November 18, 2013

High Point News

Week of: November 18, 2013

********NEWS*************************

PBIS This Week!

• Don't forget to change out your Student of the Week Certificates!

• It's also the last week to turn in your Buddy Brags! Please turn them in to Mr. Anderson's box so that a name can be pulled. The winner has their classroom covered from 1:30 - 2:20!

Love and Logic:

The difference between consequences and punishment is where we interpret the pain coming from. Consequences result in pain coming from the inside and punishment results in pain coming from the outside.

○   Guidelines for Administering Consequences:

■   Make the consequence as close to the time and place of the infraction as possible

■   Give the child opportunity to be involved in the decision making

■   Administer consequences with calm interest

■   Give students opportunity to develop a new plan of behavior

■   Demonstrate problem-solving techniques

■   Allow students to feel empowered

Confused about a non-immediate office referral and a immediate referral? Go to the T-drive and click on PBIS 2013. The minor v/s major list should help!

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Georgia School Personnel Survey!!!! Please take online!!!!

The time to administer the Georgia School Personnel Survey for the 2013-2014 school year has arrived. The Georgia School Personnel Survey (GSPS) was developed to accompany the Georgia Student Health Survey II. The Georgia School Personnel Survey (GSPS) is an anonymous, statewide survey instrument that identifies school climate issues that have a negative impact on student achievement. The questions will mirror the school climate questions in the Georgia Student Health Survey II. Data from the GSPS will be used to calculate the School Climate Star Rating within the College and Career Ready Performance Index(CCRPI) to determine a correlation between the student responses on the Georgia Student Health Survey II and school personnel responses on the GSPS. The Georgia School Personnel Survey will officially open on Tuesday, October 15, 2013 and will remain open through Friday, January 31, 2014. All teachers, school administrators, certified staff members and classified/other staff members (paraprofessionals, office staff, cafeteria workers, custodians, etc.) should participate in the Georgia School Personnel Survey. At least 75% of your teachers, staff and administrators must participate in the survey to be eligible for the School Climate Star Rating.

Georgia School Personnel Survey à http://admin.doe.k12.ga.us/gadoe/sla/gsps.nsf/Survey.xsp

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School Governance Council Elections

Elections are underway and you have until Wednesday to vote for your Teacher Representatives. We understand that right now our two representatives are running unopposed but we are still looking for 100% participation in this process. If we have 100% of staff members to vote, we will earn a free JEAN’S DAY! J

ALL staff members need to vote: teachers, professional assistants, custodians, itinerant teachers, front office staff, etc... We have 31 who have voted so far and we have 110 people who are slotted to vote. LAST DAY TO VOTE IS WEDNESDAY!!!!!!

 

Our two teacher candidates are Kerstin Long and Jennifer Taylor.

Go to www.highpointelementary.org and click beside the Voting Ballot to vote.

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Data Drive Culture Reminders
 

ü  When your team is creating a common assessment or planning to revise or give a Unit Pre or Post Assessment, please remember to inform Ms. Reed. This will ensure that you are supported in building capacity in data analyzation and usage.

ü  After a common or unit assessment, it is vital that we bring and discuss our data during our PLC. This will contribute toward our goal of creating a data culture.

ü  This year one of our goals is to utilize data to drive our planning, instruction, and assessments.  

ü  We are focusing on monitoring our student's math progress and bringing evidence of learning from any subject to our PLC meetings, Extended Team Time, and Collegial Planning Time.

ü  Evaluating evidence of learning is a research based PLC tactic that adds value to the effectiveness of the meetings.

ü   Evidence of learning can range from student work samples, pretest, common assessments, posttest, student scores, rubrics for performance task, or any tool that is utilized in the classroom to show mastery of a standard.

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Strong 4 Life Healthy Halls Program

Please join us today, Monday, November 18 in the gym for the Strong 4 Life Healthy Halls Program! This is a program developed by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta to promote the Strong4Life Healthy Habits to the students in our school!

There will be 3 different performances. See below for your grade level’s time.

8:00-8:40: Pre-K, Kindergarten, 3^rd Grade

9:00-9:40: 4^th Grade, 5^th Grade

10:00-10:40: 1^st Grade, 2^nd Grade

Please email me if you have any questions! I hope you enjoy the performance!

Shannon Billits

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******VISUALS of BEST PRACTICES*****

In 4^th grade, the students work on DBQ(Document Based Questions) as their morning work. These are pictures or political cartoons that are projected on the Promethean white board that have a question to go with it. The picture relates to what they are studying in Social Studies, Science and sometimes Math.  They talk as they are unpacking their book bags about the picture and the question being asked. They then get out their DBQ notebook and start writing. The main goal is to get ideas down and improve their writing. Students don’t see writing as a chore and have a positive attitude about writing. It is an everyday practice for our 4^th graders. Check it out!

 

 


















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Mailboxes
Teachers, please do not send students down to retrieve mail from your mailbox. We cannot give mail to students due to the confidentiality of some items that may be in your mailbox. Please take the time to check your box each morning and on your lunch break. Your cooperation is appreciated.

