Parsons ES Partyline
Friday, January 17, 2020
It's a 3 Day Weekend! Enjoy Your TIME!
The long weekend allows us an extra day to spend with our family but it also allows us the opportunity to honor and celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s birthday. In today’s world, I draw your attention to one of my favorite Dr. King’s quotes: "Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." Dr. King invites us to look to the light, to look to love, and share this with our students so that future generations love and respect one another.
In celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, GCPS once again is partnering with the United Ebony Society of Gwinnett County, Inc. to host the 20th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on January 20 at Moore Middle School. All students and their families are invited to attend the celebration. The theme will be "The time is always right to do what is right". Lauren Seroyer is this year's Parade Grand Marshal! Lauren is a graduate of Peachtree Ridge High School class of 2018. Having Lauren serve as Grand Marshal definitely brings a lot of PRIDE to our ONERIDGE community. Hope you can come out and join in the celebration.
Proud to be Your Principal!
No Caption Needed
Staff Silver Celebration on Friday, January 24 at 7:45 am
Placement Preference Process
As noted in previous email...
The Placement Preference Process link will be activated on Friday, January 17, 2020 @ 8:00 AM. The link can be found in the GCPS Employee Portal under the About Me tab.
For the purpose of this process, Counselors, Media Specialists, and LSTCs are considered Teachers. In order to be eligible, teachers and assistant principals must have three consecutive, complete, contractual years at their current location and not be on a Professional Development Plan. Transfer requests must be lateral (teacher to teacher or assistant principal to assistant principal). The deadline for employees to submit a Placement Preference Request is Friday, January 24, 2020 @ 5:00 PM. The last day to accept a transfer is Friday, January 31, 2020 @11:59 PM.
Communication of Staffing Plan
With that being said, 2nd grade currently has six classes (there is only five 1st grade classes moving up to 2nd) and we will need six 3rd grade classes to accommodate the six 2nd grade classes moving up. So, we will move one 2nd grade teacher to 3rd grade. Administration has spoken with this teacher directly about this change.
As you know the transfer process has begun and we will communicate changes with the staff in a timely manner.
RBES Mid Year Update in PD&E due January 27th
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ru-i-q4TVbI_WR2qPSACWyQl0wVV8FK4/view?usp=sharing
Student Health Survey for Grades 3rd-5th
3rd-5th grade teachers will administer the GA Student Health Survey to their class on January 29th or 30th. Schedules and directions can be found here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/10Jo0LVHiYxTRaOR35VyE6-8LMXHaEYiGLi-x1gJFCe0/edit?usp=sharing
**Labs have been blocked off for both of these days.
***Please return permission slips to Stacey Gist by January 21st. Be sure to keep a record of which students will NOT be completing the survey.
Internet Explorer No Longer Compatable with eCLASS
Interested in Presenting at the Gwinnett Digital Learning Conference?
If you are interested, sign up on the portal under GDLD proposals. If your proposal is approved, you will be presenting for roughly 45 to 60 minutes.
eCLASS Exceptions: Let's refresh and recharge for the new year!
Remember to add:
1 Weekly Online Homework assignment (Discussion board, Eclass quiz or Safari Montage with questions)
We challenge you to get all students to complete these!
We also challenge you to use the ECOMM center and the many technology resources at our fingertips, like eClass, Google Apps, Classworks, Moby Max, etc.
Why? We are teaching students who live in a digital world. The use of technology keeps students engaged and interested in their learning. Our job is to prepare students for their future, whether it is high school college, or entering the workforce, technology is all around them. Let's prepare them well!
Don't forget to update your eCLASS pages weekly, as needed:
The following information should be posted on your eCLASS course page (Grades K-5)
- Class schedule
- Classroom management plan
- Specials schedule (rotation)
- 1 Online homework assignment weekly
- Study Guides – Grades 2-5 (SC and SS are required; other subjects are optional)
- Answers should be posted before test.
