Monthly Archives: October 2015

Weekly Update: October 26, 2015

Posted on by jgrondek

Happy Fall Carnival and Red Ribbon Week! Thank you for your donations of goods and time!

English Learner Committee:

This year, along with many other SBUSD schools, Emory has established a committee to address the needs of our English Learners. The purpose of the committee is to grow our collective expertise in supporting our English Learners, to ensure that teachers have input as we refine our designated ELD block and to develop a plan to meet the Federal AMAO’s. Thanks to your colleagues who have volunteered to represent you and our students (Karina, Rebecca, Erika, Angela Chris and Cathryn).

PLC:

This week during your PLC block, I would like to you review the proposed changes to our designated ELD groups/structure. Please get feedback to me by the end of the day Thursday. After you have reviewed the proposed ELD groups, please review the Benchmark/PT data and discuss how this will inform your upcoming instruction.

ELD Changes:

Based upon feedback from the EL Committee and you during your PLC, you should expect to see revised ELD rosters by next Monday, November 2nd. We will start our new groups on Tuesday, November 3rd.

Emory Governing Board Presentation:

On November 5th, at 6:00 p.m., I will make a presentation to the Governing Board about Emory. I would love it if you were to join me there. (You will be on your way home before 6:30). This is my opportunity to highlight many of the amazing things that we have been up to this year.

Impact Teacher Change:

Our Impact teachers will rotate on Tuesday, November 3rd. We are very fortunate to have Cathryn and Melinda with us and will continue to have sub Liz Desmond until we are able to find our final impact rotation teacher.

Report Cards:

Thank you for your hard work completing your report cards. As a reminder, they need to be sent home on Friday, October 30th. I encourage you NOT to procrastinate, you will want to attend the fall carnival 🙂 and to avoid any technical difficulties. If you need assistance, be sure to find Chris or me. As you provide honest feedback to families about their students’ strengths and areas of concern, I encourage you to find something positive in each of your students.

Reading Assessment:

I am excited that so many of you have gotten underway assessing your students. Please let Chris know if you or your team would like to meet after school or during your PLC time to receive additional training around administering the Fountas and Pinnell. On Wednesday, November 4th, we will discuss structure in your classroom to allow you to meet with students in small groups and begin to discuss tackling our classroom libraries.

Red Ribbon Week:

Thanks to Daishanna and Angela for helping us celebrate Red Ribbon Week! See email from Daishanna for more information.

Monday: “Unite against drugs” School wide Pledge and Wear Red

Tuesday: “Band together” against to drugs and alcohol (Red Bandanna Day)

Wednesday: “Sock it” to drugs and alcohol (Crazy Sock Day)

Thursday: “Turn Your Back” on drugs and alcohol (Wear Shirt backwards)

Friday: “Slam the Door” on to drugs and alcohol (Outside door decorations) OPTIONAL 

Optimist Contest:

2015-2016 Optimist International Oratorical Contest

Emory teachers have developed an outstanding reputation for preparing students to compete in the Optimist Oratorical Contest. The topic for this year is, “How my best brings out the best in others.” The deadline for entries is end of February 2016 and the event is scheduled for the beginning of March 2016.  The application has expectations, participation rules, my contact information, etc. Please let me know if you would like any support in preparing our students for this opportunity.

 

TedX Event:

I am allowed one guest at our South Bay TEDYouth 2015 event. Please let me know by the end of the day Monday if you are interested in attending. I will draw names and let you know Tuesday morning.

What is the TEDYouth 2015 event?

TEDYouth is a day-long event for middle (6th, 7th, and 8th grade) and high school students, with live speakers, hands-on activities, and great conversations. Scientists, designers, technologists, explorers, artists, performers (and more!) share short talks on what they do best, serving both as a source of knowledge and inspiration for youth around the globe.The theme for this year is “Made in the Future.” We will be watching a live cast of this event.

When is the TEDYouth 2015 event?

On Saturday, November 14 from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM in Burress Auditorium.

Why are we viewing this event?

South Bay is considering future opportunities for  sixth grade students likely to attend Mar Vista Middle School. We are exploring the possibility of highlighting our own SBUSD students at a TEDx Youth event to be held in the District in 2017. We are hoping that our shared experience, and subsequent discussion, on the 14th will be the catalyst for our own event, and are anxious to have YOUR ideas on how to make our event a success!!

Bonus Information

Breakfast, lunch, and snacks will be provided on Saturday and we hope that day will be relatively unstructured and a fun collaborative opportunity for us as a team.

Box Tops:

Box Tops Collections are Wednesday. Erin will send a student around to collect. I am sure that with so much that you have on your plates, that box tops seem like one more thing, well they are, but they brought in over $1,000 last year. Please remind your students and families to collect for our school. (Thanks Erin and Phyllis)

Wednesday Staff Professional Time:
There will NOT be a  whole group meeting. Please use this time to complete your report cards, continue to review updated ELD group placements, collaborate with colleagues or plan to support our students.

