Ram Nation News
Week of September 9, 2019
Vision
#EXCELLENCE, Back At It Again
I trust you had a great and relaxed weekend sharing with family and friends. I know we are ready for our fourth week in school.
As we continue to on our road to EXCELLENCE, I see a lot of enthusiasm and positive attitude. We have had a very smooth start of the year. I continue to see great evidence of a positive climate and culture by seeing staff members smiling, shaking hands or giving students high-fives, narrating the positive, and building relationships with students. Also, there is great evidence of planning and preparation to provide students the best first instruction possible. Your leadership and commitment have made a significant impact on student learning already.
We will need to stay the course and make adjustments to ensure that accelerated learning is taking place. Our focus on improving teaching and learning through the effective implementation of PLCs, progress monitoring through Data Driven Instruction, classroom observations with feedback coaching conversations as well as your collaboration with colleagues will allow us to continuously accelerate improvement.
I am very proud of the work done and grateful that each one of you has embraced the challenge of accelerating transformation for our students who need and deserve the best.
THANK YOU
- All the grade levels who have updated bulletin boards or have displayed student work; I have noticed many appealing and purposeful displays reflecting what is taking place in our classrooms.
- Ms. Michael and Ms. Gray for their leadership and dedication to build the whole child as they work with our cheerleaders. We had 50 students tryout for a spot in this elite group of young ladies. Kudos to Coach Bey for volunteering to be one of the judges to support with the selection.
- Ms. Ford, Ms. Calderon, Ms. Guerra, Mrs. Mooty, Ms. Scott, and Ms. Woods for leading the grade level expectation assemblies. This presentation and communication sets the tone for the expectations we have for our students.
Student Work
Student Work
Modeling
Volleyball Clinic at NDHS
Cross Country
All of our students finished strong! Another great day... our athletes had to adjust to the hot temperature but they are learning the ropes. Shout out to our coaches, Ms. Martin and Coach Bey for their dedication and support. Also, shout out to Ms. Minter came out to support too! We appreciate her encouragement.
Going the Extra Mile...
Sometimes you have to go the extra mile... Coach Thornton took a few of our boys to grab physicals on Saturday. Shout out to Mr. Thornton and the ENTIRE football Coaching squad. They have been grinding to build and prep the team for this season. Tons of paper work and extra certification requirements... Long hours after school coaching, waiting on parents to arrive, and mentoring kids. Dedication and loyalty!
Accomplishments and Hightlights
Our Teachers in Social Media and Programs
REMINDERS FOR THE FOURTH WEEK OF SCHOOL
- As we work on documenting the progress our students are making, remember our policy regarding failure rates and the various opportunities needed to ensure our students are successful. EIA (Regulation) (TEI 2.2, 4.2, 4.5)
- Continue to be prepared and provide high expectations for our students. Remember, consistency is key and will set up our students for success. (TEI 1.5 and 3.2)
- Greet students with smiles and consistent firmness (TEI 3.3)
- In order to have a solid foundation for our climate and culture, it is critical that we practice and be intentional about one of our core values - Inspiring Relationships. During arrival and transitions, let's ensure we are present in the hallways and be very intentional in narrating the positive while encouraging students to follow WALQ and getting to class on time. (TEI 3.3)
- Be very consistent in the effective implementation of various practices discussed during our TEI orientation and lesson alignment conversations. With regards to Alignment (learning objective), the proficient rating states: Focuses students at the beginning and throughout the lesson, by clearly stating (TEI 2.1)
- What they are learning
- Why it is important
- What mastery looks like
- How to connect it to prior knowledge and their own lives and explaining to students
- Engage learners throughout your lessons. It will support the increase in student achievement and reduce disruptions. While students are more familiar with engagement strategies such as Think Pair Share, we need to ensure that we have taught, modeled, and practiced these skills in order for effective implementation (TEI 2.4, 2.5, and 3.3).
- Submit lesson plans by Thursday at 8:00 a.m. (TEI 4.2)
DAILY EVENTS
- A-Day
- Meet with your grade level teams to align your Lesson Plans, continue the analysis of the common assessment, and analyze data profiles for your students.
- 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Testing Meeting - Mrs. Mooty and Ms. Maloy
- 4:45 Grade Level Meeting after school - Grade Level Chair's Room
- B-Day
- Progress Reports go home - Ms. Reyes will print and place in your boxes.
- Meet with your grade level teams to align your Lesson Plans, continue the analysis of the common assessment, and analyze data profiles for your students.
- 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. - Middle School Campus Activity Coordinator Meeting - Edison Middle School, 2940 Singleton Blvd. - Ms. Michael
- Tutoring List Due - Mr. Maymi and copy Appraiser
- 4:45 - 6:00 After school collaboration with PLCs to complete lesson plans and/or analyze data to solidify tutoring plans.
- A-Day
- Meet with your grade level teams to align your Lesson Plans, continue the analysis of the common assessment, and analyze data profiles for your students.
- 11:30 - 12:30 CAB Meeting - Mr. Cordoba/Ms. Woods - Library
- 12:30 - 4:00 School Leadership Visit - Mr. Kastl
- 4:45 - 6:00 After school collaboration with PLCs to complete lesson plans and/or analyze data to solidify tutoring plans.
Thursday, September 12-
- B-Day
- Teachers who have completed their compliance videos (takes approximately a total of 3.5 hours), send e-mail with certificates to Ms. Miranda and Copy Mr. Cordoba on e-mail, can wear jeans on Thursdays for the remainder of the month.
- 8:00 a.m. - Lesson Plans Due
- Department Collaboration PLC - Department Chair and AP/CIC
- Fire Drill - Mr. Geiger
- 4:45 - 5:45 - CILT Meeting - Room 115
- 6:00/7:00 Volleyball Game at Cobb Field House Vs. Medrano MS
Friday, September 13 -
- A-Day
- 6th grade MAP Testing - Ms. Mooty and RLA teachers
Saturday, September 14 -
- 8:00 a.m. Cross Country Meet at Pinkston HS - Coach Martin/Coach Bey
Upcoming Events
September 16-
- Football Game Vs. Tasby @ LOOS 6:00 p.m B Team and 7:30 p.m. A team.
September 17 -
- After School Tutoring Begins
September 19 -
- 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. 2nd Six Weeks SWAG Training at Quintanilla MS - All STAAR Tested Subjects Teachers, CICs, ILTs, and APs.
September 20 -
- Development of the Student Learning Objective (SLO) and submission online using Cornerstone.
September 23 - September 27-
- District 1st Six Weeks Assessment window
October 18 -
Happy Birthday -
We want to wish you the best and many blessings for the years to come.
- Mr. Proctor – 9/8
- Ms. Surber – 9/12
- Mr. Sharpless – 9/15
- Mr. Halsell – 9/27
- Ms. Calderon – 9/28
Rusk Middle School
Email: jcordoba@dallasisd.org
Website: www.dallasisd.org/rusk
Location: 2929 Inwood Road, Dallas, TX, United States
Phone: 972-925-2000
Twitter: @RuskAllTheWayUp