"B" week schedule

STAAR Testing

Upcoming STAAR testing dates have been sent out via calendar invites, as well as are located within the "Upcoming Events" section below.  I will give everyone a hard copy of the schedules below prior to testing days.

3rd-5th grade Reading STAAR & Math STAAR  (Reading April 16, Math April 30)

Ms. April - 3rd grade - rm 142 

Ms. Bradley - 3rd grade - rm 141 

Ms. Brockman - 4th grade - rm 137 

Ms. Corey - 4th grade - rm 153 

Mr. Cravey - 5th grade - rm 143 

Ms. A -3rd grade - rm 146 (small group)

Ms. Dormier -5th grade - rm 136  (small group)

Ms. Gigi - 3rd grade - rm 139 (small group)

Ms. M - 4th& 5th grade - rm 147 (small group)

Hall/Restroom Monitors

Ms. Fadoua

Coach Smith

Classroom movement April 16 & 30:

Sped class:  Ms. Ali and sub to take 2 students to PK 4 and teach with PK 4 

Ms. Tashika will assist with Kindergarten classes throughout the day

6th grade:  Move to room 121 (Ms. Bradley's classroom) for the day *Ms. Noor will assist with 6th grade until noon.  At noon, Ms. A will take 6th grade students & Ms. Noor to return to PK4

7th grade:  Mr. de Leon:  Move to room 120 (Ms. April's classroom) for the day *Mr. Hart will assist with 7th grade.

8th grade:  Mr. Rabbani:  Move to the gym for class for the day (can go outside for class 11:15-11:45 during K-2's lunch time) 

*No Specials classes today.

Lunch times/duty: 11:15-11:45 - Kinder, 1st & 2nd grade to combine

• Ms. Goodson, Ms. Tashika, & Ms. Waseem will assist with Kinder, 1st & 2nd grade lunches (lunch break for Ms. Johnson, sub for Ms. Dormier & Ms. Lina)

Recess duty 10:45-11:15:

• Ms. Johnson, Ms. Lina & Ms. Dormier's sub ( will assist with Kinder, 1st grade & 2nd grade recess (lunch break for Ms. Goodson & Ms. Waseem)

Lunch times for 3rd grade - 11:45-12:15 (Mrs. Vinten will cover so that all testing teachers can have a lunch break)

Lunch times for 4th & 5th grade - 12:15-12:45 (Mrs. Vinten will cover so that all testing teachers can have a lunch break)

Lunch times for 6th-8th grade - 12:45-1:15 (Mrs. Vinten will cover for 6th - 8th grade teacher lunch breaks)

**Recess times for 3rd - 5th grades will be 2:30-3:20 with 3rd - 5th grade teachers assisting** 

6th-8th grade Reading STAAR & Math STAAR  (Reading April 17, Math May 1)

Ms. M - 6th grade - rm 147 

Ms. Bradley - 7th grade - rm 143 

Mr. Rabbani - 8th grade - rm 142 

Ms. A - 6th grade - rm 146 

Ms. Corey-6th & 7th grade-rm 153 

Ms. Gigi - 7th grade - rm 137 

Ms. Fadoua - 8th grade - rm 141 

Ms. Noor - 8th grade - rm 136 

Hall/Restroom Monitors

Mr. deLeon

Mr. Hart

Classroom movement April 17 & May 1:

Sped class:  Ms. Ali & Sped sub to take 2 students to PK 4 and teach with PK 4

Ms. Tashika to assist in PK 4 (8:00-10:40) and Kindergarten (10:45-3:30) 

Coach Smith to cover 3rd grade class for Ms. April and follow 3rd grade schedule

4th & 5th grade will combine lessons in the gym today (partition closed until 11:10, outside reading/ELAR lesson whole group 11:15-11:45, recess 11:45-12:15, lunch 12:15-12:45, outdoor lesson 12:45 - 1:15, return to the gym for indoor lessons 1:15-3:30 (or until the end of testing)

*No Specials classes today.

