Best of Cobb & just 5 days until SB!

 

If you have not yet seen the news, West Side has been recognized as the runner-up for Best of Cobb 2024 for public elementary schools!  This is should be no surprise to anyone who has spent more than a few minutes at West Side, and is truly a testament to each of YOU the PHENOMENAL educators who fill our classrooms.  With 75 public elementary schools in Cobb/Marietta, this recognition is amazing.  Our community & students are better because of YOU!  Bravo to our other district winners -- ALB, MMS & MHS!

Q3 MATH WALKS

District Math Coordinator, Tamara, was on campus yesterday to visit during math instruction.  She was extremely impressed with the instruction occurring across the school!  

• Highlights:
• Use of strategies to engage all learners
• Implementation of tasks that promoted reasoning and critical thinking
• Concept connections, i.e., literacy, organization, elapsed time
• Consistent instructional focus in each grade
• Pacing
• Use of DOE Learning Plans

• Areas to Grow:
• Evidence of previous unit learning in the classroom environments.  Consider how a "math knowledge tree" could be incorporated in the classroom to include big ideas for the unit, anchor charts & current vocabulary.
• Math Reminders:
• All Q3 CFA data should be entered by Thursday, 3/28
• Last District MLT Meeting, 4/10

MONDAY, 3/24

There will be several MCS faculty from other schools at West Side between 9:30-11:30 AM to provide coverage for WS staff attending services for Lauren Teague.  If you have someone from another school covering on your team during this time, please lend a helping hand - if they need it.  Carla will be on campus during this time to cover admin needs.

SOR COACHING WEEK, 3/25-3/28

Our last SOR coaching week of the year will occur next week!  The April coaching week will be cancelled to provide SOR Facilitators time to support implementation of the new ELA adoption & make updates to district pacing documents - with the goal to have as much ready for teachers before summer!

Teachers received information about next week's coaching cycle in email.  We look forward to an exciting week of learning ahead!

EOG TRAINING, PART 1 REMINDERS

Thank you for attending Part 1 of our EOG training.  If you missed training, please reach out to Laura to reschedule.  Tasks to complete:

• 4/12 - Complete ONLINE training (accessed through TKES)
• 4/12 - Print PDF Transcript & Submit to Kraus
• Share Experience Online Testing with Families (Wagoner also emailed this to families on 3/13, but it can be included in your weekly newsletters)

Part 2 of the training will occur during the faculty meeting on 4/17.

PASTRIES WITH PARENTS, 3/26-3/28 7:45-8:30 AM

We are excited to host our annual Pastries with Parents event.  This year, families will enjoy morning pastries and coffee in the cafeteria.  Visitors are required to sign-in at the front office.  With this new location, it may result in more parents walking students to class.  We will do our best to protect instructional time, making an announcement at 8:30 AM to indicate the start of the school day.  You can also protect your instructional day by promptly beginning instruction at 8:30 AM to signal that learning has begun!

SPRING PICTURE DAY, 3/27

Please see the picture day schedule attached to Stinger Stats email.  Pictures Day will be in the auditorium.  Students are NOT required to wear school uniforms on picture day.  

Classroom teachers should bring ALL students to the auditorium for picture day.  

Who gets pictures?  

1.  New students since the last picture day.

2.  Other students who have PRE-PAID. 

GCI will provide the teacher with the list of students eligible to take a picture upon arrival to your picture time.

Staff with WS Students - Remember your child is eligible for a discounted picture day package!  See the GCI staff to obtain your staff package discount.

EXCEPTIONAL CHILDRENS WEEK, 4/12-4/20

Exceptional children's week is coming soon!  Look for a special (caffeinated) treat for teachers from our friends a Esp, Inc. on April 12th to kick-off the week!

SPRING MAP, 4/15-4/26

Look for specific MAP testing reminders and small group assignments to be shared before Spring Break.  For now, mark these dates on your calendar.

