Monday Memo
September 26th - 30th
Education remains the key to both economic and political empowerment. -Barbara Jordan
Each week, I will embed a Solution Tree video talking about PLCs. The purpose of these videos is to support you as you become solidified in the purpose and procedures of a PLC. My expectation is that everyone watch these. In doing so, you will be able to support your teammates who might be struggling with change as well as help yourself if you happen to be the teammate challenged by change. While I know that we all are very busy, the implementation of PLCs this year is a non-negotiable and therefore, investing a few minutes each week to support you in successfully accomplishing this expectation will undeniably save you time in the long run. I thank you in advance for holding yourself and each other accountable to adhering to this expectation every week.
Sylvia and I want to thank all of you for sitting down with us to discuss your personal goals for this school year. So far, we are really enjoying the new system and love the focus on growth rather than evaluation. If you missed your goal setting conference for some reason, please reach out to your appraiser so that we can get that rescheduled in the next few days. If you haven't signed your goals, please do so asap.
This Wednesday, we have our first Content PLC meeting scheduled. For our first meeting, we would like to meet as one group to review the STAAR data that compares us to the forty campuses most like us across the state. This should give us a good place to start as we move forward in each content area. Please plan to be in the Learning Commons at 3:15 ready to begin. If you have students to drop off in the office, please work with your teammates so that only one person from your team is managing students.
We also have our first Mav Fan Jam of the year this Friday. Please review assembly expectations with your students and make sure any new team members know what to expect during this time. It is probably also a good time to review the character trait of the month so that our Mavs of the Month know why they are being recognized.
Thanks for all that you are doing to shift to PLCs, implement ELM and support your students with their individual learning needs with such a positive attitude. I appreciate all of you so much, and I'm truly proud of the work you are doing.
Make today count,
JL
---------------------------------------
CALLING ALL ELL TEACHERS!!
ELPS Training
Below you will find the link and instructions for the required training for ALL teachers who serve ELL students. If you do not already have an account, you will need to create one before beginning this course. Please print the certificate when you complete the course and turn it in to Sylvia. This course must be completed by October 31st. Sylvia will turn-in a list to the Bilingual/ESL Department to receive credit in Eduphoria.
Go to: https://www.texasgateway.org/
Instructions: http://tinyurl.com/hx9v846
---------------------------------------
Professional Learning Communities
---------------------------------------
SRO RECEPTION - DATE CHANGE
The Fine Arts Department is holding a brief come-and-go reception for principals, administrators and teachers, on Tuesday, September 27, at 4:00 p.m., to honor the SROs. The reception will be at Central Office in Conference Room II. Punch and cookies will be provided by Fine Arts. Please let me know if you plan to attend.
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
Shoparoo for Your Newsletter
Please include this blurb in your next newletter. You can either use the bolded code below, or you can add your own code and get bonus points added to your account. Jeans passes are given out each week for staff members in the top three.
McGowen Friends,
Please consider joining us by using a completely hassle-free fundraiser called Shoparoo to earn money for Jesse McGowen Elementary School. Shoparoo is a free mobile app that lets you earn cash donations for any school you choose, just by taking pictures of your shopping receipts. It's that easy and just takes a few seconds. The best part is that it doesn't matter where you shop or what you buy - every receipt counts!
There are schools earning hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of dollars a year through Shoparoo, and I want ours to be one of them.
If you use this referral code, we'll earn extra donations for your first qualifying receipt:
wass4242
Join us in fundraising today!
Download the free app here: http://www.shoparoo.com/r/wass4242
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
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 on Shoparoo!
---------------------------------------
Focus for 2016 - 2017
In order to help every child their personal best, McGowen teachers and staff will:
- Knowledgeably speak about our current practices that contribute to McGowen becoming a Level 1 Certified High Reliability School.
- Actively participate in grade level and content Professional Learning Communities.
- Engage in collaborative team planning and lesson design that addresses the four essential questions of a PLC.
- Present lessons in such a way that students understand and can speak knowledgeably about posted learning and language targets.
---------------------------------------
Remind for Staff
---------------------------------------
Happy Birthday!
September
Jessica Bravo - 1st
Rico Sneller - 5th
Jaime Hardy - 9th
Jen Dickinson - 12th
Angie Cochrum - 14th
Connie Morris - 16th
Shannon Hershberger -22nd
Tara Jackson - 24th
---------------------------------------
Appreciations
- Thanks to Nick Relle, Gaby Shambo, Tanya McKeen, Renatta Sanchez, Michelle Haas, Marley Goodwin and Jeremiah Mergerson for supporting the Crape Myrtle Run this weekend. I had a great time, and thanks to your support, we won second place for being the school with the highest participation. -JL
- Many thanks to all of my people who supported SL and I while we were dealing with a very difficult and frustrating situation last week. I couldn't imagine doing my job without you! -JL
- Lovell - Thanks supporting me through the same song, second verse last week. I'm so sorry to have scared you! -JL
- Trent – Thank you so much for all your help! You are the BOMB! I am grateful for you (even when you bribe my son to say “Go Patriots”!:( - Michelle C.
