EV NEXT WEEK - January 24
East Vincent Elementary School
NEXT WEEK'S MEETING SCHEDULE
JANUARY
*All meetings take place in the Innovation Center unless otherwise noted
Monday, January 27: Day 5
7:50 Learning Support and Special Areas
Tuesday, January 28: Day 1
GIEP Day in the Conference Room
7:50 Safe and Caring Meeting (whole committee) in Matt Famous' room
3:30-4:30 EV New Teacher Induction Meeting
6:00-7:30 Empowering Families Graduation at NC
Wednesday, January 29: Day 2
7:50 WFSG
8:15-11:30 Kindergarten and Specialists Planning Meeting
Thursday, January 30: Day 3
7:50 No meeting
7:50-3:20 Principals' Study Council Meeting at CCIU
Friday, January 31: Day 4
7:50 No meeting
STUDENT GROWTH AND ACHIEVEMENT
PSSA Proposed Dates:
ELA: April 20, 21, 22
Math: April 28, 29
Science April 30, May 1
*Please provide feedback this week as I plan to post the dates on our webpage and Weekly WOW next Saturday, February 1.
SAFE AND CARING ENVIRONMENT
Thank you for your professionalism and enthusiasm during our SWPBS reboot. Many, many thanks to our SWPBS Core Team for coordinating a successful reboot day on Tuesday. The team planned every detail and deserve recognition for a job well done.
Follow-Up Notes - I'll reiterate during meetings too for those who prefer face time over emails.
1. It’s okay to sound like a broken record... and it is expected that all staff is reviewing and repeating the expectations on the matrix so all staff is using the same language across all grade levels. It is especially helpful if you review each matrix on your way out to the hall and playground, repeat Go, Flush, Wash, Leave as students leave for the bathroom, and before teaching you can reiterate expected behaviors for the classroom tasks that students will be working on. This may seem silly or even worse to some, but it is imperative that our students receive a consistent message from ALL staff.
2. The SWPBS Core Team is trying to finalize language on the matrices so that more permanent signage can be ordered and displayed.
3. Be sure to distribute Cat Cash. Cat Cash is NOT a reward but an acknowledgement for following expectations. "I notice you..." The SWPBS team is working on larger acknowledgement systems. Provide feedback to them if you have an idea.
4. We are going to reboot other environments too, but not yet. We need to really follow the expectations in one location before we move on. Quality over quantity. So first area up... the hallways! Every.single.adult (yes periods inserted intentionally) MUST hold ALL students to hallway expectations.
- I notice many teachers hold their class to hallway expectations, including facing forward, tight to the right, zero voice, and using stopping points; however, I also notice some do not. I will also sound like a broken for our staff who do not hold our students to expectations.
- I notice that many of us will acknowledge a class for following Go CATS in line, but there are less than a handful of us who actually stop a class/student who is not following Go CATS in line and repeat walking in the hallway until expectations are met. This is a team effort. We must ALL acknowledge and we must ALL expect the same hallway behaviors.
- CONSEQUENCES: We are going to work on hallway expectations this week. By Wednesday, any individual students who need reteaching of hallway expectations will join "Hallway Class." The first "Hallway Class" will take place this Wednesday from dismissal to 4:00 with me. I'll be setting up a calendar for "Hallway Class." As the teacher, you'll need to contact the parent to communicate the after-school detention for "Hallway Class." The parent will need to arrange for on-time pick-up at 4:00.
- Fidelity Check: We will collect data on our hallway behaviors including observations, anecdotal notes, and hallway discipline referrals. We will share out the feedback.
CLIMATE AND CULTURE
COMMUNICATION HIGHLIGHT
I always found it helpful to highlight behavior expectations and clear consequences (positive or negative) in my weekly communication as a classroom teacher. The highlight can be reinforcing, informative, celebratory, or a combination of all three!
Here's an example that Meredith included in her most recent newsletter:
Technology: One area I have to discuss with everyone is using technology appropriately and completing the expected tasks before choosing a math game or choice reading. Every day students MUST complete extra math as their timed math fact practice to build automaticity, if they have completed the other math assignments in their math journal. Many students are choosing to skip this and use a different app instead. I understand that the math games are more fun, but extra math is part of our math curriculum and the practice that will improve their ability to recall facts more accurately and quickly. Starting this week I will send home technology violations with students that did not do what they were expected to do. If a violation comes home it should be signed by a parent and returned. Students will not be able to use iPads again until it is signed and returned. Violations may also come home to be signed if students are not being careful, using the iPad when they're not supposed to, or any other inappropriate conduct.
PRINCIPAL'S GOALS
Thank you to the faculty for providing specific feedback about two areas that I would like to improve...
Area 1. The perception of micromanagement, and
Area 2. The perception of excluding others in decision making.
I'll be adding this section to our weekly newsletter to hold me accountable and to provide you with reminders to hold me accountable.
First up... Area 1
1. If you submit an IST referral form to me, you will most likely receive this e-mail or similar "Thank you for the IST referral. I signed it and put it in Mark's mailbox after school today. He'll touch base with you for additional details, including meeting schedule and more," which will hopefully expedite the IST process for you. If necessary, I'll come to you to discuss.
Second up... Area 2
1. Starting this week, I'll send a calendar invite with an AM drop-in session and a PM drop-in session. If you accept the invite with a YES, I'll know you'll be stopping by to discuss thoughts, concerns, suggestions, and more.
KFC - KIDS FOR CHANGE
Named by sixth-grade student Danny Walker (since he likes fried chicken), the Kids for Change leadership group will be comprised of one student from each HR in grades 3-5. The existing two sixth grade students and one fifth grade student from the student voices on SEL will remain (Danny, Claire Loiacano, and Avery Massey). The selected student must be leader, unafraid to think outside-of-the-box, and share ideas with a positive voice.
Grade 3-5 teachers: Submit your student's name to Christine by Friday, January 24.
Cunningham - Landon Simon
Martin -
Derstine - Brooke Pusey
Brewer -
Laubenstein -
Schaefer -
DiPasqua -
Barlow -
Lavelle - Claire Loiciano
Venza -
Taglieri -
Grade 6 - Avery Massey and Danny Walker
NOTES FROM THE OFFICE
All detentions need to be logged on the ISS-detention calendar. The office staff will look at this when trying to get coverage due to sub failure.
Also, if you need a room for a meeting, etc during the day please book it on the google calendar.
If you have not downloaded all the google calendars you can look on google docs for EV Building Calendars.
Please let me know if you have any questions or need help.
Debbie Shronk
NOTE FROM THE TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT
Please make sure you are checking the SPAM folder in Gmail on a regular basis. Not often, but does happen, a legitimate email will go to spam.
SPREAD THE NEWS
Do you have exciting, sad, or something new to share about YOU? Share with Christine at cseeley@ojrsd.net to add to our EV Next Week newsletters. Pictures welcome!
East Vincent Elementary School
Email: evoffice@ojrsd.net
Website: www.ojrsd.com/ev
Location: 340 Ridge Rd, Spring City, PA 19475, USA
Phone: 610-469-5106
Facebook: facebook.com/EastVincentElementarySchool
Twitter: @OwenJRobertsEV