Wilson Ranger Post
October 5, 2015
Do you understand the Words that are coming out of my mouth!!!???
We all have the Magic...How will you use yours?
Life at the Ranger Ranch
Thank you to our partners First United Methodist Coppell!
FUMC spent part of their Saturday in our garden.
Real School Gardens works with our learners and educators
Wilson Family Meeting Time
DRA2 spot checks
Picture Alert!
Learner-Led Conferences Communication
Leaners, Parents and Educators partner yearly at Wilson Elementary for learner-led conferences. Learner-led conferences are designed for the benefit of the parent and learner alike. Prior to your conference, your child's educator will sit with your child and discuss their learning. They will discuss how the information can best be shared with you, the parent. The learner will establish goals for their learning. Spending time discussing goals with both their educator and their parent helps learners take responsibility for their learning and provides relevance to the work they do throughout the year. Please feel free to ask questions of your learner and educator during the conference.
Educators, please add specific times, rotations, etc. that are appropriate for your grade level.
Additionally, after learner-led conferences have been complete, we will send an evaluation to parents asking about the information they received during the conference in case clarifications are needed.
Literature Circle Session
Register here: http://eduphoria.coppellisd.com/wshop/default.aspx?cid=7166
Jean Passes for those in attendance :)
Shout Out from Afar!!!
Just wanted to let you know that as a parent, Wilson is missed! Our new foster kids are both in 1st grade. Even as a district employee, I rarely get return emails from their teachers and very little communication from school. Also, the homework every night is outrageous and leaves our girl in tears most nights.
I know you know this already, but just wanted to say that Wilson really broke the mold. I don’t think any school that my kids will go to or I’ll ever teach at again will compare to the awesome things happening there. Thanks for your leadership!
Thanks!
Joni
Would you like some dinero?
Our grant submission window is currently open until October 14th at 4:30pm. Please encourage your teachers to submit an application through this link: http://bit.ly/1Vq3fQm (it can also be found on our website: www.coppellisdef.com) You are still required to review their application and sign the first page of the google doc, by printing it and sending it to me through email or interoffice mail.
We are hoping to receive applications from EVERY campus this year! How awesome would it be to give money to every campus in CISD!
We have included a short tips and tricks power point on our website that may be helpful. http://www.coppellisdef.com/index.php/grant-info/grant-applicaiton-process
Let me know if you have any questions.
Angie Arthur
Administrative Assistant
Tue/Wed/Thur
COPPELL EDUCATION FOUNDATION
200 S. Denton Tap Road
Coppell, TX 75019
214-496-6054
From Mrs. T.
Adult ESL classes will be offered in the fall and spring for parents of students classified with an ESL status. Most parents who sign up of these classes have limited English. If you are interested in helping to teach these classes, please contact Judy Musgrave @ jmusgrave@coppellisd.com by October 2, 2015. Dates for fall semester are October 15, 22, 29; Nov. 5, 12, and 19; Dec. 3, 10, an 17; Jan 7, 14, 21, and 28. Dates for Spring are Feb. 4, 11, 18, and 25; Mar 3, 10, 24; April 7, 14, 21, 28; May 5, 12, and 19. All classes are from 5:30-6:30 and extra duty pay will be offered for prep and teaching time.
Our district received federal funds to assist immigrant learners in transitioning from their country to our country. We have created a welcome packet and a video with helpful information to be given to them upon registering in our schools. Each campus has folders that they are sending home to current immigrant families and will have a few extra folders for new registrants. If you would like to see the webpage and video we have created so that you are familiar with the information being given to these families, please click on the link below. Thank you!
Instructional Technology
SAVE THE DATES! The Digital Learning Coaches are proud to present our fall professional learning offerings! Unlock your Digital Genius and own your learning by choosing from a variety of experiences. Optional events include after school face to face trainings, Expedition Saturday sessions, twitter chats, a webinar and more!
Check out the attached flyer for more information.
More details to come once events have been added to Eduphoria.
Upcoming Events and Information
- We have purchased Explain Everything and Notability for all Educators in PreK – 5th grade
- Code.org Week – Dec 7th – 14th – Is your campus interested in participating?
- Clarity Data Survey – dates for the survey coming soon
- Simple K-12 Learning Site – webinars and sessions on Google Apps and iPads available for free for all staff members
- Digital Genius – starts next week!!!
Expedition Saturday Details...
The Digital Learning Coaches presented an outstanding day of professional learning this past Saturday. Participants gained a deeper understanding and application of Schoology, as well as became more familiar with many of the apps educators are using on iPads and how to be more intentional in lesson design using these apps. All in all, it was a GREAT day of learning.
