CANNON LEGACY
A Newsletter For Cannon Staff 2017-2018
Principal Points - 4/23-4/27
On Saturday, the Cannon Staff of the Past event was held at our school. I have three words to describe this event.
IT WAS AMAZING!
There were approximately 80 educators who came to this event and they truly represented every decade that our wonderful school has been open! It was incredibly special to witness the reunion of so many educators, that regardless of which decade(s) they served at Cannon, had one thing in common. They love this school and the memories they have of their time at Cannon are some of the best in their careers.
It was an honor to meet and visit with so many educators who have taught in classrooms at Cannon, educated countless students, and forged lasting relationships with others who are dedicated to this incredible profession.
BIG thanks to former Cannon teacher, Barbara Kelley and our own Michelle Hall for their work to organize and plan this wonderful event!
Cannon is and always has been, a very special place!
Proud to be your principal,
Tona :)
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Lisa's Coaching Corner
ASSESSMENT WINDOW: April 30 - May 25
Reading
K-5 - iStation ISIP (all students)
K-2 - Reading Inventory (all students) [put information into Eduphoria]
3-5 - Reading Inventory (Tiered Students only) [put information into Eduphoria]
Writing
K-5 Narrative and Expository Writing
Please check Assessment Expectations in your curriculum. Expectations are spelled out in the next to the last unit for each grade level. All papers are scored using the GCISD Writing Rubric and are then entered into Eduphoria.
Math
K-5 - iStation ISIP (all students)
Social Studies Skills to Secure (more information coming soon!)
K-5 (more information coming)
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SPOTLIGHT ON LEARNING!
This week's SPOTLIGHT is on Julie Brenegan, Julee Vorachard, Kristi Wagner, & Lisa Brown for their hard work to design some outstanding experiences & resources for each one of our Cannon scholars & teachers, in celebration or Earth Week @ Cannon!
As a STEM campus, it is important that we teach our Cubs about the importance of Earth Day and ways to protect & save our environment. Working together, these ladies compiled some outstanding resources in a Blendspace, ready for use in your classrooms; planned & gathered materials so that all Cannon students can plant seeds in compostable containers to take home; created a plastic bottle collection challenge; designed Earth Day-themed Makerspace stations in the library; planned daily Earth Day facts to be shared on the morning news, and more! Be sure to check out the information and link below in the THIS WEEK'S EVENTS section for ALL of the details, including the planting schedule for all students on Monday.
BIG thanks to these ladies for their hard work to make this an educational & engaging week for students and staff! Also....don't forget to WEAR GREEN & jeans on Monday!
STAFF NEWS & CELEBRATIONS
CONGRATULATIONS TO JENNIFER & MARINA!
FAMILIAR FACES IN NEW PLACES!
It's that time of year when staffing decisions are being made to build our teams for the 2018-2019 school year! Check out the most current staff news below!
HA DINH will be making a move from 2nd grade to fill the vacancy in 1st grade, as a result of Irene Boynton's retirement. Ha had extensive experience in 1st grade prior to coming to Cannon and describes it as her "first love". She will be a great addition to the 1st grade team!
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DATES TO REMEMBER
4/23 Earth Day @ Cannon - wear GREEN & JEANS!
4/23-27 Kindergarten Registration!
4/23 STEM Leadership 3:00- pm in library
4/23 Kinder Meet & Greet - 4:00-6:00 pm
4/24 GCISD Purple Up Day - wear purple to school!
4/24 PLC Week B - 5th grade 2:15-3:45
4/24 Cubs Night Out @ Cici's Pizza
4/24 Cubs Night Out @ Spring Creek BBQ - 5:00-9:00pm
4/25 PLC Week B - 4th grade 2:15 - 3:45
4/26 PLC Week B - 3rd grade 2:15-3:45
4/27 School Holiday - inclement weather make-up day
4/30 Teacher Appreciation Week!
4/30 U.CAN 3:05-3:45 - U.CAN Learning Teams presentations in the library!
5/01 All library books are due!!
5/01 PLC Week A - Kindergarten 2:15 -3:45
5/01 Family Museum Night @ FWMSH 6:00-8:00 pm (Volunteers arrive @ 5:30)
5/02 PLC Week A - 1st grade 2:15 - 3:45
5/02 Wedding Shower for Mattie McKellar 3:15-3:45 in library
5/03 PLC Week A - 2nd grade 2:15-3:45
5/03 4th Grade Sky Ranch Parent Information Meeting - 6:00 pm in library
5/07 5th grade GT LEAD Field Trip to BattleBots - 8:45 am
5/07 U.CAN 3:05-3:45 - U.CAN Learning Teams presentations in the library!