Lunch times/duty: 11:15-11:45 - Kinder, 1st & 2nd grade to combine

• Ms. Goodson, Ms. Tashika, & Ms. Waseem will assist with Kinder, 1st & 2nd grade lunches (lunch break for Ms. Johnson, sub for Ms. Dormier & Ms. Lina)

Recess duty 10:45-11:15: 

• Ms. Johnson, Ms. Lina & Ms. Dormier's sub will assist with Kinder, 1st grade & 2nd grade recess (lunch break for Ms. Goodson, Ms. Tashika & Ms. Waseem)

Lunch times/duty: 11:45-12:15 - 3rd grade

• Mr. Hart will assist with 3rd grade lunches (lunch break for Ms. April)

Recess duty 11:15-11:45:

• Ms. April will assist with 3rd grade recess (lunch break for Mr. Hart)

Lunch times/duty: 12:15-12:45 - 4th & 5th grade

• Mr. Cravey will assist with 3rd grade lunches (lunch break for Ms. Brockman)

Recess duty 11:45-12:15:

• Ms. Brockman will assist with 4th & 5th grade recess (lunch break for Mr. Cravey)

Lunch times for 6th - 8th grade - 12:45-1:15 

• Ms. Wilson will cover so that all testing teachers can have a lunch break

5th & 8th grade Science STAAR (April 23)

Mr. Cravey - 5th grade - rm 143 

Ms. M - 8th grade - rm 147 

Ms. Corey-5th grade-rm 153 

Ms. A - 5th grade - rm 146 

Ms. Fadoua - 8th grade - rm 141 

Ms. Noor - 8th grade - rm 136 

Hall/Restroom Monitors

Ms. Gigi

Coach Smith

Classroom movement April 23:

Sped class:  Ms. Ali and sub to take 2 students to PK 4 and teach with PK 4

Mr. Hart to join Ms. Bradley's class with one 3rd grade Sped student

Kindergarten will combine in Ms. Dormier's room (113) & teach together today.  Ms. Tashika will assist with Kindergarten on this day.

4th grade:  Move to Ms. Goodson's classroom (117) for the day

*No Specials classes today.

Lunch times/duty: 11:15-11:45 - Kinder, 1st & 2nd grade to combine

• Ms. Goodson, Ms. Noor, & Ms. Waseem will assist with Kinder, 1st & 2nd grade lunches (lunch break for Ms. Johnson, Ms. Dormier & Ms. Lina)

Recess duty 10:45-11:15: 

• Ms. Johnson, Ms. Lina & Ms. Dormier will assist with Kinder, 1st grade & 2nd grade recess (lunch break for Ms. Goodson & Ms. Waseem)

Lunch times/duty: 11:45-12:15 - 3rd grade

• Ms. April will assist with 3rd grade lunches (lunch break for Ms. Bradley & Mr. Hart)

Recess duty 11:15-11:45:

• Ms. Bradley & Mr. Hart will assist with 3rd grade recess (lunch break for Ms. April)

Lunch times/duty: 12:15-12:45 - 4th, 6th & 7th grade

• Ms. Wilson & Ms. Gigi will assist with 4th, 6th & 7th grade lunches (lunch break for Ms. Brockman, Mr. Rabbani, & Mr. de Leon)

Recess duty 11:45-12:15:

• Ms. Brockman will assist with 4th grade recess 

Lunch times for 5th & 8th grade - 12:45-1:15 

• Ms. Wilson will cover so that all testing teachers can have a lunch break 

8th grade Social Studies STAAR (April 24)

Mr. Rabbani - 8th grade - rm 147 

Ms. A - 8th grade - rm 153 

Hall/Restroom Monitors

Ms. Gigi & Ms. Fadoua - 8:30am-9:25am

Ms. Vinten & Ms. Wilson - 9:25 through the remainder of the testing session

Classroom movement April 23:

Sped class:  Ms. Ali to take 2 students to PK 4 and teach with PK 4

Mr. Hart to join Ms. Bradley's class with one 3rd grade Sped student

Kindergarten will combine in Ms. Dormier's room (113) & teach together today

6th grade:  Move to Mr. Rabbani's classroom (142) for the day

*4th, 5th & 7th grade classes will stay in their homeroom classrooms this day, but MUST remain silent throughout the testing window

*Specials will be held in homeroom classrooms for K-3 and in the gym for 4-7 on this day. 

Lunch & Recess times will remain the same for all grades today.

Lunch time 8th grade - 12:45-1:15

• Depending on number of testers remaining at this time will determine if additional silent lunch coverage will be needed for 8th grade 

• Coverage:  Ms. Vinten & Specials team

*Make-up testing schedule will be determined each week as necessary.

Thank you all for your flexibility and assistance during STAAR testing.  The scholars are READY because of your preparation with them!!!  You've got this....breathe, smile, and enjoy the ride!😁

Family Fun Cultural Event - May 14

Tuesday, May 14 from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm will be our last family fun event for the year.  Each grade level/team will need to sign up on this link for a country to feature for the event.  Throughout the next few weeks, have students create projects regarding information about that country and culture, find a simple craft or game relating to that country for families to participate in on May 14, and have students help decorate your room in your country's colors and items.  If you need suggestions or have any questions, let me know!  

