Week 16

Great Things I Noticed:

• The second grade team working hard to analyze and respond to student need during their prep day!  And a special shout out to Sara for getting noticed by the district for the amazing work she has done with her students! 
• Clarissa  - It is so much easier to  be home taking care of my own kids when I know Clarissa is here taking care of all of you - THANK YOU!
• Beth for hosting a wonderful holiday get-together!
• Danielle and Marcia and the work they are doing in LAB - stop by the office and see the results from Marcia's students!
• Thank you for your paitence with the Holiday shop!  We will be reviewing and adjusting for next year! 

Nuts and Bolts:

• The thermostats have been set to 76 - please direct any questions or concerns regarding the temp in your rooms to Lorenzo.  He will place the workorder if needed.
• Shut down all computers and uplug your devices before you leave on FRIDAY! 
• For Parties - Place all trash by the door and request extra bags before FRIDAY! 
• Please take a moment to remind students to be safe, respectful and responsible this week.  
• I am requesting that you meet your line on the blacktop ASAP - we are having behavior spring up as students wait for teachers after recess and lunch.  
• Please let us know if you are interested in training for restorative practices/community circles, there is a training opportunity through RCOE on April 23, 24.
• Sign up with Cindy to book the office bulletin board for March-June - We love to see the student work! 
• No Santa this year - Fritz Ford could not connect with their supplier.  

Flyer Focus:

Team Meeting/January 10

The intention of this meeting is to provide an opportunity for us to share common and best practices and look at evidence that the processes and procedures we have put in place are making and impact on student achievement.  Each teacher is required to bring evidence that our common commitments made impact on student achievment or learning.

Common Commitments:

1. Establishing a clear partnering procedure
2. Requiring students to restate the question orally or in writing
3. Intentionally providing think time for students 

Evidence can be in the form or student work created after a partnering, or student work that was improved through students restating the questions or having more think time.  Teachers can also film partnering procedures and I would love to have one or two of these to share!  

We will be sitting in mixed grade level groups and sharing with our colleagues.  Once again, with the goal of sharing best practice and the evidence that our commitments are making a difference.  

Please let me know if you are interested in filming your video practice or if you have any questions.  

Upcoming Events:

12/20  9:00 Special Ed Holiday Performance

12/21  1:30-3:00 DJ Party for Perfect Attendance
12/21  3:00 Staff Cookie Exchange
12/22  2:00 TK/Kinder Holiday Performance
12/25-1/5 Winter Break

  Have a safe, restful and wonderful Winter Break!

Week 15

Great Things I Noticed:

• Marcia's 6th graders doing CODE!  Way to integrate computer science into your day! 
• Steve Carrasco's useful PL goal setting  template he used with his class - I noticed the "Obstacles that might get in the way" section.
• Beth Wilbur scheduling, monitoring and running the SST meetings! 
• Beth Wilbur hosting the holiday party - Thank you, Beth! 
  
• History one pagers in Kevin's class!
• Science with Foss in 5th grade (Chasing Shadows)
• Our FANTASTIC cafeteria staff!  Thank you for serving our students with a smile! 
• Art to Go in 3rd grade!  Wolf Heads! 
• Doree Montgomery walking to Arlington to participate in an Hour of Code with the AP Computer Science class!  So Cool!  

Nuts and Bolts: 

National History Day Volunteers Needed

RUSD History Day competition is quickly approaching on January 27, 2018. In order to have a competition, we need volunteers to judge and help out in other ways. Please encourage your teachers and/or parent volunteers to sign up to help RUSD put on a great competition for our students. You can sign up on this form. For more information contact Carolyn Power cpower@rusd.k12.ca.us or x53016

TK-6 ELA/ELD Instructional services has gone into dibels.net and created English Learner Instructional Groups for every K-6 teacher in RUSD. These groupings will allow teachers to disaggregate student data for their English Learners in further efforts to inform instruction.

Take some time to remind your classes about behavior expectations and character counts curriculum... Remind, reteach and reinforce! 

In case you missed it... the California Dashboard is LIVE.  We will be looking at this during our January Team Meeting.  Below is a letter from the District Office...

Dear RUSD Staff,

Have you heard of the new California School Dashboard? It's is an online tool designed to help communities across the state access important information about their local districts and schools. The Dashboard features easy-to-read reports on multiple measures of school success. 

