Bronco Bulletin
Taking Student Learning to the Next Dimension
May 1, 2015
Message from Tonya
Contracts
Teaching contracts have been released. You should have received an email today. Please sign your contract by the deadline stated in the email. If you did not receive a contract, and feel it is in error, please let me know. If you are retiring or resigning and received a contract, you will not need to sign. Remember, even if you are changing schools next year, you need to sign your contract. The contract is for Gwinnett County Public Schools, not for Gwin Oaks. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
Schedules in Shared Leadership Folder
The schedules are in One Note. Tiffany sent an email earlier today. We wanted to post these early so that you have time to check, recheck, and process. This gives us time to fix anything if needed! The schedules are done by a committee of your peers and we are all human. Mistakes can happen, so please take this opportunity to check it carefully. Thank you!
Specials schedules will look different next year. Based on the recommendation of the special area teachers, we are moving to a 3-day rotation. For example, Ms. Peek's class will attend PE for 3 days, then Math for 3 days, then Science for 3 days, and so on. The schedule will be available soon. We are excited about this because we feel it will allow the specials teachers to teach more consistent in-depth units to the classes AND will prevent the "missed Monday" class that seems to happen each year.
Teacher Leadership Positions and Planning Teams
2015-2016 GOES Teacher Leadership Positions and Planning Teams (in Shared Leadership on OneNote)
Behavior- Hallway, Cafe, Classroom
Hallway behavior is becoming more and more of a problem. Teachers need to set and maintain hallway behavior expectations for students. Each class should be walking silently down the hall in a line. There is no reason that classes who are walking with teachers should be talking/running/jumping. The 4th grade hall is especially a problem (not because of 4th grade!) because it is a high-trafficked pathway. Please continue to enforce silent lines DAILY. I have seen classes in ALL grade levels maintain perfectly silent hallway behavior because it is enforced by the teacher.
Also, it has always been the expectation that teachers walk their classes all the way to the milk cooler when dropping off for lunch. We are going back to enforcing this rule. The classes are running down the side of the lunchroom. Teachers need to monitor them all way to the milk before they go for their own lunch. This includes Tuesday and Thursdays. This will be an expectation for the rest of the school year and will be enforced next year as well. We must keep the students safe and calm in the lunchroom.
It is normal for student misbehavior to peek at this time of year. However, the more you maintain a regular schedule, have highly engaging lessons, and maintain a level of "school is still in session" demeanor, the fewer problems you will encounter. This is one reason we cannot let our classrooms look like they are packed up. It is also why we must continue to plan and implement academic lessons and keep instructional time sacred. While there are a lot of fun activities this time of year, it is also still a time for teaching and learning.
4th and 5th Grade Profile Sheet Note:
Interim 3 ELA and MA scores (Grade Converted Score not actual score)- This is the interim they took at the end of the third nine weeks, NOT the one they will take in May. Please feel free to go ahead and begin filling out your profile sheets.
RBES
You will need to upload your profile sheet to your RBES in the PD&E tool and to the shared drive. Your RBES should be completed by May 18th in the PD & E tool. You should also have uploaded your Profile sheet to the shared drive by that date as well. Make sure when you upload it that you use your last name and do so similar to this: WilliamsEOYDataSheet.xlsx
You need to reflect on the progress of your data in each subject based on your BOY goals in the Results/Conclusions section of the RBES.
These are some questions to think about and reflect on when doing your EOY RBES:
What % of your students met or exceeded your goals and what percentage did not?
Why do you think they met or exceeded or why did they not meet your expectations?
If they did not meet your expectations did they still make growth? If so, how much?
Based on your implementation plan what helped your students be successful? If they were not as successful as you might have hoped what might you need to think about doing next year to make sure more of your students are successful. What did you do this year to support those students?
(Please do not use student names in your reflection or talk about anything you do not have a direct influence on such as home life, students health, etc.)
End-of-Year Updates- Important- A new end-of-year checklist will be sent out with the following changes/updates.
- Binders- If you are not going to need your binders next year, please clean them out and put the empty binder in Gretchen's office.
- DVD players/projectors stands- Please clean these off. Do not place anything on them. The custodial team cleans them thoroughly in the summer so they have to be clear of items.
- CHANGE IN END OF YEAR CHECKLIST ITEM: Instead of stacking desks and chairs in hallway as we've done in the past, Angela is asking you to stack all desks and chairs in your classroom. Put them against one wall.
- If you are moving out of the building, please do NOT take your name sign with you. These can be reused. We will reuse them for new teachers. Leave all signs hanging and Angela's team will take care of moving these this summer.