- Newsletters
Individual Mid Year District Assessment Data Analysis Google Form due January 24th
RBES Mid Year Implementation Update in PD&E Due January 27
Parent Notification
GCPS staff has migrated to new email addresses. All staff emails follow this pattern: first.last@gcpsk12.org or first.m.last@gcpsk12.org. Please update your contact information for your teacher to the new email. The Parsons Elementary website has been updated to reflect your teacher's current email.
Parents can continue to email teachers at their "old" email addresses. This email should continue to work as well. However, we know that with anything new there can always be a few glitches. Please contact the office if you have any issues with emailing teachers or staff.
Coming in March...Microsoft Outlook
Our school is expected to transition to Microsoft 365: Microsoft Outlook for our email beginning on Friday, March 6th. Our Tech Team has already made the transition to Outlook.
The Tech Team has already transitioned to Microsoft Outlook and is working out the kinks! If you receive an error message (email not found in any directory) when emailing Stacey, Sharon, or Ricky, remember to push the Use Name Anyway button.
What to expect when our School moves to Outlook:
- On March 6th you will use Microsoft Outlook to access your email.
- Outlook mail can be accessed three ways: a desktop application, on the portal, or using an app on your mobile phone. The mobile app is not required but makes email so much easier to check on your phone or tablet.
- You will be able to access your Lotus Notes emails and Archives. Lotus Notes will be "view only" for email.
- Your "old" email address will be listed as a secondary email for you. You should receive email from your new email and your old email address, but you should begin transitioning to this new email address.
- You may want to add your new email address to your Gmail, if you have your Gmail forwarded to your GCPS email. Stacey sent directions to do this.
Click the link below for a quick 2 minute tutorial of the top 10 things to know about Microsoft Outlook:
Individual Mid Year DA Data Analysis Due January 24th
The Mid Year Content Window Opens on Monday, January 13th and will end on Friday, January 24th. We have simplified the Data Analysis form so that it is more teacher friendly :-)
You do NOT have to have our individual data form complete for the grade level data analsis with will take place on 1/13 and 1/17.
When you click on the links below for each content, you will be asked to make a copy. Remember to sign in to your Google Account prior to clicking on the links.
Please have the Individual Teacher Data Analysis forms completed by January 24th.
The links below will force teachers to make a copy of the form for them to use for their individual teacher data. Remember to sign in your Google Account before clicking on the link.
ELA: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UfQ5pYb1UxBUjdyhUGOr_tsw3BmlaUFxQCerbltEl44/copy
Math:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BfQj1LAFE-ZTvNxXjEgkKsWMACKDZPiG_C_7UNWY5EU/copy
Science:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pCs58XACO2IXS_b4VysgBMmaXJVsFmaX29QilmvMcW4/copy
Social Studies: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TB4m4ypdPDaEFDywqg2wk3znRCBhyl8r9DPxv_-xd2g/copy
Are you ready for a Digital Learning Day?
Remember, your goal is to have your 3 days of DLD ready by the end of December. These can be "shell" plans that you update with current content.
Digital Learning Day Expectations can be found here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oJzaN4IF7BEcvgi-pyC0CfuAq01xceOCE8DGKMNT0y0/edit?usp=sharing
Review of Staff Assignments:
- Classroom Teachers will prepare/post digital learning content on their eClass page.
- Special Area Teachers will prepare digital learning content for their assigned grade level special.
- Support Staff & Classified Staff: Human Resources will push out a module for you to complete in PD&E if we have a Digital Learning Day.
- Special Education, ESOL, EIP, Speech, Reading Recovery, Media Specialist, Counselor, TST, ECAT will complete the PD&E course.
- PreK teachers will complete the PD&E module. Teachers will prepare a packet that will be sent home prior to an anticipated Digital Learning Day. PreK teachers will not post Digital Learning Day activities in eClass. PreK teachers will complete a PD&E course.
- Ms. Austin will work with her 5th grade math and science classes, in addition to her science special.
- Ms. Piper will work with her Math, SC, and SS 4th grade class.
- All Classified staff (cafeteria, office, custodial, and parapros) will complete a PD&E course.
