"A" week schedule this week!

End of the 2nd 6 week period

This Friday, October 27, is the end of the 2nd 6 week period.  Make sure to continue to update grades these last two weeks so that the parents can get an accurate picture as to where their scholar is in your class(es).  You should have a minimum of 12 grades per content area so an accurate picture of a scholar's academic progression is represented. Also remember there should never be "blanket 100's" given to the entire class.  A grade is "earned", not "given".  There should also not be any failing grades on the report card without parents already knowing.  Now is a great time to reach out to families to let them know of struggling areas and what they can help their child with in their academic process.  

If you have any questions or need support with grades/grading, please reach out!  I'm happy to help you navigate the process.  

*Grades are due finalized, submitted, and grade report printed out signed due to Mrs. Vinten by Wednesday, Nov. 1

DigiCOACH

As discussed during the staff meeting on Friday, principals and coaches will begin utilizing another platform to assist with walkthrough observations.  To reiterate, this tool is not evaluative, but a tool to help each teacher grow in their profession.  You each were given a paper copy of the rubric we will use during the walkthrough, but here is also a copy of the rubric.  Please highlight/circle two areas on the rubric (as discussed in the staff meeting) where you would like us to focus on as we do our walkthroughs.  We may focus on a few other areas as the year progresses as well, but to start out using this platform, we want you to be a part of your own growth! Please turn in the paper rubric to my basket by Monday at 3:00pm so I can go over it with the assistant principal and coaches.

Let me know if you have any questions or need support in choosing your area of focus.  I'm excited to start using this platform so that you can have another feedback opportunity at your hands! 

Weekend School - Saleema Academy

We share the building on the weekends with another school, Saleema Academy.  They have access to our building each Saturday for the majority of the day.  Currently, they are utilizing the majority of our classrooms, as just like us, they are growing in numbers with their scholars!  That is exciting for them as it is for us!

Within some of your classrooms you may see an extra filing cabinet and/or bins labeled with "Saleema Academy" on them.  Please leave them alone and do not use the items in the bins.  They try to keep all their items accessible to them so that they are not utilizing our items.  They should be out of your way and taking up very little space.  If you have issues with where the items are located, please let me know and I can see where a better location within your classroom would be.  Please do NOT remove the items from your classroom, as it is their property and I can help you navigate where their items should go.

If you have any issues with the way your room looks or items being used that should not be used by them, please reach out to me only.  There are a few staff members who are a part of Saleema Academy, but you should not go through them.  I am the point of contact and in weekly communication with the principal of Saleema Academy.  He is always willing for feedback and the opportunity to make things better for our staff.  He comes on our campus every Friday afternoon and cleans the classrooms used, as well as other parts of the building, so I know he takes pride in the way his team uses and leaves our space. 

I love that we have the opportunity to share our space, especially with such a thoughtful group of people.  Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns, as I'm happy to assist in communication.  Thank you for the help!

Common Sense Media for STEM Fridays

Digital citizenship is extremely important with all our scholars, especially the scholars in grades 3 - 8 who can now take them everywhere!   Please also make sure to be diligent with their usage within your class time.  

To help you prepare students for their first devices, we will start digital citizenship lessons through Common Sense Education (bookmark this site and sign up to utilize it as a teacher).  They've created a collection of lessons with videos and fun activities to introduce (and remind them of) great responsibility. 

The Device Advice Collection contains these lessons for grades K–5:

• Caring for Our Devices

• Why We Pause for People

• Managing Device Distractions

• Our Device Charter 

And if you teach older students, check out our new Digital Well-Being collections for middle school and high school!

This week on STEM Friday, all homeroom classrooms K-8 please do the Our Device Charter lesson, as this lesson goes over norms and expectations and is a great lesson to start with.  These lessons are PERFECT for our STEM Friday time, as you can take a "technology" grade once a week for the STEM block utilizing these lessons.  The lesson plans are scripted, there are slides or videos and sometimes worksheets that coincide with the lesson, and it gives the pacing time for each lesson so you know how to plan!  Please make sure to include which digital citizenship lesson within your lesson plan you will be implementing each Friday.  Start hanging up student work in the hallways you may be completing (if paper copies) of some of their digital citizenship work! You can implement more than one lesson a week, as there are many lessons to choose from! Also sign up on their website to send you emails to your school email, as they weekly send me tips and lessons that can help guide your lesson plan focus in which you won't have to "dig" for what to teach!

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!

Family Fun Event - October 26

Please sign up on this form if you will be attending this event to assist in the game playing within your classrooms.  If possible, I'd like as many teachers who can to attend this one, as one of the "games" that scholars will have the opportunity to do is pay to "Pie A Teacher" for $5.00.  That will take place in the gym at a designated time, but games will be in your classrooms.  I know it will be a fun Family Fun Event time!  You'll also earn a Sonic drink the next day if attending!!!!

I added a Sonic drink column on the form, so make sure to fill that out as well!

Red Ribbon Week - Oct 23-27

Teachers can participate, too!  🥳

To-Do Items

Things to do this week:

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

• Sign up for Oct. 26 Family Fun Game Night in the link above

• Continue to focus on beginning of day routines with your scholars (greeting scholars in the hall outside your room and morning work procedures)

• Plan your digital citizenship lesson for Friday through the Common Sense Education website

• Paper bulletin board creations on the main whiteboard in the front foyer!

Oct 23-27 Red Ribbon Week

Oct 24 Career Day - more info to come

Oct 25 Vinten off campus - Strategic Planning at the District Office

Oct 26 Birthday Thursday for October Birthdays

Oct 26 Family Fun Event - Game Night!

Oct 27 End of 2nd 6 week period

Oct 30 Vinten off campus - Region 10

Nov 3 Report Cards Sent Home

Nov 6-10 Student-Led Conference Week

Nov 20-24 No school for staff and scholars - Thanksgiving Break

Nov 27 No school for scholars - staff professional development day