Principal's Corner
Volume VIII - February 3, 2018
SUPER BOWL SUNDAY EDITION
As we enter the "home stretch" of what seems like the longest semester ever, I want to thank you for your never-ending drive and dedication to our students. We have SIX instructional days until exams begin! Keep pushing!! You are a tremendous team of educators, and it is evident through your work that you are totally committed to preparing our students for the next level. Even through the challenge of lost instructional days and a community that was hit very hard by Hurricane Florence, your leadership in the classroom has shined on. Have a GREAT week, and please don't hesitate to ask for anything you may need to support your efforts in the classroom.
Remember, these kids are more than a test score! Keep them growing!
Warm Regards,
Brad Staley
THIS WEEK AT RHS
ACCESS for ELLS Testing
ELA Data Teams 1:00pm
Tuesday, February 5
Test Training (Planning Periods and After School)
Biology Data Teams 11:40am
Basketball @ Pender HS
FFA Greenhand Ceremony 6:00pm
OCS Board Meeting (Mrs. J. Smith recognized as a finalist for T.O.Y.), Blue Creek ES, 6:30pm
Wednesday, February 6
Newsletter Deadline 2:30pm
Thursday, February 7
Math I Data Teams 11:40am
Quality Council/System Involvement Teams - Thompson ECC - 4:00pm
Friday, February 8
All-County Chorus Rehearsals - 1:00pm - NHS
Basketball Home vs. Croatan
Saturday, February 9
All-County Chorus - Concert 3:30pm - NHS
2A East Region Wrestling Tournament - Croatan HS
Shout Outs - Week of 1/28 - Submitted by RHS Staff Members
I want to give a shout out to Ericka Fountain. She has been an asset to the RHS math dept. She always has great new ideas and resources to share for Math 1. Ericka has worked hard to create review material aligned to the Math 1 standards, and always shares her work with the other Math 1 teachers.
I would like to shout out Jennifer Simmons for helping me adjust to life at Richlands High School! She shares resources, is a great Data Team leader and an AMAZING teacher!
There are THREE gift cards remaining. Keep those shoutouts coming.
NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Please make certain that all lesson plans are current in OneNote and include, at minimum, Standards, Essential Questions, Learning Outcomes, and WICOR identification.
- Standard numbers, EQ, and Learning Outcomes shall be posted in every classroom, every day.
- Department Chairs, SPT, and committee chairs, we will meet as one large leadership team on February 13 for our mid-year update. All departments, teams, committees, etc. must submit PowerPoint slides outlining progress on your initiatives, accomplishments, work with data/instructional framework, and major events/activities so far in 2018-19. Each leader will (briefly) present to the SLT on 2/13. The presentation will be uploaded into our strategic plan as well as our website, so we can highlight the great things happening here at RHS
Apply for an AP Summer Institute Scholarship
The deadline to apply for a 2019 AP® Summer Institute (APSI) Scholarship is Tuesday, February 12, 2019. These scholarships cover some or all of the cost of attending an APSI. APSIs offer weeklong intensive professional development programs where educators can network with peers and learn about tools and resources that inspire success in their Advanced Placement® classrooms.
This year the College Board is offering four competitive scholarship programs listed below. You may meet the criteria for at least one of these opportunities. Visit the APSI Scholarships homepage to learn more and to apply.
AP Fellows: Provides scholarships of $1,000 to AP teachers at schools serving underrepresented and/or low-income students.
AP Rural Fellows: Provides scholarships of $1,500 to AP teachers at rural schools serving low-income students.
AP New Resources: Provides scholarships of $1,000 to AP teachers at schools serving low-income students, to help teachers learn how to use the new resources coming in 2019-20. Teachers of all subjects—except AP Computer Science Principles and AP Capstone™ (Seminar and Research)—are eligible.
AP Capstone: Provides scholarships covering tuition for AP Capstone professional development to AP Capstone (Seminar and Research) teachers at schools meeting specific criteria.
Applications for all scholarships will be accepted until February 12.
If you want to attend an APSI and have no other source of funding, we encourage you to apply.
To learn more about this program and get answers to FAQs, visit the APSI Scholarships homepage. If you have any questions, email apsischolarships@collegeboard.org.
EVAAS Data Review
On February 18 (our workday), we will be holding short (less than 30 minute) conferences with all teachers who currently (or previously) taught NCFE, EOC, or CTE tested courses. In this meeting we will discuss longitudinal growth trends, current projections, and where our opportunities for growth are.
You will meet with the administrator that is assigned to complete your observations. You may sign up here: Sign Ups (Web view)
On that day, please bring your laptop, and be sure you can access EVAAS and your reports within it. If you need help logging in, that will need to be done prior to this date, as we will not have time that day.
If you are not planning to work this workday, you will need to meet individually with your assigned administrator prior to this date to plan an alternate meeting time. All specially scheduled meetings must occur prior to 2/18.
EVAAS Data Review - Current Signups
OCS Weekly Update
PD OPPORTUNITIES FROM UNCW AND NCCAT
Social Studies Teachers- This Opportunity is for YOU!
Randall Library at UNCW has digitized several collections of primary sources related to the African American struggle for Civil Rights in Southeast North Carolina during the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. We seek teachers of 4th grade North Carolina History, 8th grade North Carolina History, and high school American History II to write lesson plans based on these digital sources. As part of the lesson plan writing cohort, teachers will:
- Attend an initial teacher meeting on campus in mid-February, 2019.
- Submit one lesson that utilizes the digitized documents by April 15, 2019.
- Comment on one other cohort members’ lesson plan by April 30, 2019.
- After receiving feedback, submit final lesson plan by May 15, 2019.
Upcoming Professional Development at NCCAT
North Carolina educators have plenty of opportunities throughout the fall to attend the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT), a recognized national leader in professional development programming for teachers. Applicants are encouraged to register as soon as possible to ensure a spot. Programs are available to North Carolina educators at the Cullowhee and Ocracoke campuses, online and with NCCAT faculty visiting school districts. NCCAT provides food, lodging and programming. Teachers and or their districts are responsible for travel to and from the center and the cost of the substitute teacher. For a complete list of upcoming NCCAT programs, click here. For more information on how to apply for NCCAT programs, click here.
UNCW AIG Conference, February 8th
Educators are invited to the 2018 UNCW AIG Conference: The PERFECTionism Conference. This conference focuses on serving academically, intellectually, and creatively gifted students and delivers nationally recognized presenters to the beautiful Watson College of Education on the UNCW campus in Wilmington, North Carolina. Keynote address by the “Gifted Guru”, Lisa Van, Gemert and Brian Housand will anchor a day of learning about the social, emotional, and instructional needs of gifted students! Other highlights include:
- Encouraging excellence without increasing unhealthy perfectionism
- Tours of the Randall Library's Makerspace located in the Watson College of Education
- Master teachers sharing "takeaways" for the classroom
- Vendors with resources for gifted students
- New and exciting updates about the UNCW AIG Program!