December 3, 2018
A Communication Tool for the Seven Hills Staff
Trust is the Foundation of Empowerment:
We have spent the last few weeks reviewing the 13 Trust Behaviors:
- Talk Straight
- Demonstrate Respect
- Create Transparency
- Right Wrongs
- Show Loyalty
- Deliver Results
- Get Better
- Confront Reality
- Clarify Expectations
- Practice Accountability
- Listen First
- Keep Commitments
- Extend Trust
As leaders in your classrooms and within your teams, we can build trust by intentionally practicing these. Remember, the behaviors flow out of the 4 cores of credibility. They flow out of who you are, not who you pretend to be. They are most effective when they are connected with our personal credibility.
The 4 Cores of Credibility:
Integrity:
- Congruency in values, beliefs, and behavior. Deep honesty. Humility and courage. It is who we truly are. Integrity
- Integrity Accelerators: Make and keep commitments. Stand for something. Be open.
Intent:
- Genuine concern and caring for others. Fundamental motive or agenda. Seeking mutual benefit. Acting in the best interests of everyone.
- Intent Accelerators: Examine your motives. Choose abundance. Declare your intent.
- The capacities we have to produce and accomplish tasks: attitudes, skills, knowledge and style.
- Capability Accelerators: Run with your strengths. Keep yourself relevant. Know where you are going.
Results:
- Our track record - past, present, and anticipated. Getting the right things done while building trust.
- Results Accelerators: Take responsibility for results. Expect to win. Finish strong.
How have you been reflecting on and intentionally practicing the 13 Trust Behaviors? Where do you see yourself with the 4 Cores of Credibility? Remember that several weeks ago, I asked each of you complete a Classroom Trust Self Assessment. After reviewing the Trust Behaviors and keeping the commitments you made several weeks ago to focus on students with low trust, I will ask you to reassess the level of trust in your classroom. Remember, trust sets the stage for empowerment!
Maintaining a High Functioning Whirlwind & Focusing on the Wildly Important:
Empowering Instruction: Dr. Warren gave everyone a charge to finish the 1st semester strong. We know that the next 3 weeks are critical for students to push them toward middle of year expectations. Remember, we are not pushing toward minimum expectations for middle of the year. We are pushing to our campus identified proficiency standards. Where should students be at MOY in order to meet end of year GOALS? It is important that instruction is strong, learning tasks are high quality and push students to think, students have time to work on lead measures, and that students have appropriate lead measures. This time of year it is very important that we IGNITE curiosity! To IGNITE curiosity in students:
- Model curiosity and interest in learning through strategies such as questioning, narrative, relevant current issues, and or video.
- Read and write learning targets for the lesson - and either co-create with students or make sure you discuss the learning target with students.
- Share the learning task, including parameters of time, supplies available, key process steps, and expected results.
- Vocalize the collaborative learning protocols...for example, "Errors and attempts are expected." and "Learning is in the process."
- Introduce concepts and terms needed
- Summarize previous learning is the learning goal builds on this previous learning.
When you are planning the lesson consider an IGNITE checklist and questions:
- How interesting, connected, and relevant is this topic and learning to our lives?
- How much prior knowledge will we connect? What skills do students need in order to succeed?
- Is our end in mind compelling, clear, and understood by all?
- What questions, activity, or exercise will we use to build interest in and engage with this content?
Your teams planned some ways to IGNITE student learning and engagement in the staff meeting last week, and I enjoyed seeing your tweets! I look forward to seeing tweets of these commitments in action in the coming days. In your planning this week, what additional considerations can you make to IGNITE student learning? Don't forget to tell your story on Twitter!
#7HillsLEADS...A Challenge:
Last Week's #7HillsLEADS Twitter Challenge Winner is....
.............................
Sadly, we don't have a winner from last week...
What story will you tell this week? Will you share how you are IGNITING student learning? Will you share how you are encouraging students to INVESTIGATE? Will you share how you are INVITING connections? So many GREAT things happening in our classrooms! We have to tell our story or someone else will!
Habit Focus of the Week: Habit 5...Seek First to Understand Then to Be Understood
Habit Huddle Connection:
Staff 7x7 Week 5:
Can you believe we are already in week 5 of the 7x7 Contract? I hope you and your accountability partner are making a commitment to hold one another accountable to the contract! Remember, it only takes 14 minutes!!!! In week 5, Day 3, you are asked to reflect on Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood. I challenge you to shift the focus suggested in the contract, and complete the task using instructional strategies, beliefs, classroom management strategies, etc. You might find that by taking time to understand another's viewpoint, you learn and "get better." Your perspective might even change!
Habit 5 Connection:
The common paradigm is for one to think, "I have to make sure people understand my point of view." In a highly effective, leadership, paradigm, one thinks, "I have greater influence with others if I truly understand them first." The principles of effectiveness in Habit 5 are respect, mutual understanding, empathy and courage. Seek First to Understand means we try to completely understand another person before presenting our own point of view. It means balancing courage and consideration and expressing our views with clarity and respect. Think about this:
- Do the people, students/peers/family/friends, feel that you genuinely understand them?
