April 30th, 2018

Monday Notes 4.30.18

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

Senator Jen Jordan Visits Today!!

Senator Jen Jordan from District 6 will be visiting High Point Elementary this morning! She will be touring the school, reading to our PreK students, and speaking with our 3rd grade teachers as well as our 5th grade students. Please introduce yourself if you see her in the hallway and make her feel welcome! Thank you!!!

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New Student Round-Up

Please remember that our New Student Round-Up will be held this Thursday at 3:00! Remember that you don't get a second chance to make a first impression!!! 

Please make sure that the hallways, classrooms, and bulletin boards are clean and updated. 

Thank you!!!!

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Math High Point Hound Bowl!

Our students represented us VERY well this weekend at the 2nd Annual Hound Bowl Math Tournament. We received 1st place in the 4th grade team event, 1st place in the 5th grade team event, 1st place in the 4th grade individual event and 3rd place in the 5th grade individual event!!! We are so proud of our students!!!

A huge thank you to the coaches...Ms. Strafford, Ms. Ittig, and Ms. May for coming to support their students!

And to Ms. Long and Mr. Madej for coordinating this event and preparing our students!!! It was wonderful!!!

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Girls on the Run!

Our 4th and 5th grade girls participated in the Girls on the Run 5K this weekend!!! A huge thank you to all the coaches who supported our team before and during the event!!! 

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Thanks!!

Thank you to all our staff who assisted with the GA Milestones Assessment the last couple of weeks!!! We appreciate your dedication to your kids and keeping an optimal testing environment for our students!!!! Thank you!!! - Mr. DiBartolo

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TKES

Reminder that all FULL employees will be receiving their last formative observation and all FLEX employees will be receiving their last walkthrough from now til the end of May. 

Summative evaluations and conferences will be held so please make sure you are responding with meeting dates for Pitchford and DiBartolo when asked. 

Any questions, please ask!!! 

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PKES

Classified staff - TODAY is the last day to complete your self-assessment!!!! Please make sure that is COMPLETE today!!!!

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Field Day

In order to make sure all stations are being appropriately monitored and our students are safe during all field day events, we will be utilizing EVERY extra employee during the morning session OR afternoon session. Ms. Bearden will notify each person of their placement. If you have any questions, please reach out to Ms. Bearden or Ms. Pitchford.

Thank you for your cooperation to make sure field day is a huge success for our students!!  

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Fastbridge Universal Screener

Please still remember: 

* Teachers are responsible of keeping track of who takes the tests. If a student misses the test, please have them go with another class during the appropriate time. If there isn't a class to go with, please send them during the appropriate MAKE-UP days listed on the chart. Do NOT send students to the lab unsupervised. 

* If the chart says "Classroom," please get with your grade level to have the appropriate number of charged laptops for your testing day and time. You will be testing at that time in your classroom and not in the lab. 

* The results of the Fastbridge Univeral Screener will be used for teachers' Summative Assessment (looking at growth) and also to aid in class placement. Please make sure students take this seriously. 

*If there is a scheduling concern with Math, please go to LONG. If there is a scheduling concern with READING, go to Hess. ALL STUDENTS MUST TAKE THE TEST! 

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Great Kindness Challenge!

This week, we will be participating in the great kindness challenge. Here’s what you need to know!

• Give every student a kindness challenge sheet. Explain that once they complete all of the challenges, they can turn their sheets in for a prize. We will be monitoring to see which grade level turns in the most challenge sheets to become our “Kindness Kings and Queens”.

• Place kindness strips (in your box) in a place where students can access them throughout the week. Explain that they can write down kind acts that others have done for them. Have a place for students to place completed strips. You are encouraged to write down acts as well! We are going to try to make our kindness chain reach all the way from the top to the bottom of the kindergarten hallway!

• At the end of each day, collect any strips and completed challenge sheets. Turn challenge sheets and strips into the designated boxes in the front office. Take emoji tattoos to give to students that have completed their challenge sheet.

