Bronco Bulletin
FULL STEAM AHEAD
January 15, 2016
Message from Administration
Visitor Management System
Buzz-in System has been installed. The system requires all visitors (and staff and students) to press a button and be given access through the system by Lee Ann.
There will be 3 systems in place at Gwin Oaks: the main entrance, the door leading to the gym, and the door next to Bettler's room.
All exterior doors will be locked at 8:20. During morning arrival, the doors that are unlocked now will remain unlocked. No procedures change until 8:20.
All staff must keep their keys on them at all times. Your classroom key will work the exterior door locks so that you may let yourself and your class in during the day. (Teachers in trailers will have a separate key- one for the trailer and one for the exterior door.)
Students needing to travel in and out (Focus, etc) without a teacher escort will buzz using the system and Lee Ann will let them enter. This is going to take some training for the students! (We will need to think through what this means for staff kids after school…)
Parent flyers will be in your boxes the week before this goes live.
This will "go live" once all equipment is installed. We are waiting on a few more locks. Please DO NOT communicate this to your parents until I give you the school-wide communication flyers. We do not have a date set yet!
Any and all questions should be emailed to your SIT member. We will discuss this in length at the next SIT meeting. Hopefully, all concerns can be addressed before we go live. Since we will all be learning together, please be patient and know that I am open to any and all suggestions!
New Promotion/Retention Guidelines- Meeting- mark your calendar!
We have received new guidelines from Gwinnett concerning promotion and retention for students based on Milestones testing, grades, etc. for this school year. Basically, third graders will need to pass Reading. Fifth graders will need to pass Reading and Math. Fourth graders will need to pass all content areas. The requirements for this go a little deeper and summer school invitations and interventions have changed slightly as well.
We would like to share all this information with 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade teachers (and optional attendance for all other teachers who would like to attend) on Wednesday, January 20th, directly after buses in the cafe. We will provide you with the written guidelines at that time and answer any questions you may have.
Summary: Required meeting for all 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade teachers: Wednesday, January 20th in cafe 3:15-3:35.
*All other staff members- attendance optional, but welcome.
SPECIALS SCHEDULE- REMINDER
Kevin R. from UGA will be here on February 1st to meet with 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade teachers about the practice assessment results. This is the same schedule that has been communicated and is on the calendar. This is just a reminder.
Specials will be flipped (and morning times are extended)- 3-5 in the morning, k-2 afternoon.
8:20-9:20 5th grade
9:25-10:25 4th grade
10:30-11:30 3rd grade
Special areas teachers- lunch 11:30-12:05
12:05-12:55- 1st Grade
12:55-1:45- 2nd Grade
1:45-2:25 Kindergarten
ACCESS testing, everyone please read:
Testing begins Tuesday, January 19. We hope to be done by February 5. Please note that morning intervention for all grades will NOT be held until testing is finished. Also, Lab B is on lock down until testing is finished due to the test being administered primarily online. DO NOT enter the lab for any reason, even to check email. It will be locked if testing is not going on.
ILT Meeting (PLC Room)
Tuesday, February 9th 3:15-4:15
Thursday, March 24th 3:15-5:30
SIT Meeting
January 26th 3:15-4:15 PLC Room
Schedule Change
Instead of PL on Thursday, January 21st, we are moving it to the following Thursday, January 28th. January 21st will be a regular Lit IF meeting. For January 28th, the plan is as follows:
K, 1- PL (Guided Reading with Sue Eason)
2-5- UGA Practice Assessment Data Chats (if scores are not back in time, we will do PL)
*The calendar has been updated.
The March DDA Schedule
The schedule is now posted in OneNote under Shared Leadership, 2015-16 Testing Schedule. Scroll down to March DDA.
SAVE THE DATE: Teaching and Learning Pre-Conference and Conference
Please mark your calendars for the second annual GCPS Teaching and Learning Conference! This year, the conference will take place at the ISC on Thursday, June 16 and Friday, June 17 from 8 AM - 4 PM at the J. Alvin Wilbanks Instructional Support Center. Several departments will offer pre-conference sessions on Wednesday, June 15 at various locations throughout the district. More details will come in February.
What: Teaching and Learning Pre-Conference
When: June 15, 2016
Where: Various locations throughout the district. More to come in February.
What: Teaching and Learning Conference
When: June 16-17, 2016 8:00am - 4:00pm
Where: J. Alvin Wilbanks Support Center
Interested in becoming a Media Specialist? (No, Sharon's job is not open!!!)
Media Services is holding an information session for teachers interested in becoming a Media Specialist on Wednesday, January 28, 2016 at 4:00 p.m. in the HR Conference Training Room, Building 100 at the J. Alvin Wilbanks Instructional Support Center. Working as a media specialist is a rewarding experience but pursuing certification is a big commitment of time and money. A master’s degree is required and consists of 8 –10 courses. Even if a teacher holds a master’s degree, 6-8 additional courses are required for certification. Passing the GACE alone does not allow a teacher to obtain certification to be a media specialist.
The information session will include details about media specialist job expectations, based on the GCPS Media Specialist Evaluation Standards. A panel of experienced media specialists will be on hand to offer advice and answer questions about running an effective media program. Information about how to obtain certification and programs available through various Georgia universities will also be presented. Being a media specialist is a profession, not just a position. While instruction remains a strong focus of any media program, the perspective of a media program is different from that of a classroom. A media specialist has many additional roles, including program manager, teacher leader, and supervisor. This information session is designed to make teachers fully aware of all aspects of being a media specialist before enrolling in a program.
