CANNON LEGACY
A Newsletter For Cannon Staff 2017-2018
Principal Points - 1/15-1/19
I'm sure that many of you have already viewed the video that has gone viral on social media about the inspiring young student in Dallas ISD who won the 26th annual Dallas MLK Oratory Competition last week. If you haven't seen it yet, please take a moment to watch it below. WOW!!
I actually wrote THIS post last year, but I wanted to re-share it, because just like the last several years, I took the time again this year to re-read one of the BEST articles Dr. Ryan has ever assigned district administrators is to read, the LETTER FROM BIRMINGHAM JAIL, written by Martin Luther King Jr. on April 16, 1963.
King's letter was written on small scraps of paper and in the margins of old newspapers, while he was in solitary confinement in the Birmingham jail for violating orders against civil rights demonstrations. What is so amazing to me personally, is how incredibly relevant and significant this document is, even though it was written over 50 years ago. Each time I read it, I can't help but question if things have changed and/or stayed the same since this era of such historical significance. It's truly a timeless piece of writing that could have been written today!
Although we won't be in school on Monday, in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, I hope that you will take a look at both of these resources and consider how these seven important lessons both adults & students learned from this prolific hero in American history relate to us both personally AND professionally!
7. There is strength in numbers. More than 250,00 people came out to listen to King’s “I have a dream” speech and he publicly spoke more than 2,500 times -it just takes one leader to stand up for a belief and people will follow naturally.
6. We’re all in this together.
Dr. King knew that he wouldn’t make any progress fighting for civil rights alone—he knew that he needed people by his side and that people needed him. You have a huge support system of people who care about you and your success - let's work together!
5. Be you.
MLK, Jr. didn’t care who you are—he just wanted people to be themselves. Being comfortable with who you are will help you go a long way in life!
4. Words have incredible power.
King stood against violence and supported non-violent protests. He truly believed that his words alone could make a difference—and they did.
3. Passion is vital.
MLK, Jr. was passionate about equality and justice for all and it’s what set him apart from everyone else. Be passionate about your beliefs and your dreams!
2. Experience a setback? Move forward.
While fighting for his beliefs, Martin Luther King, Jr. was arrested numerous times, abused, and even had his home bombed, but he continued on. Make a decision to either let your setbacks stop you, or you can charge ahead.
1. Believe.
Believe in yourself -believe that you can do it. You can make a difference.
Proud to be your principal,
Tona :)
Lisa's Coaching Corner
INSTRUCTIONAL AGILITY
Summative Assessment is a noun. It is something you hand to your students, they have to have time to complete it and turn it in. Once it is turned in, there is a time delay because the assessment has to be graded and process your data.
Formative Assessment is a verb because it is a part of instruction in which adjustments are made immediately during instruction without a time delay. Having the opportunity to gain feedback during a lesson which confirms if what you have planned for the next 15 minutes is on target or allows you to make adjustments.
"Instructional Agility" equates in the sports world to being the quarterback. Even when the planned play is not executed properly due to player error or the impact of the defense (things we have no control over) the quarterback seamlessly is able to make adjustments. This agility helps all students grow as learners because their needs are being met. When you pull an impromptu small group because of a formative assessment, it helps those tier 2 and 3 students continue their learning instead of being lost.
I know for a fact that many of you possess instructional agility because during PLC you are very quick to be reflective and share how what you intended didn't work out, so you quickly had to make adjustments.
