Author: jgrondek

Staff Professional Development:

You will not meet as a staff  for the next two weeks due to parent teacher conferences. October 30th is a scheduled Principal PLC.

Report Cards- Sent Home October 25:

Thank you for your hard work preparing your report cards!

• Here is the Assessment and Report Card document which is designed to answer all of your questions.
• Remember all report cards this year will use 8.5 x 11 paper and are 2 sided with grades on BOTH sides.
• Here is a video about ELD Grades. The previously mentioned Assessment and Report Card document has a lot of the same information. UPDATE: As we have not received any guidance yet from CDE, we will be keeping the process the same until further notice.  
• TIP: Use a text editor (like Word or Google docs) to type your comments, then copy and paste into Illuminate.
• Remember to SAVE often!
• If you’re new to Illuminate and report cards check out more informative videos about entering grades – Learning and Innovation website, click on the Assessment tab, then Illuminate Resources.
• Chrome, Chrome, Chrome
• You will have 750 characters (including spaces) to write your comments. It may look like you have more space but you’ll only have 750 characters.
• If you are using the Standards-based Gradebook, this document will help you connect the grades to the report card.
• Attendance and other heading data will be populated by 5pm on Friday, October 11th.
• Reading Assessment Data– Please CLEAR your filters then search “Fountas” or “DRA”. Use the 1^st

Progress on Goals:

Reminder to all Education Specialists to prepare progress on goals to accompany report cards. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Imagine Learning:

Beginning October 28th, Leslie will facilitate Imagine Learning after school on Mon, Tues, Thurs, and Fri. and our Impact Teacher Claudia Alvarez Alfaro will facilitate it before school on the same days. 

Student Attendance:

Please see your email from me to find the updated list of students who are chronically absent. Let me know if you need help understanding the report or supporting our students and families.

As you prepare for your conferences with families, please use the information in my email and linked below to support families in regular attendance. For health concerns, you may wish to refer the family to Tracey Purvis our nurse or for any resource needs, you may wish to refer the family to Cindy Pillado.

Guide from Attendance Works about Facilitating your Parent/Teacher Conferences

From TOSA Meagan:

PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES

These next two weeks are an exciting time in the school year, when teachers will be meeting one-on-one with families to discuss their students’ progress and goals.  More than likely you will be spending a significant part of this time discussing the importance of reading at home. As you have these conversations, you may find it helpful to have some resources available to provide information about best practices for supporting reading growth at home.

See this Google Folder of Resources to give parents, such as information about book baggies, questions to ask readers, and read aloud tips. Make a copy of the documents and tailor them to your needs, or use them for talking points when meeting with parents.

Updated Focus of Focus: “look fors”:

Thank you for your thoughtful work at our staff meeting this week and thank you to our SLT team for their leadership. This link will take you to our latest DRAFT. 

 

Save the Earth- Recycle Markers:

Thank you to Patty for coordinating this opportunity for our students. Last year, she mailed a huge box of markers to the recycling plant in New York to be recycled.  Her hope is that this year, we involve our families in our recycling effort so that we can help keep even more plastics out of our landfills. Please let me know how she might provide support in collecting markers. Below are two links that will take you to informational videos regarding the program.

Lower grades:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiTO6pYvSEM

Upper grades:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oufI_8IM1dA

Math News:

As promised, you may now access and complete our math surveys where you will be able to provide individual feedback for both the new Mathematics Website and the revised Math Units of Study. Please, take the surveys individually and be as specific as possible with your comments and answer each question so that it may provide clarity on how we may better support the continued work. Please scroll all the way down and click on the tab labeled “FeedBack.” As you are starting unit two, keep in mind that the Scope and Sequence of the Math Units of Study follows Achieve the Core’s sequential learning map that supports excellent, standards-aligned instruction for all students. Therefore, the standards should be taught in order from top to bottom. It is imperative that standards are not skipped and the order presented in the units are kept intact. Let’s celebrate Math and all the work we have accomplished thus far in our classrooms. While there is so much we are learning and applying everyday it can be overwhelming, so let’s remember Dr. Seuss’ quote, “There’s no limit to how much you’ll know, depending how far beyond zebra you go.”

