Thomas Jefferson Tribune
WEEK OF MARCH 5-9, 2018
MISSION, VISION & CORE VALUES
MISSION:
The TJ Feeder schools embrace high quality learning opportunities which honor the unique strengths and diverse needs of all Scholars.
VISION:
The TJ feeder schools will be the premier feeder to attract and educate all Scholars to positively impact our community and world.
CORE VALUES:
Innovation, Collaboration, Excellence and Integrity
THOMAS JEFFERSON FEEDER PRIORITY GOALS
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
QUALITY OF INSTRUCTION
CLIMATE AND CULTURE
A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR..........
Distinguished Leaders,
These past few weeks have been overwhelming and emotionally draining for each and every one of you. All of you focusing on STAAR, EOC, staffing budgets, CIP/CNA and other things that have been challenging and making you really ponder those tough day to day decisions even though you may not want to because they feel uncomfortable. As a leader, you have to have the courage to make tough decisions and take difficult actions. A big part of courage is standing up for what is right. As Cottrell and Harvey correctly describe,
“The true measure of leadership is the ability to look in the mirror and know that you had the courage to do what you felt was the right thing to do.” Our ability as school leaders to look at ourselves in the mirror each morning and feel that the actions we took the day before regarding our Scholars and staff, is a measure of our own leadership ability. That is is not about the adults but about ALL our Scholars!
Below are the 9 Principles of Courageous Leadership for Leaders by Cottrell and Harvey:
- Accept responsibility courageously. If you want your school to be one where responsibility is important, then be responsible yourself.
Implement change courageously. Change takes courage. Leaders act courageous when leading change efforts.
Hiring people while using strict standards. Courageous hiring means getting the right people in place as a high priority.
Keeping everyone focused on what’s important. "Keeping the main thing, the main thing!"
Communicate for understanding. Courageously saying what needs to be said means there's only room for understanding, not misunderstanding.
Coaching others. Coaching means you genuinely want others in your school organization to be successful, and you work hard to help them improve.
Keep focus on the positive. This is about fostering a "positive" belief that together we're going to succeed. School leaders who keep the focus on the positive, don't dwell on the negative and drag others down.
Instill a culture of ethics and integrity. Twenty-first school leaders work diligently
Have a restful weekend. It is important to take care of yourselves because everyone relies on your COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP.
As always, have an awesome week LEADING, COACHING, TEACHING ,LEARNING AND MAKING ACADEMIC ADJUSTMENTS FOR SCHOLAR SUCCESS!
THE TJ FEEDER IS IN IT TO WIN IT!
Ms. Torres
Thomas Jefferson Executive Director
THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE
Monday, March 5, 2018
- FINAL CNA due to Ms. Torres TODAY by COB!
- Think Tank Deputy Chief/ED Meeting @ 8:00 a.m.
- Leader In Me Meeting w/Debbie Rollick @10:30 a.m.-Ms. Torres
- Cary Campus visit w/ED
- Tom Field Campus visit w/ED
- Cary MS @ 8:00 a.m. w/Math AF
- Tom Field @ 8:00 a.m. w/ Reading AF
- Foster @ 9:45 a.m. w/Reading AF
- Cigarroa ES @ 11:30 w/Math AF
- Cigarroa @12:15 w/Reading AF
- Joe May ES @ 2:45 p.m. w/AFs
- Thomas Jefferson Feeder Teacher Collaborative Planning (Gr. 3-5 Reading/Writing and 3-8 Math) @ Joe May ES 3:30-5:30 pm
- Stephen Foster Campus visit w/ED
- Burnet Campus visit w/ED
- Cigarroa @ 8:00 a.m. w/Reading AF
- Cigarroa ES @ 8:00 a.m. w/Math AF
- Cary MS @ 11:45 p.m. w/Reading AF
- Joe May ES @ 11:30 a.m. w/Math AF
- Cigarroa ES @ 1:15 p.m. w/Reading AF
- AIA Leadership Team Meeting w/Mr. Cordero-Deputy Superintendent-NCX-13th floor Room #1350 @ 1:30 p.m.-Ms. Torres
- District-Wide Principal Meeting-Elementary Principals 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and Secondary 11:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.-Lunch will be provided for ALL principals!
