Cobra Connect
Staff Newsletter - 3-4-2019
Home of the Cobras
Collins Intermediate is committed to academic success and general well-being of all students. Through collaboration and teamwork, we will provide meaningful strategies and interventions for all students to reach their learning goals.
Website: http://collins.conroeisd.net/
Location: 6020 Shadowbend Place, The Woodlands, TX, USA
Phone: 281-298-3800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Collins
Twitter: @CollinsCobras
Bond Reminders
the parent newsletter. Information due Monday - Noon. Targeted publication Monday PM or Tuesday AM.
Two Plus Weeks at a Glance
Please check Parent Calendar, Collins Staff Forum, and your personal Outlook Calendar in the event an event was missed.
- Team Leader Meeting 8AM - PLC room
- 5th Social Studies DCC
Wednesday, March 6th
- Shelli Off Campus 8:00 - 10:30 PTO President/Principal Meeting in Conroe
Thursday, March 7th
- Care Team 8AM - PLC
- Cobra Focus Meeting - Canceled
- All Cre8tive - Vendor on Campus
- iPod Day - $5 to listen during school day
- 6th Social Studies DCC
- Spirit Night Fuddruckers 5 - 8PM
Friday, March 8th
- 5th Grade Student Health Fair
- Student Early Release
- End of the nine weeks - Grade uploaded at 5 PM
Monday, March 11th - Friday March 15th - SPRING BREAK
Monday, March 18th
- PTO Meeting 1:15 PM
- Core Leader Meeting - 7:45 AM PLC Meeting Room
- Report Card Verification Due
- Fire Drill 1:45 PM
Wednesday, March 20th
- Principal Meeting - Shelli Out until 12:30 PM
- Spring Pictures
- District Site Based - Shelli Out from 3:30 - 6:30 PM
Thursday, March 21st
- 8 AM Faculty Meeting
Friday, March 22nd
- "The Talk" for 5th/6th Girls and 5th/6th Boys
- PTO Lunch
- TELPAS Rating Completed
- DI Team leaving for State in Corpus Christi
- 5th/6th ELA Training 2:30 - 3:30 PM @ Wilkerson
Monday, March 25th
- Feeder Principal Meeting - Shelli Out until 10:30 AM
- Colossal Cobras 6th Grade 3 PM Library
Tuesday, March 26th
- 6th Reading BM
- Colossal Cobras 5th Grade 3 PM Library
- CISD - College Park Feeder Bond Presentation 6 PM College Park HS Auditorium
- College Park Feeder Choir Concert 6PM - Location TBA
Wednesday, March 27th
- STAAR Training during PLC
Thursday, March 28th
- STAAR Oral Admin Training 8 AM
- RtI Meeting 7:45 AM Front Conference Room
- Lighthouse Meeting 8 AM PLC Room
- 5th Science BM
Friday, March 29th
- Sunshine Club Greeting @ front and back of Collins
- Para STAAR Training - 9 AM, 9:50 AM, and 10:40 AM
I have put the cash receipt forms in your boxes for the IPOD collection. Please make sure you count and complete and sign the form before turning into me Thursday morning.
If you have any questions, please email me.
Thanks,
Karen
Friday, March 8th 1/2 Day Schedule
TELPAS Writing
Spring Break Energy Conservation
Spring Break begins this weekend. Help our district save money and shut-it-down when you’re not around.
Before you leave for the long weekend, please take a few moments to:
- CLOSE blinds before leaving for break to prevent heat loss through windows.
- POWER DOWN electrical devices and power strips in your offices and classrooms (computers, monitors, projectors, smart boards, etc.).
- Unplug microwaves, coffee makers, small appliances.
- TURN OFF the lights and CLOSE doors.
- Clean out Refrigerator
- Do not leave any food or food product in the school
Have a happy and safe Spring Break!!!
IMPACT Update
The results are in for the four (4) highest percentages of staff attending the Saturday, February 9, 2019, IMPACT/Jr League Event hosting Dr. Rick Rigsby, author and keynote speaker.
The top four (4) campuses are as follows:
- Anderson Elementary School with 56.1% in attendance
- Collins Intermediate School with 50.0% in attendance
- Reaves Elementary School with 36.4% in attendance
- Houston Elementary School with 31.6% in attendance
Many thanks to each of you for promoting this IMPACT training event provided by the Junior League of Montgomery County. Each campus will receive a book for every staff member for a book study for the 2019-2020 school year.
Big Art Day!
