Cool Cat News
Campus Brief
Cool Cats,
Wow! It's been a full week. I don't know about you, but my body has continued adjusting back into the demands of our work week! By the time I get home and feed my family, I' ready to crash! Even though I'm still a little tired, it's been exhilarating to be back in the saddle trying to make things happen for our students! I don't know if you realize it, but we do one of the MOST important jobs on the planet, and I feel so blessed to work with some of the best!
We've had some good news this week, in PLCs we celebrated some awesome growth by 2nd graders (happy dance)! I'm so excited for our 2nd grade team! They are working hard making small adjustment here and there and it's paying off! Way to go 2nd grade! I know there are lots of other celebrations too! I've heard good MAP news from 3rd and 4th grades too! Our students ARE growing, and this semester we are going to see it all so much more.
"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."~ Theodore Roosevelt Sometimes we can waste a lot of time waiting for the perfect moment or waiting for all of the variables to come together before we get started. Always remember the perfect moment is NOW. Do whatever you can with what you have right now, and you'll often find that things work out, come together, fall into place. This is no different when working with our students. We start where they are, do all that we can, taking advantage of every present moment, and somehow we begin to see things fall into place for them. They begin to grow and achieve. Thank you for investing every instructional moment into our students!
Shawnell
Staff Updates
Writing Checkpoint- Next Wednesday, January 23rd, our 4th graders will be taking the Writing Checkpoint. This test will be presented to students as a STAAR simulation and the day will run as closely as possible to STAAR Writing. We will be testing in fourth grade hall as well as the library/library computer lab. Rotations for K-2 will be either in the music room, art room or old computer lab. Outdoor recess will be limited to the soccer field only. The gym will be available throughout the day if needed. Please help to provide our 4th grade students with a quiet testing environment by talking with your students about hallway behaviors. Third graders will need to be especially quiet in their hallway as well as in class.
In order to give our 4th graders a few minutes to run in the gym to release any tension and have some exercise prior to a long day of testing, K-3 will need to pick up students from the gym that morning at 7:20 AM.
Thank you for your support of our 4th graders! Our 4th grade team has worked diligently this year to prepare our students and we want to wish them the best on Wednesday!
Tech Night- Tech Night is coming up next week. Remember this is also a Title I event also. Each classroom will showcase/demonstrate student technology projects and use. As parents visit your classrooms, they must sign in on sign in sheets that Kara will provide. Kara will update you if there are any additional requirements, but after visiting your classroom, parents and student can enjoy up to 4 science activities in the gym with Mad Scientist Group. This will be a come and go event from 5:30-6:30. Please make plans for how you or your team will highlight technology in your classrooms on this night.
Literacy Consultation Date- Our next date with with Kristin B has been changed to February 6th. This is a Wylie Way day, but our original dates fell on 3rd and 4th grade Checkpoint dates. We will make this date our PLC day for this week. We will have an altered schedule on this day, so we will only have a 50 minute PLC. This meeting will be an opportunity for open dialogue with Kristin. If you have topics of interest, please let me know. This will be her last visit for the year.
Round Table Behavior Discussion- Our Spring Round Table discussion is scheduled for Tuesday, April 2nd from 3-4pm. Remember this is an optional opportunity for you to meet with several of the behavior specialists and work through any behavior concerns yo may have.
"Soup-er Bowl" Potluck- We are looking to have a soup potluck the Friday before the Super Bowl to get us all pumped up for the big game! If you make a hearty, tasty.YUMMY soup, now's the time to pull out that recipe and share some with friends! And it's okay if you made it last semester, lol! We will put a signup sheet in the lounge to see if we have interest and then we will let you know if it's a go in our next Smore.
New Year Essentials:Lesson frames (posted and used ); Power Zone; Lesson plans
Staff Shout Outs!!!
Mrs. Loveless would like to make a shout out to Mrs. Booth, Mrs. Forte, and Mrs. Kramer - They are always willing to help and go the extra mile to help not only their students but also our PK students be successful. I’d also like to shout out to Ms. Auriemme – She keeps the team smiling and laughing, which helps our days stay bright!
BIG shout out to Brandy and Erin and PTA for making our Hartman Council of PTA Luncheon a GREAT success! Everyone was comfortable and enjoyed the beautifully decorated atmosphere and delicious food!
Staff Birthdays!!!!
January
1—Charles Lako
4--Kara Broyles
5--Diane Klingbeil
8--Angela Medrano
29--Shawnell Bradshaw
December and January birthdays will be celebrated at the end of the month!
Upcoming Dates
1/9 RTI Team Meeting 3pm
1/15 Sunshine Committee Mtg. 3pm
1/16 K-2 RtI Mtg 3pm
1/17 Council of PTAs Luncheon 11:30am-1pm; General PTA Mtg/Term 2 Awards 6-7pm
1/21 MLK Exchange Holiday
1/23 3-4 RtI Meeting 3pm
1/24 Title I Tech Night 5:30-6:30pm