Friday Focus
Moreau Heights Elementary
Our Mission
Positive Energy Equals Synergy
- At the heart of every problem is a conversation to be had. We cannot fall into the trap of deflecting conversations about concner snd issues that are brought to our attention. Problems can be resolved when each person is willing to listen and refelct on what is really being said by the other person. When we pause and reflect we can grow as problem solvers.
Aspire vs Inspire
- We can't inspire our students and colleagues to be great if we are not aspiring for greatness ourselves. You must aspire so we can inspire! It doesn't mean we don't ever fall short of our goals: it means we are willing to be courageous and vulnerable in order to make the impact. You set the example.
Act vs. React
- Have a plan for how you will respond and support your students. The plan should impact what you do upfront, but will also impact how you react. When we have a predictable routine and expectations, we can better react when a problem occurs. We know that issues will arise and we want to
PBS lesson
Our behavior data shows the greatest need is student defiance. Our lessons over the quarter will focus on skills that support student's following adult directions, even when it's hard.
The PBS lesson focus this week is I can follow a direction, even if I don't want to.
Our Second Steps. . .
Lesson 24 is where we have each classroom paced on lessons:
Kindergarten- Handling name calling
Grades 1-5, if on schedule, have finished all lessons in the sequence. This would be a great time to revisit lessons that are topics your students are still struggling with.
Great Reminders!
Celebrate the Positive!
Have you kept an eye out for the positive choices by students? Have you written a positive referral to recognize a student doing a great job?
Nominations for New Professional of the Year
Character Trait for April is Accountable
Calendar of Events
Monday, April 15
*District Facility Committee Tour (sometime between 8 - 10)
*CN IEP (Ewing, Haugen/Day, Albers, Hutchison) 3:45
Tuesday, April 16
*ELA MAP Testing grades 3, 4, 5
*Tier 2 mtg 3:45
Wednesday, April 17
*ELA MAP Testing grades 3, 4, 5
*JB service plan (Steinman, Ewing, Haugen/Day) 10:15
*AW staffing (Strange, James, Hutchison, Holliday, Day/Haugen) 11:00
*RC staffing (Albers, Jesse, Dawn/Haugen, Hutchison, Lock) 1:10
*Staff mtg 3:45
Thursday, April 18
*ELA testing 4th grade
*NA staffing (Strange, James, Hutchison, Holliday, Day/Haugen, Spear, Jungmeyer) 3:45
*Spring Sing/Art Show/Ice Cream Social 5:30 - 8:00
Friday, April 19
*PBS Assemblies 8:30/9:40
*3 hour early dismissal 12:15
Monday, April 22
*SST for ES (Day, James, Paul, Holliday) 9:20
*Leadership Team mtg 3:45
Tuesday, April 23
*Kindergarten Field Trip
*SST for AG (Albers, Haugen, James) 9:15
Wednesday, April 24
*Secretaries Day
*Math MAP testing grades 3, 4, and 5
*Specials Collaboration 7:45- 8:15
*BM Service Plan mtg (Ewing, Haugen, Russler) 11:10
*PM IEP (Hutchison, Day/Haugen, Ewing, Hammann) 3:45
Thursday, April 25
*Math MAP testing grades 3, 4, and 5
*Principal mtg 1 - 3:30
*Staff Appreciation Banquet 5:30 at LCMS
Friday, April 26
*Mid-terms go home
Dr. Day's Update
Test Taking Tips
We all know that testing can create anxiety in students. To help eliminate that stress, work to help students with strategies to approach the test in a confident way. Typically you’d begin the year teaching these strategies, but it’s not too late to use some of these to help students approach the MAP test and even our last round of iReady assessments.
Below are some tips that you can share with your students to work on eliminating some of that anxiety so students are confident as they begin taking an assessment.
Always follow directions closely.
Read the entire question and all the answer choices before choosing an answer.
Check your work carefully to make sure all questions were answered.
If you don’t know the answer, flag the question and come back to it later.
Go over 4 different ways to work problems that are challenging.
Predict It - Read the question and decide the answer BEFORE looking at the answer choices. Then pick the correct answer.
Eliminator - Eliminate the odd balls, distractors, and answers that are obviously wrong.
Be a Detective - Read the question, then look back through the text or the question for context clues to help figure out the answer.
