Week 29

Hey there Team,

Thinking of each of you and praying that all is with you, your family, your friends and neighbors are we navigate through this uncharted time.  

As I have gone through this past week, I've really tried to focus on the positive and have really tried to purposefully give thanks for the many things I have been blessed with at this time.  This has allowed me to be encouraged when so many things in our daily lives have the potential to make me discouraged.  As I have though about it, I wanted to share some of those things with you in the hopes that you might be provided a sense of encouragement too. I am encouraged that I work for a company that truly demonstrates care by paying all of its employees during this school closure. I am encouraged that I have a leader who checks on me professionally and personally. I have colleagues who have continually encourage me to be better personally and professionally, every day.  I am very encouraged that I have my needs met...including toilet tissue, kleenex, water, my home, food to eat and technology which enables me to still maintain contact with my loved ones and friends. I am encouraged that, although things are bad, they could be so much worse.

No big words or long speech this week, just wanted to share I am encouraged by all that you are doing to support our students, their families, one another, and that we are going to be ok!

Parent Teacher Conferences

Resource Room teachers if you are attending conferences with your classroom teachers please note these should be wrapping up this week. 

Weekly Check-ins

We will continue our weekly check-ins. Last week the Special Education team was able to meet via Google Duo for a team meeting.  It was wonderful to see everyone and share what everyone has been doing to connect with students.  This is something that I will be doing with each team.  Please watch for the invite.  I also plan to implement 03 meetings.  I will be setting up a schedule and sending it out to you.  These will be time modified. I am so eager to hear all of the awesome things you all are doing. If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know.  Also, remember to check your email at least twice a day.

Student Check-ins

You all must check in on your students. Some of you are doing an amazing job at staying connected with your students. Some of you need to make a few adjustments. You cannot just have one way communications going out. If you have not communicated with your kids, make those adjustments immediately. You must ensure that every child is receiving your communications, if not call them. Call just to see how they are doing. Call to see if they have any questions. 

Special Education:

You should be connecting at least once a week with your SPED caseloads.  You should also be connected to your students classes.

Reading Specialist:

You should be reaching out to your students as well.  Google Voice and connecting via your students classrooms are great vehicles for you too.

Specials:

You can also utilize Google Voice to reach out to students.  Again, I love your Instagram posts but I really need you to have opportunities for two way conversation.  You need to call, video chat, or even text your students. 

Phase 2

Soon you will receive updates on a new NHA initiative for remote learning. I will give you details as I get them. 

Professional Development

Just an FYI...now that we have time, I encourage you to take advantage of some online free CEU's offered through MDE.  Just a thought...

Week 28 (no Week 27)

Hey Team,

I hope each of you are healthy and staying safe. It's been a fast-paced week with the many changes that have happened over this last week. I am encouraged by how well you all have acclimated to our new "normal" and thank you for dealing with the many emails.

I am encouraged by your willingness to support our students through all of the various adjustments that we all have had to make. I am encouraged that you all have made yourself available for your students and parents in whatever platform that you have chosen. 

As you continue to service our students, please remember to reach out to your parents and students no less than once a week. Even if you sent out packets, you need to check in. There should be a way for students to seek help if they need it. I commend those teachers that are in constant contact with their kiddos. Remember, you want to have balance in your lives. You shouldn't be constantly on call. I would recommend informing your families of your "office hours". This is a very stressful time and you need to take time for yourselves and your families. I would like to see what are doing with the students.

If you haven't done so already, I would like an invitation to your Google Classroom, YouTube sites, or any other means of communication with the students.
Lastly, my desire is for us to stay TEAM STRONG. If you come across helpful resources, share them with the wing in an email. Remember, we are stronger together! I will be checking in on you guys. Please know that I am here for you if you need me.

One last thing, please be careful of what you share with parents as it pertains to your thoughts about the length of school closure or any questions of this nature. You can use, "final decisions are still be determined." Feel free to forward any emails to me if you need to!

This still seems unreal but I am encouraged that things will get better!

Parent-Teacher Conferences

It is Parent- Teacher Conference week. All conferences will be held by phone. Use the forms from the email about conferences. The good thing is that most people are home and it should not be difficult speaking with 100% of your parents.

No M-Step Testing

Check out the latest on state testing! 

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/education/2020/03/20/michigan-students-wont-have-take-m-step-other-assessments/2885000001/

News to Know...

• Remember to check your email at least twice a day. 
• As of right now, spring break will happen as it was originally planned. Our scheduled return date is April 13th. Please inform your parents. 
• Remind parents of food service hours. They may pick up food from the school from 9:00am-2:00pm Monday through Friday.
• FYI, per NHA, we are not allowed to use any livestreaming platform for instruction. 
• Did you know that kids can log on to Google Classroom using their PS4 or Xbox 1.

Week 26

Hey Team!

I hope you all had a great weekend!  Wasn't the weather beautiful?  I hope you were able to get out and enjoy it!

End of the Year Observations

The EOY Observations start this week. I will be in your classrooms this week and next week to complete the observations. Please take some time to review the classroom framework before I visit.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Classroom teachers are beginning to schedule their conferences.  Please touch base with your classroom teachers to determine if there are conferences that they would like you to sit in on with them.

M-Step Pep Rally

There will be a M-Step Pep Rally on Friday April 3rd.   Ms. Abston and Ms. Dwyer will each be planning and holding a Pep Rally to get their students revved up for the MSTEP tests.  

