CANNON LEGACY
A Newsletter For Cannon Staff 2017-2018
Principal Points - 5/21 - 5/25
I'm a HUGE podcast fan and since I have a bit of a commute to and from work each day, I have a healthy list of podcasts that I enjoy listening to! The information below is an excerpt from a recent episode of a podcast called Teachonomy, by Chuck Poole. I really loved the following analogy that was shared about how the end of the school year "countdown" can be similar to a NASA Launch countdown!
COUNTDOWN LIKE A NASA LAUNCH
Some of the most famous countdowns in history have come from NASA. The world watches and counts down with anticipation when a launch is announced. The reason why NASA countdowns are so intriguing is because of what they signify. They are counting down, not to an end, but rather to a bright and unknown opportunity that can possibly change the world for the better.
Just like NASA, teachers are always working toward an ongoing goal. We are constantly preparing during the year and making discoveries that help us advance in our practice. All of these insights can lead us to go even further after our ‘last day’ if we understand what the countdown truly signifies. By adopting a NASA mindset at the end of the year, we will begin to discover new ideas and create opportunities that can change the way we teach, as well as the way we impact our students in the future.
Try This Action Step:
Take the time to ‘LAUNCH’ something! Summer is the perfect time to create new materials or even share your thoughts with the world. Choose one thing and commit to planning it’s ‘launch!’ Think about how many fellow teachers you can help, how much time you will save, or how much YOU will grow, if you take the time to tap into your creativity. Whatever you do, realize that your wisdom and knowledge is valuable, and taking advantage of moving forward after the countdown finishes will enable YOU to make an even greater impact in the year to come.
It's going to be a BUSY and FUN week with our Cannon Cubs! Take this time to just enjoy being with your students and while you are doing your "countdown" together, make this some of the most memorable times of the entire school year! Celebrate together! Laugh & play together! Dream together about what YOU can individually "launch" this summer to discover and keep learning & growing!
Proud to be your principal,
Tona :)
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IMPORTANT CONSTRUCTION UPDATE - PLEASE READ
Please note that beginning this week, Pebblebrook, the street that our staff parking lot is on, will have one lane closed on the east lane from College to the street after Chelsea. This could happen as soon as Monday , 5/21. The parking lot will still be accessible, but expect there to be a LOT of congestion in this area. Expect this lane closure to continue for the remainder of the school year. Please plan to arrive at school EARLY to avoid any delays or late arrivals to work!
Lisa's Coaching Corner
Blue Literacy Folders
For many years, we have had "Blue Literacy Folders" that house scholar's BOY, MOY and EOY literacy records and writing samples. Since we are "moving forward with NEW things" the decision was made to keep a "WRITING" folder in each scholar's Google drive with their writing samples. Make sure the EOY writing sample:
- Is scored
- Has student's first and last name
- Has teacher's name
- Is dated May 2018 or EOY to denote the time
- That the student owns the folder, so it can be shared next year with their teacher.
Also, if you have any other records/data of Tier 2/3 documentation that need to be passed on, please put in a file folder with the student name in my mailbox.
Social Studies Skills to Secure Assessment
I wanted to let you know that the Social Studies Skills to Secure assessments (in English and Spanish) are ready.
Location: linked to the End of the Year Assessments for Humanities document.
Testing Window: today and runs through May 30th.
Reminder: If you could please read through the short 1-page Assessment Guidelines document to ensure a consistent experience across the district.
Let me know if you have any questions! LB
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DATES TO REMEMBER
5/21-5/25 Celebrate Freedom Week
5/21 5th Grade College Day
5/21 CHHS Graduation Walk in Cannon hallways 9:15-9:30
5/21 Kindergarten field trip to FWMSH 9:00-2:00
5/22 Choir field trip to Hawaiian Falls
5/22 Cubs Night Out @ Cici's Pizza
5/23 Career Day
5/23 Humanities Embedded Assessments Meeting 3:00 pm - library -3rd-5th Humanities teachers only
5/24 Field Day
5/25 Bad Weather Makeup Day - No school!
5/28 Memorial Day Holiday - No school!
5/29 2nd Grade Awards - 8:00-9:00
5/29 1st Grade Awards - 9:30-10:30
5/29 Kindergarten Awards - 1:45-2:30
5/30 3rd Grade Awards - 8:00-9:00
5/30 4th Grade Awards - 9:30-10:30
5/30 AttenDANCE Party - 2:15-2:45
5/31 5th Grade Awards & Celebration - 8:00-11:00; Clap out for 5th 11:35
5/31 Last Day of School - Early Dismissal 11:45
6/01 Teacher Workday - last contract day
6/01 End of the year staff breakfast - 8:00-9:00
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THIS WEEK'S EVENTS
LAST DAY TEACHER LUNCH ORDERS FROM PTA - DUE MONDAY, 5/21 BY 3:30 pm!
