Monday Memo
May 9th - 13th
“A good teacher is like a candle – it consumes itself to light the way for others.” -Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
Team,
Thank you all so much for the grace you have extended with the newsletter. I was only able to work through appreciations last night before hitting a wall that I could not climb over.
Given that we are always looking to improve, we have received some feedback that had us question our practice of not having announcements on STAAR days. In effort to make the day feel a little more normal, we will have announcements Monday - Wednesday. If you are a testing grade, just be sure to turn off your Smartboard/computer when announcements are over.
Thanks to those of you who took advantage of the opportunity to provide feedback through Start, Stop, Continue. Even though we received a nice handful of forms, it does seem a little less than what we have received in the past. This could mean one of a few things. While I'd like to believe that this just means that everyone is so happy that they couldn't imagine how we could possibly be any better, it could also mean that everyone completed this as a team, or that you just need a little more time. All that to say, if you haven't submitted a Start, Stop, Continue, and you would still like to do so, please turn it in to Donna by the end of this week.
As we continue to pray for The Prugh Family, count your blessings and make today count!
JL
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Teacher Scales for Reflective Practice
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WE DID IT!!!
Congratulations! Due to your collaborative efforts, we achieved our goal of having 100% of our staff participate in the Bond Election. McGowen was the only elementary to achieve this. The only other campuses to reach 100% were two middle schools. Regardless of how you voted, I am grateful to you for voicing your opinion in this important election. As promised, please enjoy wearing jeans the last two weeks of school (May 23rd & May 30th).
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Easing Into ELM
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OVERVIEW
- 5 hours of G/T credit will be awarded with ELM training
- G/T credit can also be earned on the first day of Converge
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Shoparoo
Did you know that each week I give out jeans passes to those who are one of the top three participants on Shoparoo? I know that many of you have already joined, but if you haven't, it is not too late. Simply go to www.shoparoo.com to create your account. If you use veft4467 as a referral code, McGowen will earn money for you just signing up. Please feel free to push this information out to your parents as well. Once you sign up, Shoparoo will give you a referral code for your parents to use when they sign up. Schools with just 40 supporters are earning an average of $1,000 every year.
Congratulations to Barbara Peebles and Jen McCartney for being in this week's top three!
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Focus for 2015 - 2016
In order to help every child their personal best, McGowen teachers and staff will:
- Develop a common language needed to become High Reliability School.
- Develop an understanding and process for effective Professional Learning Communities.
- Engage in collaborative team planning and lesson design to promote higher level thinking and student engagement.
- Present lessons in such a way that students understand and can speak knowledgeably about posted learning and language targets.
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Remind for Staff
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APPRECIATIONS
- Maria~ Thank you so much for the sweet note & Sonic gift card!!!!!
- PTA & A*Team~ Thank you so much for an incredible Teacher Appreciation Week!!!!!
- Huge thank you’s to JL and SL for all our special treats last week!!!! Jen
- Thank you Sunshine peeps for meeting (when we didn’t have a meeting!) to get our Volunteer Lunch organized! Jen
- Thanks to Haney for making & sending out our Sign Up Genius! Jen
- Chitwood & 3rd – thanks for a hilarious ending to our Staff Dinner that made me go home giggling non-stop! Ya’ll are awesome! Jen
- Cab – thanks for being there for EVERYONE at all hours, even when you’ve got your own stress and worries. We’re lucky to have you! Jen
- Kinder – thanks for being you! It’s a blessing to be able to briefly freak out or even sneak a look at one of you and know that I’m not the only one about to lose it! Love ya’ll!!! Jen
- Peebles & Stacie – thank you for dealing with the chaos of Kinder registration, Round Up info and Screener technical difficulties on a daily basis!!! We owe you a Fuzzy’s outing! Jen
- Thank you, Angie and Lori for helping my students get packed up at the end of the day Friday as I was progressively getting sick. I appreciate you both for stepping in and finishing up the day. -Butler
- Jeremiah, thank you so very much for staying calm and helping out my student who has been acting out lately. Your patience and consistency is so very helpful. -Butler
- Nick and Gaby, thank you for keeping an eye out for my 4th grader and bringing him back to the room when he hasn’t felt well. -Butler
- Jl and SL- Thank you so much for all the wonderful things you have done to make Teacher Appreciation Week so special! I am blessed to be a part of the McGowen family! Love, Maria
- McGowen PTA- Thank you for everything! Teacher Appreciation Week was “Super”-Maria
- THANK YOU TO THE PTA FOR MAKING US ALL FEEL APPRECIATED last week and all year long. Lisa
- Thank you Jennifer and Sylvia for the neat post it notes and the snacks on Friday. Lisa
- Praise for my Kinder Team for keeping things real and positive especially last week. Lisa
- Thanks so much to Sheila for treating my team to lunch last week and for making me feel so appreciated with your thoughtful gifts. Lisa
- I would like to thank Bonnie for proofing my ARD paperwork I appreciate it.
