Full tummies, full hearts!

What a FUN week filled with LOTS of special treats!  We truly have the VERY best PTA!  I hope you all felt appreciated this week.  You are simply the VERY best of all teachers!

We are three weeks until Spring Break!  Over the next three weeks, continue to remain focused on our school priorities in reading, writing, and math - maximizing your instructional time each day for whole group and small group instruction, making the most of the next 15 days to see huge gains in student learning!

The academic growth our students will make over the next few weeks will be AMAZING!!  Continue to remain focused on intentional lesson planning in whole group/small group instruction, DAILY reading and math small group instruction, and maximizing the most of every day.  As you continue to move through your grade level standards, now is a good time to consider where you will purposefully extend learning for students in reading, writing, and math.  How are your lessons continuing to meet student readiness levels and providing opportunities to extend when ready?  Simple ways to make this a priority...

  • Consider the text complexity (Lexile level) when selecting passages/books for small group reading
  • Include opportunities for writing (LOTS of writing), with explicit instruction along the way (TWR)
  • Provide real-world application of mathematical concepts
  • Extend math concepts beyond the standard, after students have demonstrated mastery
  • Allow adequate practice time and attend to fluency (in reading & math)

If you have a specific need for planning support to firm up student understanding of a critical skill, or provide relevant extensions for students - let us know!  

STINGER STORIES

https://app.smore.com/n/p5ca1

PRAYER CIRCLE FOR NURSE NUNEZ, 3/16
If you would like to join staff for a prayer circle before she heads into surgery, please join on Monday at 3:30 PM in the media center. This is being led by a group of parents.

CLINIC CHANGES
As a reminder, beginning March 17, Savannah Clark will be serving as our supply nurse during Margaret's absence. Margaret has fully trained Savannah on our school clinic procedures! I trust she has left her ready.

UFLI Q3 SKILLS CHECK & MID-POINT ORF
Thank you to our K-2 teachers for completing all UFLI Skills Check this week! & let's give a BIG thank you to our reading specialist team who will assist with data entry into Performance Matters saving time for the HR teacher. THANK YOU!

SOR COACHING CYCLE 5.4, 3/9-3/19
We look forward to our SOR Coaching Cycle next week! The focus for the cycle remains Oral Language and Text Comprehension. Based on feedback received, we have provided time for vertical classroom visits during Reading SG in K-3rd grade, as well as protecting time for you to plan STEPS lessons during the week. During vertical visits, the SOR observation rubrics will be used for Oral Language or Text Comprehension.
See specific grade level goals below - shared by email this week!

 

Tuesday, 3/17

Wednesday, 3/18

Kinder

1st Grade SG Visits

10:15-10:45

Paras Cover

Debrief during PLCs

Coverage:  Kinder Paras

STEPS Planning with Text Comprehension focus

1st Grade

2nd Grade SG Visits

(Dorminey & Bragg for JGB)

9:00-9:30

Coverage:  Invites to come from Adkison

Debrief during PLCs

STEPS Planning with Text Comprehension focus

2nd Grade

3rd Grade SG Visits

11:25-11:50

Lunch/Recess Coverage:  TBD

Lunch

11:50-12:20

Debrief during PLCs

STEPS Planning with Text Comprehension focus

3rd Grade

2nd Grade SG Visits

(Dorminey & Bragg for JGB)

9:40-10:00

Debrief from 10:00-10:15

*Planning 10:15-10:30

Coverage: NONE

STEPS + Low-tech item type creation for after reading

 

*Text will be provided for you!

4th Grade

STEPS + Low-tech item type creation for after reading

*Text will be provided for you!

TWR 2.0

Introductions & Conclusions

5th Grade

STEPS + Low-tech item type creation for after reading

*Text will be provided for you!

TWR 2.0

Introductions & Conclusions
IXL USAGE & MONITORING
Last week, the district hosted a training for coaches/admin on IXL reporting features and usage data. As you use this tool in the classroom, primarily during your independent rotations, keep the following in mind.
  • Based on IXL research, students should master TWO Skills PER week to show gains in achievement.
As with all things, the impact of a program, practice, diet, _________ (FILL IN THE BLANK), is dependent upon consistency. If you are using IXL in the classroom, include a monitoring process to ensure students are getting the benefit of mastering TWO Skills per week.

NOTE: IXL is just one learning platform that might not be used for all students - and that's okay! Other school approved programs that might be used during the independent rotation time include: Beast Academy (AC Math), MindPlay (Reading Intervention), HearBuilders (EF intervention).

SPRING PICTURE DAY, 3/26
For spring picture day, teachers should take ALL students to the auditorium at picture time. However, not ALL students will take pictures.