Quote of the Week:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome back! I hope that you enjoyed your vacation and are ready for a fulfilling and busy October!

Staff Professional Learning:

We meet as a staff this week from 1:40-3:10. We will review and finalize our School Focus document which we developed at our Site Leadership Meeting. Additionally, we will view the South Bay Spotlight video, Dr. McNamara’s Budget Update video and a video about the District Behavior Support team.

Report Cards- Sent Home October 25:

• Here is the Assessment and Report Card document which is designed to answer all of your questions.
• Remember all report cards this year will use 8.5 x 11 paper and are 2 sided with grades on BOTH sides.
• Here is a video about ELD Grades. The previously mentioned Assessment and Report Card document has a lot of the same information. UPDATE: As we have not received any guidance yet from CDE, we will be keeping the process the same until further notice.  
• TIP: Use a text editor (like Word or Google docs) to type your comments, then copy and paste into Illuminate.
• Remember to SAVE often!
• If you’re new to Illuminate and report cards check out more informative videos about entering grades – Learning and Innovation website, click on the Assessment tab, then Illuminate Resources.
• Chrome, Chrome, Chrome
• You will have 750 characters (including spaces) to write your comments. It may look like you have more space but you’ll only have 750 characters.
• If you are using the Standards-based Gradebook, this document will help you connect the grades to the report card.
• Attendance and other heading data will be populated by 5pm on Friday, October 11th.
• Reading Assessment Data– Please CLEAR your filters then search “Fountas” or “DRA”. Use the 1^st

Imagine Learning:

Thank you to all for navigating the new Imagine Learning Galileo System. I am in the process of coordinating a time for ILE staff to share information about the new assessment and additional tools for you to use to support our students. If you are receiving error messages or have any other questions, please let me know. Beginning October 28th, Leslie will facilitate Imagine Learning after school on Mon, Tues, Thurs, and Fri.

District Digital Content:

• District Digital Content– This document has all the login information for any district provided digital content.(Imagine Learning, ST Math, Dreambox etc)

Fall Carnival Flash Mob:

Thank you to Connie and Leslie for coordinating our first ever Fall Carnival Flash Mob!! The performance will take place on October 25th at 4:00 P.M. 

Please make an announcement to your class and hand out registration forms to students as requested. 5 copies of the form will be placed in your box. 

It is critical that the word gets out and the registration forms get sent home to interested students all of next week. The first rehearsal will be held the first day that we are back from break. The link to the form is here.

Before School Student Procedures:

7:15-7:50 breakfast is served in the cafeteria

Prior to 7:40 all students should be in the cafeteria (students should not deliver backpacks to their classrooms)

At 7:40 students may do one of the following:

Eat Breakfast in the cafeteria

Walk (not run) the dirt track

**To ensure student safety, please remind your students not to chase others, walk backwards, or engage in any other unsafe behavior while walking

Sit at the lunch tables outside the cafeteria

Dance (when available)

Student should not stand at their lines until the bell rings (though they may drop their backpack off at the lines (after 7:40) Please let me know if you have any questions or would like us to review any of our procedures.

ELA-TOSA Update:

SMALL GROUPS – Making a Plan

Consider this goal:

“All students will receive instruction in reading at least once a week in a small group setting, with a teaching point targeted to their needs (data-based.)”

How is this going in your classroom so far?  Yes, another TOSA Tip about small groups… it’s THAT important!

Wherever you are in the process of planning and implementing small groups, identify your next step.  Maybe it is to routinely conduct informal running records to keep your data fresh and check for growth.  Perhaps you are working on getting a system in place to ensure small groups are happening routinely.  Or maybe you are learning about different kinds of small groups and having your TOSA join you for planning and instruction.

Once you have identified your next steps, it can be helpful to share them with a colleague!  This way we can encourage and inspire one another, give ideas, and support our growth as we strengthen our practice for the benefit of our students.

