West Express
February 5th-9th
Science Textbooks/Big Books/Teachers Manuals
As you may remember, all the new ELA curriculum was assigned to each school and then Kathryn assigned it to each teacher by scanning the barcode into Destiny (the program we use in the LMC to check in out books). This was the first step in keeping track of materials within each building. Now we are moving on to the same process with Science. Over the next couple of months Kathryn will be going to each classroom to scan Science textbooks, big books, and teachers' manuals. It is imperative that when she gives you dates that the materials are out and ready to go so she can scan each item out to you. A reminder will be put in the Express when it is your grade level's turn. See below for the first two grades and what is needed:
Please place the following items out on your guided reading table or another table within your classroom on Tuesday, February 6th by 4:00. Please place the books face down with the barcode facing up
Kindergarten: Four National Geographic Big Books and Teacher's Manual
First Grade: ALL National Geographic Science Textbooks and Teacher's Manual
Second through Fifth grade will be at a future date.
Kindergarten Big Books
Picture of barcode on the back of textbook or manual
Tier 2/3 Progress Monitoring and Intervention Review
Next week will be your last week of interventions for Round 1. View this as a wrap up week. You will not need to mark attendence or mark attendence for next week and there will be no progress monitoring. The week of February 12th there will be no interventions due to shifting from Round 1 to Round 2. This will give time to plan for new groups and set up progress monitoring for students that are new to interventions. Please make sure your attendence is up to date for your current groups. This is important to have when we discuss progress this week and it is also something that is used for students that have IPS meetings. Linked below is the MTSS spreadsheet so you can check attendance.
In preparation for our GLT meetings on February 6th and 7th we are asking that you do the following so that our meetings run efficiently and we are able to accomplish all that needs to be done in our time together. We will not be discussing each student individually, instead we will discuss groups of students to make decisions. If there are students that are troubling we may determine that an IPS is needed in order to discuss that student further. We will look at four groups of students to review. Please read below for knowledge of what each group is and what you need to do prior to the meeting so you are prepared.
First Group Look at the students that are currently receiving an intervention.
For the students that have a checkmark in "met at least 1 exit criteria," their progess monitoring is very successful, and their winter screener is at the 21st percentile or above the plan will EXIT the intervention. If for some reason this does not match what you are seeing in the classroom then be prepared to share so we can decide if continuing would be more appropriate.
Second Group Look at the students that are currently receiving an intervention.
If they have a checkmark in "met at least 1 exit criteria," but their Winter Fastbridge OR their progress monitoring is not meeting the criteria. For example their progress monitoring is somehwhat successful or their Fastbridge is below the 21st percentile. Think about whether this matches what you see in the classroom and whether they should continue or exit.
Third Group Look at the students that are currently receiving an intervention.
These students don't have a checkmark in "met at least 1 exit criteria." This means that their progress monitoring is somewhat or not successful and their Winter Fastbridge is below the 21st percentile. Is there something we need to change? Frequency, duration, minor tweaks within the intervention, or make a Tier adjustment. Be prepared to share when we get to this group.
Fourth Group Look at the NEW students on the list.
Students that were flagged on Winter Fastbridge (below the 21st percentile) have been added underneath the current intervention students. NEW is added under the date column so you know they are not from first round. For the students that are listed, does this match what you see in the classroom? Is the Tier accurate? Should they be in an intervention group or not? Be prepared to share as we get to this group.
After we go through each group of students, we will then add the students that will receive interventions on the Tier 2 and Tier 3 group tab. So we will also need to think about how to group them and which teacher will work with them. Grade level teams, please think about which teacher or teachers on the team will do reading or math interventions. For most grades we will probably need more than one person on the team to provide those interventions so having a plan before Tuesday and Wednesday will make this process go smoothly. Interventionists, as you take a look at the list and see which students are currently marked tier 3 just have some thoughts about grouping and what your schedule looks like. We may have to have a follow up meeting with interventionsts to finalize groups and times, but coming with some thoughts will be helpful. Please notice that we made a new Tier 2 and Tier 3 group tab for this next round so we have the history piece of who worked with each student and what size group they were in.