Fall Carnival:

Thank again for supporting the fall carnival! (This Friday, October 30th from 3:30-6:30) Families with perishable donations should bring them in on Thursday (see email from Shelly with more specific details/information). Our carnival is a great community event and fundraiser for our school. Please encourage your students make donations for our event. Thanks for coming out to help on Friday and for recruiting your families to volunteer. You may enter volunteer sign ups at this link  ( it is working now). If you can’t figure out how to use the google doc, please email the details to Chris or me and we will enter you and your families.

Unicef/Costume Parade:

On FRIDAY, October 30th at 8:15, please have your students bring out their chairs and form a large circle on the playground. Every year Emory teachers ROCK with their creative costumes!

Question of the Week:

How will you use the data from our Performance Task/Benchmark Assessments to inform your instruction/instructional decisions?

Quote of the week:

Weekly Update: 10/19/15

Posted on by jgrondek

I hope that you enjoy/enjoyed your weekend! Thank you so much for your thoughtful words and treats. Best wishes for a great week!

CELDT Testing:

Big thanks to Chris for coordinating the CELDT test. Thanks also to Rebecca, Dene, Georgina, Leslie, Aranzazu, Erika and Angela for administering these tests.

On Monday, we will be facilitating the last portion of the test. The testing time on Monday is 8:15-10:30. Those teachers not testing, please remind students to be mindful of the students in testing rooms. Recess will be at their regular times.  Chris will supervise an additional recess time for CELDT students.  Once again, there will be no official PBS lesson. Make-ups will continue on Monday after testing as well as the rest of the week.

Performance Tasks:

You have until October 20th to complete your PT assessments and October 23rd to enter scores into Illuminate. Please let Chris or me know ASAP if you need any assistance.

Report Cards:

Please see information below (from Jen O) regarding report cards. This is a repeat, but important.

BROWSERS– Illuminate and the Ed Services Department recommendCHROME. Using an out-of-date Internet Explorer might cause technical difficulties specifically with Illuminate.
SHIFT IN THINKING– Remember to think in terms of the Performance Descriptors (Meets Expectations, Approaching Expectations, etc.) rather than trying to equate a 4 to an ‘A’, a 3 to a ‘B’, etc. Using our Standards-Based Grading Language a student score of a ‘Four’ reflects students are exceeding grade level standards.
4
Exceeding  expectations
The student is consistently achieving above what is expected at his or her grade level in this area at this time.Do not be concerned if you do not have ’4’s on the students’ assessments.
3
Meeting expectations
The student is achieving exactly what is expected at his or her grade level in this area at this time.
2
Approaching expectations
The student is nearly achieving what is expected at his or her grade level in this area at this time.
1
Not yet meeting expectations
The student is not achieving what is expected at his or her grade level in this area at this time.
LANGUAGE– Remember you are completing the English version, and you have the option to print in either Spanish or English.
COMMENTS– We  encourage you to draft your comments in WORD or on Google Docs and then copy and paste them into your report cards.
FINAL DRAFTS– Attendance, Performance Task Scores, Teacher Name will be finalized October 28th. Please make sure these fields have had a chance to populate before you print and send home.
Wednesday Staff Professional Time:
There will NOT be a  whole group meeting. Please use this time to enter PT scores, complete your report cards or other work to support your students.

Fall Carnival:

Thank you in advance for supporting the fall carnival! The Food Donation Flyer should go home Monday (see email from Shelly with more specific details/information). Our carnival is a great community event and fundraiser for our school. Please encourage your students make donations for our event. You are welcome to donate as well. We are still recruiting parent/family volunteers. Please let Shelly know if you have any interested families.

Supplies:

HELP, please!! We have spent an incredible amount of money (more than $10,000) this year on our supplies. The bulk of that it paper and toner for our printers and the copier. Please be as careful as possible and only copy/print what you believe to be absolutely necessary. Thanks for your support!

Yoga:

Are you interested in receiving professional development to provide yoga for your students? (I think we would get free mats, too).

Check out this link and let me know.

Twitter:

Welcome to all our new twitter users. Here is a document with some information about twitter (why/how) and here is a link to the Emory Eagles twitter feed.

Reading Assessment:

Thank you to those of you who have been busy administering our new reading assessment to your students. Click here and scroll down (way down)to the bottom of the page to watch a video of a teacher administering part of the Fountas and Pinnell reading assessment. We will dive deeper into this topic at our next professional learning on November 4th. In the meantime, check in with Chris with questions.

Unicef/Costume Parade:

Thanks to Rose Ann for coordinating our Unicef collection and Costume Parade. You may see her email for additional information.  Our school goal is to raise $500 for UNICEF (STUDENTS HELPING STUDENTS).  We have approximately 580 students and 23 classroom……………so if every class raised approximately $22 we would definitely meet our UNICEF GOAL. On FRIDAY, October 30th at 8:15, please have your students bring out their chairs and form a large circle on the playground. Do you have your costume ready?   Every year Emory teachers ROCK with their creative costumes!  What will you be this year?

