October 30th, 2017

Monday Notes 10.30.17

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

   

Dia de los Muertos!

Congratulations to Mari Park for a successful "Day of the Dead" celebration! Many parents were involved in cooking delicious food and providing artifacts to showcase the Mexican "Day of the Dead" practices! Everything was so authentic and made the learning memorable! We appreciate the invitation for all staff to join!! 

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Computer Lab Closed Today

Reminder that the Computer Lab will be closed all day today. This is to accommodate the 4th grade classes as they participate in the Georgia Milestones Field Test. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

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Digital Citizenship Sign-Off

All Teachers- Reminder to please sign off on the two required digital citizenship tasks. The sooner the better- firm deadline Oct. 31 before you leave! See email from Sandi Dennis with specific instructions. 

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ESOL Strategies

2 Kagan Strategies to improve Cooperative Learning and Speaking

1. Stand Up - Hand Up - Pair Up: Students stand up, put their hands up, and quickly find a partner closest to them who is not a teammate or tablemate. Students share information with their new partners. 

2. Timed Pair Share: In pairs, students share with a partner for a predetermined time while the partner listens. Teacher uses timer. When timer goes off, partners switch roles. It makes sure that each partner has designated time to talk.

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Minor v/s Major List

Please make sure you are referencing the Major v/s Minor List when determining if a student should be sent to the office. 

Minor List

Major

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KSU Coach

Schedule: I will be at High Point on Thursday 11/2. 

Highlights: Google Apps for Education is now accessible to students! They can create, collaborate and learn using Google Classroom, Google Docs, Forms, Slides, Drawings, and more. Check out this link to see how to get started - https://drive.google.com/open?id=13RgsoLSrUexrE3ufYOEDvsUr_nWGbHSSQTBYNqyW2VI 

Notes: Don't forget about Seesaw! Use this link to view Seesaw reminders - https://drive.google.com/open?id=1t0vlUwXzZ3LVAeC8yIhAsMwSwOXZ6oNvWPgsKnWvJYM.  Did you know you can create projects in apps like Chatterpix, Pic Collage and Shadow Puppet Edu then post those creations into Seesaw?! 

Here are some pictures of awesome things that have been happening around the school! 

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Halloween Reading

Ms. Dennis has recorded herself reading Creepy Carrots and Creepy Pair of Underwear for you to show your class on Halloween if you’d like! The link is on the news show website, same password as news show. 

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PBIS Authorization Visit

Our county PBIS representative will be at High Point on November 8Th to evaluate our PBIS program. He will be walking around to observe how we interact with students, how our PBIS information is displayed, and will be asking random students and teachers about are PAWS rules and procedures. Please help us to show off all the hard work you all have been doing to create our PBIS environment by handing out green and yellow dollars, making sure that all students and staff are able to talk about our PBIS system, and ensuring that you have our paws rules and matrix hanging in your rooms! 

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Students in Action

Below is a picture of students sorting and packing the letters written to service men and women around the world thanking them for their service and keeping us safe!  The letters were part of Bert's Big Thank You project!  Thanks to Ms. Silverman for spearheading this community action project!

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Real Estate Meeting

High Point will be hosting the Sandy Springs Real Estate Meeting this Thursday, November 2nd in the media center from 9:00-11:00. Real estate agents from all over Sandy Springs will be touring our building and possibly popping into classrooms. Please make sure your classrooms and the hallways are clean and welcoming as we want to showcase our school!  

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SeeSaw

 Reminder!!! Please reach out to Hannah Rome if you are having difficulty with SeeSaw. It should be up and running now and all homeroom classrooms are expected to be using it to showcase students' work as well as using it as a communication tool. 

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Continuous Learning 

 Please check out the great TED Talk about having effective conversations. The video is approximately 11 minutes long but you will love all 11 minutes, I promise! The speaker, Celese Headlee, talks about the 10 ways to have a better conversation. In the video, she states that a conversation "is a balance between talking and listening and we have lost that balance." 

One of the many ways we can better ourselves starts with doing a better job listening to each other. Do you do these 10 things when engaged in conversations? 

https://youtu.be/R1vskiVDwl4

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

Mrs. Berric's students show off their knowledge of the IB Learner Attributes. Check out this one about being "Open-Minded." 

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

Monday, October 30th

4th Grade GA Milestones Field Test in Computer Lab
1st Grade Field Trip to the Zoo

Tuesday, October 31st

Book Character Dress Up Day!!!
4th Grade GA Milestones Field Test in Classrooms
Happy Halloween!!!

Wednesday, November 1st

RFF Day!!