• You are encouraged to use this week to talk about kindness in your classroom and add any additional activities. Below are some resources if you would like to use them. Please let me know if you are doing any additional fun activities!

https://thegreatkindnesschallenge.com//wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Reflection-Piece.pdf

https://thegreatkindnesschallenge.com//wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Sentence-

Starters_0108.pdf

https://thegreatkindnesschallenge.com//wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Reflection-Worksheet_0108.pdf

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Classroom Field Trips and End of Year Events

Teachers - Please remind parents who would like to attend your End of the Year party or a field trip that they have to complete the VOLUNTEER FORM for Fulton County. If they are attending a performance or would like to eat with their child at lunch, they can check in as a VISITOR. The blurb from the Student Handbook (pg 12 an d 13) is below: 

Thank you for your help in ensuring parents continue to feel welcome while keeping our school safe!!! 

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KSU Coach

Schedule: I will be at High Point on T 5/1 and Th 5/3.

Notes: Google Expeditions have been a hit with students! This learning experience immerses students into environments where it feels like they are actually there. These tours allow you to take students on a field trip without actually leaving the classroom. However, it's important to be prepared! Make sure you browse the list of available expeditions to determine which ones will align to your standards and curriculum (found in Media Files on the Google Drive). Plan a follow up or reflection for students to do to that relates the experience to what they're learning. 

To learn more about how to handle and manage Google Expeditions, check out this site! https://shakeuplearning.com/blog/ultimate-google-cardboard-expeditions-resource-guide/ 

Highlight: #hpspotlight on Check out Ms. Milazzo's students as they use Google Drawings to build a story map of Fairy Tales using shapes, text and images. 

(follow me on Twitter @H_Rome_iTeach to see more shout outs)

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Media Center

Teachers- Please read the overdue book list to your students or check with students who have outstanding overdue books when the list is emailed to you next week- this will help begin the hunt for missing books! 

Public Library Card Sign Up-

Also, if you live in Fulton County and have not applied for a public library card- here is the link. Tumblebooks will be available through the public library next year, and you may check out 50 books at a time from the public library. The Sandy Springs branch is planning a nice renovation also! 

http://www.afpls.org/library-card-application 

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

Monday, April 30th
Great Kindness Challenge Begins!!!
Senator Jen Jordan to Visit High Point!!!
1st Grade In-House Field Trip

Tuesday, May 1st

1:55 - Leadership Team Meeting

Wednesday, May 2nd

3rd Grade Field Trip 

Thursday, May 3rd 

5th Grade to Ridgeview
3:00 - New Student Round-Up
2:55 - PLCs 

Friday, May 4th
5th Grade Field Trip
8:30 - Kindergarten E-I-E-I- Oops!
Place all Science materials in the hallway! 


Saturday, May 5th
HPES Parent Social @ 7:00 pm 
Happy Cinco de Mayo!!

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

Happy belated birthday to Derick Johnson on the 28th!!! Happy birthday to Gina Milazzo TODAY, Michelle Nobles on the 5th, and Benita Bearden on the 5th!!! We hope you all have an amazing birthday!! 

April 23rd, 2018

Monday Notes 4.23.18

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

GA Milestones

We will be giving Science today and Social Studies tomorrow for 5th grade students ONLY! Testing will not begin until an announcement has been made and we will make an announcement once testing ends as well. 

Please make sure that your students are still as quiet as possible around the 5th grade hallway and in the building to give students an optimal testing environment. 

Also, please make sure that staff and students are off of the wireless network TODAY and tomorrow until testing is over!! 

We appreciate everyone's patience and support as we prepare for the final few days of testing!!! 

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TKES

FLEX Employees - You will have one final walkthrough assessing standards #3 - Instructional Strategies and #4 - Differentiation over the next couple of weeks. DiBartolo and Pitchford will then complete the Summative Assessments and set up an end of year conference. 

FULL Employees - You will have one final formal observation. The observation will be announced. DiBartolo and Pitchford will then complete your Summative Assessment and set up an end of year conference. 

