CANNON TIMES
A Newsletter For Cannon Staff 2018-2019
Principal Points - Week of February 11, 2019
We are super excited about being able to offer the Maker Education professional learning opportunity on Friday for our K-5 teachers, with our friends from SMU! While Makerspaces are certainly becoming a "buzzword" in education and can be found in many schools and libraries today, we are incredibly fortunate at Cannon to have dedicated areas, which were intentionally designed, as Makerspaces!
Makerspaces and maker culture have quickly become a favorite of STEM advocates, and new research shows that Makerspaces can be highly effective at helping elementary students develop skills such as critical thinking, design thinking, and problem solving.
Research from Macquarie University in Australia demonstrates how, with proper training and professional development, teachers can harness Makerspaces and improve teaching and learning outcomes. This research supports that the use of Makerspaces leads to higher student engagement, confidence, and determination to try new approaches to tough challenges.
As I read this research and the benefits of Makerspaces, I was pleased to note how many of their recommendations are already in place or under development at Cannon. We are very fortunate to have the support of educators like Julee Vorachard and Julie Brenegan, who have been instrumental in helping design our spaces and opportunities offered in our Makerspace!
The following recommendations are some of the ones that stood out to me as efforts that have been focused on at Cannon, as we have worked to get our Makerspace areas up and running!
Research Recommendations:
1. Provide support for schools to ensure Makerspaces are effective and integrated as they help students develop STEM skills, digital competencies, and 21st-century skills.
2. Encourage teachers using Makerspaces to strike a balance between explicit instruction and open-ended inquiry, set authentic tasks, consider the design of teaching spaces, and actively guide group work processes.
3. Offer coordinated professional development and learning opportunities to help teachers improve their knowledge of design-based learning.
4. Ensure those professional development opportunities are well-structured, pedagogically grounded, hands-on and collaborative, and that they incorporate opportunities to explore new technologies.
5. Schools should be deliberate in the steps they take to provide the resources, spaces, and culture that supports Makerspaces and maker-based learning.
Bring your maker mindset on Friday and let's have some FUN!!
Proud to be your principal,
Tona :)
#BeCannonProud
READ BEFORE U.CAN ON MONDAY
We will be using this article to guide our discussion on Monday about the very important topic of school safety and security. By reading the article in advance, we should be able to be more efficient at our meeting. Thank you!!
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Lisa's Coaching Corner
February always seems to be a long and hard month at school, even though it is the shortest, with colder weather and no holidays in sight this month. Anne shared an important behavior resource called PBIS (positive behavior interventions and supports) with us two years ago and we wanted to revisit it. Pieces of PBIS are for purchase, but there are TONS of free resources as well.
As you well know, there is no ONE answer for any student academic or behavioral concern so as professionals, we have to be super sleuths and research specific behaviors that students struggle with. PBIS is an online resource that addresses behavior through the prevention-oriented structure of research-based interventions/supports in a hierarchical and progressive manner for the goal of improved behavioral outcomes. PBIS contains hundreds of interventions, supports, resources and data collection tools.
Human nature is to follow the same habits and routines that we, as teachers, are comfortable with. Use this tool to spark a new idea that might be exactly what you are looking for to assist a student and will increase your toolbox.
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DATES TO REMEMBER
02/11 Author Visit - Joe Hayes - see schedule in this newsletter!
02/11 U.CAN - 3:05-3:45 Learning Commons - see information in this newsletter!
02/12 Fire Drill - 8:10
02/12 PLC Week B - Kindergarten 2:15-3:45
02/13 PTA hosts Chocolate Sweet Treats for staff in Teacher Break Room - ENJOY!
02/13 PLC Week B - 1st grade 2:15-3:45
02/13 Talent Show Rehearsal 3:00-4:00
02/14 Staff Potluck Lunch! Hosted by office & Specials staff
02/14 PLC Week B - 2nd grade - during conference period
02/14 Valentine's Day parties - 2:00 pm
02/15 Kid's Heart Challenge Kickoff Begins - during P.E. classes
02/15 K-5 Teacher SMU Maker Education Professional Learning 1/2 day - subs will be provided. See information in this newsletter!
