August 25, 2014

High Point News

Week of: August 25th, 2014

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

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Weight Watchers at Work 
Last year some of you were interested in starting a W/W at work program. Unfortunately at that time, we didn’t have enough weeks left in the school year to implement it. If you signed up last year and are still interested, or if you would like to sign up this year, please let Marie know and she will contact W/W to see if it can be possible. We have to have a minimum of 20 names of interested people before they will consider coming out. Please let her know no later than Friday, August 29th.

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Technology Tip of the Week
All FCS Laptop Users: Fulton County now requires a digital copy of ALL Laptop Registration Forms.  It is imperative that ALL teachers and staff who currently have a Fulton County laptop please submit a new Laptop Registration form (even if you filled out a paper copy in the past).  Although the link specifies new teacher, the form is necessary for any and ALL staff members in possession of a county issued laptop.

Complete the Laptop Registration Form located on the FCS Employee Portal acknowledging you have been made aware of the policies and guidelines regarding use and care of your FCS issued laptop at the following address no later than August 29, 2014. Directions for how to complete this task were sent to your email.

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What I've Been Thinking About…

We shared a little bit about the International Baccalaurete program at the faculty meeting last Tuesday. Lib Roberts found a great activity that is a great example of what students should be doing in a Primary Year Programme called "Mystery Skyper." This activity allows for students to connect with other students around the world and guess their location by asking geographic questions. The video is only 2 minutes long. Check it out!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZdMnkWHG7s
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ABSENCES
Please make sure that when you are requesting leave (sick or personal) you put the CASE # as well as the substitute's name in the notes box. If you have tried to get a sub and have been unsuccessful, still put in the CASE number and note that. It's difficult for me to approve absences until I know the job is covered. Thank you!! - Pitchford
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PBIS This Week

• We would like to refocus on HALLWAY behaviors. Please make sure that you are reviewing proper hallway behavior with your students and complimenting others who are displaying PAWS up hallway behavior. If you would like examples of lessons, they are in the PBIS folder on the T-drive. 
• Don't forget to discuss any PBIS concerns at your PLC.  
• Last week to recognize a colleague! Please fill out our Buddy Brags!

Check out Julie Ellis' classroom expectations matrix! What a great idea to do with your class!!!

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TKES

All certified teachers should have completed the follow components of TKES:

1. Orientation
2. Familiarization
3. Self-Assessment

Jacinta, Sheri, and I will be walking around beginning today to complete Walkthrough #1. We are evaluating the following three standards: 

• 1. Positive Learning Environment
• 2. Instructional Planning
• 3. Instructional Strategies

If you have any questions after we have completed and shared with you the Walkthrough #1, please reach out to us. Thanks!!!

*****Our Math Corner******************

Strategies That Most Impact Achievement

Summarizing Activity: Synectics

This is a fun strategy for kids and teachers!  Students review the topic they have studied by comparing that topic to some other randomly selected familiar object or situation.

Here is an example.

How is a pencil like math strategies?

Students could say:

“An effective math strategy is like a pencil because it makes my brain sharper.”

“Pencils and good strategies are both straight to the point.”

“If my strategy doesn’t work, I can be like an eraser and start again.”

“My pencil says No. 2, and I know two good strategies to solve that problem.”

“When my pencil wears out, I get a new one.  When a strategy wears out and doesn’t work anymore, we make a new one so we can keep going.”

For older or for advanced learners, get silly with synectics (How is place value like a bulldozer?) or let the kids come up with one of their own to journal about!  You can post your students’ synectics along with your standards to show your class’s level of understanding.

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

In Ms. Rutledge’s Kindergarten class, she has her I CAN STATEMENT written on a white board easel next to her small reading group table.

This is written clearly and easily accessible for the students so that they know what they are learning.

Having the I CAN STATEMENT  at the small group table allows the teacher (and the students)to refer back to it during that lesson.

The I CAN STATEMENT tells students what they need to know to fulfill the standard as well as what they should be able to do to show the teacher they know the standard.

*****WRITERS' GALLERY**********

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

The writers' gallery/pledge will be hosted by Ms. Silverman's class next week.

