Trust

The Virtue for February is Trust.  Trust that you will make it to spring break even though it seems months away.  Here are some reminders:

• Summer camp proposals were due Friday.  I received one for sports/b-ball camp.  Please send your final proposal by the end of day Monday.  I checked my email and I could have missed yours.  If you did send one, please resend with subject summer camp in the subject.  I will also check my mailbox in the morning.
• Faculty meeting on Monday.  Martha C has arranged for a speaker on autism.  Julianne will also be talking about rice bowls.
• Tuesday is jeans and Valentine themed, red, or pink shirts.  
• Be thinking about what you want to put on your bulletin boards next.  They should be changed at least every 6 weeks.  With Lent coming up, that would make a good theme.  If you have other ideas or student work to highlight, that would be fine too.
• When sending emails through the portal, check/uncheck the box so parents do not also get an email with the same info.
• Email parents when grades go below 70 %.
• Anyone in danger of retention should have received a letter in writing at this point.  Letters should also go home if a child might fail one subject so parents know remediation over the summer is a possibility.  I need to know which students might be retained so we have space from them in the appropriate class.  As of now, I have not seen any letters.
• You cannot take away recess from your class as a whole.  If you want to give a consequence like that, plan to stay with them at lunch and have them eat in silence, but they must have recess.  Recess should also be free play unless the class decides to play a game together with the teacher.
• All grades must be put in rediker within 3 days of giving the assessment/assignment.  Only exception are essays or projects which may need a few more days.
• Every parent should have had at least one conference by now (unless the PARENT chose not to). 
• All assessments must be uploaded to Atlas.  If the assessment is from a book, you must scan it and upload.  I should be able to see all assessments.  
• PRIOR to giving an assessment/project, students should know what a "4" or exemplary would look like.
• Letters of intent are due March 1.  If it is not submitted, it will be assumed you do not wish to return.  

In March I will begin the second formal observation.  This one will not be announced.  Your unit plans should be clear so I know what your are teaching on each day.  

 

Touchdown!!

I am sure no one is reading this tonight.  I just watched Lady Gaga rock it.  Yes, George, I'm watching he super bowl...  well half-time show.  Not sure who's winning.  The Knicks?

Touchdown... Yes, we made a touchdown.  Hats off to everyone who played a part in our Mustang Movers.  I'm still in shock.  $17,000 and counting.  This is what we are capable of when we work together.

Not too much to say tonight as we said it all on Friday at our faculty meeting.  Some good ideas came out of that meeting and from what I heard, next year will be amazing.

The focus for this week is assessment.  We spoke a good deal about it on Friday.  I will be looking through unit plans and commenting on assessment.  Be sure they are attached.

Teachers attending the Wed. professional development are asked to carpool as parking is at a premium.  Here is the info from the Diocese..  attire is business casual.  Bring a fully charged device and your best unit plan.  Afternoon session will be break-out sessions by grade/subject to share plans.

Have a SUPER week!

A Community of Faith, Knowledge, and Service

Happy Catholic Schools Week!

This is going to be a busy and exciting week.  Thank you to everyone who worked on the activities and those who helped at the Masses this weekend.  The students all did a great job reading their essays.  Be sure to keep up with the schedule of activities and take pictures of everything you do.  Share pictures with Gina and Kathleen.  

This week I would like you to focus on how your lessons relate to the real world.  Help students make connections to their everyday life.  

On Friday we will have a half day meeting and professional development.  In order to prepare for the meeting, I would like you to reflect on the Merit System - its successes and maybe its shortcomings.  Take some time to look through the student handbook. Is there something that should be updated? changed?  We will review assessment and the philosophy behind standards based grading.  There will also be time to work on the next lesson in Google for Educators and Charles will demonstrate once again how to attach documents in Atlas - for some this is still a challenge.  Please come prepared to reflect on the year and ideas about how to make next year better.  Gina and I will also share our excitement for creating a MakerSpace!

Mark may be joining us on Friday for our Walkathon.  Keep smiling and enjoy this time to celebrate our vocation to Catholic education.  

Take Vitamins

Load up on vitamins and stay healthy!  That's my message for this week.

Thank you Maria, Jenn, and Katie for volunteering yourself and your teens to babysit at the PTCO meeting!

My blog will be short.  Be sure you...

• did the technology survey
• come to the faculty meeting
• are ready for Catholic Schools Week
• come to the faculty meeting with ideas for summer programs (if applicable)
• are continuing to use your essential questions in class
• are checking uniforms regularly
• are always smiling

Open House went well.  The visitors were impressed with the school and our student ambassadors.  

Gina and I will be at FETC Wednesday and Thursday.  Martha B. will be there Thursday looking for ideas for the new middle school science standards.  

I will update you on lots of things happening in the diocese and some changes I would like to make for next year at the faculty meeting.

Have a great week! 

Open House Time

Friday will be Open House.  This is the day we open our doors to potential families.  Tours will be given by our student ambassadors from approximately 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.  We believe that the majority of families touring will be interested in the Early Childhood grades.  So if there ever was a time for a dog and pony show... this is it!  I know there are always exciting things happening in your classes and whatever they see will be amazing.  Don't stop what you're doing, but it's okay to smile and recognize the visitors.  First grade can give their signature "Ahoy!"  I will give everyone an update on enrollment next week. 

