Captain's Log # 5 - July 30 - August 3

Open House!

 

Fantastic job Tracks 1 and 3!  I enjoyed walking into the presentations you had prepared for the parents.  I also was impressed with how many of you did a "team" presentation!  It really does show the parents the students are "OUR" students!  Thank you for the great job!! :)

Staff Updates

Welcome Back Track 4! 

Welcome to our newest Clipper Crew member Kelley Bryan.  She will be joining the 5th grade team on Tuesday morning.

Wednesday, August 1, we will welcome to our Clipper Crew, Charles Langley as our interim Assistant Principal.  Mr. Langley is a retired principal who will be with us until September 4.

Happy Birthday....Heather Callaghan-July 29,  Matt Pelletier and Stacie Sidney-July 31 and Jessica Bryd-August 1!

PDPs and Observations

Please make certain you have completed the Self-assessment and your PDP https://mxweb3.media-x.com/home/ncval/ We will be focusing on Track 2, 1 and 4 over the next few weeks.  Track 2, I will begin scheduling your PDP meetings for this week. 

Technology Update

Emodo: Do you know about Edmodo? Do you have an Edmodo account?  Do you know what Edmodo can do for you?   If you do have an account, are you friends with the other OCE teachers?  Are we exploring all we can do with Edmodo? Many of us have accounts, let's begin exploring this "Facebook" for educators. There are many Common Core resources referred to on Edmodo by other educators. If you don't have your account yet...sign up today. http://wcpss.edmodo.com/  

Voice Thread: All teachers who work with students will have a Voice Thread account. Technology Services are setting up the accounts for us.  Janet and I prepared all the information needed last week.  I do not have a date for when the accounts will be available.  When I receive the date, I will let you know.

Electronic Profile Cards- Currently, the electronic profile cards are not ready for us to begin using.  They are in the final stages, but we do not have a date for release.  As soon as I have a date, I will let you know.

Teacher Workdays

The calendar on the WCPSS website has certain workdays identified as W or RW.  The RW represent the "restricted workdays" which were identified by WCPSS for Race to the Top professional development.  The 'W' are workdays which are available for the school to identify as Mandatory Workdays.  At the school level 6 of the remaining 8 days could be identified as Mandatory workdays for the 12-13 school year.  Our two (2) non-mandatory workdays were Tuesday, July 3 and Friday, July 6.  The rest of the workdays for the 12-13 school year are Mandatory for all teachers.  Opportunities for professional development and common core planning will take place on mandatory workdays. Annual Days can not be used on Restricted or Mandatory workdays.

Social Networking

Just a reminder to review the information from Dr. Stephen Gainey, Assistant Superintendent Human Resources, on Social Networking posted in the Work Room and Teacher's Lounge.  I am receiving more references by parents of "post" they are seeing on Facebook by employees.  At our opening on July 2, during the policies portion of our meeting, we went over the use of Social networking and our responsibilities as school employees.

2012-13 Employee Handbook

Carpool Numbers :)

We are moving to the number system this week for carpool.  The Clipper informed families of the change, but we will need to reinforce in for several weeks.  Please put a "blurb" in your weekly newsletter concerning the transition to carpool numbers.

Teacher Resources

20 Must-See Facts About The 21st Century Classroom

Teachers Easy Guide on How to Evaluate Web content for Classroom Inclusion

Teacher Links

http://www.sharemylesson.com/

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2011/07/google-books-for-educators-how-to-guide.html

Captain's Log #4 - July 23 - July 27

Open House for Tracks 1 and 3 on Wednesday July 25th from 6:00 - 7:30 

Staff meeting on Wednesday 8:00 

Nice to Know Needs to know, first two weeks of school recap/items, Open House information.  We will be meeting in the Media Center.  First and Fifth Grade PLTs will be moved to 8:30 to 9:30, people that are responsible for coverage plan accordingly to be in the class until 9:30.

Keep in your thoughts...

Many of you were aware Lori Young had been traveling back and forth to Texas since the last few days of June to be with her father.  It is with great sadness we share,  Lori's father passed away last Tuesday. Please keep Lori and her family in your thoughts during this difficult time for Lori and her family.

Do you want to wear jeans on Friday?

We need to have 100% completion of BBP & Diabetes (currently 66%), teacher schedules (30%) see Annie, as well as Employee Handbook, receipting, etc (currently 89%) see Janet.  New staff added since the July workdays are exempt from the deadline, but need to complete by August 4.

Smart Boards and iPAds, oh my!

