LVHS Staff Newsletter
Excellence in Everything We Do.
Monday, January 4, 2015
Quote of the Week:
In case there was any doubt in your mind, tomorrow is an A-day. :)
PLC Meetings This Semester (subject to change):
A day groups:
7:30 - 8:10 - ELA team and Hansen
8:15 - 9:00am None
9:10 - 9:55am None
11:30am - 12:15pm None
1:05 - 1:50pm Standiford/Bookout/Larkin
B Day groups:
7:30 - 8:10am Math
8:15 - 9:00am Science team and Holt
9:30 - 10:15 - Grant, Vaughn, McCollum and Kassell
11:30am - 12:15pm Garcia, Hunter
1:05 - 1:50pm Johnson/Timms
1:50 - 2:35pm Smith, Walker, and Hendrix (SpEd)
3:30 - 4:10pm LOTE
Thursday, January 7 (which is this Thursday) - A-Day groups - assessment meeting -bring your data from the semester test and be ready to share and make plans to curriculum, accordingly.
Thursday, January 14 - B-Day groups - assessment meeting
Thursday, January 28 - A-Day groups -Curriculum meeting (review updates to first semester plans)
Thursday, February 11 - B-Day groups -Curriculum meeting
Thursday, February 25 - A-Day groups - Instructional Tech meeting (use walkthrough data to drive topics)
Thursday, March 3 - B-Day groups - Instructional Tech meeting
Thursday, March 24 - B-Day groups - assessment review meeting (review 3rd nine weeks tests data)
Friday, April 1 - A-Day groups - assessment review meeting
Thursday, April 7 - A-Day groups - curriculum meeting
Thursday, April 14 - B-Day groups - curriculum meeting
Thursday, April 28 - A-Day groups - Instructional Technology meeting
Thursday, May 5 - B-Day groups - Instructional Technology meeting
Wednesday, May 25 and Thursday, May 26 - Curriculum Meetings
RtI - Where are we with that?
Hold off on filling out any forms for new students until we identify those student who we will be having a Tier 3 meeting on (because it changes the form that you have to fill out). You should get that information by the beginning of next week.
Please make sure you are at your door between classes each period! We have noticed a few of you absent from your posts and you are missed.
Semester Exam Exemptions ARE BACK!!
Juniors and Seniors at Lago Vista High School with no outstanding fines or monetary obligations may be exempt from a final (second semester ONLY) exam if they meet the following criteria and follow the guidelines as written below:
Attendance Criteria
Perfect Attendance during the second semester in ALL YOUR CLASSES: EXEMPT 3 FINALS.
NO MORE THAN 1 DAY ABSENT TOTAL in the second semester: EXEMPT 2 FINALS.
NO MORE THAN 2 DAYS ABSENT TOTAL in the second semester: EXEMPT 1 FINAL.
A student who has missed more than 6 absences per period in any class for the year may not be eligible to exempt ANY exams.
Grade Criteria:
At least an 80% semester average and an 75% final (yearly) average in the class the student is exempting.
Guidelines:
- Exempting a final exam does not entitle a student to be absent on the day or period of the final. Students must still attend classes, regardless of exemptions earned. Students absent during finals will lose their exemptions in accordance with the above exemption criteria.
- For the sake of exemptions, any attendance disputes must be addressed and resolved with the attendance clerk within 3 school days of the absence or tardy.
- It is the responsibility of the student to pick up, fill out, and return the exemption form to Mrs. Sutton by the stated time and date on the form. No exceptions will be made.
- The following absences do not affect exemption status:
1. Medical appointments which are documented with a doctor’s note furnished to the attendance office upon return to school.
2. Funeral for immediate family members up to 3 days.
3. School functions.
4. Religious holidays.
5. Military deployment of an immediate family member.
6. Required court dates.
7. College days (up to 2 per year).
Coverage for classes (does not apply to School-Related Absences):
Hopefully, that makes sense!
