CANNON TIMES
A Newsletter For Cannon Staff 2018-2019
Principal Points-Week of 4/15/19
Did you know that there are only 30.5 days of school left in the 2018-2019 school year?? WHAT??!!??!?
Between now and the last day of school, in addition to some outstanding learning experiences that have been planned, there are MANY special events during the school days, such as field trips; guest speakers/visitors; Kindergarten Registration; EoY staff summatives; Career Day; more STAAR testing days; EoY student assessments; Hawaiian Falls Choir trip; Field Day; Grade Level Recognition Ceremonies; Retirement Celebrations & Staff Wedding/Baby Showers; Rachel's Challenge Rally, and MORE!
(INSERT TAKE A DEEP BREATH HERE!!)
While sometimes just reading about all of the special events that lie ahead can cause a bit of stress, it can actually help to relieve the stress by realizing how many special events have already been provided for our Cannon scholars (and that we have already survived!) throughout this school year!
CLICK HERE TO SEE 50+ SPECIAL MEMORIES WE HAVE
CREATED SO FAR FOR OUR CUBS THIS YEAR!
Now, for even more perspective, remember that these represent only special events, many of which may have interrupted learning time in some way. Yet, even with all of these opportunities for students, somehow, YOU have still managed to design some incredible LEARNING EXPERIENCES for your scholars!! Pretty amazing, huh?
So, while some busy times definitely lie ahead during these final days of school, just remember that:
Rich Learning Experiences + Special Events = High Levels of Student Engagement!
Click here to read about year mapping a powerful way to help your students review & realize all of the great learning they have accomplished in your class this year!
HANG IN THERE CANNON STAFF...YOU GOT THIS!!
Proud to be your principal,
Tona :)
#BeCannonProud
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Lisa's Coaching Corner
Since April seems to be passing so quickly and May is always a blur with so many end of the year activities and STAAR testing, I wanted to give you a heads up for End of the Year (EOY) Assessments for planning purposes. If you have any questions, please let me know. LB
READING EOY ASSESSMENTS
Window: May 1st - 10th
ISIP Reading - All K-5 Students
Reading Inventory - DRA2 (Enter scores into Eduphoria)
- All K-2 Students*
- Tiered 3-5 Students and any student NOT ON GRADE LEVEL*
WRITING EOY ASSESSMENTS
Window: May 1st - 24th
Writing Inventory - (Enter scores into Eduphoria)
- Writing prompts linked in the Humanities Curriculum
- Score using GCISD Rubric (1-12)
- All students K-5 (Read in your curriculum for specifics on Narrative and Expository)
Requirement: Add a folder to the student's google drive called "____ Grade Writing Samples" and have the student take a photo of their scored writing.
MATH EOY ASSESSMENTS
Window: May 1st - 10th
ISIP Math - All students K-5
SOCIAL STUDIES SKILLS TO SECURE
Information will be coming soon!
SCIENCE EOY ASSESSMENT
Windows:
1st Grade - May 27 - 31
2nd Grade - May 20 - 24
More information will be coming!
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DATES TO REMEMBER
4/16 PLC Week B - Kindergarten 2:15-3:45
4/16 Cubs Night Out @ Spring Creek BBQ 5:00-9:00
4/17 PTA provides Spring Luncheon for Staff!
4/17 PLC Week B - 1st grade 2:15-3:45
4/17 NTX School Board Association Meeting @ Cannon 4:00-8:00 pm
4/18 PLC Week B - 2nd grade 2:15-3:45
4/18 District Excellence Committee Meeting @ Cannon 6:00-7:30 pm Learning Commons
4/19 Bad Weather Make-up Day - No School!
4/22 Bad Weather Make-up Day - No School!
