Don't be Spooked by Intervention Plans

Happy Friday everyone!
        As we have now just finished our ninth week of school with students, (I know right?!) you may be noticing that some of the students you thought were just "slow starters" or getting used to the new grade level work expectations, are truly not responding to the instruction, curriculum, and or classroom environment as it is being presented in core instruction. Where there is always room to improve our core instruction (If we all had it figured out we'd be billionaires), this may be a child who needs something more intensive. If you are finding that you are pulling that student to a back table when there is an assignment to reteach something, or you are having to do more targeted instruction on certain concepts consistently, it may be time to consider a formal intervention plan.
    Do not be afraid of ECATS (the system in which plans are now created). THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY is that you are providing the needed intervention to the child and documenting it. If you need to keep it on paper before you have a chance to create a plan in the system, that is fine. PLEASE do not let the software hold you up from giving a student what they need!   

Please also know that your case managers are here to help you create plans for your students, but they are not supposed to create them for you.

Remember to progress monitor your reds and yellows by Tuesday!

Out and About at  GHE:

I love that these skeletons have some awesome dance moves!

Thank you for always being wacky with me, Mrs. Critcher!

Now that is some creative "Wacky"!

Third graders learn about how students in different countries overcome learning challenges.

How much do we appreciate Roxanna?!

Mrs. Gardner's kiddos work together to put what they know into a bar model to solve the problem

Students enjoyed "Donuts with Grownups!"

Upcoming Events:
Monday October 28th

Tuesday October 29th- Progress Monitoring due for reds and yellows.
                                      3rd Grade Field Trip (On Campus) "Science is Fun"
                                      1st Grade Field Trip (Off Campus)  NC State
                                      Kindergarten Field Trip (Off Campus) Hillridge Farms

Wednesday October 30th- Steve out for AP meeting
                                           Kristin off campus pm (financing a vacation house for either Bovenizer or                                             Baker😄)

Thursday October 31- Kristin Off Campus
                                    If you would like to allow students to dress as their favorite storybook
                                    character you can. NO MASKS please.

Friday November 1st - Workday (Please turn in leave form if you will not be here. Sign in if you are here). Thank you!


                 
     

Celebrating our Successes

As I am making my way into classrooms, I am seeing so much hard work and planning. I am seeing so much collaborative work among students. I can really see the progress in students who have been doing this type of work for multiple years. You guys are really rocking it! Thank you!

Shout out to Kathy Harrington who made such a strong connection with one of her students by attending a performance that he had been working on for many weeks. She found out the performance by noticing a decrease in his homework completion. Rather than admonishing him off the bat, she subtly asked him what was going on and he shared that he had been attending rehearsals each night. Kathy reached out to parents proactively to discuss a solution that would still hold the student accountable for his homework, but in a way more conducive to him attending his rehearsals. Then she stealthily asked mom when the performance was being held and she surprised him!
That student came in Monday hidden behind a huge bouquet of flowers for his teacher.
Way to go Kathy!

More from the classroom:

Ms. Hart's class works together to come up with strategies for solving common reading challenges

Ms. Perry's class does a directed drawing of Edward the Emu

Mrs. Arbour's class puts together "Mr. Bones."

Thank you to all of those who are working on Turkey Trot!

Thank you Ms. Tew and Ms. Armstrong for this great anti bullying display

You never know what your day will hold! Thanks Mrs. Arbour for the picture!

Book Fair Family Night was a huge success! Thanks Mrs. Burleson for handing out Turkey Trot bookmarks

Mrs. Zimmerman's class reflects on their learning. 

Upcoming Events:

Monday October 21st        5th grade field trip; Pre-K Picture Day/ Crazy clothes&wacky hair

Tuesday October 22nd       School Improvement Team meeting 8:00/ Team Up against bullying

Wednesday October 23rd   Wacky Wednesday PLTs 7:55 / Wear Orange for Unity Day

Thursday October 24th-      Principal Meeting for Kristin / Be a Hero

                                            8:15 CogAt/ITBS training

                                            Family Academy session "Today's math" (6:00-7:30)

Friday October 25th            K-5 Picture Day/ Dress for Success
                                         

School Improvement: What's my Role?

As we continue to work through the school improvement process, what is important to note is that although, we have a person serving in the role of leader for each of our key indicators (Family Engagement, and Standards- aligned instruction) , we all have a part to play in making this work a reality. Please make sure that as you are making those positive parent contacts, you are documenting those. When you have parent conferences, make sure that parents are signing in. Make sure that as you are planning, your team stays focused on standards and note that it's noted on your PLT template. These are all ways that we will track our progress toward these two indicators. As a reminder, everyone should be sending home weekly communication to parents regarding what their students are learning in class. Although, much of this is what you are already doing, the School Improvement process requires us to have it all documented and visible. Thank you so much for all of your hard work every day!

Upcoming Events:

Monday October 14th Please see Jackie's email regarding Book Fair times and details!

Tuesday October 15th- Be sure you have progressed monitored your reds

Wednesday October 16th- Family Night at the Book Fair (4:30-7:30 pm)

Thursday October 17th😆

Friday October 18th- Falcon Friday! Wear your Spirit Wear!

From the Hallways and Classrooms

It's Readvolution Time! Falcons are rocking it already!

Ms. Hunt's class prepares a character reaction paragraph

Ms. Chiong's students work with area and perimeter to design a house

Ms. Patterson's class takes a fun Brain Break with Gonoodle

Loving these anchor charts!

Ms. Cronin's class learns about clouds

Positive Contacts

Positive Parent Communication and Staff kudos:

We all know how good it feels to get positive feedback and we have talked about the importance of parent communication and working together with parents. Remember that as part of our work connecting with parents, we need to be making those positive parent calls. Below is an article about the importance of positive parent contacts.
https://www.edutopia.org/blog/power-positive-phone-call-home-elena-aguilar

In thinking about making those positive contacts, I also think it is important to extend that to our coworkers. Please continue to recognize each other for the many things you are doing every day. If you see a co worker having a hard day, there is an opportunity there to brighten someone's day with something positive, a kind word or recognition. This is the fuel that will see us through the longer parts of the year- i.e as we navigate the endless road to Spring Break.
I hope you know how grateful I am to work with all of you. Thank you for what you do for kids everyday!

Class Pics:

  

Ms. Driggers works with Ms. Dunk's class on Art by Me!

Walk to School Day! Thank you Coach G and Coach Williams!
And thanks to Ms. York for taking the picture!

Ms. Sprague's class working on informative paragraph about  flooding in Bangladesh

Ms Tew's digital breakout with students

Yup! It's hot

Upcoming Events:
Monday October 7th- 8:00 am some staff are meeting on Turkey Trot. You know who you are. 😆

Tuesday October 8th- Faculty Meeting - 8:00 am PLEASE BRING YOUR CHARGED IPADS. Pierce Group Benefits

Wednesday October 9th- Protected Teacher Workday (see earlier emails)

Thursday October 10th- Principals Meeting for Kristin

Friday October 11th- Falcon Friday!