Monday Memo
October 3rd - 7th
The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination. - Albert Einstein
On Tuesday, we will be taking a ten year picture. The plan is to take it at 8:15am, which will mean that people start moving outside right after announcements. We are asking all of the students to wear royal blue t-shirts and want all of the staff to wear plain white shirts (t-shirts, button downs, etc) with no graphics or writing on them and dark jeans. Because we are asking everyone to wear jeans, it will be a free jeans day. Please don't overthink what I mean by "dark" jeans. Just wear your darkest option and you will be fine. Mr. McGowen will be joining us, and we will be using the scissor lift to get high enough to take the picture of everyone forming the number 10. My hope is to be finished and back in the classroom by 8:30am.
During A-Team last week, I noticed a few scheduling issues with meetings after school. Normally, we do everything we can to not schedule after school meetings during conference week. Somehow, this completely slipped my mind when scheduling SpEd Chats and working on the Master Calendar. In effort to not make meeting with all of your parents any more difficult for you, I am going to reschedule SpEd Chats with 1st and Kinder, and we have moved the Content PLC from Wednesday, October 26th to Wednesday, November 2nd. The Committee Mtg that was scheduled for Wednesday, November 2nd will now take place on Wednesday, November 16th. While I hate to make changes to the Master Schedule, I hope you prefer this change and like the flexibility of having your afternoons free to meet with parents.
Thanks to everyone for contributing to a very successful lock down drill. I think it might have been the best one we have ever had. We will continue to practice various protocols to keep everyone safe. In the meantime, if you still have your blinds closed and/or the window in your door covered, please open those up. The only time they should be closed/covered is during lock down situations.
I believe there may be some confusion about when to submit an absence form and to remind everyone that if you are aware in advance of being out for any reason, personal or illness, you must fill one out. It is important for us to know who is going to be out on any given day so that we know how many people can be approved for personal leave. In addition, when you know in advance that you will be out, it is important for you to secure your own sub. For some reason, we seem to have fewer subs available this year, and the likelihood of jobs getting picked up from a call out is slim. We recognize that sometimes you won't always know that you need to be out in advance. That happens, and it is okay. We also know that sometimes you may not be able to find a sub, and you have to use the call out system. However, if the office has no idea you are going to be out and may not have a sub, that puts everyone in a tight spot. If you have any questions about this, please feel free to ask.
I have included an article that briefly describes the phases of teaching throughout the year. I hope that you will take the time to review it as I believe that it accurately reflects where many of you may be right now. My hope is that by recognizing that if you are feeling overwhelmed or frustrated because you aren't progressing at the rate in which you believe that you should be, this is perfectly normal. In fact, I bet if you thought about it, you probably felt the same way last year. While I can't change the normal progression of the year for you, I hope that this information gives you a perspective that this too, shall pass. Lean on each other. Look for ways to maintain balance. Set realistic goals and celebrate the small successes. You are doing a great job, and things will get better.
Make today count,
JL
---------------------------------------
Professional Learning Communities
---------------------------------------
Phases of Teaching During the School Year
Anticipation: Teachers are eager and excited about the new school year. They have "big plans" about how it is going to be.
Survival: Reality hits. Teacher can become overwhelmed with all the aspects of the job. They are working 60 hours weeks. They still maintain their enthusiasm but are getting tired.
Disillusionment: Teachers are working hard, but feel they are not getting anywhere. They are shocked at reality and wondering if they are accomplishing anything, illness often characterizes this phase.
Rejuvenation: Teachers have just had a few weeks off for winter break. They have completed half the year and can see the end in sight. They have gained some coping strategies to manage the problems they may encounter. They begin to feel a sense of confidence . They begin to focus on curriculum development. They are more optimistic about their capabilities.
Reflection: Towards the end of the year, teachers begin to reflect on changes that they want to make for the next year. They begin to critically analyze the past year , thinking ahead to what they will change for next year.
Anticipation: Teacher begin to look forward to the next year but their eagerness to try again is more reality-based.
