Scarlet News and Notes
November 20, 2018
Assuring Learning Excellence and Readiness for a Changing World
I feel fortunate to come to this building every day because I get to work with an amazing staff and amazing kids.
The Week at a Glance
Monday
Department Rep Meeting 3:15pm - Media Center
Shining Scarlet Essays Due
Tuesday
Events: Boys Hockey - 7:30pm - ASA
Wednesday
Scheduling Task Force Meeting 7:45am - Conference Room
Staff Meeting 3:15pm SBG groups
Thursday
Game On! Get out to different classrooms, bring a friend
Fall Learning Academy 4:00pm-8:00pm
Friday
High Five Friday
Shining Scarlet Breakfast 7:15am Cafeteria
Events: Girls Basketball - 7:30pm Gym
Multi-Media Suite
On Monday, our Department Rep meeting will take place in our new Multi-Media Suite (formerly known as the Mac Lab). Paul Christianson will be sharing what is new in this space and how this space can be used by teachers and students. Paul will also be hosting an upcoming voluntary staff meeting for all staff to come in and check out this space.
We will be putting together a committee to help support this new space. This committee will be made up of staff and students to monitor how the space is being used, to give ideas on how it can be used, and to determine if new equipment is needed. If you are interested in joining, please let me know by Friday, November 30th.
Scheduling Task Force
All are welcome to attend the Scheduling Task Force meeting on Wednesday. We will be examining schedules from different schools and how they use their different schedules.
Our staff surveys indicated that the top two things teachers wanted additional time for was time for collaboration and time to meet with students. This task force is looking for ways our schedule could change to meet these needs.
Champion Students
How is your Champion Student doing? After 1st quarter, we had 31% of our Champion Students passing all of their classes. Our goal is 55%, so we have some work to do, but I have faith that by the end of the semester we will reach our goal.
Here are some strategies teachers shared last year that they found effective in supporting their students:
Send your student a pass to see you during Scarlet Time
Positive phone calls home
Speak with more often, recognize her, acknowledge her, she’s not just a number
Daily check ins, asking about life, being positive, praising positive things
Careful watch, but not overwhelm (keep it cool)
Moved to front of class, talked to student about work
Every other day check ins
Setting a goal for each night
Get more involved, ask questions
Give academic support in all of her classes
Meet them at their level and go from there
Let students get to know who I am also, not just me getting to know them
Humor
Daily check-ins to gauge emotional health, develop positive relationship with student
Say hi every day
Standards Based Grading
Based on our survey, 10% of our teachers are experimenting with no zeros, 14% are experimenting with allowing retakes, and 31% are experimenting with SBG in their grade books.
Thank you for engaging in our learning work! We will continue to learn together, share our learning, and look at other schools who are doing SBG.
Check out this short video for an overview on SBG
Shining Scarlets
Our 1st quarter Shining Scarlet breakfast is Friday, November 30th. Please plan to join us for breakfast in the cafeteria. We start the program at 7:15, but you are welcome to join us when you can. Please use the cafeteria door closest to the receiving room if you are coming after 7:15.
It is always great if our parents and students can see our staff that morning!
Important Reminders
If a student asks to go to the counseling center, please call Stephanie A. at 3809 to see if the counselor is available at that time.
If you are showing a video in class and want it to be ad free, use safeshare.tv
Go to safeshare.tv, paste your youtube link, and it will play ad free
If you need to make revisions for any course in the registration guide, please note the deadline is November 30th.