ALICE ISD- ISC Gazette
End of Year Edition 2019
Thank YOU for a Great Year!
Take some time to refresh over the summer and come back ready to hit the ground running. We have much to do to continue our goal of making students FUTURE READY!
Summer Professional Development
For the first time in several years there will be multiple opportunities for summer learning. Please look at the sessions pictured below and read about the sessions offered.
Also be aware that you must register for the sessions on Eduphoria.
Staff can earn stipends for many of these sessions as well.
Unit Resource Guides
These URGs are NOT lesson plans. They are bridge documents for the Instructional Focus Document from Teksresoucesystem and the lesson plans that teachers will write and follow. The URGs will contain elements from the IFD and district resources to help make planning easier next year.
Teachers are able to write these units on their own time and get paid once the unit is complete and checked. This means teachers can work from home in a relaxing atmosphere in their own time. It will also allow teachers to teach summer school or attend summer professional development.
If you are interested in taking part in writing these documents, please contact Anna Holmgreen, Assistant Superintendent.
ELEMENTARY SUMMER PD
Code to the Future
Students learn the basics of coding and programming using Lego components. Students become collaborators, problem solvers and effective communicators!
Not only do students learn coding, teachers get great support and lessons to incorporate the skills. It is a win-win! Two days of staff development in August will be dedicated to Code to the Future for elementary campuses.
To learn more about Code to the Future, click the link below.
Capturing Kids Hearts
Every student comes to school with their own issues. Many come from homes of poverty or are being raised in homes with absent parents. Many of our students are suffering all kinds of trauma. How can we make a difference?
In the fall of 2019, Alice ISD will be implementing Capturing Kids Hearts in Grades 5-12. "Capturing Kids Hearts is a process that is working in thousands of classrooms across the country to provide the strategy and training for teachers and administrators to achieve success in today's classrooms." Capturing Kids Hearts will give teachers the tools they need to "engage and challenge students and raise them to a higher level of performance."
Training will begin the first week of inservice in August. We are so excited to have this program coming to our students and district!
For a brief video, click the link below.
Portrait of a Graduate
This spring several educators and community members came together to create a "Portrait of a Graduate". A Portrait of a Graduate is really a series of statements that reflect the vision and mission of the school district and describe the qualities we want our students to have at the end of their time in Alice ISD. They focus on the qualities that make our students primed for success in the changing world.
The qualities and "I Can" statements developed are listed below. These will be shared next year during staff development and will be communicated to all our students. These statements will help students focus on the things they do daily in activities which will help them be successful in the world at large.
To see a video of one districts implementation click here.
Alice ISD Portrait of a Graduate
Learner’s Mindset
I Can…
- Receive feedback constructively
- Be open to others’ ideas
- Linger in ambiguity
- Think reflectively about the world
- Embrace curiosity to experience new ideas
- Learn something new in every context
- Direct my own learning and curiosity in innovative and creative ways
Critical and Analytical Thinking
I Can:
- Comfortably ask why
- Question the world around me without fear or reservation
- Break down a problem into smaller parts
- Use logic to reason through problems
- Persevere through tough problems to find a solution
- Think through complex problems in diverse and creative ways
Integrity
I Can:
- Act in a way that will benefit others
- Commit to meeting my obligations and responsibilities
- Be honest with myself and others
- Navigate through life with honesty
Collaboration
I Can:
- Learn to step up or step down
- Value anyone’s input
- Work cohesively with others towards a common goal
- Realize the strength and talents of others
Communication
I Can:
- Actively listen to and empathize with others’ perspectives
- Be conscientious about the words and tone I use
- Articulate my thoughts and ideas effectively
- Learn to respect differences
Global Citizen
I Can
- Value and embrace diverse cultures and unique perspectives through mutual respect and open dialogue
- Demonstrate personal, civic, social, local and global responsibility through ethical and empathetic behaviors
- Contribute and take action to make the world a better place
Back to School Staff Development
New teachers to the district will meet August 5th and 6th and all staff report to their home campuses on August 7th!
August 8th and 9th are district days (locations TBD) for training on Code to the Future or Capturing Kids Hearts.
Monday August 12th will be convocation at the high school followed by campus training at home campuses.
The 13th and 14th are district professional development days to orient all with the Depth of Knowledge, Fundamental 5 and Planning with new learning. We will also be rolling out the Unit Resource Guides being written for Grades 2-8 (selected contents).
August 15th teachers are back on home campuses for training. (This could be mandated trainings, 504, RtI, Special Education, Librarians and Counselor trainings, etc.)
More information will be forthcoming to principals.
Friday, August 16th will be the regular Planning and Preparation time to get ready for the students' first day back on August 19th.
Important News to Know - Houston ISD Fined 9.2 Million
As teachers we love to take good ideas and make them our own. Teachers are great at sharing, but sharing and borrowing should not cross the legal lines. We have to model appropriate behavior for our students. Some folks find themselves crossing that line when they forget the legalities involved when they take things they did not create.
Case in point...copyright! Recently Houston ISD was fined 9.2 million dollars for violating copyright by cutting off the copyright restriction statement on their DynaNotes.
Read the article below.
Important News to Know --House Bill 3
May your summer have a little more beauty, a little more music, a little more poetry and a little more dance to your soul.
Happy Summer!
Alice ISD Curriculum
Email: anna.holmgreen@aliceisd.net
Website: www.aliceisd.net
Location: 2 Coyote Trail, Alice, TX, USA
Phone: 361-664-0981
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AliceISD/