Principal's Corner #12
“You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.” —Kahlil Gibran
The message: As a teacher, you’re the most important part of a young student’s life. Your love of learning can be infectious and inspiring to any student you teach. Remember how you nurture the courage in a pupil’s heart. You are a tutor, an enabler, and a caregiver combined, and you can—and will—make a difference.
Veterans Day writing is due today!
Veterans Day Updates: From the desk of Ashley Gray
On Wednesday, we will be on an AM ASSEMBLY SCHEDULE due to the Veterans Day celebration. Below is all the information. you will need for the day:
- Our Veterans have been invited to join us for coffee in the innovation space at 7:30am prior to the celebration. Please feel free to stop in and greet our Veterans.
- Next week, you will receive small American Flags. Please pass these out to your students Wednesday morning. Discuss how to show respect to the flag (ie. The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise. The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.) Students are encouraged to wave them as they are walking to the assembly. We will have the Veterans stand in the innovation space doors, so they can see them walking by (like a parade).
- Veterans will proceed to the gym and walk through the center aisle to the front of the gym where they will be seated.
- We will have several songs, an essay, and a slideshow.
- At the conclusion, please walk your classes back. We will dismiss by grade level. Please remain steaded until your grade level has been called.
- Please encourage your students to stand for the presentation of the colors, the pledge and the national anthem.
New Tardy Procedure: From the desk of Angel St. Pierre
Happy Monday, Teachers. Starting Tuesday, we’ll have a new TARDY PROCESS:
- As late students arrive, I’ll write down their name and the time.
- They’ll be handed a tardy “stick” to give to you. (No more yellow passes--woohoo!)
- Sticks are returned to the front office at the end of the school day.
- And that’s it!
A sample “tardy stick” has been placed in each teacher’s mailbox for you to show your students. Hopefully, this new process alleviates the morning line and gets your students in their seats quicker than ever!
READ Plan Clarification!
If you have a student who has had a READ Plan in the past and does not have a body of evidence to exit the plan, you should write a 2018-2019 READ Plan and have the parent meeting at the fall conference.
If a student falls below the SRD cut score for the first time, teachers can wait until the MOY assessment to confirm SRD status and then write the READ Plan to be discussed at spring conferences.
iReady
iReady Mid-year dates:
Nov. 12-Mar. 24
Dec. 12-Mar. 24 (Kdg)
When you receive an email/note or phone call from a parent about their child not going to Kids Club please let Kids Club know. Always double check the list they send out every morning. This will help us get clarification before the end of the day. Thanks!
Elementary Projector Replacement – November 1st Installs Elementary Schools Begin
The projector replacement continues in Elementary schools. All spaces and mobiles that currently have older ceiling mounted projectors will be replaced.
· Elementary installs will occur after 2:45-8:45 pm on weekdays.
· The installer, CCS Presentations, will be installing roughly by middle school feeder groups in the order listed below. If CCS Presentations finishes one school early they will move on to the next on the same day. For this reason a specific date for each location have not been listed.
o Prairie – Ponderosa, Eastridge, Holly Hills, Holly Ridge, Village East, Polton
o Horizon – Cimarron, Sunrise, Summit, Arrowhead
o Laredo – Independence, Mission, Highline, Indian Ridge, Sagebrush
o Thunder Ridge – Timberline, Antelope, Peakview
o Falcon Creek – Meadow Point, Trails West, Rolling Hills
o Liberty – Fox Hollow, Creekside, Red Hawk
o Sky Vista – Aspen Crossing, Dakota
o Infinity – Buffalo, Canyon Creek, Pine Ridge
o Campus – Cottonwood, Dry Creek, Walnut, High Plains, Belleview
o West – Willow, Homestead, Cherry Hills, Greenwood, Heritage
o Fox Ridge – Black Forest, Coyote
I know Joan fowarded this information last week, but just incase you didn't see it, I thought I would included it here. I found the information extremely valuable in helping me develop a better understanding. I encourage you to take time to check out some of the resources shared.