Flag Salute-Emory Pride Sticks:

Purpose: The purpose is to create school-wide community during the Monday Flag Salute and to promote school spirit and pride.

How does my class earn an Emory Pride Stick?

• My entire class was on task during the Monday Flag Salute
• My class knew and said the school pledge along with the school choir when the school choir recited into the microphone
• My class sang the patriotic song along with the school choir
• My class was prompt to the flag salute
• All students perform and know the school stomp when a member of the school choir recites it in the microphone
• Students are engaged at the Flag Salute and not chatting

One lower grade and one upper grade class will be chosen to receive an Emory Pride stick and the sticks will be given out after the stomp. Judging will be done by the Parent Center. Class winners will be announced by Mrs. Grondek. Send a student to the office to pick up the stick. The following Monday, bring the sticks to the Flag Salute and give them back to Mrs. Grondek.

Patriotic Song Rotation:

You’re a Grand Old Flag- September, January, May

Song Link– You’re a Grand Old Flag

Star Spangled Banner- October, February, June

Song Link- Star Spangled Banner

My Country ‘Tis of Thee- November, March

America the Beautiful- December, April

Staff UN Meets 10/8 2:40-3:40:

If you are available, I would love to have to join us at Staff UN on Tuesday, October 8^th after school to meet to refine/finalize our School Focus DRAFT linked here. We must submit our final draft to the District by Friday, October 11^th.

Staff Meeting Locations:

It was suggested that we host staff meetings in different classrooms over the course of the school year. This will provide an opportunity to see how our colleagues are using our new classroom furniture, wall space and other cool stuff 🙂 Please let me know if you would like to host an upcoming meeting.

Student Attendance:

Please see your email from me to find the updated list of students who are chronically absent. Let me know if you need help understanding the report or supporting our students and families.

As you prepare for your conferences with families, please use the information in my email and linked below to support families in regular attendance. For health concerns, you may wish to refer the family to Tracey Purvis our nurse or for any resource needs, you may wish to refer the family to Cindy Pillado.

Guide from Attendance Works about Facilitating your Parent/Teacher Conferences

Site Leadership Team:

We enjoyed a great day learning and collaborating on the Tuesday before vacation at our Site Leadership Team meeting at the Ed Center. If you are interested in the slides shared, please view them here. 

 

 

Thank you for your hard work this week! Lots of fun! Lots of hard work! Enjoy your weekend!

Staff Professional Learning:

This week is a Principal PLC. We will meet from 1:40-2:40 in room 23. TOSA Meagan will join us as we collaborate to create and submit a plan for an interactive read aloud. The plans will be shared with so that we may work together to lighten the load. Please bring a book(s) for which you would like to prepare an interactive read aloud plan (to share with our colleagues) during our time together on Wednesday.

Shared Interactive Read Aloud Drive

Classroom Mission Statements- Due Sept 20:

As a reminder, classroom mission statements are due Friday, September 20th. For your reference, there are a few samples linked in the Emory Eagles Classroom Staff Meeting slide deck from September 4th. Please email/give them to Eunice. You will want to work with your students to co-create/write your Classroom Mission Statement. Thank you to those of you who have already submitted them!!

Imagine Learning:

Thank you to all for navigating the new Imagine Learning Galileo System. I am in the process of coordinating a time for ILE staff to share information about the new assessment and additional tools for you to use to support our students. If you are receiving error messages or have any other questions, please let me know. Beginning October 28th, Leslie will facilitate Imagine Learning after school on Mon, Tues, Thurs, and Fri. We hope to have an Impact teacher in place to provide IL before school as well. After fall break, you will receive notices for students invited to attend Imagine Learning before/after school. 

ELA TOSA Tip:

SMALL GROUPS – DIVING IN

If you haven’t started routinely implementing small groups yet, now is the time!  Small groups are what make reader’s and writer’s workshop work and I would argue that they are the most important part of your day. If you haven’t started up your small group routines yet, here are some tools that may assist you:

Need an easy, at-a-glance way to organize your reading data to see where your kids are in comparison to district benchmark standards?  Use this Class Independent Reading Benchmark data sheet – you can plug in students based on their independent reading levels, and then group them accordingly for instruction.

