COWBOY COURIER
Week of September 19, 2016
Our Vision
Our Values
Sense of Urgency. Acting with the realization that efficiency is vital to success.
Belonging. We are committed to actions that support a sense of family and community.
Commitment. Doing whatever it takes to reach our vision of academic success and a love for learning.
Respect. Holding ourselves, our school, our family, and our community in high regard.
Our Values In Action
Respect
Growth Mindset
Growth Mindset
Commitment
Belonging
Commitment
Campus Goal #2: Social and Emotional Support
Dallas Parent Teacher Home Visit Project
Welcome to Cigarroa, Ms. Torres!
This was a very full and super busy week, yet I have been continuously astounded by the machine that this school has become! I was deeply impressed at the professionalism that was displayed as teachers discussed their TEI scorecards and as teams met together to learn about how leveling has impacted our campus and how we are going to put our heads together to make it happen for students this year. For many of your students, this week is the week when they'll take their first interim assessments -- wish them well as they demonstrate their learning from the first five weeks of school! The upcoming week is going to be another very busy week and includes a milestone for our campus -- take it day by day and enjoy what is going to be a great week of school!
Here is important information for this coming week:
The REAL School Gardens Big Dig is HERE! The big day is this Friday, September 23rd, and it is the day that we celebrate a new addition to our 10-year-old building! Here are a few important details (more in-depth logistics will be explained Tuesday afternoon):
- The rotations for the outdoor art projects are posted below. This is a time for our students to contribute to their new garden!
- We are still in need of tools, especially pointed shovels and wheelbarrows! If you have any tools you can donate, please fill out the "I Can Lend a Garden Tool!" button below!
- Don't bring lunch Friday -- The Boston Consulting Group is going to treat our staff with lunch! They're awesome!
I am continuing to keep the following buttons at the bottom of this week's Courier:
- Buckner International Shoe Distribution Entry Form: This information was due Friday, September 16 -- please complete this no later than Monday by Noon if you have not done so.
- DISD Goal #6 Extra-/Co-Curricular Activities Signup: This is mandatory for all staff members to complete. This survey has been updated with information we collected from the first campus activities survey we sent during beginning-of-year PD.
- Parish Episcopal High School Volunteer Request: Complete this if you would like to host a Parish student volunteer. So far, 27 teachers have requested assistance!
Leveling is nearing an end and now most teams know what they will be responsible for teaching this year. It is time to begin thinking about your SLO and I have included a button at the bottom of the Courier with a link to district resources for creating your SLO. When you are ready to submit your SLO goal-setting, please submit it electronically to your TEI evaluator. For selecting your students, follow these guidelines:
- For self-contained teachers, you must address no fewer than 20% of their students in the SLO but may include all of them if they choose.
- For departmentalized teachers, you may address 20% of one of your classes and this group can be a mixture of students from all of the classes you serve, but the subject and topic must be the same.
Mrs. Johnson and I will hold 3R goal-setting conferences for staff members evaluated using the 3R tool. Please look out for Outlook invites!
Liz Cardenas and the Sunshine Committee are still asking for membership dues! Please see Liz in room KD if you want to join! All monies go toward supporting our Cigarroa staff!
From Jennifer Mathai and the Dallas Parent Teacher Home Visit Project, if you make a home visit, please tell Quinton or her so that we can snap a picture of you. Also, please, please submit your survey using the button at the bottom of the Courier!
Average daily student attendance is currently at 98.1%! This is up from 97% in 2015-2016 and 96.5% in 2014-2015! As Vangie Cortez told you last Tuesday, taking daily attendance is imperative and TEA will withhold distinction designations for schools that do not meet attendance goals. Thank you for helping to get our kids to school! As teachers, it is your responsibility to:
- Take attendance every day by 9:00 AM.
- Follow-up with parents of students that do not come to school.
- Notify Mrs. Johnson, Maggie Sanchez, and Nikki Rotman of any chronic attendance issues.
Camp Khobi is back! If you're interested in getting fit with Coach Johnson, please check with him for details!
Thank you for your feedback regarding parent communications in the Wednesday folder! We will frontload communications and we will send you email notification of important items we need for you to collect.
Have an awesome 5th week of school!
Friday, September 23rd Big Dig Art Project Rotations
Morning Routine Responsibilities
Yale (4A)
Morning Round-Up Visitors
Mizzou (2E)
Week at a Glance
Monday, September 19
Theater Troupe from 3:05-4:05 in the auditorium
Camp Khobi (Session 1: 3:30-4:05, Session 2: 4:10-4:45)
Hispanic Heritage Festival from 4:00-7:00 PM outside by the cafeteria!
Tuesday, September 20
2nd grade Parish Reading Buddies from 9:45-10:30
Teachers meet at 3:30 in the library:
- REAL School Garden Big Dig logistics
- Logistics for 6th six weeks extended planning
- Counseling compliance training
Wednesday, September 21
PLCs during planning periods
- Instructional planning for weeks of September 26 and October 3
Camp Khobi (Session 1: 3:30-4:05, Session 2: 4:10-4:45)
Thursday, September 22
College Spirit Day!
Friday, September 23
REAL School Garden Big Dig!
Cigarroa Spirit Day!
Boston Consulting Group provides lunch for staff from 10:30-1:00 in the staff lounge
On the Horizon
1st six weeks ends Friday, September 30
Parent Teacher Conferences are Thursday, October 13 from 4:00-7:00 PM
Elementary Fair Day (No school!) is Friday, October 14