Pow Wow Principals Press
May 11
End of year discipline
Old "mis" behaviors may start to pop up... NOW!
Testing is coming to a close. Graduation is on the horizon. Summer days are near. As the school year starts to unwind, some misbehaviors believed long gone, may suddenly appear.
The end of the school year is the start of a transition. Think about the student who still struggles to transition from school to home, from reading centers to recess or from lunch back to work.
The end of the year means moving away from:
A familiar group of classmates
An ingrained daily routine
A known dynamic with a known teacher
And moving towards:
A new group of classmates
A new routine that may be more demanding
A new relationship with a new teacher
Yikes! That can feel overwhelming! These children are probably not aware of their feelings. They are not going to say, "I feel anxious." Instead, they act out.
What TO DO:
1. Encourage your students to help themselves by helping others. Discuss what students moving up may be feeling and questions they may have.
2. Use the discussion from #1 to create class made books welcoming next year's students and answering some of the questions they may have about being in that grade or having that teacher. We have seen examples of classes creating class made books on how to do their School Family Jobs!
3. Have your students write friendly letters to the students in the above grade level asking for more information about that grade. Anxious is seeking information! This activity may help Anxious start to feel calm!
4. Increase rituals to connect. Increase moments of eye contact, touch, playfulness and presence (student to student and teacher to student).
5. Plan and/or prepare end of the year rituals. Create ways to celebrate every member of your School Family and their unique gifts.
6. Shift your language from, "I will miss ___," to "I will remember ___."
As always we wish you well!
iHeartCD
VBHS Senior Clap Out!!!
They will be coming to the campus Tuesday, May 15th at 2;00 PM.
All Pre-K-2 classes, please line your students in the hallways.
All 3rd grade classes, please bring your students to the main hallways so they can participate in front of the middle staircase and leading to the 2nd grade classes.
We would like the 4th and 5th grade students to line the walkway that we use for the tunnel of hope. That will be the last place we walk with the graduates. Please designate a side for each grade level and please stay with your class.
Please be in your spot by 2:05, when we will actually begin the walks.
Promotion Review
Data Chats
Data Chat Schedule:
Thursday, May 17th:
10:40 - 1st Grade
11:20 - 5th Grade
Monday, May 21:
9:20 - 4th Grade
10:20 - Kindergarten
Tuesday, May 22:
12:50 - 3rd Grade
Wednesday, May 23:
12:20 - 2nd Grade
TRIBE Ice Cream Social
Our #VBEVIP is Ms. Swink! Enjoy your special parking spot, and keep making those nominations on Twitter!
Summer School
Updates from Ms. Riddick
These are the last winners for the I Ready challenges. Please let your students know that they have done an amazing job meeting their goal this year. So far the classes who have started taking their diagnostic tests look like they are soaring!
Winner for last week were:
Kinder-Martin 72% pass rate and 100% participation
First-Nesbitt 79% pass rate and 100% participation
Second-Cisneros 73% and 100% participation
Classes with 100% participation were:
Blidgen, Vega and Henson
This week:
Kinder-Vega 65% pass rate and 100% participation
First-Barth 84% pass rate and 100% participation
Second-Blidgen 79% and 100% participation
Classes with 100% participation were:
V. Gonzalez, Henson,Cisneros and Hoffa/Robinson
I can't wait to see our outcomes! Thanks for all you do!
Updates from Ms. Navarro
Dear Teachers,
Please note the schedule for the Glow Party has been adjusted, we were able to find a DJ, and she asked that we grouped children by age. The new schedule is as follows:
UPDATED GLOW PARTY SCHEDULE…
K and 1st 12:50-1:20 PM
2nd and 3rd 1:25-2:00 PM
4th and 5th 2:00-2:25 PM
Good News…we will be applying to be a Gold PBIS model school in June, one of the requirements is that we have a 10% on discipline referrals compared to last year, and our number right now indicate we will most likely meet the criteria, here is a look at our numbers:
We are asking everyone to lend a hand with behavior these last 10 days, children will start getting anxious and escalate easily as the end of the year approaches; keeping routines and procedures in place, offering opportunities to talk about what makes them anxious, and incorporating fun, engaging and relaxing activities such yoga breaks or mindfulness, will help everyone have a smoother end of the year. We are currently at 186 referrals, and last year the final count was 243, that means we still have a good chance to end the year with less than 243 referrals. I thank each of you for all your help, and I know without a doubt that we got this!!!!
Updates from Ms. Ragley
May 16th - Drill for Active Shooter
School Operations
May 16th Code Red Active Shooter Drills with Students Reminders:
District Staff and SROs met last week as a group to discuss the upcoming Active Shooter Drills involving students. The meeting covered drills that WILL involve students.
The Drill will take place at 2:00.
The following actions are PROHIBITED during the drills at all schools
- Use of Flash Bangs / blank fire firearms / munitions or guns / smoke bombs
- Display of any firearms
- Banging or shouting on classroom doors
- Evacuations
- Countering Measures
- At the beginning of the drill the Principal or designee will announce the drill by saying, "This is a drill, I repeat this is a drill - CODE Red Active Shooter. This is a drill."
- Once the drill is announced give the teachers and students approximately 10 minutes to get their students in a class room or other safe room, lock doors, hide, and barricade. Once again, NO "countering" or "evacuating"!
- After the 10 minutes, the Principal or APs can assist SROs by going around to all rooms where students are and make sure they are following the proper protocol. SROs will be scoring on their checklists and taking notes. Mr. O'Keefe, the Principal at VBHS will be supporting our efforts.
- The "All Clear" will come from the SRO. The "All Clear" may be given over the PA, radio, or when clearing the room/hallway. The following phrase will be used, "Sheriff's Office (Police Department), this is Deputy Smith (Officer Smith) the drill is now over, All Clear".
3-5th You can choose to barricade if you would like. However, no one if forcing you to do so during this drill. We are asking K-2 to NOT barricade at this time.
What are we looking for?
Doors locked
Lights out
Blinds down
Students out of sight
We will hold a quick After Action Review (AAR) after the scheduled faculty meeting for anyone that would like to provide feedback or concerns.
End of year CELEBRATION!!!
They are closing down the patio from 4:30-6:30.
There will be free appetizers and 2 free drinks per employee.