Wonderful Staff--

We hope you have enjoyed this three-day weekend! You earned that rest! See below for important items this week. 

What Is Expected of Me This Week

• Our Extended PLCs are this week for 4th, 2nd, and Kinder. We will check in on WIN time and track progress on each team's SMART goals. Please make sure you have your data and agendas ready to go, and you have added your students of concern to the Kid Talk form. Formal MTSS meetings will begin soon and we need to show what we have done for our students so far. 

• As always, update your Reading Tracker before your PLC day. Remember our goal is for students to make at least a years growth in reading. Start progress monitoring your students. Linked are the running records forms we will use this year: Fiction & Non-Fiction.

• Math WIN starts this week! Let's work hard and show off our progress on Data Showcase day! If you would like to go ahead and create your ELAR slide for our November 14th Data Showcase Day, here is the new presentation link.

• Edugence Housekeeping: We have been busy taking care of our TTESS documents in Edugence. Make sure that your goals and any walkthroughs have a GREEN icon. If the icon is YELLOW, see an admin. If the icon is ORANGE it is likely just needing your signature. Sign, save, and submit!

• Second Grade: Register and attend the Math Content Refresher that is Tuesday (10/15) at Paloma Creek 2nd Grade Math Content Refresher at Paloma Creek 3:45-4:30 

• Everyone: Check the October PD schedule below to see which sessions you need to attend. The sign-up links are in the calendar below. 

• The Gallup Staff Engagement Survey: We were the FIRST school to make 100%!!! As I shared in Friday's email, the Gator Community Committee will choose the week for our workout wear.

• Vector Training/Safe Schools: You are probably getting many reminders in your inbox to finish your safe schools training. Our school is currently 61% compliant. Now that the first nine weeks is over, let's prioritize this task. These are not difficult sessions to complete, but they are required. 

• HMH Vouchers: Please find the HMH voucher pictured below. We only had two vouchers turned in last Friday. We need these vouchers for additional resources. 

Upcoming Events:

October 15th -- 2nd Grade Math Content Refresher at Paloma Creek 3:45-4:30 

October 15th -- Torchy's Spirit Night

October 16th --K-5 All Content: Workshop at Bell 3:45-4:30 

October 17th -- Fall Picture Day

October 17th --Staff Meeting: Committees 

October 19th --Fall Festival 3:00-6:00 

October 21st --3rd Grade Fractions Refresher at Providence 3:45-4:30

October 22nd --3rd- 5th ELAR Literacy ONLY- Writing about Reading and CER 3:45-4:30 Bell

October 22nd -- Math Vertical Zone Meeting at Providence 3:30-3:45

October 24th -- K- 2 Interactive Writing PD at Bell 3:45-4:30 

October 28th-Nov. 1  -- Red Ribbon Week

October 29th -- "Hey Dude, Nice Shoes" PK-2 and 3-5 during school, Parent Event in the evening

October 29th -- 5th Grade Math PD at Bell 3:45-4:30

October 30th -- Mentor/Mentee Meet-Up

Nov. 1st  -- Student Half Day/Reading Academy

Nov. 5th  -- Election Day/No Student/PD Day (8:30-12:00 in Library, 1:00-3:00 team planning or conferences) You may leave at 3:00 so that you have plenty of time to vote. Polls are open 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

Still Important from Last Week...

• A word about CONFERENCES: Denton ISD asks that teachers plan a parent conference for every student performing below level (K-2 according to the literacy packet and/or PNA; 3-5 two or more years behind in iReady reading and/or math, or a year or more below grade level according to F and P). If you have questions about who needs conferences we can discuss during PLC. We like to complete conferences by the end of October, however we will also give you the afternoon of 11/5/2024 (PD Day) from 1:00-3:00 to tidy up conferences. Keep a sign-in sheet to show which families showed up.

• TEACHERS: Make sure you have signed up for your TTESS observation. You should have gotten an email from me, Norris, or Espinoza.  We are trying to get TTESS complete by the end of October or first part of November at the latest.

• Did you turn in your vouchers?!!! We need your science kit voucher! Please look in your science consumable kits for the VOUCHER pictured below. We need the voucher turned into ESTON by the end of the week so that we can schedule ordering the live specimens. 

A Message from Dr. O'Bara

Our district is a proud member of the Student Behavior Management Coalition, which includes 30+ other school districts. Together, we are working to develop recommendations to share with legislators for potential changes to Chapter 37 of the Texas Education Code, which governs student discipline. Our shared goal is to ensure the safety of all students and staff in classrooms across the state, and your input is essential to these efforts.

We invite you to participate in a short, anonymous survey linked below to share your classroom experiences related to student behavior and discipline. While the survey is anonymous, it will collect your school district name, grade level taught, and the title that best fits your role. This information will be used solely for demographic purposes and will not be linked to your identity. Additionally, most of the survey consists of closed questions, but there is one open-ended question. Please do not mention student names or include specific information that could violate FERPA. Please note that this survey is completely voluntary – participation is not required.

TAKE THE SURVEY NOW

The data will be aggregated by a North Texas school district to maintain confidentiality. Your feedback will be instrumental in shaping the Coalition’s recommendations to legislators. This survey will close Friday, Oct. 18, at 5 p.m.

Thank you for your time and for all that you do! 

Dr. Susannah Holbert O’Bara

Superintendent of Schools