Families will be able to travel around the world and learn about the many cultures that make up Manara STEM Academy. They will be able to enjoy performances (such as Arabic Storytelling), a cultural fashion show, arts and crafts, and henna. Like last year, students will get a passport at check-in and collect stamps to receive a prize (PTO is assisting with this).  There will also be food trucks that families (and all of you) can purchase food from for dinner that evening (more information to come on the food trucks attending), and Arlington Charities will also be there for you to get free groceries! It will be a very fun event, full of celebrating all countries and cultures!

Field Day - May 23, 2024

Coach Smith is working hard on planning a fun field day event for May 23, along with the PTO getting "sweet treat" vendors and putting together a fun lunch for the students.  Please fill out the field day t-shirt sign up link by April 26, as the t-shirt order needs to be placed so that shirts can arrive on time.  As you are collecting money from scholars ($10 per scholar), please indicate on the t-shirt order form that they have paid and turn in money daily to Mrs. Vinten or Mrs. Tabatha.  More event details to come!  

End of Year Grade Level Ceremonies

For end of the year grade level ceremonies, please place student awards in this folder for the following:

• Top Grade Level Scholar

• Top Reader

• Top Scientist

• Top Mathematician

• Top Social Studies Scholar

• Top STEM Scholar

You can choose any award format, just place the completed awards in the folder so that I can print them in color on card stock prior to the ceremony day.  Canva has great certificate templates, as well as you can find fun academic templates online as well.  I will create grade level completion certificates, A/B Honor Roll and Perfect Attendance certificates for each student and place within those folders as well.

Within the "Upcoming Events" section are the ceremony dates and times.  Kindergarten and 8th grade photos (Kinder in cap & gowns, 8th grade in formal dress attire) will be taken on Thursday, May 9.  Scheduled times will be sent soon, but will take place between 8:30-12:00 that day.

Ms. Corey, Coach Smith, Ms. Gigi & Ms. Fadoua, please place your grade level certificates (Top Artist, Top Language Students, Top PE Student) per grade level in grade level folders as well.

Please have certificates complete in folders by Monday, May 20.  Let me know if you need any assistance!

Yearbooks!

Please send out communication via your Class Dojo site to families about yearbook sales.  The yearbooks have arrived on campus (YAY) and can no longer be paid for on the LifeTouch link.  If scholars would like to purchase a yearbook, they are available in the front office for purchase.  Thank you, Ms. Corey, for all the hard work you put into creating such a beautiful yearbook!  🎉

Grades and PowerSchool Parent Access

Please make sure you are updating your grades EACH WEEK, as parents now have access to view their child's grades/progress in PowerSchool.  As a reminder, you should have a minimum of 2 grades per content area each week uploaded into PowerSchool, and you should have at least 3 summative assessments per 6 weeks included within those grades.  Zeros can be placeholders within the gradebook while you are waiting for students to complete work if necessary, but make sure you are in communication with the parents if students are not completing work.  There should never be failing grades that stay in a gradebook without communication to families.  Reach out if you have any questions or need help!

Manara 5K

The Manara 5K event has been postponed due to the threat of severe weather this weekend.  The new date is Sunday, May 5.  Please sign up to attend if you are able now due to the date change! Pump up your classes and send messages to your families about registering to attend the 5K! Remember, the class with the most participation receives a popsicle party AND that teacher gets a week's worth of no afternoon duty!!!

Maverick Bucks are BACK!!!! And we have a SCHOOL STORE!!!!

Maverick Bucks are back!  Thank you, Ms. Tabatha, for helping to get the school store up and running!  Please continue to pass out Maverick Bucks for the great behaviors and expectations you are looking for.  The school store will be open on Thursday and Friday of this week.  Scheduled times to come, but be prepared to take your classes in the afternoon times.

Remember to focus on positive expectations:

• Common Language is important.  Make sure you are stating what you want to happen (example:  Quiet vs. Silent)

• Expectations (Rules vs. Procedures)

  1. Lunch room expectations (enter at level zero, stay at level zero until teacher designates level 1, last five minutes level zero)

  2. Hallway procedures (silent in the hallway)

  3. Classroom displays 

     1. Are rules posted and reviewed daily?

     2. What procedures are evident in your classroom?

Practice, practice, practice!  Consistent expectations are key! 

