Monday Memo
September 5th - 8th, 2017
"Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it.” —George S. Halas, Head Coach Chicago Bears
I first want to thank everyone for possibly the best first week ever! I love that you are taking the time to build relationships with your students, establish a positive classroom culture and explicitly teach your classroom procedures and expectations. In addition to the birthday rule that Lane Pethick shared with us, I also encourage you to learn how to correctly pronounce the last name of all of your students. It sends the wrong message when we continually mispronounce it and now is the time when we can ask without judgment. All of these things will pay off in the long run. Please work to establish the same positive relationships with your parents by communicating early and often with them. If they feel informed about what is going on at school and that you know their child, they will give you the benefit of the doubt when questions/concerns arise and will support you.
This past week, I received a professional email (not from anyone at McGowen) that prompted me to send out this reminder. Please do not ever include the following note as a tag line in work related email: "Please excuse any errors, this email was sent from my iPhone. Thanks." This sends the wrong message about your level of professionalism. As Dr. Rick Rigsby shared at Convocation, "How you do anything, is how you do everything." You are an incredible group of hard working, talented teachers, and I would never want something like that to diminish you in the eyes of our stakeholders.
Our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade Math/Science teachers are participating in Apple's Innovative Educators Academy this year. Part of their training will occur throughout the year. When this occurs, we will have 9 subs on those days. Due to this, on September 20th and February 12th, we will not be able to approve any Personal Leave days. We also ask that, if at all possible, you avoid scheduling doctor appointments that would cause you to be out on this day. Please note this on your calendars now so that you can plan accordingly.
Our first Team Leader Meeting will be held on Monday, September 11th. If you have any questions or concerns that you would like to add to the agenda, please use this link to submit your request.
Make today count!
JL
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Duty Schedule
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Learning and Language Objectives Reminder
The expectation is that Learning/Language Objectives are posted in kid-friendly terms in the form of “I can” or “I will” statements. Students should be able to communicate their learning and why it is valuable.
For example “I can describe the interaction of characters including their relationships and the changes they undergo.”
If you need listening, speaking, reading, writing icon magnets for board, please let SL or JL know.
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Action Items
- Join PTA
- Turn in favorites list and emergency contact info
- All AIE teachers need to secure subs now for the days you will be at training this year. Given the sub shortage, we will want to take care of this sooner rather than later. I will also need to block the calendar on those days for others to take personal days.
- Complete compliance trainings
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Important BOY Information
Compliance Trainings
McKinney ISD is using SafeSchoolsTM.com to offer training courses online for your convenience. Follow these easy steps to complete your McKinney ISD safety training requirements:
Using your web browser, go to the SafeSchoolsTM website for McKinney ISD: https://mckinneyisd-tx.safeschools.com/
Enter your Username: 6 digit ID#
Once you log into the site, click on a course title to begin the training. Each course has audio, so be sure to turn up your speakers if you'd like to listen. You must complete each section of the course in order to receive full credit.
Your McKinney ISD SafeSchoolsTM contact:
Kathryn Robertson
Given that the beginning of the year is so busy, if at all possible, I strongly encourage you to complete these trainings prior to Academy.
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MEF Grants
The McKinney Education Foundation Grant application is open. Our deadline is October 2nd, 5:00 pm.
Apply: http://www.mmeeff.com/staff-grants/
Good news! We are holding a Grant Writing Workshop on August 31st at 3:45 pm. We’ll be located at Greer. Registration is open on Eduphoria. We plan to share specific tips for the MEF Grant Application. Bring your computer and we can work at the workshop if times allows.
Please call the MEF office with any questions: 469-302-6313.
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Shoparoo
Did you know that each week I give out jeans passes to the three highest scoring staff members on Shoparoo? I know that many of you have already joined, but if you haven't, it is not too late. Simply go to www.shoparoo.com to create your account. If you use veft4467 as a referral code, McGowen will earn money for you just signing up. Please feel free to push this information out to your parents as well. Once you sign up, Shoparoo will give you a referral code for your parents to use when they sign up. Schools with just 40 supporters are earning an average of $1,000 every year.
Congratulations to Krista Daniel, Ashley O'Connor and Jennifer Little for being the highest three staff contributors to Shoparoo this week!
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Focus for 2017 - 2018
In order to help all children achieve their personal best, McGowen teachers and staff will:
- Knowledgeably speak about our current practices that contribute to McGowen becoming a Level 2 Certified High Reliability School.
- Engage in collaborative team planning and lesson design that addresses the four essential questions of a PLC.
- Present lessons in such a way that students understand and can speak knowledgeably about posted learning and language targets.
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Remind for Staff
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Happy Birthday!
