Team Thomson News & Notes
January 8, 2017
Important Information for You!
End of the 1st Semester
This Friday marks the end of the first semester...wow where did the first half of the year go! Just to review, Monday, January 16th is a Teacher Work Day. Teachers may do records from home, but all grades must be entered by Tuesday, January 17th at 4:00 p.m. Report Cards will be printed on Wednesday, January 18th and should be send home Friday, January 20th.
Behavior Expectations Continued...
I felt last week was a great first week of 2017! For the most part, students fell right back into school without missing a beat and, while very tired, ready to get back into routine and learning. I appreciate your diligence in reviewing the Cardinal Code expectations for behavior. Remember, that this second week back may require as much reteaching as last to maintain the positive learning environment we strive everyday to create.
STAR Testing Window
This Friday will be our STAR building testing date. As with our last progress monitoring of the building, we will use the 'Swat Team' approach. The 'Swat Team' will make it's way through the building taking into account specials and lunches. On Friday morning, please review with your students what your expectations are for when they finish their test so that they do not disturb others finishing up. This testing window will give us our first peek at student growth data. Like many of you may be feeling, I am anxiously excited to see how are students are 'growing' when compared to others in their score range from all over the country.
5D+
Please remember when responding to Noticing and Wonderings that you do so in this section. Your responses to these should NOT be left in the Feedback section, this is where I will leave the overall feedback after your responses. If you have any questions, please let me know.
My goal is to have all second round observations finished by January 27th at the latest. We will then be entering the second Inquiry Cycle. This means that all of you who completed a Self Assessment in the fall will need to reflect on your practice, really revisit the rubric in terms of your own teaching, and complete a new Self Assessment. Your new Self Assessment is due by January 27th. Beginning the week of January 29th, Anna will be rescheduling mid-year meetings to review your Growth Plans, mid-year Student Growth Data, and observations thus far. Remember when completing your Self Assessment that this is for you and your professional growth and will not be used in final evaluation. It is important to use the rubric and think about your practice. Just as in the fall, when marking yourself above 'Basic', you must provide specific evidence from your classroom. Please do not use the 'canned' comments that just restate the rubric.
Fun & Funky Friday
With Friday being the end of the marking period and first semester, let's have a little fun! Friday will be fun and funky Friday. While I know that patterned leggings aren't for everyone, I also know that many of you have them...so wear your funky leggings, or a brightly colored shirt, or maybe a pair of crazy socks. This isn't a wacky dress day per say, but rather a colorful celebration and a way to bring some fun to the winter grays.
Box Top Challenge is ON
Monday/Today marks the start of the Box Top Challenge. However, this year the top three classrooms will win a prize. The classroom that brings in the most Box Tops will receive a class prize of their choice and the teacher will get a gift card and the second and third place classrooms will get a prize of their choice. I will double check the values of the prizes and get back with you this week.
Intersession Positions
If you are interested in working, please apply now at the link below for the February Intersession.
https://www.applitrack.com/gcaps/onlineapp/jobpostings/view.asp? internal=all&district=723&category=Student+Support+Services&subcategory=Other
Remember there are positions for everyone!
Quotes Worth Reading
"I am a member of a team. And I rely on the team, I defer to it and sacrifice for it, because the team, not the individual, is the ultimate champion."
-Mia Hamm
Here's to a great second semester with the greatest of teams! Upon coming back from break, I have talked with a few of you who have agreed that the building 'feels different' in a very positive way. Let's keep that positive momentum going because we are the ones who control what happens in our building.
Thomson Elementary
Home of the Thomson Teddies!
And..
Where Kids Come First and Futures Begin!
Email: nmiller@davisonschools.org
Website: www.davisonschools.org
Location: 617 East Clark Street, Davison, MI, United States
Phone: 810-591-0911
Celebrations & Announcements
Important Upcoming Dates:
- Week of January 8th-PLC Week
- Monday, January 8th-Box Top Challenge Begins; Board of Education Meeting, 7:00 p.m. H.S. A.M.R.
- Tuesday, January 10th-ELA Meeting, 4:15-6:15 p.m.
- Wednesday, January 11th-Staff Meeting, 3:40-4:20 p.m. (Agenda: SIP Self-Assessment; Special Presentation: Sandra Hynes Memorial beginning at 4:00 p.m.)
- Friday, January 13th-Leadership Team Meeting, 7:30 a.m.
- Monday, January 16th- No School-Teacher Work Day (Teachers may do records from home)
- Tuesday, January 17th-Report card grades must be entered by 4:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, January 18th-Child Study Day (please send any new Child Study names to Maida Demo and Natalie Miller); Report Cards will be printed
- Friday, January 20th-Lockdown; Send Report Cards Home; Box Top Challenge ends
- Monday, January 23rd-Math Curriculum Meeting, 4:15-6:15 p.m.; PTO Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, January 24th-PTO Pals; Flushing teachers visiting Developmental K classrooms
- Wednesday, January 25th-Staff Meeting, 7:35 p.m. (Agenda: Amy Chorley-Behavior continued); Data Day
- Thursday, January 26th-Data Day