Resources for Native American/Indigenous Heritage Month
Donna Chrisjohn – Parent & Community Educator
720-207-7474 (I don't check my voicemail often, I get horrible reception in my office so texting works best).
Denver American Indian Commissioner, Founding Committee Member for the American Indian Academy of Denver, Nebraska Humanities Speaker
BA in Communications in ASU, Paralegal, Mom extraordinaire of 5 kids
Thanksgiving
Websites
PBS Native American Heritage Month
http://www.pbs.org/specials/native-american-heritage-month/
Smithsonian - NMAI
http://www.nmai.si.edu/explore/education/resources/
The White House Initiative on Indian Education
https://sites.ed.gov/whiaiane/nsei/
NEA Native American Heritage Month
http://www.nea.org/tools/lessons/native-american-and-alaska-native-heritage-month.html
Native American Heritage Month
https://nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov/for-teachers/
Native Knowledge
https://americanindian.si.edu/nk360/
Scholastic Resources for Native Heritage Month
https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/collections/teaching-content/native-american-heritage-0/
Book Lists
https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/?m=1
https://www.rif.org/literacy-central/collections/native-american-heritage-month
Curriculum
Montana
https://opi.mt.gov/Educators/Teaching-Learning/Indian-Education
Minnesota
http://education.state.mn.us/MDE/dse/indian/
Washington
http://www.k12.wa.us/IndianEd/default.aspx
Nebraska
Other Areas of interest
The psychological harms and research
https://ais.washington.edu/people/stephanie-fryberg
Frybread:
http://uproxx.com/life/fry-bread-food-origin/5/
Boarding schools
https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16516865
http://www.history.com/news/how-boarding-schools-tried-to-kill-the-indian-through-assimilation
Demographic Information
http://www.ncai.org/about-tribes/demographics
The Indian Relocation Act of 1956 (also known as Public Law 959 or the Adult Vocational Training Program) was a United States law intended to encourage Native Americans in the United States to leave Indian reservations, acquire vocational skills, and assimilate into the general population.
Tribal Enrollment
https://www.narf.org/nill/resources/enrollment.html
I have included several documents for teachers to give some understanding about the demographic and stereotypes.
Ted Talks
Indigenous in Plain Sight – Gregg Deal, The Last American Indian on Earth
* He currently lives in Colorado Springs. He is available for talking to your classes. He will request a fee (mostly to cover his expense to travel). He was an artist in residence at the Denver Art Museum 2 years ago.
Tara Houska, The Standing Rock Resistance and Our Fight for Indigenous Rights
Evaluation Resources
- CCSD Teacher Evaluation Process (outlines the process for probationary and non-probationary teachers)
- 2018-2019 School Year Certified Evaluation Process Timeline (provides due dates)
Let us know if you have any questions.
Important Dates
- Wednesday, November 7: No Staff Meeting or Committee Time
- Wednesday, November 7: Veterans Day Assembly 8:15am, AM Assembly Schedule
- Monday, November 5-9: Conference Week and Scholastic Book Fair
Monday: 7:30-5:00
Tuesday: 7:30-5:00
Wednesday: 7:30-5:00
Thursday: 7:30-7:00
Friday: 7:30-4:00 (No School)
- Wednesday, November 14: Cultural Connections, Holiday Potluck at 6pm
- Wednesday, November 21: Non-Contact Day
- Thursday, November 22-23: No School, Thanksgiving Break
Wednesday, November 28: Differentiation PD in Amy Bainbridge’s room: Depth & Complexity icons
Wednesday, December 5: Differentiation PD in Amy Bainbridge’s room: Kagan Silly Games – how to incorporate play into your classroom!
- Thursday, December 6: School Spelling Bee
- Monday, December 24-January 4: No School, Winter Break
- Monday, January 7: Non-Contact Day
- Monday, January 7, 8:00-12:00: Emergenetics is coming to COT