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

Monday, August 25th
Writer's Workshop with Hess During Specials
Girls on the Run Practice

Tuesday, August 26th

1st-4th to Meet with Everybody Wins
2:50 - New Kids on the Block Meeting
Girls on the Run Practice

Wednesday, August 27th
Girls on the Run Practice

Thursday, August 28th

Firehouse Subs for Lunch - Order by Wednesday
PLC Day
Girls on the Run Practice
Pitchford to Ad Staff

Friday, August 29th 
Parent Involvement Day
Send your tickets down and change your Student of the Week

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

Happy birthday this week to Tiffany Churchwell and Katie Bailey on the 28th, Haley Rattray on the 29th, and Chellye Pomeroy on the 30th. 

August 18th, 2014

High Point News

Week of: August 18th, 2014

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

HPES in the News!

High Point was recently featured in the newspaper for our first day back to school. Click on the link below if you would like to see the pictures. We also posted the colored pictures in the paper on our NEWS board outside the mail room.  

http://neighbornewspapers.com/bookmark/25596475-Fulton-students-go-back-to-school

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Tasks to Complete by Friday, the 22nd 

• Schedules: Please make sure that you place your final class schedule on the G-drive under "Schedules 2014-2015" by August 22nd. The master schedule, computer/media schedule, and lunch schedule are in this folder as well. 

• Staff Information Survey: Jenna sent out an important survey for you to fill out. This survey helps us make sure we know all about our staff such as degrees earned, birthdays, and accomplishments. Thanks for taking the time to fill it out!!! Please fill out prior to August 22nd!!

• TKES Orientation/Familiarization and the Self-Assessment need to be completed by August 22nd. A folder was created on the T-drive which has all of the cheat sheets in case you can't remember how to complete this task or find your log in information. The folder is called TKES 2014-2015. 

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Technology Tip of the Week

·        Back-up, Back-up, Back-up!  You have all been using your laptops fast and furiously for the past few weeks so please back up your valuable data to one or preferably all of these types of data storage:

o   External hard drive (can be found at Office Max, Office Depot, Costco, Best Buy, online, etc.)

o   Z Drive (located on My Computer as a ‘shared drive’)

o   The “cloud” – Google Drive, Microsoft SkyDrive, Dropbox, etc.

·        Student Database software will be set up as soon as possible (i.e. Successmaker, Reading Eggs, Type to Learn 4, Imagine Learning, Study Island). As school startup settles down and our eSchoolPlus student database stabilizes, the setup of student software requiring the import of student names, IDs and passwords will begin next week. Teachers will be notified as each one is completed and ready for use.

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What I've Been Thinking About…

In a recent article discussing how to bring innovation into the classroom, I got stuck on "Infuse Passion into Learning." Instead of project-based learning or problem-based learning, the author was talking about passion-based learning. Click on the link below to read a wonderful article about how integrating kids' own interests and passions into the curriculum will help them flourish as learners. It's vital to show students the relevance of what they are studying and connect with parents to spark interests. Wonderful read!!!

http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2011/07/nine-tenets-of-passion-based-learning/

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MAILBOXES
Please make sure you are checking your mailbox before school, at specials and at lunch.  Very important information is often in there and is time sensitive.
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PBIS This Week!

• To start off the year, our focus this week will be HALLWAY behaviors. Please make sure that you are reviewing proper hallway behavior with your students and complimenting others who are displaying PAWS up hallway behavior. 
• Also, if you go to the T-drive, you will find our PBIS 2014 folder with examples of lesson plans, PAWS posters, Expectations Matrix, and much more! The list is below: 

• Don't forget to recognize a colleague by filling out our Buddy Brags. Please place them in Pitchford's mailbox so that we can pull names at the end of each month to see who will win the "gift of time!" 
• You should have received your Student of the Week certificates. Please make sure that you recognize a student each week and showcase your certificate outside your doorway. 

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TKES 
Carrie, Jacinta, and Sheri will be conducting focus learning walks this week in order to calibrate scores, our feedback, and expectations in regards to TKES. These learning walks will NOT be scored. If you would like feedback, you are more than welcome to ask any three of us and we will get it to you. 

Lesson Plans: Sheri will be reviewing and giving feedback to lesson plans if you would like it this week. Please let her know. We want to support you prior to beginning our walkthroughs.

Beginning on August 25th, Carrie, Jacinta, and Sheri will be beginning Walkthrough #1. The three standards being evaluated will be:
1. Positive Learning Environment
2. Instructional Planning
3. Instructional Strategies

Please make sure that your Orientation, Familiarization, and Self-Assessment are completed this week so that we will be able to begin the walkthroughs in a timely manner. 

