Eagle News
2/10/14 - A Newsletter for the Haynes Bridge Staff
Happy Birthday!
February
2/3 -Lauren Seidman
2/8 - Stephanie Brand
2/10 - Karen Evitts
2/14 - Dani-Sue Boldus
2/15 - Caroline Johnson
2/16 - Susan Harper
2/17 - Sabrina Dean
2/19 - Molly Nigro
2/24 - Chris Chang
2/25 - Bridgette Rixman
2/27 - Ashlynn Dowell
Dates to Remember
2/4-Tuesday
- Leadership
2/5-Wednesday
- Grade Level Meetings
- Public Detenion - Hooks/Sewell
- Rising 9th Grade Parent Meeting at Centennial HS
2/6-Thursday
- Scoliosis Testing
- Spelling Bee
2/10-Monday
2/11-Tuesday
- 8th grade visit to Centennial
- PTA Board Meeting
- PTA Skyzone night
2/12-Wednesday
- Math Department Meeting
- Grade Level Meetings
- Public Detention-Callaway/Sudu
- Basketball @ Webb Bridge
2/13-Thursday
- Career Day
- Basketball @HBMS
- Soft Skills PD- 8:10-8:35 AM Room 84
2/14-Friday
- Holiday
Principal's Points
Team,
I just want to reiterate how thankful I am to be part of our team. Everyone worked together and ultimately, we all arrived home. Some of our teammates are still recovering, mentally, so please lend a hand when you see someone that may need a pick-me-up. We debriefed with leadership tomorrow this week. If you have any input on what went well or what we need to improve upon, please send me an email with that feedback.
The good news is that we will not be required to make up the bad weather days. However, this did impact how much time we had to teach the units we were working on. If you have not already done so, please work out your calendars to determine what is essential for students to learn and where you can cut some things out.
Due to the days off, we have updated the TKES calendar. Mid-year conferences will be finished this week. We will begin our 3rd Walk-throughs the week of the 10th. You will have a different administrator than who has done your previous walk-throughs and formative observations. We will be observing for Standard 3 and Standard 4.
In order to make sure we are prepared for next week, we will be holding grade level meetings on Monday. Career day is Thursday and it is important we are all clear on the process for our day to be a success. Please plan accordingly and remind your colleagues.
Have you dreamed of being on TV? Well, here is an opportunity....see the note for 11Alive below.
To honor the Winter Olympics in Sochi 11Alive is planning an Olympic All Access Pass Newscast.
Date: Wednesday, February 12
Live Location: Wills Park, 11925 Wills Rd, Alpharetta, GA 30009 (exact location in the park TBD)
Arrival time: 4:15pm
Broadcast Time: 5pm – 6pm
Date: Wednesday, February 12
Live Location: Wills Park, 11925 Wills Rd, Alpharetta, GA 30009 (exact location in the park TBD)
Arrival time: 4:15pm
Broadcast Time: 5pm – 6pm
The more the merrier so please invite other organizations, friends, and family. Also, feel free to bring signs/banners/props that will be seen on-air!
Below is a link from when we took the show to the City of Dallas for the Summer Olympics.
http://dallas.11alive.com/news/news/129782-11alive-parties-dallas
Please let us know if you can attend so we can plan on how many people are able to join us! When you call, ask for Jenna Levetan or Erika Palmer.
Jenna Levetan, Producer, 11Alive News / WXIA-TV, Newsroom: (404) 873-9114
Weekly Team Time Assignments
Team Time Schedule
Monday
Math Challenge: Students will either solve a Valentine's or career themed problem on least common denominator or Pythagorean theorem according to their grade level.
Tuesday
Character Education Writing Prompt: Students will practice and improve their writing skills by responding to a writing prompt centered on career choices and compensation.
Wednesday
D.E.A.R., which stands for Drop Everything and Read; students will read a book they have checked out from the media center and participate in the "arrive at 25" program managed by our media center.