Quote of the Week:

Video of the week:

Okay, it is a little bit more than 12 minutes, but I find it fascinating!! Check it out. Chunk it if you’re busy 🙂

Question of the week:

No question, use the extra minutes to watch the video or enter your PT scores/report card grades.

 

 

Weekly Update: 10/12/15

Posted on by jgrondek

Here is the update for this fantastic week that we have ahead of us…..

CELDT Testing:

We have the whole group sections of the CELDT test this week and next. Testing will be held on Monday and Friday from 8:15-9:45. Please see email from Chris with more specific details. Thanks to Chris for coordinating, to our teachers who wil be administering the assessment and to the rest us you for your flexibility.

Performance Tasks:

You have until October 20th to complete your PT assessments and October 23rd to enter scores into Illuminate. Thank you to those of you who have gotten your grade level schedule to Chris. If you have not, please do so ASAP. See reminder below from Jen O about scratch paper.

I wanted to remind you when you are giving your ELA performance tasks please make the paper students are given is just straight blank writing or drawing paper. Since this is an “on-demand” writing piece, we want to make sure students get a chance to show what they know. So, keep that special paper with the reminder cues for checking spelling and capitalization for another assignment. They should be familiar with the paper type, but the paper should not have any helper cues on it.

Report Cards:

Please see information below (also from Jen O) regarding report cards.

·         EARLY BIRDS– If you’re ready to get started, there are 4 step-by-step resources available to you on the Units of Study website– a video, a handout with pictures, a handout without pictures, a presentation with pictures. The presentation outlines some of the issues from last reporting period and their status. Please use the resources available- your Illuminate Site Lead, your team, and Coach- as your first lines of defense.
·         BROWSERS– Illuminate and the Ed Services Department recommend CHROME. Using an out-of-date Internet Explorer might cause technical difficulties specifically with Illuminate.
·         SHIFT IN THINKING– Remember to think in terms of the Performance Descriptors (Meets Expectations, Approaching Expectations, etc.) rather than trying to equate a 4 to an ‘A’, a 3 to a ‘B’, etc. Using our Standards-Based Grading Language a student score of a ‘Four’ reflects students are exceeding grade level standards.
4
Exceeding  expectations
The student is consistently achieving above what is expected at his or her grade level in this area at this time. Do not be concerned if you do not have ’4’s on the students’ assessments.
3
Meeting expectations
The student is achieving exactly what is expected at his or her grade level in this area at this time.
2
Approaching expectations
The student is nearly achieving what is expected at his or her grade level in this area at this time.
1
Not yet meeting expectations
The student is not achieving what is expected at his or her grade level in this area at this time.
 
·         LANGUAGE– Remember you are completing the English version, and you have the option to print in either Spanish or English.
·         COMMENTS– We  encourage you to draft your comments in WORD or on Google Docs and then copy and paste them into your report cards.
·         FINAL DRAFTS– Attendance, Performance Task Scores, Teacher Name will be finalized October 28th. Please make sure these fields have had a chance to populate before you print and send home.
Wednesday Staff Professional Time: 
There will NOT be a  whole group meeting. Please use this time to work individually or with your grade level or other peers on scoring your PT’s, completing your report cards or other work to support your students.

Site Visits:

Michelle Syverson will be here first thing Monday morning to visit your classrooms. I will be visiting your classrooms on Monday and Wednesday.

Google Expeditions:

Check our Google Expeditions and let me know if you might be interested in signing up. We need at least 6 interested teachers, so, encourage your colleagues if you think this would be good for our kiddos.

Free Lunch for Students:

We are now able to provide free breakfast and lunch to our students every day. Thanks to you, Dani and Eunice in the office and our child nutrition department, we, now, offer every one of our students free lunch every day. As this is new, please make an announcement to your class and look for students who may need to be encouraged to eat a healthy meal with us each day.

Parent/Family Education:

Thanks to Cindy P and our ELAC parents Martha Bustillos and Marina Ayala, Session 2 of our Anger Management for parents (their request) will meet this Tuesday. Sonia Landa from San Ysidro Health Center is facilitating this for our families.

Impact Teacher Update:

Please join me in welcoming Melinda White, our new Impact teacher. Melinda will provide science enrichment for our students. She will start with us on Monday with a prep day and begin seeing students starting Tuesday. We are still looking for our final enrichment/collaboration Impact teacher. If you know anyone, please ask them to contact me. Liz Desmond will continue with us for the time being.

Question of the Week:

What questions do you have or support would you like as you complete your Performance Task assessments and report cards? Or, what advice do you have/lessons learned that you would like to share.

Video of the week:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrSUe_m19FY

Quote of the Week: