Thoughts from Toni and Friends
Believe...Growth Mindset for Student Success!
Our School Vision
Knight Vision: To share in the commitment of rigorous and high quality instruction to meet the needs of every child.
Our 2017-2018 school theme “Believe...Growth Mindset for Student Success!” is directly aligned with our continued vision and instructional expectations for Knight: to share in the commitment of rigorous and high quality instruction to meet the needs of every child.
Instructional Focus:
*Implement the AKS (Common Mini-Lessons and Assessments)
*Implement Authentic Literacy (Purposeful Reading, Writing, and Discussion)
*Implement Effective Instruction (Workshop Model/Gradual Release)
Knight Mission: To provide a positive, stimulating, and secure environment that empowers the individual to grow socially, emotionally and intellectually in order to meet the challenges of an ever-changing world.
Knight Belief: We believe all kids can learn…
…and we will establish high standards of learning that we expect all students to achieve. It is our job to create an environment in our classrooms that engages students in academic work that results in a high level of achievement. We are confident that with our support and help, students can master challenging curricula, and we expect them to do so. We are prepared to work collaboratively with colleagues, students and parents to achieve this shared educational purpose (DuFour, 1997a).
An All-Star Team!!!
Last week was a busy week! Check out these highlights:
- Classroom teachers provided bell-to-bell learning opportunities to 888 students!
- Jennifer Brown and Doreen Heyburn sold many books during the Book Fair!
- Parents attended conferences to enhance our school-to-home partnership!
- Kathy Kelley and the cafeteria team scored 100 on the health inspection!
Thank you for helping to make Knight the Place to Be!
GCPS Tapestry 2018
The 2018 Tapestry Display exhibits Gwinnett’s best and Knight’s amazing artists! Thank you to our art teacher, Gretchen Stelten, for showcasing such wonderful work!!!
February 26th - March 2nd
January 16 - March 2: ACCESS Testing
Monday, February 26th
Staff Picture 8 AM in the Cafeteria
After School Social Hosted by Special Areas II
Tuesday, February 27th
PLC Work during Planning Periods
Wednesday, February 28th
GMAS Prep/Half-Day Planning - 4th/PM
Thursday, March 1st
Read-a-Thon Starts
PLC Work during Planning Periods
GMAS Prep/Half-Day Planning - 5th/PM
Friday, March 2nd
Read Across America Day
UPCOMING EVENTS
March 1 - 15: Read-a-Thon
March 6 - 21: District Assessments
Tuesday, March 6: Teacher Network 7:10 AM
Tuesday, March 6: PLC Work during Planning Periods
Tuesday, March 6: Stone Creek Pizza Night 6 PM - 8 PM
Thursday, March 8: 5th Grade Visits Trickum MS
Thursday, March 8: Bus Puppet Show
Thursday, March 8: Math PD
Thursday, March 8: Odyssey of the Mind Preview 5 PM
Saturday, March 10: Odyssey of the Mind Competition
Sunday, March 11: Daylight Saving Time Starts
Monday, March 12: 1st Grade Planning Day
Tuesday, March 13: Cafe Chat 7:10 AM
Tuesday, March 13: PLC Work during Planning Periods
Wednesday, March 14: KDG Planning Day
Thursday, March 15: Spring Picture Day
Thursday, March 15: PLC Work during Planning Periods
Thursday, March 15: Wedding Shower for Vanita Williams - After School
Saturday, March 17: Readers Rally 8:30 AM
Saturday, March 17: GCPS Teacher Job Fair
Monday, March 19: 3rd Grade Hearing and Vision Screening
Monday, March 19: APTT Night (K-2) 6 PM - 7:15 PM
Tuesday, March 20: GKIDS Data Pull (GCPS)
Tuesday, March 20: APTT Night (3-5) 6 PM - 7:15 PM
Tuesday, March 20: Trickum Parent Q & A in the Cafeteria 7:15 PM
Tuesday, March 20: Chick-fil-A Night 6 PM - 8 PM
Wednesday, March 21: 2nd Grade Planning Day
Thursday, March 22: Cluster Literacy Vertical Team Meeting
Friday, March 23: Breakfast with the Principal
Friday, March 23: Parent Workshop - GMAS
Friday, March 23: 3rd Grade Planning Day
Monday, March 26: 5th Grade Planning Day
Tuesday, March 27: Cluster Literacy/Knight STEM Vertical Team Meeting
Tuesday, March 27: PLC Work during Planning Periods
Tuesday, March 27: Area Board Meeting at Parkview HS 7 PM
Wednesday, March 28: 4th Grade Planning Day
Thursday, March 29: STEM/PBL PD
Friday, March 30: Progress Reports Go Home
GCPS Transfer/Placement Process Timeline
February 20 – GCPS Transfer/Placement Preference Process Begins
March 5 – GCPS Transfer/Placement Preference Process Ends
March 12 – GCPS Transfer/Placement Preference Acceptance Deadline
*Transfer eligibility = three (3) or more years at Knight ES
School is in Session ~ Inclement Weather Make Up Days
Please plan accordingly:
- March 9th
- March 23rd
GMAS Schedule 2018
Thursday, April 12 ~ ELA Section 2
Friday, April 13 ~ ELA Section 3
Tuesday, April 17 ~ Math Section 1
Wednesday, April 18 ~ Math Section 2
Friday, April 20 ~ Science Sections 1 & 2
Monday, April 23 ~ Social Studies Sections 1 & 2
Growth Mindset ~ Will to Skill
Which skill will you focus on the remainder of the school year?