  If you have trash that you would like taken away and it doesn't fit in your trash can, please write on it or put a sign on it saying "TRASH".  The cleaning people have been instructed to leave everything outside the garbage can unless it is marked trash.  

And speaking of the cleaning crew....  If you find anything not to your liking in the classrooms when you arrive in the morning, please let me know.  Pictures are always good too.  I can ask Karleen to help out, but it helps me resolve the problems if I know about them.  If something is broken, put a request in maintenance direct.  That's how things will get fixed.  Anyone can put in the requests and I will see it.  I did a walk through the building today (Monday) and they seem to be cleaning all the areas now.  

Speaking of walking through the building..... Your bulletin boards look amazing!!!  The crosses are another story.  Yes it looks like a graveyard.  Yes the kids should be able to see them.  Find a compromise.  I gave Abbie some suggestions.  They do not have to be in a row.  Put them on the sides of your bulletin boards scattered around.  You should be using Magic Mounts.  I will ask the office to order more if you ran out.  Masking tape doesn't hold and scotch tape is a no no.  The crosses are already falling.  

This week I will be looking through and commenting on your unit plans looking specifically at Essential Questions and Enduring Understandings.  Now that you've made sure both of these are good, focus on making sure the students know them.  This week's focus is Domain 3 Elements 2 and 3... Element 2 - Students have a general understanding of the essential questions referenced in the lesson Element 3 - Students are able to explain the learning objectives and outcomes.     

Charles is in AZ visiting with his dad.  Let's keep his family in our prayers.  

If you need help with technology - good luck.  And finally no one is allowed to be sick this week.   

  

2016-17 School Year Part II

Welcome to the second semester!  The year is half over and for me at least the first half flew by.  Monday is the first day of re-enrollment and after that is open enrollment.  By the end of the month I hope to have a feel for how many classes we will have next year.  What I can tell you is that we cannot have classes with under 20 students (this does not include pre-k).  In order to provide a quality education we need to have full classes.  Please know that Nicki and I are working hard to promote the school and bring in students.  

This is a busy week followed by a 3-day weekend!

Monday - Faculty meeting (Agenda will include CSW update)

Thursday - Linda at Bethany

Friday - Preliminary round of the Geography Bee, Report cards go live, CSW bulletin boards completed, and movie night

Saturday - Science Fair 

Be sure you are talking up the Walk-a-thon with your students.  Ask them how they are doing (age appropriate).  Have them share how they are getting donations in order to encourage others.  There are prizes!

Please take a moment to check student uniforms every day (shoes and jewelry in particular).  Refer to the handbook if you need to.  You should be sending home violations when they are out of uniform and repeat offenders do not get to participate in the next jean day.  Again, check the handbook.  It is up to the teacher to be checking and monitoring this.  

The front office is asking your assistance with calls made to parents from the classroom/teacher office.  Our policy states that students should not be calling home for items forgotten or after school arrangements they forgot to talk about.  However, if a teacher feels a call is necessary, they may send the student to the office with a note giving permission.  There are times when making the phone call from the teacher's office is appropriate.  For example when a game or after school activity is cancelled and a number of students need to call home.  Another example would be the teacher having the student call home to explain their misbehavior.  What is important to remember, however, is when a student calls from your office and does not get an answer, they MUST leave a message.  The same holds true when a teacher makes a call.  Please always leave a message.  When no message is left the parent calls the office because the caller ID alerts them that the school called, but the receptionist has no idea who called or why and many times the parent is upset thinking something is wrong. Students and teachers should always leave a message.  This is much appreciated.  

Come prepared to Monday's faculty meeting with the following:

• What are you doing for the 2nd quarter merit reward?
• How are you incorporating the "Meet up Buddy up" program in your classroom?
• Any questions about next year's calendar
• Your learning goals and essential questions for the week 

Changes on the horizon:  

• New payroll system - details coming soon.  Payroll is being taken over by the Diocese.  The plan is to begin with the Jan. 30 payroll.  
• Good-bye Rediker....  Hello RenWeb - starting July 1, 2017 (you can preview at renweb.com)

Merry Christmas

Just a few reminders....

• Faculty meeting Monday in Krista's room.  Domain chairs should be ready to present their action plan updates.  Please share them with me ahead of time.

• Thursday is the Christmas show.  Teachers should plan to arrive at 6 p.m. to greet the students.

• Friday is the 5-8 breakfast and K-4 Polar Express.  Classroom pickup.  Bring any students left at 12:20 to the office.  No extended day.  All extended day workers should plan to arrive at 1 in the FLC if you are attending the lunch.  Don't forget your left/right gift if you are participating.

• Remember to leave your classrooms and office area clean and neat before you leave on Friday.  I will be around on Thursday to check.  Check your offices in particular.  Everything on the upper shelves should be 18 inches from the ceiling.  Nothing on the floor.  Make sure all students clean out lockers and desks before the holiday.  All desktops should be wiped clean and shelves should be dusted.  When we return start thinking about what you will put on your bulletin boards in the hall for Catholic Schools Week.  

I wish everyone a very Merry and Blessed Christmas and Peace, Love, and Joy for the New Year!!