Kindergarten and first grade SMART boards are being installed, the last four will be installed on Monday.  We are also working on the system to distribute the three iPad Carts (10 iPads on each cart) around the school.  The Technology Committee will discuss the processes and procedures for signing the carts out.  The Apps Committee will investigate what apps to add (we have added a few free apps to the iPads).

Early Release (Specials and Lunch)

Specials will be 2, 1, K. 
Second grade from 9:30 - 10:15.
First Grade will be from 10:20 - 11:00
Kindergarten 11:10-11:50

Lunch -
Fourth - Tk 1 - 10:00-10:10, Tks 2 and 3 - 10:10 - 10:20
Second - Tk 1 - 10:30 - 10:40, Tks 2 and 3 10:40-10:50
Third Grade - Tk 1 10:50 - 11:00, Tks 2 and 3 - 11:00-11:10
Fifth Grade - TK 1 11:15 - 11:20, Tks 2 and 3 11:20-11:30
First Grade Tk 1 11:30 - 11:40, Tks 2 and 3 11:40-11:50
Kindergarten - Tk 1 - 12:00-12:10  Tks 2 and 3 12:10-12:20

PEPs and IEPs

If you have had trouble logging into Easy IEP, this is what you can try...

User Name: first name(space)last name  not case sensitive

Pass word: employee ID #     change after your first login

You will also be able to access PEPs, and LEP plans within this site. 

PLT Notes 

Teacher Links 

15 Ways to Engage Reluctant Learners

Teacher Resources

Four Myths About the ELA Common-Core Standards

Share Lessons 

What is an ed-tech learner?

Practice project based learning

Thank YOU...

for helping our students get home safely and survive the heat!   Debbie Rountree, Christy Blazey, Holly Kiger, Marie Jones, Rachael Stauffer and staff who have filled in for the assigned staff members,

for covering the fifth grade classes, so they could interview for the Track 4 positions.  Wes Barnes, Eric Chaplin, Charlotte Davis, Janet Fuller, Annie Goldman, and Faye Scott  

Captain's Log #3 - July 16-20

We have finished the first week of school for tracks 1, 2 and 3.   

It was a very successful first week of school.  Let's keep up the great work.  Teamwork is the key!  You are doing an awesome job! :)

Climate Goal 

Reminder that all grade levels need to teach the students two SAIL lessons.  The first one is "What is SAILing" and the second is "Arrival and Dismissal" these are part of our School Improvement Plan and are also aligned with best practices on teaching routines and expectations.  Track 4 staff members will learn more about these lessons at their Track in Meeting.  

Committees and Early Release

Our first committee meetings will be on Friday the 27th.  Be on the lookout for an agenda that your committee chair, so you will be prepared for the 27th.  Also, Friday the 27th is our first Early Release of the 2012-13 school year, more info to come.  

Family Marathon

Hello Staff,

Its hard to believe this will be the 5th year we have held the Family Marathon at OCE.  We started our first marathon in 2008 with 220 registrants and the number grew to 450 this past year.  Thanks to your support, the event has created opportunities for some great memories to be formed and healthy lifestyle patterns to be created.  To keep this event on the right track, (pardon the pun)  I need your help!  Please write me a quick e-mail if you have any comments, concerns or ideas on how we can continue to make this a passive experience for our OCE community. Thank you.

Dianne 

Lunch 

Teacher Assistants and office staff will be teaching and monitoring the students SAILing in the cafeteria this week.  If teachers want to eat with their students they are able to, but it is not the expectation.  Teachers be sure to walk your students into the lunchroom and acknowledge (smile, wave, thank you, etc) the person that will be monitoring the lunchroom during your lunch time.  Also, be sure to drop off and pick up on time. 

Self assessments and Professional Development Plan

The NCEES site continues to be under construction (July 16th it is supposed to be ready to be used).  All certified teachers will need to have completed a self-assessment and PDP prior to the first 30 days of school.  Track 3 will need to meet with evaluator prior to tracking out to review self assessment and sign off on PDP.  Remember that the PDP is a "personal" plan and should reflect areas of growth in the self-assessment. We will begin with Track 3, since they are tracking out the soonest, for us to meet on the PDPs.  All teachers MUST have the self-assessment and PDP completed in the first 30 days.

Track 3 teachers...IF you are in your renewal, or have a BT status, Nanette will be the main evaluator.  Teachers who are NOT in their tenure or license renewal on Track 3, will have Travis as the main evaluator. We will schedule the meetings prior to track out. .

PLT Notes 

July 9-13 notes

Teacher Resources 

The how's, why's and value of educational technology.

