March 24th, 2014

High Point News

Week of: March 24th, 2014

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

Please Welcome Back...

Please join me in welcoming back John Anderson for this week! He has graciously agreed to come back and serve as our AP for this week. 

He will be the first person for discipline and will also be helping complete the #4 Walkthroughs. 

He will only be able to help us out for a week so you will still need to call, text, or email Pitchford if you are going to be absent. The number is 404-946-8636.

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Be Aware

This weekend, High Point was broken into by two juveniles. They were able to get onto the roof and came in through the escape hatch. While the perpetrators were caught and nothing was stolen, please continue to be diligent about locking up valuables, keeping blinds closed, and locking your classroom doors. Thank you!!

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3rd Grade Heifer Project

Thank you to the teachers and staff who allowed Ms. Newman's class to present their Heifer projects to you! Ms. Newman's students worked hard to raise awareness regarding poverty and hunger in other countries. Her students raised over $400 in order to help eradicate hunger and poverty by creating a sustainable community. Way to go!

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Summer Opportunities

Camp PAWS! We are still looking for teachers to teach our summer program. Remember, you do not have to commit to the whole month of June. Talk to your colleagues to see if you could share in this enrichment opportunity! 

·         Camp will be held from June 2^nd – June 27^th Monday through Friday

·         Tentative camp hours: 8:00 – 12:00

·         Camp attendees: Rising students who are On or Advanced Level in Reading or 

             Math and would benefit from enrichment 

·         Tentative Camp PAWS details:

o   Transportation will be provided

o   Students/adults will be offered breakfast AND lunch

o   We have partnered with the Y: each week will allow students to participate in tennis, swimming, soccer, and Fit for Life

o   An hour of hands-on math

o   Project-based learning

o   Technology time: possible Spanish language and/or coding

·         $28 an hour

·         Class size: 12 students per class

·         We are trying to offer 3 classes per grade level

Please click on the link below to apply to teach for Camp PAWS!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1FtpG34Uxub6qBaw-2woeHPOBugwx_WaGIYragEAeJ6o/viewform

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Technology Tip for the Week!

Got student engagement by utilizing technology while aligning it to common core standards? 

Check this out!!!   

 http://www.mathplayground.com/common_core_state_standards_for_mathematics.html

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What I've Been Thinking About…

I've been thinking about how we can use literature to make our students more globally aware. In the article below, the author talks about extending our literature to teach cross-curricular while also opening up students' minds in regards to culture, tolerance, and stereo-types. The author lists 5 concrete ways to use literature to get students excited about reading as they learn about our world! 

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/literature-teaches-global-lessons-elementary-becky-morales?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=blog-lit-teaches-global-lessons-image
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TKES

Hess has now completed all of the TKES Walkthroughs #3. 

Pitchford, Hess, and Anderson will be working on completing the 4th Walkthroughs this week. The remainder of the walkthroughs will be completed by Pitchford and Hess after this week. 

As a reminder, TKES Walkthrough #4 will be observing Standard #3 Instructional Strategies (with a technology focus), Standard #2 Lesson Planning, and any standard which you received a Needs Development so that we can check for progress before the second Formative. Due to time constraints, we will not be doing #7 Positive Learning Environment unless needed.  

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your walkthrough, please ask! We are here to help and support you! 

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PBIS This Week!

We are so close to filling the letter "E" in our HPES Ticket Container. Please take a moment with your class to vote on the following choices for our school-wide reward. Will your class choose:

• Wear a Hat Day
• Pajama Day
• School Dance Party (beginning at 2:00 pm)
• Crazy Hair Day

Please click on the link below to turn in your class's vote. 

http://goo.gl/N83ipb

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Deadlines

We have had and will continue to have a lot of deadlines to meet in regards to orders, grades, reports to send home, surveys to be completed, students to enroll and withdraw, class changes, etc... Please be mindful of how these deadlines impact others. We all have a lot on our plate but missing deadlines negatively impact those who work with us. More so than ever, we appreciate your "professional awareness." 
Thanks!

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Congratulations!

Congratulations to Alisha Rutledge for receiving 3 Leap Pad Tablets and headphones through Donors Choose. 

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****VISUALS OF BEST PRACTICES****

In Anita Collins’ 3^rd grade class, she has been utilizing QR codes and her student engagement is through the roof! In looking at data for her students, she knows that they need additional practice with synonyms and antonyms so she has differentiated QR code activities for her reading groups. Way to go!

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

The writers' gallery/ pledge is hosted by Ms. Churchwell's class this week.

The writers' gallery/ pledge is hosted by Ms.  Woods' class next week.
 

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

Monday, March 24th
Book Fair Here All Week! 
9:30 - Parent Tours

Tuesday, March 25th

Wednesday, March 26th 
Pitchford out - SGC Strategic Meeting
2:50 - PLC Meetings
6:00 - Talent Show!

Thursday, March 27th

Tazikis for Lunch - Please order by Wednesday
2:50 New Kids on the Block Meeting

Friday, March 28th
Parent Involvement Day
Select and Change Student of the Week

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

Happy birthday to Lauren Katterheinrich and Sheri Hess on the 26th!We hope you both have a wonderful birthday!