The Week Ahead Memo
State Road Elementary School
Monday, November 17, 2014
Clips for Red Emergency Folders
IF you need a 'clip' to hang your Red Emergency Preparedness Procedures folder on your wall, they are in my office. Feel free to take one if needed! It is important that this folder is hanging and easily visible in your classroom.
Leo's Coney Island HOST Sign-Up Form
I will place a Leo's Coney Island Sign-Up sheet on the desk in my office for any grade levels/staff members to sign-up for a "host" night at Leo's. The "hosts" will receive the profits for that night which can be spent on anything school related.
Events This Week!
5D+ Voluntary Learning Session
Our next 5D+ Voluntary Learning Session is Tuesday after school beginning at 3:45pm. We will focus on the "Purpose" dimension.
School Improvement Team Meeting
Our next School Improvement Team Meeting is this Thursday, Nov. 20 beginning at 7:30am in the Media Center. If you would like to participate in one of our SI Action Teams (Grading, School Culture, or Portfolios), those breakout sessions will begin at 8am.
State Road CRAFT SHOW!!!
Our State Road Arts & Craft Show is THIS SUNDAY, Nov. 23 from 10am - 4pm at Fenton High School! If you are able to volunteer your time or visit the craft show this Sunday, thank you! This is by far the PTO's largest fundraiser and it's always great to see such great staff support and presence at the event!
Out-of-the-Building
I will be out of the building:
Monday afternoon for Ad Council
Grade Fixes for the Year!
As a reminder, our “Grade Fixes” that we agreed to pilot for this school year are:
▫ Fix 1: Don’t include student behaviors in grades; include only achievement
▫ Fix 5: Don’t consider attendance in grade determination; report absences separately
▫ Fix 6: Don’t include group scores in grades; use only individual achievement evidence
"Grading" SI Action Team Requests:
- Everyone should have received the book called "A Repair Kit for Grading"
- As a staff, we are going to focus on one fix per month
- For the month of November, please read Fix #1 which is pp. 16-23. Provide feedback by November 13 to either Barry, Gabe, or Callie if something that stands out to you from this section… an idea, a wondering, a concern, something great you are already doing, etc.
- We will compile and share this feedback at our November team meeting and with the rest of the staff.
Observation / Evaluation Process Update
I plan to do more observations each day this week - I’d like to complete all 'first-observations' by Thanksgiving break. The ‘Noticings’ and ‘Wonderings’ sections will only focus on two (2) Dimensions for Observation 1 (Purpose (P) and Classroom Environment & Culture (CEC)).
- Observations - We will again conduct a minimum of 3 observations for the year (district continuity).
- Observations Time - These will be 15-30 min of lesson scripting and another 15 minutes of coding.
- I should be able to access or view your daily lesson plans with assigned standards.
- A difference from last year is that all observations will be unannounced (law compliance and district continuity).
- We will have a Dimension focus during observations (up to two dimensions). The dimension focus areas will be the areas that Noticing’s, Wonderings, and Analysis will be derived.
- Evaluation learning series - We will offer several voluntary learning opportunities for staff to participate in. These opportunities are geared to develop deeper understanding of the framework, rubrics, vocabulary and other processes of 5D+ for those interested. Materials will be made available to all.
Culture of Learning
Send a "Special" Note to Students!
I have 10 staff members who signed up for a class set of positive note cards to write to their students. We will put these in your mailboxes today. When you have a special note card written and the envelope addressed to the student, just turn it in to Tricia or Chris and we will stamp and mail it right away. Thanks for doing this! It will definitely help build those positive relationships with your kids!
What's Happening Next Week?
- Craft Show on Sunday, 10am-4pm at FHS
- Thanksgiving Break is Wednesday - Friday, Nov. 26-28!!!
DOWN THE ROAD...
- Our Holiday Concerts will be Friday, Dec. 12. (Grades 1 & 4 @ 8:50am. Grades 2 & 3 @ 9:40am. Grades K & 5 @ 10:30am)