Interested in becoming an LSTC? (No, there is not an opening at Gwin Oaks!)
Teachers who would like to pursue an LSTC position should apply via AppliTrack first. AppliTrack is located in the employee portal under About Me --> My Job. The LSTC continuous job (Job ID 44095) is posted in the teacher section. Applications are reviewed, and the candidates who meet the requirements for the LSTC position are contacted about completing the LSTC Screening test. For information about the screening test: http://www.learning.com/wayfind-teacher-assessment/ Candidates who successfully complete the screening process are added to the list of LSTC candidates for principal consideration.
Reading Recovery/Literacy Lessons Awareness Session
Teachers interested in learning more about Reading Recovery/Literacy Lessons training are invited to attend this informational session. Details regarding the application and interview process will be shared. Classroom, Special Education, ELL, Gifted education teachers, as well as Literacy Specialist/Coaches are encouraged to attend.
What: Reading Recovery/Literacy Lessons Awareness Session
When: Tuesday, January 26, 2016; 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Where: Reading Recovery Training Lab at Benefield Elementary School
Teachers should RSVP by Friday, January 22 if they wish to attend by using the Survey Monkey link. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RRLitLes
ESOL Endorsement Cohorts Starting March 1, 2016
EL Programs is opening up two one year cohorts of the ESOL Endorsement starting with the Culture course on March 1, 2016. Participants will continue with Linguistics in the fall, then Methods and Materials with an embedded practicum the following spring. Teachers who are enrolled in the program may apply to the GaPSC for the non-renewable ESOL credential and may provide ESOL support to EL students while they are completing the program.
What: 2016-2017 ESOL Endorsement
When: Dates and times vary
Where: ISC
Teachers must hold a clear renewable teaching certificate in order to apply.
Please identify teachers you wish to recommend for participation. Applications are due to the EL Programs Office no later than Friday, February 5. Principal recommendation is required as part of the application.
CALENDAR
January 18..............Martin Luther King Holiday
January 19-20..............Media Center Closed for Inventory
January 19-February 12.........ACCESS Testing - Lab B Closed
January 19..............GKIDS Data Pull
January 19..............Fire Drill at 1:15
January 19..............Tech Tip - Assessments Web 2.0 - 3:00 in PLC Room
January 20..............Promotion/Retention Meeting - Cafe - 3:10
January 21..............Club Picture Day - New Student Picture Day
January 21..............Lit IF
January 21..............Science Fair 6:30
January 22..............Mid-Year RBES Update Due
January 22..............100th Day of School
January 25..............Kdg. Field Trip to Aurora Theater
January 25..............Good News Club Begins Again
January 26..............Math IF
January 26..............Talent Show Auditions GOES Cafe & Music Room - 3:00 - 5:30
January 26..............SIT Meeting - 3:15 - PLC Room
January 27..............School Council Meeting - 7:30 AM
January 27..............4th Grade In-House Field Trip (Myers/Williams) - 8:30 - 10:40
January 27..............Talent Show Auditions GOES Cafe & Music Room - 3:00 - 5:30
January 28..............K &1 Professional Learning....2-5 Data Chats
January 28..............4th Grade In-House Field Trip (Stoffle/Pelinsky) - 8:30 - 10:40
January 29..............FOCUS Referral Meeting
January 29..............4th Grade In-House Field Trip (Cramer/Robison) - 8:30 - 10:40
LIFE SAVER AWARD
TECHNOLOGY
Computer Project Carts
Teachers please do not send students to retrieve individual computers from the project carts. Carts must be brought to the classroom. Having students carrying computers around the school can be a liability to Gwin Oaks, the student, the teacher and the equipment.
Before the cart is returned to the home location, the teacher must make sure all laptops are turned off and charging so that the next teacher will have success with their lesson too.
Cyber Day Snow Day #4
Teachers need to have Inclement Weather Day plans drafted in C&I by next Friday, Jan 22. Questions or help? Please see Jennifer Mimms.
MEDIA CENTER
PIEDMONT COLLEGE MASTER PROGRAM
PEACH STATE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION SCHOLARSHIP
MLK DAY CELEBRATIONS
Lawrenceville Program and Parade
The United Ebony Society of Gwinnett County, Inc. will host the 16th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration on Monday, January 18, 2016 in Lawrenceville. The theme, “What Are You Doing For Others?” underscores the importance of everyone making a difference by reaching out to help others in need. The brief program and parade line-up will take place between 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. The parade will start at 10:00 a.m. in front of the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center located at 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville. Mrs. Beauty P. Baldwin will be the 2016 Grand Marshal!
The parade concludes at Moore Middle School located at 1221 Lawrenceville Highway (HWY 29) at the intersection of Johnson Road. The celebration includes information provided by community outreach organizations, artwork displays by GCPS students and a step show at Moore Middle School. The activities will take place until 2:00 p.m.
Please visit the website www.gwinnettmlkparade.com for further details such as parade registration, parking and activities planned. You may also call 678-856-7602. The United Ebony Society is looking forward to your participation! Thank you for ensuring the success of honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Gladiators
Northeast Atlanta Ballet presents Sleeping Beauty and other fairytales, Friday, March 11th - Sunday, March 13th. Our very own Carol Belcastro will dance as the Queen (mother of Sleeping Beauty). Many other Gwin Oaks students are participating in this fabulous production at the Gwinnett Performing Arts Center (Infinite Energy Center). Please see the following dance moms for tickets!!
Leigh Blakely (Sara)
Tiffany Taylor (Sydney)
Amy Simmon (Scarlett)
Kim Shoaf (Sara)