4/23-26 Kindergarten Registration
4/23 PLC Week A - 3rd grade 2:15-3:45
4/23 Kindergarten Meet & Greet - 4:00-6:00 pm
4/24 Principal Instructional Rounds @ Cannon
4/24 PLC Week A - 4th grade 2:15-3:45
4/25 Community Champions @ Cannon 8:30-10:00 - Learning Commons
4/25 3rd grade field trip to UTA Planetarium - 9:00-2:00
4/25 PLC Week A - 5th grade 2:15-3:45
4/25 Cubs Night Out @ Cici's Pizza
4/27 Rachel's Challenge Rally @ CHHS 9:00-11:00 am
4/29 Fire Drill 2:30 pm
4/29 STEM Leadership 3:05 pm
4/30 PLC Week B - Kindergarten 2:15-3:45
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CONGRATULATIONS CORNER!!
MEET YOUR NEW ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT!
VALOR 5.7 PARTICIPANTS NAMED!
- LEXI RIX
- CHELSEA WHITE
- HEATHER HAGAR
- ALEJANDRA PANIAGUA
Next year will be the 7th year for Vanguard Association of Learning, Observation, and Reflection (VALOR) to support teacher and student growth in GCISD. VALOR goals include:
To build the capacity of teachers to reflect collectively and individually on their practices and build a network of educators engaged in improving their craft through ongoing job-embedded, observation, feedback, collaboration, and scholarship.
To develop teachers at every campus, in every grade level, and in every subject level across the district whose practices exemplify the principles of LEAD 2021, and who are eager to share their knowledge with others.
Each of this outstanding Cannon teachers are a perfect fit to join VALOR next year and we wish you all good luck! We are proud to have each of you represent Cannon!
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REMINDERS AND UPDATES
IMPORTANT CHANGE IN FLEX DAYS & SUMMER LEARNING
In previous years, our work calendars have included TWO FLEX DAYS, which have been used to complete “compliance-related” professional learning requirements (see the Flex Requirements link in Classlink). The THIRD FLEX DAY included in the 2019-2020 work calendar is required to be used as a professional learning day and GCISD has created the following process for how this professional learning will be documented. See the guidelines below:
Criteria for approval:
Professional Learning activity must be related to the employee’s current professional role in GCISD
Staff members whose work calendars include a third flex day:
187 Day Teacher
187 Day Nurse
192 Day Collegiate Academy Teacher
197 Day CTE Teacher
208 iUNIV PREP Teacher
Prior approval expectations:
For teaching staff, approval will be granted by the campus principal (or AP designee)
For staff in special roles, approval will be granted jointly by the principal in collaboration with role coordinator/department director (i.e. Amy Howard, etc…)
Campus-specific Flex Day Documentation/Approval Forms will be communicated to teachers by campus leadership
Time frame for professional learning completion:
June 1-August 10
Late hires: Must document flex day by Friday, November 22, 2019 with the same approval criteria as above
Early exit: to be handled on a case by case basis (may result in a dock in pay)
Consequence:
Failure to complete the professional learning flex day will result in a payroll deduction.
CLICK HERE FOR CANNON'S APPROVAL FORM This form must be submitted and approved PRIOR TO the completion of the professional learning/flex day activity. Successful completion of the learning opportunity will be documented with the employee's signature after campus staff reconvenes on August 12th.
CLICK HERE FOR TO SEE SUMMER PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
T-TESS End-of Year Conferences BEGIN THIS WEEK!
- PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING FORM AT LEAST 3 DAYS PRIOR TO YOUR SUMMATIVE CONFERENCE AND INCLUDE ALL DOCUMENTATION & EVIDENCES AS REQUESTED. Click here to complete the Domain 4/SLO T-TESS Document
- In the Talent Ed system, under Perform, please login and go to your folder. Select the form called T-TESS Goal-Setting/End of Year Reflection. On this form you will see that you have already completed Part I and your professional goals from the beginning of the year. You will need to complete Part II as well. This section is a reflection on your progress on your goals from this year.
