Mosaica Online Happenings
March 18-22 2013
Upcoming Dates to Remember
- March 25-29th: Spring Break AZ & CA
- April 1-5th: Spring Break CO
- **Beginning August 28th, all adjunct teachers must submit invoices to Brenda McCullers on the 14th and 28th of the month**
End of the Grading Period.... Right Around the Corner!
AZ: Friday, April 5th
CA & CO: Wednesday, April 10th
You received this week the chart and calendars to guide you through the ending of Grading Period #3..... The immediate deadlines are:
Week of March 25th - April 5th 2013
No later than Friday, March 29th: Email the appropriate state contact confirming that you have verified all PowerSchool rosters
- No later than Friday, March 29th: K-8 teachers have all GP#4 courses set up and ready to begin. Teachers notify your DC by this date that course(s) is ready to be checked
- No later than Friday March 29th: K-8 teachers verify that the end dates for Grading Period #3 courses are correct.
- Friday, April 5th: Last day of the grading period – AZ
- Friday April 5th: All AZ PSAP information should be complete in Alpine
Tasks:
- All gradebooks are up to date
- Follow up with the parents of any failing students
- Update the Seating Chart with all essential contacts-Include dates for each entry
- Verify all PowerSchool rosters and email Elaina Mutis(CA), Cecilia Perkins (AZ), or Justin Schmitt (CO) when complete
- Enter your PSAP data into individual PSAPs in Alpine
- K-8: Set up GP#4 Courses
- K-8: Ensure GP#3 end dates are correct on courses
- Be sure all AZ PSAPS are complete
Advisors:
- Continue scheduling PSAP parent conferences.
Continue creating and updating PSAP documents in Alpine for individual students
Collect updated parent input info as needed for PSAP and place in Alpine
Staff Spotlight- Sarah Zayas
I was born and raised in a small town in Down East Maine. My family owned a crabmeat business and we had such an abundance that we use to give it to our eight cats for dinner. I moved to South Florida after I graduated high school. I worked at a 5 star hotel for eight years then I decided to pursue a degree in Elementary Education. I worked my way through school while raising two small children, Alexander 4, Isabella 2. I am blessed to have the support of an amazing husband, David, who helps out in every way.
I joined MOA just days after giving birth to my youngest child in January 2011. I love having a job where I am able to spend quality time with my family, even if it means working all kind of crazy hours:) I really have enjoyed teaching 5th grade this year, and I am so excited to be working for a school that is growing so fast.
We appreciate all that you do Sarah:)
Mercury Sunshine!
*As always, please keep Barbara Noel-Williams in your thoughts- she is a WARRIOR in her fight against cancer!!!!
Let me know of any concerns or celebrations within our Mercury family!
Club Corner
As artists it is important to focus on the art skill of drawing. Continual practice means we can begin to grow and develop our own style. This week in Art Club students have been stretching their creativity by chosing a drawing prompt to inspire their artwork. Quick sketches of many different ideas give us the kind of practice we need to grow as artists. Afterall, a quick sketch might turn into your next masterpiece! Here is a sketch made by Art Club member Hannah Pichler. She chose the prompt: "If I were turned into a cartoon character, I would look like..."
TEACHER TIP OF THE WEEK!
Tip #9 Math Computation
· When using scratch paper on a math test, double-check to make sure that you have copied the problem correctly from the test booklet!
· Line up place value correctly on your scratch paper (thousands, hundreds, tens, ones) or the answer will be incorrect.
· If your answer does not match one of the choices, reread the problem, recopy the numbers, and try solving it again.
Let's Continue Our Discussion on Love and Logic®....
"When a child says, "It's too hard- I can't do it," the wise teacher smiles and whispers, "Aren't you glad I don't believe that?"
Love and Logic ® Teacher-isms by Jim Fay and Charles Fay
What Is Going On In Other Mercury Locations?
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Mexico City
Alaska
Muskegon Heights, Michigan
Hyderabad, India
Ohio
Teachers of Muskegon Heights CR students.... Your Goal For March!!!!!
- Pick a few students in your credit recovery classes and really cheer them on to be finished with the course by Spring break!
You will receive updates here that will pertain to our students in any of these locations!
- be sure to consult the various calendars in D2L for these locations
Teachers PLEASE be sure you are keeping your D2L grade book updated. Whenever a program needs grades for a progress report, we export the D2L grade book current average. Thank you!
Upcoming Events/Holidays:
Puerto Vallarta
- March 18 - Mexican holiday
- March 23-April 7 - Spring Vacation
Mexico City
- March 18 - Mexican holiday
- March 25-April 1 - Spring Vacation
Muskegon Heights
- April 1-5 - Spring Break
India
- March 27-March 29 - Easter Holiday
Data Discussion...
TCAP: (Transitional Colorado Assessment Program)
Sub-Content Areas Reported Out on the Student Performance Report for Writing
Paragraph Writing: Student writes a short written product in response to a prompt. There is a small amount of space provided for planning, however, no score is awarded for any plan. To complete this task, it is not expected that the student would write a draft, revise, edit and re-write into a final written product.
Extended Writing: Student writes an extended written product in response to a prompt. It is expected that the student would use the entire writing process, including the completion of some sort of plan, a written draft, revision, and edit before the completion of the final written product in the test booklet. One point is awarded for evidence of a planning stage in this writing process. NOTE: Extended Writing is not reported in Grade 3.
Grammar and Usage: Student uses knowledge of English language rules including grammar, syntax and sentence structure to demonstrate proper English usage in both written prompts and multiple choice formats. NOTE: Grammar and Usage is not reported in Grade 3.
Mechanics: Student uses knowledge of punctuation, spelling, and procedures for creating a variety of sentence structures to demonstrate proper English usage in both written prompts and multiple choice formats.
State Testing....
Arizona: testing will resume in April!
California: testing will resume in April!
Colorado: make-up testing only this week!
Online Paragon Nights!
https://sas.elluminate.com/site/external/jwsdetect/playback.jnlp?psid=2013-03-05.1707.M.647EA3BE52D5D1AA5AC12732E0F303.vcr&sid=2009101
And last but not least..... Your joke of the week
Lots of blood tests!