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Drills

Great job on the drills last week!!! A few things to remember: 

• Close your door in the event of a fire or fire drill
• Make sure everyone has keys! If you need a key, ask Alexander. 
• Make sure that you have an Emergency Bag and colored cards for safety purposes. 

*****Our Math Corner******************

Strategies That Most Impact Achievement

Summarizing Activity: The Last Word

When using the Last Word, the topic to be summarized becomes an acronym.  Students brainstorm all the things they can remember about the topic studied.  They then use the information to create phrases for each letter of the acronym.

An example

S-Some numbers we put together to find the whole amount.

U-Unless we have a strategy for counting, we can lose track of the total.

M-Mathematicians add number to find the sum.

This is a great way to help kids make sense of complex math concepts and to connect them to the standards.  Create Last Words as a class when you teach your core lessons each week!

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

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

The writers' gallery/pledge will be hosted by Ms. Nobles' class next week. 

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

Monday, August 18th
Muffin Monday
Writer's Workshop with Hess During Specials
9:00 - New Parent Coffee in Media Center

Tuesday, August 19th

2:50 - Faculty Meeting
3:30 - Committee Meetings

Wednesday, August 20th
8:00 - Title I Parent Meeting

Thursday, August 21st

7:30 - SGC Meeting Media Center
Math PLC Meeting During Common Planning Time
Tazikis for Lunch - Order by Wednesday
2:50 - PLCs

Friday, August 22nd
5:30 - Welcome Back Picnic
Send your tickets down and change your Student of the Week

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

There are no birthdays this week.  

August 11th, 2014

High Point News

Week of: August 11th, 2014

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

Happy First Day of School! 

We want to thank all of you for your hard work in order to get ready for today. Your classrooms are welcoming, our school is clean, procedures are in place, and we are ready to go!!! We received a lot of great feedback from our Back to School Orientation on Friday and parents kept telling us how much they appreciated the phone calls they received prior to their children meeting you. Thank you for taking the time last week to introduce yourselves.

Please remember to make sure how every child gets home!!! If you aren't sure, please send your information to the front office as soon as possible. Also, double check your students' bookbag tags for the right color!  

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Tasks to Complete

• Class Disbursement Sheet for K-5 should be completed and placed on the G-drive under Disbursement Plans 2014. You will find your grade level and place your sheet in your grade level folder. This needs to be completed by August 12th.

• Handbook sign-off sheet should be turned in to Ms. Alexander by August 15th. Please make sure you have throughly read through the Handbook. An electronic copy is also placed on the T-drive. 

• Schedules: Please make sure that you place your final class schedule on the G-drive under "Schedules 2014-2015" by August 22nd. The master schedule, computer/media schedule, and lunch schedule are in this folder as well. 

• Staff Information Survey: Jenna sent out an important survey for you to fill out. This survey helps us make sure we know all about our staff such as degrees earned, birthdays, and accomplishments. Thanks for taking the time to fill it out!!! Please fill out prior to August 22nd!!

• TKES Orientation/Familiarization and the Self-Assessment need to be completed by August 22nd.

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What I've Been Thinking About…

While we are only just beginning our year together, this 3-minute video is a quick reminder about why we are all here. Whether it's your first day in your first year or your first day in your tenth year, we are all in this to make a difference in a child's life. I know that each of you have the power, the knowledge, and the passion to BE THE ONE to make that difference. I am honored to be working with each and every one of you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miPYLJI247g

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PBIS This Week!

To kick off the new school year, our focus this week is PROCEDURES, PROCEDURES, PROCEDURES. 
Make sure that students are aware of your classroom procedures (when to sharpen pencil, go to the restroom, how to ask a question, and what to do when they are done with an activity), school procedures (how to act in the cafeteria, how to walk in the hallway, who to go to if they are sick), and safety procedures (fire drills, take-cover tornado drills, and intruder drills).

