Sunday Shakedown
Weekly Memo for Washington Elementary
Principal Post
Thanks, celebration and appreciation:
- Thanks to all of you for your focus and work on Friday. I hope it was a productive day to accomplish many tasks.
- Thanks to Cherie and Billy for reaching out across the district to provide support to other schools in need
- Thanks to all for your time filling out surveys. It is definately survey season and we have several ahead. See the FYI section below. This information, although it may seem time consuming, truly is used for planning purposes and for positive changes.
- Thanks to Billie for being so reflective and sharing ideas openly with me
- Thank you to those of you accepting invitations to participate in district wide work, your leadership is certainly appreciated and valued.
- Thanks to Christy Belle, the assistants and custodians, our lunch lines have been slower than normal as we transition into requiring the use of lunch numbers by all students. PLEASE provide necklaces if necessary and allow students who are only having minutes to eat to have more time (either in cafeteria or classroom).
- Thanks to those of you who have signed up for peer visits, we will begin the scheduling this week.
- Thanks in advance to Virginia and her science fair team (Kayla, Erik, and others) for all of the work it takes to prepare this. Thanks to Michelle for ordering lunch and trophies.
- Thanks to Rebecca and team for running club, it feels great to see our kids there early and being so healthy as we drive down Bellingham in the mornings.
- Thanks to all who are working alongside Laura to bring small group work to the forefront of our school wide behavior supports as well as check in and check out as we work to improve new tier two behaviors.
Employee Recognition
This year, there is a new way to highlight the work of these outstanding educators! The KCS Employee Recognition Initiative serves to award those that go above and beyond in their service to the students, staff, and families of KCS.
How can you nominate an employee for this honor?
Simply submit a nomination form to your principal/supervisor by clicking here!
Innovation Tool
KCS has developed a new innovation tool to allow all stakeholders to share an idea (new or could be an improvement on a current practice). Sometimes a great idea comes to mind and when we collaborate on it, it gets even better. This tool can assist us in "giving legs" to those great thoughts. If you are like me, these are the ideas that keep you awake at night, but sometimes feel impossible. Lose sleep no longer! Your idea can be submitted and it can help our district constantly grow and develop.
The KCS new Innovation Tool is up and running. KCS wants your ideas! This tool is active for use. It can be accessed here.
Week of March 6-10
Wolf at a Literacy meeting in Unicoi County
SEVERE WEATHER DRILL AT 9:30
TN Ready meeting sponsored by KCS- @5:00 moved to DB Pridemore Theater due to size of crowd
5th grade evening event at Sevier-Walk of the Warrior
District wide faculty meeting for literacy-score writing assessments (may leave a bit early if you work with your team to do so. Will end at 4:45 for grades 3-5 if you attend TN Ready meeting) Math teachers do not have to attend. Remember to add your scores to the DRA/Writing spreadsheet you have sent to me.
Locations per grade level:
Kindergarten in Jefferson Room 303
1st in Jefferson Science Lab
2nd in Jefferson Computer Lab
3rd in ASC Tennessee Room
4th in ASC Computer Lab
5th in ASC Watauga Room
LCC and LCF security training for field testing
Tuesday:
5th grade to Sevier 8:30-10 for music presentation
School Readiness Fair at Civic Auditorium (prek and K families)
Wolf at retired teacher's brunch 11:30-1:30
3rd grade ELA field testing
Wednesday:
2nd annual GWES science fair (auditorium in use all day)
Sevier administrators at GWES to talk about student needs and placements
Thursday:
Selected 5th grade students and Mr. Hefner to RNR for All City Choral Festival practice
Classroom tour of science fair-sign up for your slot on the office mailroom door
Friday:
Gift of Reading and Dental Hygeine presentation in RACE day
Club Day
Upcoming dates to remember:
Monday, March 20th- 5th grade trip to ETSU
Monday, March 20- K-2 Work session after school ASC
Tuesday, March 21-Writing review with Emily and Dwain (draft book reviews)
Tuesday, March 21-Spring pictures
Tuesday, March 21-Celebration of Learning LCA
Wednesday, March 22 -Birthdays with the principals
Thursday, March 23- RTI data conferences
Professional Musings
In addition there are two mini ed-camps that are planned:
Mini-Edcamp (PK-12) at RNR on Thursday, March 2nd from 3:45-5:15 registration link: https://goo.gl/forms/EfFShUPvzhMMZyCg2
Mini-Edcamp Google Make and Take (PK-12) at DBExcel on Tuesday, April 11th from 3:45-5:15 registration link: https://goo.gl/forms/3jUmW0n3F05SXDMA3
Great Summer Learning Opportunity!
KCS Employees - Experience the EdCamp "Unconference" June 22, 2017, 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Dobyns-Bennett HS Kingsport City Schools is excited to bring the EdCamp “unconference” experience to East Tennessee. Anyone interested in education is welcome to attend. EdCamps are professional learning opportunities that are created by teachers for teachers, but all people who are stakeholders in education are welcome. EdCamps provide a pathway for dynamic conversations with dedicated educators, relevant sessions created and led by participants and cutting edge pedagogy that will inspire and motivate. If you are a teacher, administrator, education student, or simply someone with a genuine interest in teaching and learning, please join us for a day filled with limitless opportunities for acquiring knowledge! Register for this free event below!
