UHMS June Update
Phoenix On the Rise!
Happy Summer!
Greetings Phoenix Team!
It seems like just a few days ago that you were cleaning out classrooms and saying “see you later” as you were heading to summer break. We hope you are getting some well-deserved rest and are having a boat-load of fun this summer. We wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for being a member of the Phoenix Team. We are looking forward to an amazing school year. We are grateful to those of you who are returning, excited to work with those of you who are new, and we welcome you all to a year of growing and learning together. We are eager to celebrate our successes, learn from our growth areas, and make plans for how to be even better! So get rested up… and enjoy your summer vacation. We will see you soon. We know you have many choices, thank you so much for choosing to be part of the Phoenix team. “He who would do great things should not attempt them all alone.” - Seneca proverb
With much gratitude and admiration,
Priscilla, Chrissy, Chataqua, and JabezMeet the Deans
Christine "Chrissy" Cormier
I am so excited to be joining your team for the 2019 – 2020 school year as your MYP Dean. I’ve had the opportunity to see some of you in action during my campus visits with Ms. Parhms but I am looking forward to meeting you all formally so we can begin this amazing journey, together. This year will be my 8th year in education. The first 6 years of my career, I was in Irving ISD as a Middle School Math Teacher and then as an Assistant Principal. Last year, I desired to broaden my knowledge outside of middle school, therefore, becoming a PYP Dean at Uplift Pinnacle. I have a passion for achieving success for all – scholars, parents, and teachers and cannot wait to share that with you. When I am not at work, I enjoy traveling, reading, watching movies, and spending time with my husband and 2 daughters.
Chataqua Mangum
Chataqua Mangum is a Texas native and graduate of David W. Carter High School. She conferred a Bachelor of Science, Mass Communications with a minor in Marketing from Texas Woman’s University. She was a founding member of Uplift Hampton Primary School and has taught kinder, 5th – 8th ELAR and Communications Applications. She brings 11 years of experience as a teacher, teacher leader, curriculum writer, instructional coach and assistant principal. Mrs. Mangum has post-secondary degrees from Texas A&M University – Commerce. (Master of Education, Secondary Education with a minor in Reading and Educational Administration) She is a member of several education organizations and a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. She has been named both Teacher of the Year and Assistant Principal of the Year. In her spare time she enjoys traveling with her husband, shopping for shoes and fellowshipping with friends, family and the local community.
Jabez Deacon
Jabez Deacon comes to us from Elisha M. Pease in DISD where he worked in the Accelerating Campus Excellence (ACE) program. His journey into education began with Teach for America, where he worked in the 2014 corps in his home city of Milwaukee, WI before moving to Dallas to teach at Uplift Infinity. His educational background includes a BA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, double majoring in Political Science and Sociology. He then earned his MA in Education from Alverno College in Milwaukee, WI. Jabez plans to go back to school someday for his Ph.D. as his eventual goal is to become a superintendent. Jabez believes there are multiple ways to teach and develop a strong school culture, so he constantly seeks to learn new educational methods and strategies for teaching and leading. Education is truly his life’s work. Jabez enjoys new adventures in every aspect of life. This includes traveling the world, trying new foods, and learning new skills. He is joined in his adventures by his wife, Jennifer, of one year and his two-year-old Boston Terrier, Yori.
2019 STAAR Results are In!
Important Announcements and Reminders
6th Grade Teachers Mandatory Training: All Uplift 6th grade teachers will attend Owning Up training on July 26th. Created in collaboration with children and teens, Owning Up helps young people identify and be critical thinkers of social issues in their lives―from bullying and harassment in the classroom to systems of power and oppression in the world around them. It combines discussions, games, and role-playing to engage adolescents in the complexities of social culture and exploring critical topics such as media analysis, gender, sexual harassment, racism, gossip, and self-image. Owning Up will only run across 6th grade during advisory. 6th grade was chosen specifically because it allows us to impart important SEL skills to scholars at a critical developmental time, and will also help set the tone for socially-emotionally healthy school culture. If you have any questions, reach out to Chataqua or Priscilla.
New TEKS: The State has revised ELAR Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for kindergarten through twelfth grade, which were approved by the board, and are now posted. The recently approved language arts and reading standards which underwent major restructuring and revisions. You may find the new approved language arts and reading standards along with the other TEKs here.
Course Structures and Common Assessments: Course Structures and Common Assessments are now up on Blackboard. Please review these and use them for planning. If you have any feedback on alignment or rigor, please compile this feedback with your team and email it to your dean ASAP.
Thinking of what else to buy or theme ideas for your classroom? Consider this year’s emphasis on the Joy & Love of Reading, IB Global-Mindedness, and College Preparation. There is an increased focus on classroom libraries and making the library the focal point of your classroom. We’ve heard some great ideas already from a few teachers and can’t wait to see how the rest of the staff will bring the sparkle to their classroom!
Use It or Lose It: All employee Vacation and Local Days will be lost if not used or donated by August 31. HR reminder:
- Vacation and Local Days do not roll over.
- State Days (we receive 5 per year) do roll over
Employees can donate the soon to be lost time to the Shared Time Donor Program with the below link. This allows our colleagues who have exhausted PTO for things such as medical emergencies, to access additional time. We strongly encourage you to participate in this opportunity. https://ishine.uplifteducation.org/cmo/HR/Pages/Shared-Leave-Donation.aspx
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Summer Information Google Link: All Uplift Hampton Middle School Staff, please fill out this form for next year. https://forms.gle/S6oTVtz7CSJRvqu19 (click on link)WELCOME TO UPLIFT HAMPTON MIDDLE SCHOOL! HOME OF THE RISING PHOENIX!!
Please join us in welcoming and congratulating our new team members for the 2019 - 2020 school year!! We will send more information about them in our next school letter. We currently have an 8th grade Math and Spanish opening. If you know of any great candidates, please call or email Priscilla.
Save the Date
July 22nd - 26th: New Teacher Training (All Teachers new to Uplift, teachers going into 2nd year of being the teacher on record, Resident Teachers, and Teacher Assistants)
July 26th: Owning Up Training – All 6th Grade Teachers
July 29th - August 2nd: All Instructional Staff Training (Everyone Including SPED, and ESL)
July 30th: Collaboration Day (All Staff at Different Locations)
August 1st: Uplift Convocation will be on August 1st from 10am -12pm at the Verizon Theater in GP and Dr. Johnnetta Cole will be our keynote speaker be our keynote speaker. What is Convocation? It’s this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEB_Q9zkajQ
August 1st: Back to School Blast at 5:30pm
August 6th: First Day of School!Uplift Hampton Middle School Home of the Rising Phoenix!
Website: https://www.uplifteducation.org/Page/13790
Location: 8915 South Hampton Road, Dallas, TX, USA
Phone: (972) 421-1982
Here's How to Reach Us!
Chrissy Cormier 214.326.3002 ccormier@uplifteducation.org
Chataqua Mangum 972.897.4659 waiting for Uplift email
Jabez Deacon 414.562.7592 jdeacon@uplifteducation.org