Thursday
Career Day-(Students will have the opportunity to listen to speakers from various career backgrounds during their team time classes)
Friday Finish
Students should be given time to complete their assignments
To view the specific assignments for this week's team time click the link below:
Assessment
Media/Technology Support
ONE-Did you know you and the students have 24/7 access to our databases? The passwords for the databases can be found on the media center page by clicking on Database Passwords. This page is password protected but the password is very easy to remember- EAGLES
TWO-Are you receiving wonderful projects from your students? Please share wonderful student work so students and other teachers can see the exciting, rigorous, and innovative work that is being done in our classrooms. Send to Jes O’Kelley okelley@fultonschools.org anything, including papers, posters, Prezis, Powerpoints, videos, models, artwork, and digital projects. She will return the projects to you quickly. We need work from every content area, and we would like as much as we can get! Send anything and everything you have. Click here is a sneak peak at the website!
Professional Development
Teaching Quote of the Week:
“Teachers have three loves: love of learning, love of learners, and the love of bringing the first two loves together.”
― Scott Hayden
Upcoming PD:
“Teaching Soft Skills” 2/13, 8:10- 8:35 AM Room 84- Strategies for teaching students how to function in a team environment- instilling basic people skills.
“Digital Storytelling” 2/19, 7:30 – 8:15 AM, Room 84
“Student Website Design” 3/14, 1:00 – 2:00PM, Room 84
Thought of the Week:
The district Professional Learning department will be sponsoring a month long competition beginning February 3rd for the individual and the school with the highest usage rates on PD360. Our goal is for each teacher to watch at least one PD360 video a day during the contest. At stake is an ipad mini for the winning individual in each learning community, and a catered lunch for the entire staff of the winning school. We can do this! Please watch for updates from Ms. Karp for a video guide of interesting and useful videos, as well as exciting prizes at the school level.
Here is a link to an article from CNN about the “smart” school of the future, and the use of data to drive instruction. The Georgia school district piloting this program is Gwinnet County. Thoughts?
http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/19/tech/innovation/five-tech-predictions-ibm/index.html?iref=allsearch
For the math teachers (and anyone else who likes corny jokes):
What kind of tree does a math teacher climb?
Geometry !
What do you have to know to get top grades in geometry ?
All the angles !
What kind of pliers do you use in arithmetic?
Multipliers !
Why was the math book unhappy?
It had too many problems!
Useful Resources:
Here is a website that lets you create flash cards for students to study from, and has an entire library of teacher made and shared flash cards for a wide range of content areas. There are even flash cards for Family and Consumer Science, Ms. Moultrie!
Studystack.com
Extra Help
Snowpocalypse? Snowmageddon? SnowJam?
How are you feeling about last week’s weather-related events? Did it make you a little anxious to drive the roads to the school today- the same roads you had to carefully maneuver on Tuesday night? Maybe you’re having bad dreams about those hours you were separated from your own children, unable to get to them. Maybe you’re questioning the school district’s, governor’s, or mayor’s response to the storm? Do you feel out of sorts? Fuzzy headed, exhausted, muscle tension, or headaches? You’re not going crazy. We experienced a traumatic event.
What you’re feeling is normal! The trip home Tuesday (and Wednesday) took a huge emotional toll on many of us. It might have even taken a physical toll. The good news is, after a traumatic event, most of us get back to “normal” eventually. It just takes time. Here are some things that might help your coping:
-- Share your story. Call and friend, family member or have lunch with a staff member to tell them about what happened to you. If you’re not a talker, write it out in a journal or send an email to someone you love.
-- Plan for if/when it happens again. After a traumatic event, part of healing is making sure you feel safe or better prepared next time. Pack a bag in your trunk, add more people to your child’s pick up list, talk about preparedness with your family, buy an extra cell phone charger, put a bag of sand in your trunk- whatever you need to do to assure yourself you’re prepared if it happens again.
-- Get lots of rest, eat well and exercise. You know, basic self-care things. All these things help restore your energy, clear your mind, and help your brain process what you went through.
-- Get back to your routine. This makes the event feel like just that, an event. It’s not a part of our every day lives. Thank goodness!
If you feel like you’re not getting back to “normal” or having trouble carrying out your daily responsibilities, reach out for help. You have 2 amazing counselors, a social worker, and a caring admin team at your disposal. We can direct you to resources for support. Also- don’t forget about the Employee Assistance Program- the free number you can call for counseling and emotional support. It’s 1-800-854-1446. You are part of a great team!