02/15 Updated Staff & Team Photos - Wear your red 2018-2019 staff shirt!
02/18 Professional Learning Day for all staff - Student Holiday
02/18 Engineering Week!
02/19 PLC Week A - 3rd grade 2:15-3:45
02/19 5th gr. Middle School Information Parent Night @ Cannon 6:00 pm Learning Commons
02/20 2nd grade field trip to FWMSH 8:45-2:00
02/20 PLC Week A - 4th grade 2:15-3:45
02/21 Severe Weather Drill - 1:45 pm
02/21 PLC Week A -5th grade 2:15-3:45
02/25 STEM Leadership 3:05 in PLC room
02/26 Class Picture Day
02/26 PLC Week B - Kindergarten 2:15-3:45
02/26 Cubs Night Out @ Chipoltes
02/27 Principal/Admin Instructional Rounds at Cannon
02/27 PLC Week B - 1st grade 2:15-3:45
02/28 PLC Week B - 2nd grade 2:15-3:45
02/28 1st grade musical - 6:00-6:45 pm
02/28 Cubs Night Out @ Cici's Pizza
03/01 Art Show - 5:30-7:30 pm
03/01 Talent Show - 6:00 pm
03/02 Mini-Cast
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CONGRATULATIONS!!
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REMINDERS AND UPDATES
DETAILS FOR MONDAY'S AUTHOR VISIT
Our Joe Hayes author visit is Monday, Feb. 11.
- Please make sure you are on time! See schedule below.
- The entire grade level will sit on the Learning Stairs, so we will sit them on the bottom row first and fill each row entirely before we move up to the next row. We can also sit some on the floor in front of the stairs if necessary.
- If any student purchased a book, they will get their book(s) and autographs after their grade level presentation.
- It will be VERY important that everyone be quiet as they transition to and from specials, lunch etc. past the learning commons the entire day to avoid interrupting another grade's presentation.
1st Grade: 8:15-8:45
3rd: 9:15-9:45
2nd: 10:00-10:30
Kinder: 11:45-12:15
4th: 1:15-1:45
5th: 2:05-2:35
504/Special Ed Accommodations Documentation
Based on feedback and input from teachers, the following adjustments have been made to the accommodations tracking process for 504/Special Ed students.
- Testing accommodations need to be documented on the tracking form only on testing/quiz days.
- Teachers may track the implementation of accommodations of any form (paper form, lesson plans, etc.) BUT the data must be transferred to the electronic tracking form at least every 3 weeks (aligned with progress reporting periods). The electronic tracking form should remain in the campus Team Drive.
- If an accommodation is to be provided daily, it should be documented daily.
We will continue to consider teacher feedback regarding accommodations tracking as we make adjustments for the 2019-2020 school year.
NEW STAFF PHOTOS ON FRIDAY!
STUDENT BROOMS NOW AVAILABLE!
UPDATE TO FIELD TRIP PROCEDURES
K-4 iPAD UPDATE- DUE NOW!
There are SEVERAL K-4 classrooms that still have NOT updated student iPads to the newest iOS. This needs to be complete asap! This update will help with some of the issues we have been having with the applications on Meraki. The application specialist will ask if the iPad is updated before moving further along in the process. The Meraki profile was updated on Wednesday, but it will only work if the IPad is completely updated.
Destinee recently shared a checklist with all K-4 teachers as a way to notify her that your class has complete the iPad update. If you have not yet completed this update, please do so asap and check off your name off of this checklist. If student iPads are having trouble downloading the iOS due to not enough storage, you can troubleshoot this by deleting some pictures or videos. If you have any questions or need any help let Destinee know asap. Thank you for taking care of this!!
