Monday Memo
January 30th - February 3rd
Success does not lie in results but in efforts, being the best is not so important, doing the best is all that matters. -unknown
Folks at Central Office were recently made aware of a few teachers submitting technology requests to Donor's Choose that the district cannot support. In addition, they also ran across a few that just seemed inappropriate. Given that Donor's Choose is a fantastic program that has funded many worthwhile projects, we were asked to come up with a plan that would protect the district from negative press while allowing teachers continued access to this resource. The simplest solution is for the campus principal to approve any project prior to submission. I do not see this as problem for our campus, but keeping me in the loop will allow Central Office the ability to discuss a project with me directly if they have any questions. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Our next Team Leader Meeting will be held on Monday, January 30th. If you have a topic or a question that you would like to be added to the agenda, please use this link to make your agenda request. In addition, please be sure that your team leader is aware in the event that we need more information to discuss your idea/question/concern.
At our recent safety audit, the auditor explained to me why it is important to use the flat door magnets rather than the raised circular ones that we've been using. He shared that if an intruder were in the building, he could easily see the doors propped open by the bigger magnets. When the flat ones are used, it is harder to identify easily accessed rooms. Even when we walked around, the natural tendency is to turn the handle to check for access rather than just pushing on the door. What every safety expert will tell you is that seconds matter, and the difference in using the flat magnets can potentially save lives. Some of you have mentioned having trouble with the flat magnets staying in place. My solution to that is using scotch tape at the top and bottom of the magnet. This will keep it in place and can quickly be ripped off if needed. Thanks for all that you do to keep our students and each other safe. I also appreciate your willingness to modify our processes as we continue to learn new things.
On Wednesday, we are scheduled to have ELM Design. Recognizing that some teams may not need the time for ELM planning, we want to be a little flexible with how that time is used. ELM planning is the priority, but if you do not need the time for that, please feel free to use it to have a data meeting, use the Essential Standard spreadsheet to plan for an upcoming unit, or plan for flex grouping. Essentially, the time is to be used for planning beyond regular weekly planning. Therefore, prior to Wednesday, please work with your team to decide how you will use the time. Once that decision has been made, please email me to let me know what you will be working on and where you will be meeting.
Make today count,
JL
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
Employee Student Transfer Petition for 17-18
Student transfer petition requests for McKinney ISD employees for the 2017-18 school year will only be accepted from January 9 to January 31, 2017. Petitions submitted outside the acceptance dates will not be processed or retained. The student transferring must be the child of an MISD employee. This benefit does not extend beyond the parent-child relationship. Substitutes and contracted services employees are not eligible. The Employee Student Transfer Petition for the 2017-2018 school year can be found online (http://www.mckinneyisd.net/staff/).
---------------------------------------
Calendar Change for Two Wednesday Meetings
---------------------------------------
Dance Sign-Up
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
Shoparoo
Did you know that each week I give out jeans passes to the three highest scoring staff members on Shoparoo? I know that many of you have already joined, but if you haven't, it is not too late. Simply go to www.shoparoo.com to create your account. If you use veft4467 as a referral code, McGowen will earn money for you just signing up. Please feel free to push this information out to your parents as well. Once you sign up, Shoparoo will give you a referral code for your parents to use when they sign up. Schools with just 40 supporters are earning an average of $1,000 every year.
Congratulations to Krista Daniel, Barbara Peebles and Laura Garro for being the highest three staff contributors to Shoparoo this week!
---------------------------------------
Focus for 2016 - 2017
In order to help every child their personal best, McGowen teachers and staff will:
- Knowledgeably speak about our current practices that contribute to McGowen becoming a Level 1 Certified High Reliability School.
- Actively participate in grade level and content Professional Learning Communities.
- Engage in collaborative team planning and lesson design that addresses the four essential questions of a PLC.
- Present lessons in such a way that students understand and can speak knowledgeably about posted learning and language targets.
---------------------------------------
Remind for Staff
---------------------------------------
Happy Birthday!
January
Laura Garro - 10th
Renata Sanchez - 10th
Trent South - 10th
Martha Gordon - 15th
Lisa Pedersen - 15th
Jean Possehl - 16th
Holly Bianchetta - 19th
Stacie Bullock - 19th
Krystina Ticehurst - 24th
Shani Beeman - 30th
February
Keri Walsh - 3rd
Tracey Stevens - 8th
---------------------------------------
Appreciations
- Holly - Thank you so much for the fabulous choir performance at Mav Fan Jam. It was perfect, and I know Amy appreciated it. -JL
- Tracey - Thank you for having your students write a tribute to Amy Dankel. They did an amazing job, and I could not be more proud! -JL
- 5th Grade - Thank you for working so collaboratively to support a struggling student. He is blessed to have you in his life. -JL
- Sadie and Connie – Thank you so much for agreeing to do a last minute staffing on a student on Friday. You clearly know your students and I am so happy you both are here at McGowen! - Michelle C.
