Thomson Staff Newsletter
December 18, 2015
Important News & Notes
It is the Most Wondrous Time of the Year!
With the utmost sincerity, I'd like to wish you all the very best Christmas and New Year. I hope that even with the hustle and bustle of the holidays, you find time over the break from school to rest and relax and return to school recharged for the second half of the year. You have all worked very hard and your work has not went unnoticed or unappreciated! This staff is truly one of the best around and I appreciate all that each and every one of you do for kids! Merry Christmas!
Re-teaching Behavior Upon Return from the Holidays
As you know, the weeks leading up to this break have been a bit 'hairy'. The Cardinal Code Focus for the week we return from break is reteaching in all areas...so in talking at the end of the Child Study Day, the PPSC team has decided that Monday, January 4th will be 'Cardinal Code Day'. Meaning that this day should be treated like the first day of school, it is a 're-set' and we need to reteach behavior expectations in all areas. Which means, I expect that you will spend the day and the week engaged in reteaching with fidelity the actual Cardinal Code lessons and demonstrating in the various locations what it looks and sounds like and that these will be reflected in teacher lesson plans. This is not a day to dive back into academics because we all know that unless behavior is in check, academics won't get done. In fact, anytime that a teacher feels reteaching of behavior is needed, they should be making this a priority over all else. In the long run, the academic progress of your students will be greater when behavior is not an issue. Think about how we may use our support staff to push in and work on social skills and working in a group playing educational games in stations, teachers should not be pulling small groups, but rather be engaging in conversations, pretend play, problem solving. This means that staff should guide and encourage all students to problem solve independently. You can do this by modeling the proper tools and language. By investing this quality time into our students we are ensuring that they learn the values of trust and respect.
Holiday Staff Luncheon
Don't forget, Monday, December 21st is the Christmas Staff Luncheon put on by the office staff. Since this is also a party day for some of you, we will have easy foods: a VGs sub, pasta salad, chips, pop, and dessert. This will also be 'Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder' Christmas Sweater Day...so break out those beautiful or ugly sweaters and as a little extra 'gift' you may wear jeans with your holiday sweater. Please be sure you come down to eat and enjoy some merriment with your colleagues and pick up a special gift from our PTO.
Also, we will take a group photo at 8:10 a.m. of the lovely sweaters, so if you'd like to be part of the Thomson Staff Christmas photo, please be in the library by 8:10 a.m.
January is Right Around the Corner
January is right around the corner and we will really begin to evaluate our current School Improvement Plan, prepare for the Mini-QAR, and write our plan for 2016-17. We will also have our second Early Release Day on Wednesday, January 13th for all staff. The agenda for January 13th will be Using Running Records to Guide Instruction and Plan for Strategy Groups and School Improvement. Teacher Records Day will be Friday, January 29th and teachers may complete report cards from home if they wish.
Important Upcoming Dates
Monday, December 21st-Office Staff will provide a Merry Christmas Luncheon
Tuesday, December 22nd-School Sing-a-long!
Wednesday, December 23rd-January 1st-Christmas Vacation! Enjoy and Relax!
Monday, January 4th- District Jean Day to support Community Foundation of Davison; DIBELS Windo Opens
Wednesday, Janurary 6th-Staff Meeting, 7:35 a.m. (Agenda: Behavior discussion & SIP Tri-Fold Review); CAP Parent Meeting, 6:30 p.m. in the AMR
Thursday, January 7th- DIP Meeting 4:15-5:15 p.m.
Monday, January 11th-DRA Window Opens; Board of Education Meeting, 7:00 p.m. HS AMR
Tuesday, January 12th-ELA 4:15-6:15 p.m.
Wednesday, January 13th-Early Release PD for Teachers and Parapros, 1:48-4:48 p.m.
Quotes Worth Reading...
-The Grinch
Birthdays and Celebrations
Here are our upcoming birthdays: Christine Henderson, December 20th; Rhonda Seidell, December 22nd; Leandra Lints, December 23rd; Christine Glann, December 26th...Happy Birthday to you all!
Is your calendar marked for our Staff After-Christmas Party? The date is February 6th!