Our awesome PTA would like to buy you a sandwich from Jimmy John's to enjoy for lunch on the last day of school, Thursday, 5/31, right after early dismissal. They know how busy staff will be finalizing packing, etc...
Please place your order using the link below. Orders must be received by MAY 21st at 3:30 pm. Thank you PTA!!
IT'S CELEBRATE FREEDOM WEEK!
Just a friendly reminder from the Humanities Department to ensure staff is familiar/ aware of the expectations as set out by our state law during the week of May 21-24. Please refer back to suggestions/guidance sent out in last month's Humanities newsletter, refer to the "Celebrate Freedom Week" units in your curriculum or online resources from local Region centers.
Texas law (Tex. Education Code §29.907 & §Tex. Admin. Code 74.33) requires Texas public schools, grades 3-12, to acknowledge Celebrate Freedom Week. For the past couple of years, our school board has approved our request to honor this week in May, rather than September, as teachers have developed that sense of community.
CHHS SENIOR WALK @ CANNON IS MONDAY
HAWAIIAN FALLS MUSIC FESTIVAL IS TUESDAY
All students participating in the festival will ride school buses to and from Cannon.
- Approximate Schedule
- 7:40am Arrive at school and report to home room
- 9:00am Buses leave for Hawaiian Falls
- 9:30am Arrive at Hawaiian Falls - Roanoke
- 5:15pm Buses leave for Cannon
- 5:45pm Arrive at Cannon
Click here for the list of all students who will be singing at Hawaiian Falls. Best of luck to our Cannon choirs on this fun day and thanks to Patrick for his work to prepare our choirs to perform!
Career Day is Wednesday!
AMAZON DONATION PRESENTATION IS THURSDAY!
FIELD DAY REMINDERS FOR THURSDAY
- Kinder-2nd will be loading up on the buses @ 9:00. Their events begin at 9:30
- 3rd-5th will load up around 9:30 and start their events at 10:00.
- CLICK HERE TO READ & SHARE THE FIELD DAY LETTER SENT HOME TO FAMILIES.
- PTA is providing water for each student so please help remind them to keep up with their water bottle while there (please put names on them) and maybe keep them in a backpack or bag so we don't lose them. Remember we will not have access to the building to come in to cool off/ get drinks from the water fountain.
- Concession stand will be open and each grade will have a time slot to go there and will also have face painting during that time. If parents send in money you might want zip lock baggies to help your students keep up with it while we are there.
- Lunch will be done when we get back to Cannon in your classroom (sack lunches). Please turn in a count to Lisa that morning and remind your students that ordered one to go get it when you return! It might be a good idea to have your students bring a snack for the morning/concession time since lunch is much later than normal!
- Students are not allowed to be checked out at GMS. Everyone will ride the bus to and from GMS! Since we are on buses, permission slips are being sent home. Please keep your classes permission slips and send them to me once you have collected all of them!
SCHOOL HOLIDAY REMINDERS FOR PARENTS
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CAMPUS REMINDERS
IT'S TIME FOR EoY PLANNING!
- STUDENT PLACEMENT FORMS will be placed in teacher mailboxes this week (pink -girls & blue-boys) along with a key to use for completing these forms. Upon receiving these, please start completing a form for each student in your classroom. If you are new on your team - please ask a veteran teacher any questions you may have. Plan a date with all members of your team, including GT & Sped teachers, so that you can all work together to create classes for next year. Remember to include any information that will be helpful for next year's teachers as they welcome students into their classrooms. Please be sure to ask if you have any questions about this process. Before you turn your team's placement forms in to Tona, please add a sheet for each group in your grade level folder here. Directions & an example form are in this folder. Please turn in placement forms and complete the sheets in the grade level folder by 4:00 pm on May 23rd.
- EoY GRADE LEVEL AWARDS CEREMONIES Don't forget to share EoY grade level awards ceremony dates with parents! Click here to access the folder for this year's awards ceremonies. In this folder, PLEASE read these instructions first before adding your student names/information on the slideshow templates within your grade level folder. If you are new to your team this year, please talk to veteran teachers on your team for more information and work together! Also, please don't forget to update the Awards Descriptions your grade level will be handing out to scholars this year, so that this information is ready to go on our awards program dates! ALL AWARDS THAT WILL BE GIVEN BY SPECIALS TEACHERS, CLUBS, etc... must be filed in the grade level award boxes by Anne's office by Friday, May 18th - no exceptions please!! A list of all "separate" certificates that will be awarded can be located in the folder for this year's award programs provided above. Please make note of the dates/times of our End of Year Celebration Ceremony for each grade level and communicate this information to parents NOW, so that they can make plans to attend.
