Patriot's Pen
September 14, 2018
A Message from Mireles
Can you believe it's really the end of our 3rd week of school?
It's been great getting to know each of you a little bit more and having a chance to meet our amazing students over the last few weeks!! A.M. hallway walks are my favorite; you learn more about a student during that early morning time than any other (if they woke up on the wrong side of the bed, if they're still asleep, hungry, clean, sad, worried or just doing great). I encourage you to walk by and just say good morning. They are slowly getting used to us greeting them in this way & it's nice to see them say it back!
Our first official department meetings happened this week and much was discussed. Grading policy, PLC times and agenda's, Academic Coaching opportunities, assessments, reteach and so much more! I sometimes wish we could video "A Day in the Life of a Middle School Teacher." I'm sure a network would pick up that reality show and boy would people be shocked to see all of the intricate moving parts of what makes a school go round!!
I commend you and all the work you do for our kids!
This quote from the video resonated with me:
"Speak into a young person's life and call out their destiny"
Tuesday, Sep 18: Faculty Meeting 4-5pm, Shane Allard (District safety)
Wednesday, Sep 19: Vision and hearing mass screening/Library, all 7th graders and New to district, Patriot Games Fundraiser kick-off, Fire Drill has been rescheduled due to weather it will be by announcement the last week of September.
Football game vs Garcia, 7th home/8th away
Thursday, Sep 20: Vision and hearing mass screening/Library, all 7th graders and New to district, Volleyball game vs. Garcia, 7th away/8th home.
Friday, Sep 21: Spirit day, Jeans and a Spirit shirt, Lifetouch Student Individual pictures during all P.E. classes
Saturday, Sep 22: Volleyball Round Robin Tournament @Garcia MS
DON'T FORGET: Online Requirements are DUE Sep. 28th
From Josh Lopez, 6th Grade Counselor!
When you catch a student performing a selfless act, a good deed, or a random act of kindness find out their name and submit it via this google form. We want to praise and encourage this kind of behavior in all of our students. We will randomly reward a student of the week on Friday's, revealing their name on the announcements and provide them with a ticket to get a treat from the cafeteria.
Thank you for your support!!
https://goo.gl/forms/03yzZtRsI6m97hW32
(Note the "Caught Being Good" google form will also be located on the Sites page, go ahead and save it to your favorites for quicker access throughout the year.)
VPO VOICE
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports
We are excited to continue our work with structures and routines by soliciting your input for a common Progressive Classroom Management Plan. Next week, you will get an invitation to submit your input via a Google Form. The PBIS Committee will use your feedback to develop a plan, which will be rolled out to you through Faculty Learning in October.
In the meantime, please be sure you are taking steps to mitigate more minor classroom behavior problems, let's remember relationships are key and always contact parents from the beginning, communication is important and they are our biggest advocates!!
Use the current Discipline Report forms when referring students to the office as opposed to emailing your concerns, and be sure to include what steps you've already taken in attempt to resolve the issues. If you are sending students from class to the VPO, they must arrive with a pass.
BACKBACKS
Many of you have asked for clarification about backpacks. Thanks for your patience as we have surveyed the community, teachers and students over the last couple weeks.
An overwhelming consensus has been that students should be allowed to use their backpacks during the academic school day. We will allow students to carry backpacks in the halls and at lunch. This helps students with the logistics of having the materials they need, use passing period to use the restroom, take care of their personal business, and to get to class and their buses on time. Official communication to parents will go out in the October Parent Newsletter.
All funds directly impact our campus, students and staff!
Two ways to Join:
1. Fill out the form below and place it w/$10 in the PTA box located in the front office.
2. Follow the link below and pay online
NEF Coordinator: Jennifer Christensen
SPED SPOT
3rd week of school and you are starting to see the differences in each of your kiddos I'm sure. You are through reading your IEPs, chatting with case managers, and have begun to take data. Then, you begin to notice...this kid needs an accommodation...wait, this IEP says that I am supposed to provide modifications. I’m new to teaching, I’m new to being a Co-teacher, I’m a Veteran teacher but willing to review. Great! Here we go…
Accommodations do not change the content, but are support services. The function of the accommodation is to provide support allowing the student to access the general education curriculum
Modifications change the content or what a student is expected to learn or demonstrate. Modifications change the targeted skill and the level of instruction and or mastery is changed
There are Four types of Accommodations:
*Presentation (format other than print)
*Response (means other than paper and pencil)
*Setting (change to location or the conditions of the setting)
*Timing and Scheduling ( increased time to complete the assignment or assessment)
Click on the link for a better understanding of the six levels of accommodations. Know that in a general education setting, you are most likely to use accommodation levels one, two, and three. Level four and five modifications are for those students who need significant changes to the curriculum. These kiddos are likely in our Applied or Specialized Setting classrooms with a smaller number of peers. Level six accommodations are complex changes and are appropriate for our Specialized Instruction/ALE setting.
More training on this is forthcoming, but take a look and even try an accommodation or two to help our students! #Unitedweaccommodate
https://nisd.net/employees/system/files/attachments/accommodation_manual_handouts.pdf