Monday Memo
August 19, 2019~~~ A Newsletter for Teachers and Staff
Week 2: We Floated Right Through Our First Week!
"Having high expectations for all, including clear and public standards, is one key to closing the achievement gap and for raising the overall achievement of all students." Porter
It's Week 2 Colleagues!
I'll come back to this week's quote since it's here we find our focus, but first I want to say a little about the picture up above. If ever there were ever obstacles in our path meant to distract us from our goals, we are experiencing them right now with our roof situation. Our goal was to get everyone back in a classroom. As soon as we cleared one wing, another would need to be vacated. Custodians worked extra hard and teachers were resilient and faced damage of their classes and bulletin boards with a positivity that is nothing short of commendable. I watched as their colleagues came to their rescue to help and assist in any way possible. If they weren't salvaging they were reconstructing bulletin boards, mopping, soaking up water, wiping down, moving furniture or just encouraging each other. I am so proud of your response to these challenges. Currently our status is two displaced teachers, but we have them in a room of their own with media and music back in their rooms as well.
Believe me when I say, I didn't mean to be prophetic with our Pre-Plan Week "Crawl" joke. We even had an alligator if you haven't heard...he was on the playground, but under a grate and he couldn't exit on our property. Phew!!!!!!! Ms. Tuten took the moment to re-teach her students their vocabulary in context as he "emerged" from beneath the water under the grate. That right there my friends is seizing a teachable moment! Hahaha! I believe we have been able to practice last week's points on having a sense of humor and staying positive. This week we can focus on loving our students and pedagogy. I want to thank each and everyone of you for helping, encouraging, staying positive, and patient during this first very wet week of school.
Our quote speaks to having high expectations for all. If we were to compare poverty schools to wealthy schools, one of the commonalities would be teachers who believe that 'all children can learn and it's my job to see that they do'. This must be the consensus of our staff. Earning an A means it is above and beyond, a B means, you know your stuff and you know the basics (the standard) and others grades show you need some more time and support to get it. By adopting this philosophy, we can close the achievement gap and by raising the standard for all, the overall achievement for all of our students will rise.
This week, we will come together on lesson planning, setting team collaborative planning times, scheduling PLCs, and setting focus areas for walk-throughs and observations. These are all practices that will unify our school's focus and plan for improvement, as well as improve instruction across campus. Are we perfect? No, but we sure strive to be excellent!
Thank you for pulling together to make this past first week of school a success. I noticed you and what you did to help things run smoothly and I appreciate each and everyone of you.
Still Riding High on Panther Pride!
CK
THIS WEEK'S HAPPENINGS
- FLKRS w/Kindergarten Team
- Instruction Partners on Campus
- iReady #1 Diagnostic Window 1-5
- Florida Kindergarten Readiness Screener Window
- Everyone has PM Duty
Tuesday, August 20th-
- iReady #1 Diagnostic Window 1-5
- Florida Kindergarten Readiness Screener Window
- Fire Drill #2
- Everyone has PM Duty
Wednesday, August 21st-
- iReady #1 Diagnostic Window 1-5
- Florida Kindergarten Readiness Screener Window
- Really Great Reading Phonics PD at SES K-2 AM
- Really Great Reading PD K Only PM
- Everyone has PM Duty
Thursday, August 22nd-
- Bus Evacuation Drills
- FTE Warm Body Count
- Really Great Reading Phonics PD at SES 1-2 Only AM
- iReady #1 Diagnostic Window 1-5
- Florida Kindergarten Readiness Screener Window
- Everyone has PM Duty
- District Advisory Council Meeting at 6 PM at County Office
Friday, August 23rd -
- iReady #1 Diagnostic Window Open 1-5
- Florida Kindergarten Readiness Screener Window Open
- Everyone has PM Duty
SAVE THE DATE! (Remember to check the CES Calendar)
August 26- FTE Warm Body Count
August 27-Cookie Dough Fundraiser
August 28-ELL Para Training at IT Lab 10 am - 12 pm
August 28-Instruction Partners Walk-through
August 29-PLCs
September 2- Labor Day- No School
Action Items and Reminders
- Reminder to be on time! Start time means you're at your assigned area (office, classroom door, bus area, cafeteria, etc...) right on time.
- Greet students at the door. We want to start the day off right.
- Attendance should be in by 8:30 am, 9 am at the latest.
- Please enter time off in Skyward. You must notify Admin if you will be out.
- Agendas should all be going home daily, check each day for notes.
- Attendance notes checked for daily and turned in daily.
- Student of the week will start this week.
- Remember not to let students open doors unless you have directed them to do so.
- Wear your I.D. Badges at all times!
- We have had a ton of rain...be watchful for critters out there!
- Lesson Plans should be in my Sunday night to the Team Drive (see email)
- PLC dates and Faculty Meeting Dates will be out to you soon.
- Each week provide the Panther Pride School Newsletter link to our parents in your school newsletters, FB Pages, etc...
- Have a spectacular week Panthers!
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Study Island 5th Grade Science PD
August 20th- 5th Grade- Ms. Eldred at SES 3:30-5:00 pm
Star Wars Opening for Jedi (Kidding...but seriously it opens tonight)
August 21st- Jedi Training Begins
Really Great Reading Phonics PD
August 21st- K-2 at SES 8:20-12:20
August 21st- K only at SES 12:30-3:15
August 22nd-1-2 only at SES 8:20-12:20
ELL Imagine Learning Training PD
August 28th- All ELL Paraprofessionals in Distict IT Computer Lab
APPRECIATIONS
Custodial Staff- Your hard work is noticed. I know last week had to be exhausting, yet you showed up and made it happen. You got our kids back in classes and kept the instruction rolling. We think you are the BEST!!!
Mrs. Kinty and Ms. Leonard- Thank you for being on the "Learning Circuit" to give teachers a room! You are awesome!
WELCOME! WELCOME! WELCOME! -Welcome to our new staff! They are our newest Panthers and they are killing it y'all! Reach out to them and make sure they have all that they need.
Ms. Robertson thank you for jumping in like a veteran to CES! You are so helpful and we appreciate you!
Mrs. Padgett, Mrs. Laflam, Mrs. Jolly- Thank you for helping out in so many different areas of need this week! You are amazing and I know our teachers appreciate all the help. We couldn't do it without you!
Please know these are just a few of the appreciations captured this week.
Focus for 2019-2020
In order to help every child their personal best, Central teachers and staff will:
- More to come...
Remind for Staff COMING SOON!
ATTENDANCE TRACKER (Coming Soon)
For the week of August 12th, we had the following totals:
Student Absences: ____
Student Tardies: ____
Student Checkouts :_____
Central's Vision, Mission and Beliefs
Under construction...