 More information about Assessments

Teacher Links

3 sites to create flashcards

Common core math games that have been "pinned".

Captain's Log #2 - First Week of School 2012-13

Here come the little OCE Crew Members!

Wow!  How quickly we were able to transition to the 2012 - 2013 School Year!  Great job of working together and making it happen.

Beginning of the year help..

We will need all hands on deck this week to support students' arrival, dismissal and to model S.A.I.L.  There are assigned staff members for each location, but need staff members to be out in the hallways.

Traveling in the hallways: Please supervise the students closely as they are walking in the halls.  Make certain they are S.A.I.L.ing at all times.  We are setting the tone for the rest of the year.  Reteaching the expectations, no matter what grade level is important.  If you need to practice, no problem there...practice makes perfect.

Lunch - Classroom teachers will eat with their class.  Use this time to model S.A.I.Ling in the cafeteria - see page 6 of OCE Handbook.

Dismissal:  This year we will be sharing bus routes with other schools.  This may not impact us too much now, but when traditional school begins, we could have a few difficulties.

Kindergarten

Kindergarten will have staggered entry this week.  Parents will be going to the classrooms at 2:00 to pick up their children.  This will mean several parents in the halls.  If you see a parent without a "Visitor" badge, please remind them to return to the office to sign-in.  This is an opportunity to establish proper safety procedures.

 

PLT Notes 

E-mail Travis and 'cc Nanette your PLT minutes (http://www.livebinders.com/play/play/424293?backurl=%2Fshelf%2Ffeatured) a vodcast will be going out this week with a tutorial of "How to Post Minutes".

Teacher Resources 

http://blog.web20classroom.org/2012/01/soyou-wanna-be-blogger.html - Blogging 101

 http://myportfolio.school.nz/artefact/file/download.php?file=187483&view=24719 - Digital Portfolios

Teacher Links 

http://thejournal.com/articles/2012/06/11/new-guide-walks-teachers-through-flipping-the-classroom.aspx- more about "flipped classroom"

Be sure to complete your Bio --- https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dENKVlRSN3BiZGFqNWVXUGprYWxUSGc6MQ - we have 53 Bios at this time.

Captain's Log #1 - July 2 - July 6

WELCOME BACK!!!!!!!

2012-13

Captain's Blog...#1

Week at a Glance

July 2:  Mandatory Teacher Meeting in Media Center 8:00 - 3:00

July 2:  Welcome call to students  3:00 - 4:00

July 3:  Central Services Day--Professional Development offered by Academics off campus

July 4:  Happy 4th of July!   CELEBRATE our Independence

July 5:  Work in your classrooms 8:00

July 5:  WCPSS Mandatory Teacher Workday
             Race to the Top Professional Development-- Media Center  1:00 - 4:00 

July 5:  Meet the Teacher-- 5:00 - 6:00

July 6:  Teacher Workday

 

Class List:  Expectations for letting students know....

Monday afternoon you will receive your list of students for the 2012-13 school year.  I have valued your time and efforts in balancing the list.  When parents have e-mailed with their input on "which" teacher, "what" friends, "what" room, etc., I have thanked them for providing me their thoughts and then proudly stated my teachers are making the class list and know their students better then anyone.  I trust they will make the list and any teacher on my staff will have high expectations and provide quality instruction.

 

Video Requirements

We have homework this week!  The following videos need to be viewed by Friday.  After viewing the videos, please go to Janet's office and sign the appropriate forms to verify you watched each video. 

Http://www2.wcpss.net/departments/hr/handbook/index.htm

http://www2.wcpss.net.net/departments/hr/training/sh.htm

http://www2.wcpss.net/departments/hr/training/seclusion/index.htm

http://www2.wcpss.net/departments/hs/bbp/exposureplan.htm

http://www2.wcpss.net/departments/hs/diabetes/training.htm.

 

Extra Hands on Deck

Our Boosterthon Team is scheduled to be here on Tuesday to assist with moving and helping to set up rooms.  My last e-mail with Captain Kyle said at least three of our team would be here, and someone from another team might join them. Let us know if you need help.  We want to make sure we support you as much as we can with moving and setting up!

Meet the Teacher

Thursday, July 5 from 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM.  We will not hand out the Clipper Parent Pack at Meet the Teacher.  It will go home on Monday.  PTA will be here to hand out the Supply Boxes. We will open the doors at 5:00.  I know you will be ready for the parents.  Hopefully, some of the anxiousness will have decreased after they students received a call from you on Monday afternoon.