Astro News
Compass 2020: Power On Alanton & Reach for the Stars!
January 11-15
Hail & Farewell
The Hospitality Committee is going to host a Hail & Farewell for Matt and Leslie in the library on Friday, January 15, 3:30-4:30 p.m. We hope you will join us for this special event!
CLC Meeting Date Change
- January 18-22 - No CLC Meetings - Team Planning
- January 25-29 - CLC Meeting - Educational Technology Team (ETT)
ED Camp Info
Teachers & Specialists, This message is about the Ed Camp professional learning opportunity I discussed with you during our November CLC meetings.
Please use the survey link below for the Ed Camp session slated for February 1, 2016. The deadline for entering your suggestions is January 15, 2016. All teachers and specialists are required to respond to the survey.
Please post questions for the February 1- EdCamp. https://vbschools.getspeakup.com/live/4k6?share=true
To access the site, teachers will need to click the link above. When they are on the site, they then enter their name (optional), and then post a question. Examples of questions could be –
1. Can we learn about Coding?
2. Can we focus on the Kindergarten Curriculum?
3. How about Google Apps for Education?
4. What’s new in SharePoint?
5. What strategies can I use to implement the new Science objectives?
Once questions have been answered, teachers can either 'thumbs-up/thumbs-down' the question. When you click on either thumb the question will either gain or lose a point. The questions with the most thumbs up will appear at the top of the list. Those with the least thumbs up will appear at the bottom of the list.
Those at the top of the list should be the topics that are discussed during the EdCamp. Jan. 15, 2016, is the deadline for entering your questions. This will then allow time for the questions to be sorted and a schedule to be developed.
New Wireless Access
The Department of Technology has fully implemented new wireless SSID VBCPSPR. Please note the wireless SSID VBCPS Channel has changed functionality in allowing access to the internet only.
With VBCPSPR, non-VBCPS devices such as (Android, iPhone, iMac’s, Windows tablets/phones/notebooks) will have the capability to use the new wireless SSID VBCPSPR. The access to the new VBCPSPR SSID is allowed with username domain credentials for internet and intranet use.
PLP Opportunity
Author Lester Laminack will be coming to Virginia beach on Thursday, January 14th. VBRC Members can attend for free and non-members are able to attend for $5. This is a great opportunity to get “pumped up” during the dark and dreary winter!
Thursday evening, January 14, 2016
Lester Laminack will present: Unwrapping the Read Aloud: Making Every Read Aloud an Intentional Act
Let's explore the art and function of read-aloud experiences in the elementary classroom. We will consider three broad intentions for making read aloud an essential part of every day. Lester will also demonstrate the art of reading aloud well with specific attention to tone, intensity, pacing and mood using a set of thoughtfully selected picture books to scaffold and strengthen topic specific teaching and learning. Come explore how a well-chosen text set can be organized to include read aloud, literature circles, and independent reading that will layer in vocabulary, scaffold concepts and help students visualize what they are reading in content area materials.
Brainpop for 2016-2017
A significant number of elementary schools are currently purchasing BrainPop for use in their instructional program. To assist you in your planning, the Department of Teaching and Learning will be providing BrainPop for all elementary schools beginning with the 2016-2017 school year.
This will include the following:
·BrainPOP
·BrainPOP, Jr.
·BrainPOP Español
·Home access
We hope that this will assist you as we continue to move to a digital learning environment. If you have any questions, please contact Bill Johnsen at 263-1070 or via email at wjohnsen@vbschools.com.
January is READING Month - Get Ready & Get Excited!
ADVENTURES IN READING -
- January 11-15 - Buddy Reading
- January 14 - Wear Red for Reading
- January 19 - Grade 3 Skype w/Parthenon Museum 9:00 a.m.
- January 21 - Wear Red for Reading
- January 28 - Wear Red for Reading
- January 29 - Tides Reading Long - Turn In
- January 29 - Character Dress Up Day & Parade (End of Day)
SOL Schedule (Tentative):
- Grade 3 Reading: June 2 & 3
- Grade 3 Math: June 6 & 7
- Grade 4 Reading: May 19 & 20
- Grade 4 Math: May 23 & 24
- Grade 5 Reading: May 25 & 26
- Grade 5 Math: May 31 & June 1
- Grade 5 Science: June 8
- Grade 5 History: June 9
Weekly Happenings
CLC Focus - Math - Please bring materials to plan.
Grade 4 Fire Safety Education Classes (1/4/16 - 1/14/16)
Mrs. Puckett's Music Classes - Please report to the computer lab this week for class.