We will begin our weekly focuses after the first week of school. Remember, being PAWS Up is important!
Practice Good Manners
Always Be Prepared
Work Hard
Stay Safe

PAWS Up Pep Rally on Friday, August 15th: In Cafeteria
8:00 - 8:30 = Pre-K - 2nd Grade 
8:45 - 9:15 = 3rd - 5th Grade

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Learning Opportunity

"Effectively Using Flipped Learning in the ElementaryClassroom"   

Workshop Highlights: 

With the advancement of media and production tools, our instructional practices no longer must rely on lecture and print resources alone.  Flipping our lessons allows for a better use of face to face classroom time, while redirecting the instruction to media form that can be accessed anywhere, and for as many times as necessary.  Differentiating our instruction and meeting the varied needs of our learners has never been easier!  Learn about the foundation of flipped instruction, how it applies within a blended learning model, and what tools exist to facilitate this model with ease.  Come prepared to collaborate, create, and take part in a day of simulated instructional practice that will easily be transferable to your classroom in the fall.

Click on the title "Effectively Using Flipped Learning..." to go to the workshp flyer.

 If you have trouble viewing the flyer, please go to www.griffinresa.net

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Drills

Please remember to discuss the safety drills with your students on the first day of school. We will be having 3 or our 4 mandatory drills during the first week. We are doing this to prepare our students and make them aware of our drills as soon as possible.

Monday - Review all drills

Tuesday - Fire Drill

Wednesday - Hard Lockdown Intruder Drill

Thursday - Severe Weather Drill (Take-Cover)

The Safety Drill powerpoint for students is listed on the T-drive under Safety 2014-2015. You can save it and tweak it to meet your students' needs.

The locations and safety team members document is also in this folder.

*****Our Math Corner******************

Strategies That Most Impact Achievement

From meta-analysis of research conducted by Robert Marzano (2001) and the US Department of Education (2002), we know the most important thinking strategies students should use to maximize their learning.  These are the top two strategies that consistently show the strongest correlation between use and learning.  Eat them cheerfully with your Wheaties.

Rank of Effectiveness	Strategy	Percentile Gain in Learning With Consistent Application
1	Extending Thinking Students engage thinking and working in the higher levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy (Increased rigor of student engagement)	45%
2	Summarizing There is a special place at the end of every lesson for students to solidify and clarify what they have learned. (Distributed over the course of the lesson to gather wisdom, closing the lesson with a student-led reflection)	34%

 As you plan your lessons, ask yourself, “How am I pushing my students’ thinking to the next level?”  “Am I closing every lesson so that students can process what they have learned and have a chance to express it through writing and talking?”

Try this closing/summarizing activity this week:

The Important Thing

The Important Thing summarizer is a structure within which students write (or dictate) a paragraph-length synopsis of a topic following a pattern established and repeated in Margaret Wise Brown’s The Important Thing book.  The first and last sentences are the same.

The most important thing about ________ is  _________.

Detail sentence about the topic.

Detail sentence about the topic.

Detail sentence about the topic.

The most important thing about ________ is _________.

Keep tabs on this section of Monday Notes over the next several weeks for more high impact activities to extend thinking and summarize your lessons.

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

The writers' gallery/ pledge is hosted by Ms. Simon's class next week, August 18th.

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

Monday, August 11th
8:00 - Boo Hoo Breakfast in Media Center

Tuesday, August 12th

1:30 - Paraprofessional Meeting in Media Center

Wednesday, August 13th

Thursday, August 14th

Math PLC Meeting During Common Planning Time
Qdoba for Lunch - Order by Wednesday

Friday, August 15th
8:00 - PAWS Pep Rally for PreK-2nd
8:45 - PAWS Pep Rally for 3rd-5th

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

Happy birthday to Lauren McClelland on the 12th. We hope you have a wonderful birthday!

August 4, 2014

High Point News

Week of: August 4th, 2014

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

Welcome Back! 

We are so excited to have our teachers and support staff back from summer vacation. Last week was a great start to the school year and this week will be even better as we get rooms ready, collaborate about our students, and look towards meeting our future goals!

All assistants will be coming back on the first day of school. Some might be here for our Back to School Orientation so if they are here, please take a moment to welcome them back!

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Congratulations!

We wanted to say congratulations again to Alisha Rutledge on her recent engagement and to Lindsey O'Daniels on her recent marriage! We are very happy for you both!!

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Tasks to Complete

 

There were a lot of upcoming tasks that were given to you last week and we want to make sure we are clear about what needs to be completed soon. They are:

• Call every parent in your homeroom class by Thursday, August 7th

• Grade Level Dismissal Plans: Due by August 8th for the first day of school.