The California School Dashboard replaces the previous state accountability systems (Academic Performance Index) which only provided a single number regarding performance. Now, several state and local indicators are used for county offices of education, districts and school sites. This Dashboard is just one step in a series of major shifts in public education, changes that have raised the bar for student learning, transformed testing, and increased the focus on equity. 

You can find the California School Dashboard here: www.caschooldashboard.org, and you can find more local resources on the RUSD website at: http://bit.ly/CAdashboardRUSD

RUSD is committed to inspiring students to take advantage of life’s opportunities in a global society by preparing them academically. We will continue to grow and create exemplary learning experiences for every student, every day.

Below you will find resources and links related to the California School Dashboard, which was released by the CDE on December 7, 2017.

Resources:

Videos: RUSD Superintendent’s video about the Dashboard: https://www.facebook.com/RiversideUnified/videos/1774137015930862/
RUSD-Produced CA School Dashboard Overview English (https://youtu.be/BZtHgZpBywY) + Spanish ( https://youtu.be/6Mw_P5u3lJ4)
Parent Letter: CA Dashboard LCAP Communication English  (Spanish letter pending)
Overview Flyer: CDE Getting to Know the CA Dashboard

Flyer Focus

Hour of Code

Computer Science is the future for our students.  When we talk about equity and access we should be talking about how do we give our Preschool-6 grade students the greatest opportunity to have equitable access to the jobs of the future.  

This past week, Doree took her third grade class over to Arlington to participate in an "Hour of Code" with students from the AP Computer Science class.  Principal Steven Ybarra wrote this about the experience: 

Computing is the fastest-growing, highest-paying, and largest sector of new jobs in the United States, and it seems as though our students may not quite have the exposure to this field to (1) develop an interest and (2) have an understanding of the opportunities that lie ahead.  Thanks to our incredible students and staff, however, we are taking steps to change all that.  Patti Burdeaux had all her students participate in the Hour of Code this week.  Patti, as you know, is teaching one period of AP Computer Science Principles and makes sense she would have these students participate.  You know what, it also makes sense she would offer the opportunity to all of her students.  And that is what she did.  On Tuesday, Patti had her Math 2 and her Accelerated Math 3 students experience the power of coding. 

Brent Brubaker and our ASB students took it a step further and extended an invitation to 3^rd grade students at Hawthorne Elementary School to come to Arlington and participate in the Hour of Code with their high school community members.  Of course it helps that we have an inside connection with Hawthorne Elementary in the form of one Anne Marie Montgomery; however, the experience, exposure and community connection made sense even without the assistance of the mother-daughter connection.  Ms. Montgomery (Doree Montgomery that is) agreed to have her students come to Arlington as part of this exchange.  Our ASB students welcomed them with open arms and spent time with coding with our future Lions.  What a sight to see.  “Take care of yourself, take care of one another and take care of our community.”

I believe there is no greater area of opportunity for our students, especially in California.  Reading, writing, mathmatics, and computer science.... Let's figure out how to bring this to our students.  

Upcoming Events:

12/12  3:00 Character Counts Meeting

12/13  2:55  Leadership Team Meeting (Library)

12/14  Student of the Month

• 1-3        8:50
• 4-6       9:40
• Tk/K   10:40

12/14   3:30 District Leadership Team (Carrie and Clarissa)

12/16   Bikes for Kids - Pick up and Delivery

12/20  9:00 Special Ed Holiday Performance

12/21   1:30  DJ Party for Perfect Attendance

12/21   3:30  Staff Cookie Exchange

12/22  10:00 TK/Kinder Holiday Perfomance

12/22  2:00 Class Holiday Parties

12/23 - 1/7 - Winter Break

Week 14

 

Great Things I Noticed:

• Successful Parent Teacher Conferences!  
• Returning from break with renewed energy to finish the year! 
• As always great instruction across the grade levels! 
• FANTASTIC, AWESOME and AMAZING growth from our Read 180 students in the first trimester!  Thank you Danielle for the great work you do!

Nuts and Bolts:

• AVID Summer Institute deadline is quickly approaching!  The institute dates are June 28-30 - Anaheim - We have enough money to send 2 per grade level (possibly 1 team leader and 1 teacher leader).  I need names from your grade level by FRIDAY.  
• Just a reminder (and a big "way to go!" to those keeping up with it) to do you progress monitoring
• Schedule Data planning meeting before winter break, send us the date and we schedule a staff developer as needed
• Teams - please send me your ELD schedule - thank you!
• We have scheduled FOSS PLANNING DAYS on January 19-23 (subs have been ordered) - more information to come!

