Bullpup Bulletin
Week of April 24th, 2023
Mission - Cultivate relationships. Empower individuals. Inspire growth.
Vision - East Albemarle Elementary School will educate, inspire, and empower every child to achieve their greatest academic and personal potential.
Celebrations
EVERY staff member at East Albemarle serves a vital role in shaping our students, whether it be academically, behaviorally, or with a kind smile and care when needed. I am super thankful to have the opportunity to work with individuals who genuinely care so much!
During the month of April, we celebrate a few specific individuals whose roles are vital to the success of our school. It is Occupational Therapy month and a wonderful time to highlight the great work Hailey Speight does with our students. Speight goes above and beyond daily to ensure students meet their IEP goals and achieve their full potential. Her friendly personality, dedication to students and love for her job are admirable. Thank you, Speight, for all you do!
April 26th is also Administrative Professionals Day! I'm 100% positive there are not a better office duo than Hudson and Kirby. They are hands-down the best! They handle attendance, record-keeping, finances, check ins / check outs, medications, and so much more with a smile each day. I cannot imagine East Albemarle without these two ladies! Thank you, Hudson and Kirby, for keeping us afloat!
And, sadly April 28th will be the last day Parker and Griffin join us this year. What will we do without their support?!?! Parker has been at East Albemarle for years and has built lasting relationships that are a wonderful foundation for the academic and social / emotional work that he does with students each day. Griffin just joined us this year, but has done a phenomenal job as an Educorp tutor and member of our school improvement team and PTO. Parker and Griffin will both be missed in the final weeks of the school year. But, I have a feeling we will see them again very soon! ;)
Substance Abuse Prevention Art Contest
Submissions are due Friday, April 28th!
K-5 students are encouraged to create their artwork on 8.5x11" paper with crayons, colored pencils, markers, etc. Artwork may include slogans, poems, etc., that promote a healthy, substance-free lifestyle.
This project could be integrated into your literacy instruction - think about connections to main idea / details, author's purpose, poetry, and much more!
Artwork submissions should be clearly labeled on the back with the student's name and homeroom teacher name.
PTO's Boosterthon - April 18th
The main event for this fundraiser will be a Fun Run which will be held on Friday, April 28th in the gym, or outdoors if the weather is nice. Students will run the number of laps they pledged to run while volunteers tally their progress. Due to the Fun Run, we will not run a regular AMP / Encore schedule on this day. AMP / Encore teachers should plan to assist in the gym on April 28th and all classes should report to the gym at their regularly scheduled AMP / Encore time.
Cafe Update - 2 Entrees!
Tuesday Folder - April 25th
- Classroom work samples with a standards-based rubric attached for specific feedback.
- Penny War flyers - check your workroom mailbox!
- Grocery Giveaway flyer - check your workroom mailbox!
Committee Meetings - April 26th
Instructional Excellence
Culture & Climate
Professional Capacity
Family & Community
After revisiting Indistar indicators and actions to determine the work that needs to be done between now and the end of this school year, committees should continue developing actions for the 2023-2024 school year. Committee agendas have been updated to include links to note taking documents to organize actions for next school year. Agendas and Google Meet links are included in the document below.
Tasks to Complete
- K-3 teachers should progress monitor students scoring in the RED and YELLOW categories during the week of April 24-28.
- Ensure your EVAAS username and password work!
Certified Staff -
- Since the state-level Teacher Working Conditions Survey is only given every other year, the district administration would like for you to take a brief survey to gauge several areas surrounding a teacher's experience in their respective schools and use the data to inform decisions that best support our teachers. Please click on this link to take the survey. It is completely anonymous and focuses on key areas of an educator's job. The survey is currently open and will remain so until it closes Friday, April 28, 2023, at 5 PM.
Science Night - April 27th
Grocery Giveaway - April 29th
Volunteers associated with Albemarle First Assembly will set up on the blacktop and field areas, and may use the cafeteria if the weather is not favorable. They will have main building access as well. They are trusted and reliable, but please close and lock your classroom door before leaving campus on Friday, April 28th.
PE Equipment
Other grades often request equipment from Coach DeSalle because their equipment has not been maintained. This equipment is sometimes not returned to her, and other times is just tossed into the gym at the end of recess. As a result, Coach DeSalle's gym equipment is no longer available for recess use.
End of Year Diagnostic Window Opens Soon!
mClass assessments for K-3 reading will begin on Monday, May 1st. iReady assessments for 4-5 reading and K-5 math will begin on Tuesday, May 2nd. The assessments may be completed over multiple days but should be prioritized to avoid the assessments taking an unreasonably lengthy amount of time.
Remind students that their assessments may not be invalidated due to rushing. They must pace themselves and take their time to do their very best. It is also best practice for students to show their work for each problem on the math assessment. Provide white paper(s) for each student, folded into 8ths so they may solve 16 problems on the front and back of the paper.
