Cat Tracks
Spring Shadows Elementary Wildcats Staff Newsletter
April 9-13, 2018
Our Vision
Our Mission
Core Beliefs
- Each student has unique intellectual, emotional, social, and physical qualities.
- We embrace a child’s individual values, interests, and personalities.
- Parents are confident in their child’s social and intellectual educational growth.
- Educators lead their craft by preparing learners in our fast changing world
Principal's Message
Dear Wildcats,
Wow! Time is flying by! It's is go time for our first round of STAAR. Here are some videos to get our 4th and 5th graders pumped for the test and remind them of some testing strategies:
Test Skills (Bad Blood Parody 2016)
STAAR STAAR Baby (Ice Ice Baby Parody)
This week we are down to:
- 20 Instructional Days Prior to 3rd-5th STAAR (Final Administration)
This week's announcements are here for you.
- PLC: Objective for this week: PLC Thursday: Teachers will closely look at their units in the curriculum, based on recent mastery connect data/PSTAAR data plan for tight instructional lessons for students. K-2nd Grade: Action required- ensure that weekly your math & science checkpoints are in for mastery connect. Continue to report your weekly guided reading lesson plans in your lesson plan folder. 3-5th Grade: Thursday: Panorama Survey Review. (3rd only: Regular Action required for weekly reporting by Friday for tested subjects.) 4th & 5th: PLC- by Friday: Regroup students based on recent Mastery Connect data for reading/math for last 20 days (input this information in your 9 Week Action Plan.)
- Faculty PLC: Gift of Time of planning in exchange for alternate testing schedule: 2:45-4:00 p.m.
Personnel Update:
Thank you all for supporting Pamela Doss as she is about to become a new parent! Her last day was Friday and will be on rest until her due date. Let's all wish her the best for her new life changing chapter in her life! She will be out for the rest of the year as she nurtures and bonds with new baby. We will welcome her back next school year!
Again, thank you for all you do! You make me so proud!
Wildcat Love,
Rachel Martinez
Deadlines/Priorities
- Summer School
If you have students who were given a Qualification Letter and Enrollment Form for Summer School, please contact parents to get them returned to school. Deadline for enrolling in summer school is May 4, 2018.
- Where are you on the GPC timeline? Have you identified your students? Have you submitted your GPC list to your appraiser and scheduled a conference with them to discuss students that may not meet passing criteria? GPC TIMELINE
- If you have decided to do Saturday Camps or Saturday Planning- here are the dates:
April 21, May 5
9:00-12:00
$25/Hour
Each team organizes and submits a proposal on google docs. Copy and add with a new title your proposal. SATURDAY ACADEMIC OR PLANNING CAMPS
Calendar
Attire: STAAR WEEK- all may wear STAAR Shirts, Baseball Shirts, Wildcats Shirts with jeans; No Hooves for Hope this Week
- 7:00-7:20 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Team Leaders Mtg (Conference room)
- 9:15-9:45 School Connectedness Meeting
- 1:00-2:00 ILT Meeting (Conference Room)
- Dismissal 2:30
Tuesday, April 10, 2018: Special Schedule for STAAR Testing
- 4th Grade Writing STAAR
- 5th Grade Math STAAR
- Nurse Meeting (3:00-4:00)
- Dismissal 2:30
Wednesday, April 11, 2018: No Ext. Planning; Day 1
- 5th Grade STAAR Reading
- Dismissal @ 2:30
- Baller Academy (3:30-5:30)
Thursday, April 12, 2018: 2nd Grade Extended Planning (Day 1 ), Day 2
- 1st Grade to Oil Ranch
- PLC: Panorama Survey Review for Grades 3-5 only
- 9:30-10:00 Main Street Car Parade
- Dismissal @ 2:30
- Paraprofessional Day Celebration
- Autism Awareness Day- Wear Blue in show of support!
- Dismissal @ 2:30
Texas A&M Physics Fest
Staff Shout-Outs
- Many many thanks to Bea, Olga, Adriana, and Rachel B. for supporting all teachers in creating awards, organizing for awards ceremony, greeting parents, and helping with the cafeteria.
- Huge applause for Cindy R., Demetra, and Rachel B. for helping organize for Orbit's visit. Demetra for coordinating NBHS to support us as well!
- Huge thanks to all the staff for their flexibility for Awards Ceremony & Pep Rally!
- Congrats to Mr. Gutierrez for leading his soccer team at Stratford's mid program camp!
- Huge round of applause for Cindy in leading us at the STAAR training! Make sure to read your manuals!
- Many many thanks to Ann and Ilsa for taking a group of students to the TAMU Physics Fest on Saturday! What a way to provide extra opportunity to our kids that otherwise would not have the opportunity to attend. Thank you Trini & Rachel B. for coming up to the school to open it up for our students on a cold Sat. morning.
- Yay to Blessings in a Backpack for giving us extra snacks for our students!
I know there are many unsung heroes out there that I did not get to mention. If you see someone out there going above and beyond and want me to recognize them on cat tracks, please send me an email.
Reach Out Pledge
PBIS and Project Class
Project Class: With STAAR next week, Mrs. Futch will be on campus on Weds. to see her groups. I will come around next week and take pictures of your Project Class Superstars and hand them their certificates.
PBIS:
Thank you to all who have displayed their Reach Out Pledge hearts. Lunch Paw winners will get their ice cream next week. Congratulations to our winners:
Kinder- Almaguer, Guykens, and Johnson
First - Skinner
Second- Hudman and Urrutia
Third - Pachuca
Fourth - Shankar and Campana
Fifth - Perez
Life Skills - Meza
Library Notes
Our SSE Readers have gotten up to 584,500 minutes but it looks like some of the classes didn't their minutes in. Friday was crazy with the award ceremony and the pep rally. I will let everyone get their minutes. If you want the volunteer to login your minutes, please send them to me.
This week's schedule will be mixed up with STAAR testing. If you have library time on Tuesday or Wednesday OR if your students don't have books for the testing time. Please sign up for a time.
Some of you that are one those days will get a notice. I have left those of you at 1pm on the schedule those day. We may have to change that.
Thanks for your support!
Ann
Spring Shadows Elementary
Email: rachel.martinez@springbranchisd.com
Website: https://cms.springbranchisd.com/sse2/
Location: 9725 Kempwood Drive, Houston, TX, United States
Phone: (713) 251-7100
Twitter: @twitter_rachelmartinez4