Bulldog Weekly Update
December 12 - 16
Monday Motivation
-E. Joseph Cossman, Business Tycoon, Inventor and Entrepreneur
Notes from the Principal's Desk
December will be halfway over by the end of this week. What a whirlwind year of change it's been. As we inch toward winter break, I can't help but consider where we were a year ago. Not all of us can share in this institutional history but all of us can rejoice in what is working well this year, in the here and now. Regardless of the snags we've experienced, we are more stable, more operational, and more interdependent than we've ever been. The numbers don't lie. In the coming weeks, data from this year's MCEIA survey will be shared with our team. A cursory look suggests significant progress in areas where we have historically faltered. It reminds me that when things feel like they are falling apart, when things feel chaotic, when I worry about whether everyone--especially our students--are OK, I can be reassured that this crisis, this emergency, this momentary challenge does not define us, the whole of our work, and it does not overshadow the success students experience in our classrooms across the school. It invigorates me, as it should us all, to know that when we keep our goals within sight, and when we work together, we make serious gains.
We will take another step toward our biggest goals this year in January. In preparation for MCAS, the school will participate in a school-wide shutdown for an Interim Assessment which is aligned with grade-level content standards students will be asked to demonstrate in April, when MCAS testing officially starts. The Interim Assessment will take place across grades for ELA and MATH, will include the typical amount of time for testing (2+ hours), and will be taken through Formative. These will give us usable, real-time data for supporting specific, targeted student learning in the following months.
For those who share our institutional history: we made it out of targeted support from the state last year when so many other schools across the nation suffered some of the worst scores since the early 90s, when MCAS began. We don't want to go back. We owe it to our students. We owe it to ourselves.
Parents and Students Attend Award Ceremony for Q1
Parents and Students Attend Award Ceremony for Q1
Parents and Students Attend Award Ceremony for Q1
Join Us on 12/14 Wednesday 4-7P at Princeton Station for the Holiday Party
Principal Coffee Brings in Community Partners to Support Parents' Needs
Principal Coffee Brings in Community Partners to Support Parents' Needs
The Power of Proximity
Teachers rely on many techniques to manage behavior in the classroom. Among the most effective strategies is to facilitate highly engaging learning. To ensure that all students are getting the most out of the lesson, it’s imperative that teachers rely on circulation throughout the room. Circulating provides an opportunity to check in on students, offer one on one support, and regroup when specific skill deficits are observed.
Circulating through the class is a non-verbal cue that all students will be held accountable for learning. Additionally, it sets a precedent for the cleanliness and navigability of the space. It’s important to prime students before they begin independent work or small group work that while you are circulating you will be looking for specific activities and conversations taking place. Your circulation endows you with the power of redirecting focus and facilitating deeper learning on the spot.
It’s impossible for teachers to teach effectively from behind a desk. While your direct instruction may start at the front of the class, your ability to gauge students' comprehension is based on your capacity to see how they are doing--particularly if part of that classroom learning is happening online. On a regular rotation, you should be able to see their screens, or whether they have their books out, what page they are on, and whether they are equipped with the tools they need for the lesson. Above all, circulation is a critical step in maximizing learning time for all students. A byproduct of is that students spend less time waiting for items they should have already procured at the beginning of class because you can spot right away what's missing. The more you circulate, the more you send the message that no one is off the hook for learning. (Please see the attached two short videos for examples)
Week at a Glance
- Operations Huddle 8:30 - 9:00a
- Climate and Culture meeting after school 3:10-4:10
- Moody School EL PAC Family Holiday Event
Tuesday, 12/13
- Content CPT
Wednesday 12/14
- NO ILT until after Winter Break
- ADMIN CPT- SW Focus
- Staff Holiday Party 4:00-7:00P
Thursday 12/15
- ACCESS Traning - Rm 240 1:06-2:56
- College Day - Wear your college gear
- Curriculum and Instruction 10:00 - 11:00a
- PLC/CPT Professional Development -
On The Horizon...
December 12th: Climate and Culture Meets After School
December 12th: Moody School Hosts EL PAC Holiday event for ALL EL Families 6:00-7:00P
December 14th: Staff Holiday Party at Princeton Station
(Special Thanks to Mrs. Theng and Climate & Culture for Coordinating!)
December 18th: Carr Foundation Food Basket Outreach in the school gym
December 20th: Family Night 5:30 - 7:30
December 23: SEL Friday before Break
Community Partnership Collaboration with LPD -Boxing Demonstration/Option for students
Congrats to Bryan Callahan for Being Chosen for the Next Staff Spotlight!
Family Night is 12/20: Come Show Your Support and Help Families Get Informed!
ILT Updates
Next Team meeting - 1/11/23
Check in with your grade-level team representatives for more information. Meetings take place every other Wednesday. ILT content is shared by grade representatives on the team at Grade Level CPTs. What happens in ILT drives what will happen in CPT!
ILT REPS:
Brett Sullivan -- 5th
Cheryl Ferris -- 6th
Alie Cabrera -- 6th
Peter Francis -- 7th
Jen Fraser -- 8th
Christina Pappalardo -- 8th
Vannak Theng -- EL
Krista St. Louis - Special Education
SEL
Please see Lori Casey for any updates. Next SEL day is Friday, DECEMBER 23rd, before WINTER BREAK! Begin Planning NOW!
Culture and Climate
Next Meeting MONDAY, 12/12 | 3:10 - 4:10
Check in with your grade level team representatives for more information. A calendar of upcoming dates will be forthcoming!
Note: Get ready for the door decorating contest more details to come/
Staff Spotlight: Bryan Callahan!
December Staff Birthdays
Don't Forget to say " Happy Birthday"
Hailey Lowell 12/4
Bryan Callahan 12/6
Christina Pappalardo 12/9
Krista St.Louis 12/16
Chris Aparo 12/19
Jessica Andrews 12/20
Jennifer Hughes 12/21
Scott Boyle 12/24
Deirdre Coffey 12/25
Butler Community
Email: jmoody@lowell.k12.ma.us
Website: https://www.lowell.k12.ma.us/Domain/10
Location: 1140 Gorham Street, Lowell, MA, USA
Phone: 978-937-8973
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lpsdbutler/