Sept 21~25, 2015
Coker Cubs Weekly News
Coker Mission--Every Child, Every Day
We support and foster a positive community of successful, life-long learners and leaders by meeting the needs of every individual while challenging each one to reach full potential.
Leader in Me Expectations 2015-2016
As part of our Leader in Me initiative at Coker Elementary, the indicators outlined in the document "Guidelines for 2015-2016" posted on staff shared (administration/meeting minutes/7 campus committees/lighthouse team/guidelines for 2015-2016) are mastered items that will continue in each classroom.
In order to ensure progress towards our campus goal of obtaining Lighthouse Milestone, targeted walk-throughs will begin on Monday, October 5, 2015. Please be sure to meet the expectations so that we can reach the campus goal of 100%.
Celebration--7Habits
"I just wanted to take a second to say what a great job Coker is doing at teaching the 7 Habits. I have been so impressed with how well my child knows and even applies the terms. I discovered that I still have a lot to learn as she proved to me last night. She was discussing proactive and her explanation was not quite what I understood it to be, but I soon learned she was dead on with everything she was saying!!! So, I just wanted to take a second to let you know that it really is sticking with the kids because my child refers to it on a daily basis!" ~Coker Parent
PTA Membership
Communication is the Key to Sucess
Good communication skills are key to success in life, work and relationships. Without effective communication, a message can turn into error, misunderstanding, frustration, or even disaster by being misinterpreted or poorly delivered. Listed below are reminders of the established Coker systems for communication that you should pay attention to:
Coker Cub Weekly News--most current campus information will be issued electronically by the beginning of each week.
Morning Announcements--valuable information shared for both the student’s and the staff benefit broadcasted from the library. All staff should be tuned in to view the announcements at 7:40 AM daily.
Excellence by Design (EBD)--critical tool containing district events. Please be sure to access the EBD located on the Intranet once each week for updates.
Instant Messaging--sign into the system first thing each morning to allow for without loud interruptions over the PA. Check IM before the end of school for any student afternoon pick up changes.
Email & Phone--emails and phone messages need to be checked daily and a response to the sender is expected to be made within 24 hours of receipt.
Newsletters--sent home monthly at minimum by each grade level or program.
Correspondence for Distribution--needs to be provided and proofed at least 24 hours before you plan on sending it out.
Communication Request Form- form used to add an event to the Coker Calendar, Wednesday Mail, Marquee and/or Eblast. The latest a communication request can be submitted for processing is by noon on the Wednesday prior to week of the event.
Coker Calendar--campus Google calendar.
Independent Sales
Staff members who desire to sell personal items for purchase here at Coker, must abide by the following:
- items may only be sold to staff members and in no way to any children, parents, or community members
- items for sale may not be advertised using any district electronic communication
- items for sale may be placed in the staff lounge only for staff to view
- the sale and purchase of items must not interfere with your instructional time and responsibilities
- the campus is not responsible for any discrepancies in regards to monetary exchanges
Leadership Quote--September
“Wherever you go, go with all of your heart.” – Confucius
Caught Being a Leader
Several substitute teachers have served at Coker this year in the absence of staff members. Feedback obtained from the Substitute Report Form is cause for celebration! Shout out to the following individuals who have supported their substitute by providing a seating chart, designated a student leader to assist, left clear and complete lesson plans, planned activities to fill the entire day and students were respectful.
Sheyla Mori--lesson plans and activities were provided in this very organized classroom
Claudia Garcia--students were good and the notes left were helpful
Lauren Ramos--an easy day as everything was well prepared
Juan Farias--no problems encountered as a result of the instructions left behind
Vicky Alvarez--instructions well written and students behaved very well
Kristen Snyder--very clear and organized
Orely Trevino--easy to follow instructions and well organized
Victoria Lane--excellent lesson plans
Christina Guilett--very organized
Leader in Me Implementation
Week 5 will find the routines and systems of the classroom firmly in place. Ask students for suggestions of additional routines and systems that might be needed. Let students talk through whether their suggestions are realistic and, if so how to make them a reality.