- Martha, Jamie, Jennifer, Sylvia, Shiela, Kristi, Deanna, Jennifer S., Shana, Nikki, Jen B. - Thank you all for coming together on Thursday after school to staff on our sweet friends. The collective investment is inspiring! - Michelle C.
- Sylvia – You made my day x10 with your sweet surprise on Wednesday morning! You definitely know my currency! So thoughtful of you! - Michelle C.
- JD & Chit – Thank you JD for staying late on Thursday night and helping Kyle and me. Chitwood – Thank you for sharing with me the sweet stories about my boy. I am sappy about this being his last year with me so having him with you two is wonderful! - Michelle C.
- Shiela – Thank you for being my partner and sounding board. - Michelle C.
- 4th Grade – Thank you for letting me jump in on Wednesday for ELM design. I only meant to come talk to you about 1 thing and ended up staying with your team (and probably drove y’all crazy) but I thoroughly enjoyed the collaborations! - Michelle C.
- Tessa and Jen B. - Thank you for being so great and part of our family! - Michelle C.
- Jean and Carin – Thank you for working with me the other day. I appreciated your time so much! - Michelle C.
- Coach Relle thank you for the free registration for the Crape Myrtle Run; Haley and I had a blast!
- Michelle C. – Thank you for your help with MAP testing last week. I greatly appreciated the extra support! ~Amber E.
- Jennifer & Sylvia – Thank you for the time and the numerous schedule changes you’ve had in order to help me find a great replacement while I am out on leave. ~Amber E.
- Lynn – Thank you for all of your support and always getting our colored documents to us so quickly! ~Amber E.
- Melanie – Thank you for everything you have done so far this year to get our technology ready to go and all of the sessions you have planned of Breakout Edu for our kiddos. I am excited to see the new Makerspace up and running. You really make McGowen a fun learning space for the students. ~Amber E.
- Jean, Carin, Ashley, Marley, & Lora – Thank you for all you do to support our team and our kiddos day in and day out. I couldn’t ask for a better group of people to work with daily and appreciate each and every one of you. Love you all!! ~Amber E.
- JD thanks for learning about ELM with me! -Nikki
Thank you to EVERYONE - JL, SL, Kinder Team, CThomas, Relle, Cab, Burford, Stacie, Peebles - that have helped, consoled, advised and survived my tears and meltdowns since school started…Thanks for having my back! Jen
Renata, Guadelupe, Jeremiah = Thank you so much for helping me out these past couple of weeks. I know it was a struggle for all of you the week I was out, and you all were able to be flexible and go with the flow. Thank you for everything you do for our students! -Jenny
Chitwood – It is so fun to work with someone that likes being organized as much as me! – SP
Sylvia – Thank you for patiently answering ALL of my MAP questions and for organizing all of the camp stuff! - SP
- Lovell – Thank you for saving the day on Thursday. You went above and beyond. I appreciate you! - SP
- Cab – We will never have enough minutes to talk. Thank you for everything you are doing to help our students. - SP
- Shiela – Thank you for organizing College Week for us and making the dress up days so much fun. - SP
- Amy Arnold – I loved shopping at Walmart with you on Wednesday night. So fun! – SP
Breazeale – You are the hardest working sub ever! So thankful for you. - SP
Nikki – I am so happy we get to work together every day! So glad you are at McGowen. - SP
JD – Thank you for being my personal math coach. Thanks for always keeping me on track. - SP
Thank you Jennifer and Sylvia for taking the time to walk through our class last week! Laurie L.
First Grade Team-Thanks for all your hard work, dedication and thought you put into planning, our kids will certainly benefit from it!-Laura G.
JD & Chitwood - Thanks for serving as dismissal backup on a moment's notice. I really appreciate it! -JL
---------------------------------------
Bad Dude
Join us in recognizing Amy Arnold as this week’s Bad Dude! She is such a wonderful addition to our McGowen Family! Her warmth and positivity is contagious, and she instantly connects with students, teachers and parents. Amy jumped right in scheduling the DMA field trip, getting Artsonia set up to share student work as well as displaying artwork in the hallways and in the display case. In addition to the engaging activities she is designing for all students, she is a vital part of our dismissal system and comes out each day with such a happy heart!
---------------------------------------
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.