Team Thomson News & Notes
#ThomsonRocks Week of: April 28, 2019
Important Information for You!
Follow-up to Round-up Week
First, I can not thank Anna W., Sue, and Anna P. for all their hard work leading up to Kindergarten Round-up. They have mastered the 'behind the scenes' prep work and as usual last week went off without a hitch. Additionally, I want to thank everyone that worked Kindergarten Round-up. You welcomed kids and parents and made them each feel special. Lastly, I want to thank the entire Thomson Staff for all they did last week back in the building. It is not easy to have office staff going back and forth and subs in multiple rooms, but you all kept the building running as smoothly as ever! All these efforts lead to another very successful Round-up week that allowed us to welcome 282 kindergarten and DK kiddos to Davison! I look forward to welcome more families in the coming weeks/months, but this was a great start.
KRA Trainings
We are in the process of securing locations for the KRA trainings to take place in May and June. Megan, Anna, and I are hoping to have this nailed down early this week so that we can get the training date memo sent out by Wednesday. Once you know your training date, you will need to fill out a pre-arranged absence form and sent it to Sharon Hazard right away.
Literacy Essential #3
Essential 3: Small group and individual instruction, using a variety of grouping strategies, most often with flexible groups formed and instruction targeted to children's observed and assessed needs in specific aspects of literacy development.
This week let's focus on the fourth bullet which states that the teacher includes explicit instruction, as needed, in word recognition strategies, including multi-syllabic word decoding, text structure, comprehension strategies, and writing strategies. So, what does this mean in terms of small group instruction...think about guided reading/strategy group instruction or word study groups...think flexible grouping. This means intentionally planning for the instruction ahead of time based on assessments and observational notes taken on the students needs or areas that they are on the verge of. Please take a moment to watch the video below that focuses on a small group lesson based on rereading to make sense.
AdvancEd District Visit
In one week, a visiting team will be visiting Davison for three days for an on-site review. During the teams visit they will be meeting with district and building level staff members, parents, community members, and students. They will be visiting every building to observe using the ELEOT tool, the same tool we've used in the district for our own reviews. We will be discussing the visit a bit more at our staff meeting this week, however, since the team will be visiting Thomson on Tuesday, now is the time to look around your work space or classroom and 'clean up' a little if needed. Maybe invite a friend in to take a keep and let you know what stands out to them that may need to be adjusted/straightened a little...while we want the visiting team to see 'business as usual', there is nothing wrong with putting our 'best foot forward'.
Intersession 3.0-Deadline Extension
Registration for the May intersession has been extended through this Friday, May 3rd. As asked in a previous email, please share this information with your families via your classroom newsletter or other communication tools. Intersession 3.0 is May 28th - May 31st. The theme is Lil' Sprouts, Outdoor Adventurers!
Report Card Envelopes
Don't forget that you should get back a signed report card envelope from each student. If you do not receive it back by Wednesday, I encourage you to reach out to those parents to ensure that they got their child's report card.
Cardinal Code Focus for the Week: Office
This week's Cardinal Code Lesson Focus for the week is the Office. I have to say that the students do a wonderful job when they come down to the office. A couple main points to review are waiting at the rug, stating their name and classroom, and the reason for their trip to the office. Thank you for intentionally reviewing this with your students.
Quotes Worth Reading
"You did not wake up today to be mediocre."
-Unknown
So...go out and be awesome!
Celebrations & Announcements
Birthdays: None this week...
Next week is Staff Appreciation Week! Our PTO has some really amazing things planned. Please watch for more information later this week, however, if you get 'notes' turned in this week, please deliver them to the office. Thanks!
Important Upcoming Dates:
Week of April 28th- PLC Week
Monday, April 29th-NWEA Assessment Window Opens; ACC, 4:15-6:15 p.m.
Tuesday, April 30th-DIBELS Assessment Window Opens; Author Denise Bennan-Nelson Visits; Sub Sandwich Lunch
Wednesday, May 1st-Staff Meeting, 7:35 a.m. (Agenda: AdvancED Visit; End of Year); KRA Webinar (Megan C. and Natalie)
Thursday, May 2nd-Elementary Principals Meeting (Natalie); Volunteer Dinner
Week of May 6th-Staff Appreciation Week...more to be announced later, but you may want to start looking for that Hawaiian shirt buried in the back of your closet.
May 6th-8th AdvanceEd Onsite Review
Monday, May 6th-AdvancED Elementary Principal panel discussion, 1:00 p.m. (Natalie)
Tuesday, May 7th-AdvancED visit to Thomson. Teacher panel discussion, 7:45 a.m., some of you got an invitation to attend; 8:50-10:00 a.m. Classroom visits
Wednesday, May 8th-Early Release 1:45-4:45 p.m. (Agenda: Mindfulness & What to do with Magnetic Letters)
Thursday, May 9th-General Admin Meeting (Natalie); Megan & Michael's Baby Shower, 4 p.m.
Friday, May 10th-Leadership Team Meeting, 7:15 a.m.
Week of May 12th-PLC Week
Monday, May 11th-Kindergarten/DK Curriculum Meeting (All teachers) 4:15-6:15 p.m.
Tuesday, May 14th-Fire Drill; Child Studies
Wednesday, May 15th-Staff Meeting (Agenda: Data Review); Williams Property Field Trip for DK; KRA Training (Natalie & Megan)
Thursday, May 16th-Elementary Principals Meeting (Natalie); Title I Parent Meeting, 4:00 p.m.
Friday, May 15th-DIBELS Window closes; GISD Elementary Principal Meeting (Natalie)
Thomson Elementary
#ThomsonRocks
Home of the Thomson Teddies!
And..
Where Kids Come First and Futures Begin!
Email: nmiller@davisonschools.org
Website: www.davisonschools.org
Location: 617 East Clark Street, Davison, MI, United States
Phone: 810-591-0911