The Buzz 5/23/16
What you need to know to be in the know...
Our Mission:
Chandler Elementary will create a safe and positive environment where all students and adults work together using 21st century strategies to achieve high academic growth.
Down the final stretch...
The end is in sight....Be EPIC, Find your inner teacher BEAST MODE, and FINISH STRONG!!!!
SKR Scores and Classified Staff Performance
Mr. Hufford will be coming around to meet with all teachers who participate in TAP to review their yearly SKR scores.
Mr. Hufford and Mrs. Schwartz are also meeting with classified staff to discuss performance appraisals this week.
Drinking Fountains
In the aftermath of the Flint water crisis, we will be conducting joint water testing with the city to check for lead levels, and make infrastructure upgrades, as needed, to our drinking systems. This will take place at a time that is conducive to our operations, HOWEVER if you see a fountain marked for testing or with a sign to not use it, please help monitor to ensure students don't get a drink. (I believe that the fountain has to be taken out of use for a minimum of 6 hours prior to the test for accurate results, so non-use is critical.)
Also, during their pre-test facilities inspections 3 water fountains were found defective and will be upgraded. These have already been removed. Please do not confuse defective water fountains with contaminated. It could be a condenser/cooler issue, a broken pipe that is dripping, corrosion, etc...
Air Quality Control Measures
During a recent walk around the maintenance department identified a few areas of the building that had either air fresheners, or plug in warmers. Due to fire regulations and air quality/allergy concerns these items need to exit the building or be subject to confiscation.
Sorry about the inconvenience.
All GCS End of Year Celebration at HS
Skyward Training
Everyone should have received an e-mail from David Snyder recently in regards to out new Student Management System names Skyward. This will replace SMS next year.
To ensure a smooth rollout, GCS teachers will be required to complete gradebook training on your own before May 31 (this can be found at (https://procenter.skyward.com/login/index.php). Brent Kulp and Jennifer Eldridge have done this already, and will be available to support you in your training.
You should have received an e-mail earlier in the semester with your username and password that will allow you to access this training.
May Teacher's Toolbox
It's Here! It's Here! The May edition of the Teachers Toolbox!
The May edition of the Teacher's Toolbox is now available! http://www.doe.in.gov/ccr/teachers-toolbox
Thank you for all of your hard work this school year! Teacher Appreciation Week is not enough time to express the gratitude for all of your work.
STEAM Resources
As we begin to think about what goes into planning a PBL unit, here is a simple outline of each of the PBL Gold Standard design components...
http://bie.org/blog/gold_standard_pbl_project_based_teaching_practices
Creating a culture of thinking can be no easy task, but understanding some of the forces that shape this type of culture can be helpful. Here is a condensed version outlining a few of these forces.
http://www.pz.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/8%20Forces%20that%20Shape%20Group%20Culture.pdf
Meet our BIE - PBL Trainer
Rich Lehrer will be here in July to lead our staff towards PBL proficiency. You can read more about his background here...
NWEA
As we learned at the beginning of the year, 50-55% of students meeting their projected RiT range is typical. Please take time to check how your students did!
After talking with teachers in our building, and other district administrators, (and as one would expect) teachers who take time to set goals with their students are more likely to meet their expected growth.
TELL Survey
We are currently as close to 100% as we can get!!!!! We will celebrate this by wearing jeans during the last week of school. Thanks to everyone who took the time to complete this survey!!
Just for fun:
From Central Office...
Today’s Focus: Talent
“No man is a success unless he loves his work.”
– Florence Scovel Shinn
Reflections to Guide Your Journey
What do you love most about the role you play in GCS and the work you do each day?
How is your passion for what you do each day affecting the lives of others? Your staff? Your students?
What can you do to help others discover a passion that will last them a lifetime?
Calendar Updates & Reminders
May 31st – End of Year Celebration:
12:45 – 1:15 Reception for Retirees in GHS Cafeteria
1:20 – 1:30 GHS Musicians in GHS Auditorium
1:30 – 3:00 Recognition and Retiree Celebration
June 2nd
– Leadership Teams meet together at West Goshen Church of the Brethren from 9:00 – 3:00; Lunch provided.July 28 & 29th and August 1 – New Teacher Orientation
Special Education Paraprofessional Training Stipends
Special education paraprofessionals who work in Goshen or in ECSEC programs outside of Goshen are eligible for an additional stipend, IF they have attended five(5) hours or more of specialized training during the school year. [Training hours will not count if they were held during the regular school day or if the employee received any type of pay for their time in in-service.] In order for payment to occur, the paraprofessional should complete a yellow Payroll voucher form and attach documentation in the way of an agenda or some type of certificate, as evidence of the five hours. Attached you will find a voucher that includes most of the information that needs to be reported (for ease), but the employee may use a plain voucher as well. This documentation should be submitted to the building or program supervisor for signature/authorization and then sent to the Admin Center. The stipend will appear on their final pay for the school year.