Brightbytes Technology Survey
This GCISD survey is required for ALL professional teaching staff, liaisons, librarians, and campus administrators. It is also required for ALL 3rd-5th grade students.
The Brightbytes technology survey window for spring 2019 is April 15-30. This survey will allow the district to provide us with data to continue the successful implementation of technology in our classrooms. The survey will not be viewable or active until the first day of the window.
Click here to access the survey for 3rd - 5th Grade Students
YEARBOOK PHOTOS NEEDED BY FRIDAY, APRIL 19th!
If you have a club, please create a folder in the club folder and upload your best pictures to be included in the yearbook!
If you have some awesome pictures from events, please upload.
Please upload pictures by FRIDAY, APRIL 19th! CLICK HERE TO UPLOAD YOUR PHOTOS NOW!
Zendesk
The GCISD Technology Department is beginning to roll out a new help desk system (Zendesk). They will initially offer the link via Classlink.
They will fully cut over to the new system on 4/23 and push out new shortcuts/web clips to desktops and iPads on 4/30. They are excited to offer this easy to use system and encourage you to take moment to sign in to view the Quick Start guide via this link.
GRADE LEVEL RECESS BAGS
HALL OF FAME REMINDERS
Training Opportunities For Seesaw for Schools
All K-4th grade teachers should now have access to the premium features of Seesaw for Schools. If you have been using the premium version this year, you should not notice any changes. If you are currently using the free version, you should now have access to the premium features. In addition to discussing it in your upcoming instructional technology PLCs, the instructional technology coaches are offering the following learning opportunities:
June 3, 12:30 - 3:30
Seesaw K-4 - Register in Eduphoria here
June 5, 8:30-11:30
Seesaw K-4 - Register in Eduphoria here
FROM THE MAKERSPACE
Maker achievement badge sessions for the Level 2 - Robotics badge will begin this week. You will receive a sign-up from me on Monday. Each grade level can assign 10 students per session, therefore you will need to discuss scheduling and selection of your students with your grade level before signing up. Each student will only need to attend one session to earn their badge. As an alternative, you can opt for a 20-30 minute whole class session with me. If you would like this option, please email me to schedule a time.
Happy Making!
REMINDER ABOUT LEARNING COMMONS CLOSURE THIS WEEK
Mrs. Wagner will be gone to the Texas library convention all week! As a reminder:
- The library will be open on Monday and Tuesday only next week.
On Monday and Tuesday you may take your whole class to check in/out but do not send students on their own. Please monitor both the check in and out procedures and make sure the books are put on the cart neatly (we will have guests in the school and I don't want the library to be a hot mess). The computers will not be charged in the middle of the day so plan to come to the library before 1:00 to ensure they are still working.
Wednesday and Thursday the library will be closed.
- There will be no library lessons in May
- Deadline to finish the GCISD Reads challenge is May 1- celebration dates coming soon!
- All library books are due May 17
THE GCISD READS CHALLENGE is in its last few weeks! I am so pleased with the number of students who have taken the challenge to heart and internalized reading as a part of their lives. As the May 1 deadline approaches there are a few things you can do to encourage students to finish without degrading the integrity of the challenge.
- If students have not been keeping regular track of their reading, spend some time together, as a class, making a list of what you have read or listened to in class. Then add up the pages (reasonable estimates by an adult are fine) and allow students to fill in the chart for that many pages.
- Encourage students to think back and make lists of book titles they've read on their own this year. Then they can sit with an adult to add up or estimate the number of pages and fill out their chart to reflect that total.
- Send these tips to parents in an email or newsletter explaining this process and asking for parent signatures on reading logs as we get close to the deadline.
There needs to be a direct connection from the book to the recording sheet so students take ownership in the fact that they have, indeed, read that many pages. It totally defeats the purpose to tell them we know they've been reading so just color in the recording sheet and turn it in. I have tried to keep the challenge on their minds all year by putting names of finishers on the announcements each week and making prize patrol visits to classrooms.
