Sunday Shakedown
Weekly Memo for Washington Elementary
Principal Post
Thanks, celebration and appreciation:
- Thanks to our PTA for sponsoring the Barter Players, the kids loved it! If you want to send a note, feel free to have students do so and we can put them in PTA mailbox.
- Thanks to DB football team and coaches for helping show that student athletes can be leaders to younger students. If anyone has thank you notes, Billy can likely deliver
- Thanks for dedicating some time to auditorium expectations. I appreciate you-let's keep setting that expectation and holding kids accountable.
- Thank you to all who participated in the RAA skit, the kids seemed to enjoy it and I think adults had fun too.
- Thanks to Nancy Marshall who was training Christy Belle last week in the cafeteria. Christy has accepted the interim cafeteria manager position.
- Thanks to those of you who have signed up for peer visits, we will begin the scheduling this week, so 2-5 teachers, please head to the conference room and make your selections.
- Thanks to all who helped during the mass exodus the other day, moving kids through lunch, adjusting schedulings, locating kids in RATS, and altering dismissal...your help and support was appreciated. Amy D didn't feel well and pushed through, we really appreciate it.
Employee Recognition
This year, there is a new way to highlight the work of these outstanding educators! The KCS Employee Recognition Initiative serves to award those that go above and beyond in their service to the students, staff, and families of KCS.
How can you nominate an employee for this honor?
Simply submit a nomination form to your principal/supervisor by clicking here!
Innovation Tool
KCS has developed a new innovation tool to allow all stakeholders to share an idea (new or could be an improvement on a current practice). Sometimes a great idea comes to mind and when we collaborate on it, it gets even better. This tool can assist us in "giving legs" to those great thoughts. If you are like me, these are the ideas that keep you awake at night, but sometimes feel impossible. Lose sleep no longer! Your idea can be submitted and it can help our district constantly grow and develop.
The KCS new Innovation Tool is up and running. KCS wants your ideas! This tool is active for use. It can be accessed here.
Week of March 6-10
Begin National School Breakfast week!
Sign up for peer observations in conference room
Shasta at GWES
Tuesday:
LCE Literacy Benchmark
Trent at Associate principal collaborative
Shasta at GWES
Wednesday:
Wolf at Principal's meeting 10-12
Trent at UT Knoxville Job Fair
Thursday:
4th grade ELA Planning day at Jefferson
Friday:
No school for students-Professional Learning Day (schedule and plan TBA)
Upcoming dates to remember:
Monday, March 13-city wide faculty meeting to score writing assessments
Tuesday, March 14-5th grade to Sevier for music presentations
Wednesday, March 15-GWES Science Fair
Wedensday, March 15- Sevier admin and couseling at GWES to meet with 5th grade teachers
Thursday, March 16th -Classroom walkthroughs of science fair
Friday, March 17th -club time
Monday, March 20th ETSU fifth grade trip
Monday, March 20- K-2 Work session after school ASC
Tuesday, March 21-Writing review with Emily and Dwain (draft book reviews)
Tuesday, March 21-Spring pictures
Tuesday, March 21-Celebration of Learning
Wednesday, March 22 -Birthdays with the principals
Thursday, March 23- RTI data conferences
Professional Musings
In addition there are two mini ed-camps that are planned:
Mini-Edcamp (PK-12) at RNR on Thursday, March 2nd from 3:45-5:15 registration link: https://goo.gl/forms/EfFShUPvzhMMZyCg2
Mini-Edcamp Google Make and Take (PK-12) at DBExcel on Tuesday, April 11th from 3:45-5:15 registration link: https://goo.gl/forms/3jUmW0n3F05SXDMA3
Great Summer Learning Opportunity!
KCS Employees - Experience the EdCamp "Unconference" June 22, 2017, 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Dobyns-Bennett HS Kingsport City Schools is excited to bring the EdCamp “unconference” experience to East Tennessee. Anyone interested in education is welcome to attend. EdCamps are professional learning opportunities that are created by teachers for teachers, but all people who are stakeholders in education are welcome. EdCamps provide a pathway for dynamic conversations with dedicated educators, relevant sessions created and led by participants and cutting edge pedagogy that will inspire and motivate. If you are a teacher, administrator, education student, or simply someone with a genuine interest in teaching and learning, please join us for a day filled with limitless opportunities for acquiring knowledge! Register for this free event below!
You are invited to Thursday, June 22nd, 2017 from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM (EDT) Dobyns-Bennett High School 1 Tribe Way Kingsport TN 37664 US
The Bookinator realizes his illiterate ways
Guards invoking fear in Principal Wolf
We teach-what's your superpower?
For Your Information
Just a reminder: We have had several incidences lately where children arrive outside to car duty without their class or without an adult. Please make sure your center leaves as a group with adults leading the way.
Reminder: Our new cafeteria manager will expect that all students know their number this time of year. Please let me know if you have an idea as to how we can make this process run more quickly.
We are still awaiting a visit from the fire marshal, please be prepared and check with Vicki if you are unsure about any materials in your learning center.
Severe weather awareness week is this week, please be prepared for a drill.
Inaugural Tennessee STEAM Festival Planning
On October 12-22, Tennessee will holds its inaugural Tennessee STEAM Festival in a state-wide event based on the celebration of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. This is not a one location event...we are invited to sponsor STEAM events in our schools and community. It is suggested that these would be a perfect fit for libraries. The planners of this state-wide event are looking to fill a calendar of events including symposiums, educator/expert talks, lunch and learns, community/family events, entertainment events, etc. for all ages. Other festivals like the Philadelphia Science Festival and North Carolina Science Festival serve as inspiration for what the TN STEAM Festival can be.
Submit your STEAM event by April 3rd and be included in the state wide promotion of the Tennessee STEAM Festival in October. By participating, you will also receive promotional materials to use in marketing your event. Contact Becca Baker at the Blount County Public Library if you have questions.
Commissioner McQueen's Town Hall Meeting Regarding ESSA
If you missed seeing Commissioner McQueen’s town hall meetings as she explained the transition to the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), click here. On this video, in addition to Dr. McQueen, Executive Director of Consolidated Planning & Monitoring Eve Carney, who has worked directly with the Commissioner in developing this transition, shares how our state is implementing Tennessee Succeeds. The following links may be helpful as you listen to the recorded webinar:
If you have any questions regarding the webinar, send them to Essa.Feedback@tn.gov .
We will be celebrating National School Breakfast Week March 6-10. This year’s theme is “Breakfast of Champions” and if you have any ideas to help us promote breakfast during the week let me know. One idea is to invite “champions or heroes” that you know to come and eat breakfast with your students during the week J Your cafeteria staff will be giving each student who eats school breakfast a small surprise that is different each day during this week.