- Cigarroa ES @ 8:00 a.m. w/Math AF
- Medrano MS @ 8:00 a.m. w/Reading AF
- Joe May ES @ 11:30 a.m. w/ Math AF
- Joe May ES @12:15 a.m. w/ Reading AF
- Joe May Campus visit w/ED
- Medrano Campus visit w/ED
- K.B. Polk Campus visit w/ED
- Cary MS @ 8:00 w/Math AF and Reading AF
- Stephen Foster ES @ 11:30 w/Math AF
- Joe May ES @ 12:15 w/ Reading AF
- K.B. Polk/Sudie Williams Parent Informational Meeting from 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. @ K.B. Polk
- Thomas Jefferson Feeder Teacher Collaborative Planning (Gr. 6-8 Reading and 5th and 8th Science) @ Cary 4:00-6:00 p.m.
- Drill log for the Spring Semester is due TODAY via email submission to the Office of Emergency Management
- Tom Field ES @ 8:00 w/Math AF
- Cary MS @ 8:00 a.m. w/ Reading AF
- OTI interdepartmental meeting @ Sudie Williams-9:00 a.m.-Mr. Jackson and Ms. Torres
- Cary MS @10;00 a.m. w/Math AF
- ED/AF Office Planning Time
- ED/Early Learning Meeting w/Ms. Torres-@ 1:00 p.m.-213 H
- Deputy Chief/ED Meeting-School Leadership B Meeting from 3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.-3rd floor
UNITED 2 LEARN (U2L) COMMUNITY PROJECT DAYS
SUMMER 2018 OVERVIEW
June Programs:
SSI: 5th & 8th Grade Math and Reading, 9 Instructional Days, M-Th June 11-25; Testing June 26-27
EOC: All EOC Subjects, 8 Instructional Days, M-Th June 11-21; Testing June 25-28
READINESS: 1st-8th Grade Students Not Meeting Promotion Criteria, 8 Instructional Days, M-Th June 11-21
Transition Camps
Campuses should be in the process of planning for the following grade level transitions:
PK to Kinder (Elementary Responsibility)
Fifth to Sixth (Middle School Responsibility)
Eighth to Ninth (High School Responsibility)
Additional information will be forthcoming. I can tell you, however, that it makes the most sense to host the PK to Kinder transitions in conjunction with your upcoming PK/K roundup programs. Additionally, the transition campus for secondary schools should include some of the following characteristics:
1. A practice "day in the life" in the new grade level. This could include traveling through mock class periods with teachers.
2. Lunch in the cafeteria to get familiar with the lines and format of a secondary lunch.
3. Overview of the main content areas that students will experience. (ELAR, MATH, SCI, SS)
Work with your teams to plan for a day of activities with students. For now, begin the stand alone application.
Summer Stand-Alone Programs, Transition Camps & Summer Hiring Process
All principals should have received an email from extendedlearning@dallasisd.org providing instructions and a passcode to initiate a Stand-Alone Application. To start an application, please have your passcode and follow the link www.dallasisd.org/summer2018 to locate application and training videos. CHECK YOUR EMAIL FOR THIS as it was already sent out. If you still cannot find the email, reach out to ramiller@dallasisd.org or ejuarez@dallasisd.org.
The last day to START an application for a stand alone program is MARCH 9th. The last day to FINISH/COMPLETE the application for a stand alone program is April 13th.
If the stand alone program will require Special Revenue Funds, the deadline passed on February 23rd.
Although additional details will be forthcoming concerning Transition Camps, please begin a stand alone application at this time for these programs.
SUMMER HIRING TOOLS
As we progress through the summer hiring process, we have tools to assist School Leadership in monitoring campus progress.
The following link https://sites.google.com/dallasisd.org/summer2018 provides access to:
The Stand Alone Application and Training Videos
· June Hiring Google Docs by Campus
· ED Hiring Summaries for June
The June Hiring Google Docs that are used to identify SSI/EOC/Summer Readiness staff is accessible by the office manager, principal and executive director over each school. Additional access can be requested by emailing ramiller@dallasisd.org or ejuarez@dallasisd.org.
All Credit Recovery principals have been identified and assistant principals are currently being identified. Similar Google Docs and ED Summaries will be created and available by Tuesday, February 27th.
If you have any questions, please contact the Extended Learning Opportunities department (extendedlearning@dallasisd.org) or Jamie Luellen (jluellen@dallasisd.org).
