LVHS Staff Newsletter
Excellence in Everything We Do.
Monday, May 9, 2016
Quote of the Week:
Student/Teacher of the Month - Vote NOW!
Update on Gloria -
Teacher Appreciation Week is this week!
Monday (today) - Sonic drinks (if you didn't get one, let us know!)
Tuesday - Treat in your box
Wednesday - Barbeque luncheon - don't pack a lunch!
Thursday - Treat in your box
Friday - breakfast tacos - don't eat breakfast!
AP Testing this week!
AP Exams this week:
Tuesday, May 10 ~~ US Government & Politics (am)
Spanish Literature & Culture (pm)
Wednesday, May 11 ~~ English Language & Composition (am)
Thursday, May 12 ~~ Statistics (pm)
EVERYONE needs to give me RtI paperwork if you are invited to a meeting on a student.
Here is access to the form you need to fill our for students who we are meeting on:
https://drive.google.com/a/lagovista.txed.net/file/d/0B9GUQCF2uqLcZ0NkS0Q2UXJSOEl5VklObEdiaVFLWHlHQ2Rv/view?usp=sharing
Here is access to the form you need to fill out for students we are not meeting on, but failed your class:
https://drive.google.com/a/lagovista.txed.net/file/d/0B9GUQCF2uqLcTnVzaDIxNTFnWkRfaUhXXzBPTFpRRUU4LUJB/view?usp=sharing
Any feedback on the Teacher Appraisal System? Bring it with you to your summative conference or let your department head know what suggestions you have!
Review - Parent Contact
Trust me, this is a good thing. It is better to contact them than to have them contact me because you never contacted them. And that's what happens! Plus, often parents are helpful!
Review - Blue and Gold Awards Ceremony!
This year, we are starting a new tradition (hopefully) with the LVHS Vanguard Award. This award goes to a senior boy and girl who exemplify our goal for LVHS graduates.
Review - YOU NEED TO GIVE A FINAL EXAM THAT YOU CAN COUNT AS 20% OF THEIR SEMESTER GRADE. IT CAN BE PERFORMANCE BASED, BUT YOU WILL NEED TO USE A RUBRIC!
Review - Summer Exchange Days!
If you want to see the 2016-2017 calendar, go to http://www.lagovistaisd.net/ and click on the scrolling link on the right.
Review - NO SUBS ON FINAL EXAM DAYS. IF YOU HAVE TO BE OUT, YOU WILL NEED TO FIND SOMEONE TO COVER YOUR CLASS DURING THE TIME YOU WILL BE GIVING THE EXAM.
Review - Supervision Increase This Last Nine Weeks!
Make sure you are in the hallways.
Make sure you are at your duty post on time.
Make sure you are aware, proactive, and responsive.
Especially this last nine weeks. Thanks!
Review - UIL ASSEMBLY AND FIELD TRIP!
Review - Graduation details -
All faculty is required to attend as you all are a part of the ceremony! The gowns and sashes are in the storage room in the teacher lunchroom if you would like to start reserving yours!
PLC meeting schedule:
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
Wednesday, May 25 and Thursday, May 26 - Curriculum Meetings
Semester Testing Schedule:
Friday, 5/27 (B day): Freshman, Sophomores and Juniors - 6th and 8th period exams
Seniors - 1st, 6th, 7th, and 8th period exams
Monday, 5/30 - HOLIDAY (Memorial Day)
Tuesday, 5/31 - (A day): Freshman, Sophomores and Juniors - 4th and 5th period exams
Seniors take 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th period exams
Wednesday, 6/1 (B Day): Freshman, Sophomores and Juniors - 1st and 7th period exams; 1st period will be from 8:15-9:45; 6th period will be from 9:50 - 10:55, 7th period will be from 11 - 12:30 (all students go to class from 11-12:30 so lunch for all at 12:30 - 99% of students will go home - EARLY RELEASE at 12:30)
Seniors - Senior trip at Austin Parks and Pizza
Thursday, 6/2 (A Day): Freshman, Sophomores and Juniors - 2nd period is from 8:15 - 10:55, with the exam from 9:25 - 10:25 and 3rd periods (all students go to class from 11-12:30 so lunch for all at 12:30 - 99% of students will go home - EARLY RELEASE at 12:30).
Seniors - Graduation practice at 9:45 in the HS gym
Friday, 6/3 - Graduation is at 6:00 in the LVHS gym. All faculty are required to attend. Everyone will wear their caps and gowns from their college - these are in the closet in the faculty lunchroom.
Stuff I leave in here for reference (nothing new, because hopefully you already read it, so just scan):
RtI Strategy - Assigning detention to students not on task/not completing work.
This only applies to students who are in the RtI process and this has been a strategy agreed upon in the RtI meeting.
Make sure you are reading these plans as they are sent to you so you are in the loop!! Thanks!
Bell schedule for next year!
https://drive.google.com/a/lagovista.txed.net/file/d/0B9GUQCF2uqLcVm1QQUoxMjhtb0U/view?usp=sharing
HEAR ME NOW: No students should be in the parking lot without a teacher/admin escort (exception would be athletes walking to and from the field house). We have had issues with students leaving campus. If you see students in the parking lot, please call Mrs. Sutton and let her know!
Duty Schedule this Nine Weeks:
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 backup 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.
Sponsors - Friendly reminder that you need to fill out the announcement form if you want your kiddos' awesomeness highlighted on the morning announcments!
PLC Schedule for this spring:
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, 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
PLEASE BE SURE TO EMAIL SUTTON WITH CHANGES TO ATTENDANCE if you make a mistake!
Clarification:
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!
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