January 28th, 2019

Monday Notes 1.28.19

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

TOTY and PEOTY Celebration!                

We are so excited to announce our Teacher and Professional Employee of the Year celebration will be held in place of our faculty meeting on February 12th from 3:00-3:45! We are thrilled to be able to recognize our finalists and celebrate with each other!! Save the date!

************************************************** 

Feedback                  

We are asking for everyone's feedback regarding positions, schedule, and budget for 2019-2020. Please take a moment to fill out this survey prior to February 7th. This will give everyone two weeks to reflect on this year and give your feedback. Thanks!!!

https://goo.gl/forms/jtq1Da5NhWjMqQUm2

************************************************* 

Tailgating Luncheon

Please join us this Friday for a tailgating luncheon sponsored by your admin team!!! We will have tons of food and fun games for all!! We will be in room #123 beginning at 10:30! 

Feel free to wear your favorite team's jersey! 

*************************************************

Buddy Brag Booth  

Please stop by the media center in the front glass office to record a quick message/story about our Teacher and Professional Employee finalists!!! There will be an ipad and microphone set up for you to record. If you would like to bring any of your students with you, you are more than welcome. We can't wait to see what everyone says!! The booth will be open all this week!!!

Our finalists are: 

Benita Bearden

Kaila Gopal

Bridget Mahle

Michelle Nobles

Mochandra King

Mary Katherine Stahura

Colleen Zeller

************************************************* 

KSU Coach          

Schedule: I am attending the Future of Education Technology Conference Monday-Wednesday, but will be able to support High Point virtually on Wednesday 1/30. 

Notes: The month of February holds many holidays and events. Check out the resources on this Padlet wall, https://padlet.com/romeh/febfun,  to find content, activities and projects you can incorporate into your teaching! 

Highlights: Thank you to the 7 teachers who have connected with me so far through iTeach On  Demand! Our video conferences have been intentional and productive. If you'd like to connect with me to review ideas and plans for transforming your teaching with technology please reach out to myself or a teacher from your grade level who has been working with me. We'd be happy to get you set up for virtual support too!

************************************************** 

Fastbridge Testing for K             

Kindergarten will be using the computer lab this week to give their students an optimal testing environment for Fastbridge. The lab will be utilized from 8:15-9:15 and 11:15-12:15 each day. The schedule is below. Thank you!!!

************************************************* 

TKES Observations    

Formative observations for FLEX employees will begin in February and go through April. All observations will be announced prior and all standards will be assessed. 

The second walkthrough for FULL employees will begin in February as well. Standards #2 - Lesson Planning, #3 - Instructional Strategies and #4 - Differentiation will be assessed. 

Any questions, just ask! 

************************************************* 

Continuous Learning   

Below is an article from Edutopia regarding equity and equality. The following two paragraphs really spoke to me and with our current conversations around trauma, student accommodations, consistency, growth, race, etc... I thought this article would be beneficial for everyone as well. 

Thank you for taking time to read this and become more educated on the difference between equality and equity in order to support our kids and help them reach their full potential! 

Equality vs. Equity - 6 Steps Toward Equity

"If equality means giving everyone the same resources, equity means giving each student access to the resources they need to learn and thrive. As those of us who are parents know, each child is different. It can be tough to meet their competing needs, but this is pretty much the job description for parenting and, I would argue, for teaching.....

If we’re committed to the success of every child, we must acknowledge the uneven playing field that exists for many: ELLs, students with special needs, children experiencing trauma or relentless poverty, and students of color who confront unconscious biases about their capacity. Walking toward equity will help us to create inclusive, 21st-century classrooms."

https://www.edutopia.org/blog/equity-vs-equality-shane-safir?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

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

Monday, January 28th

Tuesday, January 29th
2:55 - Standards Mastery Framework Redelivery for Certified Staff - Media Center

Wednesday, January 30th
IB PLC - During Specials 

Thursday, January 31st
7:15 am - SGC Meeting - Conference Room
3rd Grade In-House Field Trip - Room 123
2:50 - PLCs

Friday, February 1st 
Tailgating Luncheon - Room #123

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

Happy birthday to Dalila Salhi on the 31st, Kerstin Long on the 1st and Mari Park on the 3rd! We hope you all have wonderful birthdays!!!!  

