8/3/2011 BEFORE SCHOOL UPDATES

Hi All,

I have seen many of you over the last few days.  It has been great.  This school year is going to be fun with a lot of changes (like I said before) good and not so good.  I have a few updates for you.

First I want to say “thank you” to Julia White.  She is not going to be with us next year.  Her family situation is critical and she is needed with her family.  We will miss and and wish her the best.  I think this was a very difficult decision for her, but we wish her the best!!! 

CLASS LISTS POSTED – We will be posting class lists on the window on Friday at 12:00.  My recommendation is you steer clear of the front door on that day!!!   Also, students who owe $25.00 or more on their lunch bills will NOT be getting a letter from their teacher in the mail.  This is now a school board policy.  These students will have to come the first day or call and make arrangements with the office to pay before getting their room assignments.  SOOO even if you have their name on your list, the parents will not actually know until the first day of school.  I will share that list with you at the first faculty meeting.

TEACHER DESKS – We have a surplus of desks.  If you are wanting to switch your desk out, please let me know.  There are several to choose from.

IPADS – When school starts, we will have a refresher course on IPADs for those who already have them and an introductory class for those who just got one.

CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS POSTERS – If you have been in the building, I have put up all our hallway and bathroom posters.  Nikki is laminating your classroom posters for PBS and we will put them in your mailbox.  They are small (sorry), but we will put it on the server in case you want to make extra copies.

That is all for now.  Thanks everyone!!

7/18 MANIC MONDAY

Well while y0u all are still enjoying your summer -  Mary, Nikki, and I are slaving away at the school!  Just kidding we can back to no internet and no computers in the office.

FUTURECAST:

MARY C. – I sent a staff mail about her upcoming retirement.  Don’t worry.  I have shed enough tears for all of us.  We all knew it was going to happen eventually.   We will be sending her off in style.  I think she is a little nervous!!!!

MARY B. – Mary B. is finally home and ready better and ready for visitors.  We would like to coordinate some meals for her.  Please call North so we can get you on the calendar!

CLASS LISTS – Tentative class lists are ready for you.  If you would like yours now, you will have to stop by the office until we get our internet up and going.

ROOMS READY – Classrooms are clean and ready for you to come and decorate!  Say thank you to our awesome custodians for making this possible so early!

SCHEDULE FOR FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL – I will be mailing you a schedule for the first week we are back at school.  Hint, Hint – Wear your tennis shoes and August 15th.  Don’t worry, we won’t be working out but we will be taking a road trip.

THEME FOR THIS YEAR – The front office area is going to be decorated with Tiger Paws this year and we will be promoting Tiger Pride with “Paws on the Wall” again.  I also will be promoting the statement “Being a Tiger is GRReat!” to promote our positive behavior support theme as well.

I WILL BE BACK TO UPDATING THE BLOG ON A REGULAR BASIS.  SEE YOU ALL SOON!

5/16 Monday

Good morning or afternoon!!  Hope you all had a great weekend!!!  TWO MORE WEEKS, CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? 

Below are updates for the week and upcoming events:

COMPUTER STATIONS FOR END OF THE YEAR – Bob has send out an email.  All computers need to be broken down and sent to the computer lab for summer maintenance.  Please also cover your projector with a pillow case and unplug it.  The pillowcase will allow for your projector to breathe.

PTO LUNCH – Thursday is the PTO lunch.  PLEASE sign up for a side dish in the office.  We have 15 people who have RSVPed to our luncheon on Thursday.

COMMON CORE NOTEBOOKS – I am coming around with common core notebooks today.  Please take a look at them this week and we will be diving into them on Early Out next Monday.

LOGGING TIME – On the back of your check out sheet there is a time log to log your time for these next two weeks.  We will have to log 7.5 hours before school is out.  Also, the office will be open the next 4 weeks after school is out.  So if you did not get to officially check out that Friday, you can come in the next week and check out with me. 

CHECK OUT AT THE END OF THE YEAR – I will be checking out everyone personally this year and not Mary and Nikki.

MATH WORKBOOKS – The math workbooks with extra sheets can just be send home with the students.

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL LUNCH – If you class has special lunch plans, please let the kitchen know ASAP so they can plan for the last day of school.

