Bronco Bulletin
FULL STEAM AHEAD
November 13, 2015
Message from Administration
Donation for STEAM Lab
A grandmother of two of our students made a generous donation to our STEAM lab this week! She presented me with a check for $1,000! We are placing $800 in to STEAM equipment and using $200 for technology upgrades. Mrs. Patel, the grandmother, was a high school teacher in India where she taught botany and zoology. She is retired now and lives with her son and his family here in Lawrenceville. She wanted to support education in this way. What a great way to end the week! We are so blessed to be in such a supportive community!
Guided Reading Professional Learning
The admin team and instructional coaches are exploring the use of guided reading in our classrooms. As part of the FIP professional learning plan this year, guided reading will be reviewed as an important instructional strategy and great way to constantly assess student progress. To help us tailor the professional learning to the exact needs of the staff, we are going to come in to see it in action over the next few weeks. These guided reading "visits" are NON-evaluative. We are simply getting a baseline look at the need for our professional learning focus. These baseline visits will focus on grades 1st-5th. The following person will be your visitor:
1st- Rebecca
2nd- Tiffany T
3rd- Jillian/Monica
4th- Tiffany P
5th- Tonya
I will send an email next week requesting your group/rotation schedule that you normally use during your reading time. I am NOT asking you to do anything different than you normally do. I just want to see the current groups as they are. Again, you are NOT being evaluated for this. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me, the APs, or the coaches. We look forward to learning with you.
Our gifts to you...
To celebrate the holidays, the admin team would like to give you two gifts: the gift of time (sign up on OneNote) AND jeans for the month of December. Happy Holidays!
A BIG thank you from Gwin Oaks to Andrea and Honey Baked Ham off Scenic Hwy for going above and beyond.
Teacher Survey Request:
The Georgia Department of Education is studying the reasons why teachers leave public education as a profession. Classroom teachers across the state are invited to take a few moments to answer 7 questions to help the DOE better understand how to reverse this trend in Georgia. We greatly appreciate your time and feedback and know that working together we can make a difference in public education in Georgia.
ALL RESPONSES ARE ANONYMOUS.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/P77ZBYT
Thanks for your opinion!
Spelling Bee
Fourth & Fifth grade teachers: Please don't forget to host your classroom spelling bee before the winter break! You can post your winner in OneNote under Spelling Bee Winners 2015 in your grade level notebook.
STEAM Survey: Please don't forget to visit the following link to help us create a list of potential businesses we could partner with to help support our STEAM initiative.
CALENDAR
Upcoming Events
November 16...........Spanish Parent Outreach - PLC - 9:30
November 16...........ILT Meeting - Media Center - 3:15
November 16...........Skype Visit - Suzanne Williams - 2:00-2:30
November 17...........Severe Weather Drill / Followed by Fire Drill - 8:30
November 17...........Tech Tip - Devices- PLC - 3:00
November 17...........Sparkles Skate Night
November 18...........eClass Workshop - PLC
November 18...........Skype Visit Cover to Cover Book Club 11:15-12:05
November 19...........Principal for a Day
November 19...........Lit IF - FIP - Professional Learning
November 19...........Miss Nini's Holiday Show
November 19...........Chick-fil-A Spirit Night
November 20...........Bronco Bulletin Meeting - 8:30
LIFE SAVER AWARD
Congratulations to Michele McPheely! Michele has been a true asset to the 1st Grade team! She is half our Writing Team, Techspert, Sunshine Spokesperson, 1st grade Gift Shopper for all special occasions we have at GOES, and hosted our 1st grade teacher holiday party. Thanks for all that you do!
TECHNOLOGY
Look at these student numbers!
Brainpop: No logging in!!!
Please add the appropriate link to your eclass page for students to use at home - NO PASSWORDS NEEDED!!!
You must copy the link below. Clicking on the link will NOT keep the log in details.
http://www.brainpop.com/user/loginDo.weml?user=gwinoaks&password=0430
http://www.brainpopjr.com/user/loginDo.weml?user=gwinoaks&password=0430
eCLASS Analysis Survey
If you would like input on eCLASS please respond to any of the questions you would like.
eCLASS C&I Course pages Staff and Parent 24/7 Support
Expanded Technical Support for eCLASS C&I Course Pages begins the week of November 16, both staff and student users will have direct 24 / 7 support to our vendor who provides our eCLASS C&I Course Pages. This will provide opportunities for "how to" questions for teachers, and basic troubleshooting questions for students. Support will be provided via phone, email and chat. The contact information will be provided on the Portal. This is for eCLASS C&I Course pages only. Questions about other Portal resources will continue with the standard processes for support.
Digital Content on Student Portal and in C&I Course Pages
Online Research Library “Flix” resources are problematic when linking in Course Pages
Online Texts–Leveled readers are not always working
Technical teams are working on both problems
LONG TERM CARE INSURANCE
Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) offers a discounted Long Term Care Insurance program from Whelpley & Associates. This program is available to all GCPS employees and their families.
Considering the high cost for long term care, this program is designed to help protect you and your family (spouse, parents and grandparents). The program offers care should you need assistance at home or in an assisted living or nursing home facility.
To request information on this program click HERE or call 1-888-305-4582.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Holiday Dinner Buffet
Dec. 28 - Jan. 2 - $42.99
Click here for details.
http://www.gcps-foundation.org/category/employee-perks/
https://www.sixflags.com/overgeorgia
Promo code: HOLIDAY4
PERKS
Please visit www.hawks.com/gwinnett to purchase your tickets today,
OR you can fax the attached form to 404-222-2696 or e-mail it to ryan.coller@hawks.com.
NUTCRACKER BALLET
Kick off the holiday season with the Nutcracker Ballet being performed at the Gwinnett Performing Arts Center (now Infinite Energy Center) by Northeast Atlanta Ballet Company November 27, 28, 29. See the following dance moms for tickets. Come support our former and current Gwin Oaks girls:
Leigh Blakely (Sara)
Tiffany Taylor (Sydney)
Amy Simmon (Scarlett)
Kim Shoaf (Sarah)