- Krystina – Thank you so much for the wonderful breakfast treat the other morning. It was so kind of you! - Michelle C.
- Donna – Thank you so much for working out the vendor specifics of my conference. I appreciate all you do for us! We’d be lost without you! - Michelle
- Ashley and Jen M. – We are grateful that you are always so flexible and willing to do whatever is needed to help! - Michelle C.
- Shiela – Thank you so much for just always being such a great sounding board for any and all situations. I appreciate your ability to multi-task and support better than anyone! You are wonderful! - Michelle C.
- JD & Chitwood – Thank you for doing such a great job with a delicate situation and always having your student’s best interest at heart. - Michelle C.
- Martha – We could NEVER thank you enough for all that you do! I can’t imagine how you are getting through this year, but you do with such grace and positivity that inspire us all! - Michelle C.
- Laura G. - Thank you for your kind words. I appreciate you! - Michelle C.
- Kristi & Tracey – Thank you for what you did to prepare the writers for Mav Fan Jam. What they wrote was fabulous but I wouldn’t expect anything less from the dynamic duo that you two are with your craft of teaching writing! - Michelle C.
- Holly – Awesome job with the recognition song for MFJ! Very impressive!!! - Michelle C.
- JL & SL – Thank you for our talk late Wednesday. I am so glad I get to do life with you! - Michelle C.
- McGowen – Thank you for all of the wonderfully warm “Welcome back, we missed you” greetings all week. I am so happy to be back. Love all y’all! – Love, Stacie
- Daniel – Thank you & your class for my adorable Happy Birthday card that y’all made. That made my return on Monday extra special. – Love, Stacie
- Trisha! Thank you so much for the healthy pizza lunch :-) ~KT
- Jacki Ford, thank you for taking time after school on a Friday to discuss my kids. I really appreciate your help and guidance! Michelle H.
-
Krystina, thank you for letting me discuss my kids first on Friday so I could make it to the eye doctor on time! Michelle H.
Michelle C. and Shiela thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to discuss my kids! I really appreciate you both! Michelle H.
Tracey, Jennifer, Rico and Kristi - I hope that my team will forgive me for this late appreciation. I want to thank my team for the enormous support that was given to me during the loss of my grandfather. I thank you for the beautiful plant that you sent along with the beautifully hand carved cross. I also want to thank you for traveling to Paris, Tx. to be at the funeral in support of me. You will never know how grateful I was to see you there. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart and I want each of you to know just how much your presence there touched me. Love, Deanna
I would like to thank Jeremiah, Renata, Krystal, Lori, & Jenny for stepping up and taking care of my class when I had to call in the last couple of weeks. I truly appreciate your help, patience, understanding, and love. I know that this was the last thing you needed to worry about. You all have been so very supportive and I appreciate all that you have done. -Sharon
---------------------------------------
Bad Dude
It goes without saying that our Bad Dude this week is Krystal Holguin. Rather than sharing why A-Team believes she deserves this recognition, I'm using the words of her teammate, because we could not have said it better.
Krystal-I cannot say congratulations enough for being Teacher of the Year! You are my rock and my hero! I have always been impressed with your work ethics, tenacity, multi-tasking powers, and love for your students. I’m amazed at how you advocate for your students’ needs, and seem to accomplish what is best for them. I know how hard you work at school, and then go home to 3 babies to care for at night, and I’m in awe of how you push through your tireless days with a smile! Lastly, I appreciate you for all of the times that you’ve listened to my goofy stories, emotional pains, and work related ideas. I could not have asked for a better co-worker and friend! Now, go and represent not only McGowen, but also Jenny and me! Love you to the moon and back! -Sharon
---------------------------------------
Retirement Education Seminar
---------------------------------------
McKinney ISD's Vision, Mission and Beliefs
Any time we have an idea, concern, solution and/or comment, this is the filter through which we should speak. Let's help each other live up to our vision, mission, and beliefs.
Vision:
We are a cohesive, diverse community providing engaging learning experiences for all.
We will provide engaging learning experiences so students can become effective communicators, quality contributors and socially responsible citizens.
Beliefs:
- Partnerships between students, parents, community members and staff are foundational to educational success.
- Positive school culture and a safe environment foster growth.
- Everyone has inherent value and deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.
- Learning is an active process requiring engaging tasks and engaging minds.
- Relevant and authentic experiences ignite continuous, deeper learning.
- Meaningful relationships enrich learning.
- Confidence fuels risk taking and higher achievement.
- Financial stewardship ensures a tomorrow for education.