Team Thomson News & Notes
October 17, 2016
Important Information for You!
Kindergarten/Early 5's PLC Follow-up
I was so impressed with the level of professional conversation and engagement at our most recent District PLC. From those that I have spoken directly with, I heard that this was one was a very beneficial day for you. Only through continuing to unpack the Common Core and truly understand what needs to be taught, we will continue to grow as teachers, but also see the growth we wish from our students. While I know that unpack the Common Core will remain a focus for the district, I encourage you to spent time in your PLCs continue to work through them yourselves. Keep up the great work and thoughtful dialogue.
5D+ & Student Growth
This past Friday, October 14, we received an email with attachments from Asst. Supt. Kevin Brown detailing the plan to measure our goal of student growth. If you have not already done so, I highly recommend you review the documents paying close attention to grade level or department specificity. The Student Growth Data will be a future topic of building PLCs and data days. Looking ahead toward understanding of quadrant data which will be used on the STAR Early Literacy/Numeracy, we will learn more about this at our Data Days in January when we will get our first look at this sort of way of looking at data. Remember, we are all in this together and we need to support our team!
Also, remember you need to respond to the 'Noticing and Wondering' within 48 hours of receiving the email after your observation. I will then provide 'Feedback' within 48 hours of that and you will receive an email that it is waiting for you to read.
End of the 1st Marking Period-PD and Report Card Deadlines
On October 20 and 21, I will be at the last two days of my six day training on the 5D+ Observation and Evaluation Tool. On October 21 teachers will participate in PD will be from 8 - 11 AM at Central. The afternoon is a teacher work day and teachers may complete their work from home or work at school. Report card grades are due no later than 4:30 PM on Wednesday, November 2. Report card printing will begin on November 3.
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Grant
Jennifer Mieslick and Phil Thom worked and were awarded a $100,000 Fresh Fruit and Veggie grant to be used at Siple, Central, Gates, and Thomson. This grant will allow for an additional fresh fruit or vegetable snack at school. While Jen is still working on exactly how many days a week we will be able to provide this to our students and teacher, we are hoping for at least two days...maybe 'Try it Tuesday' or 'Fresh Fruit and Veggie Friday'. The snacks will come prepackaged from a speciality supplier. When meeting with Jen and Phil, we discussed that it would be nice to expose students to things they may not normally get to have in some homes. We did not just want to see apples, bananas, carrots. Jen shared that the supplier she will be working with carries in season fruits and veggies. Since the items will come prepackaged, Kay will be counting them out by classroom and you will just need to grab your bag and take it back for a special afternoon snack. The goal is to begin this program the week we come back from intersession. I will also be writing something up for the Tidbits so parents are aware.
Word Study News
At our Leadership Team Meeting Friday, the implementation of differentiated Word Study blocks that is expected for when we return from Intersession was discussed. I understand from what was shared that some are worried about this. Think about this time like you would workshop, three groups running simultaneously. You will need to think about and schedule for which groups you will focus on each day and determine how you will ensure that the other groups know what they should be doing. Will you have tubs? Will you give a quick explanation to group A while group B is cutting out a sort and waiting for your return, and group C engages in a totally independent activity? Now is the time to be thinking about this. Your students are already able to work in stations, so you can not tell me this is not something they are ready for. If you have specific questions about this, I would happily sit down with you to help you work through it.
The Leadership Team also expressed that it is always beneficial to see it in real life. If you already have groups up and running and wouldn't mind being video taped, the entire staff could benefit. We are not looking for perfect...learning is messy, teaching is messy, but that is what makes it amazing!
Halloween Fun
As you all are fully aware, Halloween is the day we return from Intersession and it is going to be GREAT! With that said, please make sure that you let the office know what time your party will be. With this also being our first day without Anna for a little bit (she is having knee surgery in case you weren't aware), we want to be sure we are as prepared in the office as possible. I will be sending out a reminder note to parents this week outlining the Halloween parades and including a special note about parents being welcome to dress up, but that scary or clown (given recent events) costumes are not allowed. However, due to the age of our students they will be allowed to be funny clowns if this was already their intended costume.
Intersession Cleaning
First, I can't believe that our first Intersession is here already...wow did time fly! Second, over Intersession Jim and Kelly will be working on some 'big' cleaning projects including the gym floor, cleaning new overhead heating/cooling units in the classrooms, and deep cleaning of classrooms. Since the gym floor will be done, please be mindful of signs on the doors as there will be a day or two that you will not be able to go through the gym if you decide to come in and work in your classroom. I will follow-up with an email of building hours once I have confirmed Kelly's work hours for the week.
Perspective
This year at our district administrative meetings, Michelle Edwards has designed an activity in which two administrators will sit in a 'safe chair' and share a little about themselves. Last week, our first two administrators sat in the chair to share. I have shared with many of you that Middle School Principal Shelly Fenner is a person of many amazing qualities and someone who served as a mentor to me even before I became a principal myself. She is amazingly positive, has a 'get it done' attitude, and has the ability to bring things out in people that they are/were not even aware existed themselves. While she was sharing about herself something she said struck me and had me reflecting on the start to this school year. I know that there have been many changes and new 'things' this year, but she said very matter-of-factly and sincerely, "I love education and never get bored. It is always changing or there is something new, so you never get bored. I don't think I could do it if it was boring." Now isn't that a positive way to look at change and new things...it keeps us on our toes, keeps us from becoming stagnate, keeps us learning, growing as professionals, and continuing to master our craft. I know it can be overwhelming, but remember sometimes you just need to change your lens and look at it a little differently...you will get through it and come out a better educator!
Quotes Worth Reading
“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new"
-Socrates
Thomson Elementary
Home of the Thomson Teddies!
And..
Where Kids Come First and Futures Begin!
Website: www.davisonschools.org
Location: 617 East Clark Street, Davison, MI, United States
Phone: 810-591-0911
Celebrations & Announcements
However, don't forget Thursday is Michigan/Michigan State Day and a staff Tailgate Pot Luck lunch. While I don't know who will win the game, I do know that there will be an array of wonderful food in the lounge on Thursday!
Important Upcoming Dates:
- October 17th- Stranger Awareness Presentations; PTO, 6:30 p.m.
- October 18th-Baffling Bill Assemblies
- October 19th-Staff Meeting, 7:35 a.m. (Agenda: Unpacking Dimension 2 Student Engagement, Possible Changes to Open House/Curriculum Night, Speech Screenings)
- October 20th- Picture Retake Day; Administration Training-5D+ Evaluation Tool-Natalie out all day; UofM/MSU Day & Luncheon
- October 21st-Certified Staff/Teacher PD 8:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.at Central; Records Day is the second half of the day-teachers may complete report cards from home if they wish; Administration Training-5D+ Evaluation Tool all day
- October 24-28-Intersession #1...enjoy!
- October 31st-Halloween
- November 2nd-Staff Meeting, 7:35 a.m. (Agenda: Amy Chorley returns to continue our focus on behavior, Behavior Data review); Grades/Report Cards finished by 4:30 p.m.
- November 4th-Staff Outing-Bracelet making party, 6 p.m. watch for more details.
- November 7th-Cool to Care begins; Data Day; Board of Education Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
- November 8th-Election Day!
- November 9th-Parent-Teacher Conferences, 4:30-8:00 p.m.
- November 10th-No school for students; Parent-Teacher Conferences, 10 a.m.-2 p.m and 4:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
- November 11th-Comp Day for Teachers & Administrators