CLASS LISTS – Please turn in your next year’s class lists to me ASAP if you have not already done so.

FRIDAY – I may be gone 1/2 day on Friday for Jordan.  He has another doctor’s appointment.  If so, Mr. Davis will be notified.  Please call Mary C. in the office and she will call Tom if there are issues.

GAMEINRIDE – Will be here Thursday for 3rd and 4th grade reward. 

TUESDAY AFTER SCHOOL – PBTE MEETING at 3:45 in library. 

IPADS AND IPOD TOUCHES – Please turn you classroom Ipods to the library before you leave.  They need to be checked back into Pat unless you are using it for summer school.   (If you are using it for summer school, please let me know personally.)  I expect you to take your Ipad home over the summer to utilize it.  Those do not need to be checked in to Pat.

GRADE CARDS - Please enter your grades like you normally do.  You DO NOT need to write “promoted” or “retained” in the comments.  We have an option to put promoted or retained on the card but it can only be done in the office.

I think that is all for now.  Thank you!!!!

5/12 THURSDAY – WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME FAST!

Good afternoon.  Just wanted to review some end of the year items and give a heads-up to what is coming down the pike for the next two weeks:

MRI SUPPLIES FOR NEXT YEAR – I will be meeting with you in our grade level to discuss MRI supplies you may need for next year. 

MATH WORKBOOKS – I will be taking orders on which grade levels will need new investigation workbooks for next year.

LAST SUPER TIGER – Last Super Tiger will be on the Wednesday, the 25th, not the last day of school.

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL PLANS – Many of your homeroom moms have contacted you regarding a picnic on the last day of school.  Sounds good to me.  Go for it!  We will not be having a schoolwide picnic.

TEACHER AND SUPPORT STAFF MEMBER OF THE YEAR – Nikki has placed a sheet in your mailbox to vote for teacher and support staff of the year.  Please turn those into the office when you are done.  We will announce it at the last faculty meeting on Monday the 23rd.

PTO LUNCH – We are hosting a lunch for PTO next Thursday.  Please sign up in the office to sign up to bring a side dish.

MAP REWARD - The 3rd and 4th graders will have a MAP celebration on the 19th from 1:00-3:00.  We will be located in the playground area.  “Gaminride” will be coming in to host the reward party for us. 

PAPER – We have gone through an aweful lot of copy paper over the last week.  Please be mindful we still have two weeks to go and need to make things last for the next two weeks.  My budget is down to nothing, so when it’s gone, it’s gone. 

I know it is the end of the year and we are all ready to be done so to speak.  Please remember our contracted times from 8:10 – 3:50. 

AFTER SCHOOL MEETING NEXT TUESDAY 3:45 IN LIBRARY – The district committee has finalized a new summative evaluation form for certfied teachers.  There will be a meeting next Tuesday after school so that Amanda and I can go over the form with you before it is presented to the board next Thursday.  I am not mandating this meeting, however I highly recommend your attendance.  We want you to see the form in case it is adopted by the board and be familiar with the process teachers went through in order to create this form.  It is very different than what we are currently using.

4/1 Monday

HAPPY TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK!!!  The students at Willard North and I appreciate all you do.  It is obvious your hearts are in the right place, and this is great place to be! 

LUNCH ON WEDNESDAY – Lunch will be provided to you on Wednesday this week for Teacher Appreciation.  Backyard Burger will be catering the lunch.  SORRY 4th grade.  It will be hard to do anything this week without someone missing out!!!  Don’t worry I will make it up to you!

FIELD DAY – Don’t forget to get your lunch orders into the cooks for Friday if you haven’t already.  Kindergarten through 2nd will be leaving on the bus in the afternoon. 

CARNIVAL – Thank you to everyone who came out for the carnival.  Fun was had by all!!!  The dunk tank brought in over $150.00 in just two hours!!!  Thank you to all who volunteered to get into the deadliest catch cage. 

SHIRTS FOR NEXT YEAR – The winner on the T-shirts was option #2!!!!  Yeah.  It won hands down.  I have posted it in the teacher mailbox room.