TJ FEEDER WIDE COLLABORATIVE PLANNING NIGHTS- ELEMENTARY & SECONDARY! HOW ARE YOU ENCOURAGING YOUR TEACHERS TO ATTEND?
3rd Grade Reading CIC and Teachers Finalize Plans for Teacher Collaborative Planning Night
Principal Impact Collaborative (PIC)
Please find the following information about a terrific opportunity for the upcoming year.
A handful of Dallas ISD principals participated in the program over the past two years. One of our very own, Mrs. Loskot, has been a successful participant for the past 2 years. We are so proud of her. The feedback and impact was very positive and the district will be sponsoring approximately 15 principals for the upcoming school year.
Principal Impact Collaborative (PIC) is a two year program that allows principals to collaborate with other principals across the DFW area. Some learning experiences include topics as: design thinking, change leadership, personal leadership mindfulness and building trust.
Principals participate in: site visits to exemplar schools, deep training in design thinking with a campus action project, 1x1 coaching to support leadership growth and implementation of the action project and networking with peers across DFW.
For a quick overview of PIC, please check out the following video: https://youtu.be/lYxI6A2IxCE
Candidates for PIC would include:
There will be an informational session during lunch at the Districtwide Principals’ Meeting on March 7th. Please come hear a brief overview of the program as well as testimonials from current participants.
RSVP to apply@principalimpactcollaborative.org
If you would like to find out more information prior to the informational session, please feel free to access PIC website at www.principalimpactcollaborative.org or contact Alejandra Barbosa, Program Director at abarbosa@principalimpactcollaborative.org.
For a quick overview of PIC, please click on the video below:
CAMPUS NEEDS ASSESSMENT DUE ON MARCH 5, 2018
CAMPUS IMPROVEMENT PLAN CHECKPOINT DATES
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RESPONSIBILITY FOR CHECKING CNA'S
Verify Agendas for CNA (detailed with data topics)
____ Verify Sign In Sheets for Data Review Meetings for CNA
_____ Verify Minutes from Data Review Meetings for CNA
_____ Verify that all these documents are uploaded to the campus Virtual Notebook
_____ Complete checklist regarding CNA, edits, revisions, etc.
_____ Verify that complete and correct CNA is inputted into the Google Drive
_____ Sign off and submit the final CNA checklist for each school
THOMAS JEFFERSON FEEDER PATTERN KUDOS
Mrs. De La Guardia- Grace Under Pressure- Keep Up the Great Work at Foster!
Cigarroa Elementary Celebrates Black History Month with a Fabulous Oratorical Contest!
Prekinder steals the show and walks away with first prize in the Prek-First competition! In fact, their entire class prepared for the competition by learning to recite Maya Angelou's "Caged Bird." The fifth grade winner recited a very relevant poem as well- Langston Hughes' "Democracy."
TOM FIELD CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY 2/28/18
Recited Poem "Still I Rise"
3rd Grade
Recited Poem "Phenomenal Woman"
3rd Grade
African Attire and Head Dress
Ms. Whitfield/Principal
Ms. Spires/Instructional Coach
Partnership on Brockbank! Way to Collaborate Saldivar and Joe May!
Ms. Whitaker from J.T. Saldivar Modeling PLC protocols with Joe May!
J.T. Saldivar and Joe May Sharing a Wealth of Knowledge!
THOMAS JEFFERSON ECHS P-TECH- -ART EVOKES CHANGE TO CREATE A HARMONIOUS & TOLERANT WORLD
Giovanna Lozano, 10th grade Art 1 & Visual Communication P-TECH student, earned a score of 45 achieving a level 3, for her controversial piece, Fallout that addresses prejudice & persecution in the LGBTQ community this weekend at the district's V.A.S.E. competition. A very brave move in a conservative competition. Although she did not medal, she came close! The art department applauds her bravery to speak out against injustice! Ms. Murro explained that, "It’s artists such as Giovanna who use art as activism to evoke change & create a harmonious & tolerant world."
P-Tech and Cary Middle School!
March 1st was an exciting day for TJ P-TECH and Cary Middle School! Over fifty Cary scholars received their acceptance letters to be apart of the P-TECH family. The eighth grade counselor Ms. Coleman and the administrative team joined in on our celebration and acceptance ceremony. Ximena Ibarra and Blanca Orduno were able to pass the torch to their siblings Hector Ibarra and Alondra Orduno. Here are a few pictures from the event. We are excited about the class of 2022.