January 21st, 2019

Monday Notes 1.21.19

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

MLK Remembrance 

************************************************** 

Congratulations                  

Congratulations to the following four finalists for Teacher of the Year (there was a tie so there are four finalists instead of three):

- Michelle Nobles

- Kaila Gopal

- Bridget Mahle

- Benita Bearden

Observations and interviews will be held on January 29th. Finalists will receive more information from Ms. Hess soon! 

Congratulations also to the following three finalists for Professional Employee of the Year: 

- Mochandra King

- Colleen Zeller

- Mary Katherine Stahura

Please click on the link and select one person to serve as Professional Employee of the Year for 2019-2020!!!

https://goo.gl/forms/DXLKQWUtUgnwQ8Nl2

************************************************** 

Social Media Use                   

This is just a friendly reminder to be mindful of social media posts, whether personal or professional, as they are always considered a reflection of the district. The policy is below. Thanks!!!

Social Media Use - Fulton County

The use of social media, even off duty and off premises, must not violate any Board/District policies or otherwise interfere with the employee’s ability to effectively perform his/her job duties. The District expects all employees to exercise professionalism and good judgment in any social media activities, district-related as well as nondistrict related. Furthermore, any social media activities must comply with all applicable laws including, but not limited to, anti-discrimination, anti-harassment, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), copyright, trademark, defamation, privacy, securities, and any other applicable laws and regulations. Social media should always be viewed as a public space; thus, any communication which is unprofessional or prohibited in any other form/forum is also unprofessional or prohibited on social media. Employees should be mindful that any social

media post, even from an employee’s personal, non-district account, may be interpreted as being made on behalf of/a reflection of the district.

************************************************* 

IOWA Results

Congratulations to our students and staff for the increase in IOWA scores from last year!!! We are very proud of everyone's hard work!!! The scores from 2017 and 2018 are highlighted for each subject. 

*************************************************

GMAS Schedule         

Below is the schedule for the GMAS for 3rd - 5th grade. You are more than welcome to share with parents but please remember the times are not definite. Thanks!!!!

************************************************* 

KSU Coach          

This week I will begin my virtual support connecting with teachers at High Point through video conferencing. Below is calendar reflecting the dates of my support for the rest of January. 

I have started the process of connecting with teachers and would love to hear from you too! When and if you would like to plan, collaborate or explore together please don't hesitate to email me at romeh@fultonschools.org. I'll be able to help you get set up and prepared to chat. 

As always, if this is not the just right form of coaching for you - send me an email, follow me on Twitter or check out the Media Technology Files on Google Drive more opportunities to learn!

************************************************** 

Winter Conferences               

Winter conferences will begin February 1st. It is the expectation that every teacher reach out to parents in various ways to set up a conference. 

The intention of winter conferences is to share student growth and discuss how parents can support their children at home. You may choose to use the following information to show student growth: 

- Numeracy Assessment

- iReady Data

- Fastbridge aReading or aMath

- Grades

- F and P Data

- Classroom Performance

- Unit Assessments

Teachers are not required to use a specific conference form but are required to document when the parent/teacher conferences occur. This information will be used for the Summative Evaluations under Standard 10 - Communication. If you have difficulty getting in touch with a parent, please reach out to someone on the administrative team and we will help you!!!

This time with parents is critical! Thank you for helping increase our school/home connection! 

************************************************* 

FCS Calendar Approved     

The Fulton County calendar for 19-20 and 20-21 was approved last week. Please click the link below to see the calendar: 

https://www.fultonschools.org/en/calendars/

************************************************* 

Spotlight on Best Practices

The second grade team has introduced a “Mood Meter” for students to monitor their feelings. They discussed feelings that fit into each color and strategies to help students improve their mood and change their color. 

************************************************* 

iReady Schedule        

The complete iReady schedule for 3rd-5th grade is below. Please email Pitchford or DiBartolo with any questions or conflicts. Please make sure that any student who missed your original iReady testing session, attends one of the scheduled "Make Up" sessions. Thanks!!! 

