Galloping Gazette
A newsletter for the Faculty and Staff - Week of 5/25
Put Students First • Seek Growth • Be Open to Change . Do Great Work Together • Value Differences
Principal's Message
The image above is SO true. As you begin to prepare yourself for packing up your classroom for the 2019-2020 school year, do not think for one moment that your work has gone unnoticed. Everything that you have done, the hours of recording asynchronous videos, the change from Distance Learning to Continuity of Learning to Emergency Learning - it has mattered. It has mattered for our students. We have put our best foot forward in these extremely difficult times. I could not be proud of our staff and our efforts this Spring.
Next week, we will have staff in the building who are moving rooms as well as staff assisting with the Student Supply Pick-Up Drive Thru. Beginning in June, we will have staff in the building Mondays-Thursdays packing up their rooms. I have linked the sign up below in case you need it again.
As you are working in the building, please review the information below from Jack Freeman, the Chief Operations Officer of School Division Services -
"Please continue to communicate the importance of social distancing and practicing good hand hygiene, and wearing a cloth face covering when social distancing cannot be maintained. Staff should limit interactions with others to essential functions only. Staff should bring their own cloth face covering. Distribution Services will be delivering 30 reusable cloth face masks to each school on Tuesday. These masks are intended to be distributed to those that either forgot or otherwise did not bring their own face covering. This supply is limited, please bring your own masks.
Hand hygiene is another important step in mitigating risk. Staff should regularly wash their hands with soap and water. Gloves do not substantially mitigate risk over hand washing for most of the school based functions that we perform, so gloves will not be distributed."
I hope you have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend! Even though the weather is going to be dreary and nasty, I hope you still enjoy time with your family and hopefully a cookout with burgers and hot dogs. We have almost made it to the end!
-Robyn
Week Ahead
Monday, May 25th
Happy Memorial Day!
Tuesday, May 26th
School Open by Appointment Only from 9:30 - 1:30 (only for teachers who are moving classrooms)
Student Belonging Pick up - 10 -1
Wednesday, May 27th
9:30 - Ms. Backer's Read Aloud
School Open by Appointment Only from 9:30 - 1:30 (only for teachers who are moving classrooms)
10:00 - 12:00 - Student Belonging Pick up -
10:00 AM - 3rd Grade Collaboration via Google Meet - CFES3collab
10:45 AM - 4th Collaboration via Google Meet - CFES4collab
11:30 AM - 1st Grade Collaboration via Google Meet - CFES1collab
1:00 - 4:00 - Operation Happiness
Thursday, May 21st
10:00 AM - 2nd Grade Collaboration via Google Meet - CFES2collab
10:45 AM - K Collaboration via Google Meet - CFESKcollab
11:30 AM - 5th Grade Collaboration via Google Meet - CFES5collab
3:00 - 6:00 - Student Belonging Pick Up
Friday, May 29th
#Fri-YAY
I make a difference...
Top Ten Reasons Why You Make a Difference:
#10- You are an amazing multi-tasker who can wear many hats.
#9- Master Colt TV Manifester (even when school is out)
#8- Able to change the lyrics to songs on demand effortlessly for any topic that is posed to you.
#7- Rocking guitar player who knows the lyrics to pretty much any song
#6- Technologically gifted (and always learning)
#5- Able to make his own computer (and crash it at school-who knew our system wouldn't like it?)
#4 Able to skateboard, paint, build Ikea furniture, etc. while attending Google Meets and still be on point when randomly called upon for responses.
#3- Active at school with clubs, mentoring, airplane challenges, dying hair for SCA, etc.
#2- Great sense of adventure! (Rock climber, biker to Niagra Falls, camping, etc.)
#1- You have a wonderful personality and we love having you in our FARM FAM!
TRAVIS BOWMAN- You make a Difference!
News and Notes....
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has addressed Teacher Education and Licensure requirements impacted by COVID-19. The VDOE has specifically identified and addressed provisional license holders and renewable license holders expiring June 30, 2020. In response, the Department of Human Resources is providing the following information regarding our staff impacted by COVID-19.
Provisional license holders expiring June 30, 2020: The Department of Human Resources will submit, on behalf of the employee, a request for a one-year license effective July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021. If the license holder has completed all requirements for a full license, we will submit for the full license upon return to work.
Renewable license holders expiring June 30, 2020: The Department of Human Resources will submit, on behalf of the employee, a request to the VDOE to extend the renewable license until June 30, 2021.
Renewable license holders expiring June 30, 2020, who are only missing Hands-on CPR: The Department of Human Resources will submit, on behalf of the employee, a request for the renewable 10-year license upon receipt of all other documents. (The Hands-on CPR training is being waived for licenses expiring June 30, 2020, only.)
The licensure team is available via email to assist employees based on last names. For letters A- GN, contact Patti.Perger@vbschools.com, for GO-N Brian.Aiken@vbschools.com, and for O-Z Ila.James@vbschools.com.
Welcome to CFES - Danielle Caldwell - 3rd Grade!