Want to learn more about the types of small groups?  Use this Small Groups Cheat Sheet for an overview, and contact your TOSA if you would like to brush up your skills with any of these groups.
Interested in some self-directed professional development?  Take a deep dive into small groups by accessing this presentation and exploring the links on each slide.

Teachers College Primary (Phonics):

Thank you to Karina, Rebecca and Georgina for hosting our labsites on Monday, September 16^th. The new Phonics Units will be our focus.

Grade	Time	Labsite	Notes
Second GradeMelinda, Georgina, Jeanne	8:00-9:30	Georgina Lobato**8:40-9:10	**Melinda VAPA/STEMMoves to 1:25-2:25
TK/KindergartenChristy, Connie, Karina	10:15-11:45	Karina Martinez**10:35-11:05	**Teacher Lunch11:45-12:30
1st Grade/LCRebecca, Karen/Dene, Monica	12:40-2:25	Rebecca Carson**1:10-1:40

Site Leadership Team:

On Tuesday, September 17th, Karina, Rebecca, Melinda, RoseAnn, Holli, Don, Shelly, Tracy and I will attend the Site Leadership Team meeting at the District Office. Thank you to the team attending for their leadership and the team at “home” for keeping an eye on things.

Attendance:

Some of you have asked about identifying the students in your classroom who are at risk for becoming chronically absent (miss greater than 10% of the school). Students who are chronically absent are more likely to read below grade level and/or drop out/not graduate from high school. Please see the email from me with the names of our chronically absent students and students at risk for becoming chronically absent. See link below to the Attendance Works Website with tips for teachers, families and students.

https://www.attendanceworks.org/take-action/educators/teachers/

Tips for Teachers:

• Take roll regularly showing students that you care when they miss school
• Reach out to frequently absent students to find out in a supportive manner why they are missing school and what would help them attend more regularly.
• Work with parents to stress the importance of early education and to learn about any barriers to good attendance.
• Create a nurturing, engaging classroom that will encourage children to come to school. Work with colleagues to develop and implement a school-wide system of incentives and reward for good attendance.
• Encourage families to partner with other school staff, such as school psychologist, nurses, as well as community agencies to get needed supports to help children and families solve a significant barrier to getting to school.

District Digital Content:

• District Digital Content– This document has all the login information for any district provided digital content.(Imagine Learning, ST Math, Dreambox etc)

PBIS/BEST Behavior Leadership Team:

Please let me know if you would like to join our PBIS leadership team. Team members will get a copy of  BEST Behavior/PBIS book We will read the book and, during release time, work together to develop professional learning for our colleagues and update school-wide procedures and systems.

Fall Carnival Flash Mob:

Thank you to Connie and Leslie for coordinating our first ever Fall Carnival Flash Mob!! The performance will take place on October 25th at 4:00 P.M. 

Please make an announcement to your class and hand out registration forms to students as requested. 5 copies of the form will be placed in your box. 

It is critical that the word gets out and the registration forms get sent home to interested students all of next week. The first rehearsal will be held the first day that we are back from break. The link to the form is here.

Before School Student Procedures:

7:15-7:50 breakfast is served in the cafeteria

Prior to 7:40 all students should be in the cafeteria (students should not deliver backpacks to their classrooms)

At 7:40 students may do one of the following:

Eat Breakfast in the cafeteria

Walk (not run) the dirt track

**To ensure student safety, please remind your students not to chase others, walk backwards, or engage in any other unsafe behavior while walking

Sit at the lunch tables outside the cafeteria

Dance (when available)

Student should not stand at their lines until the bell rings (though they may drop their backpack off at the lines (after 7:40) Please let me know if you have any questions or would like us to review any of our procedures.

Flag Salute-Emory Pride Sticks:

Purpose: The purpose is to create school-wide community during the Monday Flag Salute and to promote school spirit and pride.

How does my class earn an Emory Pride Stick?

