"B" week schedule this week!

Teacher Shout - Outs!

This week's shout outs make me smile!  And they will you, too!

1st shout out goes to .....  Ms. Goodson! 🎉

• If you want or need a smile and want to see some great teaching, go to Ms. Goodson's classroom and just peek your head in!  No matter what, Ms. Goodson starts AND ends each day with a smile on her face.  She always has something positive to say about her kinder friends and team, no matter what obstacles might come her way!  Her class will also bring a smile to your face, as they also say such kind things about each other and other teachers on campus.  I appreciate your positivity, Ms. Goodson, and we are grateful to have you on our team!

2nd shout out goes to ..... Ms. McFarlin!🎉

• Ms. McFarlin had her first full week as a teacher this week and there were several times I noticed AMAZING teacher skills!  From the beautiful set-up of her classroom (go check out how PK3 friendly her room is) to handling a stressful situation in her classroom prior to her class's dismissal on Friday afternoon with ease and grace, I appreciate how even starting mid-year she jumped rignt in and fits on our team like she's been here all year long!  You're doing AWESOME, Ms. McFarlin!

Everyone make sure to give Ms. Goodson and Ms. McFarlin a high-five (or fist bump) on Tuesday!  

Great job, ladies!  Come see me for a special treat!

Who will be shouted out next week???  I know.......... 😁

No School on Monday!

Happy MLK, Jr Day on Monday!

PowerSchool Access for Parents!!!!

In the next few weeks, parents will have access to view their child's grades in PowerSchool.  This is GREAT news, as we can also teach our students to take ownership of their progress by getting them into the habit of checking their own grades weekly.  A grade in the gradebook should never be a surprise to the student, and with the students having knowledge of how to view their grades online, they can have more meaningful conversations with their parent about their progress!

What does that mean for you?  Make sure you have your grades updated WEEKLY in PowerSchool.  No more adding the grades the last week in a 6 week period. The expectation is that starting this week, you begin the habit of adding grades weekly.  Remember, you should have at least 2 grades per content area weekly so that there are enough grades to give a comprehensive picture of where the student is at academically in your class.   If you have any questions, please ask!  

Manara Teacher/Staff Survey

From Ms. Sudan, Superintendent:

Each year the board seeks your input as to how we are all doing as a team and asks for input in providing valuable feedback. We search for highlights, constructive input and opportunity for growth and change. 

Please note that you have to use a Manara email address to complete the survey, but your email is not collected. This is an anonymous survey which goes to the board as overall average ratings. 

Thank you for taking the time to complete the 2023-2024 Teacher/Staff Survey. This should be completed by all Manara Employees. 

2023-2024 Manara Teacher/Staff Survey

Thank you for taking the time to fill out the survey!  Your input is valued!

Upcoming Book Fair Week

The week of January 29 is our Spring Scholastic Book Fair week.  That week we will have fun "themed" event days to promote literacy.  A big thank you to the PTO for helping come up with the event ideas!  See the flyer below with the themed days.  On Tuesday, January 31, will be our next Family Fun Event.  Sign up here to assist during that time (4:00-5:30) and remember to sign up for your favorite Sonic drink that you will get the next day for helping that afternoon!  Start thinking of literacy/STEM themed ideas (possible Escape Rooms - reading to find the clues to solve puzzles, games - such as Pictionary or word matching games for the littles), as the Family Fun Event will be literacy themed.  At 5:15pm on Tuesday afternoon at the event, any student who attends who is dressed up as a book character will participate in a book character "fashion show" on the stage in the gym.  It will be a fun event and a fun week!  Add the fun days to your grade level newsletters and add special "reading time" to your content areas that week (for example, on Friday for the "Campfire Reading" day, ask students to bring in flashlights and a favorite book and have "flashlight reading time")!  

Guidance Lessons

Here is the link for the Guidance Lesson Schedule  for both "A" and "B" weeks.  A big thank you to Ms. Floyd for coming to our campus to present the lessons.  She will be coming each Thursday at the designated times for guidance lessons for each grade level. If there are SEL topics you think that may need to be covered in your classroom that could be beneficial (such as the power of kind words), just let her know!  I'm sure she has created lessons all SEL topics!  

