September 8, 2014

High Point News

Week of: September 8, 2014

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Flu Clinic at HPES

Please sign up for your 2014 Flu shot! The signup sheet is at the front desk next to the time out sheet. We have to have at least 25 signatures and family members can also take advantage of this convenient service at High Point. For more information, please see Michelle Dickie. 

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Fountas and Pinnell Data

I am placing a spreadsheet on the G drive to enter your Fountas and Pinnell data. The data is due by the end of the day Friday, September 12th.  The spreadsheet can be found in a folder labeled Fountas and Pinnell 2014-2015. The spreadsheet has several columns. One column you DO NOT need to fill in is WPM. Leave it blank. Any questions, let me know. - Hess 

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Qualitative Data
We will be coming around to classrooms for approximately 5 minutes to take some qualitative data for our Strategic Plan. This is not for evaluative purposes and data will not be connected with individual teachers' names. The following people will be helping collect this data: Pitchford, Alexander, Hess, Roberts, Long, and Salmons

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What I've Been Thinking About…

Rick Wormeli's YouTube video regarding grading is very compelling. In this part-one video about redos, retakes, and do-overs, Mr. Wormeli talks about how important failure is to a child's development. He also discusses how, in life, we get many re-dos or do-overs so why isn't that the same in the classroom?! As you are beginning to put your grades in your grade book and assess your students on the standards, think about this video. Are we giving our students opportunities to redo an assignment? Do we create an environment where students aren't deterred by failure? 
http://youtu.be/TM-3PFfIfvI

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PBIS This Week

• Buddy Brags for the month of September will be placed in everyone's mailboxes. There are also extra on the mail room table if needed. 

• This week we will focus on DISMISSAL behaviors. Please make sure that you are reviewing proper dismissal procedures with your students. For safety, students should WALK to every dismissal location. Please make sure that students are also staying on the sidewalk and not walking down hills or in the grass. Dismissal plans should have been turned in to the Administrative Team so that there is a teacher covering each group of students. 

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Technology Tips of the Week

·         A new app, Showbie, was introduced at the end of last school year. Showbie, the paperless classroom made simple, is a new free app from Apple that should be on most Student iPads and can be downloaded onto Teacher iPads.  Showbie allows teachers to set up an account then give the code to students so they can share their documents or projects with the teacher (kind of like Edmodo - great for iPads). Please add this app to your teacher iPads (if it is not already there) and give it a try.  If it is not on your student iPads, let Chellye know and it can/will be added. Visit this website to learn more: http://www.showbie.com/

Teachers can check out an adapter for the iPad to connect to your projector from the Media Center to share student projects, etc.  

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Technology Help from Microsoft

·    Would you like technology integration help for your classroom?

   High Point has been chosen as only 1 out of 10 schools in the nation for a special BING in the classroom experience. Microsoft will be coming on Tuesday, September 23rd to support teachers in integrating technology in the classroom. 

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   An email from Jennifer Taylor will be coming around with sign-up directions and more information later this morning.

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

Strategies That Most Impact Achievement

Memory Box

This activating strategy is best used to bridge one day of learning to the next.  Students use a folded piece of paper.  For 90 seconds students record everything they remember about the lesson the day before.  In small groups, students share what is on each list, one at a time.  As one student shares her or his list, other students in the group add ideas they don’t have on their own list and check off the ideas that are already on their list.  The next student shares the same way.

After everyone has had a chance to share their ideas, small groups share out to the whole class.

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

In Ms. Billits’ 1^st grade classroom, there is a center rotation chart posted in the room. It is colorful, neat, and easy to follow.  When students were asked what center they were doing and what do they do when they are done, students knew and could share how to use the center chart. There is little chance that students will meet high standards if their school environment is chaotic or unsafe. Again, clear behavioral and procedural expectations provide the safety that sets minds free to soar. Once you have the framework in place for a functional, well-managed setting where students know what to do and how to get along, you can focus on actions to move students academically, to challenge their thinking, inspire their desire to learn, and help them achieve to their highest potential.

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

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

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

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

Monday, September 8th 
9:30 - Parent Tours

Tuesday, September 9th  

3rd Grade Collegial Planning
2:50 - Learning Tuesday (Locations TBD)
Pitchford to New Principals' Meeting

Wednesday, September 10th
8:00 General PTA Meeting in Cafeteria

Thursday, September 11th 

Qdoba for Lunch - Order by Wednesday
2:50 - PLCs

Friday, September 12th  
Kindergarten Collegial Planning 
F&P Scores Due
Send your tickets down and change your Student of the Week

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

Happy birthday this week to Anita Burch on September 11th.
We hope you have a wonderful birthday!!