• My entire class was on task during the Monday Flag Salute
• My class knew and said the school pledge along with the school choir when the school choir recited into the microphone
• My class sang the patriotic song along with the school choir
• My class was prompt to the flag salute
• All students perform and know the school stomp when a member of the school choir recites it in the microphone
• Students are engaged at the Flag Salute and not chatting

One lower grade and one upper grade class will be chosen to receive an Emory Pride stick and the sticks will be given out after the stomp. Judging will be done by the Parent Center. Class winners will be announced by Mrs. Grondek. Send a student to the office to pick up the stick. The following Monday, bring the sticks to the Flag Salute and give them back to Mrs. Grondek.

Patriotic Song Rotation:

You’re a Grand Old Flag- September, January, May

Song Link– You’re a Grand Old Flag

Star Spangled Banner- October, February, June

Song Link- Star Spangled Banner

My Country ‘Tis of Thee- November, March

America the Beautiful- December, April

Staff Meeting Locations:

It was suggested that we host staff meetings in different classrooms over the course of the school year. This will provide an opportunity to see how our colleagues are using our new classroom furniture, wall space and other cool stuff 🙂 Please let me know if you would like to host an upcoming meeting.

Math Units of Study Feedback:

Please help our TOSA’s help you… If you have any feedback (positive or constructive) about the Math Units of Study, please use the link below to provide feedback.

Math Feedback

Fundraising Guidelines:

• School fundraisers may be coordinated through ASB or PTA
• It is important that fundraisers are optional and do not create a tiered system of basic education (example: students should not be made to pay for materials or services that should be part of basic education, creating a bifurcation of the instructional experience)
• ASB and PTA can collaborate on a fundraiser and share profits
  • A predetermined split of the profits must be agreed to; 100% cannot go to PTA
  • ASB must collect all money, pay for expenses, and then share the final profits with PTA according to the agreed split
• Fundraisers involving students may not occur during instructional time
  • This includes Jog-a-thon laps, field events, Jump Rope for Heart, and similar activities that students may receive pledges for
  • Before school, after school, weekends are best. Recess is also not considered instructional time and may be considered, however it is not best practice to routinely re-direct recess to other events
  • PTA may run fundraisers, such as book fairs, during the day that are managed by adults
• Students may volunteer at PTA fundraisers if they are under the supervision of their guardians and it is not during the instructional day
• Fundraisers involving food must be SmartSnack compliant; please work with Child Nutrition if you have questions
• ASB is designed to promote student leadership and engagement. Having an active ASB means engaging student leaders in decision-making over the fundraising process, including expenditures/reimbursements. This involves student council meetings, tracking minutes, and voting for consensus on actions.
• ALL District fundraisers should be pre-approved utilizing the appropriate form
• Information about optional fundraisers may be presented during student assemblies. Presentations should be limited to less than 30 minutes; PTA communicates a standard of no more than 15 minutes for presentations

Fundraising activities are governed by rules in California Ed Code as well as Board Policy. Because of the cash-based nature of fundraising, it is considered a ‘high-risk’ activity due to the attractiveness for theft or other crimes. In working together to ensure adherence to applicable laws and policies, we can keep the fun in FUNdraising for everyone. You may also contact Brad Wilkinson or Lori Peverley regarding ASB questions or needs.

Quote of the Week:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It has been great seeing so many of you facilitating small groups with our students! Guided reading, reading strategy, writing strategy, and math all this week in our classrooms! Thank you for your hard work each and every day! 

Staff Professional Learning:

This week is a Teacher PLC week. You may wish to analyze your reading assessment data and plan for small groups, you may wish to look for the illuminate math assessments, review the Dreambox teacher reports or anything else of value to your team. Before your team leaves on Wednesday, please complete the Link to PLC minutes form.

Imagine Learning:

The Imagine Learning Assessment window was extended to September 14. Please let me know if you need help accessing the assessments or Imagine Learning. 