---------------------------------------
CALLING ALL ELL TEACHERS!!
ELPS Training
Below you will find the link and instructions for the required training for ALL teachers who serve ELL students. If you do not already have an account, you will need to create one before beginning this course. Please print the certificate when you complete the course and turn it in to Sylvia. This course must be completed by October 31st. Sylvia will turn-in a list to the Bilingual/ESL Department to receive credit in Eduphoria.
Go to: https://www.texasgateway.org/
Instructions: http://tinyurl.com/hx9v846
---------------------------------------
ESL Curriculum Training
ESL Teachers,
Last April we were lucky enough to get tons of materials for our ESL students! We didn’t have much direction as to what to do with them in April due to lack of training on the resources. The district has established a training schedule for these new resources. If you have an ESL student, we would encourage you to attend one of the trainings below applicable for your grade level. Please register in Eduphoria.
REACH Trainings
K-2nd grade bilingual and ESL teachers will have an opportunity to get to know the new ESL textbook (REACH). (1 hour session after school)
Dates: Oct. 3 – 3:30-4:30 OR Oct. 13 – 4:45-5:45
Location: Boardroom
3rd-5th grade bilingual and ESL teachers will have an opportunity to get to know the new ESL textbook (REACH). (1 hour session after school)
Dates: Oct. 3 – 4:45-5:45 OR Oct. 13 – 3:30-4:30
Location: Boardroom
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
Increased Patriotism
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
Shoparoo
Did you know that each week I give out jeans passes to those who are one of the top three participants on Shoparoo? I know that many of you have already joined, but if you haven't, it is not too late. Simply go to www.shoparoo.com to create your account. If you use veft4467 as a referral code, McGowen will earn money for you just signing up. Please feel free to push this information out to your parents as well. Once you sign up, Shoparoo will give you a referral code for your parents to use when they sign up. Schools with just 40 supporters are earning an average of $1,000 every year.
Congratulations to Amy Arnold, Barbara Peebles and Jen McCartney for being in this week's top three on Shoparoo!
---------------------------------------
Focus for 2016 - 2017
In order to help every child their personal best, McGowen teachers and staff will:
- Knowledgeably speak about our current practices that contribute to McGowen becoming a Level 1 Certified High Reliability School.
- Actively participate in grade level and content Professional Learning Communities.
- Engage in collaborative team planning and lesson design that addresses the four essential questions of a PLC.
- Present lessons in such a way that students understand and can speak knowledgeably about posted learning and language targets.
---------------------------------------
Remind for Staff
---------------------------------------
Happy Birthday!
October
Carin Thomas - 4th
Mayella Tores - 7th
Sadie Hunsaker - 13th
Lori Peterson - 13th
Jenny Snyder - 13th
Melanie Burford - 15th
Marilyn Oliphant - 24th
Kristi Ward - 24th
---------------------------------------
Appreciations
- Quin— Thank you for taking on Sci/SocStudies for us! I love being on a team with you!! -Krista
- Marilyn- You are a rockstar! McGowen is lucky to have someone like you that works so hard to do what is best for our kids. -Krista
- Michelle- Thanks for all of your help with math and setting up for Misty to come meet with us! -Krista
- Tara-Thank you for the Sonic drink:)) Maria
- Michelle C.-Thank you for taking the time to participate in a parent conference with me, you rock! Maria
- 2nd Grade-Thank you for all of the collaboration the past couple weeks, I am so happy to be a part of such an awesome team:) Maria
- Tessa-Thank you for stepping up and doing way more than a sub does, you’re doing an incredible job! Maria
- Big thanks to Amber and Jean for coming to Sammy's volleyball game! She was so excited y'all were there!
- Holly and Nick, thank you for answering all my questions this week and helping me prepare for my first Mav Fan Jam. I would be lost without you! Amy
- Tara jackson thank you for being the Sonic Fairy on Friday; it was perfect timing!
- Maria Elwood thank you for always answering all my questions!
