Back to School Night Recap
9/9/16
New initiatives this year
Team Teaching in 1st grade
I’m very excited to have team teaching happening in 1st grade this year! While we are still in the “first 30 days”, learning procedures and completing our beginning of the year benchmarking tests, but we are already seeing many benefits of the team approach! Students are more engaged throughout the day, there are more teachers available to assist all students at all times, and the teachers are experiencing improved instructional practice by sharing ideas, information, strategies, and materials! I can't wait to see all of the wonderful benefits of this team approach this year!
- Departmentalizing in grades 3-5
The goal of this new schedule is to meet the needs and foster maximum growth of all students in an efficient, engaging manner
The teachers are using NWEA, F & P Benchmarking, and teacher/classroom observations/grades, to group students and provide focused instruction. Student grouping will be monitored and changed as needed throughout the year.
MindUP
Founder Goldie Hawn collaborated with neuroscientists, cognitive psychologists and educators to create MindUP™, a program that fosters a classroom-learning environment where a child’s ability to academically succeed and personally thrive is maximized and directly linked to their overall state of well-being. Rigorously researched and accredited by CASEL, MindUP™ has been proven to reduce stress, improve academic performance, strengthen abilities for concentration and help children and educators thrive in a setting that becomes a community of learners.
We will be hosting a parent night with one of MindUP’s trainers on December 6th.
Dojo
In effort to consistently encourage positive behavior and communication, all teachers and instructional aides are using classdojo.
This app allows all adults to award points in different settings throughout your child’s day, based on our school wide expectations. The children and teachers are loving this app!
Around the Table
VCS has teamed up with Empower Porter County to increase connectedness and build quality relationships among family members and within the community at large. Around the table was developed in response to county- wide discussions relating to substance abuse and prevention. Through research, it was identified that the earlier we can instill protective factors in our youth and provide them with the basis for good decision making, the better their chances are for leading healthy substance free lives. We will be providing dinners and presents for third grade parents and students three nights beginning the end of October.
Empowered parent app
We are encouraging parents to download the empowered parent app and take the pledge that you will: 1. Develop a clear position against underage alcohol use and drug abuse 2. Actively chaperone youth under their supervision 3. Secure dangerous material & 4. Invite other parents to connect
- This app will connect only Cooks families, and can be used much like the directory.
Cooks Code- GHMNDPIJ
Building Project
Safety- badges on all construction employees, reroute emergency exits as needed.
Color Boards are on display! Come in and check them out!
Timeline
New addition complete on March 2017
Gym box 8/17
Dream Theme Continues~ Dream. Learn. Achieve!