Busy Bee Leader Board
See the Good. See the Need. See the Whole. See the Possible.
The gift of time ---> #youmatter
Leaders of Learning
This week's nominees:
Vaetta Cameron: I would like to nominate Vaetta Cameron for taking the lead in our classroom while I was doing bus training, and during my IEP meetings this week.
Greg Stivland: I would like to nominate Greg Stivland for a chance at the busy bee award. His knowledge and passion for students is so evident. I appreciate him sharing with us so that we all have an opportunity to offer students strategies that maximizes their learning. He is truly an asset to our school!
Cassidy Culbertson, Danielle Duncan, Sue Kolean, Damita Nocton, Charity Blanchard, Kim Brown, Nicki Bauer and Susie Mumper: Thank you to each of these leaders for being willing to be observed during our Teaching Studies this week! We appreciate your examples of being "Risk Takers"!
Making our Hive Thrive
Comments from visits this week:
K - Students know the routines and it is obvious that teachers have high expectations. Setting timers for literacy assignments and small group instruction is a great idea. Math binders filled with math tools is such a brilliant idea for K students.
1st- The math strategies that students are using and sharing are a reflection of great teaching. The math vocabulary that is being used by teachers and students is awesome.
2nd - Anchor charts are being used in such a meaningful way and students are using them as a resource. Math problem solving is being taught through story problems instead of in isolation.
Thomas Tidbits
And remember, "Every kid needs a champion." --Rita Pierson
Counselor Corner
Guidance Lessons
Just a reminder that I will not be doing guidance lessons until January. Look for calendar invites for the next set of lessons.
BackPack Pals Fundraiser
Please help support our BackPack Pals program.
On Monday December 1st we will do a jean day to support the program. You can donate either $1 or $5. In addition to wearing jeans you will get raffle tickets. For $1 you will get 1 ticket. For $5 you will get 6 tickets. Please give your money to me, so I know how many tickets to give you.
They are also doing various spirit nights at local restaurants and a concert on Dec 4. Check out our website for more details. You are also welcome to buy extra raffle tickets if you like. My last day selling them will be Dec 2.
Cold weather
With the cold weather upon us, please make sure students are wearing coats to travel between buildings. This is a good time to notice if our students need support with coats, gloves or hats. Let me know if you have a child that needs these items.
Volunteers
Just a reminder that all volunteers need to fill out a volunteer form. There are forms in the office and I also have some. If the students are being left alone with a volunteer, then a background check needs to be done on them. This requires a different form and will take about 2 weeks to get the results. I know these forms have not been done in the past but we really should have information about who is in our school. You can keep a copy of the form but I need the originals. It will be safe just to get all your parent volunteers to fill out a form. Even if they have been volunteering for the past 5 years. I would like to make an updated list of all our current volunteers.
Federal Impact Aid forms
Please ask your parents to return these forms by December 5th. They can help us get money for our school. All parents should return them.
Hour of Code--The Largest Learning Event in History!!
STEAM lab reminders
- Teachers--please check to see if you accidentally took iPad #15 with you back to your classroom thinking it was your classroom iPad. It may be somewhere in your classroom. It has still not turned up.
- iPads should be plugged back into the cart to charge when your class is finished with them.
- Please consider teaching students how to "kill" the apps so that we don't have a large collection of apps open and draining the battery.
- iPad use is to be supervised--we had some students this week accessing music videos on the iPads instead of using the educational apps that are provided.
- iPad cart should be locked before leaving the lab.
- Door to the lab should be locked after leaving the lab.
- iPads should remain in the STEAM lab at all times.
- Check out http://pbskids.org/designsquad/ for ideas/lessons/resources for the lab.
- Check out http://www.mcsstem.org/lessons--activities.html for additional ideas/lessons/resources.
Walkthrough Focus
Upcoming Dates
November 24: 2nd grade Field Trip
November 25: Faculty Staff meeting with Dr. Grimesey (3:00-3:45)
November 26: Optional Workday
November 27-28: Thanksgiving Break
December 1-5: Book Fair--Sir Readalot's Castle
December 2: Family night at the book fair--4:30-6:00 (Please encourage students to come "dressed to impress" in their Prince and Princess costumes.
December 3: Staff Meeting--please note that this is a week earlier than normal. We are scheduled to have "Fire Evacuation Training" with Assistant Fire Marshall--We will also be launching #GoodCallsHome.
December 4: Mary Carrington to present "Recognizing Giftedness in the Underserved" to all PLC teams
December 4: Alvita off campus for Skillful Observation & Coaching session--8:30-11:30
December 5: Early Release Day
December 5: Kindergarten Assistants in Reading Mastery Training with Laura Dendy from 8:00-3:00; 1st grade Assistants receive Reading Mastery Booster from 12:30-2:30;
December 5: Grade Level PLC teams working on Common Assessments
December 5: EC staff to meet with Alvita from 1:00-3:00
December 8-14: Hour of Code in the STEAM lab
December 10: Marci off campus for Principals Meeting
December 10: Duty Free Lunch with Dessert Bar (provided by PTA)
December 12: Kindergarten students to perform at Southern Pines Rotary
December 16: First Grade Celebration of the Arts
December 17: Southern Middle School Orchestra to perform @ 10:30 followed by School-wide Sing-a-long
December 18: YR Break begins
December 19: TR Break begins
January 2: Optional Workday
January 5: All students return from Break
January 5-16: SRI MOY
January 7: Marci off campus for Principals Meeting
January 8: Alvita off campus for Skill Observation & Coaching--8:30-11:30
January 12-February 3: mClass MOY
January 12-23: Math Benchmark for TR
January 14: School Improvement Site Visit
January 14: Staff Meeting
January 16: Early Release day--PD to be determined
January 19: No School
January 21: 1st and 2nd graders to Pinecrest @ 12:30 for Encore Kids! performance of the Carolina Philharmonic
January 21: Marci working with Dr. Rutherford--8:30-11:30
January 21-22: Marci at Friday Institute in Raleigh
January 21: SIT meeting
January 23: Volunteer Breakfast
January 26: Required Teacher Workday--DreamBox Session 8:00-9:00
January 28: Marci at Teaching Fellows Commission Meeting
January 30: Assistants at PD on Supporting the Literacy Framework--10:30-12:30
Contact Information for SPP
Email: mhouseman@ncmcs.org
Website: ncmcs.org
Location: 1250 West New York Avenue, Southern Pines, NC, United States
Phone: (910) 692-8659
Twitter: @soupinesprimary