Progress Reports - Leslie and I have started posting (hopefully) useful information on our Wiki about progress reports. You may submit questions and we will attempt to answer them. On Friday, please access the Wiki to post questions and provide help to each other. Even though you will all be working independently, it would be helpful to ask and respond to each other's questions. We will keep this information on the Wiki - and add to it - throughout the year.
The Parent Portal to PowerSchool has been shut down until after school on November 12th. When parents attempt to log in, it will state "Invalid User Name or Password." We have posted a message to parents on our website (see the daily bulletin link) and we will include this information in our building newsletter next week. After school on November 12th, parents will be able to log in and view students' progress reports!
Teacher Quality Resources - Our building was allotted $5266 for professional development for the 2010-11 school year. The BLT met Thursday morning to discuss several different options as to how to best meet the academic needs of our students and the instructional needs of our staff. The team decided to develop action plans by grade level/PLC teams and use the money to continue each team's progress toward our SMART/building goals. When teams have reported their plan back to me, I'll compile those plans to develop a building plan - this will be communicated with everyone late next week. More information about the teacher quality funds can be found on the blog.
Barry in a Dress Clarification - I'm sorry to say, but the only way students (and staff) get to see me in a dress is if we reach our fundraiser goal. As this went to print, we were about 200 Entertainment Books short of our goal of 575 books.
Parent Teacher Conference Info - We are printing conference reminder notes for teachers to send home the end of next week. These half-page forms will be placed in your box next week.
Problem Solving Updates for the month of October are due to me by next Monday. Please get the list of students in your room to your Problem Solving Core team member this week so she can get the list compiled and emailed to me next Monday. Last month we did not have a complete picture of who and how many students we had involved in the process so please help us paint a more accurate picture!
PBIS Sheets - As mentioned (but I forgot to include it last week) in our October 20 PBIS PD, please mark "A" for adult and "P" for peer in the last two columns (Gain and Avoid). I ordered more copies of the correct recording sheets.
Doors - Please, please ensure doors are fully closed if you're coming in on the weekend. The main doors on the north and west were open this past Sunday evening and the west ones were open the previous Sunday. If you're coming in or leaving through any door, you must push or pull until you hear a click. Thanks for helping us out with this concern!
Books for BINGO - PTO will be hosting their annual Books for BINGO night at Maple Grove on Friday, November 12th. It will be held in the gym from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. The PTO needs 3 more teachers to help call out numbers - please contact Carrie Foster to volunteer only 15 minutes of your time for this great event.
Box Top Contest - We will running a Box Top contest from November 5th-19th. More information will come from our PTO next week but winning classrooms at each grade level will earn extra recess/gym time for their class!
Fall Harvest Review - Whoa.
Revisiting a prior post - Has anyone set up their classroom on Donor's Choose? I would be more than happy to help you. Here is what I wrote two weeks ago:
Classroom Supplies - Feel like you've taken out a second mortgage to set up your classroom? Remember each classroom has a small budget from our building budget to start. If you've forgotten yours or would like an update on how much you have spent, see me. There are programs out there such as Adopt-A-Classroom, Donors Choose, Classroom Wish List, andIloveschools.com that allow potential donors to browse needed classroom items and fund teacher requests. Teachers at my previous school brought in over $3000 worth of classroom materials through Donors Choose! Sign up and try it out.
Office Bulletin Board and Snow Guessing Contest - . See last week about the "snow pool" but place your guess here by November 1st deadline. ....and because I have gifts to give....any staff member who has their family picture up on our office bulletin board by November 5th will be in a drawing for a fun prize too. I'd like that board filled up by conferences and the holiday season.
Dates to Note - Wow...where or where did October go?
Monday
-
Tuesday-
- K-2 PLC (8am)
Wednesday
- 3-5 PLC (8am)
- Early Dismissal; Teacher worktime
Thursday
- District Admin Mtg (Barry AM)
Friday
- Teacher Workday (NO School)
- Elem Principals' Mtg (PM)
- PBIS Assembly (early out schedule)
November 11
- Book Fair begins
Final Thoughts for the Week
...my new addition to the FWR where I keep talking/typing and
you don't necessarily have to continue listening/reading.
Progress Reports II - I have thought a lot about our summer retreat building-a-plane-in-midair analogy lately. Although the process of progress reports may have caused some stomach pains and sailor-type language over the past couple weeks, the conversation I keep hearing during PLC meetings and post observation conferences has been invaluable. We cannot secure our tray, tighten our seat belts and land the airplane to work on progress reports. The end product in this process will be great for the students, parents and teachers of the Waukee School District. I had one teacher tell me that through her PLC discussions, classroom discussion and own new understanding of the grade level curriculum and expectations - she knows each of her current students' needs, progress and abilities better than she has ever in her career. The work you are doing - I can honestly say - is not the standard in many districts across this country. Thanks for choosing to be a positive part of the process and an important member of our Maple Grove family. I've taken the seat belt sign off - you're free to move about the cabin. Enjoy the flight.
No comments:
Post a Comment