FEBRUARY BOOK OF THE MONTH
Our Cannon scholars will be challenged to create a spoon sculpture and various grade levels have been assigned different "themes" for their spoon sculpture, with K-1 creating animal spoon sculptures; 2-3 will design spoons based off of book characters; and our 4-5 Cubs will create a spoon sculpture to represent a specific strand of engineering. Please encourage your scholars to participate in this month's book challenge and turn them in to the Learning Commons by 2/11. We would LOVE to have these sculptures on display when Joe Hayes visits our campus, so that he can check out all of the creative designs!
Check out all of the design challenge criteria and details in the Book of the Month S'more below and please share the Adobe Spark video with your Cubs so that they can see some awesome examples of spoon sculptures for inspiration! Also included below is a copy of all of the BoM details in Spanish!
FROM THE MAKERSPACE
Check out this new addition to our newsletter, From The Makerspace. Julee will provide quick updates and reminders in this section each week to keep staff informed about what's happening in the Cannon Makerspace!
Speaking of Maker mindset! Check out these scholars who were caught working organically on their design phase of the engineering design process! Shout out to 2nd grade teacher, Mindi Mills, and 5th grade teachers Alejandra Paniagua, Addi Freiner, and Heather Hagar for their beautiful lesson design and implementation!
VALOR APPLICATION PROCESS BEGINS SOON!
The goals of the VALOR program are to:
- Build the capacity of teachers to reflect collectively and individually on their practices and build a network of educators engaged in improving their craft through ongoing job-embedded, observation, feedback, collaboration, and scholarship.
- Develop teachers at every campus, in every grade level, and in every subject level across the district whose practices exemplify the principles of LEAD 2021, and who are eager to share their knowledge with others.
The structure of the VALOR program provides opportunity for:
Job-embedded PD
Participants to gain specific information for grade level/content by:
Getting feedback from peers/coach observing in your classroom based on group and personal goals
Reflect with like minded peers
Study/read together (articles and books)
Visit classrooms all over the district to see LEAD 2021 in action
Currently, Jennifer Pettit & Marina Luepnitz have been very involved in VALOR for the last two years. I would encourage any staff that is considering applying for VALOR to talk to them to learn more! You can also HEAR FROM TEACHERS OF VALOR by clicking here!
#TxEdTuesday
Each Tuesday, educators from across Texas are sharing about the great things going on in their schools and using #TxEdTuesday on social media. We have a lot of amazing things happening in GCISD and we want to shower social media with stories about our district - from the classroom to extracurricular activities. Here is the flyer for #TxEdTuesdaythat identifies the weekly themes. Please post something exciting happening on your campus every Tuesday from now until the end of May. Collectively, we can tell the story of GCISD and share how we are Building Excellent Schools Together!
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Worth A Read, Watch or...Listen!!
HAVE YOU EVER CATEGORIZED A PARENT AS "THAT CRAZY PARENT"? As an educator, it's easy to do when some of our student's parents, who otherwise seem to be relatively "normal" suddenly appear to go off the deep end and make unreasonable demands on us as their child's teacher! Take a few moments and read this article. It will help you better understand "those" parents and possibly even identify a bit with one of "those" parents, if you are a parent yourself! Great read!
MIX IT UP AT YOUR TEACHER STATION by checking out these 5 ideas for how to change up how you are providing small group/guided instruction at your teacher table! Great strategies that teachers can use to design their station to ensure a student-centered focus, rather than the teacher talking/teaching the majority of the time. When teachers engage students at their teacher-led station, they can collect invaluable formative assessment data that can help inform future lessons.
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DISTRICT ASSESSMENT & STAAR UPDATES
2nd ROUND OF EMBEDDED ASSESSMENTS
Finalized Spring EAs are now in Humanities curriculum. Unpacking resources can be found in the embedded assessment section of the unit to serve as a possible guide for unpacking that EA as teachers enter the unit.
STAAR RESOURCES & UPDATES
INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES PLAYLIST FOR TEACHERS 2018-2019 is a terrific resource that many of our Cannon staff is currently already using, not just as STAAR resource, but as a great resource for instructional/formative assessment strategies that you may have never tried. These playlists of strategy suggestions are extensive and are categorized by:
- movement and discourse playlist
- rehearsal and practice playlist
- extending thinking playlist
- learning from mistakes playlist
- evidence of learning playlist
Tip from one of our local professionals - Lexi Rix includes this link in her weekly lesson plans with a reminder to try a new instructional strategy each week - GREAT idea!
