Anchor Weekly
A newsletter for Alta Vista Staff~Week of May June 1, 2020
Don't Forget! Next Week's Calendar
- Monday, June 1: Leadership Meeting at 1:00 pm
- Week of June 8: Vertical Planning Begins
Captain's Log
I hope everyone has a wonderful summer break! Enjoy the time to relax, rest, read, and enjoy quality time with family. I will be at Alta Vista most days this summer doing planning with teachers. Come stop bye and say hello.
Starting June 1, our custodial team will be very busy getting classrooms cleaned and floors waxed. Please do not expect to be able to access your classroom during at least the month of June. I will let you know when you can start getting back into your classroom.
Mrs. Helton's Week At A Glance
- Monday-Meetings
- Tuesday-Transformation Waco Principal Meeting
- Wednesday:
- Thursday: RtI Training
- Friday:
Staff To-Do List
- NOTHING!! YOU'RE DONE!!
Vertical Planning Schedule
Here's the tentative schedule for vertical planning; each vertical team will meet once a week during each of the 5 scheduled weeks. I know that some of you may not be able to attend all the sessions, but I hope you will be able to schedule time to attend as many as possible. We are still trying to determine if we will be able to meet in person or virtually.
Schedule (9 am - 4 pm with 1 hour lunch)
- Week of June 8: Vertical planning of Know-Shows
- Week of June 22: Finish vertical planning of Know-Shows
- Week of June 29: Vertical teams write 6-week assessments
- Week of July 6: Vertical teams finish writing 6-week assessments
- Week of July 20: Grade level teams vet Know-Shows and 6-week assessments and provide feedback
Alta Vista 2020-2021
We are World Changers
ELA Curriculum Information
Make sure you can easily locate the following books. You will be using them frequently in August for professional development. If you don't have a copy, let Ms. Boggess know ASAP.
- The Literacy Continuum by Fountas and Pinnell (K-5)
- Guided Reading by Jan Richardson (K-5)
- Patterns of Power by Jeff Anderson (1-5)
Congratulations New Hires & New Assignments!
- Assistant Principal: Amber Orchard (waiting on TW Board Approval)
- IS for Math and Instructional Technology: Nancy Alvarado (new position!)
- 5th Grade Science: Luke Haynes
- 4th Grade Math: Kristin Prewitt
- 2nd Grade: Shannon Somers
- 1st Grade: Gesthemani Spikes
- Pre-Kindergarten: Kaylee Arthur
- PE Aide: Edwin Mitchell
- RESET: Valerie Thompson
- SpEd Aide: Angelica Dominguez & Larryl Curtis
We are in the process of filling the following positions: 2nd Grade and Music
Reading Academy
Behavior Training
There are 2 FREE Webinars on TBRI (Behavior Strategies): TBRI 101 and TBRI In the Classroom. "TBRI In the Classroom" is probably the most practical for teachers. Teachers have been asking for additional training in dealing with SPED and regular Ed students that have behavior issues so this training comes highly recommended. It will be free until the end of June and after that there will be a fee to access it. If you have any ideas or just wanna talk about the training, contact Mrs.Salazar.
TransformED Conference
Training for NEW Social Studies TEKS
- June 26
- July 9
- July 22
GT & ESL Training
If you need to get your ESL Certification, please see below regarding online self-paced training through Region 12. ALL teachers are HIGHLY recommended to have their ESL certification.
Self Care for You
Summer is finally here! While we have been at home for some time now, there is newfound freedom in it officially being summer break! I truly hope y’all are able to relax and recharge during this time to be prepared for the 2020-2021 school year! Here are a few quick ideas of self-care over the summer.
Be near the water: Who doesn’t love the feeling of the sun soaking into your skin?! Marine biologist and author Wallace J. Nichols says that when we’re in or near water, our brains get access to “a mildly meditative state characterized by calm, peacefulness, unity, and a sense of general happiness and satisfaction with life in the moment.” Let water give your brain a break!
Listen to audiobooks or podcasts: This is another activity that helps your brain a break from problem solving or stress management. Just listening to someone else’s voice can give you something to focus on and you can even learn a thing or two!
Start a new habit: Have you been wanting to practice meal prepping or start flossing more? Now is your time to do so! This is the perfect time to start practicing and by the time the school year starts, you’ll be a pro!
Spend money on experiences, not things: While it’s of course tempting to drop money on your classroom for next year, I also suggest carving out some money and time to go somewhere or do something that you haven’t yet! I challenge you to create a new memory this summer!
Thanks so much for one memorable school year! I know we will never forget this year and all your hard work.