Upcoming Events: 

12/4 - Carrie at DO 8:00-2:30 (Interview Panel)

12/5 - Asst. Supt. Jackie Perez 1:30

12/6 - DELAC (8:30-10:00)

12/6 - TEAM MEETING CANCELLED

12/7 - Principals Meeting (Carrie out AM)

12/8 - Honor Roll Party 2:00

12/12 - Character Counts Meeting (committee)

12/13 - Coffee with the Principal/Silly Spray Activity/Walk to School Wednesday

12/14 - Student of the Month

12/14 - District Leadership Meeting (Carrie and Clarissa Out 2:30)

12/16 - Bike Delivery

WEEK 13

I hope you had a wonderful, restful holiday break!

Great Things I Noticed:

• Heather Luna starting her new family!  Welcome to the world Harper Matilda!
• People taking the opportunity to learn and observe by using the Pineapple Chart!
• The Shared Leadership Team being brave and courageous during Learning Rounds!
• Teachers working hard getting their report cards in on time!
• A portable flying through the air!
• Clarissa making an awesome breakfast!
• Thanksgiving! 
• The DJ Party for our fundraiser!
• The transportation unit in Kindergarten!
• College banners in our AVID classrooms! 
• Suzanne Armas moving her Preschoolers at the last minute while the portable was moved!

Nuts and Bolts:

• Clarissa and I will review your report cards and notify you ASAP so you can print them out.  
• Illuminate information:

Dear Teachers and Illuminate Users, We’re excited to let you know that ALL Illuminate Districts are implementing a new and improved grading system within Illuminate called “Lightning Grader” as of November 22, 2017. The best part is that you get new features without any extra work. 

Click here to learn how to print, scan and review sheets. 

What new features will I get? 

• Save on paper! Students can complete constructed response questions directly on the answer sheets & you can create answer sheets with two columns. 

• No more lugging around answer sheets! A PDF of student work is captured and can be reviewed online from anywhere with internet access. 

• High speed sorting and scanning! Scan up to 100 pages / minute and they will auto-sort to the correct assessment.

• No more downloading or updating plugins! The software is integrated with chrome and works without a plug in or patch. 

• Diversify your assessments! Include multiple choice, constructed response and even grid plotting questions on the same test. 

What do I need to do to get started? 

• The current scanning sheets will not work as of November 22, 2017. 

• Make sure you are using Chrome 

• Check out this resource to learn how to utilize the new features. 

***Remember*** As of November 22 your current answer sheets will no longer scan! 

Please wait until after that date to print out the new Lightning Grader Sheets. 

Justin Garcia 

Illuminate Education Customer Support 

help@illuminateed.com or 949-242-0343 

• Toyota Dream Car Art Contest This worldwide competition, open to students ages 4-15 years old, is designed to inspire creativity in youth and imagine the future of mobility. Youth are invited to create and submit a drawing of their idea of a “Dream Car “during the artwork submission period. For details, entry forms, and official rules, visit www.TFSintheCommunity.com/DreamCar. Entry forms will also be coming to each school site via district mail in the coming week. Submissions are due by Wednesday, January 31, 2018

• December 4-10th is the National Computer Science Education Week. Millions of students across the world will participate in the annual Hour of Code. We would love to highlight the work and impact you are making in the region by having teachers from your sites sign up their classrooms for the Hour of Code. Teachers can sign up HERE, placing your school on the national Code.org map. Teachers can also click HERE for a how-to guide on running an Hour of Code at your site. 

• On December 2nd UCR’s Computer Science Club will be hosting an event on site from 10am-2pm. UCR students will be walking students through workshops and tutorials for the Hour of Code. You can have students register HERE to reserve a spot.

• Please ensure you have marked the "Title I" box on your reports cards.  We are a school wide Title I school and all students benefit from our Title I monies.  This is a compliance requirement.

