Team Thomson News & Notes
May 15, 2017
Important Information for You!
Welcome Back!
I hope that you all had a wonderful Intersession break and great Memorial Day weekend. While I ended up working most of the week, I was able to go through lots of 'piles' of paper and get things organized for the end of the year and worked two days at Intersession. The two days spent at Intersession were a blast watching our students and students from years past enjoying their time engaged in hands-on activities. Kudos to everyone involved in making it a special week for kids!
Special Announcements
Please join me in officially welcoming Christine Gretch to Thomson as our new Challenge Coordinator. While Christine has been in the building shadowing and working with Jen Seal, Tuesday, May 30th is her first official day in her new role. As I have shared, Christine comes to us from Gates where she spend the last five years working in the Emotionally Impaired classroom as a paraprofessional.
As you all know, Lisa LeMieux will be headed to Hahn for the 2017-18 School Year. While we are still in the hiring process as a district, Suzanne Binkley will be filling the vacancy left by Lisa's transfer. Please join me in congratulating Suzanne as she moves into her new role for next school year.
5D+ and the End of the Year
Over the next week and a half I will be wrapping up observations and beginning work on year-end evaluations. While I understand that we are headed into the last part of the year, it is also important to remember that there is still lots of time for learning and this begins on day one of our return to school. It is also important that you respond to noticings and wonderings within 48 hours as this is an opportunity for you to contribute to the observed evidence of your practice. As part of the final evaluation process, I will meet with each person evaluated for a final conference after year end growth data is complete. Please remember that we will be STAR testing June 6th and 7th, following this Eric Chorley will compile all student growth data.
I want to congratulate each one of you for the work and learning you have committed to do during this process. The benefits you receive are directly proportional to the efforts and reflection you put into the process. We have learned a lot but, most of all, we have had some strong and reflective dialogue which helps us grow as individuals, professionals and as a team. Thank you for engaging in the process and for being a lifelong learner!
Learning Targets: Some Dos and Don'ts
Lance Harper shared the following in his newsletter earlier this week and I spent some time looking/reading through the links and found them to be informative so I thought I'd share with you as well.
Continuing to develop our skill in developing and using learning targets to grow student learning and our practice is an ongoing process. Listed below is a link to an article by Ken Templeton. Embedded in the article are additional links. Avoid clicking on names of people as it takes you to their webpage. Clinking on the "here" highlighted words takes you to solid articles. Of particular interest is the video of teacher Jason Shiroff's use of the strategies of peer sharing and class discussion to unpack learning targets. The entire article provides some good reflection and suggestions about the challenges of presenting meaningful learning targets that impact student learning.
The Dos and Don’ts of Learning Targets
Orders for 2017/18
Anna has placed all the ordering information in your mailboxes for the 2017/18 school year. As always, please check cupboards and drawers and use your classroom money intentionally. Teachers have $170 to spend on supplies. This does not include your classroom PTO (A-74) account money. Orders are due by June 2nd. If you have any questions, please see Anna or me.
Quotes Worth Reading
"You don't get what you wish for. You get what you work for.”
-Unknown
"I always did something I was a little not ready to do. I think that's how you grow. When there's that moment of "Wow, I'm not really sure I can do this." and you push through those moments, that's when you have a BREAKTHROUGH."
-Marissa Mayer, CEO of Yahoo
Mindset change/challenge... What are you working for? What moment will you push through?
Thomson Elementary
Home of the Thomson Teddies!
And..
Where Kids Come First and Futures Begin!
Email: nmiller@davisonschools.org
Website: www.davisonschools.org
Location: 617 East Clark Street, Davison, MI, United States
Phone: 810-591-0911
Celebrations & Announcements
Important Upcoming Dates:
- Tuesday, May 30th-Science Curriculum Meeting, 4:15-6:15 p.m.
- Wednesday, May 31st-Title I Parent Meetings, 10 a.m. & 5 p.m.
- Thursday, June 1st-Elementary Principals Meeting
- Friday, June 2nd-Fire Drill; Fundraiser Pizza Lunch for students who sold more than $150 worth of product
- Week of June 5th-PLC Week
- Monday, June 5th-DHS Graduation
- Tuesday, June 6th-STAR Testing, ELA K-2 Meeting, 4:15-6:15 p.m.
- Wednesday, June 7th-Staff Meeting (Agenda: Field Day, Room Closing/End of Year Procedures); STAR Testing; DAE Graducation
- Thursday, June 8th-General Admin. Meeting; Lauren's Wedding Shower, 4:00 p.m.