Thursday, November 2nd 

2nd Grade In-House Field Trip Rm 123
9:00-11:00 - Sandy Springs Real Estate Liaison Council in Media Center
Kindergarten ETT
2:50 - PLCs 

Friday, November 3rd
7:45 am - PTO Board Meeting

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

Happy birthday to Mochandra King TODAY and Alicia Earl on the 5th!! We hope you both have a very happy birthday!!!!  

October 23rd, 2017

Monday Notes 10.23.17

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

Trash Pick-Up

We need everyone's help to keep our grounds clean!! While you are at recess, please encourage your students to pick up wrappers or paper they see while on the field or on the playground. If they do this without prompting, give them a Buddy Buck!!! This is a great way for our students to take ownership of their learning environment. 

Also, please remind students to grab their lunch boxes and jackets while out on the field as well!!! 

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Money for Wyatt

As a reminder, if you would like to donate to the Uber Eats Gift Card for Lynn Wyatt's family, please give cash to Pitchford by this Friday. We will give her the gift card this weekend. Any amount is appreciated!!! 

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Computer Lab Closed on 30th

On Tuesday, October 30th the Computer Lab will be closed all day. This is to accommodate the 3rd grade classes as they participate in the Georgia Milestones Field Test. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

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Progress Monitoring Training

All teachers who are serving students in Tier 2/3 behavior plans must attend the FastBridge Behavior training to learn how to screen students and collect data using FastBridge. Please bring you laptops and any behavior data that you may have collected.

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Crayola ColorCycle

Don’t throw away those dried up markers!!! High Point is participating in Crayola ColorCycle again – an amazing program devised to turn used markers into energy!  We will be collecting used markers that are ready to be discarded. The markers will be sent to a facility where they will be converted into clean fuel. This fuel can be used to power vehicles, heat homes, cook meals and more!

Please help support our efforts by collecting your old markers – even non-Crayola brands (Expo, Sharpie, highlighters, etc.…area all accepted). Drop-off boxes are located in the 5th grade teachers’ lounge and outside Hayes’ Room 216. What an easy way to get your students to be globally minded! 😊

Thank you! 

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Conferences with Parents

 As stated at the beginning of the year, all teachers need to have a documented parent conference for each student. 

Our Student Showcase counted as the "fall parent conference" unless a parent requested an additional conference afterwards. 

If a parent was unable to attend the Student Showcase, please reach out to them to schedule a conference! We have to make sure we are on the same page with parents in regards to their child's progress.

 We appreciate your willingness to partner with our parents for students' success!  

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KSU Coach

Schedule: I will be at High Point on Tuesday 10/24, Thursday 10/26 & Friday 10/27.

Notes: Did you know Seesaw has a new feature? The 'activities' section is now available. Log in as a teacher and check out the grade-level specific activities available to your students! Check out this link to see how to get started! https://youtu.be/YkshBgjWJgE 

Highlights: Check out the image below to see great work happening at High Point! Great use of technology to create transformative learning experiences for students!

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RTI Reminders

On Monday the 23rd, please check the grade-level spreadsheet for the name of the FastBridge test you will be administering.

During the week of October 23rd, please practice progress monitoring your group and email Brian with any issues.

During the week of October 30th, you will take your first official data point for the added T2 students.

By November 10th, added T2 students (in any area) need to have a Language Checklist completed. Please remember, do not make any changes in EASY other than completing a Language Checklist.

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PBIS

Don't forget to practice the de-escalation protocol with your team or colleagues so you are ready if a child goes into a crisis mode or is showing signs of behavior outside of their norm. 

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Media Center News

All Teachers- Reminder to please sign of on the two required digital citizenship tasks. The sooner the better- firm deadline Oct. 31 before you leave! See email from Sandi Dennis with specific instructions. 

Also- Reminder we now have PEBBLE GO for your students!  We purchased all databases except Dinosaurs.

We also purchased Pebble Go NEXT SCIENCE for grades 3-5.

The links to Pebble Go and Pebble Go NEXT are also on our Symbaloo!

Site username: highpoint

Site password: school

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SeeSaw

 Please reach out to Hannah Rome if you are having difficulty with SeeSaw. It should be up and running now and all homeroom classrooms are expected to be using it to showcase students' work as well as using it as a communication tool. 

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November 1st RFF Day

 This RFF day will be spent working on IB tasks and school visits. Our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade teachers will also receive their 2nd iReady training for data. 

The iReady schedule will be as follows: 

7:30-10:30 - iReady Training for 4th and 5th Grade Teachers

12:30-3:30 - iReady Training for 3rd Grade Teachers

The IB tasks and schedule will be given to staff closer to the 1st through email. 

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ESOL Strategies

2 Kagan Strategies 

1. Simultaneous RoundTable: students each write a response on their own piece of paper. Students then pass their papers clockwise so each teammate can add to the prior response.

2. Quiz-Quiz-Trade: Using question cards, students quiz a partner, get quizzed by their partner, and then trade cards to repeat the process with a new partner. 