Weekly Focus

Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences

Here are some tips for successful PTC'S: 

1. Start with some research :  Consider sending home a "Looking Forward to our Conference" letter a few days in advance and include information regarding the parents main questions and concerns.
2. Parent Conference Forms:  Consider using a Parent Conference Form to capture notes on your conversations and help you stay on topic.  You might have a lot to cover in a short amount of time!  You can find an example form HERE.
3. Ask the students how they think they are doing:  Students in our upper elementary classes are able to reflect on their effort and progress.
4. Be prepared with samples of student work:  Parents should leave the conference with a clear idea and concrete examples of how their student is doing.
5. Only say what your know:  It is perfectly acceptable to say "I will have to research that further and get back to you".  Parents can occasionally throw a "curve ball" into the conversation, don't feel like you have to answer if you are not sure.  
6. Avoid Jargon:  Explain the assessments we use and their purpose using clear, understandable language.  Parents are not professional educators and should not be subjugated to the same lingo we are.
7. Show you know the child:  Share an anecdote  or funny story to ensure the parents leave knowing their child has a solid relationship with you and you care about them.
8. Remember, you are a professional:  Be confident, calm and prepared.  Ensure the parents leave with a clear picture of how their student is doing and what the plan is going forward. 

Upcoming Events:

11/28 -  PE Monitoring Due

11/30-12/1 - PTC Days

12/4 - Interview Panel (Carrie out all day) 

12/5 - Visit by Asst. Superintendent Jackie Perez (1:30-2:30) Classroom walkthroughs

12/6 - Team Meeting (tentative)

12/7 - Principal's Meeting (Carrie Out Morning)

12/8 - Honor Roll Party 2:00 MPR

12/13 - Coffee w/the Principal/Walk to School Day/Attendance Challenge Day

Welcome Back!!

Let's Do This!

 

Week 10

Great Things I Noticed:

• The students and staff of Castle View Elementary being brave, resilient, courageous and inspirational!  We will be passing the envelope around and collecting money to provide breakfast or lunch for the staff before Thanksgiving Break.
• Data Meetings - thank you for being open and willing to participate in the first step of our cycle of inquiry "Analyze".  I have noticed many of you talking about, adjusting and working with the information we discussed... this is the first step towards moving our students!
• Halloween Parade - Clarissa told me it would work... and it did!  Thank you for the fun afternoon activity!
• Operation Gratitude in Judid's class!  Sending leftover candy to the troops! 
• Structured collaborative conversations in Ada's class!
• Turkeys in Kinder (and not the students!)
• Our collective commitments to partner effectively, give think time and reflection time and to practice restating the question! 
• Pineapple Charts.... See below (I am really excited about this!)

 

 

Nuts and Bolts:

• November's character pillar is RESPECT... TRRFCC Tuesday announcements and Red/Gold every Tuesday in November
• PE Minutes are due to Debbie  on 11/6
• Coffee with the Principal this Wednesday!  Please come and join me if you have a moment to share coffee and conversation with our parents
• Data meetings were very informative, thank you.  Now, continue the conversation with your teams and let's get those students moving - No regression is the goal!
• TK-6 the deadline is fast approaching to sign up for Art to Go lessons 
• Those of you involved in instructional rounds, watch for a detailed email this week with schedule and expectations.  I am looking forward to participating in this with you!  
• AVID walk through this week - I am hoping to get to all classrooms to connect what we are already doing to AVID strategies (11/9)
• Now is the time to reteach behavior expectations to your students.  Refresh your class and use positive reinforcement tools to recognize when they have it right.
• Promote 100% attendance on WEDNESDAY - Every student that walks get a ticket for the opportunity to "silly string" the Principal!

Weekly Focus

PL Pineapple Charts

I am sure you are thinking... Pineapple Charts?  What is that?  What does she have us doing NOW?  The Pineapple chart came out of teachers desire to have customized PD AND a desire to see what is happening in each others classrooms.  When I met with Larissa, we talked about what the staff might need in regards to PL PD... and I remembered Mr. Wible talking about how everyone is at different levels of implementation and the need for customized PD.  Larissa suggested a Pineapple Chart system and we are going to try it!  

The week of November 13th the awesome staff from our ILE department will be here to support you in two different ways: 

1. You can sign up for one on one help with a staff developer (focused on a particular question or issue) and have your class covered for a short time during your meeting
2. You can sign up to have to staff developer come to your classroom and observe, coach or discuss a particular instructional question, strategy or issue you might have.

On Wednesday you can support each other: 

1. You can sign up to be open for observation while using a PL strategy (or any good strategy) 

There are no expectations for a class visit, you don't have to take notes, you don't have to turn anything in... it is for YOU to observe the great work your colleagues are doing (or for you to show off the great work you are doing).  You all know observing teachers in action is actually the most powerful PD we can get... I hope you all take advantage of this opportunity!  

If you have a specific topic for PL you would like to learn more about - email me BY THE END OF THE DAY MONDAY! 

