News You Can Use
Harris ES
TEAM!
Messages from EH
Before we start this week, I want to thank you for all you have done to get the year off to a great start. I know that the first couple weeks are exhausting, but your hard work is paying off. You have made parents and student feel welcome, safe, and successful as we start this year. I appreciate that you are taking the time to set the procedures and behavioral expectations in your classrooms and around the building. This will make a difference in the long run.
I also want to take a minute to thank our office staff and support folks who work behind the scene to make sure transportation is working, files are complete, and parents are supported. The help and support they provide has had a huge impact on the start to the school year.
There are so many new faces on our TEAM, but this is a TEAM that I am so proud of. This TEAM will set the course for our future. The beginning of the year is always stressful and exhausting; I know that this is the TEAM that will fulfill the promise of Gwinnett and the vision for our future, one where all students succeed. I am so thankful to have the chance to work with such a dedicated and passionate group of individuals that work together to make a positive difference for our students.
Have a great week!
EH
Important Notes and Updates
Please make sure to complete the compliance training in PD & E. You will need to watch videos on
* Ethics
* Sexual Harassment
* Seclusion and Restraint
* Mandatory Reporting
* Suicide Awareness and read
* Employee Policies and Procedure Review
Please aim to have these completed by September 6th. I have attached directions to the email with this newsletter. Please see Josh if you have questions about access.
GTES:
Some updates to GTES and GEES:
* Teachers with more than 3 years of experience and a summative evaluation of proficient or exemplary will have 2 formative observations and a summative assessment. (Modified plan)
* Teachers with 0-3 years of experience, first year in GCPS, Needs Development/Ineffective TAPS rating or an active Professional Development Plan will be on the same plan as last year: 4 Brief Observations, 2 Formative Observations and a Summative Assessment. (Full plan)
* Student perception surveys are no longer required.
* Feedback on observations must be given within 10 days. (Our goal will be to provide all feedback within 5 days as with the old system.)
* Teacher evaluations and observations will count for 50% of the evaluation.
* Professional growth will count for 20% of the evaluation. RBES goals will be used for this portion.
Please complete the Orientation and Self-Assessment in the PD & E tool by August 22nd.
Pre-evaluations conferences will be held as grade level/job specific teams or individually by request.
Please see Erin if you have any questions about the changes to GTES.
SPGs:
Our fourth graders will be participating in the 4th grade SPG's for PE, art, and music. In order to give our special area teachers enough time to administer the assessments, we will be adjusting specials times on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Monday and Friday will remain with the normal daily schedule.
Fourth grade classes will report to their normally assigned special, each day (ex. Hays will report to art every day). Our special area teachers will administer a different SPG over the three testing days. If you have music, please take your students to the lower computer lab. If you have PE, please take your students to the upper computer lab.
Fourth grade homeroom teachers will receive the student answer documents before the test (they will be in your box the day before each test). Please pass these out to your students before coming to specials. This will save our special area teachers time and give students more time to take the assessments. If you have students that are absent, please give their answer documents to the special area teacher when you drop off your students.
Small group examiners will need to pick up their students before they leave for specials (1:15 PM). Student with accommodations will need to take their answer documents with them.
SPG Schedule 8/16-8/18
9:00 AM - Special Area examiners pick up assessments
12:35-1:15 - Third Grade Specials
1:15 - Small group examiners pick up students from homeroom classes
1:20-2:20- Fourth Grade Specials
50th celebration:
Please save the date for our 50th: October 15th from 2-4 PM
Building hours:
I know many of you have been putting in extra hours. Please plan to leave the building by 7:30 PM so the custodians can lock and check all doors. Thank you for your help with this.
Records Room and Vending Machine:
Please note that students, including staff kids, should not be in the records room due to the confidential nature of the material housed in that room. Also, the vending machines are for adults only. The snacks in the machine do not meet the regulations for "healthy snacks" per federal guidelines so they are for adults only.
ABCD Award:
Please recognize our staff members who go Above and Beyond the Call of Duty! So many do so much and we should celebrate that!
Daily Update and School Calendar:
Margarita will begin sending the daily update this week. Please let me know what information you would like to see in this communication so we can make it most effective. We are also working on the school calendar (online). Please see someone in the front office if you did not get a copy of the PTA calendar.
PTA
Thank you to everyone who joined PTA. Erin will send a reminder to those of you who still need to join this week. Please give your $5 to Margarita. Thank you for supporting this very important group that does so much to support us!
August 15th
August 16th
August 17th
August 18th
* Title I Planning Meeting 10 AM and 6 PM
* EH - Cluster Meeting (PM)
* ILT 7:30 AM Computer Lab - Upper Building