If students reflect on their reading now and have a fairly accurate and honest total of their reading so far, they will then have the rest of this month to read and add to their recording sheet to finish the challenge. They will feel so proud of themselves on their accomplishment and will know they deserve to be identified as a GCISD Reads Finisher! If they don't finish the challenge they are not in trouble at all. It is not a negative reflection on the student or the teacher. It just gives them something to work toward next year.
Thank you so much for partnering with me to make reading a daily part of students' lives!
STAAR TESTING DATES
STAAR testing for April is over! ALL staff needs to make sure you have the remaining testing dates on your calendars.
REMAINING STAAR TESTING DATES FOR THIS SPRING;
May 13th - 3rd & 4th Math STAAR; (5th Math retakes)
May 14th - 3rd & 4th Reading STAAR; (5th Reading retakes)
May 15th - 5th Science STAAR
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Worth A Read, Watch or...Listen!!
TALKING IN CLASS This blogpost has some outstanding strategies for developing confident speakers in the elementary classroom who can share their thoughts and learning. Some great ideas here for how to create and analyze discussion guidelines with your students!
JUST BREATHE! Research supports the practice of mindfulness and teaching students to stop and just breathe, in order to impact emotional regulation, decreasing stress and test anxiety, some cases of ADHD, improved health, attendance, and learning. Check out the video below to hear from kids how this practice has helped them!
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CURRICULUM & INSTRUCTION CORNER
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INFORMATION TO SHARE IN PARENT NEWSLETTERS
REMINDER: UPCOMING SCHOOL HOLIDAYS
SAVE THE DATES!
More information will be coming home soon about our Field Day. Due to construction, we will be holding our Field day off-site again this year. We are SO excited to announce that GCISD's beautiful new stadium will be the site for our Field Day! Information about transportation, schedule of activities and MORE will come home with all students in early May.
Student Transfers
Applications for the Student Transfer Lottery will begin Monday, April 8th at 10:00 am until Friday, May 3rd at midnight. Check the Transfer Information page on the district website for information and the link to apply. The actual lottery will take place on Friday, May 10th.
Kindergarten Registration 2019-2020
Do you have a friend or neighbor who has a Kindergarten student that will attend Cannon next year?
Please help us spread the word that Kindergarten Registration for 2019-2020 will be held throughout the week of April 23rd-26th! We will have a special Kindergarten Meet & Greet on Tuesday, April 23rd from 4:00-6:00 pm, when incoming students can meet the Kinder teachers & do an activity in a Kinder classroom. Registration for Kinder can be completed between 8:00-2:00, 4/23 - 4/26.
Thanks for helping us round up our incoming Cubs!
CAREER DAY 2019
We are looking for individuals to come present at our Career Day for all students K-5 on Monday, May 20th. Our hope is for students to gain knowledge about possible careers/jobs and the college and/or experiences required to obtain these professions.
We would love for our guests to bring any hands on materials or pictures that will help the students better understand your job/career.
Please complete this survey to let us know if you are interested.
Contact Mandy Coburn, Cannon Counselor, if you have any questions. (817) 251-5684 or amanda.coburn@gcisd.net
IT'S YEARBOOK TIME!
RACHEL'S CHALLENGE RALLY!
GCISD will be hosting its annual Rachel’s Challenge Fun Run on Saturday, April 27th. It will be held at CHHS, from 9-11am and will have many vendors from the community to support healthy lifestyles. Please see link for more information.
Please remind your students to wear their Rachel’s Challenge T-Shirts every Monday in April! Hope to see you all on 4/27!
GOT OLD ELECTRONICS?
Do you have any small old, broken electronics gathering dust? We are collecting these for our Breaker Space and our 4th grade scholars also have a project coming up and could use your old electronics to explore!
Suggestions for small items to donate: (No items with GLASS screens please! )
- Electronic toys - we LOVE these!