Monday, 1/11/16
- 9:35-10:50 Grade 3 CLC
- 11:00-12:15 Grade 4 CLC
- 1:00-2:15 Grade 1 CLC
- 3:30-4:30 Staff Fitness Class in library
- 4:00-6:00 PLP class: Promethean ActivInspire – Refresh Your Lessons & Add More Interactivity, in computer lab
- Bruce - Dr. Ray Jones meeting all day
Tuesday, 1/12/16
- 8:55-10:10 Grade 5 CLC
- 1:45-3:00 Grade 2 CLC
- 3:15-4:00 Battle of the Books meeting in library
Wednesday, 1/13/16
- 12:10-1:10 Kindergarten CLC
- 3:15-4:00 Battle of the Books meeting in the library
Thursday, 1/14/16 - Wear Red for Reading Month
- 8:00-3:30 Anne Douglas Sessoms OOTB for Math Lead Professional Learning
- 3:30-4:30 Staff Fitness Class in library
- 4:00-6:00 PLP Class: Bringing History Alive with Technology, in computer lab
- 6:30-8:00 An Evening with Lester Laminack at Salem Middle School (good for 2 points)
Friday, 1/15/16
- 8:00-3:30 Linda Gardner & Jenny Miller OOTB for Literacy Leader meeting
- Leslie Wildman's Last Day at Alanton ES & Matt Nichol's Last Day in Grade 3.
- 3:30-4:30 Hail & Farewell Gathering in the Library
Future Events -
No CLC Meetings this Week
EDK mid-year testing window: Jan. 19th - Feb. 5th
Monday, 1/18/16
- All schools closed in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Tuesday, 1/19/16
- 8:55-10:10 Grade 5 CLC
- 12:30-3:30 Katie Z. OOTB for training
- 1:45-3:00 Grade 2 CLC
- 3:15-4:15 SCA meeting (officers & exec. council), room 3
- 3:30-4:30 Principal’s Advisory Council (PAC) meeting, in library
- Charlene is out today.
Wednesday, 1/20/16
- Staff Jeans Day ($5 to Susan A. to participate)
- 1:30-4:30 - Charlene Out - EPL Meeting at Plaza Annex Training Room
- 8:00-9:00 ESL Parent Outreach meeting, room 29
- 12:00-3:30 Fara OOTB for SchoolNet training
- 12:10-1:10 Kindergarten CLC
- 3:15-4:00 Battle of the Books meeting, in library
Thursday, 1/21/16
- 3:30-5:30 ED Camp meeting with principals
- 3:30-4:30 Staff Fitness Class in library
- 4:00-8:00 Dine with Alanton, Panera Bread @ Hilltop
Friday, 1/22/16
- Have a great weekend!
Celebrate Good Times, Come On!
Happy Birthday to...
January Birthdays
- Brenda Hogge - 7th
- Betsy Almeda - 11th
- Charlene Garran - 18th
- Melissa Johnston - 18th
- Jessy Fuchs - 18th
- Kristin Lineberry - 27th
- Patricia Ebron - 27th
- Kendra Randolph - 29th
#ShoutOuts
- #ReadingAdventuresRock - Thanks to Heather Thomas for organizing a superb Reading Month. Also, thanks to the committee for collaborating on the many ideas, activities, and events to make it special for our kiddos!
#GreatSupporterOfChildren - A shout out to Mrs. Boltz for caring and supporting her students. #Great supporter of children
#ThanksHeather - Thanks to Heather for a fabulous job with Reading Month. ~Linda
#FabDoors - Thanks to Kim for creating our Reading month themed library doors!
#RegistrationSupport - Thank you to Kim and April for helping to print labels and distribute the middle school registration forms! You really helped me out when I was in a bind! ~Julie
#RockstarTeacher: While in the computer lab, I was able to see the encouraging words that Leslie Wildman gave to her students before their SRI. Using Habits of Mind and Growth Mindset strategies, it was clear that her students had ownership of their learning and were determined to "make their scores go up - way up."
#SafeSchool - Thanks to Pearl for making sure we are in compliance with the Fire Marshall.
#EnrollmentQueen- Thanks to Kim for being on top of the many new students enrolling at Alanton after the winter break.
#SuperScheduler - Thanks to Linda Gardner for putting so much time and energy into creating our assessment schedule. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
#SoldierTreats - Thanks to Mary Nutter for coordinating the many treats and supplies for our soldiers.
#SuperStrength - Thanks to Beth for lugging so many heavy boxes to the post office for our Fort Story Soldiers! Going to the post office and getting boxes through customs is quite a job!
#SandraAndFrosty - Frosty’s Tree could never be done without Sandra Willie! Thanks to her for helping kids pick Snowmen, sorting and organizing toys and assisting with delivery!
Teaching & Learning Framework - Alanton teachers living the life with the VBCPS framework.
Click on the link for the video:
Charlene Garran, Principal
Email: Charlene.Garran@vbschools.com
Website: www.alantones.vbschools.com
Location: Alanton Elementary School, Stephens Road, Virginia Beach, VA, United States
Phone: 757-648-2000
Twitter: @AlantonAstros