5/08 PLC Week B - 5th grade 2:15-3:45
5/08 Baby Shower for Rebecca Hicks - 3:00-3:30 in library
5/09 PLC Week B - 4th grade - 2:15-3:45
5/10 PLC Week B - 3rd grad 2:15-3:45
5/10 Retirement Party - Irene Boynton - 3:15-4:00 in library
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THIS WEEK'S EVENTS
CELEBRATE EARTH WEEK!
Earth Day is April 22nd and we have some special things planned for you and your scholars this week, in recognition of this important day! Please use the link below to see the plans we have made for Earth Week at Cannon. In addition to some great resources, the schedule for your class planting time is included, so don't forget to include this in your plans for Monday.
BIG thanks to Kristi Wagner, Julee Vorachard, Julie Brenegan, and Lisa Brown for all of their help to organize this great day of events to celebrate Earth Day!
Kindergarten Registration Is This Week!
It's that time of year when we communicate to all of our Cannon families about registration for their Kindergarten students that will be enrolling in our school for the 2018-19 school year! Please help by including this information in all of your parent communications!
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION WILL BE HELD AT CANNON APRIL 23-26 DURING SCHOOL HOURS. ON APRIL 23rd, WE WILL HAVE EXTENDED HOURS , UNTIL 6:00 PM, FOR INCOMING KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS AND PARENTS TO ATTEND OUR KINDERGARTEN MEET & GREET. COME MEET KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS, VISIT A CLASSROOM & DO SOME FUN STEM ACTIVITIES!
Cubs Night Out @ Spring Creek BBQ
Tuesday, Apr 24, 2018, 05:00 PM
Spring Creek BBBQ 315 State Highway 114W, Grapevine, Texas 76051
GCISD PURPLE UP DAY!
April is the month of the Military Child and GCISD will "purple up" on April 24 to show support and thank military children for their strength and sacrifices.
Make sure to come dressed in your purple on April 24!
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CAMPUS REMINDERS & UPDATES
SUMMATIVE CONFERENCE REMINDERS Anne and I have started summative conferences for all staff who are evaluated through T-TESS. Below is information you need to know, in order to be prepared. Please read this information carefully and let us know if you have any questions!
- You will receive a calendar invitation for your scheduled time. Please accept this invite, so that it is confirmed on our calendars. IF YOU HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED A CALENDAR INVITATION LET TONA KNOW ASAP.
- Complete Part 2 - Goal Reflection on your Professional Learning Plan in STRIVE PRIOR to your summative conference.
- Add a link to any evidences, trainings, etc.. in the Goals Section of your Professional Learning Plan for 2017-2018, that support your progress toward your goals.
- Be prepared to discuss your ideas for next year's goals
- Be prepared to discuss professional development opportunities that you are interested in attending to support your goals.
DISTRICT-WIDE COLLEGE SHIRT DAY -April 30 - April 30-May 4 is #GCISDDecisionWeek. This is a week-long celebration of our seniors at all campuses with a focus on what they are doing after high school.To kick-off #GCISDDecisionWeek, wear a college shirt and jeans on Monday, April 30. Follow GCISD social media to see all the fun activities our campuses have planned!
FAMILY NIGHT AT FWMSH Since we are unable to host a spring family event at Cannon at this time, we are so excited to be able to partner with our friends at the Ft. Worth Museum of Science & History to offer our Cannon families an opportunity to attend a wonderful family event on May 1st! This is a FREE event for our Cannon families and we need your help to promote this event in all of your communications. Click here to see the flyer that will be sent home with families and included in the parent newsletter. Click here for this flyer in Spanish. We are even providing bus transportation for a limited number of families, who have already been contacted. As mentioned in PLC's, we several teachers to volunteer to help at this event as well. All staff volunteers can bring their families along as well! Please contact Julie Brenegan to let her know if you are available to help with this event. She is working to arrange a carpool, so that all staff volunteers can be at the museum by 5:30 pm. Thanks in advance for your help to support our "off-site" family night!!
APPLE DEVICE UPDATES Destinee sent a reminder to staff last week that the new iOS 11.3 update has been released and that it is time to update the student Apple devices. Also, Meraki has now added an option to update apps! However, the caveat is that the iPad has to have the most current iOS update, so be sure to update to the new iOS 11.3 asap!
TEXTBOOK INVENTORY Please make sure you carefully read Anne's recent email to staff about textbook inventory and complete the inventory spreadsheet using the link she provided. Thanks!
EoY AWARDS CEREMONIES Please begin sharing the image below with your families, so that they can mark their calendars for the end of the year grade level award ceremonies!
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NEWS FROM THE LEARNING COMMONS
Reminders From Mrs. Wagner
GCISD Reading Challenge
The 2017-2018 GCISD Reading Challenge is drawing to a close. We hope all our scholars have been working on the challenge and enjoying fabulous books along the way. Finishers’ names are due to the district no later than May 1st to allow time for certificates to be printed. Please make sure you have given your record sheet to Mrs. Wagner by Friday, April 27th so she can turn your name in.