Accepted, P-Tech
Proudly Embracing the New Journey at T.J. P-Tech
T. J. P-TECH Class of 2022
Congratulations! College Bound
Passing the Torch of Excellence within Families
1st Choice/P-Tech
Matthew Hights, Teacher at Joe May Elementary!
Matthew Hight, teacher at Joe May Elementary, recently received 2 awards. He won a grant for online access to math fluency program from Reflex Math, and the Entrepreneurial Award during the Innovation in Teaching Fellowship Showcase from Dallas ISD worth $1,000. We are very proud of him!
4th EDITION OF THE CORE 4 IN THE THOMAS JEFFERSON FEEDER PATTERN
It is a strong commitment that goes beyond the conversation about what exemplary customer service looks like to becoming the norm for the way we operate in the district and in the Thomas Jefferson feeder every day.
This edition of the Tribune will focus on one 'EXCEPTIONAL SUPPORT STAFF' Congratulations to the Office Manager, Mrs. Castillo ( on the right) and CRC, Ms. Torres (on the left) at Joe May Elementary for ALWAYS displaying the Core 4 daily. Both ladies give exceptional Customer Service and are ALWAYS willing to go the extra mile to do what needs to be done to serve our community. Thank you ladies for your commitment to our scholars and learning community in the Thomas Jefferson Feeder Pattern. So proud of you!
Ms. Torres and Mrs. Castillo
'UNITED TO LEARN' FULL NETWORK MEETINGS FOR TJ ELEMENTARY PRINCIPALS
TEI NEWS
April --Student survey administration
Students in grades 3-12 complete surveys during one class period
MAY -JUNE-- Mid May Teacher roster verification process
Teachers verify students to be included in calculation of student achievement metrics
May 11th--Teachers submit SLO GoalAccomplishment in Schoolnet
Administrator approves, scores, and completes by May 18th
May 18th-- Last day to enter extended observations, summatives, and SLO scores into Schoolnet
Summatives may be completed after a minimum number of spot observations and the extended observation are conducted May 21st – June 4th
Spring Break Camp at Jose Joe May!
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
GET YOUR 5th SIX WEEKS RLA CURRICULAR RESOURCES HOT OFF THE PRESSES!
Great news!! All 5th six weeks curricular documents have been posted on TRS and Curriculum Central. You can also access them on the 2017-18 Suggested Curricular Resources document linked here. Please let me know if I can assist you in any way. Spread the word!
STEM DEPARTMENT TRAININGS/STAAR ACADEMIES
Dallas ISD STEM Science Professional Development Calendar
Grades 3-5
The STEM Math Elementary team invites teachers and CICs to collaborate and participate in the 2018 Spring Professional Development for third through fifth grades. Sessions are going to be held at the H. B. Bell Building from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. STAAR sessions are repeated and not divided into parts so no need to come to both.
Grades 6 – Algebra I
The STEM Math Secondary team invites teachers, CICs, and AFs to collaborate and participate in the 2018 Spring Professional Development for grades six through Algebra 1. Sessions are held at the H. B. Bell Building from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. Each session will examine the TEKS through the lens of the 2017 STAAR Released Items divided by reporting categories; come to one or the entire series.
The google link provides a flyer with the topics and session codes. For additional information, please contact Antoinese Leake (Elementary Curriculum Coordinator) at APride@dallasisd.org.
Google Link
https://docs.google.com/document/d/11HFObFhq7FJlbgW_od1U-3y_YRZFO2M4DzLFNh5FYAM/edit?usp=sharing
Click on the calendar link above to access the PD dates.
WEEKLY WAIP
INSTRUCTIONAL COUNTDOWN TO STAAR
2017-2018 DALLAS ISD DISTRICT-WIDE TESTING CALENDAR
Dallas ISD Year At a Glance Testing Schedule
UPCOMING DATES & REMINDERS
MARCH
5-CNA DUE TO MS. TORRES
20-2018-2019-Elementary Computer Science Cohort Meeting for Elementary Principals @ Bucker Building from 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. Rm. 309-ALL ELEMENTARY PRINCIPALS ARE HIGHLY ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND IN OUR FEEDER!