Tuesday- 22nd 

8:00-9:00 - Silverman Reading

10:00-11:00 – May Reading

1:15-2:15 - Nobles' Reading 

Wednesday – 23rd 

8:00-9:00 – Make-Ups

1:15-2:15 - Collins Math

Thursday –24th  

9:15-10:15 – Make Ups  

1:15-2:15 - Dixon Math

Friday –25th  

1:15-2:15 - Oliver Math

Monday –28th  

1:15-2:15 - Make-Ups

************************************************* 

Continuous Learning   

Below is a quick article about how going to the gym changed a teacher's perspective of his classroom. In the article he lists five methods for quality teaching that he's implemented in his own classroom after his experience working out in a gym. See his five methods below.....

http://www.ascd.org/publications/newsletters/education-update/oct18/vol60/num10/What-the-Gym-Taught-Me-About-Teaching.aspx?utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=Social-Organic&utm_medium=social

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

Monday, January 21st

No School!!! MLK Holiday

Tuesday, January 22nd
2:55 - NKOB
2:55 - Trauma Sensitive School Training for Paras in Media Center

Wednesday, January 23rd
Guided Reading PLC - During Specials 
2:55 - International Night Committee Meeting in Conference Room

Thursday, January 24th
2:50 - PLCs

Friday, January 25th
3rd Grade Field Trip to Fernbank
2:00 pm - PBIS Monthly Party in the cafeteria
6:00-8:00 - BINGO Night!!!

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

Happy birthday to Julie Ellis and Hollye Conway on the 25th! We hope you both have wonderful birthdays!!!!  

January 14th, 2019

Monday Notes 1.14.19

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

Thank you!                       

Thank you to the whole staff for welcoming the CLC Principals and Support Staff into our building and your classrooms last week! They were so impressed with everything you were doing and stated that they haven't seen this much "true engagement of students" in any other schools so far!! I am so proud of you all! Thanks again!

************************************************* 

Welcome!      

We are excited to announce that we have a new Data Clerk and she will hopefully be starting this Wednesday! Please join me in welcoming Tasheira Parker!

Tasheira comes with six years of administrative and managerial experience along with experience as a substitute teacher. She is enthusiastic, organized, and ready to take on this extremely challenging position. 

Until Tasheira is fully trained, we will continue enrolling students and handling all the class placements. If you have any questions regarding your schedule or students, please ask DiBartolo or Pitchford until Tasheira can get her feet wet. Thank you all for your patience and for supporting our newest faculty member!

************************************************* 

Condolences 

Our sincerest condolences go to Sally Blinder for the passing of her father and to Alterique Hall for the passing of his great grandmother. Both of you are in our thoughts during this difficult time. 

*************************************************

Clinic Closed This Week          

Ms. Dickie will not be here this week so we will only be accepting medical emergencies and students who take medication to the clinic. Our coverage will be minimal so please try to handle small incidents (such as ones that need a bandaid) in your classrooms. 

Also, please make sure that when you send a student you send them with a clinic pass so we know the reason for the visit. Thank you! 

*************************************************

TOTY and PEOTY Voting       

Congratulations to the following staff members who were nominated for TOTY and PEOTY:

Please take a moment to vote for THREE employees in each category by Thursday, January 17th. The three finalists for Teacher of the Year and Professional Employee of the Year will be announced on Tuesday, January 22nd. Thanks!!!

Professional Employee of the Year - https://goo.gl/forms/XUBYjtn7JGyCZyyu2

Teacher of the Year - https://goo.gl/forms/dfrDq82JV19ZEqnJ2

 ************************************************* 

TKES             

We will conducting walkthroughs this month starting today for FULL TKES employees. The standards #7 Positive Learning Environment and #8 Academically Challenging will be assessed. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please see Pitchford or DiBartolo. 

************************************************* 

KSU Coach          

Teachers, I want you to be aware of some changes that are occurring to my role as a instructional technology coach at High Point. 

Starting this month, I will be transitioning from being in the building Tuesday, Thursday and every other Friday ... and moving to virtual coaching. 