- Keyboards
- Remotes
- Small appliances (hair dryers; coffee makers; toasters; styling tools, etc...
- Clocks
- Phones
- Smoke detectors; Flashlights; Tools
- We would love to learn from anything you might have!
Please drop these items off in the front office or send them to school with your students to be taken to the office. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!
Parent Technology Academy
Come and learn along with others about the ever-changing
world of technology in which your children are living!
Spring Parent Technology Academy Sessions
GCISD Technology is excited to announce our Spring Session line up with several new sessions. Stay tuned as more will be added to our list as we keep receiving the request from the community.
April 16th - Apps Parents Need to Know -SIGN UP HERE
Take part in this interactive discussion around the growing world of apps that students are using. Go being the scenes to hear the truth behind the apps and what dangers there are to those who use them
Virtual Session Coming Soon - Fortnite ( a Parents Guide ) - SIGN UP HERE
Many have asked some come and experience Fortnite for parents. Hear about details of the game and dive into parental settings for the various gaming systems students use to play online.
All sessions can be found on the Parent Technology Academy Webpage
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TWITTER REMINDERS FOR @canSTEM
BIG thanks to all of our staff members that have already been actively tweeting about the great learning going on in your classrooms!
Please help us reach our campus goal for all staff to participate in a 5-minute a day communication plan, as stated in George Couros's quote shown here. It's truly a simple way to SHARE & LEARN from the best minds in GCISD! I am going to be highlighting our school twitter account HEAVILY with parents & our school community, to help create our own "outward culture of celebration"!!
As a reminder, please include our school's handle, @canSTEM, and our hashtag, #BeCannonProud in all of your tweets, so that they can be automatically retweeted on our school account. At the end of the day, simply go to @canSTEM and scroll through our school's tweets for 5 minutes and see what your colleagues are sharing! If you want to learn more from them about an idea they shared....you will only have to walk across the building to get more information firsthand!
Please click here to see our staff list of social media accounts. Please add/update any information so that we can make sure we follow each other!
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TO-DO LIST
- Set a timer and complete daily attendance ON TIME every day!
- Please help communicate to all parents about the student holidays on 4/19 & 4/22!
- Do NOT send students to the Learning Commons alone this week! Learning Commons is open on Monday & Tuesday for teachers to bring their classes. Closed on Wednesday & Thursday! Details in this newsletter from Kristi.
- Prepare for end of year T-TESS conferences- complete & submit the T-TESS Domain 4 & SLO document at least 5 days and Part 2 in Perform before your scheduled Summative Meeting date. See information in this newsletter for details.
- Dr. Ryan & the GCISD School Board will be touring their guests on Wednesday evening throughout the building. Make sure your grade level spaces reflect the awesome learning experiences you provide your scholars!
- Review information in this newsletter about the THIRD FLEX DAY in the work calendars and required professional learning approval process.
- Stop by Spring Creek BBQ on Tuesday to support our Cub's Night Out!
- ALL teachers & professional staff AND 3rd-5th grade students need to complete the Bright Bytes Survey this week. Links in this newsletter will be active on Monday!
- Enjoy the Spring Staff Luncheon on Wednesday, provided by our awesome PTA!
- Check out the Summer Professional Learning opportunities in the C&I S'more.
- Submit grade level photos to Mandy for the yearbook - due by Friday!
- ENJOY YOUR WELL-DESERVED 4-day weekend! :-)
- See the Information To Share With Parents section of this newsletter for communication about campus events & other district news that needs to be included in your own newsletters, blogs, etc...
- Please click here to see our staff list of social media accounts. Please add/update any information so that we can make sure we follow each other!
- Review the information in this newsletter about the 5-minute a day communication plan. Tweet & blog about all of the great things you are doing in your classroom/grade! Don't forget to use @canSTEM and our hashtag #BeCannonProud this year in all of your tweets!