January 16 Updates

Updates

• I will share behavior data from Q1 and Q2 next week.  As a reminder, please actively use the PBS board in your classroom, and take time to teach the Cool Tool for February.  I will come around the 1st week of Feb. to see if the PBS board is being used properly.  I'm hoping for 100% of classrooms.
• The Nuestro Mundo Data Warehouse is receiving its finishing touches today.  Please look for an email from Kristi Nelson sharing this in Google Doc format.  Assessments such as MAP and AimsWEB are filled in for you (thanks Kristi and Erin), you are responsible for filling in F&P, WRAP, Mondo, Fact Fluency, and/or NDA scores for students.  Please do this by the end of the day on January 24th.  I recommend filling this out first and printing it off to use when you input report card data.  This will allow us to have all data for all students in one central location.  It will facilitate school wide data analysis and the data will be waiting for you next September when you get your new set of students!
• Nuestro Mundo has been chosen as one of 7 schools in the district to pilot the new look for school websites!
• Please send names to Stephanie (cc me) for Puma awards on Fridays.  I will use the info to make calls home as well.
• We are continuing to ask that all students come to the cafeteria with their winter gear on.  Specials teachers  if you have a class who will be going to lunch directly after your class, please have kids ready to go promptly when the class is scheduled to end..  We have to stick to the lunch schedule as closely as possible.
• Nice work on the Fire Drill, 2:12 with an obstructed exit.  Great work teachers!
• Tragically, there was another school shooting this week.  Please remember to keep your doors locked at all times so that in the event of a code red, the door can be quickly shut and secured.  A video also came out a couple of weeks ago about school security (click here to see video).  Please remember to where your ID at all times and that all adult visitors should have a pink visitor's sticker prominently placed on their shirt/jacket.  If you see an adult without a pink sticker, respectfully ask them if they checked in in the office.  If you see someone suspicious, ask them if they checked in and respectfully offer to walk with them in the office, or call the office if you do not feel comfortable with escorting the person.  I hate to be an alarmist, but we have to be prepared for this possibility in this day and age.
• Projector Lamps are surprisingly expensive.  Please remember to power off your projector when it is not actively being used.  I have seen some classrooms where the projector is left on for the majority of the day, even when kids are at specials or lunch.  I did not budget for replacement bulbs this year and they are hundreds of dollars each.  These bulbs should last for years if we let them rest when not absolutely necessary.

Report Card

• There were some questions regarding F&P levels and grade reporting for Q2.  The concern was that many of our students will be receiving 1s based on "Reads at Grade Level".  I asked around at the principals meeting and the consensus seems to be that this is typical.
• Please leverage the Comments section to communicate more meaningful information to parents about the progress of their child.  This is very important for our parents.
• If you have concerns about a student, please do not let the report card be the first time you are communicating these concerns to a parent/guardian.  Make a phone call home now to express concerns.  Call homes frequently to maintain good communication with parents/guardians.

Josh Out of the Building :-(

I abhor being pulled out of this building.  However, I do have obligations that require this, and it seems that there is a concentration of these obligations over the next few weeks.  I will be gone on the following days:

1/21--All day (Stephanie out on this day too, Kristi Nelson will be principal designee)
1/22--8:00-10:00
1/24--8:00-12:30
1/28--All day (will check in at times)
1/29--All day
1/30--8:00-10:30
2/12--All day
2/14--8:00-12:30

Stephanie will be principal designee on these days unless otherwise indicated.

Important Dates

• 1/20  No School for MLK, Jr. Day
• 1/21  PLC Grant Day Away
• 1/27  Optional staff PD to review new MAP and Report Card data (goal is to create guided reading groups)
• 1-27 BOE General Meeting to vote on charter renewal, 6pm at Doyle building
• 1/28 School Based Leadership Team meeting 3:30-5pm in Rigo's Room
• 1/28 DLI informational session for potential Kindergarten parents 6-7 in Art Room.
• 1/30  1st Grade Teachers gone all day for Lead Teacher Teams.  Josh gone in the morning for New Administrator's meeting.
• 2/4 DLI informational session for potential Kindergarten parents 6-7 in Art Room.
• 2/5 Mondo Site Visit #3
• 2/11 DLI informational session for potential Kindergarten parents 6-7 in Art Room.
• 2/13 Fire Drill 2:35pm