Kleckner's Korner
Week of September 14, 2020
Henry Ford and the Model T
During his horse-less carriage reign, millions of Americans who were living through the Great Depression had an opportunity to own an affordable car. What if Ford would have given up after the fifth model? Would the car industry be where it is today if his determination faded?
I tell you this story because we are currently working on our Model A in reopening school and delivering instruction in a way that we never have before. We will go through many different prototypes and, through trial and error, we will design our Model T that accomplishes our campus goals. Like Ford, it will take time, patience, and learning from our mistakes to develop instructional systems that support the needs of our staff and students.
I look forward to learning through all the changes with you this school year!
#HEREWEGO
#CANTSTOPWONTSTOP
Seating Charts
Have you done yours for the cafeteria and classroom? Are they easy to locate?
As unfortunate as it is these will be needed at some point. I've already received notification a student at one of my children's schools tested positive....contact tracing had to be completed. This is impossible without seating charts. Please make sure you're keeping them up to date and easy to find.
Thank you to everyone who's been a door nurse and school/room bouncer this week!
MAP Testing - Action Required
We would like to have all MAP testing done by next Thursday if possible. This will allow us to run reports on Friday and pull kids still needing to test the next week. Please let me know if you have a situation that will prevent you from finishing next week. If you have an individual student situation please email Esther.
This includes:
K-5 - Reading and Math
2-5 Science - WE THOUGHT THIS WAS ONLY GEN ED....however it's been changed to bilingual as well...bilingual students will receive text to speech support since the test will be in English. Esther and Jocelyn will get this set up...bilingual teachers - do not test until you hear from them.
Updates from Selena...
**If you have any specific reading/writing materials you would like me to print out to include in the packets, please send them to me by this weekend.
Already included:
- PreK/K - writing paper, alphabet sheet, picture dictionaries, & tracing letters
- 1-5: writing rubrics, writing checklists, graphic organizers, word lists.
Reading Rod Ideas
- Composing/decomposing by phonemes
- Consonant/vowel sort
- Syllabication
- Scattergories using certain consonant/vowel patterns (students try to make words unlike anyone else)
- Fill in the blanks
- Create rhyming words — extend to use for class poem
- Make a word (following a pattern), write the word, illustrate or write a sentence
- Acrostic poems
Supply Pick Up Information to Parents
Here's what's going in the parent Smore if you would please help pass the information on to your remote learners and parents!
Parents we would like for you all to come and pick up your students reading and math workbooks as well as a box of tools for school! These items will help all of our virtual learners participate along with our face to face students!
Pick up times are:
Wednesday, September 16th from 4-6pmThursday, September 17th from 4-6pm
Friday, September 18th from 11am-1pm
Face to Face parents, don't worry, your students will receive their tools for school in their classrooms.
Weekly Administrative Information Packet
1. Canvas Training Offerings - Information - synchronous and asynchronous opportunities!
2. Google Meets Moderation and Security Updates - ALL TEACHERS
3. Grade Syncing between Canvas and Skyward - ALL TEACHERS
4. MAP Oral Reading Fluency Update - 1st and Kinder Teachers
5. Online Test Proctoring Using Eduphoria Aware - 2-5 TEACHERS - CLICKSHEETS
7. Online Testing Using Eduphoria Aware - 2-5 TEACHERS - TRAINING REQUIRED - EITHER SYNCHRONOUS OR ASYNCHRONOUS
8. Weekly TRE Resources - ALL STAFF
Shout Outs!
Building Access on Saturdays
I have good news! Buildings will continue to be open on Saturdays from 8-4, with the following guidelines:
- Complete the pre-screening form
- PPE/masks/social distancing
- All staff should be out of the building by 4:00
Important Dates to Remember **Denotes New Information
September
14-18 - Education Go Get It Week
**14 - Sub Plans Due - directions in 9/7 Smore
15 - Intersession Planning/CIP Review - Virtual
18 - Progress Reports End (at least 6 grades in each subject)
20 - Progress Reports Lock (at least 6 grades in each subject)
22 - SEL Faculty Meeting - Virtual
25 - MAP Window Closes
28 - TTESS Goals Due in Strive
October
Drug and Alcohol Prevention Month and Anti-Bullying Month
2 - 1st Cycle Ends
2 - Report Cards End
6-9 - Intersession Week
11 - Report Cards Lock - after intersession week - (at least 9 grades in each subject)
12 - 2nd Grading Cycle Begins - New students join us!
**23 - Employee Flu Shot Clinic - 7:15-8:15 (more info coming soon)
Counselor’s Corner
If you need assistance with individual concerns or counseling services, please reach out to Mrs. Medrano-Johnson at gmedranojohnson@garlandisd.net,
or fill out the following Park Crest Request for Counseling Services form.