GATE Staff Newsletter
Martin's Memos 8.16.19
Happy Summer!
I've thought a lot about all of the changes that have come our way, and all the challenges our program - turned - school has been through to get to where we are. From starting at 31 students in 2017 to opening our own school in 2019...we really are building something amazing. I truly believe that we are all in this ride together - to build a bright future for our unique students. It's what we do today, tomorrow, and every day this year that matters to these students......it matters that they are valued, loved, challenged and respected. It matters that they come to school with a positive mindset. It matters that they are WANTING to walk through our doors, knowing that they will learn something new that day. It matters that they know they have adults in this school that care about them, their interests and their goals.
I am so grateful to have a wonderful staff to start this amazing year with! This is OUR school!
Kate
Hanging out at home
Up North - Traverse City
Great Wolf Lodge
Our AMAZING Staff!
2nd/3rd: Amanda Merrill
2nd/3rd: Kimberly McDermid
3rd/4th: Amy Dixon
4th/5th: Michelle Gierman
4th/5th: Erica Burmann
6th: Mike Bigelow
Physical Education: Adrianna Pfeffer
Art: Elizabeth Lowe
STEAM Lab: Heidi Heil
Social Work: Anne Ossewaarde
Special Ed: Jennifer Spencer
Speech: TBD
Interested in Helping?
-Cross-Referencing last year's student numbers with this year's students so they have the same number.
-Condensing numbers for siblings. Assign one family number - use the oldest student's existing number.
-Creating signs: Large 8.5 x 11 sheets with their number and last name as large as possible in bold black lettering. 3 per family. Laminate.
-Creating tags: Create bookbag tags for each child to be attached with a zip-tie. It should have their carpool number and last name.
This would all need to be completed prior to the 27th for our Meet and Greet.
Coming in Prior to Official Workdays
Thursday Aug.22 8-4
Friday Aug. 23 8-4
Monday Aug. 26 8-4
-Park in the carpool loop on our side of the building. You will come in off Auburn Rd. where the light is and the Avondale Middle School sign is at. Then turn left off the service drive and park in the carpool loop. Park further up the loop so you are away from the construction area.
-Do not go near the construction areas - in the parking lot, playground area, front entrance area, or anywhere inside they are working.
-Do not have conversations with the workers, do not ask to use their tools, do not ask for their help.
-Do not bring any children with you while the construction is going on.
Important Dates
*I adjusted the time a bit (same number of PD hours) to include our Meet and Greet time.
Tuesday, August 27th 8:00-4:00
Welcome Back with Dr. Schwarz @ Avondale Middle School
Back to Meadows for PD (Media Center)
Lunch on your own 12-1
Building PD from 1-4 (Media Center)
Meet the Teacher 4-5
Wednesday, August 28th (10:00-3:00)
8:00-10:00 Optional Class Time
Building PD 10-12 (Media Center)
Lunch on your own 12-1
Building PD 1-3
*Our PD topics will include: Positivity Project, developing our Mission/Vision, Gifted Info, Lesson Plan and Classroom Expectations, Staff Handbook, Master Schedule, & Procedures when sharing our building.
Thursday, August 30th
New Teacher Orientation
8:00-4:00 @ Admin Bldg
Curriculum, Special Education, MiStar Intro, and HR
ALICE Training @ High School
We will host our Meet the Teacher event from 4-5 on Tuesday 8/27. Students & parents will come to your classroom where you will be able to meet them face-to-face with no worry about rain or staying late. Students will get to see where their classrooms are AND drop off their school supplies. It has been communicated that rooms (and our building) will still be "under construction" so do not worry if your room is not 1st day ready!
Here were the supply lists that the parents/students have been given.
For Your Planning Purposes...
We will have two FOSS kits this year. The kits will be delivered on August 27th and November 6th. So basically, they will be used during Trimester 1 and Trimester 2.
2nd-Pebbles, Sand, Silt (August drop off, Nov 6 PU), Solids and Liquids (Nov Drop off, Feb 19 PU)
3rd- Water and Climate (August drop off, Nov 6 PU), Motion and Matter (Nov Drop off, Feb 19 PU)
4th- Soil, Rocks, and Landforms (August drop off, Nov 6 PU), Energy (Nov Drop off, Feb 19 PU
5th- Earth and Sun (August drop off, Nov 6 PU), Mixtures and Solutions (Nov Drop off, Feb 19 PU)
2nd/3rd: Amanda Merrill - 2nd grade kit
2nd/3rd: Kimberly McDermid - 3rd grade kit
Merrill and McDermid would split up science and social studies, so Merrill will teach all of 2nd grade sci/ss and McDermid would teach all of 3rd grade sci/ss for the students in their two classes.
3rd/4th: Amy Dixon- 3rd and 4th grade kits
4th/5th: Michelle Gierman - 4th grade kits
4th/5th: Erica Burmann - 5th grade kits
Gierman and Burmann would split up science and social studies, so Gierman will teach all of 4th grade sci/ss and Burmann would teach all of 5th grade sci/ss for the students in their two classes.
6th: Mike Bigelow (homeroom, reading, writing, science, social studies, math, enrichment, STEM - Project Lead the Way)
Clubs
Some clubs that I know for sure students are interested in this year are:
-Music Club
-Chess Club
-Science Olympiad
-Geography Bee
GATE Application Dates - FYI
Every year I coordinate all of the application process for next year's students. This involves two important "windows" - one for resident students of Avondale, and one for students outside of the district that we call "school of choice" students. Any student can apply if they live in Oakland county or any county contiguous to it. Students come in for testing and take the MAP math, MAP reading, and complete a narrative writing assessment. These are scored and students must score in the 93rd percentile or higher in both MAP tests in order to be considered. You are always welcome to attend the information nights or be a part of the selection teams. Please let me know if you're interested.
2019-2020 Applications: Important Dates
October 2nd 6:30-7:30: INTERNAL Information Night at Meadows
October 16th 6:30-7:30: INTERNAL Information Night at Meadows
Nov 4 - Nov 15: INTERNAL Application Window
Nov 20th: Writing assessment conducted at each home school
December 13th: Selection team meeting at Meadows
December 16th-17th: Internal Parent Notification
January 10th: Letter of intent OR Appeals DUE
January 16th: Internal appeals meeting
January 17th: Notification of decision for internal appeals
January 29th 6:30-7:30: SCHOOL OF CHOICE Information Night at Meadows
February 5th 6:30-7:30: SCHOOL OF CHOICE Information Night at Meadows
February 3rd - March 3rd: SCHOOL OF CHOICE application window
March 9th and 11th: Writing assessment and Math MAP assessment.
March 16th and 18th: Reading MAP assessment.
March 23rd: Selection team meet
March 26th-27th: School of Choice Parent Notification
April 3rd: Letter of intent OR Appeals DUE
April 13th: School of Choice appeals meeting
April 16th- 17th: Notification of decision for school of choice appeals