Learning Environment Profiles on Tuesday, May 8th.
- Communicate in your newsletters that the building will be closed to all visitors and volunteers on May 14th, 15th & 16th
- Plan ahead - No copy moms on STAAR testing days
- Prepare for EOY T-TESS Conference.
- Sign your contract by EOD on May 8th.
- Complete Start, Stop, Continue by EOD on May 11th.
- Contribute to Miss Irma's birthday gift by EOD May 17th (optional)
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Shoparoo
Did you know that each week I give out jeans passes to the three highest scoring staff members on Shoparoo? I know that many of you have already joined, but if you haven't, it is not too late. Simply go to www.shoparoo.com to create your account. Please feel free to push this information out to your parents as well.
Congratulations to Barbara Peebles, Laura Garro and Jennifer Little for being the highest three staff contributors to Shoparoo this week!
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Focus for 2017 - 2018
In order to help all children achieve their personal best, McGowen teachers and staff will:
- Knowledgeably speak about our current practices that contribute to McGowen becoming a Level 2 Certified High Reliability School.
- Engage in collaborative team planning and lesson design that addresses the four essential questions of a PLC.
- Present lessons in such a way that students understand and can speak knowledgeably about posted learning and language targets.
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Remind for Staff
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APPRECIATIONS
- Thank you to my McGowen friends who made me laugh like I haven’t all year Wednesday night. Love you all! -JD
- Cab- Thank you for taking the time to talk to our friend on Friday and calming them down. -JD
- JB- Thank you for always being supportive and an amazing problem solver. I could not have done this year without your honesty, integrity, and humor. You are the best! -JD
- Donna- Thank you for your support and friendship throughout this year. Your kind words, advice, and hugs have helped me more then you know. -JD
- JL & SL- Thank you for your continued support with our 5th grade students. Team Awesome! -JD
- Melaine- Thank you for the great social skills lessons! You are the best! -JD
- A-Team - Thank you so much for all of your efforts in pulling off last week. I really appreciate all of the times you had to carry more that your share of the load. -JL
- BIG THANKS to the third grade team for making my first week as Mrs. Noble’s long-term substitute a success. I could not have made it without you!!! -Tessa Heiss
- Walsh – Thanks you for helping fix our Kindergarten gate! You’ve got mad skills! lp
- Thank you Shiela, Jean, and Cab for all you’ve done for first grade dyslexia!! We appreciate you so much!- Madina
- Jennifer & Sylvia-Thank you for being such amazing leaders! I am so grateful to work for you! Nurse Shannon
- J.D., Shana, Jen, and Teresa Thank you so much with your help with the Growth and Development class and getting the permission forms!! You are awesome! Thank you so much! Nurse Shannon
- Coach Relle and Mr. Cissik-Thank you so much for teaching the boys Growth and Development on Friday!!! I TRULY appreciate you! Thank you! Nurse Shannon
- A-Team thank you for the Sonic Drink, and organizing dinner at La Hacienda! Michelle H.
- Krystina thank you for printing my progress reports when my computer was not cooperating! Michelle H.
- Trisha thank you for sharing/creating letters for our upcoming field trip! Michelle H.
- Barbara-Thanks for being you! Nurse Shannon
- Danielle-Thanks for being so amazing! I truly appreciate all you do each and every day! Nurse Shannon
- Jennifer and Sylvia-Thank you for the wonderful Sonic Drink! Nurse Shannon
- Rachael, Jaime, Sylvia and Krystina – Thank you so much for the very supportive staffing late on a Friday. I know long and late meetings are hard, but especially on a Friday! I appreciate the village! - Michelle C.
- K-5 teachers – Thank you for your time and collaborative conversations during RTI on Tuesday. I know it is hard to get through so many, but it sure is wonderful to see just how well you know your kids and how invested you are in each and every one of them. I will always say that you are the BEST of the BEST! - Michelle C.