September
Jessica Bravo - 1st
Rico Sneller - 5th
Guadalupe Woodmansee - 5th
Jaime Hardy - 9th
Jen Dickinson - 12th
Angie Cochrum - 14th
Melanie Henry - 16th
Alisa Madina - 19th
Shannon Hershberger - 22nd
Tara Jackson - 25th
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APPRECIATIONS
- Lynn Gerton - Thank you so much for the countless hours you have put into Dismissal Management System! It is a beast of a job. -JL
- A-Team/Office Team - I am blessed to work with such amazing people. Thank you for all of your help and support last week. -JL
- Maria Elwood - Thank you for filling in the gap last week while we worked out the duty schedule. I appreciate you willingness to pitch in whenever needed. -JL
- Laura Garro- Thank you for being an amazing mentor and helping me get set for my class! I appreciate you SO much:)
- 1st grade team- Thank you for your continous help and welcoming me to the team! You guys are rock stars:)
- Tanya – I appreciate that you always supervise our ‘special’ friends in PE. It’s obviously your forte. G
- 5th Grade Squad- Thanks for all your help this week! Y’all are the bomb-diggity!! JB
- Nick, Gaby, and Tanya - Thank you for moving my student desks before back to school night for me since I could not. You are the best! Love, JD
- JB - Thank you for dealing with the technology department to ensure our doc cameras got setup for us to use. You are the best! Love, JD
- JB - I am beyond blessed, excited, and honored to have you as my teaching partner! Love you and our secret code for help. ;) Love, JD
- Shana, Nick, Tanya, Gaby, Cab, Lori, and JL - Thank you for helping with the outside piece of afternoon car rider dismissal. Our collaboration at the end of everyday to tweak our procedures and safety concerns have ensured every student and parent made it through the line quickly and safely. I'm so blessed to be working with you all on a daily basis. Love, JD
- JL & Donna - Thank you for your help with adding car rider dismissal safety procedures to the constant contact. Love, JD
- Shana & Nikki - Thank you for being the best planning partners ever! I’m so excited about this year and all that we are going to do. Love, JD
- Teresa - I'm so excited to have you as part of our family. Love, JD
- 5th grade team - Thank you for an amazing first week of school! I love how we are all on the same page and our collaboration as a team about all our 5th grade students. I cannot wait to see what the rest of the year brings. Love you all! Love, JD
- Lori - Thank you for always checking up on me. We will always have each others knee, needs, early morning arrivals to work, and so much more! Love you dear friend! Love, JD
- McGowen family - I want to thank you all for always watching out for me and my knee. I appreciate all the help you have given me as I deal with my new limitations and reminding me not to push them. I truly work with the best men and women! Much love and respect, JD
- Lori R.-thank you for being an amazing helper to my little friend, not to mention, helping me out during this first week!!!! Jen
- Trisha, thank you sooooo very much for being our Sonic Fairy!!!!! ~KT
- SdL – Thank you for your help with my friend this week! LP
- Makenzie – Thank you for being willing to share your ideas and materials during our planning! I am so glad to have you on our team! LP
- I would like to express appreciations for Mandy Moore and Amber Evans for their dedication and showing such compassion to help one of our special needs friend have a great 1st week of school. You ladies do what you do with such HEART! Amazing. -Mrs. Oliphant
- I would like to express appreciation for Michelle Caballero for always having a smile and kind words and her dedication to McGowens teachers and staff and making sure our instructional needs are met. What a rare jewel you are. Thank you for what you do! You add value to McGowen!! -Mrs. Oliphant
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In Need of GT Hours?
TAGT On-Demand Registration information is below:
The district is providing you access to the TAGT Learning On-Demand, a library of online courses for professional development. You will be able to select six hours’ worth of courses. Please note that the library includes 1-hour, 3-hour, and 6-hour courses.
To begin, you will need to acquire a username and password. To do this, click the link below and use the registration code to complete the form.
Registration Code: u6515mck9131
Link: http://txgiftedcourses.responsivelearning.com/SelfRegistration/
IMPORTANT NOTE:
It is essential that you disable your popup blocker.
The courses are compatible with desktops, laptops and tablets in both PC and Mac, but are not compatible with smartphones.
We find that Google Chrome tends to provide the best user experience. You may download Google Chrome here: https://www.google.com/chrome/browser/desktop/.
If you need assistance, email support@responsivelearning.com and a support team member will be happy to assist you.
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McKinney ISD's Vision, Mission and Beliefs
Any time we have an idea, concern, solution and/or comment, this is the filter through which we should speak. Let's help each other live up to our vision, mission, and beliefs.
Vision:
We are a cohesive, diverse community providing engaging learning experiences for all.
We will provide engaging learning experiences so students can become effective communicators, quality contributors and socially responsible citizens.
Beliefs:
- Partnerships between students, parents, community members and staff are foundational to educational success.
- Positive school culture and a safe environment foster growth.
- Everyone has inherent value and deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.
- Learning is an active process requiring engaging tasks and engaging minds.
- Relevant and authentic experiences ignite continuous, deeper learning.
- Meaningful relationships enrich learning.
- Confidence fuels risk taking and higher achievement.
- Financial stewardship ensures a tomorrow for education.