We appreciate everyone's patience and flexibility as we wrap up the observations and meetings. 

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PKES

Classified staff - Please remember you have until April 30th to complete your PKES self-assessment. We will use your self-assessment as well as information from colleagues (if applicable) to complete your summative assessment by May 23rd. Thank you!! 

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Fastbridge Universal Screener

The Spring Universal Screener (aReading and aMath) will be given to our students starting TODAY!!! We have tweaked the schedule based off requests. 

Below is the schedule: 

Please still remember: 

* Teachers are responsible of keeping track of who takes the tests. If a student misses the test, please have them go with another class during the appropriate time. If there isn't a class to go with, please send them during the appropriate MAKE-UP days listed on the chart. Do NOT send students to the lab unsupervised. 

* If the chart says "Classroom," please get with your grade level to have the appropriate number of charged laptops for your testing day and time. You will be testing at that time in your classroom and not in the lab. 

* The results of the Fastbridge Univeral Screener will be used for teachers' Summative Assessment (looking at growth) and also to aid in class placement. Please make sure students take this seriously. 

*If there is a scheduling concern with Math, please go to LONG. If there is a scheduling concern with READING, go to Hess. ALL STUDENTS MUST TAKE THE TEST! 

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K-5 Homeroom Science Teachers:

A required training for the new Science Textbook Series "McGraw-Hill Inspires Science" will be offered on post planning days, in June, July, and also during pre-planning. Each training will be 3 hours long. 

If you are teaching Science next year, you are required to attend one of these trainings. Teachers will be able to sign up in Edivate. The link will be sent out once registration is open. 

May 29th

Grades 1, 2, 3 – AM or PM at a South Location

Grades K, 4, 5 – AM or PM at a North Location

May 30th

Grades 1, 2, 3 – AM or PM at a North Location

Grades K, 4, 5 – at a South Location

June 25th – K-5 – AM or PM at a North Location

June 26th – K-5 – AM or PM at a South Location

July 25th – K-5 AM or PM at a North Location

July 26th – K-5 AM or PM at a South Location

August 2nd – K-5 AM or PM at a North & South Location

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KSU Coach

Schedule: I will be at High Point ES on T 4/24, Th 4/26 and F 4/27.

Notes: I recently shared a form with grade chairs seeking feedback about support needed in your grade level for next year. Please review as a team what I can 'start, stop and continue'. Offer suggestions for strategies and tools that I could start helping you with. List a few things that could stop taking place because you are able to do the tasks independently. Share support that can be continued and remain the same.

Highlights: To celebrate the end of testing, invite students to motivate and encourage their classmates to continue working hard throughout the rest of the year. Try making your very own 'tear-off' posters with students using templates from this website - http://www.doinggoodtogether.org/bhf/tear-off-posters/?rq=tear%20off%20

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End of Year

This quote from Todd Whitiker is extremely pertinent to all of us right now. The last 24 days are going to be crucial to ending the year strong! Please make sure that you are not packing things away, taking down posters and bulletin boards, or doing anything that would communicate to students that "the year is over." A lot of our students become more emotional around this time of the year when they know they are leaving a place where they know without a doubt that they are loved, they are fed, and they are taken care of. 
Thanks for helping us by teaching, loving, supporting, and staying consistent until the very last minute. 

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

Monday, April 23rd
SCIENCE- GA MILESTONES

Tuesday, April 24th

SOCIAL STUDIES - GA MILESTONES
2:55 - Faculty Meeting

Wednesday, April 25th

Make-Up Day for GA Milestones

Thursday, April 26th 

Make-Up Day for GA Milestones
1:55 - 4th Grade ETT with Roberts 

Friday, April 27th

Saturday, April 28th
High Point Hound Dog Math Tournament!

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

Happy birthday to Claudia Rocabado on the 27th and Kathleen Gochnauer on the 28th!!! We hope you both have an amazing birthday!! 

