High Point News
Week of: August 31st, 2015
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Condolences
Our sincere condolences go out to Anita Collins on the loss of her aunt. Please keep her and her entire family in your thoughts at this time.
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Today is the last day for Jackie Koo and Chellye Pomeroy. Please join me in wishing them well in all their future endeavors!! They will be greatly missed!!!
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College Spirit Day
The first Friday of each month will be our College Spirit Day. On this day, we encourage staff to wear shirts advertising their Alma Mater or any college of their choice. We want the college spirit wear to spark conversations with our students and get them thinking about their future!!
Please make sure you watch the morning news where we will highlight staff members and their college each month!
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Saying Farewell
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College Spirit Day
The first Friday of each month will be our College Spirit Day. On this day, we encourage staff to wear shirts advertising their Alma Mater or any college of their choice. We want the college spirit wear to spark conversations with our students and get them thinking about their future!!
Please make sure you watch the morning news where we will highlight staff members and their college each month!
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TKES WALKTHROUGHS
TKES walkthroughs will be
starting this week. As a reminder, we are looking at Standard 3(Instructional
Strategies) and Standard 7(Positive Learning Environment) only.
Please utilize
the rubric that was provided during pre-planning to assist you with the
possible indicators and “look fors.” Know that these are not an inclusive list.
If you have any questions,
please see Hess, Alexander, or Pitchford.
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Custodial Update
We are still waiting on Fulton County to give us a bid from contract cleaners. We are supposed to have a bid in the next two weeks. Until then, we are given some substitute custodians. As you know, this isn't the same as full time custodians who know our building and our expectations.
We need your help. Until we get contract cleaners, have your students help as much as possible in terms of picking up trash in your classroom, stacking chairs, and helping in the cafeteria. We would also appreciate you notifying the custodial team if there are paper towel or soap dispensers that need refilling.
We appreciate your help and patience during this time.
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Principal's Corner
At the end of each month, I send out a blog to all parents. This blog includes updates on what happened over the past month as well as notifying them about upcoming events. The blog includes pictures, calendars, and staff birthdays!
Check it out below!
http://eepurl.com/bwEMF9
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NEED HELP or HAVE QUESTIONS?
Custodial Update
We are still waiting on Fulton County to give us a bid from contract cleaners. We are supposed to have a bid in the next two weeks. Until then, we are given some substitute custodians. As you know, this isn't the same as full time custodians who know our building and our expectations.
We need your help. Until we get contract cleaners, have your students help as much as possible in terms of picking up trash in your classroom, stacking chairs, and helping in the cafeteria. We would also appreciate you notifying the custodial team if there are paper towel or soap dispensers that need refilling.
We appreciate your help and patience during this time.
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Principal's Corner
At the end of each month, I send out a blog to all parents. This blog includes updates on what happened over the past month as well as notifying them about upcoming events. The blog includes pictures, calendars, and staff birthdays!
Check it out below!
http://eepurl.com/bwEMF9
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NEED HELP or HAVE QUESTIONS?
o RTI Tier 3- Radford
o RTI Tier 2- Madej
o STAR- Madej
o Scheduling- Alexander
o Math Block Scheduling/Math Interventions “Do the Math” and Numeracy - Long and Madej
o Morning Reading RTI block- Hess and Madej
o Reading Block Scheduling- Hess and Roberts
o Class Lists and Class Changes- Hess
o Curriculum- Hess
o Emotional Needs of Students- Salmons
o 504- Salmons
o Discipline/PBIS- Alexander
o Classroom Assessments- Madej, Long, Hess
o SLOs, GKIDS, State Assessments- Alexander
o TKES and PKES- Alexander and Pitchford
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Next Week Reminders! Please help us reminding students and parents that we will not have school Monday (Labor Day) OR Tuesday (RFF Day). A link will be sent out again regarding the YMCA day camp to help with child care on Tuesday. The cost is $27 for the entire day.
We will also give stickers for you to put on your students on Friday as another reminder! Thanks!!
The YMCA link is:
https://spiritonline.ymcaatlanta.org/SpiritWeb/Login
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What I've Been Thinking About…
Check out this wonderful article about student engagement. There are three main practices to "igniting students' engagement" in the standards.