We realize this is a lot, so we appreciate the time you are putting in ahead of time to prepare so that our meetings will be productive.
This image shows where on the MTSS Plans/Progess tab you should look to view the current students in interventions and their progress.s.
A Message from WPO Regarding the Fun Fair and Teacher Raffles
The West Fun Fair is Saturday, March 2nd. It will once again feature classroom themed baskets and a teacher raffle. Teacher Raffles are always a huge hit with the students, and the Fun Fair would not be complete without them! Participation is voluntary. If you would like to participate, please email the WPO at westparentorganization@gmail.com by 2/23 with the following:
Activity planned (This will be put on display, along with your photo)
Number of winning tickets to be drawn
Number of West friends invited to join the winner(s)
The WPO will reimburse any expense associated with your activity (up to $5/student attending) Email a picture of your receipt to westparentorganization@gmail.com. Thank you!
Safe2Help
Staff and parents received information about Safe2help in December. Gary Snep, D47 Director of School Safety, continues to communicate with building administrators on this platform and overall school safety. One piece he has shared is the video link below. Building admins reviewed it and felt that it was apporpriate for 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students. Kindy, 1st and 2nd, we felt that it may be confusing on what it is and how to explain further. With that being said: 1) all staff should watch the video. 2) 3rd, 4th and 5th please find time in this week to show your students. 3) Please continue to support your students in peer conflict as well as gather information if a student reports bullying and/or you feel it is bullying. After you gather information, please make Kathryn and I aware and share your notes/information and we will take it from there.
*3rd,4th and 5th grade teachers - Before the video you can share with students that Safe2Help was shared with parents and all of you in December. It's purpose is to continue to help students just like we do each day at school.
*Important for all of you to know, Safe2Help link was added to student's Clever on their devices.
As always, please Beth know if you have any questions at all.
Future topics on next Express
1)Non-tenured Summative Meeting Sign up
2) Review of School Supply List
Week at a glance
8:10 PPS
9:00 - 12:00 IEP Meetings
1:00 - 3:40 IEP Meetings
2:00 - 3:00 Pre-WIT Beth/Kathyrn/Beata/Jillian/Aniko
Tuesday, February 6th
8:10 - 11:30 BLT meeting @ CORE
12:30 - 1:30 IEP Meeting
1:15 2nd grade GLT
Wednesday, February 7th
8:10 - 2:20 GLT Meetings (Kindy, 5th, 4th, 3rd, 1st)
Thursday, February 8th
9:30 Meeting with Dr. Hinz and Beth
2:45 Beth,Kathryn, Aimee P
Friday, February 9th - SYNERGY OPENS FOR PROGRESS REPORTS
8:10 PBIS Tier 1
11:00 Paws R Us
2:20 1st grade Principal Read Aloud
2:45 5th grade Principal Read Aloud
Future Dates
February 5th - 9th - Kids Heart Challenge in P.E. classes-New date -We moved it up a week!
February 12th- Access testing begins
February 13th - WPO meeting 7:00 pm
February 14th - Valentines Classroom Parties 2:30 (Early release schedule )
February 16th -CogAT Reports go home (grades 3 and 5)
February 19th - No School (Presidents' Day)
February 20th - Round 2 Interventions Begin
February 21st - Early Release
-School Board Member Vist (2 board members)
February 23rd - 2nd Trimester Ends
PBIS Celebration -Sports Day
February 28th - Progress Reports due to Beth and Kathryn by 10 p.m.
March 1st - Fun Fair Set Up
- Paraprofessional input due
March 2nd - Fun Fair!!!!
March 5th -BLT Meeting @ Core
March 6th - Progress Reports posted in Parentvue
March 15th - IAR Security and Proctor Meeting @ 8:10
Author's Day -Aaron Reynolds!!!
*Bold items are newly added