Captain's Log # 6 - Aug. 6 - Aug. 10

Celebrate!

The 2011-12 scores are in and we are in celebration mode!  Yes, we did it.  We set high expectations for all and the outcome was success.  I continue to receive the "drill down" data and will meet with the Data Team to add this data to our Comprehensive Needs Assessment. 

That said, let's pause and celebrate for a FANTASTIC job of learning and teaching in 2011-2012!  So....I've been thinking (I know that is dangerous!)  What would be a great way to celebrate this accomplishment???  To celebrate this event of being an Honors School of Excellence...we will have JEANS FRIDAY for the rest of the year! 

As you can tell, I am so excited that your students demonstrated all you had been teaching them all year.  I know you will set those same high expectations this year, and knowing our staff...set a higher goal!

Great job everyone!  

Self Assessments and PDPs:

Please make certain you have completed your self assessment and PDP.  https://mxweb3.media-x.com/home/ncval/  You self assessment will guide you in the area(s) needed for your Professional Development Plan for the Year. 

Please make certain when you are creating your PDP:
Goals for the Elements are the areas for your personal growth, e.g., I will effectively implement ****  instruction...; I will stay abreast of current research...
Activities and Actions: are the how you are going to do it..
Expected Outcomes and  Evidence of Completion: What will be the outcome?  Can you measure it?  Where are you starting and where do you want to end?  Are you showing growth?  e.g., If you are integrating technology into your lessons, what is the increase? 
Resources: What do you need to be successful?  PLT, SmartBoard, Daily Five training?
Timeline:  Provide yourself benchmark checks to see if it is working. If it is great, if not, then we can adjust.

Professional and Student Growth: 

We will continue to focus on our professional growth and the growth of our students for the 2012-13 school year.  Last year we set the expectations high and we did well making improvements.  Let's set the bar higher this year and demonstrate more growth for all students. While walking around, I'm seeing HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills) become the norm.  Remember, changing the way we ask the questions can make all the difference.  More to come during our Admin. Fridays.  Revised schedule for Admin. Fridays will come out next Monday!

Staff Updates:

Mr. Langley arrived on August 1 to begin his time at OCE.  Thank you to all of you who have already signed up for your PDP conference with him. 

Kelley Bryan our track 4-5th grade teacher arrived last Tuesday!  Welcome Kelley!

This Friday is Pete's last day. Until we find a new Media Specialists, Pete and I have discussed having a volunteers in the Media Center so students can still check-in and out books without staff taking them and providing the supervision. 

Second Step: Note from Alice Geiss

Thank you to the 30 staff members who completed the Second Step Implementation Survey.  Out of the 30 staff members who responded, 6 indicated that they needed to have a review session on the use of the Second Step Violence Prevention program.  Please send me your names by email (by Friday, August 10^th) so that I know specifically who needs the review session.   Anyone is welcome to attend the review session if you are interested.  The review session date will be announced soon. The Second Step Kits will be distributed during the week of August 6^th.  You will receive a Second Step kit; a memo describing the program; a lesson log to record lesson dates; and a list indicating which kit is assigned to you.  If you have any questions, please let me know.  Thanks, Alice Geiss.

Benchmark Assessments:

Below is the Benchmark Assessment calendar for the year. 

School Calendar	Quarter 1 Days 40 – 50	Quarter 2 Days 85 – 95	Quarter 3 Days 135 – 145	Quarter 4 Days 146– 180
Assessments	Grades 3-4:  Reading, Math Grade 5:  Reading, Math, Science	Grade 2:  Reading, Math Grades 3-4:  Reading, Math Grade 5:  Reading, Math, Science	Grades 3-4: Reading, Math Grade 5:  Reading, Math, Science	Grade 2:  Reading, Math
Track 1	September 4 – October 5	November 26 – January 8	February 25 – March 28	May 1 – May 9
Track 2	September 25 – October 9	December 10 – January 4	March 27 – April 10	May 6  – June 7
Track 3	September 24 – October 8	December 13 – January 8	March 14 – March 28	May 29 – June 7
Track 4	September 24 – October 28	December 14 – January 28	March 14 – April 22	May 29 – June 7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

        

 

 

 

Hospitality:

Thank you Hospitality Committee for the breakfast last Friday!  It was a great way to end the week.  Looking forward to our monthly breakfast hosted by different groups!  If you haven't joined the Hospitality Committee, you might want to think about it.  Ask one of the committee members for some of the plans for the 2012-13 school year!

SAILing:

Students and Staff are doing a good job in the hallways of SAILing!  I have had lots of parents comment on how nice the students are moving about and how much more "calm" in seems this year.  Keep up the good work of reinforcing the SAIL expectations in the hallways throughout the day.  Remember, being specific and positive really does make the difference.  I've also noticed staff giving more compliments to other classes!  The students, and staff, really appreciate the recognition!  Great job everyone!  FYI:  "Walking" lines are going down in the other hallways this week.

Carpool:

All carpool numbers have been given to tracks 1, 2, and 3 and Annie is working on track 4, for families who requested carpool tags. Over the last two weeks we have been transitioning to the number system.  Thank you to the staff on carpool duty as we have been working with: names, numbers and students who have yet to learn their carpool number or parents who have forgotten to hang the number on the rearview mirror. Even during this transition, we are still getting all the cars through the carpool line between 4:05 and 4:10!  Please help out everyone by putting a "blurb" in your newsletter about "hanging the carpool number on the rearview mirror and helping your child learn their carpool number to make carpool go faster".  Thank you!

Teacher Resources

Learn It in 5 is for professionals, students, and parents who want to increase their Web 2.0 skills. A series of videos, all 5 minutes or less, guide users through lessons of their choice. Users can search for specific topics or browse to discover new techniques. Tip: Include videos in your weekly newsletter. http://learnitin5.com/

Teacher Links

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2012/07/23/fifty-of-the-best-ed-tech-products-for-schools/