As cheesy as this sounds, even high schoolers need reminders about classroom expectations after a two week break. Don't assume that they know better. These first few weeks are almost as important as the first few weeks of the school year. Take some time to review your expectations!
Feedback From First Semester!
The forms will be hung up in the workroom (where you guys eat) through the end of this week.
Thanks!
Monday, January 18, is an Inservice Day!
Duty Schedule this Nine Weeks:
January 5 - January 29
Morning After School
Main Hallway - D. Smith Main Hallway - S. Garcia
Cafeteria - Grant Student Pickup - Larkin
Student Drop Off - Statham Grassy Knoll - Searle
Bus Drop Off - H. Stachowski Bus Pick Up - H. Stachowski
Backups: Howard, Pruitt
February 2 - February 26
Morning After School
Main Hallway – H. Stachowski Main Hallway - Ludlum
Cafeteria - Herrera Student Pickup - Saarinen
Student Drop Off - Baugh Grassy Knoll - Vaughn
Bus Drop Off - H. Stachowski Bus Pick Up - H. Stachowski
Backups: Mumme, Larkin
February 29 – April 1
Morning After School
Main Hallway – H. Stachowski Main Hallway - Stahl
Cafeteria - S. Johnson Student Pickup - Mumme
Student Drop Off - Duong Grassy Knoll - Hunter
Bus Drop Off - H. Stachowski Bus Pick Up - H. Stachowski
Backups: B. Holt, Baugh
April 4 - April 29
Morning After School
Main Hallway - B. Holt Main Hallway - Chapman
Cafeteria - Kassell Student Pickup - Howard
Student Drop Off – K. Timms Grassy Knoll - Pruitt
Bus Drop Off - H. Stachowski Bus Pick up - H. Stachowski
Backups: Hansen, Stahl
May 2 - May 27
Morning After School
Main Hallway - J. Timms Main Hallway - Standiford
Cafeteria – Bookout Student Pickup - Hansen
Student Drop Off - Kirchhoff Grassy Knoll – K. Walker
Bus Drop Off - H. Stachowski Bus Pick Up- H. Stachowski
Backups: S. Garcia, D. Smith
May 30 – June 2
*ALL HANDS ON DECK
Morning After School
Main Hallway/Bus Drop Off - Math Dept Main Hallway/Bus Pick Up - Social Studies
Cafeteria - English Dept Student Pick Up/Parking Lot - Electives/CTE
Student Drop Off/Parking Lot - Science Grassy Knoll/Bus Pick Up - Special Ed/LOTE
* Be prepared. If you cannot attend your duty, contact a back up person to cover your duty. If you do not get your duty covered, assume students will be unattended and unsafe in your area.
** Be prompt. Morning duty begins at 7:40 am and ends at 8:10 am.
Grades MUST be updated weekly!
Stuff I leave in here for reference (nothing new, because hopefully you already read it, so just scan):
Hall passes...please use this one and only this one:
Announcements - please use the form!
You can click on the link below to access the announcements form:
Did you know there is a key drop for the suburbans? If you drop off your suburban after hours, you can drop the keys in the small, locked box to the left of the entrance to the admin building.