OTHER REMINDERS & UPDATES
Summer Boredom Busters
The instructional coaches created a summer activities calendar for students called Summer Boredom Busters. It includes recommendations for a variety of activities all summer along with a weekly calendar that includes a Humanities, Math, Science and a Maker challenge each week.
Lisa will be placing paper bookmarks in your mailboxes on Monday for students to keep to access the document easily. Please send these your teachers & students!
TELPAS TRAINING PORTAL
The Pearson TELPAS Training portal will close on July 2nd. After this time, all certificates and training histories from the 2017-18 TELPAS portal will be lost. This does include calibration certificates and basic training certificates. If you have not made personal copies, please do so before this time. We do NOT have these copies on our campus! TELPAS Training Center
BRIGHT BYTES SURVEY FOR 3rd-5th STUDENTS & STAFF The following information was sent to all campuses on Friday from Tony Zahn. All 3rd-5th grade teachers and students need to complete a Bright Bytes survey between May 14 and May 31st. This data will allow us to provide you with data to continue successful implementation of technology in our classrooms. The unique links for Cannon are as follows:
Students: www.BByt.es/7M9WL
Professional Teaching Staff, Liaisons, Librarians, Campus Admins: www.BByt.es/7M9WT
CAST 2018 CALL FOR PROPOSALS IS OPEN! CAST 2018 will be held in Ft. Worth in November 2018, so this is the perfect time for our awesome Cannon staff to plan to present some of the incredible things you are doing with your students! Please talk to Julie and Lisa about any ideas you have for a presentation - they are happy to help! Presenters will get to attend the conference on all dates and enjoy some wonderful sessions. Click here for the CAST 2018 proposal information.
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NEWS FROM THE LEARNING COMMONS
Reminders From Mrs. Wagner
SUMMER READING FOR STUDENTS
This summer Cannon will participate in the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge, a free online reading program that invites students to log their reading minutes each week during the summer. The goal is for students in our school to keep the magic of reading going and read the most minutes possible in an effort for our school to earn the title "Best in State." All current students have been given an account. Students will get their account information during the week of May 7. The challenge begins May 7, 2018 and ends September 7, 2018. Another bonus is all the reading students do during the summer counts towards their GCISD Reading Challenge for the upcoming school year. CLICK HERE FOR THE SUMMER READING NEWSLETTER FOR PARENTS with all of the details!
MOVING UPDATE & REMINDERS
It's May and time for all staff to begin planning for our end of the year move! I have provided some important reminders for staff, as you begin to pack and prepare for the move, as well as the most updated timeline for moving-related events. We understand that this is a stressful time and that there is a LOT to be done, but we've GOT THIS and we are a TEAM! Let's work together and stay positive! We have A LOT to be excited about and MUCH to look forward to! Ask questions - we are here to help!!
PACKING/MOVING INSTRUCTIONS
- Think & Plan Forward! We don't know exactly what to expect in terms of our move-in when we return in August, but rest assured, it is going to be VERY LAST MINUTE. Pack with this in mind! Meet with your teams and plan out the first several weeks of school and pack any materials or items needed to get the year started. Consider how you would begin the year if there was an issue and we had no wi-fi or network for awhile? Plan for the worst and hope for the best! I would highly recommend that any boxes of lesson materials you need for the first two weeks of school be taken home with a team member for storage over the summer. That way, in the event of a very late move-in, you won't be searching for "that box" in the midst of everything else!
- Purge & Pack!! This is the mantra we want all staff to chant as they are going through items in your rooms. Remember that if you have NOT used something all year long, you probably don't need it anymore!!
- Boxes, tape and labels are provided by the district. We are receiving boxes in shipments and as we start to run low on our supply, we order more. Boxes are on the stage and tape & labels are available by request from Debbie. Please do NOT take more boxes than you need and stash them in your rooms! We can get as many as we need, so please take only a few at a time. Important: Notify Debbie when the supply is low, so that we don't run out and have to wait for more to be delivered.
- We understand that the boxes are small. These are regulation-sized boxes used by GCISD, to avoid overpacking and causing boxes to get too heavy for the movers to lift. Some items you have in your room will not fit in these boxes and may require a larger box, or to be simply secured and labeled. Larger boxes can be used for large items only, but please do not pack these boxes to where they are too heavy to lift.
- Filing cabinets must be emptied out and items packed in boxes. No exceptions!
- Items Left In Rooms Several have asked if they can just leave items in their classrooms that they don't want to move. The answer to this question is generally NO! While there may be some exceptions, such as old bookcases that you no longer want, please remember that no files, folders, student work, books, etc... can be left in the rooms. These items must be discarded and or shredded, if necessary.
