Mosaica Online Happenings
April 7-11 2014
Upcoming Dates to Remember
- Friday, April 11th: Last day of Grading Period #3
- Monday, April 14th: Enrichment Day
- May 14th: Enrichment Day
- May 26th: Memorial Day Holiday
- May 27th: Paragon Night
- **Beginning August 28th, all adjunct teachers must submit invoices to Brenda McCullers on the 14th and 28th of the month**
Non-Charter Mosaica Online Locations - **NOTE SOME DATE CHANGES**
**NOTE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME DATE CHANGES BELOW!!**
American School Foundations
April 14 - 21 - Spring Holiday
May 1 - Labor Day
May 25 - Last Day for Seniors
May 31 - Upper School Graduation
June 12 - Last Day of School
Mosaica International School of Hyderabad
April 14 - 18 - Spring Break
May 1 - May Day
May 28 - 30 - Benchmark Testing
June 9 - 11 - Mosaica Online exams
June 13 - Last Day of School
Foundation Academy of Mansfield
April 14 - 18 - Spring Vacation
May 26 - Memorial Day
June 2 - Mosaica Online exams
June 4 - Last Day of School
Muskegon Heights High School
April 7 - 11 - Spring Vacation
April 18 - Good Friday
May 10 - Prof. Dev. Day
May 26 - Memorial Day
May 27 - Exams completed for health students
May 28 - Last Day for Seniors
June 12 - Last Day for Students
Arts & Technology Academy of Pontiac
April 7th - 11th - Spring Break
April 18th - Good Friday
May 23rd - Early Release Day
May 26th - Memorial Day
June 13th - Early Release Day
June 20th - Last Day of School
American School of Puerto Vallarta
April 11 - 27 - Spring Break
May 1 - Mexican Holiday
May 5 - Mexican Holiday
May 16 - Profession Development Day
May 27 - 30 - Senior Final Exams
June 17 - Last Day of School
END OF THE GRADING PERIOD!
Yes, it is that time again... Below are the action items for the upcoming week... Please contact your IC if you have any questions or concerns.
THIS WEEK:
o No later than Wednesday, April 2: Submit the form at the link below signifying that you have verified all PowerSchool rosters (remember this is only for Charter locations & Prep!)
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey= dENNajEzelVDNmNxWmRVMTlrUC1zS1E6MA
o Wednesday, April 9: All K-8 Grading Period 4 courses should be set up
Friday, April 11: Last day of Grading Period 3TEACHER TASKS:
o Verify all gradebooks are up to date
o Follow up with the parents of failing students
o Update the Seating Chart with all essential contacts
o Verify all PowerSchool rosters/Learning Environment rosters and submit the online form
o K-8: Set up GP#4 courses
o K-8: Verify the end dates for your GP#3 courses are correct (4/11/14)
Staff Spotlight - Victoria Barbour
Victoria shares...
I worked in the corporate world before realizing that I wanted to teach and inspire. I now live in Georgia, with my husband and 4 daughters. I have enjoyed teaching online for the past 3 years. Teaching online has enabled me to explore how students learn using technology and has opened the doors to endless possibilities in the "classroom".
Thank you Victoria for hopping in and joining our team!
Mosaica Sunshine!
Congratulations to Ashley Pierce on the birth of her son....
Crawford Pierce!
Let me know of any concerns or celebrations within our Mosaica Online family!
Mosaica Online Enrichment Days
Our next Enrichment Day is Monday April 14th!
Club Corner
Art Club:
Art Club focused on Environmental and Recycled Art for the month of March. Students explored the Scholastics Art Magazine before being challenged to create their own recycled art. Here is Sarai Scolari's 3 CA Recycled Robot!TEACHER TIP OF THE WEEK!
·If you haven’t already verified all PowerSchool rosters and completed the Google form, please do so as soon as possible.
· As we approach the end of GP3, communication and up-to-date grades are VERY important. Please make sure that all gradebooks are accurate (with zeroes entered for missing work), parents of D & F students have been called, and all documentation is provided in the seating chart.
· K-8 Teachers need to be working on setting up their GP4 classes. Please remember that GP4 courses should be set up and ready to go no later than Wednesday, April 9th.
· Please continue to work with your students in terms of state testing. You should be providing support to help them prepare. It is also important to create new Checklists for students who will need to complete work on different days in order to get caught back up with the rest of the class after testing.
· If you have any questions or issues as you try to finish GP3 or prepare for GP4, please contact your IC.
· Teachers of CA and CO students will need to report PowerSchool attendance for the period of March 3rd – April 4th. Please make sure that this is completed no later than 12:00 pm EST on Monday, April 7th.
Thanks!
The Coaching Corner.....
For the month of April, we will be exploring and reflecting upon our communications with our students. Our words are so powerful and can swiftly change the desired outcome of a situation. By changing just a few words in our vocabulary, we can resolve and diffuse adversity quickly and get on with teaching and students learning! (By the way, these tips also work wonderfully with student’s parents, our own children, spouses and colleagues! J)
“Should” is a very demeaning word. When you “should” on someone or on yourself, it is an aggressive tactic. When someone tells another that they “should have done or said something”, or they “should not have done or said something”, or that in future they “should do or say something”, the listener immediately becomes defensive. They feel the need to defend their actions/decisions. They infer that someone thinks them to be wrong or incapable of making good decisions. Teens, when “should on” by their parents, become extremely defensive, and arguments frequently ensue.
*Try substituting the word “could” for “should.” By asking what “could” have been done differently or be done differently next time, the feedback turns from a judgmental, negative past or present, to a helpful, cooperative positive future.
“Why” is also a demeaning word, usually delivered in an accusatory, negative tone of voice. “Why did/would you do/say that? “Why don’t you do/say this instead?” “Why didn’t you tell me?” Again, the person on the receiving end feels defensive, and compelled to explain their choices. Teens are particularly sensitive to the demanding “why,” and even the most innocent “why” question can turn into an argument.
*Try substituting the word “what” for “why”. By asking “what happened?”, coming from a place of curiosity, judgment is suspended and conversation ensues, rather than argument.
“But” is a very condescending word. It negates anything that was said before it. If someone else speaks, and you respond with a “but”, you are implying that what they said was wrong, and that you know better. Often, a “but” is anticipated because of the tone of voice preceding it. Have you ever thought or said “I hear a ‘but’ coming on” ? Sometimes “but” precedes confrontation rather than conversation.
*Try using the word “and” as a connecting word. It acknowledges what the other person has said, and allows a totally different perspective to be expressed, without any sense of competition. I often express differing perspectives on a particular subject, myself, by using the phrase, “having said that”, to alert listeners to the fact that I will be offering more than one perspective.
Online Paragon Nights!
May 27
And last but not least..... Your joke of the week
School Secretary: Who is this?
Student: This is my father speaking!