STAAR Mini-Practice Tests
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is releasing a series of mini-practice tests, including Spanish versions, that are meant to provide students an opportunity to practice using new online features in the STAAR Online Testing Platform ahead of the spring 2019 test administrations. The mini-practice tests will include the basic calculator tool (English and Spanish versions for mathematics), the dictionary tool (English and Spanish versions for reading and writing), and American Sign Language (ASL) videos (English versions only). These mini-practice tests will be available in the STAAR Online Testing Platform beginning December 31, 2018.
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CURRICULUM & INSTRUCTION CORNER
Science Blog and Curriculum Map Information
If you teach science, please take some time to read the GCISD Science blog and watch the screencast explaining our newly designed elementary science curriculum map. Please subscribe to the blog in order to stay up to date!
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INFORMATION TO SHARE IN PARENT NEWSLETTERS
IS YOUR CHILD RETURNING TO CANNON NEXT YEAR?
ALL PARENTS OF CURRENT KINDERGARTEN-4th GRADE STUDENTS MUST COMPLETE THIS ENROLLMENT FORM BY FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22nd to let us know if your child will be returning to Cannon next year. If you have an incoming Kindergarten student, there is a place on this form for you to share that information with us!
CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE THE STUDENT ENROLLMENT FORM
Please note the following:
- If your child currently attends Cannon through the STEM lottery or an approved transfer, you do NOT have to reapply to the lottery system this year.
- If you have an incoming Kindergarten student and DO NOT LIVE IN THE CANNON attendance zone, you will need to complete a lottery application in order for your child to be automatically placed at Cannon. GCISD plans to make the lottery applications available in early March this year. All other available spaces in Kindergarten will be determined via the GCISD lottery. (Only Kindergarten siblings of current Kinder-4th grade STEM/transfer students are eligible for guaranteed placement @ Cannon. Incoming Kindergarten students of 5th grader Cannon STEM/transfer students must participate in the lottery for placement in Kindergarten 2019-2020.)
DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN STEM @ CANNON?
Attention Cannon Parents!
Please feel free to share the information tour dates shown below and ask them to sign up for a tour using this link. Thank you for your help!
GOT OLD ELECTRONICS?
Do you have any small old, broken electronics gathering dust? We are collecting these for our Breaker Space and our 4th grade scholars also have a project coming up and could use your old electronics to explore!
Suggestions for small items to donate: (No items with GLASS screens please! )
- Electronic toys - we LOVE these!
- Keyboards
- Remotes
- Small appliances (hair dryers; coffee makers; toasters; styling tools, etc...
- Clocks
- Phones
- Smoke detectors; Flashlights; Tools
- We would love to learn from anything you might have!
Please drop these items off in the front office or send them to school with your students to be taken to the office. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!
You Art What You Eat Contest
You Art What You Eat Contest The Texas Department of Agriculture's (TDA) annual You Art What You Eat statewide student art contest is here! The student art contest offers Texas students a chance to earn statewide recognition for themselves and their school. Student winners receive a custom prize package and their artwork will inspire the design for TDA's National School Lunch Week and School Breakfast Week campaigns!
To enter the art contest, students w ill create artwork highlighting good nutrition and TDA's theme for National School Lunch Week 2019 / School Breakfast Week 2020. The new theme is "Save the Day with a Healthy School Lunch/ Breakfast" This year TDA provides teachers with a new , easy way to upload and submit student entries.
The Submission Packet and Guidelines can be found online at www.SquareMeals.org/artcontest. The submissions deadline is April 12, 2019. Please join TDA in encouraging students to focus their artistic talents on healthy school meals by entering the You Art What You Eat statewide student art contest.