ELA TOSA Tip:

You have officially ventured onto your next unit!  For many of you this will mean embarking into the world of Non-Fiction.  It also means that by this point we hope to have seen growth in our workshop routines and components.  This might be a good time to reflect personally or as a team on how the transition into the new year is going.  Below you will find a tool that will suggest some areas to self-analyze, as well as some suggestions for how to address areas of need with your kiddos.  This is an awesome tool!

 

“Building a Reading Life” Progressions

 

Follow effective action with quiet reflection. From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action. -Peter Drucker

 

Also, don’t forget to check out the At-A-Glance for your unit that are linked in the Scope and Sequence to help with your planning! 

Teachers College Primary (Phonics):

Thank you to Karina, Rebecca and Georgina for hosting our labsites on Monday, September 16^th. The new Phonics Units will be our focus.

 

Grade	Time	Labsite	Notes
Second Grade Melinda, Georgina, Jeanne	8:00-9:30	Georgina Lobato **8:40-9:10	**Melinda VAPA/STEM Moves to 1:25-2:25
TK/Kindergarten Christy, Connie, Karina	10:15-11:45	Karina Martinez **10:35-11:05	**Teacher Lunch 11:45-12:30
1st Grade/LC Rebecca, Karen/Dene, Monica	12:40-2:25	Rebecca Carson **1:10-1:40

Attendance:

Some of you have asked about identifying the students in your classroom who are at risk for becoming chronically absent (miss greater than 10% of the school). Students who are chronically absent are more likely to read below grade level and/or drop out/not graduate from high school. Please see the email from me with the names of our chronically absent students and students at risk for becoming chronically absent. See link below to the Attendance Works Website with tips for teachers, families and students.

https://www.attendanceworks.org/take-action/educators/teachers/

Tips for Teachers:

• Take roll regularly showing students that you care when they miss school
• Reach out to frequently absent students to find out in a supportive manner why they are missing school and what would help them attend more regularly.
• Work with parents to stress the importance of early education and to learn about any barriers to good attendance.
• Create a nurturing, engaging classroom that will encourage children to come to school. Work with colleagues to develop and implement a school-wide system of incentives and reward for good attendance.
• Encourage families to partner with other school staff, such as school psychologist, nurses, as well as community agencies to get needed supports to help children and families solve a significant barrier to getting to school.

Opportunities for Staff:

Last week our Emory School Plan was approved. We have some specific actions (listed below) which allow us to recruit interested staff who may be compensated/released for their leadership. Please let me know if you would like more information and/or are interested in being considered for one of the opportunities.

Out of Contract Pay

Before/After School Tutoring- using LLI

After School Imagine Learning

Out of Contract and/or Release

Facilitate Parent Education (during school day/outside school day)

PLC Leadership Team

PBIS Leadership Team

Other actions included in the school plan (this is not a comprehensive list)

Impact Teacher (start date tbd) 130 days per year/4 hours per day

Behavior Intervention Assistant (start date tbd) 5 days per week/3.75 hours per day

Community Volunteer Coordinator 3 days per week 3.75 hours per day

Lexia licenses (20)

Teachers College Partnership

Flag Salute Returns Sept 9:

Our UN Ambassadors have created several innovative ideas to improve our Monday Flag Salute. They voted and approved a new formation and location for the flag salute. Flyers will be placed in your boxes to show this.

As with before, each class will be assigned a Monday to lead the flag salute. The Emory Academy choir will sing the song. All should join in as well.

The assigned class should also speak to the leadership attribute for the month we are working on.  Choose either an individual, small group, or whole class to showcase this attribute. This could be as simple as a quote, short song, skit, poem, or speech. You decide what works best for you! This should be student led, not teacher.

The order of events for the flag salute is as follows:

1. Flag salute- class assigned
2. Song- Emory choir
3. Emory Pledge- Emory choir
4. Principal message- principal
5. Leadership attribute- class assigned
6. Stomp- school-wide

Our first official flag salute will be held on Monday, September 9^th.