- LSTC will be available on Digital Learning Day by email or phone for support. Lisa Eubanks, the eClass specialist, is also available by email.
- Administration will monitor and interact with students and staff throughout the day on eClass.
- FOCUS students will not visit Piper and Austin.
Quick Reminders:
- Make sure that content is posted by 9:00am on a Digital Learning Day.
- Remember to "unhide" or take all modules, files, discussions, quizzes, & activities out of draft mode.
- Post an Activity Feed with questions enabled.
- Please monitor your Activity Feed and eClass discussion boards throughout the day. Responding to questions and posts at least 3-4 different time periods throughout the day.
Math Boot Camp in February
- Math Boot Camp Professional Learning
This professional learning is designed to develop and deepen understanding of the Mathematics AKS for grades K-5. Each session will focus on aligning AKS, assessment, and instruction using the lowest performing AKS for the semester. This is a great opportunity for learning and collaboration. All teachers are encouraged to attend.
What: Math Boot Camp
When: February 1, 2020 (8:00 AM – 12:00 PM)
Where: Discovery High School
Please share this information with teachers and only have them register in PD&E (course #2391), if they did NOT attend in September.
Science Opportunity
- K-5 Problem Solving in Science
This professional learning is designed to provide an opportunity for elementary teachers to dive into the K-5 Science AKS through the lens of problem solving and critical thinking. Learning will focus on engaging students in effective science instruction using science phenomena and mini-tasks that incorporate Quality-Plus Teaching Strategies and authentic, real-world problems. Participants will leave each session with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to engage students in effectively learning elementary Science, while also developing important literacy and mathematical skills.
What: ES Problem Solving in Science
When: February 12, 2020 (4:30PM-6:30PM)
Where: J. Alvin Wilbanks Instructional Support Center; Grayson Room
Interested participants should register in the PD&E using course # 23181.
Quality-Plus Teaching Strategy - Modeling and Practice
This week’s highlight includes both the Introduction and initial QPTS in Action for Modeling and Practice. Use the links below to access the Why, How, and What of Modeling and Practice along with sample lesson plans in each of the four core that model how this strategy brings learning alive for students.
2_Modeling&Practice_QPTSinAction1.pdf https://tinyurl.com/ModelingAndPracticeWk2
1_Modeling&Practice_Introduction.pdf https://tinyurl.com/ModelingAndPracticeWk1
Sign up for the Parsons Professional Development Courses in the PD&E
Weekly Happenings
Monday, January 20
Systemwide Holiday in Observance of Martin Luther King, jr Day
Tuesday, January 21
No Personal Leave Day ~ Bring a doctor's note if you are out sick today
Committee Meetings ~ 7:30 am
Mystery Skype (Wiley) ~ 1:40-2:25 pm
Girls Who Code ~ 3:30 pm
Yonug Rembrandts ~ 3:30 pm
Wednesday, January 22
Grade level Planning/Common Assessments- ELA/SS
Chorus Practice ~ 7:30 am
World Citizens ~ 7:45 am
Mystery Skype (Sheppard) ~ 1:00-1:45 pm
Drama Kids Club ~ 3:30 pm
Thursday, January 23
Chorus Practice ~ 7:30 am
Witzzle Pro ~ 7:40 am
STEM Vertical Team (Northbrook MS) ~ 8:00-12 pm
Mystery Skype (Lee) ~ 1:00-1:45 pm
Learning Through the Arts (Music InterACTION PRe K and K ~ 2:00 pm Cafeteria
Robotics Club ~ 3:30 pm
i9 Sports Club ~ 3:30 pm
Korean Language ~ 3:30 pm
Board Meeting at ISC for Governor's Award~ 7:00 pm
Friday, January 24
Silver Celebration Breakfast in Cafeteria at 7:45 AM
Mid Year Individual Data Analysis Form Due
RFL Chili and Soup Day ~ PLR $5 donation
Student Council ~ 7:45 am
Cynthia Lewis 1/10
Sue Ku 1/11
Megan Davis 1/12
Jesse Standridge 1/12
Ricky Berry 1/22
Lisa Roberts 1/25