MONDAY MEMO
Shawnee Trail Elementary, March 21, 2016
SHAWNEE TRAIL MISSION: Why do we exist? What is our fundamental purpose?
- To create a safe, nurturing and inclusive environment, to inspire ALL students to become passionate, lifelong learners.
- To make meaningful and enjoyable connections as we educate the whole child academically, emotionally, and socially.
At Shawnee Trail we believe ALL Means ALL:
- ALL students will learn at their highest levels.
- ALL decisions are based on what is best for students and are aligned with the mission of our school.
- ALL, students and teachers, learn by doing and building on our own strengths and the strengths of others.
Collective Commitments:
Cultivate a collaborative culture of continuous improvement:
- Read all resources before collaborative learning meetings.
- Be prepared to share, listen and participate in all group discussions.
Foster a save supportive and trusting environment:
- Start on time.
- Be engaged 100% of the time. (Leave unnecessary distractions behind and focus wholly on the tasks at hand.)
- Collaborate and contribute equally and meaningfully
Practice all of these collective commitments by asking, “How did we do? Are we holding ourselves accountable for the team’s norms?”
- Be willing to apologize or confront with passion and purpose when a team member fails to honor the commitments.
Celebrate success large and small.
CELEBRATIONS AND SHOUT-OUTS!
Shawnee Trail is the BEST!
- Shout Out to the Breckenridge's who have a new family member. Beau Thoma Breckenridge was born Saturday, March 12th at 10:18 am!
- Shout Out to Sarah Venters who is hanging in there! Only a few more days to go!
- Shout Out to First Grade! Everyday they demonstrate their support for each other and all of Shawnee Trail, learning and having fun. Christian has gone so far as to volunteer to deliver a baby if needed. While holding a catcher's mitt she has been heard to say, "I got this!"
- Shout Out to first grade for the GREAT meaningful discussion PD. I love the talking strips as support for student discourse.
- Shout Out to Gale for the highly professional way she handles STAAR testing. So much goes on behind the scenes! She takes great care of Shawnee Trail!
- Shout Out to second grade for their support of their long-term sub. They are creating videos to support best practices in Number Talks and Problem Solving.
- Shout Out to Kayla Wilkinson -She has no more level B groups.
- Shout Out to Jodi for taking on all the preparations for Kinder Roundup!
- Shout Out to Elizabeth Meza for all her work in preparing our students and teachers for TELPAS!
- Shout Out to Tara Webb for setting up a yearbook table at Family Fun Night!
- Shout Out to Gale, Lori and Jason for setting up and manning our Olweus Bullying Prevention table!
- Shout Out to Tricia Beck for all her work testing students for GT and her exemplary communication with staff and parents!
- Shout Out to Mr. Washington for taking care of one of our Life Skills students at lunch time!
Professional Learning
Meaningful Discussion/Academic Discourse
SMART GOAL: Increase student’s advanced academic performance by 5% on campus based CFAs by improving meaningful peer conversations (academic discourse).
STRATEGY: Teacher will teach mini lessons, demonstrate, and provide practice using sentence stems and conversations structures. (Seravallo, Lone STAAR Problem Solving, Kagan Structures and Exemplars)
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT: Administrative walk-throughs and campus CFAs will be used to measure progress.
March and April Character Trait Focus is Social Emotional Intelligence
Although there is some disagreement about the exact terminology to use, social and emotional intelligence both refer to the ability to understand your own and others’ feelings and emotions and then to use this understanding to inform your decisions and actions. Socially/emotionally intelligent people solve interpersonal problems quickly by understanding what is upsetting others and being empathetic to these concerns. They tend to recognize when they've said something that made someone uncomfortable and know what makes others "tick.” Socially/emotionally intelligent people are able to thrive in many different relationships and settings because they quickly learn the social rules.
https://characterlab.org/resources/social-emotional-intelligence
Observing Social/Emotional Intelligence
As a teacher, it’s important to recognize that social intelligence is different from just “getting along” with others or following rules. Put a different way: a child who acts out or doesn’t get along with others doesn’t necessarily have a challenge with social intelligence—a myriad of other challenges could be at play. That said, socially intelligent behaviors are also the ones that a teacher might prize in a peaceful classroom. Being socially intelligent could involve:
- Finding solutions during conflicts with others
- Demonstrating respect for the feelings of others
- Adapting to different social situations
https://characterlab.org/resources/social-emotional-intelligence
March Reminders:
Please be cautious about noise in the cafe and Pod 2. ESL Students will take TELPAS on Tues. and Thurs. on the computers in Pod 2.
March 21
- Kinder SST Meeting (3:15, room 310)
March 22
- Pam has Principal Meeting (7:30-11:30)
- TELPAS Reading in Pod 2
- Choir Practice 2:50-3:30
- First Grade SST Meeting (3:15, room 310)
March 23
- All supplemental aids for STAAR are due to Gale by the end of the day.
- Oral Administration STAAR Training (3:20, Pod 3)
March 24
- TELPAS Reading in Pod 2
- Kinder at Petting Zoo
March 25
- Bad Weather Make-Up Day/No School!
Birthdays
Morgan Riley 3/11
Gale Lamb 3/12
Donna Ecker 3/12
Lorraine Lopez 3/12
Melissa Marino 3/25
Kayla Wilkinson 3/25
Becky Breckenridge 3/26
Shawnee Trail Elementary
Email: schaeffp@friscoisd.org
Website: http://schools.friscoisd.org/ES/shawnee-trail/site/home
Location: 10701 Preston Vineyard Drive, Frisco, TX, United States
Phone: (469) 633-2500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShawneeTrailElm
Twitter: @shawneetrailelm