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Absences

Please remember to follow the proper procedures when you are going to be absent. We still have a shortage of substitutes and we need prior knowledge of absences so that we can make sure all classes are covered and students are safe.

·        Last minute sick? Call, text, or email Pitchford. Only call or text before 9:00 pm or after 6:00 am. Email if it’s in the middle of the night. J

·        Planned medical excuse? Secure a sub, put the absence in CASE and then in Employee Express. Jon will approve or deny. You will receive an email stating that he has approved or denied your absence.

·        Planned personal leave? Secure a sub, put the absence in CASE and then in Employee Express. Jon will approve or deny. You will receive an email stating that he has approved or denied your personal leave.

*Failure to request leave through ESS or notify administration of leave is grounds for disciplinary action up to and including termination.

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Bulletin Boards

Have you updated your bulletin boards recently? Please make sure that your bulletin boards are reflective of the time of year and show what students are learning! Bulletin boards show parents and other staff members what students are learning! Showcase the great work!

******WRITER'S GALLERY****************

The writer’s gallery/ pledge will be hosted by Ms. Owen's class this week.

The writer's gallery/pledge will be hosted by Ms. McClelland's class next week.

******CALENDAR OF EVENTS***********

Monday, November 18th

9:30 a.m. - Parent Tours

Strong 4 Life Performances:

PreK, K, and 3rd Grade in Gym from 8:00 - 9:00

4th and 5th Grade in Gym from 9:00 - 10:00

1st and 2nd Grade in Gym from 10:00 - 11:00

Tuesday, November 19th

2:50 p.m. - Technology Training for All Teachers

Wednesday, November 20th

8:30-9:30: Kindergarten Thanksgiving Celebration - Cafeteria 

2:50 p.m. - PLC

Thursday, November 21th

Uncle Maddios- Place order at front desk by 3:00 Wednesday

Friday, November 22th

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Break!!!!! You've deserved the break!!!!

 

******BIRTHDAYS! ********************

Happy birthday to Brenda Northcut on the 18th! We hope you have a great day!!  

 

November 11, 2013

High Point News

Week of: November 11, 2013

********NEWS*****************************

 

TKES Formative Assessment - All Teachers

Beginning this week, we will be conducting Formative Observations and completing your Formative Assessments, which is based off the formative observation, walkthroughs, and artifacts.The artifacts give us information on a few of the 10 standards that are not visible when we are completing your Formative Observation.

To make this a smooth process for everyone, you can:

• Lay out your documentation/artifacts prior to the observation in the classroom

                                    OR

 

• Put the documentation/artifacts in our boxes before or after we observe

What we need from you: Standards = Instructional Planning, Assessment Uses, and Communication

1. What type of data/information do you use to help guide your planning? (common assessments, student work samples, end of unit assessments, computer program reports, weekly quizzes, pre-tests, etc…)
2. Please provide examples of a variety of assessments you give in any subject area.
3. If you give written feedback to students, please provide us with examples.
4. Please be ready to discuss how you share information about your students’ progress with the students, other staff members who might teach those students and/or parents.  
5. Please provide us with examples of how you communicate students’ progress and behaviors with their parents (emails, agendas, reports, communication logs, letters, notes, behavior charts, computer reports, etc…)

*The amount of artifacts you turn in is up to you! We will return all of the artifacts after the Formative Assessment is complete.

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  PBIS This Week!

The holidays are fast approaching and students, as well as staff, are getting anxious and ready for a break. During these times, behaviors can escalate. Please remember to continue:

· Giving students warnings and redirecting when necessary

· Having students fill out the Incident Reflection Sheets when appropriate. If a child's behavior escalates because they are asked to fill out the form, don't have them fill it out! The teacher should fill it out to keep as documentation and send to parents.

· Don't forget time-out in another classroom is an option. 

· For any office referral, please send students IMMEDIATELY to the office with the referral. PLEASE do not put office referrals in mailboxes and know that ANYONE can support you with discipline. It's important that the situation is handled in a timely manner.

· When in doubt about if an incident/es are major or minor, you can refer to the PBIS folder on the T-drive or ASK! We are here to help you!!!

"We must attempt to understand a student’s perception of events before we can effect real change."

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Fountas and Pinnell

As a reminder Fountas and Pinnell levels are due to me this Friday. Tierra has created a grade level spreadsheet for you to put all of your data on. You will need to put their independent level, instructional level, their accuracy %, and their comprehension. Follow the path below to get to the spreadsheet: G:\Fountas and Pinnell scores 2013-2014

 

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 Technology Professional Development

Below is information about the 4 available classes for the “Choose Your Own Technology PD” Days.

Please read the blurbs below and sign up using the link at the bottom.

Promethean "Revisited"

For those new to Promethean or in need of a refresher. This session will offer participants a chance to familiarize themselves with the set-up of ActivInspire. You will learn how to use the toolbox features, backgrounds and grids. Annotating on the desktop will be included and you will have an introduction to Promethean Planet.