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

Mrs. Nobles encourages students to look for and use the IB Attitudes in one another then highlights them in class and on her hallway bulletin board!

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Mrs. Berric shows students' understanding of the attributes of the Learner Profile using SeeSaw videos and QR codes!! She also moved her IB board to the front of her classroom (down from the high wall placement) so that she and students interact with it regularly!

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

Monday, October 23rd

7:30 am - SGC Meeting Rm #123
9:30 am - Prospective Parent Tour

Tuesday, October 24th

3rd Grade In-House Field Trip
4th Grade In-House Field Trip
1:45 pm - Leadership Team Meeting #123

Wednesday, October 25th

"Pink Out!" for Breast Cancer Awareness

Thursday, October 26th

1:50 - 1st Grade Extended Team Time
2:55 - PLC Meetings

Friday, October 27th
6:00 pm - Costume Dance in Cafeteria 

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

Happy birthday to Amanda Shams on the 29th!! We hope you have a very happy birthday!!!!  

October 16th, 2017

Monday Notes 10.16.17

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

Bus Driver Appreciation Week

It's Bus Driver Appreciation Week! Thank you for taking the time to say thank you to our bus drivers!!! 

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Clinic

As you guys already know, Michelle Dickie is out on medical leave taking care of her husband. We are continuing to search high and low for a clinic sub but are not able to find anyone at this time. Therefore, we need your help!!!

Please only send EMERGENCIES to the clinic and students that need to take their medication. If you can help with the minor incidents, we would really appreciate it!! If you need refills of items in your medical bag, please let someone in administration know and we will get it for you! 

We have three paraprofessionals (Espinoza, Southerland, and King) being trained to assist in the clinic if needed and have created a rotation schedule to assist Valerie Jackson in the front. We are doing everything in our power to keep our students safe and healthy and appreciate your assistance with this as well!! 

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Flu Shots

Achoo! Don’t let this be you………. 

Student Health Services is collaborating with Maxim Healthcare to provide flu shots for staff again this year. For those employees with the State Health Plan, Insurance (Blue Cross/Blue Shield) or other Maxim accepted insurance (see Ms. Zeller for insurance information) there will not be an additional charge.  For those without the acceptable insurance the charge will be $30.  

High Point is scheduled for the staff flu clinic on Monday, November 6th, from 1:30-3:30pm.  Please sign up by October 31st.  Sign-up sheet is on the door in the mailroom. We will need a maximum of  25 employees to sign up to provide this service.

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October Breast Cancer

As you already know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We will be sharing more information at our faculty meeting tomorrow however, we want you to put October 25th on your calendar as High Point's "Pink Out" day where everyone is invited to wear pink in honor of our friends, family, students, and parents who are battling or have battled this awful disease.  

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KSU Coach

Schedule: My normal days are altered this week. I will be at High Point on Wednesday 10/18 & Thursday 10/19.

Highlights: Please view and favorite my online newsletter https://www.smore.com/0j3th! Check it out to learn new tools you can use in your classroom, review my calendar for days I'll be High Point, and shout outs to the great work going on!

Notes: Have you been using Seesaw this year and need some more ideas for how to get students to post their work????? Check out this link from the Seesaw PD offered recently - https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ScZNeAgBb5SC4b31HiDorNnmmiIcPnvWFnecEqoqgrk

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Love and Logic

My favorite part of the book Love and Logic is chapter 2 which confronts typical myths about discipline: 

● Do you have to warn students in advance about a consequence? NO. The teacher sets up their classroom as if no one will break the rules. If they do, then the teacher will handle it at that time. 

● Do consequences have to happen immediately? NO. Student/teacher problems do not have to be solved on the spot. Don’t try to solve problems with students while they are upset or while you are upset. 

● You don’t have to like your teacher but you have to respect them. MYTH! Great teachers know that you cannot overpower students, but you can get them to behave or do their assignments because they want to please their teacher. 

These are three important myths to remember when working with our students! If you set clear routines and procedures in class, make connections with your students, and take a break when their behavior is overwhelming you, then you can handle any type of discipline!! 

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Appreciation Project

Our friends at North Point Community Church are asking for a little help with a big project they’re undertaking. They want to appreciate public servants in our community. All they need is a little information about you.

Please take two minutes to fill out this form. They would love to specifically appreciate you! While they will do their very best, they cannot guarantee that everyone who fills out a form hears back from someone but it's a start! Click the link below if you are interested! 

https://northpoint.formstack.com/forms/np_giveservelove_recipient?utm_source=North+Point+Ministries&utm_campaign=0dad8988a4-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_09_28&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c0de0b427f-0dad8988a4-327257553

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Books to Support Math

We have a few ‘New’ books in our Media Center to support Math:

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Math Workshop Observations

Kerstin will be coming around to observe core math instruction in all classrooms beginning today.  

