Bell Elementary School
You are Moving our school Forward and Beyond....
It's over, time to Saddle Up!!
Awww the beautiful sound of birds singing, water swishing at bay. The aroma
of your favorite breakfast delight; mine is anything pastry-like!
Laughter, fun and relaxation! These are the fine memories of a week that we call Spring Break. It doesn't matter what you did; travel, shop, sleep, etc. I hope the time was well spent on something of your own choosing. Welcome back! I enjoyed the time off resting, relaxing and spending time with my family.
Of course there were many moments where my mind shifted to school--one thought was that educators need these types of breaks because they spend countless hours/days/minutes working to meet the needs of so many children. Each child so very different, but each one of them count.It's about the POWER of ONE. What a difficult job, the most important job of them all--Teacher. You inspire, you motivate, and you empower. Although it's tough, you continue to persevere. Thank you for all your hard work and for believing our students can and will achieve.
As we jump back in full speed, you will need your full gear because the ride ahead is going to be bumpy, long, unpredictable, rewarding but quick! We only have 3 weeks until state testing and 42 days until school year 2015-2016 is in the books! Plan carefully, be intentional, use best practices and don't waste one minute! Plan, Plan, Plan. Take a day this week to review our B.O.Y growth goals and where your students are; your M.O.Y. growth goals and where student must go from here. Be strategic in your small grouping.
For us it's a day of work, but to our students it's a day that you are changing their lives-forever..Here's to our last leg of the 2015-2016 race, saddle up!
This school year has brought us great accomplishments and bumps/bruises alike, this quote was very fitting. Our journey is forward.
(School) Life is a series of experiences, each one of which makes us bigger, even though sometimes it is hard to realize this. For the world was built to develop character, and we must learn that the setbacks and grieves which we endure help us in our marching onward."--Henry Ford
Click here for a few ideas on motivating students after Spring Break,
Bell Basketball
Read Across America
Engaging 21st century Learners
There are four critical areas that educators are agreeing on as it relates to preparing the 21st century learner. How do we fair?
- Collaboration and teamwork.
- Creativity and imagination.
- Critical thinking.
- Problem solving.
As we quickly move forward to state testing review and life after testing, how will we engage our Superhero Bobcats?
Compliance for the week of March 21-March 28, 2016
Spring Break 2016 is in the books! I know you enjoyed. Welcome back!! To think there are only 3 weeks before state testing and 42 days before the 2015-2016 school year ends...Whoa!
Walk through visit focus will be : Indicator 1 and 4 (Preparation & Lesson Plans); specifically how you plan for whole group and differentiation for students.
Formal TLE Observations/conference will continue beginning 3/22.
- Lesson Plans due
- Staff Meeting 3:15-4:15 ( PLC Room-Upper)*New Wing
- IEP (Kovach, Goodwin), 504 (Jones/Patochek)
Tuesday 3/22
- Lesson Plans due ( SPED)
- PLC K, 1,2 ( Data Meeting)...MAP/iREAD *Completing our Data Wall
- Potential Retention Google Doc/CST Due (Team Leaders/Counselors)
- IEP (Kovach)
Wednesday 3/23
- PLC 6 (Data Meeting)...SRI/SMI*Completing our Data Wall & Grouping for testing
- IEP (Hill)
Thursday 3/24
- Installation/Phone Deployment (leave classroom door unlocked before you leave for the day)
- PLC 3,4 ( Data Meeting)....MAP/SRI*Completing our Data Wall & Grouping for testing
- IEP (Hill)
Friday 3/25
- Grades due in PowerSchool****************************
- PLC 5 ( Data Meeting)....SRI/SMI*Completing our Data Wall & Grouping for testing
- IEP (Hill)
- Weekly Grades DUE in Powerschool (4th Quarter, Week 1)
2 reading grades due in PowerSchool
2 math grades due in PowerSchool
1 social studies grade due in PowerSchool
1 science grade due in PowerSchool
Important: Save the Date
- 3/21/16 First Day of 4th Quarter
- 3/25 3rd Quarter Grade Due by COB---comments required for "D" or "F"
- Week of 3/27 Classroom Site Visits (Admin & Visitors)
- 3/31 Report Cards go Home
- 4/1 Early Release, 3rd Quarter Assembly, PTA Fun Night, ACCESS Testing ENDS
- 4/5 College Awareness Day
- 4/11-20 Grade 3 Reading Test Window
- 4/11-29 OCCT Paper Test Window (grades 3-8)
- 4/11-5/13 Pre K Early Childhood Inventory Assessment Window
- 4/20 Progress Reports Go Home
- 4/22 Earth Day
- 4/25-5/13 Online MAP (Grade 3) and MPG (K-2) Testing window (RSA)
- 5/5 Cinco de Mayo (planning for celebration to take place in the coming week)
Year to Data Attendance
Do you have any special incentives going in your classroom? How are you getting them to come every day?
Please be sure that you take attendance with great accuracy. Please ensure that if a student is not showing up on your PowerSchool that you send them to the office to alert us.
Destination Excellence
During our professional learning time upon our return we will begin conversations regarding Destination Excellence. In preparation for the discussion we'll have, please take a moment to review the strategic plan and reflect on the following questions:
a. When thinking about Destination Excellence, what stands out as the most relevant for you? What's the most exciting?
b. What are the key needs that should be addressed to achieve our vision? (i.e. improving literacy rates, dramatically increasing the number of high school graduates, etc.)?
c. What do you see as highest priority areas within the plan? What should happen within the first year and what is a longer term priority?
d. What do we need to watch out for as we come up with priorities?
e. What are the key questions we should consider?
An opportunity for Professional Development on your own!
Underwriting for this webinar has been provided by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.