TODAY AFTER SCHOOL – Today after school we are scoring our end of the year writing prompts collaboratively. 

LUNCH TRAYS – The students are putting GUM on the bottom of the lunch trays!!  If I catch them and the “Pooping Bandit” there will be heck to pay.

COMMON CORE – Many of you have already heard about common core coming down the pike.  Missouri will now be bound by a new set of standards.  Instead of GLE’s it will be called Common Core.  There is a “crosswalk” available which we will show you on the last Monday of the month during early out.  This is just to get you exposed to the new standards.  Many are exactly the same, however there may be some GLE’s so to speak that come from different grade levels.

PTO LUNCHEON – We will be honoring the PTO on May 19th during lunch.  There will be a meat tray provided for the occasion.  There will be a sign up in the office for you to provide a side dish for the occasion.  Thank you!!!  I know this is different than the survey results, but when I set the date for the luncheon, the survey said to hold a lunch for them!

FIELD DAY – Don’t forget to get your lunch orders into the cooks for Friday if you haven’t already.  Kindergarten through 2nd will be leaving on the bus in the morning. 

FUTURECAST FOR THE WEEK:

4/2 MONDAY – Early out collaborative scoring writing prompts

4/3 TUESDAY – Jamie’s Shower after school

4/4 WEDNESDAY – Kindergarten screening and 4th grade field trip.

4/5 THURSDAY – Australian assembly

4/6 FRIDAY – Field Day, 3rd grade inventor night.

4/19 STOP THE INSANITY!!!!!

We have a pretty hefty load the next couple of weeks.  I am going to give you a rundown since we have A LOT of events

3/20  Last week of MAP Testing

3/22  3rd grade Field Trip

3/25  Dana Mead’s baby shower after school early out

3/25  RSVP Pizza Party  (Suzanne will be contacting your kiddos if this applies)

3/26  Administer end of the year writing prompt

3/26  District informational meeting for health insurance High School 4:00 (not mandatory)

3/26  Lunch provided

3/27  Locks of Love and Super Tiger Celebration

3/28  Sock Hop 6-8

***  Cummulative records at the end of the year.  I will be going around to your grade levels to talk to you about end of the year information to go in cummulative records.

***  Please come to the office to look at events for May on the calender.  We have a lot going on the first weeks of May as well.

BREATHE EVERYBODY!!!

4/11 MONDAY

We have quite a week ahead!!!  We are hitting the ground running!!!  Hope you enjoyed your weekend.  I’m glad it’s a beautiful day today as well!!

EARLY OUT TODAY:  We are finalizing MAP.  Please take time to meet with your grade levels after school.  I would like to meet briefly with 3rd grade, 4th grade, and anyone administering the MAP after school today in the conference room.

SUMMER SCHOOL REMINDERS:  Please make sure to post to your websites that summer school enrollment is due this FRIDAY.  I will also send our a reminder through SISK12.

VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION WEEK NEXT WEEK:  NEXT WEEK (I REPEAT NEXT WEEK) is Volunteer Appreciation Week.  Please let your parent volunteers know how much you appreciate them and the time they devote to their children and the school as a whole. 

FINAL WRITING PROMPT:  Our final district writing prompt is comin up after next week.  This last one will need to be scored collaborately and completed by Wednesday, May 4th in order to review them at the last district literature team meeting.

MAP THIS WEEK:  Don’t forget specials schedules are changed not only for MAP testing but for also please pay attention to Sharon’s schedule for music this week.

NO STUDY ISLAND:  I originally was going to continue with Study Island and Raz Kids these next too weeks.  But I came to my senses.  No STUDY ISLAND OR RAZ KIDS.

PBTE SUMMATIVE:  The PBTE committee has been working very hard on creating a new PBTE form for the district.  Please be looking for information from Amanda Hambey our representative.  She will be sending out an email and google form with information on it.

GRADING:  Everyone allows for students to correct work they have bombed on.  How are we grading this work and are we consistent in our grade level?  This was a very good question brought up in a grade level meeting.  In looking towards the future we need to have discussion first with our grade level then with our school on how we want to do this in order to be consistent with all grade levels.  When we allow for students correct all their work, it makes for a difficult conversation for me when I have to talk to parents about below average performance, but their grades are reflecting they are doing just fine.  Be looking for me to send more info on this.  I am just going to get some preliminary data right now on it.