RtI Plan (please be sure you read thoroughly) -
RtI Team Members: Administrators, Counselor, Department Heads, Referring Teacher(s)
Other members are invited, as needed, including: Student, Teachers, ESL teacher, Special Programs Personnel
Tier I: Standards-Based Classroom Instruction - All Students
Tier II: Needs-Based Instruction (10-20% of Students)
• Interventions provided by classroom teacher
• Teacher develops a Tier II Action Plan/Tier 3 Pre-Referral Form for any student who fails for a 9 weeks (or who is experiencing significant difficulty) & progress monitors
• Teachers must make parent contact and inform them of the development of the Tier II Action Plan/Tier 3 Pre-Referral Form
• Teacher refers students not making progress to RtI Team using Tier III Referral Form
for Secondary Students
Tier III: RtI Team Driven Interventions (5-10% of Students)
• RtI Team meets to review campus discipline referrals, attendance, and grades,
identifying At-Risk students needing Tier III interventions, including:
o Any Student Who Fails 2 or More Classes
o Any Student Who Has 3 or More Unexcused Absences in a 4 Week Period
o Any Student Who has <90% Attendance in 2 or More Classes
o Any Student Who Has 3 or More Discipline Referrals in a 4 Week Period
• RtI Team sends Teacher Feedback Form for Secondary Students to teachers of
identified students
• RtI Team sends Parent Input Form for Secondary Students to parents/guardians of
identified students
• RtI Team meets to review Tier III referrals & teacher/parent feedback for students
identified by the RtI Team to determine appropriate Tier III intervention(s)
• Possible Interventions Include: Strategic Learning for Math, Writing Lab, Credit Recovery & Monitoring, Mentor, Behavior Contract, Small Group Counseling (Lunch Bunch), Daily Parent/Teacher Log, Saturday School, Truancy Prevention Measures
Tier IV: Specialized Learning (1-5% of Students)
• RtI Team meets to discuss students not making progress with Tier III interventions and
determines the appropriate Tier IV intervention(s)
• Possible interventions include: Individual Counseling (School-based), 504 Evaluation,
Special Education Evaluation, Retention
• Referrals to 504 or Special Education follow the flow chart for RtI to 504/SPED Process
So, if a student failed your class for the 9 weeks, you need to be keeping data on the Tier 2/Pre-Referral for Tier 3 Form and you will be receiving a Teacher Feedback Form request from me for students who failed more than 2 core classes for the first nine weeks. We are going to be holding meetings over the next few weeks with their students' parents, teachers, and the student to come up with a new plan to help them succeed.
If you pick up a cell phone from a student for improper cell phone use you can turn it into Mrs. Sutton to hold until the end of the day. The first time she gets a phone from a student, it is a warning and the parent has to come get it. The second time, they have to pay $15 and their parent has to come get it.
New Transportation Request Form!
Check out the transportation form to use when you need a bus or suburban – it can be found on Eduphoria, under Formspace; then "Submit New Form"; then "Transportation Forms"; then click on whatever type of transportation you need to request. Thanks!
Explorer Profile!
Students will be bringing around their Explorer Profile Applications to have you sign (or not) over the next few weeks. Students have to meet all of these requirements to be able to gain access to the App store and FaceTime:
1. Student maintains an 80% average or better in all classes.
2. This complete application submitted within 10 days of the last day of the preceding 9 weeks.
3. No documented technology referrals for improper technology use.
4. Principal approval of this application.
5. ALL teachers and parent approval signatures.
There is a new Fundraiser Form!
Please make sure you are using the newest Fundraising form for all your fundraising request needs. Tyra is the keeper of the forms and she will also be the one who you follow up with when you have to go back and document.
Chunking up big assignments:
When assigning big projects, like papers or group projects, chunk it up and create daily checkpoints along the way that you use to keep students on track and allow you opportunities to take grades along the way. An idea would be to have most of these checkpoints due by the end of a class period rather than giving them the option to 'finish it later and bring it in next class period'.
Some of you have expressed a struggle with students not turning in work and not finding a way to take enough grades, so here's an idea!
If you coach a UIL sport or event...
Progress Report Dates for the Year!
The first three weeks grading reports went well! If you haven't found the awesomeness that is our LVHS Staff calendar on google, please do so! These dates and several more are already on there!
December 18 - End of Semester; Regain/Lose Eligibility January 12
January 25 - End of Three Weeks; Regain Eligibility February 1
February 12 - End of Six Weeks; Regain Eligibility February 19
March 11 - End of Nine Weeks; Regain/Lose Eligibility March 28
April 8 - End of Three Weeks; Regain Eligibility April 15
April 29 - End of Six Weeks - Regain Eligibility May 6
June 2 - End of Semester