Student Practice - To be used as a teaching tool with the class.  Teachers can display on the ViewBoard to review test taking strategies and expectations.

ITEMS BELOW ARE REPEATED FROM LAST WEEK

PTA SUPPLY FUNDS, REIMBURSEMENT REQUEST DUE 3/29

As a reminder, receipts for PTA supply funds should be give to the PTA treasurer by March 29th.  Please turn in your receipts & reimbursement request form by this date!

SOR GOALS FOR THIS MONTH!

In the next month, your team will continue to apply TWR strategies focusing on grade level specific goals.  Your team SOR lead will support planning in these areas.  Reach out to Sara or Kendra if they can assist in any way!

• Kinder - Because, But, So & identifying sentences/fragments (who & do)
• 1st Grade - spiral review of all writing strategies learned
• 2nd Grade - identifying and writing topic sentences and supporting details
• 3rd Grade - single paragraph outline, transitioning into multi-paragraph outline
• 4th Grade - sentence expansion with subordinating conjunctions, multi-paragraph outline
• 5th Grade - multi-paragraph outline

LUNCHROOM VISITOR POLICY CHANGE

Effective, April 8th the lunchroom visitor policy will be changed to allow visitors to eat lunch with their student only at the visitor table.  Students will not be permitted to bring a friend to the visitor table. 

• March 20 - Families emailed regarding the change; New policy sent home in Beelines; Signs posted in cafeteria communicating new policy
• March 29 - Classroom teachers share new policy change with students (look for message to come directly from Christina to frame conversation in class)
• April 8 - New policy in effect

TALENT DEVELOPMENT DATES

• 3/25-5/17 - TD Session 3 (K-2 ONLY)

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)

• 3/25-3/28 - SOR Coaching Week, Kendra on Campus
• 3/25 - 4th Grade FT (in-house)
• 3/26 - Kinder FT
• 3/27 - Spring Picture Day
• 3/29 - Kinder Egg Hunt
• 4/1-4/5 - Spring Break!!
• 4/9 - PLCs
• 4/10 - 5th Grade FT
• 4/10 - Leadership Meeting
• 4/11 - Lunch & Learn 12:00 PM Understanding EOGs
• 4/12 - 2nd Grade FT
• 4/12 - Teddy Bear Tour
• 4/15-4/26 - MAP Testing Window (look for specific schedule to come)
• 4/16 - PLCs
•  4/17 – Faculty Meeting
• 4/18 – MTSS Meetings during planning
• 4/18 – Q4 Progress Reports DUE
•  4/18 – PTA Meeting & 5^th Grade Talent Show 6:00 PM
• 4/19 – Kinder FT
• 4/19 – 5^th Grade FT
• 4/19 - 5th Grade MILE FT
• 4/22-4/25 – SOR Coaching Week
• 4/23 – PLCS
• 4/24 – Vertical Team Meetings
• 4/25 – Dress Down Day
• 4/25 – Spring Picnic & Art Show 5:30-7:00 PM
• 4/26 – Last Day for Reading Small Groups (3^rd-5^th Grade)
• 4/30 – EOGs Begin
• 4/30 – NO PLCs
• 5/1 – Leadership Meeting
• 5/3 – Kinder FT
• 5/3 – 5^th Grade FT (Blue Devil Day)
• 5/3 - 2nd Grade 50's Diner
• 5/7 – Class Placement Meetings
• 5/8 – Faculty Meeting
• 5/9 – EOGs End
• 5/9 – Last Day for Reading Small Groups (1^st & 2^nd Grade)
• 5/10 – 1^st Grade FT
• 5/10 – 2^nd Grade FT
• 5/10-5/16 – EOY LDAs administered
• 5/13 – K-2^nd Grade Field Day
• 5/14 – 3^rd-5^th Grade Field Day
• 5/15-5/17 – 5^th Grade FT (Blue Ridge)
• 5/17 – LDA data DUE