- Krystina Ticehurst thank you for refreshing my memory for entering DRA in Aware.
- Trisha Kincaid thank you for always bringing yummy treats to share!
- Tessa thank you for all you do for the kids!
- Lyne thank you for printing my reports and even reformatting them too!
- Melanie - Thank you for getting ALL of the iPads set up! I know it's a big under-taking! Thank you for also getting me the Bluebonnet Survey so quickly!! You rock! - Ashley
- Maria! Thank you SOOO much for switching Fall Fest shifts with me so that I can go be a mom and watch my boy at his basketball game! You are the most amazing team leader! ~KT
- Tara! The sweet tea on Friday was just what I needed! Thank you! ~KT
- Trisha! Thank you for being such a wonderful addition to our team!!! And the sweet treats don’t hurt, either! ~KT
- Michelle Cab! The shout-out e*mail- WOW! That was more appreciated than you know!!! ~KT
- Tessa! Thank you for hanging in there with us at this crazy time of year! ~KT
- Michelle Haas! Thank you for your cool and calm demeanor- all the time!!! ~KT
- Melanie! Thank you so much for coming in and getting my kids into Google Classroom! They LOVED it and are so excited about ELM! ~KT
- Lynn! Thank you for all the color printing and book pulling! You are amazing!!!!! ~KT
- Lisa! Thank you for always sharpening my pencils so quickly! I think my kids eat them and I don’t know what I would do without the constant re-sharpenings! ~KT
- Amy! I SO appreciate you taking my kiddos from Mav Fan Jam right away!!! THEY LOVE ART! ~KT
- Krista! Thank you for loving on my boy! ~KT
- ENTIRE McGowen Staff thank you for such a WARM Welcome to this school. Special Thanks to Jaime Hyde, Special Ed Team Lead for helping me to jump right in and stay on track and keeping me from being derailed and to Tracie Kelley for being a supportive team member! I am very EXCITED about this school year in EVERY way!!! J M.Oliphant
- Tara – Thank you for leaving the awesome Sonic drink on my desk Friday morning! I was so thankful to have that to get me through the day. - Trisha
- Tessa – Thanks for the sweet treat on Thursday! It was just what I needed! - Trisha
- Jamie and Tracey – Thank you for all your communication regarding our friend! I am thankful we are on this journey together. I appreciate all you do. - Trisha
- Gaby – Thank you for always being upbeat and positive. Your joy shows in all you do! - Trisha
- Second grade team - I am blessed to work with you! You bring sunshine into my life day in and day out! Love – Trisha
- Peebles - Thank you for being my Sonic Fairy last week! -JL
- Sylvia - Thanks for being such a great partner. I appreciate you so much! -JL
- Donna - Thank you for managing all of the small but important details that keep us afloat. -JL
---------------------------------------
Bad Dude
Join us in recognizing Tara Jackson as this week's Bad Dude! In addition to designing engaging lessons that meet the needs of all learners, she was the first teacher to go through the whole T-TESS observation process! Tara is an amazing model of how planning, delivery, reflection and refinement contribute to student success! Thanks Tara for being our guinea pig while we navigate the T-TESS process together!
---------------------------------------
McKinney ISD's Vision, Mission and Beliefs
Any time we have an idea, concern, solution and/or comment, this is the filter through which we should speak. Let's help each other live up to our vision, mission, and beliefs.
Vision:
We are a cohesive, diverse community providing engaging learning experiences for all.
We will provide engaging learning experiences so students can become effective communicators, quality contributors and socially responsible citizens.
Beliefs:
- Partnerships between students, parents, community members and staff are foundational to educational success.
- Positive school culture and a safe environment foster growth.
- Everyone has inherent value and deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.
- Learning is an active process requiring engaging tasks and engaging minds.
- Relevant and authentic experiences ignite continuous, deeper learning.
- Meaningful relationships enrich learning.
- Confidence fuels risk taking and higher achievement.
- Financial stewardship ensures a tomorrow for education.