Happy Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week!

 

Can you believe that tomorrow is May 1?  Only four weeks left and it's hard to believe.  What better way to start the month than with all the treats that PTCO will provide to show their appreciation for all you do.  Mary and I also appreciate all your efforts this year.  This has been a fabulous year after many challenging ones.  We are on a good path and our Terra Nova scores scream success!

Congratulations to our 2nd graders who received First Holy Communion on Saturday.  It was a beautiful ceremony and they will come dressed on Wednesday to take part in the May Crowning procession on Wednesday right before Mass.  Seating for this Mass will be a little different.  Second grade will sit where K and 8 usually sit.  Kindergarten will sit in the side section near the choir (where I usually sit).  Eighth graders will sit in the first two rows on the other side where 1st grade usually sits.  First graders will move back and take 2nd grade's spot.  Come see me if you need clarification.  

I have spent the weekend going through the ARCA and you have done great work.  We still have some work to do and I have created a list as I've gone through it.  We are missing some evidence that does exist and some of the links are not working.  I will review this with Mary on Monday morning and she will get a list to each domain.  We will most likely need to work on this for the first couple of hours on Friday and then begin presenting the work.  Presenting means going through the ARCA and defending your scores.  You will not need to open each piece of evidence during the presentation, just talk about them.  Everyone needs to be familiar with the complete ARCA, not just the domain you worked on.  If there are any concerns after the presentation, the adjustments can be made in the afternoon.  The Steering Committee will discuss the Domain Reports and the Action Plans.  

I will be joining our 8th graders on Thursday as we travel to the Universal Academy in Tampa for Interfaith Day.  

Have a wonderful week!

The End is Near

 I'm not sure where this year has gone and I can't believe there are only five weeks of school left.  This is the time of year when supervision and sticking to your routines become most important.  Students should know that we are not done yet.  There is still much to do and learn in the next few weeks.

This week is a busy week with a final opportunity to wrap up your work on CIPA Monday afternoon before our day-long session on May 5, ARK testing for grades 2-8, and the GABIE bus for our younger students.  Please remember that I told students no homework on Monday.  This is mostly for younger students because parents typically help them and we want parents to attend the PTCO meeting Monday night.  Please come and join us at 6:30 pm.  There is much to learn as we discuss what PTCO has done for us this year, meet the new members of the PTCO Executive Board, review the revision to the PTCO Bylaws, and hear from me about the enhancements to security planned for next year.  I plan to talk about enhancements to the front entrance, upgrades to our Raptor system which includes emergency alerts, and having an armed security guard present during school hours.  I will also share this through Tidbits on Thursday.  We end this coming week with a very special event for our 2nd-grade students when they received First Holy Communion on Saturday.  

I will be out on Friday at the final principal's meeting of the year at the Bethany Center.  Mary will be here and I can always be reached by text.  

Have a wonderful week.

Happy Easter

 I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter Break!  Here's what you missed...  I came to school on Tuesday and was so excited to see the AC trucks all over the parking lot along with a lift.  We got 3 new ACs!!  Two that were replaced should resolve the leaks in Rm 13 and Makerspace.  I also stumbled on the laminate people repairing the circulation desk in the library.  Yay!  Finally, after much email debate throughout the week, CFC was able to locate the part we need so that we can have our fire inspection.  I've asked Duffy to schedule ASAP, so if you have anything blocking your "escape" windows or anything else that looks suspicious, now is the time to clean it up.  If only we can get the awning people to come out and fix our awning.  

Mary has taken the time to go through the ARCA and contacted all the Domain committees with comments regarding evidence.  I will go through the lists tomorrow and share anything you may need from me (for example, I saw salary scale mentioned).  I will work on it during the day so you have it for the afternoon meeting.  Our faculty meeting will be to work on CIPA.  We will have one more faculty meeting next Monday to finish up the final touches.  I will then go through it all and we do any final work needed on May 5.  On that day, all the Domains will present their findings as everyone needs to be familiar with all the information.  Just a reminder that ALL teachers must be present at school on May 5.  Part-time teachers must also attend that day, even if Friday is not a normal workday.  

Have a wonderful week!

Palm Sunday

 Good afternoon and blessings on this beautiful Palm Sunday.  Only three and a half days until Easter Break!  These are the days when it's most important to keep to your routines as you know the students will be restless (and maybe the teachers too!).  

For our faculty meeting tomorrow, I'm asking that Melissa be there to answer any final questions about the retreat, go over everyone's roles (encore teachers will assist at the retreat), and the plan for going over to church for stations.  Our 7th graders did an amazing job Friday night in presenting the Living Stations.  Thank you all who helped put this together for your efforts.  

For the second part of the faculty meeting, I would like to meet with just Maria, Lisa, Marianne, David, Conner, Mari, and Mary.  

Thank you everyone and have a Blessed Holy Week!