THIS SHARE TIME not only affirms your colleagues, but helps GROW other's instructional agility too. Thank you for being such a reflective open group of true professionals to work with. #thankfulforyou #kidsdeserveit
DATES TO REMEMBER
1/15 Student & Staff holiday - Martin Luther King Day
1/16 PLC Week A- Kindergarten - 2:15-3:45
1/17 PLC Week A -1st grade - 2:15-3:45
1/18 Final day to turn in grade level School Board Appreciation items
1/18 PLC Week A -2nd grade - 2:15-3:45
1/19 Tech Talk w/ Julee during conference times - Stop Animation with Stickbots
1/22 STEM Leadership meetings - 3:15 - library
1/23 PLC Week B- 5th grade - 2:15-3:45
1/23 Cannon Night @ Cici's Pizza
1/24 Fire Drill - 9:00 am
1/24 PLC Week B -4th grade - 2:15-3:45
1/25 Play It Safe during Specials
1/25 Principal Panel Lunch
1/25 PLC Week B -3rd grade - 2:15-3:45
1/26 BoM Catapult Launch winners @ Friday Assembly
1/26 Tech Talk w/ Julee during conference times - Osmo
1/29 CEC 3:15-library
INCLEMENT WEATHER REMINDERS
KDFW, Channel 4, KXAS, Channel 5 ,WFAA Channel 8
KTVT Channel 11, KTXA-UPN, Channel 21, CW33, Channel 33
KLIF 570 AM radio, WBAP 820 AM radio, KRLD 1080 AM radio
KERA 90.1 FM radio, KLTY 94.9 FM radio, KLUV 98.7 FM radio
KPLX 99.5 FM, KJKK 100.3 FM radio, KVIL 103.7 FM radio
KRLD 105.3 The Fan FM radio, KMVK 107.5 FM radio (Spanish)
2018 - CANNON STAFF WELLNESS CHALLENGES
Are you ready to focus on health & overall wellness during 2018?
This year, in addition to our annual weight loss challenge, we are adding some other challenges, for those that want to focus on exercise or other daily habits of wellness! All staff is invited and encouraged to participate in any or all of these challenges! Just select and/or combine which challenge, if any, you are interested in participating. We will begin this week and end on March 9th, right before Spring Break. See information below!!
STEM WEIGHT LOSS CHALLENGE Did you eat too many sweets and carbs during the Holidays? Who wants to shed a few pounds before we head into the Springtime? Join the Cannon S.T.E.M. (Stay Trim Exercise More) Challenge. To join, bring Nurse Kendra your $20 dollar admission fee and start working towards losing the pounds. We will do the challenge for 8 weeks total. At the end of the contest the top winner receives 70% of the money collected, 2nd place 20% and 3rd place 10%. The weight loss will be based on a percentage. The first weigh in will be this Tuesday, January 16th and the next weigh in will be Friday, January 26th, this gives every one 2 weeks to get a jump start, and weigh ins will be every Friday until March 9th and then the big winner will be announced. We will weigh in every Friday before school between 0730 and 0740 in the nurses clinic on the same scale. (No one will see your weight except Nurse Kendra). You must have your money to participate in the first weigh in. If you miss a weigh in (unless you are absent that day) you will be charged a $1 penalty also.
STAFF STEP CHALLENGE - Tona is challenging us to add more steps into our lives by having us log in our daily steps with a chance to win weekly prizes!! Since all staff doesn't necessarily use the same activity tracker device, we will be using a digital platform that will allow staff to track their progress and see how their colleagues are doing too! To get started, please add your name to this list and Tona will add you to the master activity tracker and send you all the details. Weekly prizes people....just for walking? Sign me up!
WELLNESS BINGO - Mandy has a Wellness Bingo for staff this year that provides opportunities to add some healthy lifestyle choices into your work week. If you win Bingo for the week, you also have an opportunity for prizes. Click here to see the Bingo Card and prizes for completion! Questions? Email Mandy for more details!
JANUARY IS BOARD APPRECIATION MONTH!
Scholar work should be dropped off in my office by the end of the day on Thursday, January 18th. This year's theme is "Helping Kids Soar to Success." Please refer to the following link to read short bios on all GCISD trustees. Thank you!
January Book Of The Month
How To Bicycle To The Moon To Plant Sunflowers is the perfect book to kick off our Book of the Month for 2018!! Be sure to check out all of the resources Kristi has provided below, as you prepare to share this month's book with your scholars in the classroom! The BoM Video and Smore embedded below will also be shared in the parent newsletter.
Our Cubs are going to LOVE this month's BoM Design Challenge, which is to design and build a catapult that will launch an object of their choice to simulate a meteorite into a model of the moon. Be sure to read over the details of this challenge, so that you can offer some guidance and answer any questions your students may have. The winners of this challenge will have the opportunity to demonstrate their catapults at the Friday assembly on February 2nd!
REMINDERS & UPDATES
NO WATER IN BUILDING ON MONDAY, 1/15 due to construction. The water will be turned off in the school and surrounding neighborhood from 8:00-4:00 pm.
TIME TO UPDATE SCHOOL SUPPLY LIST Please meet with your team and complete ONE form for your grade level to provide feedback about the supplies on the district supply list. This needs to be completed by Friday, January 19th. Thank you!!