Hi Collins,
Thursday March 7th CISD is teaming up with TAEA for "Big Art Day!" and we would love for you to be a part of it!
Our Art Clubs have been putting their considerable talents to work on decorating paper neckties to help celebrate the event - and that's where you come in!
On Thursday, March 7, 2019 we will have the ties available up front near the snack and coffee area for y'all to try on and share photos in coordination with the rest of CISD via twitter using @ConroeFineArts #bigartday19
OR
email photos to ylebron@conroeisd.net
Thanks in advance - y'all rock!
Best,
Evan and Karen
5th Grade Student Health Fair
I am excited to announce that Friday nursing students from Lone Star Montgomery College will be here to put on a health fair for our 5th graders. The kids will attend during PE times. This is a great opportunity for the kids to learn about several topics including healthy eating, exercise, germs, etc. and see a diverse group of nursing students. If you have a chance, come down to the gym and say hello.
Unfortunately, due to time constraints, we have to postpone the "talk" on growth and development to Friday March 22. This will include 5th and 6th graders and will take place during PE.
Thanks!
Nell
Thank You!
Thank you to everyone for your participation with March Madness. It was one of the best "lock-ins" we have ever had. We also appreciate those that donated candy and soda for the games.
A special thanks to the committee leaders and those that helped insure that the events/stations were stocked, prepared, and implemented beautifully.
Our Cobra Council students did a wonderful job at the different activities - we appreciate their student leadership.
504 & ARD Compliance
Please be aware of the email sent last week about online signatures.
If you received a letter in your box today, it will have the names of the students that you have yet to sign for their accommodations, and the date it was sent to you.
*Please note these accommodations need to be printed out and in a folder in your room
*The most recent documents sent to you are what should be printed
*Even if you receive two shares (one usually is an update/change) - BOTH shares need to be signed.
***Printing in the copier room - Please secure print any 504 Teacher Bundles or IEP documents.
Too many confidential documents are being left on the printer or the counter.
If you have trouble setting this up, please let me know and I can help.
Thank you for your time and understanding the importance of keeping our School Compliant.
Assistant Principal Prose
LPAC Documents
Teachers, please make sure you are signing the receipt for LEP students accommodations. I have a long list of names that have not done so. Thank you, Sabrina
Going forward you will receive share/sign emails form estar for the LPAC State Assessment documents from Debbie Wilson. Please review those as quickly as you are able to, just like you do for 504 and SpEd documents; and sign the document online.
The updated 6 hours must be completed by beginning of May.
Please turn in certificate of completion as early as possible to Sabrina Pomales.
From The Nurse
Teachers/Staff we need your help:
The clinic is being overrun with fevers right now. Flu has hit us. Please refrain from letting kids come to the clinic for minor things, such as a stomachache, especially right before lunch and right after lunch. Lunch time is extremely hectic in here with meds, etc. If a student has a stomachache right before lunch, he/she is probably hungry. If it's right after lunch, it's probably because he/she ate quickly then went outside for recess. If they say the words "throw up", sit them by a trash can. The more non-sick kids get sent to the clinic, the higher the probability that they will get exposed to real illnesses, like the flu.
Thank you!
Nell
RtI Tier II Progress Reports
Just a friendly reminder that RTI Tier II Progress Reports are due tomorrow. Please place them in my mailbox once your forms are complete.
Should you have any questions or need any help please let me know.
Thank you for all you do,
Doreen
SLO - Progress Check In Number 2
Sign In - Sign Out
Every staff member - no matter the reason that leaves campus should go to Eduphoria and electronically sign out and then sign back in when they return. Even for a quick McDonald's lunch run!
Click on Image for Steps in Eduphoria for Sign Out/In
Attendance - Taking it on Time
We still working on 100% attendance taken at 10:00 AM each day by teachers. We will be moving the reminder bell to 9:45 AM so that attendance is in the computer by 10 AM. I completely understand that it is not always easy to stop in the middle of teaching to take attendance, however it is required by the state. The district is really cracking down, on this issue, this year. Please read the email below that was sent to all PEIMS clerks.
We have been hearing for some time that TEA is very concerned about the actual time that attendance is taken for ADA. At the beginning of this year, the principals were reminded that we would be looking into this issue.