- Do you often find yourself interrupting other people to give advice, agree or disagree, judge, probe, or tell your own story?
Habit Family Challenges:
This cycle of habits, we will offer opportunities for families to learn more about each habit each week. Families who complete the challenges will receive recognition on the boards in the cafeteria. Activities for this week will be in mailboxes.
Campus and District Announcements and Updates:
Reminder to let Lighthouse Team know what service project your grade level has chosen. https://goo.gl/forms/Q9hfGZfBhwg4VKfM2
- Please remember to check ride changes every day in the google folder. We add changes until 2:45 when the bell rings.
Save the Date:
Winter Wonderland Shop Open: see sign up that Wilma sent last week for a time to take your class. Make sure you communicate this time to parents.
Monday, December 3:
- ILT Meeting, 3:30
- December Calendar kicks off - staff may wear jeans with a festive holiday shirt today
- RtI Meetings with Tanya
Tuesday, December 4:
- Grade Level PLCs
- Lighthouse Action Team Meetings, 3:30
Wednesday, December 5:
- Leader in Me Community Showcase Event 8:30 - 10:30
- School Picture Make-Ups
- Meredith will be on campus for planning and coaching support this week
Thursday, December 6:
- Campus Professional Learning: "Demystifying Intervention @ Seven Hills"
Friday, December 7:
- Sharpen the Saw Clubs Round 2
- Kim, Tanya and Molly off campus for Learning Teams
- 7 Hills Hosts NISD Learning Teams from 11:30 - 4:00 (a schedule will be sent out with times for classroom visits, etc.)
7 Hills Hosting Campus Visitors THIS WEEK:
- Wednesday, December 5 is a mini Symposium visit with TLIM from 8:30 - 10:30
- Friday, December 7 Seven Hills hosts Elementary Learning Teams in the afternoon we will be asking teachers to change when they teach literacy on this day for classroom visits.
- BE PREPARED: These are opportunities for our campus to SHINE! Make sure students are ready, make sure classrooms, halls, doors, scoreboards, etc. are ready. Many scoreboards are still missing WIG statements or Lead Measure Statements explaining what it is that the data represents. Many classrooms need a little tidying up. Thank you in advance for your attention to preparing for guests.
Happy Birthday to You:
From the Assistant Principal:
From the CIT:
Remind students who qualified for the Seven Hills Spelling Bee to study for the December 18th competition--it’s almost here!
Assessments this week:
Kinder-1st Grade
None
2nd Grade
2Science.3.Matter CBA
3rd-5th Grade
None
Upcoming Assessments:
1st Grade
12/13-12/17 1Math.3.Module 5
2nd Grade
12/18-12/20 2Math.3.Module5
3rd Grade
12/14-12/18 3Math.3.Module5
Dec 17-20 3.ELA.3.C
4th Grade 12/18 - 12/20 4Math.3.Modules4-6 12/13-12/17 4Science.3.Energy CBA 12/10 4.ELA.3.CBA Grammar Please refer to Sunni’s email on 11/30/18 for specific instructions on this assessment 5th Grade 12/14-12/18 5.Math.3.Modules4-6 12/17-12/19 5Science.3.Earth CBA Dec. 14-Dec. 20 5.ELA.3.CBA
From the Librarian:
Please sign up for a Pre-View and a Shopping time for the Book Fair.
The library will not be open for check out over the next 2 weeks due to Book Fair. Please do not send students to check out, they may bring books to return.
If you have not sent out the Sign up genius asking for Book Fair volunteers, please do that ASAP. Also, please indicate that the times listed are not set in stone, I will happily accept any amount of time no matter how little it may be.
During BOOK FAIR we are having “Lunch with a Loved one” Monday - Thursday next week. Share that information with your parents. It is a time for students to invite a loved one, grandparents, parents, aunts/uncles etc. to join them for lunch and shop at the Book Fair.
Monday morning from 9:50- 10:40 I am hosting a Skype with author Tara Lazar. If your grade has not chosen 3-5 students to attend, please do that asap Monday morning. Then send them to the library at 9:45. They will be there until about 10”30.
We will record it and make it available for teachers to share with their classes.
Please Share This Information With Parents:
Check Out the Latest Edition of the Campus Newsletter:
Reindeer Romp:
It’s time for the 11th annual Reindeer Romp! Join the fun as we get a great workout while raising money for your school.
First Annual 4th Grade Winter Musical Set for Tuesday, December 18:
For the past several years, Seven Hills has presented a winter program with students from each grade level singing various winter holiday themed songs. Wanting to expand the depth of performance opportunities we offer students, a decision was made to change the format of the Winter Social. The musical provides our 4th grade students an opportunity to experience a full production including auditions and dress rehearsal. The musical also offers students an opportunity to find their voice in singing, role playing, dancing, stage management, and even set design! The musical is a collaborative effort with the 7 Hills Specials Team. We are so proud of the hard work the 4th grade students have put into the production, and hope that you will join us for the musical. We look forward to the 4th grade musical becomes a time honored and highly anticipated tradition at Seven Hills Elementary.