District Digital Content:

• District Digital Content– This document has all the login information for any district provided digital content.(Imagine Learning, ST Math, Dreambox etc)

PBIS/BEST Behavior Leadership Team:

Please let me know if you would like to join our PBIS leadership team. Team members will get a copy of  BEST Behavior/PBIS book We will read the book and, during release time, work together to develop professional learning for our colleagues and update school-wide procedures and systems.

Staff United Nations/Shared Leadership:

Our next meeting is Tuesday, September 10th at 2:40 in room 23 for the Emory Staff United Nations/Shared Leadership meeting. At this meeting, we will review data from the first 6 weeks of school and identify “look fors” for interactive read aloud.

Upcoming Dates:

Apex Fun Run Sept 13

T.C. Primary Grade Sept 16

Site Leadership Team (at Ed Center) Sept 17

Principal PLC Sept 18

Soaring to Success Respect Sept 20

Classroom Mission Statement Due Sept 20

Quote of the Week:

Thank you for all your hard work using the Fountas and Pinnell to learn more about your students! Thank you, also, for submitting your data into Illuminate!

Staff Professional Learning: 

We meet as a team this week in room 23 from 1:40-3:10. Math TOSA Edgardo Salazar will join us and provide an review of Math Workshop, review resources for assessment and share information about digital tools. We will also, spend time populating our Study/Field Trip Calendar which is due Sept 6th.  

Opportunities for Staff:

Last week our Emory School Plan was approved. We have some specific actions (listed below) which allow us to recruit interested staff who may be compensated/released for their leadership. Please let me know if you would like more information and/or are interested in being considered for one of the opportunities.

Out of Contract Pay

Before/After School Tutoring- using LLI

After School Imagine Learning

Out of Contract and/or Release

Facilitate Parent Education (during school day/outside school day)

PLC Leadership Team

PBIS Leadership Team

Other actions included in the school plan (this is not a comprehensive list)

Impact Teacher (start date tbd) 130 days per year/4 hours per day

Behavior Intervention Assistant (start date tbd) 5 days per week/3.75 hours per day

Community Volunteer Coordinator 3 days per week 3.75 hours per day

Lexia licenses (20)

Teachers College Partnership

Flag Salute Returns Sept 9:

Our UN Ambassadors have created several innovative ideas to improve our Monday Flag Salute. They voted and approved a new formation and location for the flag salute. Flyers will be placed in your boxes to show this.

As with before, each class will be assigned a Monday to lead the flag salute. The Emory Academy choir will sing the song. All should join in as well.

The assigned class should also speak to the leadership attribute for the month we are working on.  Choose either an individual, small group, or whole class to showcase this attribute. This could be as simple as a quote, short song, skit, poem, or speech. You decide what works best for you! This should be student led, not teacher.

The order of events for the flag salute is as follows:

1. Flag salute- class assigned
2. Song- Emory choir
3. Emory Pledge- Emory choir
4. Principal message- principal
5. Leadership attribute- class assigned
6. Stomp- school-wide

Our first official flag salute will be held on Monday, September 9^th.

District Digital Content:

• District Digital Content– This document has all the login information for any district provided digital content.(Imagine Learning, ST Math, Dreambox etc)

PBIS/BEST Behavior Leadership Team:

Please let me know if you would like to join our PBIS leadership team. Team members will get a copy of  BEST Behavior/PBIS book We will read the book and, during release time, work together to develop professional learning for our colleagues and update school-wide procedures and systems.

Staff United Nations/Shared Leadership:

Our next meeting is Tuesday, September 10th at 2:40 in room 23 for the Emory Staff United Nations/Shared Leadership meeting. At this meeting, we will review data from the first 6 weeks of school and identify “look fors” for interactive read aloud.

Read Aloud Books- coming soon: 

See link below….One copy per teacher, per grade level have been ordered by the district. These are read-alouds, not student texts.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/16AbEbRSVMRTOUtuzHhbbS21Ye3o1vvT5BwOBD1Wq2FY/edit?usp=sharing

Headphones:

• TK-3 will receive this kind of headphone and it will be replenished by Technology Services every 4 years.
• 4-8 will receive earbuds which will be replaced every year by Technology Services.