ADA attendance is a point in time, not a period. The time for your campus must be set before school starts and should be in the 2nd or 5th hour of instruction. Our campuses almost all use the 2nd hour. Having said that, it is a POINT IN TIME and not the entire 2nd period for the correct attendance taking time by teachers. For instance, if your campus ADA time is 10:00 and attendance is taken at 10:45, that is not correct. During an audit, funding would be lost for that class. As it was explained to us by TEA, if TEA audits your campus or your district, and finds that the attendance time is not being met, they will take away funding. The example we were given is that they could take away $30 per student per class of all classes with the time outside of the actual time. If you have a class of 30 students and the teacher is not taking attendance promptly, you would loose $900 per day per class, multiplied by the number of days that the time was incorrect, potentially a staggering amount of funding to be lost on each class.
I am receiving emails from the PEIMS office reminding us of the attendance rules , and also reminders at audits. We have been asked to send letters to the teachers explaining the consequences, that the school will face, if their attendance is not taken exactly at the attendance time. Thank you for your understanding in this matter.
Breakfast
We look forward to your feedback during the trial of this new timeline.
Warm Up Wednesday
Pants
Black warm up pants of your of your choice (either solid or a stripe down the sides)
Shirt
Current PTO Collins school shirt "Work Hard, Be Kind, Dream Big, Collins Cobras"
An LC created team shirt (that the entire team is wearing)
A PLC created team shirt (that the entire team is wearing)
IF we were to create a Collins Staff shirt - it could be worn in the future.
To conclude - four shirt options and one warm up pant option.
If jeans are worn on Wednesday - staff member must use a "Jeans Pass".
Please remember for our staff picture we are are wearing the Gray "Work Hard, Be Kind, Dream Big, Collins Cobras".
CARE Team - Foundations
Heather Ramsey: LC 5-1, 5-2, 5-3
Paige Kirbo: LC 5-4, 5-5
Melanie Cockshott & Julie Berg: LC 6-1 & support staff
Shawna Yates: LC 6-2, 6-3
Lisa Lackey: LC 6-4, 6-5
Collin Henry: PE and Fine Arts
One-liners
★ Check your Feet
★ Third Tile - Single File
★ Check your Hands
★ Check your Voice
★ Right Side, Safe Side
★ Hats/Hoods off
****** Next Meeting Thursday, March 7th********
Copy Machine Important Update - Dark Print
Teachers & Staff.... regarding item #4 below....in addition to dark borders creating issues with printing and possible jamming problems, it also sucks up toner. Sooo, when printing items with a dark border, please erase those edges.
Something new regarding cardstock copying...
Not only do you have to:
- load the card stock in the side (tray 5)
- select the appropriate paper weight (heavy)
- select the correct paper size
- ensure orientation of the inserted paper matches the selection of the paper size
But, you also should NOT use the duplex function. If you need your card stock to be 2-sided, you should run 1 side...collect your copies and turn them over to run the second side.
Ugh...I know...it's a pain in the tail to have so many rules and processes and procedures, but know they are for the good of us all so our beloved copy machine stays in tip-top shape. Thanks for being rule-followers!
Copy Machine - Please review #5
- When loading paper in his trays, be patient...wait for the tray to completely lower before dropping in a ream of paper. He looks like a strong, tough guy...but he doesn't like surprises and his tray cables are more delicate than we think. They can't handle the force of a ream of paper being dropped in unexpectedly.
- Before loading a ream of paper, it may even be helpful to slightly thumb through/fan the paper to help separate those sheets of paper.
- Mr. Copy Machine is smart. Follow his instructions - in order. In the event of a paper jam, he will tell you how to locate the jam in great detail....be sure to follow the steps listed on his display monitor. Don't automatically assume that the jam initiated in the paper tray. Following his steps in the order listed will reduce the potential for ripped paper pieces getting stuck in unreachable areas of the machine. If it states to turn knob 3, then open tray 1, then remove the paper from slot C...that's what you should do (even if you see the paper in slot C sticking up and waving at you). I can't stress it enough....please FOLLOW the sequence of instructions listed on the display screen.
- Please ensure that all of his levers & lids are shut, lowered and/or replaced properly before pushing the guts back in the machine after clearing a mis-feed/jam.
When things aren't closed properly, it throws off the alignments and sensors to allow paper to flow freely and correctly.
- If you are printing something with a dark border, please make sure the margins are set to at least .4 - anything smaller/narrower than that confuses our otherwise brilliant copy machine and will create problems when printing.
Cardstock...this is a biggie and requires it's own set of bullets
cardstock should always be loaded in the side bypass tray 5 (never in the main trays)
- always identify the paper as heavy weight
- always verify the correct size & orientation of the paper
- If staples need to be replaced, please check with me or Karen Kline to obtain staple cartridge & instructions on the replacement process.