Here is the draft schedule we have created (without topics):  http://bit.ly/2zdJyG7

Upcoming Events:

11/6   Sibling/Translator Party

          PE Minutes Due

          Class Proof due to Cindy 

          School Board Meeting 6:00

11/8   Coffee with the Principal 8:00

          Walk to School Day

          100% Attendance Day

          Leadership Team Meeting (2:55 - Library)

11/9   Minimum Day (12:05)

          SPED Bus Evacuation  (8:15ish)

          District Leadership (Carrie and Clarissa)

11/10 Veterans Day = No School

11/13 Instructional Rounds

11/14 American Fidelity on campus (appointment times available)

11/15 Staff Meeting (2:55)

11/16 Principals Meeting (Carrie out morning)

11/17 Art-to-Go Deadline

           

Thank goodness is NOVEMBER! 

Week 9

Great Things I Noticed:

• FALL FESTIVAL!  Thank you for Participating!
• Instructional Design/Shared Leadership Team
• Gallup Faculty Participation - THANK YOU!  (I don't have results... yet.)
• Student of the Month Assemblies - What a great reminder of the AWESOME students we have!
• Character Counts committee returning from a great conference and getting to work!
• Red Ribbon Week! 
• Shadows in Mrs. McVey's Class 

 
 

 

Nuts and Bolts:

• Gallup Student survey for 5th and 6th graders - Please complete with all students
• Halloween Parade on Tuesday at 2:00 - You will have the students back for time to hold a small celebration if you choose
• Remember to send your "Common Commitments" plan to me by Wednesday
• We will start TRRFCC Tuesday announcements on Tuesday morning
• To follow up on your Data Meetings we will be scheduling Brandi Neal (Staff Developer) to meet with grade levels on specific planning days to discuss MAP results and using MAP to make instructional decisions .  
• Let me know when your PL goal setting/planning days are scheduled
• Instructional Rounds - We have room in our Instrucitonal Rounds Sessions for 3-4 more teachers.  During Instructional Rounds Session #1 we will be visiting each others classrooms and looking for evidence of student learning like structured collaborative conversations, precise academic language and feedback.  This is an exciting opportunity to see how students learn and how your colleagues facilitate this learning in their classrooms.  Send me an email if you are interested.

Friday Focus:

The October Blues

This is the time of year when we start to feel a bit tired, a bit run down.  When repeatedly having to remind students to be safe, respectful, responsible and ready to learn gets tiresome and tedious.  

Why? What is it about October?

• The excitement and enthusiasm for the beginning of the school year has faded
• You are BUSY and the Holiday vacation is a LOOOONG time way
• You know your students... the little things that are difficult will be difficult for the next 7 months

How can you beat the October Blues?  

• Be bold and daring!  Don't be afraid to try that strategy you never got to in September.  It's not too late!  You can reset and restart, just be consistent and enthusiastic.
• Don't think too far ahead... Be focused on today, and remind yourself that focusing on the future, is not productive or helpful for your students TODAY.
• Stop comparing your present reality to what you had hoped for in August. Every teacher gets thrown a BUNCH of curve balls over a school year.  Flexibility and resilience are needed every day in our profession.
• Actively search for the GOOD STUFF!  We have wonderful students and families and a fantastic staff, don't let one or two blind you to the 800+ that are AWESOME! (This one is for me) - How about making 2 or 3 POSITIVE parent phone calls to end the month?

You’ll feel a lot better if you spend your evenings celebrating the good stuff and looking for new ways to make the next day better instead of rehashing problems.

As we move towards the craziness of November and December, let us all remember to be strong and dig deep.  Behavior has spiked this week, let's reset our students and take the time to return to the lessons and conversations we had the first weeks of school.  Reteach and remind your students the procedures for proper line behavior, proper cafeteria behavior, proper classroom behavior.  The October Blues can become the November/December Slide... Let's be mindful of our energy, mindful of our goals and relentless in our desire to have a school filled with students of excellence.   

Upcoming Events

10/30 - Data Meetings K-3

10/31 - Halloween Parade 2:00

11/1   - Data Meetings 4-6

11/2   - 3rd Grade Field Trip 

11/4   - Family Engagement Summit North High School

11/6   - School Board Meeting

11/8   - AVID School Walk Through with Sarah Zuetel

11/9   - Minimum Day Students Dismissed at 12:05

11/10 - Veterans Day (Observed) No School

11/13 - Instructional Rounds Session #1