Kindergarten School Supply Survey
1st grade School Supply Survey
2nd grade School Supply Survey
3rd grade School Supply Survey
4th grade School Supply Survey
5th grade School Supply Survey
GCISD STUDENT VOICE SURVEY DUE 1/19 In order to capture a clear picture of the current efforts to collect and use student voice in GCISD, all professional staff members have been asked to take 3-5 minutes to complete this survey. Since one of the Board and Superintendent's priority goals is to increase "voice" practices, it is important to know how students are currently being involved in their educational experiences and what additional training and support would be helpful.
The deadline for survey completion is January 19th.
ATTEN-DANCE PARTIES FOR 3rd NINE WEEKS In an effort to encourage better attendance and decrease tardies, we will be doing some mini "Dance Parties" for students who have perfect atten-DANCE and no tardies during the 3, 6 and 9 week period for the 3rd nine weeks. Stay tuned for more information coming soon!
DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP WEEK Mark your calendars for Digital Citizenship Week January 8 - 19, 2018. All our GCISD Digital Citizenship resources may be found here.
FROM OUR COUNSELOR...
SPRING 2018 HALL OF FAME DATES Do you know the dates for YOUR Hall of Fame students presentations? Please make sure you have this Hall of Fame Calendar added to your calendar and make sure these dates are on your calendars, so that you can select students, notify parents, and help us keep on schedule for the spring!
SHOES FOR STUDENTS We have brand new shoes for any students in need! We participate in a program call Shoes that Fit from Rack Room Shoes that provides funds for us to purchase new shoes for students in need. Please let Mandy know if you have a student in need of some new shoes and she will meet with the student to accommodate this. Shoes for kids can also be borrowed if a shoe breaks or gets muddy.Socks are also available.
SPRING GUIDANCE DATES Please refer to this document to make sure you have the dates for spring guidance lessons on your calendars! Click this link to see this Google Calendar
FEELING STRESSED? Don't let the stress get you! Try out this website for some calming, stress-reducing mindfulness resources. Take care of yourself while you are taking care of everyone else!
Worth A Read...or a Listen!!
7 STEPS TO A LANGUAGE-RICH CLASSROOM I hope you take the time to click on this link! This document outlines a seven step process to creates a language-rich interactive classroom environment in which all students can thrive. It is excellent!
WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE ALL OF YOUR GRADE LEVEL TEKS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS? When using the FREE Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills app, you can quickly find and search standards by subject, grade level, and key word. This app doesn't "unpack" the TEKS like the Click On TEKS resource does; however, it DOES provide clarity for the content and level of thinking required for all students. It also allows you to see the vertical alignment at a glance.
RUNNING RECORDS
TWITTER REMINDERS FOR @canSTEM
Please help us reach our campus goal for all staff to participate in a 5-minute a day communication plan, as stated in George Couros's quote shown here. It's truly a simple way to SHARE & LEARN from the best minds in GCISD! I am going to be highlighting our school twitter account HEAVILY with parents & our school community, to help create our own "outward culture of celebration"!!
As a reminder, please include our school's handle, @canSTEM, in all of your tweets, so that they can be automatically retweeted on our school account. At the end of the day, simply go to @canSTEM and scroll through our school's tweets for 5 minutes and see what your colleagues are sharing! If you want to learn more from them about an idea they shared....you will only have to walk across the building to get more information firsthand!
Please click here to see our staff list of social media accounts. Please add/update any information so that we can make sure we follow each other!
About This Background Image...
TO-DO LIST
- Set a timer and complete daily attendance ON TIME!
- Don't forget to show daily KCAN announcements every Monday-Thursday!! #KidsDeserveIt
- Meet with your team and make a plan for how your team will contribute quality work for School Board Appreciation. Due to Tona by January 18th.
- Review the Digital Citizenship resources for use this week!
- Review & share all of the information about January's BoM with your scholars!
- Sign up for any or all of the staff wellness challenges and start getting healthier today!
- Meet with your team to complete the District School Supply Survey by 1/19.
- Complete the GCISD Student Voice survey by 1/19.
- Attend Friday Tech Talks with your team to learn all about Stop Animation w/ Stickbots!
- Review the information in this newsletter about the 5-minute a day communication plan. Tweet & blog about all of the great things you are doing in your classroom/grade!
- Update teacher website, blog and other social media.