"A" week schedule this week!

Teacher Shout - Outs!

I'm constantly impressed by what each of you do each day and the effort you give to your scholars and families.  This week I'm focusing on two teachers who impressed me with what I noticed...

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

• On the PD day, Jan 2, after I went over the Choice Board creations and activities, Ms. Fadoua called me over to show me what she had done over break.  Over break she had created individual Choice Boards for EACH STUDENT in her language classes!  She has individual student folders in Google Drive that the students access to work on their individualized work.  WAY TO GO, Ms. Fadoua!  Amazing job!  See her if you want another great example of how to differentiate for your students!

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

• As I was walking down the hall on Wednesday morning (remember, this was the 1st day back after break) I saw Ms. Dormier and her class waiting by the restroom to go.  As I walk by, I looked more closely and noticed Ms. Dormier practicing phonics concepts in the hallway with her students!  She didn't miss a beat in continuing to reiterate concepts that have been taught since the beginning of the school year!  Not only did she accomplish an organized group of students waiting patiently for the restroom, but she also used that time to review much needed phonics components with her students!  Now that's pretty amazing!

Everyone make sure to give Ms. Fadoua and Ms. Dormier a high-five (or fist bump) on Monday!  

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

Who will be shouted out next week???  Can't wait to find out!! 😁

New Team Members!

We continue to grow!  I'm super excited to welcome the following new team members to our campus:

• Ms. McFarlin - Pre-K 3 teacher

• Ms. Marwah - Pre-K 3 aide

• Ms. Wilson - Assistant Principal and Math Instructional Coach for STEM (starting Jan 11) 

🌟Welcome, ladies!  We are so very excited to have you join our team!  🌟

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".  

Ideas for upcoming field trips for PK4 - 3rd grade?  Just let me know and let's see what we can get started!  

PK4 - 3rd grade idea that was given = Dallas World Aquarium and the Ft. Worth Zoo around March & April.  I'll look at setting those up for those grade levels!  

Human Trafficking Lessons

January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month. 

On Thursday, January 11, 2024 we will join the wear blue day, by wearing our Show Your True B.L.U.E. shirts we received during our November PD.  If you do not have one, no worries!  Just wear blue on this day (yes, you can wear jeans, too)!  The links given in the email to staff on Friday can give you more information regarding human trafficking.  On p. 8 of our Manara Support Plan, you will see what each grade level is to cover regarding human trafficking for the month of January.  Remember to check Common Sense Education!  For example, when I typed in "Responsible Online Activity", activities from Kindergarten through 8th grade came up that included several topics from the Student Education Plan in the Support Plan.  

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 and on time.  If you need help, please let me know!

*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!

End of the 3rd 6 weeks (1st Semester)

Our 3rd 6 week period ends on Friday, December 15.  Please make sure this week to collect any missing grades/assignments from scholars so that you can complete grading next week.  I will lock the term on January 2, so please have everything completed by then, as report cards will be going home on Wednesday, January 3.  If you have any questions, please let me know!

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 

• Plan your Human Trafficking lesson and share with Mrs. Vinten 

• Follow up with families on Intent to Return - EARN THOSE FREE DRESS DOWN DAYS!!!! -AND EARN AN EXTRA WELLNESS FRIDAY - HOPEFULLY!

• 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 8-Feb 9 MOY mCLASS Benchmark Window

Jan 11 Wear Blue Day - Wear your Show Your True B.L.U.E. Shirt or wear blue

Jan 11 Guidance Lessons with Ms. Floyd - "A" week schedule

Jan 12 Staff blackout day (no absences approved)

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

Jan 29 - Feb 2 Scholastic Book Fair Week

Jan 30 Family Fun Event - details to come!!

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