Welcome, 2024!! Yay, for a New Year!

Welcome, 2024!!  I hope you had a productive day.  Admittedly, your schedules were a bit packed with LDA Data, Math Data, Morphology & CPR training.  Thank you for your engagement in each session, as you look ahead to plan instruction for the next several week.  To provide you with more uninterrupted time, we are working on plans to lengthen upcoming extended planning time (...4 hours, rather than 2 hours).  Look for more information to come!

WELCOME BACK, MRS. MADDOX!

Please join me in welcoming back Mrs. Maddox from maternity leave!  She had a great first day preparing to see her 4C students tomorrow.  We are SO glad to have Mrs. Maddox back in the hive!

THANK YOU TO OUR NEW CPR/AED/FIRST AID CERTIFIED STAFF!

Thank you to these staff members for giving their time today to complete this valuable training, keeping our school ahead of safety requirements!  Carla, Laura, Emily, Lydia, Brittany, Luke, Heather P, Erin, Wendy & Michelle F!

K-3 READING SMALL GROUPS BEGIN

New reading small groups begin TOMORROW, 1/4.  Please reach out to Sara, Erin, Christina, Laura or Carla if you have questions about the reading small group schedule or student assignments.  

Instructional expectations for small groups:

• 1/4 & 1/5 - Getting students acclimated to new groups, familiarizing yourself with student data
• 1/8 & Beyond - Daily STEPS lesson plans based on Winter LDA as a starting point for instruction

Reading Specialists will send an introduction email to parents by Friday, 1/4 for new students in their groups.

Parents will receive copies of their child's individual reading profile following MAP testing.  Look for these to be placed in your box the week of 1/22 to be sent home in Beelines on 1/24.

If you need instructional support planning STEPS lessons for new groups, email Sara.

If a student needs to be reassigned groups, email Erin.

MATH SMALL GROUP SUPPORT

Math small group support plans will remain the same until after MAP testing.  Student data will be reviewed the week of 1/15.  Any adjustments to groups will begin the week of 1/22.

MILE RESUMES, 1/8

All MILE classes resume the week of 1/8.  Newly identified gifted students will join MILE classes this day. Denise & Mary Jo will offer a parent session for new gifted families on 1/18 at 2:00 PM.

Parent communication was sent by admin to all new gifted students before the break making the parent aware of their child's gifted eligibility, sharing the MILE day, and MILE teacher name.  

Parent communication will be sent by admin tomorrow to parents of existing gifted students now placed in Mary Jo's MILE class.

WINTER MAP TEST ADMINISTRATION, 1/9 & 1/11

We will administer all Winter MAP assessments next week.  Please see the schedule below.  Make-ups will occur on 1/10 & 1/12.  An email will be sent to all families with the testing schedule tomorrow.

• MAP Folders will be placed with rosters/accommodations on Friday.  
• Please review your MAP Folders to ensure you have pulled up the platform and can create your test session prior to the start of testing.  
• Look for an email from L. Kraus with more details and links.  

STAFFING UPDATES

Tracy Lytle will serve as our media para for the remainder of the school year.  She is excited to be apart of the staff in a full-time capacity!  Your team leaders will coordinate with Tracy to seamlessly transition your copy & lamination support needs.  Please use Tracy to support your lesson preparation!  She is excited to serve you.  Tracy will continue in the cafeteria until we are able to staff additional lunchroom monitors.

With the addition of Mary Jo to our gifted team, we will welcome Ashley Dorsey as contracted support for Talent Development.  Ashley previously taught MILE at West Side in 20-21 school year.  She has been enjoying lake life, but is excited to return to developing the potential in students.  Talent Development will begin the week of 1/22.  TD schedules & groups will be shared by 1/18.

LOOKING FOR CAFETERIA MONITORS!

We currently have two vacancies for our cafeteria monitor position.  Tracy Lytle & Erin Lawson will continue to support the cafeteria until the vacancies are filled.  This lively position offers a part-time opportunity for someone who may be looking to get out of the house for a couple of hours & support the most darling students.  If you know any candidates who might be interested, encourage them to apply online!

INFORMATION BELOW IS A REPEAT FROM LAST WEEK!

FIELD TRIP PAYMENTS

The RevTrak store is NOW live!  Please include in your next several weekly newsletters reminders to families regarding field trip payments.  Field trips can be paid for the year, or before each trip.  It is important we gather field trip payments from as many students as possible to ensure these experiences can be provided to our students.

Field Trip Payments

TEAM EXTENDED PLANNING TIME

All team extended planning has been planned for the year.  All coverage invites have been sent by Carla.  You can access the complete schedule here (Extended Planning tab).

UPCOMING DATES (Dates added since last week)

• 12/18 - Stingers Serve
• 12/19 - Class Holiday Parties (schedule above)
• 12/20-1/2 – Winter Break!!
• 1/3 – PL Day
• 1/4 – Students Return
• 1/5 - 5th Grade Stinger Showcase
• 1/9 - MAP Testing
• 1/9 - PLCs
• 1/10 - ACCESS Testing Begins
• 1/10 - Faculty Meeting
• 1/11 - MAP Testing
• 1/15 - MLK Jr. Day, NO SCHOOL
• 1/16 - PLCs
• 1/17 - Leadership Meeting
• 1/18 - MTSS Meetings during Planning
• 1/19 - 1st Grade FT
• 1/22-1/25 - SOR Week (Kendra on Campus)
• 1/26 - SOR & MLT Leadership Meetings
• 1/26 - 5th Grade FT
• 1/26 - Career Day