Guess Smartly - When you’ve tried everything you can and you are still stuck, pick something that makes the most sense. Make sure it isn’t something you’ve eliminated.
BEFORE you begin giving the assessment, take some time to go over these with students each day. Remind them to take some deep breaths and really think about what they need to do. It’s okay to flag a question and come back to it later.
Reminders
- Students are not to bring toys to school unless there is a special earned day. We have many students with toys out in the gym in the am that is causing some issues with arguments and sharing. Please have a conversation with students about leaving toys at home.
- When testing begins, students must be completely silent in the hallways at all times. Students will be pulled for testing in various parts of the building and may go past the scheduled times. Use next week to practice with your class what this should look and sound like.
- Please make sure you are turning your minor sheets in to Jeanne EVERY WEEK. We have many that have not turned in a sheet for several weeks. We want to make sure we are keeping accurate data. Thanks for your help with this!
March/April Birthdays
Theresa Schell - April 3
April Steinman - April 7
Whitney Boeckman - April 13
Katie Spear - April 30
Welcome Our Newest Chargers!
Thank you for welcoming our newest Chargers!
Savannah Snow - I grew up in the Joplin, MO area. This will be my 4th year of teaching, first as PE. I have been at East the last 3 years. In my family picture here is my wife Tasha, our beautiful girls Cabela and Ember, and our representation of Elijah Cole our beautiful angel baby and a mini Jack Russell puppy named Rocky!!
Heather Nelson - If I look like a familiar face it’s because I am. I figured I hang out enough here I might as well join the staff.
I am truly excited to dust off my teaching chops after enjoying staying home with my kids. I know the role of Behavior Intervention Specialist is a challenging one but I have a passion to help kids who find emotions and behaviors difficult to maneuver. I have been married to my husband Jon for almost 15 years. He is a pastor at a local church called Soma Community Church which is a large part of our lives. I will have 3 kiddos at Moreau Heights next year. Alea (10), Nehemiah (8) and Annalise (5). Each one is as different as the last and I love being their mama. I also enjoy a side business as a professional photographer. I already love Moreau Heights and it’s staff and am looking forward to next year diving in even deeper here.
Kiley Kerr - I graduated from Lincoln University in December with my Elementary Education degree. At Lincoln I was a student athlete who played college softball for four years! I was born in a small town in Iowa, but lived in Texas, Kansas, and West Virginia before finally settling in Missouri which has been my favorite state. Recently I finished a long term sub job for fifth grade and since then have been back to Four Leaf Clover Pre-school teaching my energized group of three year olds. I am SO excited to become apart of the Moreau Heights team! In my spare time I love to read, spend weekends on the farm down in Vienna, try out new recipes, and spend lots of time with my dog Maggie who has more energy than I can account for!
Cassidy Smith - My first year at Moreau Heights will be my second year teaching. However, after May 25th I will be excited to be called Mrs. Kliethermes. I love lightbulb moments; they drove me to switch to education and change my whole life plan. I love to read and re-read and I cannot wait to share some of my favorite books with my students in this upcoming school year. Also, I have a great love for sharing my baked goods!
Alecia Trusty - Hello Moreau Heights Chargers. I was born and raised in the small island of Jamaica and moved to the United States at the age of 18. I made Jefferson City, MO my new home three years ago. Prior to moving to Missouri, I lived in New London, Connecticut. I am a graduate of Three Rivers Community College, in Norwich, Connecticut where I obtained my Associates of Science in Early Childhood Education. Also, this May I will be graduating from the University of Missouri with a Bachelor’s in education. I am a big track and field fan, and I come from a long generation of sprinters. In my spare time I enjoy reading (any and everything), shopping for books, and crafting with my niece (Jenayah, 3) and my nephew (Tajhae, 1). I’m very excited to be a part of the Charger Family!
Catie Williams - I’m from Hattiesburg, MS. I love This Is Us, pizza, candles, traveling, HGTV, and spending time with my loved ones! As of next month, I will be a graduate from the University of Missouri and I am pumped to bring what I have learned to the school community and my fourth grade scholars. I can’t wait to meet all of you as well as the amazing students and be apart of the Charger Family!
Mason Johnson - My wife and I just recently moved back from South Korea. We are both very happy to be back in Missouri. I have really enjoyed all of the time I have spent at Moreau Heights so far and am very excited to be a part of the team for the coming year!