May 7, 2018
A Communication Tool for the Seven Hills Staff
Teacher Appreciation Week:
To help you prepare for the week:
- Monday: Wear jeans and a shirt of your choice, lunch and snack table provided by the PTA
- Tuesday: Wear jeans and "World Changer" shirt (campus Leader in Me guests from 8:00 - 10:00), lunch and snack table provided by the PTA
- Wednesday: Wear jeans and a shirt of your choice, lunch and snack table provided by the PTA, staff may leave after dismissal duty today
- Thursday: Wear jeans and a hat with a shirt of your choice, lunch and snack table provided by the PTA
- Friday: Wear jeans and flip flops with a shirt of your choice, lunch and snack table provided by the PTA
Thank you for all you do to make a difference for the students, staff, and families at Seven Hills...not just today or this week...but EVERY DAY!
STAAR Updates From Your CTCs...Leslie and Hayley!
Look for information from Leslie and Hayley this week regarding STAAR testing next week.
All halls and rooms need to be prepared for testing by the time you leave on Thursday. 2-3 grade hall and 4-5 halls will be used.
Please share the information about STAAR testing and closed campus pictured below with your parents.
Seven Hills is Managing the Whirlwind and Focusing on the Wildly Important!
Commitments:
We have been focused on making commitments over the last 2 weeks to help us persevere through "the zone" in pursuit of the summit. If you look at the Leader in Me Goal Mountain, you will see that accountability is placed toward the top of the mountain. You will also notice that the picture is of one person helping another up the mountain. Thinking about your commitments for week 3, what help do you need from me? the Administration Team? Your teammates? Instructional Coaches? Remember the role each team member played in helping Erik reach to the summit...no one climbs alone...please let others know when you need help!
Week 3 commitment cards have been placed in your mailboxes. Please mark your week 1 and 2 card with your progress and turn in your new commitment card on Monday. Before making your commitment, consider what else you might commit to this week that would have a positive impact on students, the campus, your grade level, YOU?
As you prepare for the week ahead, here are a few proactive statements to help you choose weather that could make a BIG difference as you you brave the elements at the top of the mountain:
- I can help someone in need.
- I can listen to my students.
- I can make someone smile.
- I can celebrate a public victory for/with a student.
- I can celebrate my own private victory.
- I can advocate for my students and my school.
- I can make someone laugh.
- I can help someone else move a big rock.
- I can BELIEVE in my students...and make sure they KNOW that I BELIEVE in them!
- I can...
Habit Focus for the Rest of the Year: Habit Review
4 Weeks to Review the 7 Habits with Students:
NISD Professional Learning Expectations and Opportunities:
NISD offers teachers comprehensive and highly regarded professional learning opportunities. I have tried to capture the key components here, but if you would like to peruse a little on your own, the following links might be of interest:
- NISD Professional Learning Website: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pHjJQTJSTVIW9mAVNJu0fpm7ApbfroRshrP4-heeBg0/edit
- NISD Professional Learning Framework: https://www.nisdtx.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=232201&pageId=7912537
Staff Development Flex Days:
Each professional must accumulate a minimum of three flex days (18 learning hours) between July 1, 2018 and March 10, 2019 to be used for the November 21, 2018, December 21, 2018, and April 19, 2019 staff development days. Classes offered in June may be used with principal approval.
All professional development applicable to flex days must be taken during off-contract time.
Prior approval from the principal is required for all sessions and must be documented on the Flex Days for Staff Development form.
Any changes to the form must be approved by the campus principal.
Core content teachers are required to attend a 3 hour content institute as part of their 18 hours.
ALL Instructional Staff (Everyone except Paraprofessionals) will complete 6 hours of FLEX on August 10 during our Leader in Me Empowering Instruction learning.
9 of your required 18 hours will come from Leader in Me required PD in August and the Required Content Institutes offered this summer.
FLEX Approval Form: http://www.nisdtx.org/departments/professional_learning/flex_days
Required Annual Training Updates:
NISD has developed a series of annual updates that meet district, state, or federal guidelines for employees. Each campus shall provide expectations regarding timelines for completion and verify staff compliance. A complete list will be available in August 2018. You may begin completing these courses through Eduphoria on July 1st.
