October 5, 2015

High Point News

Week of: October 5th, 2015

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

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Playground Safety

There are a few students getting injured on the playground equipment at recess. Students are playing tag and running up on the playscapes. They are trying to get away from whoever is chasing them and are not watching what they are doing. Therefore they are either falling from the platform or they’re bumping their heads. Please make sure you are supervising your students at all times and encouraging them to not run onto the playscapes. Thanks for all your help in keeping our student safe.

- Michelle Dickie

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What I've been thinking about...

I've been thinking about our upcoming Science Day. With the help of Sheri, Lib, and our PTA, could we have some experiments that are standards-based but also some that are more open to inquiry? Could we have experiments which don't necessarily have directions or expected results? 

Below is an example of a great standards-based experiment - "Creating a Cloud" 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msSVQ903T8k

Below is an example of something that could encourage younger grade students to start wondering - "Tickle Me Plant"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gOx5ZqUoX8

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Karate Program

Due to unforeseen circumstances, Crossland Karate had to be canceled from our list of after school programs. 
Beginning Thursday, we will be using Martial Life. Letters and registration forms regarding this new program will be going home with students who were previously in the karate program. 
Extra flyers will be placed in the front office if you have anyone interested in the karate program. We will also post information on our school website. 
Thanks!!! 

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PBIS Updates

Do you have challenging student behavior???

Andi Lay, Brittany Frappier, and I are participating in a year-long webinar series on how to handle challenging student behavior. Once a month through Monday notes, I will redeliver a few tips and tricks that we receive from these webinars for you to apply in your rooms. Please ask any of us for further information about these webinars or if you would like a more in depth redelivery.

Webinar #1:

·       Just because a student can orally repeat a direction to you, may not mean they actually KNOW what to do. Try modeling and explaining it for them to see if they will do it the next time, before giving a consequence for not complying.

·      

    It is very normal for us to use a checklist or “to do” list to help us remember all we need to do in our adult world. Why do we assume that kids do not need the same thing to help them remember all the things that they need to do, pack up, remember, etc.? This is an easy accommodation to put in place for our kids to help them succeed.

·       Use positive terminology. Tell kids what they are supposed to do as opposed to what not to do. Focus on the behavior that you want to see.

·       Be careful about using broad terms of what you expect for behavior (ex. “be respectful”). If you can’t define specifically what it means, the kids can’t either. Try using something more concrete like “use friendly words”.

Rachel Salmons

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****VISUALS OF BEST PRACTICE****

Ms. Lassiter took her 5^th grade class, the other night, to a little bookstore in Decatur. They met the children’s author; Katherine Applegate. The author speaks to the kids and talks about her story and how she became an author. The experience was really inspiring for the kids to hear.  She did a funny presentation of some of her most popular books and then presented her newly published book.  After she spoke, the kids got a chance to take photos and get her autograph in their own books.  Ms. Lassiter says that she loved doing this because the kids who don’t like reading, felt like they met a celebrity and they usually try to read more of the author’s books.  Ms. Lassiter tweeted the author a picture of the class holding one of her books and she retweeted them. The class was very excited to say the least! Ms. Lassiter’s 5^th graders want to write to her and read any book that she has written.  These are inspired students!

In Ms. Calhoun’s 4^th grade class, students were put in small groups and each group was given a different Learner Profile. The teacher decided on the Learner Profiles based on something different than what the small group of students exhibited. The groups of students had to research an animal or animals that showed characteristics of that learner profile. The students were then to create that animal based on that learner profile.  Some of the animals were mixtures of different animals. The boys in this picture created a Fox/ Lion as an example of a Thinker. They explained to me that Foxes and Lions both have to think about how they hunt, what type of prey they are searching for, and where they should hunt.  All the small groups created this totem Pole which was connected back to their Native American unit. 

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

The pledge and writers' gallery is hosted by Ms. Foster's class this week.

The pledge and writers' gallery will be hosted by Ms. Taylor's class next week. 

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

Monday, October 5th 

GA PreK Week!!

Tuesday, October 6th 

2:50 - Learning Tuesday

Wednesday, October 7th 

IB PLC during Specials 
Pitchford to Principal's Meeting

Thursday, October 8th 

7:30 - SGC Meeting in Media Center
ETT for 1st Grade
Picture Day!!! (Staff photo @2:45 in cafeteria)
3:00 - PLCs (immediately following staff picture)
Student of the Week Certificate

Friday, October 9th     
Teacher Workday

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

Happy birthday to Kristen Mayhall and Rebecca Negrin on the 7th and Jennifer Silverman on the 10th!! We wish you all a very happy birthday!!!