• Grade level Weights for Gradebooks: Should be turned in prior to August 11th.

• Class Disbursement Sheet for K-5 should be completed and placed on the G-drive under Disbursement Plans 2014. You will find your grade level and place your sheet in your grade level folder. This needs to be completed by August 12th.

• Handbook sign-off sheet should be turned in to Ms. Alexander by August 15th. Please make sure you have throughly read through the Handbook. An electronic copy is also placed on the T-drive.

• Staff Information Survey: Jenna will be sending out an important survey for you to fill out. This survey helps us make sure we know all about our staff such as degrees earned, birthday, and accomplishments. Thanks for taking the time to fill it out!!! Please fill out prior to August 22nd!!

• TKES Orientation/Familiarization and the Self-Assessment need to be completed by August 22nd.

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What I've Been Thinking About…

I know a lot of you weren't able to see or hear the video I showed at the end of our staff meeting last week. I'm attaching it here in case you would like to view it. It's a great 5 minute video about the impact we can all make and how we are all truly leaders!

http://www.ted.com/talks/drew_dudley_everyday_leadership

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PBIS For Next Week!

We will be discussing PBIS with Amie Dean tomorrow as well as review our PBIS system. Everything you will need will be given out at this time.
Here is a reminder of the things we are doing to support our students and staff:

• Student of the Week Certificates
• Tickets, tickets, tickets!
• Post Cards for your students
• Buddy Brags for Staff
• PAWS Up forms for students
• Pep Rally on Friday, August 15th!

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Back to School Orientation

We are hoping that our Back-to-School Orientation will be a one-stop-shop for all parents’ needs. Parents have been told that our Orientation is for them to:

1)    Meet your child’s teacher

2)    Fill out forms for each homeroom class i.e clinic cards, publicity releases, student compacts, etc.

3)    Complete your Affidavit of Residence: one form submitted per family.

o   Returning HPES Students: Parents must complete the Affidavit of Residence but are not required to show ID or 2 proofs of residency unless they have moved.

o   Newly Enrolled HPES Students: Affidavits were required at the time of enrollment. If the Affidavit was not completed at the enrollment time, please bring a picture ID and two proofs of residency to the school in order to have the Affidavit notarized by one of our notaries.  If you reside with someone else, that person must be present and provide proper identification and two proofs of residency in order to have their signature notarized.  OR, you may have the Affidavit completed in advance by any other notary. 

4)    Discover Parental Involvement Opportunities; At Home or At School

5)    Complete Volunteer Information Form and Video (http://www.fultoncountyschoolssafetysecurity.org/)

6)    Register for afterschool enrichment activities (Primetime, tennis, chess, karate, etc…)

7)    Enroll in meal-pay or complete meal applications – (new forms must be completed each year)

8)    Obtain your child’s bus or carpool number

9)    Join PTA for a minimum of $10 per family – payable using cash/check/credit card

10) Purchase HPES Spirit Wear – payable using cash/check/credit card

11) Visit the Parent Resource Center for Learning Resources and Materials

12) Visit the Media Center for information regarding our Accelerated Readers Program

 

We really want parents to take advantage of this time so please encourage them to fill out the paperwork WHILE THEY ARE HERE!!!! We want 100% of Affidavits, Compacts, Clinic Cards, forms, etc...

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

The writers' gallery/ pledge is hosted by Ms. Simon's class the second week of school (August 18th).
 

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

Monday, August 4th
8:00-10:00 - Data Dig
10:00-11:00 - Co-Teaching Training
 

Tuesday, August 5th

7:15-8:00 - Breakfast by Waffle House
8:00-11:00 - Amie Dean and PBIS
11:00-11:15 - Review PBIS for High Point

Wednesday, August 6th
8:00-9:30 - 2nd-5th Grade Humanities Training with Hess
10:00-11:30 - K-1st Grade Humanities Training with Hess
11:30 - PTA Luncheon

Thursday, August 7th

7:30 - Mandatory Child Abuse Training: Media Center
 

Friday, August 8th
8:30-10:30 Back to School Orientation
10:35 - Take Pictures in Courtyard 

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

Happy birthday to Jackie Dejo TODAY!!!!! We hope you have a wonderful birthday!