Guide students through the Habit 4 section of the The Leader in Me Activity Guide. Read the Habit 4 story from The 7 Habits of Happy Kids. All students should be engaged through an assigned leadership role within the classroom. Select student goal tracking page (scoreboard) from options available at www.theleaderinmeonline.org or create your own. Enlist the help of student to add examples or pictures to your leadership bulletin board.
Tardies
National Hispanic Heritage Month (September)
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday!
Monday - 9/21
Cheer Class
Choir
Critical Incidence Response Meeting
Writing Professional Development - Library
Tuesday - 9/22
Strings
Art Class
K-2 Task Force Meeting (Chavez) - Bulverde Creek
Willie's Night
Wednesday - 9/23
AP Churchill Cluster Meeting @ Coker (Chavez)
Compass Training Session 1 @ Ramec (Gill)
4th g Tutoring Meeting
Bricks 4 Kids Class
Faculty Meeting and Bond Presentation with Ron Clary
7 Habits Training
Thursday - 9/24
Chavez OUT
Coker PTA Board Meeting
Strings
SpEd Meeting
K-2 Task Force (Gill) - Bulverde Creek
Friday - 9/25
Leadership Team Meeting
PLC -4th Grade
2nd Gr Incentive Recess
Chess Class
Five Keys to Motivating Struggling Learners
Another key to motivating struggling learners is to provide them with support and scaffolding. However, you will want to provide different levels of support at different times, gradually moving them to independence. Sometimes students need to see you model something once; other students may need multiple explanations and models. The same is true for guided practice. Be sure you are observing their work and using formative assessment strategies to help you know when they are ready to work on their own.
Support must be planned in advance, and then adjusted throughout lessons. Using the reminders below in the Effective SUPPORT will help you craft the most effective scaffolding for your students.
Effective SUPPORT
Structured
Understanding is the Result
Provides for Differentiation
Promotes Connections
Optimizes Strategic Learning
Repetitionless
Tied to Memory
By Barbara Blackburn PhD, and Abbigail Armstrong, EdD
Coker Handbook Tidbits-Clinic
All students coming to the clinic must have a teacher/nurse referral completed and in their hand. This will also serve as the student’s hall pass. These forms should accompany the teacher on recess duty to ensure students who need medical attention get prompt attention when needed.
All head injuries are to be sent to the clinic for evaluation immediately after incident. All blood exposure (staff and student) are to be evaluated in the clinic immediately after incident.
Click here to access the Handbook for detailed information.
Coker Handbook Tidbits--Substitutes
No substitute can be as effective as you in your classroom. Your attendance not only ensures a better education for the students, but it also sets a good example. Please try and be present every day when possible. Please create the most beneficial climate for the students on days with a substitute teacher by preparing the pupils for working with the substitute teacher and emphasizing continuation of helpfulness, consideration, good manners, behavioral compliance and your expectations.
All staff members are asked to have and maintain a sub- tub (to be used in unplanned absences).
Click here to access the Handbook for detailed information.
Faculty Advisory Committee (FAC)
To improve school-wide communication, problem solving and this year's OHI goal of autonomy, the Faculty Advisory Committee will serve as a feedback loop so that problems, concerns, and issues of any member of the faculty may addressed in a positive, non-threatening and sincere manner.
All staff member may access the Google Docs Problem Solving Document to submit issues that they would like addressed by the FAC. The only requirement the committee has is that each staff member must attempt to find a resolution collectively prior to adding an item to the list.
Coker will continue to use the FAC as the vehicle to discuss and resolve problems from the Problem Solving Document.
Attendance Winner of Summer Leadership Academy
Congratulations to Oak Meadow Elementary for having the highest attendance (by percent staff) at Summer Leadership Academy in June! Oak Meadow will receive $5,000 to purchase instructional materials for their campus.
Coker achieved 5th place among the top quartile for attendance! Way to go!
Summer Leadership Academy 2016 will be held on June 13 and 14.
"We don't have an eternity to realize our dreams, only the time we are here." ~Susan Taylor
Tiffany Gill, Principal
Email: tgill@neisd.net
Website: http://blogs.neisd.net/tgill/
Location: 302 Heimer Road, San Antonio, TX, United States
Phone: (210) 407-2200