Our best practices in math include:

• Number Talks

• Focused Learning Targets

• Arc of Instruction: Minilesson, Work Session and Closing

• Accountable Math Talk

• Inquiry/Constructing new math understandings using manipulatives

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Bert's Big Thank You

It’s that time of year again! Every year the Bert Show hosts an event called Bert’s Big Thank You! The goal of this project is to put a handwritten, heartfelt letter in the hand of every military member who is overseas and will not be home for Thanksgiving. If you choose to participate there will be a box for letter donations outside of Ms. Silverman’s door on the 5th grade hallway, room 135. (You can also place them in her mailbox). 

Here are the letter specifications:

• All letters must be on 8.5” x 11” paper or smaller.

• Please do not use glue, tape, staples, cardboard, glitter or otherwise attach anything to the paper.

You can decorate using crayons, markers, pens or pencils.

• NO construction paper.

• Use both sides if you like, but use one page per letter only.

• Please do not send greeting cards or photographs.

• Feel free to include your mailing and email address – sometimes military members will write back!

• Individual letters should not be sealed in envelopes.

• Please do not send anything except letters!

If you have any other questions, check out the Big Thank You website: 

http://thebertshow.com/bigthankyou/ 

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Report Cards

The initial report card verification needs to be returned to Fears' box TODAY. The final copy will be printed tomorrow in order for the report cards to go home on the 18th! Record card envelopes are available in the mailroom. 

Remember, parents should not be surprised by any grade. We appreciate everyone for communicating with those who support our kids!  

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ESOL Strategies

2 Kagan Strategies for Speaking:

1.Talking Chips

During a discussion, teammates place their chip in the center each time they talk. They cannot talk again until all team members have placed a chip.

2.Mix Pair Share

The class “mixes” until the teacher calls “pair.” Students find a new partner to discuss the teacher’s question.

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Continuous Learning

This article from "Getting Smart" talks about 8 things to look for in a Student-Centered Learning Environment. The picture shows them all plus more. Don't we want every classroom to be like this where it's quickly apparent what the goal of the lesson is and the students are doing the bulk of the work??!!!!

http://www.gettingsmart.com/2017/08/8-things-look-student-centered-learning-environment/?utm_content=buffer24256&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

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TKES Walkthroughs

Walkthrough #2 has begun. We will be assessing standard #2 - Lesson Planning an #5 - Assessment Strategies. We will also assess any standards from the first walkthrough that received a level II.  

Walkthrough #3 for Flexible Employees and Formative #1 for Full Employees will begin in November. Walkthrough #3 will assess standard #4 - Differentiation. The formative will cover all ten standards. 

As always, if there is something we missed or you would like to discuss your observations further, please reach out to Pitchford or DiBartolo. Also, please reach out to our coaches and CST for support in any of the areas. 

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Support Girls on the Run

Wednesday, October 25th 

3:10 meet outside the main office.

What: Come run, walk, or cheer on our girls as they complete their mock 5k

Where: Meet outside the office and we will run the neighborhood loop around HPES

Why:  To support our 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade girls on the run team!

RSVP: Please email Rebecca Negrin negrin@fultonschools.org by October 23rd if you are interested in volunteering! 

Questions: Please contact our coaches: Negrin, Cole, Frappier, Sapp, Silverman, and Todd,

GOTR Fall 2017 Team Roster

Brayden Allgood

Laura Avalos

Laila Benefield

Evelyn Carroll

Kennedy Cobb

Palmer Cobb

Avery  Cole

Margaret  Cole

Isabella Dumler

Kacira Foster

Anna Glass

Hannah Mabry

Mccall Millichap

Rylan Nau

Lucy Rank

Lucy  Smith

Everly Strickland

Laila Strickland

Danielle Wacht

Leah Weis

May Weis

Thank you for your support!

Interested in running or support the GOTR (real) 5k? https://www.girlsontherunatlanta.org/5k

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

3rd grade Skyped with a Park Ranger to build background knowledge and promote inquiry among their students!

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Ms. Spears used the Learner Profile, "thinker", and Key Concepts, "Perspective" and "Form" to transform her learning targets this week!  Great job, taking ACTION on your learning from our school visits!

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

Monday, October 16th

Bus Driver Appreciation Week
WriteScore Write Assessment for 3rd Grade

Tuesday, October 17th 

2:55 - Faculty Meeting in Cafeteria

Wednesday, October 18th

5th Graders Experience Ellis Island

Thursday, October 19th

2:55 - PLC Meetings

Friday, October 20th

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

Happy birthday to Tashika Truesdale and Sandi Dennis on the 18th and Brittany Frappier on the 22nd!!! We hope you all have a very happy birthday!!!!