- BE REAL
- LAUNCH EVENTS THAT MATTER
- KEEP THE END IN MIND
http://www.edutopia.org//blog/ignite-student-engagement-roadmap-learning-john-mccarthy?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=socialflow&utm_campaign=RSS
SCC COMMITTEE
The SCC (School Culture and Climate) Committee (aka
Hospitality) would like to know how to best maximize the funds YOU put into
SCC! Please take this short survey before September 25th. http://goo.gl/forms/0DJWu4Ux61
What does SCC do?
- Plan social events for the year such as staff parties, baby and wedding gifts, and staff recognition.
- Organize staff get-togethers and events in order to increase the comradery in the building.
- Assist admin team with staff appreciation and recognition.
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Thank you to all the staff members who filled out Buddy Brags for the month of August.
New buddy brags are in boxes for September!
Many times, students end up in the office after a simple situation escalated into something more dangerous. If we are able to de-escalate students before they get to that point, we can avoid some of these major disruptions and offences. Below is a guide for how to react to a student that is exhibiting high emotions and anger.
Learning Tuesday
Tomorrow we will hold the first Learning Tuesday of the year. Each staff member has signed up for one specific learning cohort which they will stay with for the remainder of the year.
While each cohort has a facilitator, the purpose and expectations will be set by the group. We want to make sure each learning cohort's needs are met and people are growing in their specific area. The goal of this PD: "Be better tomorrow than you are today."
An email will be sent out at the end of today with the list of staff members in each cohort. The meeting locations are as follows:
Tomorrow we will hold the first Learning Tuesday of the year. Each staff member has signed up for one specific learning cohort which they will stay with for the remainder of the year.
While each cohort has a facilitator, the purpose and expectations will be set by the group. We want to make sure each learning cohort's needs are met and people are growing in their specific area. The goal of this PD: "Be better tomorrow than you are today."
An email will be sent out at the end of today with the list of staff members in each cohort. The meeting locations are as follows:
- Math - Long's Portable
- Writing - Kindergarten Class Rm 232
- Digital Learning - Media Center
- Engagement - Robert's Portable
- Data - Conference Room
PBIS
Thank you to all the staff members who filled out Buddy Brags for the month of August.
New buddy brags are in boxes for September!
Many times, students end up in the office after a simple situation escalated into something more dangerous. If we are able to de-escalate students before they get to that point, we can avoid some of these major disruptions and offences. Below is a guide for how to react to a student that is exhibiting high emotions and anger.
A Guide to Student
De-Escalation
Curriculum Night
Curriculum Night was a huge success! Thank you to everyone for creating informative power points and handouts and being welcoming to all parents. The parent/school connection is a large part of our strategic plan and your involvement is critical!
I have placed my Principal's Address on our school's website in a PDF format. Below lists some of the important pieces shared with parents which support our strategic plan:
- Data: STAR, F&P, ITBS, and CCRPI data
- How and when we communicate to parents regarding data
- Benchmark assessments shared with parents (STAR and F&P)
- How we will help students meet their individual learning targets
- IB information
- Digital learning in the building
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****VISUALS OF BEST PRACTICE****
In Ms. Bradshaw's 2nd grade classroom, students were learning
about the center “Read to Someone.” While working on expectations of how
to be a great independent 2nd grader, they were also learning how to
help other students who may be struggling. The bookmark they were
utilizing this day had to do with coaching a friend who was stumbling through
their reading. They used a fun rhyme to decide if they should coach them
on strategies or give them more time. This helped all students feel successful
and ready to begin the roll out of reading centers.
*****WRITERS' GALLERY**********
The pledge and writers' gallery is hosted by Ms. Nobles' class this week.
The pledge and writers' gallery will be hosted by Ms. Silverman's class next week.
******CALENDAR OF EVENTS*******
Monday, August 31st
Tuesday, September 1st
2:50 pm - Learning Tuesday
Pitchford to Principal's Meeting
Wednesday, September 2nd
IB PLC during Specials Pitchford to Principal's Meeting
Thursday, September 3rd
2:50 - PLCs
Grade Level Newsletter Goes Home
Hess to CST Meeting
Grade Level Newsletter Goes Home
Hess to CST Meeting
Friday, September 4th
College Spirit Wear!!
Grade Level Scope and Sequences Due on G-drive
Put Stickers for Students re: RFF Day
Student of the Week Certificate
College Spirit Wear!!
Grade Level Scope and Sequences Due on G-drive
Put Stickers for Students re: RFF Day
Student of the Week Certificate
******BIRTHDAYS! ****************
Happy birthday to Kelly Lassiter on the 2nd and Josephine Calhoun on the 5th. We hope you each have a wonderful birthday!!!