- You are not to be packing or moving in front of students. Your classroom should not look like it's been deserted.
- If your materials are moving to another teacher, be sure your math manipulatives are organized and neat.
SHREDDING vs. RECYCLING:
- 75% of what was shredded last year was not necessary which is a huge wasted cost for Gwin Oaks. Recycling is MUCH, MUCH cheaper than shredding!
- Only items with students’ grades/sensitive information need be shredded. This does not include things like daily work, math journals, etc. Most papers can simply be recycled. Tina and Jan are organizing extra recycling pick up for the entire last week of school. Please make stacks in containers (the containers can be returned to you) that students can lift. Students can pick up as often as every day. Please take advantage of this service!
- If you have papers that should be shredded, do NOT include paper clips, staples or folders! ONLY separated sensitive papers can be added to shred bags. The shred boxes and bags will be available at the end of the year.
Staff Updates
Ronda June, an experienced IRR teacher from Dekalb Co., will be teaching IRR at Gwin Oaks next year. Ronda lives in Grayson with her family and is excited to be moving closer to home!
Pam Head will be the 4/5 Grade SLD Self-Contained teacher next year.
Calendar - Upcoming events
May 2................... Building Open
May 4...................Carmen Deedy Visit - 3-5
May 4...................Running Club
May 4...................Coaches Meeting 3:15
May 5...................ELA/DDA - 4th
May 5...................Social Studies DDA - 5th
May 5...................Five Forks Transition Meetings 8:00 a.m.
May 5...................Retirement Celebration Luncheon for Laura Belue and Chris Dawkins, Media Center
May 5...................Tech IF 3-5, 3:15
May 6...................ELA/DDA - 5th
May 6...................Math DDA - 4th
May 6...................Fire Drill 1:15
May 6...................Jordan's Bridal Shower
May 7...................Last Day to Check Out Books
May 7...................Rising 6th Grade Visit to FFMS
May 7...................Science DDA, 3-4
May 7...................Trickum Middle Transition Meetings 8:00 a.m.
May 7...................Kindergarten Registration 12:00 - 6:00
May 8...................GKIDS Data Pull
May 8...................Relay for Life
May 8...................Career Day in Gym
May 8...................Teacher Appreciation Lunch in Media Center
May 9...................Building Open
May 11-13................1/2 Off Book Fair
May 11................Buck's Pizza Night
May 11................Last Day School Store Open
May 11................Math DDA - 5th
May 11................SS DDA - 3-4
May 11................Running Club
May 12................ELA SPG - 3rd
May 12................PE SPG 4th
May 12................Science DDA- 5th
May 12................Reading Celebration with Chad Crews K-5
May 12................Grades Due by 11:00 p.m.
May 12................Sparkles Skate Night
May 13................Field Day K-2
May 13................NStyle - Jean Payne Room
May 13................KDG, SID/PID, PreK ELA & Math SPG Rubrics
May 13................Math SPG - 3rd
May 13................Verifications are Printed
May 13................Richards Middle Transition Meeting for Spec 9:00 a.m.
May 14................8:30 a.m. Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast
May 14................Award Invitations Sent to Parents
May 14................Field Day 3-4
May 14................Verification Sheets Due to Tonya by 4:00 p.m.
May 14................Kindergarten Round-Up 6:00 p.m.
May 15................Cluster LIT Meeting 8:00 a.m. (PLC Room)
May 15................Field Day 5th
May 15................Music SPG - 4th
May 16................Peachtree Jr. at Piedmont Park
MOON AWARD
Lissette is a passionate and dedicated teacher. Her students love her exuberance and enthusiasm and they highly respect her well-maintained classroom atmosphere. Not only is Lissette dedicated to student success, she is also a supportive teammate. She will go above and beyond to help her co-workers. Mrs. Ng is truly an asset to our school!
TECHNOLOGY
FINAL GRADES
May 12..................Grades Due by 11:00 p.m.
May 13..................Verifications are Printed
May 14..................Verification Sheets are Due to Tonya by 4:00 p.m.
Media Center News
PERKS
MISCELLANEOUS
END OF YEAR COUNTDOWN
Northeast Atlanta Ballet presents The Little Mermaid
Friday, May 15 & Sunday, May 17 at the Gwinnett Performing Arts Center. Come support our Gwin Oaks girls. See dance moms below for tickets.
Sara Blakely (Leigh)
Mary Elizabeth Brown (Mary Anne)
Sydney Taylor (Tiffany)
Gracie Johnson (Huette)
Sarah Shoaf (Kim)
Carol Belcastro (dance instructor)