WMS May Updates & Info
As we come to a close on Teacher Appreciation Week, I want you to know how excited I am to have each of you coming to impact the lives of our students next year. We are all teachers - whether writing lesson plans, serving as support staff, feeding our students breakfast and lunch, registering them for classes, or helping them to understand the consequences of their decisions. We teach by the way we act in all things and all arenas, so thank you in advance for being wonderful models to our students this coming year!
Please thoroughly read through this month's update as we have a big summer ahead. As soon as I am notified that we can begin moving in and officially setting up, I will let you know! Until then, we have to stay out of our building so the construction crews can get everything wrapped up!
Finish strong, and remember, YOU BELONG HERE!
-Mishler
P.S. Once our school year gets started, you'll receive a weekly newsletter to keep you up to date on all things WMS (so they won't always be this long).
Moving Instructions for Current Employees
If you submitted the Moving Day form Mishler sent out on Wednesday, you should start receiving your requested boxes very soon (if you haven't already).
PLEASE follow the instructions below to ensure a smooth transition to your new space.
1. Any personal items need to be moved on your own. CSISD can only insure CSISD property. If it is something of extreme value to you, move it to a temporary location at your home and then bring it to WMS when we receive clearance.
2. Classroom furniture will stay at your current school. We have beautiful, brand new furniture pieces in our building and we want to keep it looking consistent. If you have something you'd like to have considered moving to WMS, please send Mishler a picture of it and we will discuss it.
3. Label your boxes. Include "MOVE TO WELLBORN MS", your name and WMS room number (see table below). Use a permanent marker and write big and neat. Add the box # and count (for example, "Box 1 of 5"). You may write on the label provided, but please ALSO write on the box as the labels may fall off.
4. Stack your boxes against the wall in your current classroom. Keep them all together and stacked neatly so they can be transported this summer.
If you have other questions about moving, email Mishler.
Talk About It Tuesdays
Our admin team will lead brainstorming conversations this summer about different items related to the opening of our school. To help with planning, we will meet every week on Tuesdays with two sessions - a morning session from 9-11 AM and an afternoon session from 1-3 PM.
Topics would include things like: dress code procedures, drop off/dismissal procedures, cafeteria procedures, lockers, lesson plans, IDs, tardies, student success opportunities, safety drills, etc.
We will send out a specific list of topics near the end May so everyone can plan accordingly to attend (if desired, this is NOT mandatory). If you do attend, it will count towards your comp time hours for this coming school year.
No question is a dumb question!
Summer Professional Development
Our C&I department has created a catalog of all the district-sponsored professional development opportunities available this summer. The sessions in this catalog may be used for comp hours. Next year's school calendar includes three comp day options. To comp out of all three days, an employee needs 18 hours (6 hours for each day).
Teachers new to CSISD may use our summer campus activities, other Mishler-approved professional trainings, and New Teacher University for comp time.
Questions about comp time? Ask Mishler.
AVID CSISD Summer Training (not Summer Institute)
If you aren't on the list to go to Dallas with our AVID Site Team, you still have some great opportunities to add some good teaching strategies to your repertoire here in town!
AVID Path Opportunities for Secondary campuses - 12 hours of GT credit and 12 hours Comp Time. Teachers must attend both days to get the GT and Comp credit. Click on the links to see the description and sign-up in Eduphoria.
Math 1: July 31 - August 1 - Secondary Teachers only
Culturally Relevant Teaching: Empowering Students: July 24-25
- MS/HS Implementation: July 17 - July 18 - Secondary Teachers only
Schoology Training: Do you need to attend?
YES! HERE is the list of available sessions (these are also included in the above Summer PD catalog). Some are them are already full, so make sure to register soon!
Instructional Staff:
All instructional staff must attend at least the basic course for Schoology before school starts (worth 3 hours of comp time). There will be a few sessions offered at YouMatter, but you cannot earn comp time for attending one of those.
Teachers new to CSISD will receive their training at NTU.
Paraprofessional Staff:
Paraprofessional staff are highly encouraged to attend one of the trainings this summer because we will have a WMS staffulty course to complete some professional learning activities with Schoology throughout the year.Please be sure that you check and make sure your Schoology account works and you are able to access it before you attend any training. Now would be a good time to bookmark Schoology, too.
If you have any questions, reach out to our Schoology Pros: Stephen Alexander, Fey Hysmith, or Nicki Garner.
Supply Orders
If you have not yet thought through what you'd like to have, start brainstorming now so you can be prepared!
Department Chairs & Master Schedule Planning
Nothing we have right now is set in stone - the official master schedule will be sent out by Mrs. Mishler. If all goes as planned, you will know what courses you will be teaching next year by mid-June (you may not know what periods or how many kids in each class, but you can at least start preparing for content).
If you have a question about the master schedule, reach out to your department chair first, then your department administrator if you need further clarification.
District Improvement Plan
TAMU Student Teachers
The Teaching, Learning and Culture (TLAC) Department at Texas A&M University is currently accepting mentor teacher applications for Fall 2018 Senior Methods, Junior II and Secondary students. General education and bilingual teachers interested in mentoring a student can find the application below.
Please apply by Monday, May 21. Applications are subject to approval by principals/campus contacts.
TIMELINE
1. Teachers complete the online mentor application (by May 21)
2. Early August – principals review mentor applications for final approval and/or updates
3. Mid-Late August – principals receive placement details
4. Early September – placements begin
Email field-placements@tamu.edu or call 845-6320 with questions.