Galloping Gazette
A newsletter for the Faculty and Staff - Week 3/4 - 3/8
Put Students First • Seek Growth • Be Open to Change . Do Great Work Together • Value Differences
Principal's Message for the week:
-Robyn
Shout Outs
Megan & Cynthia - Thank you for sharing your $$ with me!! - Abbe
Edie - Thank you for all your help and support. I couldn't do it without you! - Abbe
Sharon & Wende - Thanks for creating those awesome Golden Ticket Boxes/Bins! - Abbe
Jennifer Pleasant for taking over while I was out. You deserve an award! - Liz
Thank you to Amy Goodman for being so flexible this week and covering the clinic for me at the last minute. - Karen R.
Thank you to all of the teachers and staff members for an excellent lock down drill this week.
Shout out to Kelly McNeely for teaching fractions to a student using a variety of manipulatives and in a variety of ways until the student grasped the concept. You had a tremendous amount of patience. Thank you for being so joyful!
Way to go to everyone as we made it through the dreary, rainy February days filled with many germs. Spring is around the corner - Woohoo! Patti
If you have any shoutouts, please send them to Ms. Backer and Mrs. Jacobs by Thursday.
Schedule for upcoming weeks
Mar. 4th - Mar. 8th
ACCESS for ELLs Testing Mar.4th - Mar. 8th
Math focus for PLCs
Monday, March 4th
· 2nd Grade PLC
· 2:40p - 4:20p Girls on the Run (Rm 7)
Tuesday, March 5th
· 7:00 - 7:30 Donuts For Dad (Cafeteria)
· 9:00 - 11:00 Mrs. Backer out of the building at training
· 3rd grade PLC
· 2:40p - 4:30p Talent Show Practice (Cafeteria)
· 3:00p - 4:00p Leadership Meeting (Library)
Wednesday, March 6th
·Spring & Class Photos
· K PLC
10:00 Mrs. Backer out of the building
·1st grade PLC
· 2:40p- 4:20 Girls on the Run (Rm 7)
· 2:40p - 4:30p Talent Show Practice (Cafeteria)
Thursday, March 7th
· 5th Grade PLC
Ms. Backer OOTB all day
· 2:40p - 5:00p Eco Club (Cafeteria)
· 2:40p - 4:00p Stem Club Meetings (Rm 34/ Computer Lab/ Rm 38 Art Room)
· 3p - 4p Spanish GLC
Friday, March 8th
· Watch Dog Dad (Saulo Ortiz)
· 4th Grade PLC
· 6p - 7:30p Spanish Night Expo (Cafeteria)
* Daylight Savings on March 10th. Don't forget to set your clocks forward an hour.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Mar. 11th - Mar. 15th
Monday, March 11th
· 2nd Grade PLC
· 2:40p - 4:20p Newspaper Club (Innovation Lab)
· 2:40p - 4:20p Girls on the Run (Rm 7)
· 5p - 9p Chipotle Cashola
Tuesday, March 12th
· 3rd grade PLC
· 2:40p - 4:30p Talent Show Practice
· 3:00p - 4:00p PBIS Meeting (Library)
Wednesday, March 13th
· K PLC
·1st grade PLC
10:30 - 12:30 Schoology Training at Plaza Annex
· 2:40p - 4:20p Girls on the Run (Rm 7)
· 2:40p - 4:30p Talent Show Practice (Cafeteria)
Thursday, March 14th
· 5th Grade PLC
8:30 - 10:30 Mrs. Porter out of the building
· 2:40p - 4:00p Stem Club Meetings (Rm 34/ Computer Lab/ Rm 38 Art Room)
· 4:30p - 6p Meet & Greet/ Transfer Fair
Friday, March 15th
· 4th Grade PLC
Colts Pride in Action
HUGE kudos goes to our fifth grade team for their INNOVATIVE thinking around their new 5th grade power hour. They have brainstormed a strong structure of breaking up their entire grade into remediation and enrichment groups every Thursday. These groups are based on needs and focuses around goal setting and meeting all student needs. Not only is this a great response to their students' needs, but the conversation at their PLC on how to continuously improve this new structure is quite impressive. Way to jump into the deep end!