Library Books Due
All library books need to be turned in by May 1st so Mrs. Wagner can start the BIG task of packing the library for our move to the NEW SCHOOL. Please start looking around your house and in your cars for any Cannon library books. The first class to have all their books turned in will win a prize!
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WORTH A READ...OR A LISTEN!
DIFFERENTIATING FOR ELL'S This article is written with ELL's in mind, but the great strategies that are presented are just great instructional practices for ANY student. Check it out here!
HOW TO MAKE A BULLY I hope that you will take a moment to watch this powerful video. In light of recent acts of school violence and incidents of bullying and youth suicide, this topic is an important topic for all of us to keep in the forefront. Please keep talking about kindness during your Circle Ups. Everything you have been doing to build relationships with your scholars DOES make a difference. Every single time you connect with a child it truly does matter. You are making a difference.
TAKE THE CHALLENGE TO STOP SUCKING! Earth Day 2018 is here and the video below is a great reminder about the dangers of plastic straws in our environment. Can you take the challenge to stop sucking for a week or more?? #savetheearth
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CURRICULUM & INSTRUCTION CORNER
SUMMER STEM EDUCATOR TRAININGS!
STEM ACADEMY - 21st Century Learning Academy
Please see information below about the 21st Century Learning Academy for STEM Educators at Ft. Worth Museum of Science & History. This wonderful training has now become an expectation for all staff that is hired to work at Cannon and we are continuing to send existing staff that have not yet been trained. Please let Julie Brenegan know asap if you are interested in participating this summer! The $50 fee will be waived for all Cannon staff! See additional information & dates below.TEACHING SCIENCE THROUGH INQUIRY
This workshop immerses teachers in processes, pedagogies, and implementation strategies that will enhance professional practice and build understanding of inquiry-based instruction. Click here for more information about this training. See Julie Brenegan asap for more information & let her know if you are interested in participating!
GCISD LEARNING INSTITUTE -CALL FOR PROPOSALS
SUMMER LEARNING!
As the end of our school year rapidly approaches, it's time to begin thinking about how you'll spend your lazy days of resting and reflection. The C&I team has compiled many opportunities that will help to grow and challenge the "teacher side" of your brain during the summer weeks. Please browse through the options and select the ones that meet your personal learning goals.
If reading by the pool (or inside in the air conditioning) is your preference, be sure to stock up on titles that meet your learning needs before you leave. GCISD has two new options for accessing books, so please check these out as well!
MYSTERY SCIENCE - FREE FOR ONE YEAR!
We have been given a free district license to Mystery Science for the next year (now through June 2019)
Please bookmark the URL below in order to access. ENJOY!
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TWITTER REMINDERS FOR @canSTEM
Please help us reach our campus goal for all staff to participate in a 5-minute a day communication plan, as stated in George Couros's quote shown here. It's truly a simple way to SHARE & LEARN from the best minds in GCISD! I am going to be highlighting our school twitter account HEAVILY with parents & our school community, to help create our own "outward culture of celebration"!!
As a reminder, please include our school's handle, @canSTEM, in all of your tweets, so that they can be automatically retweeted on our school account. At the end of the day, simply go to @canSTEM and scroll through our school's tweets for 5 minutes and see what your colleagues are sharing! If you want to learn more from them about an idea they shared....you will only have to walk across the building to get more information firsthand!
Please click here to see our staff list of social media accounts. Please add/update any information so that we can make sure we follow each other!
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About This Background Image...
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TO-DO LIST
- Set a timer and complete daily attendance ON TIME!
- Don't forget to show daily KCAN announcements every Monday-Thursday!!
- Review all emergency drill procedures with scholars & be prepared!
- Help us communicate to families about Kindergarten registration this week!
- Check out the Earth Week information & follow the planting schedule for Monday. Wear green & jeans to school!
- Complete textbook inventory form sent out by Anne.
- Wear purple to school on Tuesday for #GCISDPurpleUp Day!
- Make plans to stop by Spring Creek & encourage your students & families to dine out on Tuesday, to support our school!
- Send out reminders that there is NO SCHOOL on Friday, 4/27. Enjoy this day off!
- Review the EoY assessment information in Lisa's Coaching Corner.
- Share information with your families about FWMSH Family Night event on May 1st.
- See the information about summer STEM & inquiry trainings! Let Julie know if you are interested!
- Check out other summer learning opportunities in the C & I Summer Learning news.
- Communicate to parents about our new campus/district websites.
- Take your scholars out to the back of the school to see the construction progress!
- Review the information in this newsletter about the 5-minute a day communication plan. Tweet & blog about all of the great things you are doing in your classroom/grade!
- Update teacher website, blog and other social media.