Have a plan for revisiting all of your classroom/school expectations.

The consistency will be worth it!

TFAR Naming Conventions

For teachers in grades 3-8, please make sure to update your TFAR naming conventions with the following:

 Teacher last name.grade.subject.TEK focus.date

The next TFAR is due the week of April 15!!!!  (for the LAST 6 week period).  However, you can still use the platform for practicing STAAR type questions.  Practice makes perfect...or at least it helps with learning the platform better! 

Lesson Plans and Weekly Newsletters

Where to put them:  2023-2024 Teacher Resources drive within the STEM folder.  

Please make sure to upload your lesson plans & newsletters to the correct folder by Sunday evening.  If you need help, please let me or Ms. Wilson know!  They are being checked, so thank you for having them uploaded on time!

*Make sure to add Common Sense Media lessons to your lesson plans each week, Paper lessons/expectations, and NewsELA Social Studies lessons!

**Also, remember to include morning work for each day as scholars are arriving/finishing breakfast each morning.  Routines are key, and strong morning routines set powerful learning tones for the day!

SLO data collection

Within your individual SLO folders I have added a data tracker where you will input data collected from your TFAR or mCLASS assessments.  The following dates are when the following data should be input:

Using the Initial Skill Profile Rubric:  

BOY assessments (Data acceptable:  1st TFAR given, mCLASS, Circle)

Using the Targeted Skill Profile Rubric:

December (week of Dec 11) End of 3rd six weeks - Evidence of student progress #1 Done!

January (week of Jan 3) Start of 4th six weeks -  Evidence of student progress #2 

February (week of Feb 12) End of 4th six weeks -  Evidence of student progress #3

February (week of Feb 21) Start of 5th six weeks -  Evidence of student progress #4

March (week of Apr 1) End of 5th six weeks -  Evidence of student progress # 5

May (week of May 20) End of 6th six weeks - EOY Student Skill Level

Remember to utilize the same TFAR for the the start and end of each 6 weeks so that the data is an accurate comparison.

Reminder:  Naming conventions for TFAR assessments:  last name.grade.subject.date

To-Do Items

Things to do this week:

• STAAR!!

• Pass out Maverick Bucks for great behaviors and expectations!!!!!!

• Sign up for the family fun event on May 7!

• Sign up for you class t-shirt sizes and your t-shirt size by April 26

• Place your lesson plans & newsletters in the correct google drive folder 

• SLO data collection - Evidence #5

• TFAR assessments - Due week of April 15 (last 6 week period)!!

• Get families to sign up for the 5K race on May 5

Apr 23 STAAR Testing - Science grades 5th & 8th (STEM) 

Apr 23 Staff meeting 4:10-4:45pm

Apr 24 STAAR Testing - Social Studies grade 8th (STEM) 

Apr 25-26 STAAR Testing - Science & SS Make-up Testing grades 5th & 8th (STEM) 

Apr 25-26 School Store open to scholars to spend Maverick Bucks!

April 26 Have class t-shirt sizes for field day shirts filled in by today

April 26 Wellness Friday!

Apr 30 STAAR Testing - Math grades 3rd -5th (STEM) 

May 1 STAAR Testing - Math grades 6th - 8th grades (STEM) 

May 2-3 STAAR Testing - Math Make-Up testing grades 3rd -8th (STEM) 

May 2-3 School Store open to scholars to spend Maverick Bucks!

May 6-31 mCLASS EOY Assessments K-5

May 6-10 Teacher Appreciation Week!

May 9 Kindergarten and 8th grade formal picture day 8:30-12:00pm

May 10 Six Flags Over Texas Field Study for grades 6th - 8th 

May 13 Arabic Benchmark Final Exam

May 14 Last Family Fun Event 4-6pm

May 20 EOY grade level certificates due in grade level folder

May 23 Field Day 

May 24 8th grade end of year celebration 9:00am - 12:00pm (more information will be sent home with 8th grade families)

May 24 Manara High School Graduation (Irving location)

May 27 No school - Memorial Day holiday

May 28 4th & 5th grade end of year ceremony 8:30-9:30am

May 28 6th & 7th grade end of year ceremony 10:00-11:00am

May 29 1st & 2nd grade end of year ceremony 8:30-9:30am

May 29 3rd grade end of year ceremony 10:00-11:00am

May 30 Pre-K 3, Pre-K 4 & Kindergarten end of year ceremony 8:30-10:00am

May 31 Last day of school for students