PBIS Tip of the Week - Hope Springs Eternal
It is that time of year again – those weeks leading up to spring break when students [and teachers, to some degree] are uninhibited, excited, stir-crazy and in need of change. Behavioral challenges pop up more frequently and we all seem to have a more difficult time holding things together.
This was the case with one of my students this week. He was dead set on convincing me he was “bad” – as evidenced by both his words and actions. I really had to work hard not to give in and agree with him, confirming his self-fulfilling prophecy. Luckily, as I was walking downstairs in my house this morning, I got a visual reminder to stay hopeful.
We planted a redbud tree right outside the window of our stairwell many years back. We did so because every spring it buds – and is beautiful. Of course, usually this occurs in March, but this year, given our crazy Texas weather, it is in full bloom now. When I look at that tree in the dead of winter I have to remind myself that those spring flowers are hiding inside the hard exterior of the limbs just waiting to come out. And you know what? No matter how freakish the weather during the winter, like clockwork, the tree blooms. Yes indeed, hope springs eternal.
I think sometimes the best I can do is just remain hopeful. Hope is always there, I just get too bogged down in my own little world of frustrations to see it. There are many things in my own life and the lives of my students I can’t control, but my attitude and outlook are not two of them. As you deal with your own frustrations and challenges, stay hopeful. No matter how freakish your storm, spring is on the horizon, and things will get better.
-Taken from Dan St. Romain's Blog - https://danstromain.com/2019/02/17/hope-springs-eternal/
Colt Tracker
Staffing Updates!
We received our allocations:
- PreK - 1.0
- Kindergarten - 4. 0
- Grade 1 - 5.00
- Grade 2 - 5.00
- Grade 3 - 5.00
- Grade 4 - 5.00
- Grade 5 - 4.00 (This number is subject to change after the budget is approved.)
- March 11 - Online registration deadline for Transfer Meet and Greet event for all voluntary and priority transfers who wish to attend.
- March 14 - Transfer Meet and Greet event at Green Run HS from 4:30-5:45 p.m.
- March 22 - Ms. Backer may submit recommendations for vacancies.
- June 27 - Last date by which principals can make hiring recommendations from other area school divisions (Region II) – Teachers currently under contract with neighboring school divisions must resign from those divisions before 5 p.m. on 6/27.
- July 15 - Last date teachers may voluntarily transfer without approval from HR and a Senior Executive Director or Director for School Leadership.
Strategic Planning Survey
Just a follow up to the email that I sent out on Monday regarding a survey effort in support of the division’s strategic planning process. As a reminder, the planning process for the next strategic plan has been ongoing and has included meetings with a variety of stakeholder groups and a Virtual Town Hall hosted on vbschools.com. The information gained from the input process has been incorporated into an online survey that went live Feb. 18 and will remain open until March 8.
You are encouraged to access and respond to the survey by March 8.
The survey link will be available on vbschools.com so that parents and community members may access the survey. Parents will be notified of the survey through an AlertNow email message sent by the Office of Planning, Innovation and Accountability.
PLP Opportunity to Provide Feedback
Teachers have the opportunity to earn one PLP point for each math unit they provide feedback on this school year. A course is set up in Frontline titled Curriculum Reflection and Feedback Opportunity. Teachers can access a Google form in Schoology in the Teaching and Learning Professional Development folder. One Google form should be completed per unit. This will help the math team revise curriculum for the 2019-2020 school year. PLP points will be awarded once the session closes.
Papa Johns Night!
Career Day
Christopher Farms Elementary School will be hosting a Career Day on our school campus Thursday, March 28th from 8:00-10:00am. We are looking for men and women from a variety of occupations to share their careers with our students. If you know anyone who would be interested in participating please have them fill out the form below and return it to Mrs. Yoshida
Birthdays
3/10 - Holly Virella
3/11 - Whitney Sinnen
3/12 - Claire Love
3/12 - Megan Bullard
3/13 - Amy Goodman
3/24 - Wende Phillips
3/26 - May Robertson
3/30 - Tasha Prosha
Important Links from the principal packet
Our Spanish Immersion 4th graders jumping out of their seats to practice their multiples and LCMs.
Look at the 5Cs om action across K-2!
Who thought fractions were hard? These 4th graders making it look easy and yummy!
#Goodphonecalloftheday
Keep these coming!
Please check out our form below to see how Mrs. Porter and myself will be celebrating our students and continuing our positive culture and environment.