Thomson Staff Newsletter
January 11, 2015
Important News & Notes
Re-teaching of the Cardinal Code Paid Off
Well, I have to say last week was a very smooth return from the holiday break. I appreciate immensely the time you spent reteaching the Cardinal Code. From observing lessons in classrooms, pictures sent, anchor charts, reteaching with individual students using the binder lesson...it was very evident that you made it a point to intentionally focus on the Cardinal Code. You may have noticed in last week's Thomson Tidbits that I have started including the Cardinal Code Focus of the Week. The focus highlighted here will be the same as the one that we are focusing on for the week in school. My hope is that this will spark conversation at home and further enforce the learning taking place at school. With that said, this week's Cardinal Code focus is Classroom. Please be sure that you intentionally teach the behavior expectations for the classroom.
DRA, DIBELS, SLOs...oh my...
As you are all aware, DRA and DIBELS windows are both open. With the end of the first semester, it is also the time that I like to sit down with each certified staff member to review mid-year data, professional goals, and just the year in general. As you finish us your mid-year assessments, please schedule a meeting with Anna or Lyn for us to meet for approximately 30 minutes. At this time, we will go over classroom specific data (which you will need to bring), review progress toward your professional goals set at the beginning of the year, and review and finalize the SLOs for your evaluation data collections. Remember that in most cases, each of you needs to write at least two SLOs using the template and information provided in December. I have been asked by one PLC to join them to go over what they have been working on and I am happy to assist anyone but this should be done prior to our meeting.
Also, for non-certified staff, if there is anything you would like to review mid-year, please know that my door is open and I'd happily meet with you as well. Please just schedule this time with Anna or Lyn.
Early Release Day
As you are all aware, this Wednesday is our second of four Early Release Days. Our Early Release Day is scheduled to run from 1:48-4:48 p.m., but I am willing to begin at 1:45 p.m. if everyone is there and ready to go. This Early Release Day is for all certified staff, paraprofessionals, and our Challenge Coordinator. We will spend the first half of the afternoon working on using Running Records to guide instruction, especially focusing on the running records obtained from DRA. This will be a good for all staff to participate in and I believe that you will find the information and discussion that will take place valuable and thought provoking. The second half of our afternoon will focus on School Improvement, specifically program evaluation and planning. I am hoping that we will have current data to look at, but know that it may not all be available by Wednesday. We will meet in the library for the afternoon.
CAP Nominations
As you finish up mid-year assessments and observe the students in your classroom, are there any that stick out above the rest, maybe academically or the ways in which they think? These may be students that you want to nominate for the CAP program. CAP parent nominations are due Friday, January 22nd and teacher nominations are due Friday, January 29th. Please let me know if you have any questions about nominating students.
Child Study
Our next Child Study date is next Wednesday, January 20th. If there are any students who you'd like to bring to Child Study, please send their names to Maida and me as soon as possible. Also, please do not forget to keep the SIDR updated on those students who have already been brought to the team.
Important Upcoming Dates
Monday, January 11th-DRA Window Opens; Board of Education Meeting, 7:00 p.m. HS AMR-This is also Board of Education Appreciation Month and there will be a special presentation to our Board of Education
Tuesday, January 12th-ELA 4:15-6:15 p.m.
Wednesday, January 13th-Early Release PD for Teachers, Parapros, & Challenge Coordinator 1:48-4:48 p.m.
Friday, January 15th- Leadership Team Meeting, 7:30 a.m.; DIBELS Window closes
Monday, January 18th-Martin Luther King-No School for Staff or Students
Wednesday, January 20th-Staff Meeting, 7:35 a.m. (Agenda: School Improvement Interim Self Assessment, Early P-T Conferences); Child Study Day
Friday, January 22nd-DRA Window Closes; Parent CAP Nominations Due
Monday, January 25th-ACC, 4:14-6:15p.m.; PTO Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, January 26th-PTO Pals
Wednesday, January 27th-Photo Factory will be in the building to take candid shots of classrooms
Thursday, January 28th-End of the First Semester; Jean Day to support Big Brothers/Big Sisters
Friday, January 29th-No School for Students or Support Staff-Teacher Work Day, teachers may work from home.; Teacher CAP Nominations are Due
Quotes Worth Reading...
One more quote for the New Year...it reminded me of a t-shirt my high school volleyball coach gave me my senior year that had a small volleyball in the center with the word 'fierce' under it. It is funny how a word can impact the way you think...we have heard this before...but that year, that word changed me and the way I played and I ended up with three offers to play volleyball beyond high school. Just a little side story about the power of positive thinking and sticking to and living your 'word'.
-Elite Daily
Birthdays and Celebrations
Here are our upcoming birthdays: January 13th, Maida Demo...Happy Birthday!
Is your calendar marked for our Staff After-Christmas Party? The date is February 6th! Don't forget to sign up in the staff lounge.