- O’Connor, Larpenteur, and Madina – Thank you for our impromptu meeting/conversations on Wednesday. You guys are amazing! - Michelle C.
- Madina – Don’t think for a minute that we aren’t aware of the level of work and effort it takes to complete NINE teacher info packets! You, my friend, are AH-mazing! Also, thank you for the sweet note. It made my day. - Michelle C.
- Jean and Shiela – Thank you for powering through and always with a smile! Love you both! - Michelle C.
- Sylvia – Thank you for being my Sonic fairy on Thursday morning! You are so thoughtful! - Michelle C.
- My team – Thank you for always coming together to make sure it all gets done! Don’t know what I would do without you ALL!?!? I love you! - Michelle C.
- JD – Thank you for your time and effort into the various science stuff we are tossing around while also working through SSI. Your commitment is valued and appreciated! - Michelle C.
- 5th grade – I bow down to your level of dedication as you are managing pull-out tutoring, SSI plans, sub plans, STAAR parent calls, etc. --ALL while also managing everything else that goes into the day-to-day (which we all know is A LOT)! - Michelle C.
- Lori, Jen M., and my whole carpool team – Thank you for helping me out when I was out for 3 days. You are always so willing to jump in for anyone and I am grateful to you all! - Michelle C.
- Jen M. - I can’t thank you enough for what you did to help us out Thursday morning! You were our hero and we are beyond grateful! I also want to thank you for just being you. You made my day, week, month and so on…Love you girl! - Michelle C.
- Everyone – Wednesday night just proved YET AGAIN that I am blessed to work with not only the best staff —but absolutely AMAZING friends! What fun! - Michelle C.
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A-Team, I appreciate your generosity; this week and all year. Gaby
PTA - thank you for a fabulous week! Gaby
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End of the Year Information
EOY Grade Level Slideshows
For those of you who are preparing end of the year slideshows, please remember to include any student in your grade level who participates in one of our self-contained programs. Pictures of them interacting with their general education peers are preferred. Please feel free to contact Jenny, Nikki, Krystal and/or Sharon if you need any help. They may already have some to share with you.
Duty
Stepping Up
Stepping up will be on Monday, June 4th from 2-2:30pm. Stepping Up provides an opportunity for students to get a sneak peek into the next grade level. Kinder students will visit 1st grade, 1st graders will visit 2nd grade, etc. 5th grade students will get a chance to visit with their kinder teachers.
You do not have to prepare anything special, but in past, grade levels have created “Top 10 best things about 3rd grade, “Day in the Life of a 4th grader” videos, and letters to the incoming students from current students. If you would like to do something like that, you are more than welcome, but please keep the presentation/activity the same across the grade level. Students should also have the opportunity to ask questions.
Also remember that you are representing your grade level, regardless of your plans for next year.
Shana will create a schedule so everyone knows where to go and will share that with you soon.
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BAD DUDE
Please join us in recognizing Leslie Griggs as this week's Bad Dude! Leslie manages scheduling all of the McGowen ARDs and does a phenomenal job! In the course of just a couple of days, she scheduled nine Transition/SSI ARD’s in addition to her day to day duties! She is a great team member, and we are lucky to have her on our campus!
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McKinney ISD's Vision, Mission and Beliefs
Any time we have an idea, concern, solution and/or comment, this is the filter through which we should speak. Let's help each other live up to our vision, mission, and beliefs.
Vision:
We are a cohesive, diverse community providing engaging learning experiences for all.
We will provide engaging learning experiences so students can become effective communicators, quality contributors and socially responsible citizens.
Beliefs:
- Partnerships between students, parents, community members and staff are foundational to educational success.
- Positive school culture and a safe environment foster growth.
- Everyone has inherent value and deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.
- Learning is an active process requiring engaging tasks and engaging minds.
- Relevant and authentic experiences ignite continuous, deeper learning.
- Meaningful relationships enrich learning.
- Confidence fuels risk taking and higher achievement.
- Financial stewardship ensures a tomorrow for education.