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!