The K-3 mClass reading assessments are administered individually, but the iReady assessments are more independent. Teachers should monitor students closely while they are assessing to ensure the accuracy of results. Students with 504, IEP or ELL accommodations should receive those in the homeroom classroom. If you have questions about accommodations, please reach out to the child's case manager, Dean or myself.
Important Dates
Week of April 24th - MUSIC WEEK
**LETRS Review during collaborative planning - unit 6, sessions 1-3.**
Monday 4/24
- Happy Monday!
Tuesday 4/25
- 930 am - Taylor at admin meeting
- 1230 pm - Taylor at Central Elem for observation
- 300 pm - Taylor at virtual Portrait of a Grad meeting
Wednesday 4/26
- Administrative Professional's Day
- 730 am - Committee meetings
- 1st grade SECU event in media center
- 1030 am - Taylor at Central Elem for observation
- 400 pm - BT virtual PD session
Thursday 4/27
- 930 am - Kinder & Beck field trip to Dan Nicholas
- 830 am - 330 pm - Taylor at admin meeting
- 830 am - 130 pm - Kirby at bookkeeper meeting
- 500 pm - Q4 Title 1 parent event - Science Night **mandatory attendance for certified staff**
- 600 pm - Taylor at SCS Strategic Plan Review meeting at AMS
Friday 4/28
- Last day for Parker & Griffin!
- PTO Boosterthon event during AMP / Encore
- Substance Abuse Prevention artwork due!
- 930 am - Taylor at Central Elem for observation
- Prize Carts!
Week of May 1st - ART WEEK & Staff Appreciation Week
Monday 5/1
- DeSalle's bday!
- EOG diagnostic assessment window and Penny War fundraiser begin!
- 945 am - Taylor at Central Elem for observation
- 100 pm - Barbee at counselor's meeting
- 330 pm - ESL teacher meeting
Tuesday 5/2
- Duty free lunch!
- 400 pm - Taylor at virtual Portrait of a Grad meeting
- 515 pm - Barbee at Support Staff of the Year reception
- 615 pm - SCS Board of Ed meeting
Wednesday 5/3
- 730 am - Certified staff meeting (EOG training)
- 1045 am - East Albemarle attendance meeting
- 115 pm - Taylor at Central Elem for observation
Thursday 5/4
- 1145 am - Field trip for 1st & 2nd grade
- 900 am - 400 pm - Taylor at admin meeting
Friday 5/5
- Prize Carts!
Celebration Wall
Celebrate the accomplishments of your colleagues, show gratitude or encouragement with a shoutout on the Celebration Wall. Click here to submit your shoutouts!
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PTO Members - Menchaca, Griffin & Underwood - Thank you for the hard work you have put into our first Boosterthon event! Each of you have dedicated countless hours to planning a fundraiser and fun event to engage families and support students and staff. We appreciate you and all you do for us!
Kia Davis - Shoutout to Davis for riding bus 88A each morning! She handles Mr. Eddie and our students like a champ with a smile on her face. I am super thankful for you taking on this added duty!
Brooke St. Clair, Courtney Speights & Kim Dean - Thank you for staying late to interview candidates for our 5th grade vacancy this week. I know 5:00 pm interviews are not desired, but you all are awesome for sticking it out with me. I appreciate your dedication to finding great teachers for our kids!
Courtney Speights & Tanya Jackson - Thank you so much for taking care of one of my students while we were on a field trip! ~Karen Whitley
Sandy Summerlin & Miranda DaSalle - In light of the the new schedule, thank you for your willingness to cover a guidance class in order for me to attend my monthly Affirmed and Monarch meetings....so thankful for you!! ~Corletta Barbee
Ashley Beck - Thank you for your quick interventions is helping my student who got hurt on the playground at Will's Place program....so appreciated!! ~Corletta Barbee
Kia Davis, Officer Aldridge, and Sandy Summerlin - Mrs. Davis is always eager to help watch a class, or speak to students. Mrs. Davis is always encouraging to Mrs. Jackson and compliments her class on their behavior when in the hall. Officer Aldridge, is a huge asset to the school and has no problems helping the teachers with their classes. Mrs. Summerlin does not mind helping Mrs. Jackson with her students, and always does it with a smile. ~Tanya Jackson
Kristen Griffin - Thank you for assisting Barbee with the clothing closet! Your organization skills are so appreciated!!!
Sandy Summerlin - Thank you Summerlin for taking my kids out for recess one afternoon so that I could get some grading and planning done. The extra time helps tons! You rock! ~Wendy Joffson
Carryover Items from Previous Weeks
Butterfly House Fundraiser
EOG Testing Schedule Released!
Staff attendance is also SUPER important on these days, and everyday. We will need every adult in the building to assist with implementing our plans on the scheduled test days and makeup days.