Monday Memo
April 2nd - 6th, 2018
“What isn’t monitored becomes optional.” -Robbie Rowen
On Wednesday, we will have our next opportunity for unit planning. Remember when you plan your upcoming units, please make sure that your artifact includes the answers to the questions listed in the Unit and Lesson Planning Questions. In addition, make sure that you send a copy of the artifact to Jaime by the EOD on Thursday, April 5th. Even if you have previously given her access to the folder your artifact is kept in, with so many teams doing different things, it is much easier to manage if you will just send it to her.
Our next Team Leader Meeting will be on Monday, April 9th. If you have any questions or concerns that you would like to add to the agenda, please use this link to submit your request. In addition, please share your question/concern with your team leader so that if we have any clarifying questions, we can get the needed information.
Last week, I asked each team to evaluate their current practices with the PLC Lite or Right comparison chart so that you could determine your next steps as we continue to improve using the PLC framework. The next action step is for team leaders to bring your team's highlighted chart to our next Team Leader Meeting, as we will collaboratively work together to determine how to best support each team take their next steps on this journey.
Three people participated in instructional rounds this week. Our total is now up to 31 and hopefully will continue to increase. I've attached the instructional strength responses again in the event that you would like to target something particular to observe. There is so much we can learn from each other. I'm grateful to those of you investing your time in this way to grow yourself as a professional. As we inch closer to HRS Level 2 certification, this will become a regular practice. If you have any ideas on a better way to manage, maximize or promote this practice please let me know, as I am learning as we go as well. Remember, once every person on your team has completed an instructional round and completed the data collection form, the team can identify a day other than a Tuesday to wear jeans.
As you know, our 4th and 5th grade students will be taking STAAR next week. If you haven't already done so, please be sure to communicate that we will be a closed campus on Tuesday and Wednesday and visitors/volunteers K - 5th will not be allowed in the building. In spite of our best efforts, sometimes parents in the lower grade levels think that the "no visitor thing" just applies to the testing grade levels. Anything you can do to clearly communicate this to your families over the next two weeks would be greatly appreciated.
Make today count, and take care of each other!
JL
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STAAR ACCOMMODATIONS
All STAAR accommodations (supplemental aids, graphic organizers, frequently misspelled word lists, etc.) for the upcoming STAAR on April 10th (5th Math, 4th Writing) and April 11th (5th Reading).
Teachers of students that are taking STAAR on April 10th-11th, please make sure all accommodations are turned into me no later than Thursday, April 5th at the end of the school day.
If you have any questions, please contact Shiela (504) or Sylvia (SPED).
504 Students- you can turn accommodations directly to Sylvia. Please paperclip the accommodations together and put a post-it with the student’s name on it.
SPED students: The case managers will be turning these into me. Please work with your student’s case manager to ensure that all supplemental aids are collected.
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EOY TTESS Conferences
It's that time again for our end of the year TTESS conference! Please refer to the links below to sign up for your conference.
K-2 & Resource teachers- Sylvia
3-5, Specials and Centralized Teachers- Jennifer
This is a time for us to reflect on your TTESS and SLO goals as well as discuss your summer PD plans and upcoming goals for next year. Below you will find links to documents regarding how to prepare and what to bring based on if you were observed this year or not. Please let us know if you have any questions.
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Operation Converge 2018 is now listed in Eduphoria for registration! Teachers will receive their 6 hour GT update credit for both days of Converge. We have some exciting things planned for this innovative 2-day event. Check out the CONVERGE WEBSITE for more information on our plan for this summer and the link for breakout session proposals!
Don’t miss out! It’s going to be AMAZING!!
Links for registration:
Day 1-
https://eduphoria.mckinneyisd.net/wshop/default.aspx?cid=17156 Day 2- https://eduphoria.mckinneyisd.net/wshop/default.aspx?cid=17157
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Parent Resource: Understood.org
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Reminder from Central Office
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Action Items
- Provide Jaime with a copy of your Design Time artifact by the EOD, Thursday, April 5th
Teachers of students that are taking STAAR on April 10th-11th, all accommodations must be turned into SL by EOD, Thursday, April 5th.
- Submit your feedback on the InSync meetings this year.
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Shoparoo
Did you know that each week I give out jeans passes to the three highest scoring staff members 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. Please feel free to push this information out to your parents as well.
Congratulations to Barbara Peebles, Laura Garro and Jennifer Little for being the highest three staff contributors to Shoparoo this week!
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Focus for 2017 - 2018
In order to help all children achieve their personal best, McGowen teachers and staff will:
- Knowledgeably speak about our current practices that contribute to McGowen becoming a Level 2 Certified High Reliability School.
- 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.
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Remind for Staff
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APPRECIATIONS
- Deanna- Thanks for always keeping it real during planning. ;) –Marley
- Rico- Thanks for always encouraging us to think differently from what we’re comfortable with. –Marley
- Gail- Thanks for always putting a positive spin on things, and for being willing to do more than your share for the team. –Marley
- Christina- Thanks for always rolling with the punches and adapting to what’s thrown at you. –Marley
- Jessica- Thanks for being 4th grade’s fearless leader. You work hard to make everything right, and to make our kid’s experiences memorable. You rock. --Marley
- Trisha~ Thank you a TON for making the awesome polygon sheet so quickly and so beautifully!!! ~KT
- Melanie - Thank you for the time and energy you put into the TOY video. It was simply fabulous! -JL
- Jaime - Thanks for all of your help over the last few months. I really appreciate all that you do to keep us on track, and ensure that students are getting the appropriate support they need to be successful. -JL
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GT Training Opportunity
- Foundations 1: April 21st at Cockrill MS Library
- Foundations 2: May 19th at Cockrill MS Library
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BAD DUDE
Please join us in congratulating Jen McCartney as the Bad Dude of the Week. Jen has managed quite a bit this year. She has exhibited great strength and gone above and beyond to make sure that nothing falls through the cracks. She chooses to laugh instead of cry when things get tough and continues to meet the needs of her students regardless of what a day might bring. We love and appreciate her more than we have words to express.
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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.