Cool Cat News
Campus Brief
Way to go Hartman!!!!
From the WISD Education Foundation:
Congratulations on your WIN!
- · Highest Increase in Participation: Akin Elementary!
- · Campuses with 100%: Achieve Academy, Akin Elementary , Hartman Elementary!
- · Highest Payroll Participation: Cox Elementary!
We are planning to bring you Loco Gringo Taco Shack for lunch one day soon!
Way to level up, Cool Cats!!!! We will keep you posted on our celebration lunch!!!! Thank you, Trona, for coordinating this!
Keep Spreading October Cheer!
Staff Shout Outs!
Stacy Hefner has gone ABOVE AND BEYOND as our RTI representative. She has not only answered all of our questions, but also printed out a pile of resources based on the specific interventions each one of our kids need. She does an awesome job knowing which child is on which Tier and always has great ideas for how to help each student be successful!
-Second Grade
Treva La Jaunie has a shout out about what a fantastic job Misty Calkin is doing. She is so helpful and gets whatever I need, done asap. The nice part is that she always has a smile on her face!! Love her.
Staff Updates
Difference Makers is coming to our campus! It is for kids in 1st-4th grades and will be held in the gym after school on Wednesdays from 2:40-5:30 beginning Nov. 7. Amberly will be sponsoring the club, and 1st United Methodist Church of Sachse will be directing/leading it each week. The staff and volunteers of FUMC-Sachse have been fully background checked by Wylie ISD. Difference Makers’ purpose is to teach our youth about service-oriented mindset, and giving back to those in need through projects and missions for others. The club is free and will run for 6 weeks. Only students who are enrolled can attend.
TTESS observations are still happening. If your requested window has passed and you were not observed, feel free to submit another window. Remember, observations are unannounced. Unfortunately, observations will not all be completed by Thanksgiving as anticipated.
Don't Let Behavior Get You Down!
In light of recent events, I just wanted to take a minute to remind you that you are doing a fabulous job with our students! As we get further into the year and familiarity sets in, negative student behaviors can sometimes increase. Sometimes these behaviors can also increase your stress and frustration! Angela and I are here to help as you encounter behavior challenges. Remember, all behavior is communication. We must consider our students' needs. Here are a few do's and don'ts to keep in mind....as we all work together to keep taking care of our kids. We will also follow up with our behavior specialists at our next staff meeting on November 14th.
Do's
- Use Visual supports
- Be consistent
- Have a plan for when things go badly
- Not panic if a behavior plan doesn’t work right away; give it time
- Stay calm in demeanor and voice tone/volume
- Use proximity
- Use structure and clear boundaries
- Communicate with the parent early and often; balance negatives with some positive
- Teach Routines and expectation
- Discipline in private; protect your student's dignity
- Call your behavior specialist and ask for help
- Review applicable BIPs and implement the strategies
- Rely on your team to help you solve behavior struggles
Don’ts
- · Don’t attempt to move an unwilling student unless there is an imminent chance of serious harm to self or others.
- · Don’t continue to engage in verbal demands when the student is agitated or anxious. Allow the student an opportunity calm down, then re-engage.
- · Don’t talk about the behavior in front of the student.
- · Don’t give the student/misbehavior eye contact. This provides the student with attention and may be what is maintaining the behavior. Planned ignoring can be helpful.
- · Don’t use sarcasm or insults; this deteriorates relationships
- · Don’t maintain a posture that might imply that you are upset (crossed arms, hands on hips, etc.)
- · Don’t take the behavior personally.
This is an EXCELLENT PowerPoint! A must read.....
Staff Birthdays!!!!
October
2--Linda Perrin
7--Rita Ferris
10--Mary Stevens
17--Paige Johnson
26--Alison Rogers
28--Kirstyn Goodman
Upcoming Dates
10/29 McDonalds Night (5-8pm)
10/30 2nd Grade Musical 9am; 7pm
10/31 Halloween- No costumes or special activities; RTI Meeting ( K-2)
11/1 UIL Writing Competition 8am; General PTA Meeting/ Term 1 Awards (K-4) 6pm
11/1 Attendance Party 1:45-2:30 pm Cafeteria
11/6 UIL Competition 3:30pm @ Cox; Awards @ WEHS 7pm (Team Leader Meeting rescheduled)
11/7 RTI Meeting (3-4)
11/8 Veteran's Day Programs 9am, 6pm; Discipline Meeting 3pm
11/13 Tetreault Spaghetti Dinner
11/14 Staff Meeting
11/15 Fall Picture Retakes
11/19-11/23 Thanksgiving Break..WOOHOO!
11/26 Wylie Way Christmas begins