General Summer Dates:
August 1-3, 2018 ENGAGE Professional Learning Conference
August 13-15, 2018 New Teacher Professional Learning
August 16-24, 2018 All Staff Professional Learning
The chart pictured below outlines the All Staff Professional Learning Schedule. This schedule is subject to change based on campus needs or scheduling. Report to your home campus on August 16, 2018.
CONTENT INSTITUTES
Content Institutes are required for all Pre-K-5 teachers, Dual Language Teachers, Secondary ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies teachers, World Languages teachers and Special Education teachers. If you have questions, please verify with Kim Blackburn which Institute you should attend. DON'T WAIT TO SIGN UP! COURSES FILL UP FAST!! You can find the dates that these required courses are offered here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pHjJQTJSTVIW9mAVNJu0fpm7ApbfroRshrP4-heeBg0/edit#
ENGAGE
- Need a babysitter? Alphabest will be open for school-age children. If you are attending ENGAGE, Alphabest is FREE to you!!
- You will not want to miss the great sessions at ENGAGE this summer. We have fantastic featured presenters as well as over 150 other amazing sessions to choose from. The following sessions will be offered at ENGAGE as well as others.
- A final ENGAGE Schedule will be posted in June.
- Opportunities listed under all contents are geared to support teachers that teach all subjects. Courses are listed under one Domain, but most crossover and support many of the T-TESS Domains.
DO NOT WAIT TO REGISTER FOR COURSES YOU ARE INTERESTED IN!
COURSES FILL UP FAST!
Campus and District Announcements and Updates:
Teacher Contracts for the 2018 - 2019 School Year Will be Delivered on Monday. I apologize for any delay. I was out of the office the day they were received.
Morning Arrival and Duty Reminders: A gentle reminder that we receive students at 7:20 am. Teachers should be in their classrooms ready to monitor students and prepare students for the day at 7:20. This is an important part of the day, and has the potential to set students up for success for the rest of the day. What are students engaged in/with from 7:20 - 7:40 am? Staff who do not have homeroom class assignments do have morning duty assignments. It is very important that staff are on duty promptly at 7:20 am in order to support a safe arrival for everyone.
Message from the Math Department: We wanted to send out a reminder that it is a district expectation that all students upload two mathematical writing samples to their e-portfolios each year. Kinder through 2nd grade should upload explanations while 3rd through 5th grade should upload justifications. If you are in need of any assistance with this process, please reach out to your wonderful campus Instructional Technology Coach.
Please let us know if you have any questions. Have a wonderful afternoon.
Shaunda, Jaime, and Meredith
- Be informed...The Latest Edition of the C&I Newsletter: https://www.smore.com/nkpt1
- Save the Date for Campus Based PD in August: Seven Hills staff will complete The Leader in Me Empowering Instruction professional learning on August 10, 2018. All instructional staff are required to attend, and because this is a non-contract day, this will count toward FLEX credit. The location is TBD, as we may opt to have this off site for a more engaging PD.
Attendance Snapshot Time: Staff, it is imperative that attendance be completed DAILY at the 9:30 reporting time. Funding is connected to this reporting, and should the district/campus be audited, failure to report attendance at the snapshot time could result in loss of funding for all of the students in your classroom on each day that attendance was not completed at the reporting time. Please be advised that reporting attendance is connected to T-TESS discipline 4.
Save the Date:
Habit Focus: Habit 7
May 7:
- No ILT meeting
- Theme Team Meeting, 3:30 - 4:00 in the Library
May 8:
- For guests on campus today, all staff wear "World Changer" shirt and jeans
- Grade Level PLCs - we will begin class placement protocols this week.
- Leader in Me Visitors from Caprock Elementary 8:00 am
- Staff meeting data reflection completed last week needs to be turned in to Kim Blackburn
May 9:
- 5th Graders to CTMS
May 10:
- Staff Meeting, 3:30
- All Rooms and Halls must be prepped for STAAR before you leave
May 11:
- Sharpen the Saw Clubs
- 1st Grade Mother's Day Tea, 9:00 am
Save the Date:
Happy Birthday to You:
Kara Jones 5/12
Leslie Russell 5/13