You are invited to Thursday, June 22nd, 2017 from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM (EDT) Dobyns-Bennett High School 1 Tribe Way Kingsport TN 37664 US
Science mentor, Mr. Carson
observe! investigate! predict!
studying earth's surface and techtonic plates
For Your Information
IF you are a member of the partnership promise for our BCBS insurance plan your well being assessments must be completed by March 15th. Login in at www.partnersforhealthtn.gov
On March 8 at 6:00 AM you should have received an e-mail to participate in the TN Educator Survey. This is an annual survey. Last year, they offered incentives and Adams actually received 2,000 dollars as an award. I would like to meet the goal of 100%. Dr. Ailshie has said if we meet our goal by March 24th we can have a jeans day on April 7th. Yippee!! Please put this on your “to do” list for the coming week.
It sure feels like survey season! It is time to complete the spring administration of the Grounds and Maintenance Survey. The survey is very short, but provides valuable information for our schools and district. The survey will be open from Monday, March 13 until Friday, March 24. The link is located below. Thank you for your participation.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/N2JBV87
Just a reminder: We have had several incidences lately where children arrive outside to car duty without their class or without an adult. Please make sure your center leaves as a group with adults leading the way.
Reminder: Our new cafeteria manager will expect that all students know their number this time of year. Please let me know if you have an idea as to how we can make this process run more quickly.
We are still awaiting a visit from the fire marshal, please be prepared and check with Vicki if you are unsure about any materials in your learning center.
From the TDOE...The department is pleased to announce an opportunity for educators to participate in item review for science and social studies, which will take place June 12–23. The time commitment ranges from 2–4 days depending on the grade level and content area of the committee. Participants will receive a stipend and travel accommodations when appropriate. Educators will be selected for the following committees:
- Science in grades 3–8, biology, and chemistry
- Social studies in grades 3–8 and U.S. history
- Item bias and sensitivity
All interested applicants should complete an online application. The application window will open tomorrow and close April 12 at 5 p.m. CDT. The application, along with a brief description of the responsibilities and time commitment for each committee, will be posted here. All applicants will be notified of status no later than April 21. For more information, contact Christina Fox.
KCS Retiree and Hall of Famer Launches New Book Series
Retired KCS educator and member of the KCS Hall of Fame, Ms. Virgealia Ellis, is pleased celebrate the launch of her new book series, Denny at Rotherwood on Friday, March 3, from 3:00-4:30 p.m. at the Kingsport Public Library. The book series is based upon Ms. Ellis' childhood memories growing up at Rotherwood Mansion. Ms. Ellis' parents, James and Inez Looney, were the butler and cook at Rotherwood Mansion from 1925 - 1940. For more details, please click here.
Inaugural Tennessee STEAM Festival Planning
On October 12-22, Tennessee will holds its inaugural Tennessee STEAM Festival in a state-wide event based on the celebration of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. This is not a one location event...we are invited to sponsor STEAM events in our schools and community. It is suggested that these would be a perfect fit for libraries. The planners of this state-wide event are looking to fill a calendar of events including symposiums, educator/expert talks, lunch and learns, community/family events, entertainment events, etc. for all ages. Other festivals like the Philadelphia Science Festival and North Carolina Science Festival serve as inspiration for what the TN STEAM Festival can be.
Submit your STEAM event by April 3rd and be included in the state wide promotion of the Tennessee STEAM Festival in October. By participating, you will also receive promotional materials to use in marketing your event. Contact Becca Baker at the Blount County Public Library if you have questions.
TDOE Seeking Applicants for Standards Setting Committees
The department is seeking applications from educators, higher education partners, parents, and community members to participate in subject and grade-level committees to determine the cut score ranges for each performance level on state assessments. Ultimately, this information helps us understand students' level of mastery of the state standards. This is called the “standards setting" process. The standards setting committees will meet this summer and share recommendations with the State Board of Education for approval.
We are seeking applicants for the following standards setting committees:
Grade 2
TNReady
TCAP-Alternate Assessment
- Math
- ELA
- Math Grades 3-8
- ELA Grades 3-8
- Math Grade 2
- ELA Grade 2
- Social Studies Grades 3-8
- Science Grades 3-8
- High School Biology
All interested applicants should complete an online application. You can find the application on the assessment homepage (here), or you may click on the following links: TN Ready Assessment Standard Setting application; TCAP-Alternate Assessment Standard Setting application. The application window is now open and will close on Wednesday, April 5. All applicants will be notified of status no later than May 5. For more information, contact Christina Fox.
Commissioner McQueen's Town Hall Meeting Regarding ESSA
If you missed seeing Commissioner McQueen’s town hall meetings as she explained the transition to the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), click here.