The Very Best Christmas Story!

Way to go, Stinger Staff!  You are closing out the first semester with great success - hope you're heading into the break with happy hearts and sweet memories with your class.  During the break, I hope you find time to rest and recharge for a blooming 2026!  We are so very grateful for each of YOU, truly the magic makers in the classroom EVERY DAY!

STINGER STORIES

Read the latest edition of Stinger Stories sent to families yesterday!

https://app.smore.com/n/utb7f

UPCOMING PLCs

• 1/7 (Wednesday) - MAP data review

STAFF COVERAGE REQUESTS

All staff coverage requests must be sent to administration.  Staff may not secure their own coverage without notifying administration.  To the best of our ability, we try to accommodate your requests respecting your role as mom and teacher.  We will always provide coverage for grade level performances and honors days.  Coverage cannot be scheduled for other classroom events in your child's classroom (ex: parties), as typically the tight schedule does not allow us to provide coverage for all staff members.  If you have planning, lunch or recess during a classroom event for your child - you're are always welcome to attend!!

GOAL FOR JANUARY 5

We have provided you with the entire day to collaborate as a team and prepare for a successful start to 2026.  Please make time to accomplish these tasks:

• Grade Level YAGs completed
• Lessons prepared for W&W M3 Launch
• Lesson plans made for the first week back
• Reading Small group plans made for the first two weeks back
• Math Small group plans made for the first two weeks back
• We will review MAP data during PLCs on 1/7 - but you should review ahead of our time together to look for individual student needs. Proactively communicate with families if MAP results will be of concern (ex: regression). 

Q2 REPORT CARDS PUBLISHED, 1/6

Q2 report cards will be published for parent view in Aspen on January 6th.

WINTER MAP RESULTS PUBLISHED FOR PARENTS, 1/6

If you have a student who made no progress (or regressed), I would encourage you to reach out to these parents via email on January 5th.  Your proactive communication will allow parents to see your plan to address and support student growth the second half of the year.  If you would like support communicating MAP progress with families, please let us know!

READING & MATH SMALL GROUPS BEGIN, 1/7

1. SMOOTH TRANSITION:  All new reading and math small groups begin on January 7th.  Please ensure your visual schedules for students are updated by January 6th to allow for a smooth transition on the first day of small group.  Small group updates can be shared with students on January 6th.
2. PARENT COMMUNICATION:  If a student is served by a reading specialist, they will send home a parent letter to include in Beelines on January 7th.
3. STEPS PLANNING:  STEPS should begin on the FIRST DAY of reading SGs.  For our consolidated readers (those that have mastered Decoding Part A & B & Met ORF goals), comprehension and writing should be the focus.  Use Winter MAP Lexile data to select appropriately challenging text.
4. PLANNING SUPPORT:  If you would like planning support, please reach out to Mary Claire!
5. STUDENT PLACEMENT CHANGES:  When SGs begin on January 7th, NO changes will be made to groups until January 19th.  If you find that a student may need a new small group placement, email Mary Claire and Erin Compton by January 15th.  This will be reviewed by admin, and then placement changes will be confirmed and emailed to staff involved.  

WINTER AMIRA CLOSE-OUT, FOR K-3 ONLY

We have a few remaining Amira assessments to administer in January.  This information has been shared with teachers affected.

• 1/7 - Make-up administration
• 1/8 - Re-test administration
• 1/9 - New student administration 

UPCOMING GIFTED DATES

• 1/12 - MILE Resumes
• 1/12 - TD Resumes for K-3rd Grade (look for TD lists and schedules to be emailed by 1/9)

REMINDERS FROM LAST WEEK ARE BELOW!

WSSN!  HOW CAN I ACCESS THE WSSN EACH WEEK?

We have created a show page for teachers to easily access WSSN each week from your ViewBoard.  Follow these steps to create a shortcut to keep the show page one click away:

1. Open the WSSN Show Page
2. Click 3 dots on Google Toolbar
3. Choose Cast, Save and Share
4. Create Shortcut (It will appear on the Desktop)
5. When you open the Shortcut, click on the Monday morning date to access WSSN for that week!
6. Watch with your class. :)

STAFF ABSENCE REMINDERS!

There are THREE steps to follow, if you are going to out unexpectedly.

1. Text both Carla and Lindsay.
2. Fill out Employee Leave Yellow form (DIGITAL FORM HERE).
3. Complete absence in Kelly/Frontline.

UPCOMING DATES (Dates added since last week)

• 1/5 - PL Day
• 1/6 - Q2 Report Cards Published
• 1/6 - Students Return!
• 1/7 - PLCs
• 1/7 - Parent-2-Parent Series:  Raising Resilient Children
• 1/7 - Faculty Meeting
• 1/8 - 3rd Grade FT (in-house)
• 1/9 - 2nd Grade FT (in-house)
• 1/12 - 4th Grade FT
• 1/13 - PLCs
• 1/14 - Leadership Meeting
• 1/15 - 2nd Grade Play & PTA Meeting 6PM @ MMS Auditorium 
• 1/16 - 1st Grade FT
• 1/19 - MLK, Jr. Day - NO School
• 1/21 - PLCs
• 1/21 - Vertical Teams
• 1/22 - MTSS Meeting
• 1/23 - Kinder FT
• 1/23 - District Reading Bowl