Accept Failure ~ Accept failure as part of the learning process…for yourself…for your team…for your students
Reflect and Move Forward ~ When having difficulty achieving a goal, identify what could have been done differently, and then move forward
Elicit Feedback and Course Correct ~ Elicit explicit and concrete feedback about your teaching/leadership practices and make changes if needed
Improve Teaching and Learning Through Innovation ~ Actively seek out ways to improve your teaching practices and your students’ learning experiences
Ask for help ~ Regularly ask colleagues for help and advice
Breakfast with the Principal - Friday, March 23
Breakfast with the Principal is Friday, March 23. Please send the name of the student selected from your class to Lisa Burton by Wednesday, March 21. Your student will wear the “Breakfast with Dr. Ferguson” lanyard when he or she joins me for breakfast (8:20 am-8:45 am). If you need a new lanyard, please email Lisa Burton. We will have a special section in the cafeteria for the “Breakfast with the Principal” participants.
Reading Goals
A-K ~ 12-15
L-N ~ 6-8
O-Q ~ 4-6
R-T ~ 2-4
U-Z ~ 1-2
SUNSHINE NEWS
3rd grade is hosting a Wedding Shower for Vanita Williams on Thursday, 3/15. Congratulations, Vanita and Taaluwt!! They are registered at Target.
Kindergarten is hosting an After School Social on Thursday, 3/22.
There are still a few days left to guess our February baby picture!!
COUNSELOR'S CORNER
Michele visits 4th grade classes this week.
Michele attends a Counseling Staff Development on Thursday, 3/1.
On the morning announcements, Michele is highlighting 4th graders and students in Brooke Billman's class who are great role models of ACCEPTANCE.
Michele begins teaching the sexual abuse prevention and safety skills lessons the week of 3/5. Please be sure to let her know if you received a note from a parent/guardian saying that they do not want their child in the classroom for this lesson. Thank you!!
SAVE THE DATE ~ Math Institute
Instructional Focus: Mathematical Literacy – The Math Institute supports instructional practices that promote students asking questions, determining the significance of information, draw on their background knowledge, make inferences, develop mental models, reflect on their thinking, learn from their mistakes and synthesize what they learn to effectively speak, listen, read, and write in mathematics.
Content Focus: Number and Base Ten – Cluster Trainers will deepen content knowledge and redeliver Math Institute content, prepared and modeled by Master Trainers, to peers on the conceptual development of algebraic thinking.
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Dates: June 4 - 8
Stipend: $300
*If interested, please email Shaketa Gillard.
SAVE THE DATE ~ Summer School 2018
PD Day 1: May 19 District Led at Discovery HS (Math 8-11:30 & Reading 12:30-4)
PD Day 2: TBA
Who: Students in grades 3-5
When: June 11 - 29
PBIS Thoughts
Happy Monday!
With DA testing and Milestones fast approaching, this is a great time to reinforce hallway behavior. Take a few moments this week to encourage your students to think about how they would feel if there was a class loudly moving through the halls while they were taking a test that determined their promotion to the next grade level. Remind your students that this is a time when some gets get more stressed or distracted, and we need to be thoughtful as we move through the hallway. Remember especially that the stairs and doors near the garden can be very loud.
Practice moving silently beginning this week so your kids can get into the habit of doing it every day.