27-Math AF TOT for CIC Content Training
29-Reading AF TOT for CIC Content Training
APRIL
20-CHECKPOINT #1 FOR CIP DUE TO MS. TORRES BY COB
MAY
4-CHECKPOINT #2 FOR CIP DUE TO MS. TORRES BY COB
18-CHECKPOINT #3 FOR CIP DUE TO MS. TORRES BY COB
21-ALL CIP'S DUE TO MS. TORRES
JUNE
1-ALL CIP'S DUE TO MS. STEPHENS FROM ED
MARSHALL MEMO #725
A “Bookend” Approach to Closing the Achievement Gap
“Young people are coming of age at a time when our nation is in the midst of a five-decade explosion in the rate of multiple, non-marital births,” says New York City author/CMO leader Ian Rowe in this Education Gadfly article, “– across all races and all states, especially to women and men at or under the age of twenty-four – that is seismically shifting family structures in a way that puts children at risk.” Rowe describes two promising solutions:
• Early intervention – There are significant positive downstream effects from home visits to support parents as they raise infants and toddlers. A model program is the Parent-Child Home Program, which deploys trained caseworkers to visit homes twice a week with a high-quality book or educational toy. They also engage children and caregivers in reading, conversation, and activities designed to stimulate parent-child interaction and promote the development of verbal, cognitive, and social-emotional skills that support school readiness and long-term success. Over its 50-year history, Parent-Child Home Program “graduates” are 50 percent more likely to be ready for kindergarten, score 2-½ times higher on an assessment of social-emotional skills than a control group, enter school performing 10 months above their chronological age, are 50 percent less likely to be referred to special education by third grade, outperform the state average on a third-grade state math test, and have 30 percent higher graduation rate than their SES peers.
• Focused secondary-school support – Throughout K-12, but beginning most forcefully in eighth grade, schools need to explicitly teach self-regulation and impulse control and help students reframe how they think about the timing of their own family formation. Students need to enter high school, college, and young adulthood with a set of attitudes and behaviors, Rowe says, that are “more likely to prevent the creation of fragile families in the first place.” [In other articles, Rowe has stressed the “success sequence”: students graduating from high school, going to college or getting a decent job, getting married, and having children – in that order.]
“The Parable of the River: Bedtime Reading for the Education Reform (a.k.a. ‘Repair’) Community” by Ian Rowe in The Education Gadfly, February 21, 2018 (Vol. 18, #8),
http://bit.ly/2GKgsOK; Rowe can be reached at irowe@publicprep.org.
THOMAS JEFFERSON SCHOOL LEADERSHIP
- Thomas Jefferson High School: Principal, Sandi Massey
- Francisco Medrano Middle School : Principal, Theresa Sigurdson
- Edward Cary Middle School: Principal, Ben Dickerson
- David G. Burnet Elementary: Principal, Sonia Loskot
- Leonides Cigarroa Elementary : Principal, Douglas Burak
- Tom W. Field Elementary: Principal, Shondula Whitfield
- Stephen C. Foster Elementary: Principal, Irma De La Guardia
- Joe May Elementary: Principal, Israel Rivera
- K.B. Polk Elementary: Principal, Misty Rathermund
- Julian T. Saldivar: Principal, Chaundra Macklin
- Walnut Hill Elementary: Principal, Robert 'Chase'McLaurin
- Sudie Williams Elementary: Principal, Michael Jackson
Thomas Jefferson High School
Franscisco Medrano Middle School
Edward Cary Middle School
David G. Burnet Elementary
Leonides Cigarroa Elementary
Tom W. Field Elementary
Stephen C. Foster Elementary
Joe May Elementary
K. B. Polk Elementary
Julian T. Saldivar Elementary
Walnut Hill Elementary
Sudie L. Williams Elementary
Tamieka Porter
Lisa Maia
Erica Rosas
Trustee Edwin Flores District 1
Trustee Dustin Marshall District 2
Trustee Miguel Solis District 8
DISD GOALS
- All students will exhibit Satisfactory or above performance on State assessments. Students below Satisfactory performance will demonstrate more than one year of academic growth
- Dallas ISD schools will be the primary choice for families in the district
- The achievement gap by race, ethnicity and social economic status will be no greater than 10 percentage points on all academic measures
- 95% of students will graduate. Of the graduates, 90% have qualifying scores for community college, college, military, or industry certification
- 95% of entering kindergarten students are school-ready on a multidimensional assessment
- All students will participate in at least one extracurricular or co-curricular activity each year.