Parsons ES Partyline
August 23, 2019
Mrs. Childers' Points of Pride
Points of Pride at Parsons Elementary School
I have a new badge to add to my home collection of GCPS badges! This one will remind me of a wonderful staff and a great school. In four short weeks, I’ve felt “at home” here and that is truly due to the hearts of this staff. A wise principal once told this adage at a staff meeting: “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Interestingly, my minister at the time mentioned that same saying the next Sunday from the pulpit, so that message struck a double-chord. I’ve witnessed how much you all care … about students and about each other.
Here are a few of the many Points of Pride that I will carry with me about Parsons:
· Teachers attending SSTs the week of pre-planning. Though I realized how much they needed to do in their classrooms, the parents would have only seen the care and concern that the teachers had for their former students.
· Support teachers being pulled the first weeks of school to support a young student who needed individual assistance while the classroom teacher continued to build community with the students through it all … grace under fire! What great attitudes from all of the staff involved.
· Car rider staff working hard (and with enthusiasm) to get the process moving smoothly – even with a heat index of 105 degrees in the afternoon and having to be out there for forty minutes.
· A teacher warmly “filling the bucket” of another teacher to let her know how much she admired her teaching in the kindergarten special the day before.
· A teacher at an SST meeting who became emotional describing to a parent the hurt of a student who feels like she has no friends.
· Staff members warmly and sincerely welcoming unexpected new students into their classrooms after the school year has begun.
· Pre-school and kindergarten staff comforting the children who really just want to be at home rather than school!
I was proud to be part of this caring staff … even for such a short time. You have everything you need for a successful year – great leadership, great colleagues, having the best interest of students in those big hearts, and the knowledge and skills to dig deep to meet students’ needs. I look forward to hearing more great things about Parsons in the future.
So proud to serve YOU!
Nancy Childers
It's Getting Hot in Here!
Thanks to our Facilities & Maintenance for pouring cold water in our water cooler for 4 hours to keep the temps manageable in our building.
Did you sign up Reading Boot Camp?
You definitely don't want to miss out on one of the best PD opportunities our district offers.
Reading Boot Camp is designed for teachers to closely examine AKS for each quarter of the school year and prepare for instruction. Reading Boot Camp sessions will provide powerful opportunities for teachers from all over the county to collaborate and grow together in order to best serve our students.
- Session 1: August 10, 2019
- Session 2: September 28, 2019
- Session 3: December 14, 2019
- Session 4: February 8, 2020
The teachers who attended said it was CERTAINLY worth your time. You walk away prepared for your next class and with free books in hand!
*Register in PD&E, course #23684
Congratulations to our TOTY Finalist!
Curriculum Night
Good Bye and Hello!
Count Day
At this time, we are collecting numbers for our enrollment. We will not be making any decisions or changes. Once numbers are finalized we will decide if any changes need to be made to accommodate class enrollment.
Weekly Happenings
8/26 Girl Scouts Visit Classrooms
8/27 Count Day
8/27 Kid Talk Tuesday on Grade Level
8/27 Book Mobile Visits
8/28 Grade Level Planning in PL
8/28 Gwinnett Public Library Kick Off (1:00 1st Grade)
8/28 DLI Visit
8/29 ILT meets at 4:00
8/30 College Colors Day-wear your college spirit wear/Crazy Hair & Hat Day
Mandatory Compliance Training
ALL staff must complete the Mandatory Compliance Training Modules by September 27, 2019. Click on the course in the 'My Courses' section of the PD&E. There are 3 courses (see below). There will be a quiz after each module and you will need to score at least 80%.
Marche à Suivre (Way to go in French)
Thank you so much to the special group staff members who helped out our little friend for the past two weeks. Your love and support definitely made a difference in his life. When you were called upon you went above and beyond to help and support.
Dobra Robota. Mrs. Tolar (Great Job in Polish)
Impressionante (Awesome in Portuguese)
Important Items and Due Dates
Emergency Substitute Plans place in top filing cabinet drawer by August 23
Copy of certification returned to Michelle Miller by September 3
HR Compliance Training Modules in the PD&E by September 27
Staff Handbook Highlight
46.0. LESSON PLANS
Lesson plans are flexible working documents. Effective planning leads to effective instruction. Effective instruction leads to increased student learning. A printed or electronic copy of your lesson plans should be available by Monday morning for the current week and available for an administrator to view. Lesson plans will be checked during observations or during routine administrative classroom walk-throughs during the year. Lesson plans should reflect careful and thorough planning. Please refer to lesson plan expectations/ “Givens” shared during pre-planning week.
Lesson plans should have the following components of good instruction:
AKS objective listed as a learning target (It is teacher discretion as whether or not to include the AKS number.)
A framework for teaching key concepts including resources/materials and activity (if applicable).
When you plan for differentiation, label it in your plan.
If you have information about flexible grouping, note in your lesson plans where it can be found (e.g. folder, separate notebook, etc.). You may also choose to list the groups in your plans (e.g. Group 1, Group 2, etc.).
Cluster classes must highlight the cluster differentiation in Reading, Math, Science, and Social Studies.
LEARNING TARGETS are expected to be clearly posted in the room for Reading, LA, Math, Science, and Social Studies. This is also expected for Specials. Learning Targets should be written in kid friendly language and reflect the standard being taught that day. This will be looked for during observations or walk-throughs.
Differentiate
As for me, How will I differentiate the needs of my two? Well, "Chase Clark" is going to be on an incentive plan. When he cleans his room he earns phone data. For Kailey Ann, she will receive a sweet note of gratitude with a little gift. How's that for differentiation? In all joking, "Chase Clark" is a great kid. Keeping a clean room is just not one of his strengths. He does keep our yard looking good-all cut and trimmed. #momlife #thestruggleisreal #lovebothmykiddos