Ram Nation News
Week of September 23, 2019
Vision
#EXCELLENCE, Back At It Again
The time has come for our students to show us how much they have learned for the last five weeks! We have been preparing our lessons with the end in mind. We are continuously planning rigorous lessons addressing high leverage TEKS preparing our students for the next grade level, end of the year assessment, ACPs, and common assessments. This week our students will be taking the district's common assessments (CA). These CAs are great data sources to help us determine student academic strengths and deficiencies. I know that we are taking these assessments seriously; let's make sure that our students and parents know the importance of any formative assessment so that each stakeholder knows what needs to be done for each one of our scholars to be successful. Remember, district-wide there is a strong correlation between the ACPs and STAAR; Common Assessments and DOLs are a great gauge to ensure adjustments are made to our instruction and set goals with our students to ensure we meet our ACP and STAAR goals.
It's imperative that our Remarkable Rams are greeted with positive narration on a daily basis! When they enter our classrooms, give them a motivational pep talk and hold them accountable to the expectations you have set and communicated.
Starting on Monday, it is our chance to set the standard for a great testing environment in our school!
Attendance
- 6th Grade - 96.89%
- 7th Grade - 97.22%
- 8th Grade - 96.85%
Way to go 7th grade team!!!!
Let's continue to encourage our students to be present and on time on a daily basis. It really makes a huge difference when our students are present learning
Professional Learning Communities
College Going Culture
Climate and Culture
Debate
Chess
Band
Cheerleaders
Cross Country
Esports
Our students now have an opportunity to be exposed and participate in a formal Esports competition; also, we are able to target students who normally would not compete or participate in other sports.
Teacher of the Year and Teacher Assistant of the Year
As we selected our TOY and TAOY, we had to keep in mind that these staff members must:
Lead students of all backgrounds to demonstrate learning, collaborate with colleagues, students, and families to create a culture of respect and success, represent the District's vision and goals at all times, and work to create a positive campus experience. Based on the results received, I am proud to share the selected staff members to represent us this year. Congratulations!!!
REMINDERS FOR THE UPCOMING WEEK
- Our Remarkable Rams will be testing this week. Remember to incorporate your testing message/script in which we worked last week. During testing, we should be intentional as we actively monitor and provide accommodations to identified students. Please refer to the handout provided during our PLC - Testing Expectations.
- Conduct conferences with each student so that they know what their strengths are and what mistakes they made as they took the common assessment. Also, set goals so they know what they need to do to achieve and make significant progress - use the profile sheet shared with you (email sent on September 20, 2019) and see the video below for the impact of incorporating this practice in our classrooms. (TEI 1.2).
- 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)
- 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
- Submit lesson plans by Thursday at 8:00 a.m. (TEI 4.2)
DAILY EVENTS
- A Day
- Math and Theater Common Assessment.
- 8:30 a.m. -12:00 p.m. - School Leadership Visit from Mr. Kastl
- We will be walking classrooms checking for alignment, exemplars, and aggressively monitoring. In the testing classrooms, we will be looking for teachers actively monitoring with the tracker. Also, teachers will be using the exemplar generated at the beginning of the six weeks to compare with the work produced by the students.
- 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.
- 4:45 Department Meeting after school - Library
- Football Game Vs. Walker @ LOOS 6:00 p.m.
- B Day.
- Testing: Reading and Theater Common Assessment. Also, 6th Grade Math MAP
- We will be walking classrooms checking for alignment, exemplars, and aggressively monitoring. In the testing classrooms, we will be looking for teachers actively monitoring with the tracker. Also, teachers will be using the exemplar generated at the beginning of the six weeks to compare with the work produced by the students.
- 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. After School Program Continues. Let's make the best out of this time being very purposeful in the material covered with students and the students who must attend your sessions. We need to work on the recruitment of students for our after school program since it impacts student growth, our school performance, progress, and, ultimately, part of our stipends are tied to the attendance of our students to our tutoring/enrichment sessions. As a reminder, students do not have the option to opt out; if you need assistance with parents, please let anyone from the leadership team know.
- Remember to clock out at or after 6:00 p.m. during the 2 days that you will stay after school.
- A Day
- Testing: Science and Electives Common Assessment. Also, 7th grade Writing and 8th Grade Math MAP
- We will be walking classrooms checking for alignment, exemplars, and aggressively monitoring. In the testing classrooms, we will be looking for teachers actively monitoring with the tracker. Also, teachers will be using the exemplar generated at the beginning of the six weeks to compare with the work produced by the students.
- 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. After School Program Continues. Remember to clock out at or after 6:00 p.m. during the 2 days that you will stay after school.
Thursday, September 26-
- B Day
- Testing: Social Studies and Electives Common Assessment. Also, 7th Grade Math MAP
- 8:00 a.m. - Lesson Plans Due
- We will be walking classrooms checking for alignment, exemplars, and aggressively monitoring. In the testing classrooms, we will be looking for teachers actively monitoring with the tracker. Also, teachers will be using the exemplar generated at the beginning of the six weeks to compare with the work produced by the students.
- Staff members 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.
- Department Collaboration PLC - AP and CIC/ILT.
- 4:30 p.m. After School Program Continues. Remember to clock out at or after 6:00 p.m. during the 2 days that you will stay after school.
- 6:00/7:00 Volleyball Game at Loos Vs. Cary MS.
Friday, September 27-
- A Day
- Jean day for our students for $1 dollar to support with our fundraising efforts - CAB.
- Cross Country - Conrad Classic @ Conrad HS - Coach Martin/Coach Bey
Upcoming Events
September 30
- 4:45 - 6:00 p.m. - Accountability Training - Mr. Glowney and Mr. Kastl
October 18 -
October 10 -
- Principal for a Day - Ernestine Key of Communities Foundation of Texas
October 11-
- Professional Development Day - No school for students
October 18-
- Fair Day - No school
October 23-
- 8th Grade PSAT Testing
October 28 - November 1-
- 2nd Common Assessment Testing Window
November 13 -
- 8th Grade Field Trip to North Dallas HS
Using Data: Engaging Students
The following information comes from EL Education. To read the full article and watch more videos visit their website.
How can using data with students increase motivation and achievement?
Teachers and leaders recognize the importance of being data-driven to improve instruction, but one key group is often left out of the process: students. Using data with students empowers them and allows them to take control of their learning. Students of all ages can use data, helping them to understand learning as a process of growth over time. Educators who realize the full potential of data go beyond occasionally sharing test results with students. They engage in an intentional process in which students assess their current level of proficiency, set goals, track progress, and reflect upon and communicate results.
Updates on Personnel
- Mr. Joseph Childress joins our electives team as our Health Teacher. We are very excited to have him on board. Also, we want to wish Mr. Sharpless our very best as he begins a new assignment at J.L Long MS as a P.E teacher; he will continue to serve as one of our Assistant Football Coaches. Please, take some time to greet Mr. Childress and make him feel welcome as well as saying good bye to Mr. Sharpless; his last day is Tuesday.
- Ms. Lena Miranda has been promoted to work with Student Services as the Administrative Assistant. Her last day is Friday; we wish her well and thank her for her service and support for these last few years. Mrs. Angelica Gomez will take on the role of Office Manager; we are proud of her work and know she will do an awesome job leading our office and support staff.
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
Debate
Chess
Band
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