Monday Memo
April 27th - May 1st
"Great teachers empathize with kids, respect them, and believe that each one has something special that can be built upon." - Ann Lieberman
On June 17th & 18th, all campuses will be participating in a district data meeting. During this time, we will be able to reflect on McGowen's data as well as data at the district level. This will also be an opportunity to begin revising our Campus Improvement Plan for next year. If you are interested in participating in these meetings, please let me know. While I completely understand the constraints of child care issues and summer plans, if it works with your schedule, you will receive PD credit for the two days. Please do not feel pressure from me to attend. Instead of just inviting Team Leaders, I wanted to open it up to everyone. For those of you who are interested in dabbling in more leadership opportunities or just want to contribute to the direction of McGowen as a whole, this would be a great opportunity.
Friday, May 1st will be a No Tracks Day. Once you have confirmed that all of your students are gone, we are encouraging you to take advantage of a 3:15pm departure. PTA has been working very hard to create something special as a token of appreciation for all that you do for their children, and they are coming in to decorate for Teacher Appreciation Week. I know it would mean a lot to them for you to wait and experience the grand reveal on Monday. If this is absolutely not an option for you, please refrain from being near or around the library, front office and security vestibule on Friday afternoon. In addition, please exit from a side door when you leave.
Registration opens on Monday, May 4th. Please be sure to announce this in your newsletters and post on your social media accounts. We want to encourage all incoming Kindergarten students to get registered asap. Please feel free to encourage your McGowen parents to share this information with anyone they know who has an incoming Kindergarten student that may not have a connection with the school yet to get this information. It is not uncommon for families out of state or new to the school scene to assume registration takes place in August, and it would be really nice to have enough Kinder students registered by the end of the year to justify our allocated six sections. Anything you can do to support this effort would be greatly appreciated by not only me, but the Kinder team as well.
Make today count!
JL
Relay for Life
Christine Hammock is providing an easy way to support Relay for Life. In the basket that is in the copy room, there are several styles to choose from (schools, variety of crosses and inspirational worlds on different paper designs as well as fun charms for girls). She is keeping the rest of her inventory in the Literacy Library if you need to check out multiple designs.
Celebrate Baby Mason!
Mud Run
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Save the Date!
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Start, Stop and Continue
While you do not have to identify yourself on the form, this is not to be used an anonymous personal attack on anyone in this building. If you identify a problem, please also make a suggestion of how to fix the issue. We will review your input at the Team Leader What's Next Meeting and plan our next steps.
One special note - The one thing that I can promise that will remain in place is our current Jeans Passes on Tuesdays. With that in mind, please refrain from requesting more casual days.
Please have this completed by Friday, May 8th.
Volunteers During After School Duty
If you would like to volunteer to help support our positive behavior notes during dismissal, please click on the link below. A jeans pass will be issued for each volunteer slot that you sign up to serve. Please note that if you are already scheduled to that location as a duty, it would not be appropriate to volunteer for a position the same time you have duty.
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A Message from Amy Harper
I have some bittersweet news to share. I will no longer be the Site Manager for Club 360 after April 30. I have accepted a full time position at a clinic in Plano, which will allow me more opportunities to grow with in the company, I have loved every moment of my 3 years here at McGowen, and all the friends I have made. Ya'll have always been supportive of Club 360, whether you were a direct part of the program or not. I will miss my kids for sure, but I will also miss you guys. I'm sure I will come and visit, and maybe you'll see me at the Fall Festival next year. Thank you so much for the last 3 years, and for a great community to be a part of. I will cherish the memories, and these last 10 days.
Amy Harper
Appreciations
- Jaime - Thank you for serving as our STAAR make-up queen. It was greatly appreciated! -JL
- Barbara - Thank you for being my Sonic Fairy last week. As always, your timing was perfect! - JL
- Sylvia & Shiela - Many thanks to you for another smooth round of testing! I appreciate the countless hours you put into preparing for those events. -JL
- Barbara and Stacie thank you for being my accidental Sonic fairy! It got me through the day! lp
- Relle & Shambo – Thank you so much for all you do for our kiddos and I appreciate your time with Kyle the other day. I appreciate your follow through and support. You are wonderful! - Michelle C.
- Jean & Carin – Thank you for the letters you wrote to Kyle and I appreciate you instilling confidence in going into the unknown of their first experience with STAAR. I appreciate you so much! - Michelle C.
- Donna – Thank you for organizing the breakfast(s) on STAAR days. It is so wonderful! - Michelle C.
- Melanie – Thank you for all your help with my laptop and your continued patience with me! - Michelle C.
- Sylvia & Shiela- Thank you for all your work to ensure STAAR was run so smoothly. - Michelle C.
- Shiela and Melanie- Thanks for being my “back up” Friday afternoon! ~ Valerie
- Bravo-Thank you for being my number one cheerleader and supporter this year! Nash
- Bonnie-Every interaction I have with you is a positive one and I appreciate working with you! Nash
- Bodmer and team-Thank you for covering for me so I could meet my son while he was getting stitches. Nash
- Trisha-Thank you for the surprise Sonic drink…..2 weeks ago. Nash
- Keri: Thank you for covering my morning duty during STAAR. - Morris
- Julie: Thank you for covering my morning duty during STAAR. - Morris
- Admin: Thank you for the yummy breakfast on our STAAR days! - Morris
Focus for 2014 - 2015
- Providing all students with at least one year’s growth
- Closing the achievement gaps in our subgroups
- Utilize data to drive instruction
- Collaborative team planning and lesson design to promote higher level thinking and student engagement
- Posting learning and language targets daily in student friendly terms
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Bad Dude Award
Remind for Staff
McKinney ISD's Vision, Mission and Beliefs
Any time we have an idea, concern, solution and/or comment, this is the filter through which we should speak. Let's help each other live up to our vision, mission, and beliefs.
Vision:
We are a cohesive, diverse community providing engaging learning experiences for all.
We will provide engaging learning experiences so students can become effective communicators, quality contributors and socially responsible citizens.
Beliefs:
- Partnerships between students, parents, community members and staff are foundational to educational success.
- Positive school culture and a safe environment foster growth.
- Everyone has inherent value and deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.
- Learning is an active process requiring engaging tasks and engaging minds.
- Relevant and authentic experiences ignite continuous, deeper learning.
- Meaningful relationships enrich learning.
- Confidence fuels risk taking and higher achievement.
- Financial stewardship ensures a tomorrow for education.