Promethean "Tweak It"

For those familiar with the basic features "Tweak It" is a great session to help you take pre-made charts and make them your own. You will begin with a short overview of the tools, and move on the searching and downloading pre-made charts from Promethean Planet. You will then learn how to "tweak it" and make it your own.

You will leave the session with a ready-to-use ActivInspire Chart for next day use in your classroom.

iPad Basics

For those who are not familiar with iPads, this is the session for you.

Learn tips and tricks to help you become more confident and comfortable using the Ipad in the classroom. This will be a “hands-on” session and each participant will have an Ipad to use during the class. We will have built in time to explore the Ipads and learn some great ways to implement them in the classroom.  

 

iPads for Classroom Use

For those who feel comfortable with apps this is the class for you. Come prepared to be immersed as a student as we demonstrate different ways to use the iPads in the classroom. You will get to see different models from the students’ point of view. Session presenters will also go over the iPad rules for your school and procedures for checking out the cart.

 

SIGN UP BELOW -

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/179cyFfghyMPp0xU7S1m6PqI2I5AKXU0HkuwOVp1kfKM/viewform

 

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Events Binder

Don't forget to write the event/s you've attended in our Events Binder! The binder is located outside of Pitchford's office on the black cabinet.  

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F.A.T Tuesday with Hess, scheduled for this Tuesday, has moved to this Friday. Mark your calendars!

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Phase 3 on the RTI block training is this Tuesday during your common planning time. Please be on time, as
there is quite a bit of material to cover with you all.

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School Governance Council Elections

Elections will be held part of this week and next (November 13^th – 19^th) and you are encouraged to vote!!

Our two teacher candidates are Kerstin Long and Jennifer Taylor.

Please visit our school website to read each candidate’s statement. A link will also be sent out beginning on the 13th.

If we have 100% of staff members to vote for our teacher candidates, we will earn a free JEAN’S DAY! J

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 A Message From Fulton County Maintenance:
 

According to the NFPA 110, Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems, Fulton County schools has to verify and maintain the operability of the emergency generators. In order to accomplish this without negatively impacting the students learning sessions, should anything go wrong, maintenance has scheduled the test exercise time for the generators to 7:00am each Tuesday morning.

 When the generators exercise and transfer power from the utility source to the generator, and vise-versa, it sometimes causes the parking lot and canopy lights to go out for twenty minutes or during Tuesday between 7am and 8am due to the generator exercise.

Suggestion: Suggest to your staff, that they bring a flashlight in their cars for navigating the parking lot in the early dark hours on Tuesday mornings, when our emergency generators exercise.

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Even though the time has changed, it is still pretty dark every morning when arriving at school. Please slow down when coming into the parking lot, especially when you are going to the lower parking lot near the 5^th grade entrance. Thanks!

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******Technology Corner*****

i-Pad and Mobile Lab Digital Safety

Teachers please check for internet permission forms BEFORE students are allowed to navigate the internet on ANY device without direct teacher supervision. It is your responsibility to make sure (per Fulton County policy) to monitor internet usage in your class.

Review digital citizenship and internet rules monthly. 

Suggested sites to use are: BrainPop

o   Online Safety,

o   Internet Search

o   Digital Etiquette

o   Cybersmart.gov.au  (great for the younger grades)

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******VISUALS of BEST PRACTICES*****
In Ms. Long’s 2^nd grade class, students know what they are learning and what it looks like. Students need a visual and to “see” what mastery looks like for each of their standards.
 

In 4th grade, they are encouraging students to learn their multiplication facts and showcasing students' results through a basketball theme! This is a great way to get students involved in their own learning and allowing them to document their progress!!

 

******WRITER's GALLERY****************

The writer’s gallery/ pledge will be hosted by Ms. Newman's class this week.

The writer's gallery/pledge will be hosted by Owens' class next week.

******CALENDAR OF EVENTS***********

 Monday, November 11th

Picture Make-Up Day

Muffin Monday

Tuesday, November 12th

All Day - RTI Meeting during planning

2:50 p.m. - Committee Meetings

3:30 pm - Leadership Meeting in Media Center

 

Wednesday, November 13th

8:00 - Ttile 1 Parent Health Fair Meeting

1:30 p.m. - Extended Team Time for Kindergarten

2:50 p.m. - PLC

 

Thursday, November 14th

Qdoba this week! - Place order at front desk by 3:00 Wednesday

9:30 - Gail Dean Community Meeting

2:50 - New Kids on the Block Meeting

 

Friday, November 15th

All Day - FAT Meetings with Hess during Planning

Progress Skills Checklists/GKIDS Due to Hess

Fountas and Pinnell Levels due to Hess

******BIRTHDAYS! ********************

Happy belated birthday to Mr. Baker, whose birthday was on the 8th!

Happy birthday to Ms. Berger on the 15th and Ms. Lunsford on the 16th!