During the M-Step Reward Pep Rally they will have music, an M-Step rap, cheerleaders performance, giveaways, noisemakers. The Blue Ribbon Honor Society will make motivational banners that will also be used throughout the school. During the assembly, there will  be announcements regarding the reward for the students that meet their goals for M-Step and NWEA. It should be a really fun!

Vertical Wing Meeting on Wednesday

This is just a reminder. Please come prepared. Below is a list of the questions that I gave you last week. Use this time wisely to help each other improve.  Please plan to join the Novice group (SpEd), or the MS group that you see (Specials). 

• How do you increase fluency in your students?
• How do you keep your students engaged and excited about writing?
• How do you get reluctant readers to read more?
• In honors classes, how do you compact math or ELA to keep your students ahead of the game?
• How do you run workshop for math? ELA?
• How do you increase student motivation?
• How do you teach test-taking strategies?

Specials:

• Trimester 3 begins on 3/9.   Make sure you send home your syllabus with the 7th and 8th graders today.
• Tech Refresh Day 3/11.  Tech will be in the classrooms.

Special Education...

• Team Meeting 3/11.  Please be prompt.  We will start at 8:40 am.
• Child Study - 3/12.  This will be the last Child Study where we will have new students going through the process.  

Intervention...

•   Progress Monitoring continues for AIMSWeb
•   Caseloads - make sure that you continue to stay updated 

News to Know...

Monday: Blackout day
Wednesday: Vertical Wing Meeting
Thursday: Beat the Streets Field Trip (Gr. 5-8), Last day for tutoring
Friday: Blackout Day, Early release @ 1:30pm, Book fair starts, 313 Day (wear your Detroit gear)

Week 25

Welcome to March...

Spring is on the horizon...I can hardly wait!  I am really looking forward We are entering into a very intense time of the year with upcoming report cards, parent teacher conferences, testing, etc.  As such we need to go back to revisit a few housekeeping issues that we need to address:

Staff Attendance   (Per the Staff Handbook):  It is my intention to provide you with your total absence number this coming week, so that you can monitor your attendance.  Also, going forward, we MUST put our absences in Frontline/Aesop.  There is a form in the main office to provide you support to do this.  Also, I am going to ask that you start to request a sub when you are going to be out for Planned and/or Unplanned.

Please be mindful of your attendance for the school year. It directly reflects your end of the year evaluation under professionalism. Remember, if you exceed 4 absences in a school year, the following disciplinary action may follow:

• 5 absences-documented verbal warning
• 6 absences-written warning
• 7 absences-final written warning
• 8 absences-termination considered

Arrival/Dismissal:

There are two options for Arrival...either 7:30 am or 7:45 am.  If you choose the 7:45 option, you need to let me know.  If you begin your day at 7:30 am, you are able to leave at 4:00 pm.  If you begin your day at 7:45, then your day ends at 4:15 pm.  I am asking that you please adhere to the times that you choose.

Also, we are asking that if Driveline runs long, due to the number of cars, please do not leave dismissal until Driveline closes.  This becomes a safety issue when we have children outside with minimal supervision.

Parent Teacher Conferences

Classroom teachers are beginning to schedule their conferences.  Please touch base with your classroom teachers to determine if there are conferences that they would like you to sit in on.

Report Cards

Report Cards are scheduled to go home on Friday, March 6.  Special Education Staff, you need to have your Progress Reports completed to accompany Report Cards and these are due to me by Wednesday, March 4th.  I will pass them on to the classroom teachers.  Special Teachers...please make sure your grades are in the grade book by Wednesday, March 4th.  

The 3rd Trimester begins on Monday, March 9th.

Vertical Team Meeting

On Wednesday, March 11th, instead of our normal wing meeting, you will meet with other teachers that teach the same instructional level as you do. Honors teachers will meet together, Proficient teachers will meet together, and novice teachers will meet together. Utilize this time to share strategies, challenges, and solutions. Our goal is to grow and learn from each other. Here are some questions to consider as you prepare for this meeting:

• How do you increase fluency in your students?
• How do you keep your students engaged and excited about writing?
• How do you get reluctant readers to read more?
• In honors classes, how do you compact math or ELA to keep your students ahead of the game?
• How do you run workshop for math? ELA?
• How do you increase student motivation?
• How do you teach test-taking strategies?

Have a great week...

Specials:

• Team Meeting on Thursday. Plan to discuss you plan arc for third trimester.
• Time to start working on Report Cards. Please plan to have your grades input by 3/3 so that they are available when classroom teachers need to print. Report Cards go home on 3/6.
• Trimester 3 begins on 3/9.  

Special Education...

• Time to start working on your Progress Reports.  Please have them to me by 3/3, so that I can distribute them to the teachers.  If you need assistance, please ask...
• Team Meeting 3/3.  Please be prompt.  We will start at 8:40 am.
• Child Study - 3/12.  This will be the last Child Study where we will have new students going through the process.  

Intervention...

•   Progress Monitoring continues for AIMSWeb
•   Caseloads - make sure that you continue to stay updated 

Important Dates

             March is Reading Month!   It is also "Dress Up"  Mondays....

             3/2 - Hat Day

             3/4 - Staff Meeting 7:30 am; Dean Prep @ Laurus

             3/5 - Blue Ribbon Students Field Trip

             3/6 - Trimester 2 Ends; Report Cards Home