- PTA, Thank you for all you did last week to make our week special: The pictures, t-shirts, snacks, meal, and everything else. You guys are the Super Heroes. Everything was great! Lori Roof
- Jennifer and Sylvia, Thank you for the meal at LA Hacienda. It was so good, maybe even better than last year. Enjoyed the laughter! Lori Roof
- Martha & Shiela – Thank you so much for staying late on a Friday evening to do an unexpected phone conference. I appreciate you being there for me and in turn ALL our students of need! - Michelle C.
- All K-5 teachers – Thank you so much for the wonderful collaboration during all our RTI meetings on Friday. You all know your students so well and your level of intervention is incredible. We truly have the BEST of the BEST here! - Michelle C.
- Maria~ Thank you so much for the sweet note & Sonic gift card!!!!! ~KT
- PTA & A*Team~ Thank you so much for an incredible Teacher Appreciation Week!!!!! ~KT
- Shannon-Thanks for switching duties so I could have off. Laura G.
- Laurie L.-Thanks for always thinking of things I need when you're at the dollar store and getting them for me! Laura G.
- JL & SL-Thanks for a fabulous dinner at La Hacienda. Laura G.
- Melanie-Thanks for giving me a new Thinker Space time when I missed mine. Laura G.
- Marci-Thanks for letting me borrow your oil pastels for a Mothers' Day project. Laura G.
- JL – Thank you for being the Sonic Fairy! – Stacie
- JL & SL – Thank you for the wonderful snack bar! – Stacie
- Donna – Thank you for always setting up such a wonderful snack bar! - Stacie
- JL & SL – Thank you for the yummy staff dinner! – Stacie
- Jen Dickinson – Thank you for being such a sport at the staff dinner! – Stacie
- Barbara – Thank you for being the best partner in crime EVER! Love ya! – Stacie
- Nurse Vicky – Thank you for always helping me w/Daycare’s at the end of each day! – Stacie
- Melanie – Thank you for your help w/the laptop for Kinder registration! – Barbara & Stacie
- Third Grade Team--There are no words to describe the love I feel for each of you. I don't know what I did to deserve friends, best friends, like the four of you, but I thank God daily. From the moment you knew the fear I had as a mom, you stepped up and helped me survive as a teacher. You took the lead, so I didn't have to. There aren't words to describe my gratitude, but I sincerely hope you know how much I appreciate you.--CaThomas
- A-Team--Wow, thank you, thank you, thank you!! Not only did you "help" me get all my ducks in a row, you simply put some (many) ducks in place for me. On top of that, you encouraged me to be a mom, worry about only that, and release the rest. Because of that, I was able to stay focused on Emily, and make sure she was taken care of. I am forever grateful to each and every one of you.--CaThomas
- McGowen Family--Please know that you are my second family, and I don't take that for granted. Thank you for all of the well wishes. It meant so much!--CaThomas
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Action Items
- Verify who will be attending the Spring Program on May 17th by Friday, May 13th
- (Optional) Contribute to Miss Irma's birthday envelope by EOD Tuesday, May 17th
- Complete ELM Training Registration Form by EOD Thursday May 19th
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Bad Dude
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Open Enrollment
The Open Enrollment period for the 16-17 plan year will be 7/11/16 – 8/19/16.
TRS will notify the district of the 16-17 plans and rates after their 6/17/16 Board Meeting. Employees will be notified by email once this occurs.
Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending accounts, Life, Legal, and AFLAC plans and rates will not have any changes.
Disability will experience a 5% increase.
Please don’t hesitate to contact the Benefits Office with any questions or concerns.
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McKinney ISD's Vision, Mission and Beliefs
Any time we have an idea, concern, solution and/or comment, this is the filter through which we should speak. Let's help each other live up to our vision, mission, and beliefs.
Vision:
We are a cohesive, diverse community providing engaging learning experiences for all.
We will provide engaging learning experiences so students can become effective communicators, quality contributors and socially responsible citizens.
Beliefs:
- Partnerships between students, parents, community members and staff are foundational to educational success.
- Positive school culture and a safe environment foster growth.
- Everyone has inherent value and deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.
- Learning is an active process requiring engaging tasks and engaging minds.
- Relevant and authentic experiences ignite continuous, deeper learning.
- Meaningful relationships enrich learning.
- Confidence fuels risk taking and higher achievement.
- Financial stewardship ensures a tomorrow for education.