Upcoming Field Trips 🎉

• Wednesday, January 17, grades 6th-8th will be going to KidZania. 

• Friday, May 10, grades 4th-8th grade will be going to Six Flags Over Texas for their "Education Days".  

• Plans are in the works for setting up a field trip to the UTA Planetarium for grades 3-5 in February.  

• I'm also looking into setting up a field trip for PK4 - 3rd grade to the Dallas World Aquarium and the Ft. Worth Zoo (in April and May)

Colder Weather is Here!

Colder temperatures have definitely arrived in North Texas!  Please make sure that all scholars have their jackets/coats on BEFORE dismissal begins so that they are ready to dismiss on time when their name is called.  Parents want their child to have their jackets/coats on as they exit the building, so thank you for making sure this is a priority each afternoon while it is cold.  

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

Reminders...

A few friendly reminders...

• Student in grades 4-8 should only be going to the restrooms one at a time throughout the day with filling out the bathroom logs in your classroom each time they leave AND the time they return.  

• Students in grades K-3 can have a buddy, but still log on a restroom log when they leave and when they return (students can do this as well!)

• Students in grades 3-8 should only be going on "approved" apps through Clever ONLY.  I've seen several student chromebook history lately students going onto google sites and playing non-academic games.  Students must be monitored while on their chromebooks, so do not allow them to have "free time" on their chromebooks without knowing what they are going on.

• On rainy / weather days for indoor recess, chromebooks should not be used as their recess activity.  Students are using the chromebooks in inappropriate ways with "chatting" with each other on google chat during class time, and providing them with times to "free-play" on their chromebook is not helping to manage their appropriate usage.  

• Please remind students that ALL information, from what they google to what they chat to what they delete to what they record can and WILL be seen at any time.  Even something deleted years ago can be recovered.

• Make sure to have designated morning work routines and procedures at all times!  A structured morning routine sets a great tone for the day!

Let me know if you have any questions or need help or suggestions with any of the items listed above.  Thank you for the help each day that you give to all our scholars!

Staff Hours

Staff hours are 7:15am (or if prepared for the day arrival by 7:30am) until 4:15pm (unless otherwise designated within your contracted hours).  Fill out the "Request to Leave" forms if needing to leave early/arrive late any day so I can make sure adequate coverage is available (available in the front office drawer).  Please refer to the master schedule as to morning and afternoon duties as well, as we all play a crutial role in making sure our scholars arrive and dismiss safely.  I know we all want to leave in a timely manner, but leaving earlier than 4:15pm each day without prior permission is not meeting district expectations.  Thank you to your attention to this process!

To-Do Items

Things to do this week:

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

• Sign up for the Family Fun Event on January 30

• Follow up with families on Intent to Return who have not already submitted the ITR.  See the email from Ms. Irais sent on Friday afternoon (Jan 12). 

• SLO Data Student Growth Tracker input (Evidence of progress #2 due)

• Work on Choice Board activities.  Have a great one - show me!  

• Continue with weekly digital citizenship lessons - IMPORTANT!! 😀

Jan 14 Weekly Lesson Plans Due (by PM)

Jan 15 MLK Jr. Holiday - No school for staff & scholars

Jan 16 Staff blackout day (no absences approved)

Jan 17 KidZania Field Trip for grades 6th - 8th

Jan 18 Guidance Lessons with Ms. Floyd - "B" week schedule

Jan 19 Arabic Spelling Bee - 9:00am in the Gym

Jan 21 Weekly Lesson Plans Due (by PM)

Jan 25 Guidance Lessons with Ms. Floyd - "A" week schedule

Jan 28 Weekly Lesson Plans Due (by PM)

Jan 29 - Feb 2 Scholastic Book Fair Week (see themed days within the newsletter)

Jan 30 Family Fun Event - Sign Up Link 

Feb 12-16 SLO Student Growth Tracker Input Due - Evidence #3

Feb 16 End of the 4th Six Week Period

Feb 20 Start of the 5th Six Week Period

May 10 Six Flags Over Texas Field Trip for grades 4th - 8th