Monday Memo
March 5th - 9th, 2018
"WHAT COMES OUT OF YOU WHEN YOU ARE SQUEEZED IS WHAT IS INSIDE OF YOU." - WAYNE DYER
Thank you so much for your continued efforts to encourage parent participation in our BrightBytes survey. We are currently in second place with 238 parent participants. Bennett has 353. The survey will remain open until Friday. Anything you can do to encourage your parents to take the survey would be greatly appreciated. Higher participation creates more reliable data, and winning isn't bad either.
While there may be a temptation to use instructional time over the next few days to prepare for Open House, I want to strongly advise that you resist this temptation. Less engaging, less structured time and/or leaving students unsupervised creates a prime opportunity for behavioral issues to arise. When this occurs, any time saved is then consumed with redirection, parent phone calls and/or office referrals, and nobody wins. Recognizing that we are one person down in supporting you with behavior this week, please be as proactive as possible. The key to surviving this week is to provide engaging lessons, close supervision, and maintaining consistent expectations.
I appreciate all that you have already done to display meaningful student work and the additional housekeeping that goes into getting ready for Open House. During the day on Tuesday, you may use a jeans pass and wear jeans. However, at Open House, everyone will need to wear this year's staff shirt with pants, skirt or jeans. We would like for everyone to plan to be in their rooms by 5:45pm. We will keep the gates down and the doors locked until 6:00pm. At 7:00pm, Sylvia will make an announcement thanking parents for joining us and requesting that all teachers join her in the library for a quick meeting. Please help out your teammates who might be still talking to parents so that we can wrap up and go home.
Make today count, and take care of each other!
JL
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Kudos to Second Grade
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Layne Pethick is Back!
Behavior and the Brain: Neurological Factors that Affect Behavior and Learning
Participants in this session will gain information on neurological factors that affect the behavior and learning of children and will include such topics as stress and the brain, biological factors of the brain, neurological factors related to attention and emotion and the effect on behavior and learning. This presentation will be an open forum style with several engaging activities and the opportunity for inquiry and discussion by participants (Other topics addressed include: trauma; trauma informed instruction; social-emotional health; mental health, and socioeconomic issues). ** Please note: the main focus is the school environment and all educators and staff that interact with students at all levels. **
3 Part Series:
Part 1
February 5th OR February 6th
Part 2
March 5th OR March 6th
Part 3
April 2nd OR April 3rd
Sign up through Euphoria
All sessions are from 3:30 –5:00
McKinney North Cafeteria
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Action Items
- Submit science supply requests to MC by Wednesday, March 7th
- Turn in TELPAS Writing Collections by EOD Thursday, March 8th
- Submit MVM by EOD Thursday, March 8th
- Proof and finalize report cards by 4:00pm, Friday, March 9th
- Register in Eduphoria for STAAR Training by EOD Tuesday, March 20th
- TELPAS writing samples and Rating Roster due by SL by EOD on Wednesday, March 28th
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Shoparoo
Did you know that each week I give out jeans passes to the three highest scoring staff members 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. Please feel free to push this information out to your parents as well.
Congratulations to Barbara Peebles, Laura Garro and Laurie Leotaud for being the highest three staff contributors to Shoparoo this week!
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Focus for 2017 - 2018
In order to help all children achieve their personal best, McGowen teachers and staff will:
- Knowledgeably speak about our current practices that contribute to McGowen becoming a Level 2 Certified High Reliability School.
- 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.
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Remind for Staff
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APPRECIATIONS
- Thank you JL for supporting our team with a difficult parent situation. It means the world! -3rd Grade
- Thank you Cissik and SL for supporting our new student. -Noble
- Thank you so much to my team for all of your support while I was home taking care of my sick baby! ~KT
- Resource, Centralized SPED & Specials teams- I am forever grateful for you and your prompt response to any crisis situation! SL
- Donna, Shiela, MC, & Maria- thanks for your swift action in a challenging situation last week! SL
- Lynn, Donna, Peebles & Shiela- thanks for always stopping what you are doing to escort a student somewhere or supervise a student when we have to run into a meeting! SL
- Deanna- thanks for making a positive phone call last week! I know it made that student’s day! SL
- Sadie- thanks so much for serving extra duty time on Adventure Dash day! SL
- 5th grade ~ Thank you for all of your work with getting middle school registration forms completed, returned and submitted to me. You’re the best! ~Shiela
- Deanna and Christina ~ Thank you for your preparation and participation in your student’s 504 this week. You were both able to speak knowledgeably about your student’s abilities and current needs. ~Shiela
- Jean ~ Thank you for your work in preparing for dyslexia 504s and for taking outside reports to the district committee. You are doing a great job of supporting the needs of our students. ~Shiela
- JD and Breazeale ~ Thank you for your preparation and participation in your student’s 504 this week. You did a great job of sharing information as to your student’s progress and establishing an appropriate plan moving forward. ~Shiela
- All K-5 Teachers ~ Thank you for our very efficient day of RTI meetings. Everyone had their data up to date and readily available in Aware. We appreciate all of the work you do with our students daily. Keeping your data updated and accurate in Aware helps to provide the whole picture. You guys are amazing! ~Shiela
- Thank you Coach Relle & Coach Shambo for holding down the fort in PE the afternoon I helped out elsewhere. McKeen
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I appreciate Jessica Bravo for leading our team with energy and positivity.
I appreciate Rico Sneller for being a positive and supportive teaching partner.
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GT Training Opportunity
- Foundations 1: April 21st at Cockrill MS Library
- Foundations 2: May 19th at Cockrill MS Library
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BAD DUDE
Lindsey Sweat - Lindsey is a great addition to the McGowen family. She works hard every day, and does everything with a smile. This week, she managed her daily job, plus book fair set up and previews and did a great deal of it on her own. She manages requests from teachers daily, takes care of WATCH D.O.G.S. needs and assists students during library book check out. She also jumps in and helps with makerspace and class lessons in the Learning Commons.
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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.