Our Digital Learning Coaches are offering another Expedition Saturday on November 14 which will focus on "digital communication." Registration will open October 2 through Eduphoria. Location: TBD
Science
Oct. 8th: Elementary educators will experience inquiry based science through a choice of 6 different workshops designed and delivered by the elementary content specialists. All workshops will be from 4:00 - 5:00 pm at Austin Elementary. Registration through Eduphoria is now open. Workshop sessions include:
- Science is Messy: Embracing the Mess
- Science is Messy: Messing Around with Inquiry
- Science is Messy: A Bug's Life - the Big Ideas in Life Science
- Science is Messy: Messy Data
- Science is Messy: Digging the Dirt - the Big Ideas in Earth Science
- Science is Messy: Messing with Matter - the Big Ideas in Physical Science
Oct. 23rd: Crazy Day of Science with Jason Osborne. The North Texas Regional Consortium is providing a day of immersion into inquiry science including field experiences focused on weathering, erosion, and fossils. Coppell ISD has 15 spots available. Laurie O'Neill will be communicating with principals about filling these spots.
SS
Social Studies
Elementary Social Studies educators are encouraged to be a part of the following opportunities that will be starting in October:
#1 CISD K-5 Social Studies Scope and Sequence (Flex credit awarded)
#2 Exploring Models for Social Studies/ELA Integration (Flex Credit awarded)
“National Hispanic Heritage Month” runs through October 15th. Please encourage educators at your campus to promote the learning experiences where they include the ways Hispanic Americans who have positively influenced and enriched our nation and society. #cisdss
Library
#Periscopeout Library Edition is October 6
“Educators are doing amazing things all over the world. It’s time to share ideas and stories so we can all continue pushing education forward.” – Jeff Herb, founder periScopeOut & Instructional Tech Talk
Take a look at what can happen on a typical day in our CISD transformational libraries by joining Alicia Montgomery at Town Center Library, Heather Aston at CMS-East Library, and Debra Marshall at Wilson Library on October 6 as periScopeOut focuses on libraries all over the world. Watch from wherever you might be by downloading and using the Periscope APP. On October 6, open the APP, join the broadcast, and, be sure to follow us on Twitter using the hashtag #periScopeOut. @TCE_Library @debramarshall @Heather_Aston
What is periScopeOut? It is a movement that encourages educators from across the world to share their stories, spaces, and experiences in a 10-15 minute live broadcast.
Alicia will be focusing on her STEM library from 8:20 – 8:40 AM, CST, Debra will be focusing on beyond the library walls to the Ranger Ranch Garden from 9:40 – 10:00 AM, CST, and Heather will highlight her genrified fiction collection and ways it supports the ELA curriculum from 11:00 – 11:20, CST.
GT
GT Universal Screening
Learners in kindergarten, first grade, third grade and fifth grade will be universally screened for GT services this fall. Please note the following:
Learners in kindergarten and first grade will complete planned experiences with their classroom educator and the GTi Specialist during the fall. The window will run from the beginning of October to the beginning of December. There will not be a CogAT administered to all first graders this year. (This is a change from the published district assessment calendar.) The elementary GTi Specialists will be conducting a training for your campus Kindergarten and First Grade educators during September.
Third Grade and Fifth Grade learners will be administered the CogAT in October as in years past.
- ALL fifth graders will sit for the CogAT as we believe it provides important data as learners as transitioning to middle school.
- Third grade learners who have been previously identified will NOT assess again during the October CogAT administration. A teacher on that grade level will need to be designated to work with those learners during the testing times on those days.
- “The Why” - The State Plan for Education of Gifted and Talented Students as well as the 2013 program audit calls for us to minimize reassessment of GT identified learners.
Coppell Gifted Association
Once again, the Coppell Gifted Association is offering free educator memberships until October 16th to CISD educators and administrators. Last year the CGA sent 56 educators and administrators to TAGT in Fort Worth. Please encourage your staff member to join the CGA here.
Educator scholarships for training, TAGT in San Antonio in December and other professional learning opportunities are open now. Educators can apply here until October 1, 2015.
TAGT Parent Night on October 7th
Coppell ISD and CGA will be hosting the second ever TAGT Parent Night on October 7th at Coppell High School. We are excited to provide a speaker and an activities fair for our parents while learners have a hands-on experience. Food trucks will be on hand and more information will follow! All educators, learners and parents are welcome.
Please see the attached flyer for more information.
Help, I've Fallen and I Can't Get Up!!!
CPR/AED – Heartsaver certification courses
Date: Wednesday, Oct 21, Nov 18, Jan 20, Feb 17, Mar 23, Apr 20
Time: 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Location: CHS Field House
Instructor: Yvette Carson
Registration: Eduphoria
Certification valid for 2 years
Participants: minimum 8/maximum 20
This course is open to anyone interested in obtaining the American Heart CPR/AED certification, including those satisfying TEA/UIL requirements. Please forward this information to your staff.
TEA/UIL required staff positions:
· School Nurse
· School Nurse Assistant
· Athletic Coach or Sponsor
· Physical Education Instructor
· Marching Band Director
· Drill Team Director
· Cheerleading Coach
· Student Athletic Trainers
District Recommend Positions:
· Administrators
· Extra-curricular teachers or those teachers taking students off campus
· Special Education staff