Danielle is coming to us from Albemarle County and will be teaming with Mrs. Zaleski. Here are some fun facts about Danielle:
- I could live on a steady diet of chips and queso, tacos, and pizza.
- Aside from teaching, I'm a lover of creating--hand-lettering, illustrations, home decor.
- In my free time, you can catch me outdoors (mountains or beach--no bias here) and spending time with my family.
- Football is my favorite season.
- ☀️I believe any day can be made better with sunshine, a body of water, and an iced coffee. ⠀
Welcome to the CFES - Mrs. Pearson -3rd Grade!
You might recognize this her as Mrs. Willett's student teacher this spring. She graduated from ODU this spring and we are so excited to have her teaching 3rd grade at the farm! Here are some fun facts about her:
- I am an extreme animal lover!
- I love all genres of music!
- I am obsessed with the color red!
Student Intent to Return Google Form - 2020-2021
Blurb for your weekly communication:
It is that time of the year when we typically send home the 'Are You Moving?' in order to prepare for the next school year. If you will not be returning to Christopher Farms for the 2020-2021 School Year, please fill out the information on the attached flyer and return it to school as soon as possible, but no later than May 26, 2020. You can return this form via mail at the address listed on the flyer, by placing it in the box at the front entrance to the school or you can email karen.ratner@vbschools.com. Thank you!
Talent Ed Formative Focus and Goal
Talent Ed formative focus goal: please answer the following three questions for your formative focus end of year reflection:
- In 1-2 sentences, please summarize the book, Love and Logic.
- 2. Reflecting on the entire book, what is your biggest takeway that you will carry into this upcoming school year.
- 3. Based on what you now know about Love and Logic and PBIS, what changes can you commit to making in your classroom management plan and overall classroom procedures in the 2020-2021 school year.
Remember to close out your end of the year data review simply state "due to the unexpected closure of school there is no end of year data to report".
This is due by Friday, May 25th
Additions to the Teaching and Learning Framework Best Practices Video Library
Morning Meeting Motivation
This month our Colt character trait is resilience. We have broken this down just as we do with all of our traits. This week, we will continue to focus on the learning from our own mistakes. We often want to protect and prevent our children from making mistakes, however, we must acknowledge that learning from mistakes and experience are often the most authentic ways to learn. This week’s optional lesson on Resilience (Week 4) shares a story of learning from one's mistakes and growing from experience. The activity allows for practice of pulling from past experiences to make decisions and problem solve with the help of some nursery rhymes. We hope you’ll check them out.
If you aren't following @PGIVBCPS or @Sansone39 on Twitter, you are really missing out. Each week, on Mondays and Wednesdays, they are posting morning meeting ideas to add to your virtual morning meeting toolbox. I have linked the Google Doc of the running slides for you! Go give them a follow too!
#SelfCare Recommendations
Defending Jacob
Mic drop moment
Do you have five minutes to spare?
In Five Years is an unforgettable love story, but it is not the one you're expecting. Perfect for fans of Me Before You and One Day—a striking, powerful, and moving love story following an ambitious lawyer who experiences an astonishing vision that could change her life forever.
Game Changer Moment
Professional Development Opportunities - Co-Teaching Webinars
VDOE Office of Special Education Instructional Services is inviting Co-Teaching teams to participate in five, one-hour webinar series (9:00-10:00 A.M.) Register today for "Looking Forward to Co-Teaching 2020-2021" with Dr. Marilyn Friend.
May 18: Co-Teaching partnerships: Understanding, building, strengthening, and repairing
May 28: Going past the six basic approaches to maximize instructional effectiveness in Co-Teaching
June 8: Getting real about co-planning
June 18: Where is the Specially Designed Instruction (SDI)?
June 29: Open mic: Questions and answers about real-world Co-Teaching situations and dilemmas.
Helpful List of Resources
VBCPS 2019-2020 Emergency Learning Plans for Elementary Schools
Newly updated VBCPS 2019-2020 School Calendar
Emergency Learning Plan Webpage
VBCPS Mental Health Resources: You are taking care of our students. Here are some resources to help take care of yourself also.
Meals for families: These are the locations you can give to families in need of food. Kids must be with the family to receive food.
Chromebook Repair: Here are the sites families can exchange their broken Chromebook for a new one.
Dr. Spence's Deskside Chats: Closed- captioned videos shared every Tuesday and Thursday on YouTube, where Dr. Spence tackles a few questions and provide some updates.
VBCPS General Updates: Most current updates on nearly everything here.
Technology Tips: These are tips on working from home. You need to be logged in to your VBSchools account to access it. As always, the DoT Help Desk is available at (757) 263-1111 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday should you need support as you work to ensure our students continue to learn.
CDC Guidelines: Tips to keep you and your family safe. We love you. Stay safe.
The Office of Employee Relations has published FAQs for employees regarding work locations/hours, pay, leave, FMLA, as well as the new Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) on the Intranet. Here is the direct link to this information: https://vbcps.sharepoint.com/sites/Intranet/Pages/COVID_19FAQs.aspx