Holiday Pay for Memorial Day
Clarification in case you get questions – Classified staff who are finished working on May 27th are not eligible to receive holiday pay for Memorial Day (May 31st) because they are not working the day before and the day after the holiday (per the Classified Handbook).
Substitutes
It is no secret that we continue to have challenges with filling all needs for substitutes teachers and paraprofessionals. The shortages have been more extreme again in these last few weeks of school. Additionally, we have had continuing challenges with tracking teacher absences and substitute payroll information. For over a year, the HR department along with Jamie Lehman have been researching the possibility of moving to an electronic system for recruiting and managing all functions related to this topic.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!
Ms. Debbie Flickinger - Monday, May 23
Mr. Keith Amstutz - Tuesday, May 24
Calendar Items
NWEA Window Open
Monday
No AM Cluster
Goshen Public Library Presentation Gym (K-2 @ 1:00, 3-5 @ 1:30)
District Evaluation Committee Update 3:15 (cafe)
School Board Meeting 6:00 (admin bldg)
Tuesday
HA Plays Dummling & the Golden Goose 8:20, 9:20, 10:20, 11:20 (room 104)
5th Grade boys vs Staff 1:30 (Gym)
TLT 3:15
Wednesday
Last Day for Headstart
Savage to Water Tower Park 8:00-1:30
HA Anasai Tales 9:00, 10:00, 11:00 (Room 106)
STEAM PD w/ Kauffman 3:15
High Ability Broad Based Planning 4:00 (Admin bldg)
Thursday
K-2 Field Day 8:30-10:45
3-5 Field Day 11:30-2:30
Friday
Party on the Playground (Lunch)
Title I Family Picnic (Lunch)
In the long term...
Tuesday May 24:
•10:00, 10:45, 11:30 – HA Plays Room 106
Wednesday May 25:
•Officer Powell here AM
•9:00, 10:00, 11:00 – HA Plays Room 106
Thursday May 26:
•Field Day
•3:00-3:45 - Orchestra
Friday May 27:
•LAST student day
•10:50-1:00 - Party on the Playground
Tuesday May 31:
•LAST teacher day!!
Monday June 6 – Thursday June 23:
•8:00-1:30 - Summer School
Tuesday June 21:
•Last office staff day
Just in case you forgot...
Literacy Tools
The purpose the Literacy Focus of the Month is to provide guidance to administrators and teachers for supporting a monthly, school wide instructional focus based on best practices and research-based strategies in literacy. This "user-friendly" guide and support tools will assist districts and schools in the implementation of reading instruction in classrooms across multiple grade levels, as well as different subjects/content areas. The topics in this newsletter range from policies and procedures to the five essential components of reading as identified by the National Reading Panel. The material is devoted to strengthen administration and teacher content knowledge by focusing on one topic each month. Although the monthly focus will highlight and supplement a specific procedure or skill, it is impossible to teach the components in isolation; therefore, the Literacy Focus of the Month should serve to present a school-wide shared commitment to literacy.
NEW!! May 2016 Vocabulary FOCUS Digging Deeper
https://www.tes.com/lessons/QsFnQLHTPxAOnA/digging-deeper-vocabulary-focus
April 2016 Fluency FOCUS
https://www.tes.com/lessons/qfQ2-FjSU6sYIw/fluency-focus
March 2016 Comprehension FOCUS
https://www.tes.com/lessons/yrEkPfM4tMPD-w/comprehension-focus
February 2016 Writing Connected to Texts FOCUS
https://www.tes.com/lessons/Vefp7IKC5OqYhA/writing-connected-to-texts-focus
January 2016 Vocabulary FOCUS
https://www.tes.com/lessons/KLk5SE8LrtXG0g/vocabulary-focus
I look forward to working with you to improve literacy outcomes for all Indiana students!
All Things Reading
Here is a nifty little resource that has a variety or reading activities you may be able to use with your students. The last resources section has about 15-20reading activities to use with your students during reading block. Just something to peruse over break!
Indiana Academic Standards for English/Language Arts and Content Area Literacy
Educators’ Toolkit for Indiana’s K‐12 Reading Selections