FUTURECAST:

4/11 MONDAY:  Early Out, finalize MAP prep or grade level meetings

4/12 TUESDAY: pancake breakfast for MAP students.

4/13 WEDNESDAY:  MAP run in the morning.  We will make an announcement for students to line the hallways so the 3rd and 4th can run down the halls right after the tardy bell on Wednesday.  4th will go first this week then 3rd grade next week.

4/14 THURSDAY:  MAP again in the morning.

4/15 FRIDAY:  Deadline for Summer School Applications and 2nd grade music program at 6: 30 High School.  Deadline for Locks of Love.

Whew!!!  Enjoy this beautiful day and happy Monday!

Helicopter landing and MAP Assembly for Thursday 4/7

Below the times are listed for the helicopter landing tomorrow.  Teachers please walk students out to the helicopter and pilots will give you instruction once you get out there at your time.  If it does not take a full 45 minutes for grade levels, I will come and get your classes, so please be flexible.  Kindergarten will receive special instructions today.

9:00-9:45     kindergarten

9:50-10:45   4th grades

10:50-11:35  3rd grades

11:40-12:25   1st grades

1:15-2:00        2nd grades

MAP ASSEMBLY:  Tomorrow is also our MAP assembly that will start at 2:30 in the gym. 

DUNK TANK:  After the MAP assembly we will move kids outside in the FRONT of the building.  Please find a spot with your class on the grassy area.  We will put cones in the parking lot at that time. 

If there is anything else I may have forgotten, please let me know.  Thank you!!

4/4 Monday

Hi All!!!  I hope you enjoyed the weekend.  It was absolutely beautiful outside.  Our April update is very busy this week:

MONDAY:  Early out baby shower for Rebecca Green

WEDNESDAY:  A team meeting for me.

THURSDAY:  Helicopter landing and please look at the last blog update for schedule. 

MAP ASSEMBLY – Will be on Thursday at 2:30 in the gym.  3rd and 4th grade teachers please wear tennis shoes.

MAP TESTING - NEXT WEEK ON THE 13th and 14th

HEALTH SCHEDULE - I will be putting a schedule in your box today for the health lady.  Her first day will be on the 19th of this month.

DRA Time again - DRA’s for your lowest readers need to be completed by May 6. You have until  May 17th for the remainder of your students.

LAST Writing Prompt – You will give your LAST collaboratively scored writing prompt the week of April 25th. You will score them the Monday early out after that week = May 2nd.

DESE Student Growth Pilot program orientation –  Our district will be a part of this pilot program but I am not sure what it is all about. I believe we will receive our MAP data earlier because we are a part of this. Currently it is for 3rd – 8th grade. There will be approximately 6 webinars to watch that I will share with those of you who would benefit from being “in the know.” (3rd and 4th grade teachers and possibly 2nd grade)

Have a great day!

3/30 Wednesday

Happy Hump Day!!!  Just a few things for the rest of the week:

NATALIE’S FAREWELL PARTY:  We will be having fond farewell treats for Natalie on Thursday.  Please join us!!! 

WORD WALL FOR MAP TESTING:  I spoke to Dr. Marcum yesterday, and all word wall have to be taken down this year.  Sorry!

ASSESSMENT WALL:  Reminder we will be meeting on Friday during plan time about the assessment wall.  Please have all your info ready.

SCHEDULE FOR APRIL 7TH HELICOPTER SCHEDULE:  Here is the schedule for your classes to meet with the Army on April 7.  Please meet the flight team out back by the baseball field. 

9:00-9:45     Kindgarten

9:50-10:45   4th grades

10:50-11:35  3rd grades

11:40-12:25   1st grades

1:15-2:00        2nd grades

*  3rd grade has specials on that day during the time assigned.  Specials teachers may have to escort students out to the copter.

Thank you for being flexible with your times.  I know we had to rearrange some recessed in order to make this happen.

ABSENSES IN HR PORTAL:  These have to entered into the computer by tomorrow if you have not already done so.  Mary has to turn the totals into Central Office.