Please read the flyer below for more specific information about how this change will affect our work together! Looking forward to this opportunity for more purposeful growth! - Hannah Rome

************************************************* 

PBIS Corner           

Reminder: All staff, not just teachers, should nominate 1 boy and 1 girl who show PAWS up behaviors each month. Who stands out to you? Who has shown improvement? Is it in the lunchroom, hallway, classroom, recess…? Email student nominations to Beth Owens before January 31st!

January Focus: Classroom

This month the PBIS team decided to make the classroom a focus for the month of January because students may need a refresher. Be sure to review and practice your classroom expectations. 

How do your students go to the restroom? How to do they transition subject to subject? How do you settle students after recess? Are your methods working? If not, this a great time to review and practice your expectations so students can spend more time learning and less time being redirected.

Social Reward: January 25th @ 2 p.m. for students who purchase it at the Buddy Bucks store. 

************************************************* 

Spotlight on Best Practices

Ms. Caramelo & Ms. Ellis use SeeSaw to teach, practice and achieve their ESOL standards of speaking, writing and listening! Engaged students are students who are growing!

************************************************* 

K, 1st, 2nd Teachers Only

As you are completing Unit 3, don't forget to post on SeeSaw (in your IB portfolio folder), for each student: a summative assessment, a student reflection, and a work sample of learning!  

************************************************* 

iReady Schedule        

The complete iReady schedule for 3rd-5th grade is below. Please email Pitchford or DiBartolo with any questions or conflicts. Thanks!!! 

Monday- 14th 

8:00-9:00 - Dixon Reading

1:15-2:15 - Faison Math

Tuesday- 15th 

8:00-9:00 - Jones Reading

9:15-10:15 - Gilmore Reading 

1:15-2:15 - Ittig Math

Wednesday - 16th 

8:00-9:00 - Nobles Math

9:15-10:15 - Faison Reading 

1:15-2:15 - Silverman Math

Thursday - 17th 

8:00-9:00 - May Math

9:15-10:15 - Watts Reading 

1:15-2:15 - Hawkins Math 

Friday- 18th 

8:00-9:00 - Ittig Reading

9:15-10:15 - Vavala Reading 

1:15-2:15 - Jones Math

Tuesday- 22nd 

8:00-9:00 - Silverman Reading

10:00-11:00 – May Reading

1:15-2:15 - Oliver Math

Wednesday – 23rd 

8:00-9:00 – Make-Ups

1:15-2:15 - Collins Math

Thursday –24th  

9:15-10:15 – Make Ups  

1:15-2:15 - Dixon Math

Friday –25th  

1:15-2:15 - Nobles Reading

Monday –28th  

1:15-2:15 - Make-Ups

************************************************* 

Continuous Learning   

Robert Marzano and John Hattie are considered experts in the area of educating our youth. In this article, they agree on 8 strategies that make the biggest impact on students' results. 

I love how their eight strategies are what we are focused on here at High Point! We have to be extremely intentional about what the students are learning and communicate their learning to them. We are working on getting students talking more than us and having them authentically engaged in the work. The explanation of the eight strategies are in the link. It's a GREAT read!!! 

The strategies are: 

1. A Clear Focus for the Lesson 

2. Offer Overt Instruction

3. Get Students Engaged with the Content 

4. Give Feedback

5. Multiple Exposures

6. Have Students Apply Their Knowledge

7. Get Students Working Together

8. Build Students' Self-Efficacy

http://www.evidencebasedteaching.org.au/robert-marzano-vs-john-hattie/

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

Monday, January 14th

9:30 am - Prospective Parent Tour

Tuesday, January 15th
2:55 - Faculty Meeting in Media Center - please bring a phone with you and your laptop

Wednesday, January 16th
Math PLC with Long - During Specials 

Thursday, January 17th
11:30 am - ETT  for 4th and 5th Grade in Rm #123
2:50 - PLCs

Friday, January 18th

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

Happy birthday to Margaret Abernethy on the 14th, Anthony Johnson on the 15th, and Leigha Jones on the 20th! We hope you all have wonderful birthdays!!!!