April 16, 2018

Monday Notes 4.16.18

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

GA Milestones

We will be giving READING today and MATH Wednesday. Testing will not begin until an announcement has been made and we will make an announcement once testing ends as well. 

Please make sure you are adhering to the changed special schedule today and Wednesday and keep your students quiet as possible in the hallways!! 

Please refrain from using the school's wireless services on these days. 

Make-Up Days - Because we do not anticipate a large number of make-ups, students and teachers CAN get on devices as well as the personalized learning platforms. We will let you know if anything changes. 

Thanks for everyone's support!!!  

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Summer Bridge Workbooks

For the past couple of years, we have been selling Summer Bridge workbooks to our High Point families for $10. These activity books really help with the "summer slide" that happens every summer season. Please promote these workbooks to your families and if any of your students need an additional order form, they will be in the front office. 

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PKES

Classified staff - Please remember you have until April 30th to complete your PKES self-assessment. We will use your self-assessment as well as information from colleagues (if applicable) to complete your summative assessment by May 23rd. Thank you!! 

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Fastbridge Universal Screener

The Spring Universal Screener (aReading and aMath) will be given to our students starting on April 23rd. 

Below is the schedule: 

A few things to know: 

* Teachers are responsible of keeping track of who takes the tests. If a student misses the test, please have them go with another class during the appropriate time. If there isn't a class to go with, please send them during the appropriate MAKE-UP days listed on the chart. Do NOT send students to the lab unsupervised. 

* If the chart says "Classroom," please get with your grade level to have the appropriate number of charged laptops for your testing day and time. You will be testing at that time in your classroom and not in the lab. 

* The results of the Fastbridge Univeral Screener will be used for teachers' Summative Assessment (looking at growth) and also to aid in class placement. Please make sure students take this seriously. 

*If there is a scheduling concern with Math, please go to LONG. If there is a scheduling concern with READING, go to Hess. ALL STUDENTS MUST TAKE THE TEST! 

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K-5 Homeroom Science Teachers:

The county has adopted a new science book/workbook for this upcoming school year! With that said,  we need you all to go through your rooms and bookrooms and pull TEs, student workbooks(not written in), and student editions. These will all be discarded back to the warehouse but before that happens Hess needs to inventory it all. 

This is what is needed from you:

• pull any teacher editions, student workbooks(not written in), and student editions from your classrooms and put outside your classroom BY Friday, May 4th

• work as grade level teams to pull all of the materials mentioned above out of your bookrooms. Put them outside your grade level bookroom BY May 4th. 

**Any questions, let Hess know.

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KSU Coach

Schedule: I will be at High Point on T 4/17 and Th 4/19

Notes: Allowing students to create is empowering as it encourages problem solving and collaboration. Novel Engineering is a strategy for combining creation and literacy. Use classroom stories or read alouds for inspiration in designing solutions to challenges, problems and issues in the text. This strategy can be used in summary of students' learning and integrated across many subject areas. To try this strategy...Read more here - http://www.novelengineering.org/ OR follow this simple steps:

1. Read a story and identify the problem

2. Brainstorm possible solutions

3. Build a prototype that address needs of characters

4. Test solution and get feedback from peers and teacher

5. Improve and revise design 

6. Share final solution

Highlights: Second Graders, inspired by the winner of the March Book Madness competition, worked in teams to be Novel Engineers. View the images below to see how students worked together to craft a solution for a problem from the story, "Not Quite Narwhal."

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

Monday, April 16th
READING - GA MILESTONES

Tuesday, April 17th

Make-Up Day for GA Milestones
2:55 - Para PLC and NKOB
Acceleration Forms Due to Hess - K-2

Wednesday, April 18th

MATH - GA MILESTONES

Thursday, April 19th

Make-Up Day for GA Milestones
1:55 - 4th Grade ETT with Roberts 
Acceleration Forms Due to Hess - K-2

Friday, April 20th
Make-Up Day for GA Milestones
7:30 am - PTO Board Meeting

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

There are currently no birthdays this week.