MOVING TIMELINE
- Movers will be coming on various dates throughout the month. IF you have boxed items ready to be moved, they need to be taped, accurately labeled and stacked in the hallways outside of your classroom 24 hours BEFORE the movers arrive. Please be sure to put a note on these items to let custodians know that they are NOT TRASH. Let Tona know when you have items ready to be picked up on one of the following moving dates. May 22; May 30; June 1 (Don't forget to notify me that you have items to be picked up on a specific date. We will NOT walk the halls looking for items.)
- June 1st - movers will finish transporting remaining boxes/other items to storage
- June 1st - technology will shutdown network after 3:00 on this date, so that they can begin pulling out equipment from IDF closet & projectors.
- June 4th and 5th - auctioned furniture items to be picked up
- June 4th - 8th - Facilities, Technology and Security Departments will be removing any items they would like to keep
- June 9th - contractor will begin demo of existing building
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WORTH A READ...OR A LISTEN!
COPING WITH LAST DAY OF SCHOOL SADNESS is a great reminder that while some students are celebrating & joyful about school being out for summer, there are many who are sad to leave their friends for the summer, experience teacher separation anxiety and worry that next year's teacher won't like or accept them. Some great ideas here for ways to engage your class in some topics during Circle Up to help them prepare for emotions they may begin to experience as we approach these last days of school!
WHY CELEBRATING OUR STUDENTS IS WORTH IT is a great blogpost to read this week! The “Take Action” steps that Routman outlines serve as an awesome checklist for reminders on how to best express gratitude and appreciation. Check it out!
WATCH THE ROOM 26 VIDEO below and reflect on the type of COMMUNITY that has been created in YOUR classroom this year. Have you successfully created the type of community that will make a long-lasting difference for kids? Our Cannon staff does an incredible job of building strong community within their classrooms, but have we truly reached EVERY SINGLE CHILD? What will YOU do next year to make your classroom community even stronger? Our school community? This is a great topic for summertime reflection and research that I personally plan to immerse myself in and I hope YOU will too!
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CURRICULUM & INSTRUCTION CORNER
SUMMER STEM EDUCATOR TRAININGS!
STEM ACADEMY - 21st Century Learning Academy
Please see information below about the 21st Century Learning Academy for STEM Educators at Ft. Worth Museum of Science & History. This wonderful training has now become an expectation for all staff that is hired to work at Cannon and we are continuing to send existing staff that have not yet been trained. Please let Julie Brenegan know asap if you are interested in participating this summer! The $50 fee will be waived for all Cannon staff! See additional information & dates below.TEACHING SCIENCE THROUGH INQUIRY
This workshop immerses teachers in processes, pedagogies, and implementation strategies that will enhance professional practice and build understanding of inquiry-based instruction. Click here for more information about this training. See Julie Brenegan asap for more information & let her know if you are interested in participating!
GCISD LEARNING INSTITUTE -CALL FOR PROPOSALS
SUMMER LEARNING!
As the end of our school year rapidly approaches, it's time to begin thinking about how you'll spend your lazy days of resting and reflection. The C&I team has compiled many opportunities that will help to grow and challenge the "teacher side" of your brain during the summer weeks. Please browse through the options and select the ones that meet your personal learning goals.
If reading by the pool (or inside in the air conditioning) is your preference, be sure to stock up on titles that meet your learning needs before you leave. GCISD has two new options for accessing books, so please check these out as well!
MYSTERY SCIENCE - FREE FOR ONE YEAR!
We have been given a free district license to Mystery Science for the next year (now through June 2019)
Please bookmark the URL below in order to access. ENJOY!
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TWITTER REMINDERS FOR @canSTEM
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, 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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About This Background Image...
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TO-DO LIST
- Set a timer and complete daily attendance ON TIME!
- Order your lunch from PTA for the last day of school! Due by 3:30 on Monday 5/21.
- Review moving reminders & timeline information carefully!
- 3rd-5th Student & staff need to complete the Bright Bytes survey sometime between 5/14 & 5/31.
- Remind parents about upcoming Student Holidays!
- Continue working on Student Placement sheets with your team.
- Share summer reading information with your students & families.
- Share Field Day information with your families!
- Continue working on EoY Awards ceremony planning with your team.
- Consider submitting a proposal to present at CAST 2018 - see Julie or Lisa!
- See the information about summer STEM & inquiry trainings! Let Julie know if you are interested!
- Check out other summer learning opportunities in the C & I Summer Learning news.
- Take your scholars out to the back of the school to see the construction progress!
- 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!
- Update teacher website, blog and other social media.