Parent Technology Academy
GCISD Parent Technology Academy is BACK! Come and learn along with others about the ever-changing world of technology in which your children are living!
Spring Parent Technology Academy Sessions
GCISD Technology is excited to announce our Spring Session line up with several new sessions. Stay tuned as more will be added to our list as we keep receiving the request from the community.
February 12th - Hour of Code - Parent Edition -SIGN UP HERE
Come dive in and experience what students across GCISD do each day with hands-on activities around coding
February 26th - Understanding Minecraft ( Presented by Microsoft) -SIGN UP HERE
Come and learn about the power of Minecraft in education, get tips directly for Microsoft on parental settings for use at home.
March 21st - Internet Addiction " Gaming"--SIGN UP HERE
More than 5 million kids may be addicted to video games. 31% of males and 12 % of females report that have felt addicted to gaming. Come to hear from Dr Kay Trotter, PhD, LPC-s, RPT-S from local Kaleidoscope Behavioral Health as she discusses the signs and symptoms of this growing addiction. Learn some tips and be a part of the discussion around online gaming and internet addiction.
April 16th - Apps Parents Need to Know -SIGN UP HERE
Take part in this interactive discussion around the growing world of apps that students are using. Go being the scenes to hear the truth behind the apps and what dangers there are to those who use them
Virtual Session Coming Soon - Fortnite ( a Parents Guide ) - SIGN UP HERE
Many have asked some come and experience Fortnite for parents. Hear about details of the game and dive into parental settings for the various gaming systems students use to play online.
All sessions can be found on the Parent Technology Academy Webpage
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TWITTER REMINDERS FOR @canSTEM
BIG thanks to all of our staff members that have already been actively tweeting about the great learning going on in your classrooms!
Please help us reach our campus goal for all staff to participate in a 5-minute a day communication plan, as stated in George Couros's quote shown here. It's truly a simple way to SHARE & LEARN from the best minds in GCISD! I am going to be highlighting our school twitter account HEAVILY with parents & our school community, to help create our own "outward culture of celebration"!!
As a reminder, please include our school's handle, @canSTEM, and our hashtag, #BeCannonProud in all of your tweets, so that they can be automatically retweeted on our school account. At the end of the day, simply go to @canSTEM and scroll through our school's tweets for 5 minutes and see what your colleagues are sharing! If you want to learn more from them about an idea they shared....you will only have to walk across the building to get more information firsthand!
Please click here to see our staff list of social media accounts. Please add/update any information so that we can make sure we follow each other!
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TO-DO LIST
- Set a timer and complete daily attendance ON TIME every day!
- Enjoy MONDAY JEANS DAY during February!
- Review the School Shooting article Tona sent by email & included in this newsletter prior to U.CAN on Monday. Meet in Learning Commons at 3:05 for U.CAN
- Check Monday's schedule for the Author visit and BE ON TIME!
- Make a plan with your team & scholars about using the brooms in the cafeteria!
- Be prepared for Tuesday's Fire Drill!
- Encourage your K-4 parents to complete the Plans to Return form asap.
- Enjoy sweet treats from our PTA in the break room on Wednesday!
- Share information about the February Book of the Month and encourage your scholars to participate in this month's fun challenge!
- Don't forget to remind parents about the Student Holiday on Monday, February 18th.
- Enjoy an Italian lunch at the staff potluck on Thursday!
- Plan for Valentine's Day parties on Thursday.
- Wear your red 2018-2019 staff shirt on Friday for a new professional staff/team photo!
- Watch for an email from Tona about your sub's schedule for the 2/15 SMU/Teacher Maker training!
- See the Information To Share With Parents section of this newsletter for communication about campus events & other district news that needs to be included in your own newsletters, blogs, etc...
- Please click here to see our staff list of social media accounts. Please add/update any information so that we can make sure we follow each other!
- Review the information in this newsletter about the 5-minute a day communication plan. Tweet & blog about all of the great things you are doing in your classroom/grade! Don't forget to use @canSTEM and our hashtag #BeCannonProud this year in all of your tweets!