PICTURE SCHEDULE WILL BE SHARED ON 3/20

Who takes pictures?
1. New students since October
2. Students who have pre-paid online. GCI will have this list ready at picture time.
3. Students who have brought in a picture payment envelope on picture day.

As a reminder, staff can receive the staff package discounts! This includes a free picture package for you and/or your child.

DEAL CENTER FOR EARLY LANGUAGE & LITEARCY & SOCIAL CIRCLE SCHOOLS VISIT, 4/1
We are excited to host leaders from the Deal Center for Early Language & Literacy and educators from Social Circle schools.  The focus for the visit is K-2nd grade reading small groups.  Teachers part of the visit will receive the schedule today.

Please encourage students to use respectful hallway behaviors when transitioning throughout the building.

***Coming Soon:  Fulton County Schools Visit on 4/15***  More information to come!

REMINDERS FROM LAST WEEK ARE BELOW!

Q3 REPORT CARD ENTRY, WINDOW OPENS 3/10
Be on the lookout for Report Card posting instructions to come from Lindsay.  With SOR week coinciding with report card entry, please reach out if we can provide you with additional recess release time.  We are happy to provide this time to you, but we ask for 1-2 days notice to arrange our calendars! :)
  • 3/10 - Window Opens
  • 3/18 - Grades DUE
  • 3/20 - Grades Published on Aspen 

UPCOMING DISTRICT MLT, 3/18

Please be mindful we will have several subs in the building on 3/18 (MLT district meeting).

UPCOMING GIFTED DATES
  • 3/16 - MILE Resumes
  • 3/23 - TD Session 3 Begins (K-2nd ONLY)
  • 4/24 - MILE Ends (3-5); TD Session 3 Ends
  • 5/1 - MILE Ends (K-2)
  • 5/7 - 2nd Grade BONUS MILE!

PASTRIES WITH PARENTS, 3/24-3/26 @ 7:45-8:30

We will continue to serve breakfast in the cafeteria.  Parents will be encouraged to leave following breakfast, without classroom visits. School breakfast will be served in the auditorium!  

SPRING MAP GROWTH, 3/30-4/2

Mark your calendars for upcoming Spring MAP Growth dates.  If you have a planned absence on a testing date for your grade level, please let Carla know ASAP!

TEACHER BUDGET ALLOCATION DEADLINES!

Please be mindful of upcoming budget allocation deadlines.

  • 4/3: PTA Teacher Supply Money

5TH GRADE STINGER SPOTLIGHT

Help us celebrate all of our amazing 5th grade Stingers by completing a special spotlight at the link below. GREAT students still remain!! We love gifting this keepsake to all of our 5th graders the last week of school.

5th Grade Stinger Spotlight

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)
  • 3/16-3/19 - SOR Coaching Cycle 5.4
  • 3/18 - 1st Grade FT (in-house)
  • 3/18 - Vertical Team
  • 3/19 - WS Amazing Shake (Ambassadors)

  • 3/20 - Q3 Report Cards Published

  • 3/24-3/26 - Pastries with Parents

  • 3/24 - PLCs (MTSS)

  • 3/24 - SGT Meeting

  • 3/25 - Leadership Meeting

  • 3/26 - Spring Picture Day (schedule to come)

  • 3/30-4/3 - MAP Testing

  • 3/31 - PLCs

  • 4/1 - Admin Lunch & Learn: Understanding EOGs

  • 4/1 - Faculty Meeting

  • 4/1 - Deal Center for Early Language & Literacy Visits K-2

  • 4/2 - Dress Down Day

  • 4/2 - West Side Night @ MHS Baseball Game

  • 4/3 - 2nd Grade FT

  • 4/6-4/10 - Spring Break!

  • 4/14 - PLCs

  • 4/14 - Fulton County Schools Visit

  • 4/15 - Kinder FT (in-house)

  • 4/15 - Leadership Meeting

  • 4/16 - 3rd Grade FT (Chattanooga)

  • 4/17 - Teddy Bear Tour

  • 4/20-4/22 - SOR Facilitator on Campus

  • 4/21 - PLCs

  • 4/22 - Faculty Meeting (EOG Test Examiner Training)

  • 4/23 - MTSS Grade Level meetings

  • 4/23 - PTA Spring Picnic & Art Show, 5-7PM

  • 4/24 - Kinder FT

  • 4/27-4/30 - SOR Cycle 5.5

  • 4/28 - PTA Meeting & 5th Grade Talent Show, MMS Auditorium

  • 4/29-4/30 - Unwind Your Mind (3rd-5th)

  • 4/29 - Vertical Team Meeting

  • 4/29 - Q4 Progress Reports DUE

  • 4/30 - Dress Down Day

  • 5/1 - Kinder & 1st 1/2-day Planning

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