Upcoming Dates:

Flag Salute Returns September 9

Staff United Nations (Shared Leadership- September 10)

Fountas and Pinnell 8/30 (gr 1-6) **

Apex Fun Run Sept 13

T.C. Primary Grade Sept 16

Soaring to Success Respect Sept 20

Classroom Mission Statement Due Sept 20

Quote of the Week:

 

 

WooHoo! It’s the weekend!! Relax! Enjoy!

Teacher PLC Week:

This week is a teacher PLC. Your team may wish to analyze your F&P data to adjust your partnerships or plan for small groups. You may wish to collaboratively plan Interactive Read Alouds or anything else of benefit to your team. Please complete your PLC minutes on the day of your Teacher PLC.  Link to PLC minutes form.

Staff United Nations/Shared Leadership:

Our Emory School Plan is approved. Hope to see you on Monday, August 26, at 2:40 in room 23 for the Emory Staff United Nations/Shared Leadership meeting. At this meeting, we will review goals, actions and services in our plan this year.

Cybersmarts Week August 26-30th:

The San Diego Police Foundation Internet Safety Presentation

Student Assemblies

August 27

Tk-3      1:00-1:30

4-6        1:40-2:25

Family Education 

August 27 5:00 p.m.

The presentation is designed for an adult audience: topics include hackers and scams, cyberbullying, social media, and gaming. They will provide tips and tricks for families to monitor your child’s access.

• CyberSmarts- ALL TK- 8^th grade classrooms
  • Please take some time to review your grade level content at the posted CyberSmarts agenda website at http://tinyurl.com/becybersmart for your classroom instructional planning.
    • Just click the tab for your grade level at the top of the CyberSmarts Week page; The 3 – 5 core “mini-lessons of the week” for each grade level are in folders at the bottom of each grade level tab.
    • A Teacher Agenda page is provided with some simple steps to prepare for CyberSmarts Week

PBIS/BEST Behavior Leadership Team:

Please let me know if you would like to join our PBIS leadership team. Team members will get a copy of  BEST Behavior/PBIS book We will read the book and, during release time, work together to develop professional learning for our colleagues and update school-wide procedures and systems.

Literacy TOSA Tip:

GRADES 1-6     **FOUNTAS & PINNELL**

Our first testing window closes Friday, August 30th.  As you gather invaluable data about your students as readers, here are a couple of resources that may assist you:

Fountas & Pinnell Training Presentation (especially for new teachers or anyone who would like a refresher)

Classroom Summary Sheet (with information organized to match the Illuminate input order)

Student Summary Sheet (use one per student, greatly assists with keeping track of data)

For those that met with Kristy we had discussed a read aloud folder that we could all share- here is the link:

 

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1cwEkp7KbrWS-DN72DVJCd8Md6fKbH3jyhttps://drive.google.com/open?id=1cwEkp7KbrWS-DN72DVJCd8Md6fKbH3jy

 

Also, here is the template to the reading partnerships doc I had mentioned I would share:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1vRVC38cYPMdpWD21Tvy8cMo_tdMYZAsY8sybjMYF1mghttps://drive.google.com/open?id=1vRVC38cYPMdpWD21Tvy8cMo_tdMYZAsY8sybjMYF1mg

Imagine Learning:

Imagine Learning is ready to go for the students included on the list linked here. Our priority for our 80 licenses are newcomers, students who are “emerging, “expanding” and long term English Learners. Pending approval of our School Plan (end of the month) we will begin Imagine Learning outside of the school day. You may have your students use Imagine Learning during the school day and/or at home.

Link to students assigned Imagine Learning (compiled using teacher recommendation and ELPAC score)

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1h2oBiPtK4_PwFpfaEUrl9dG-XA1RP9ap2pIkwwtRYO0/edit?usp=sharing

New this year—

• Students will take an assessment when they first log on.  Please note that it is recommended that they complete the assessment during one sitting, so teachers will have to plan for students to complete it without interruption.  A 30 to 45 minute timeframe would be the suggestion.  
• The testing window will be open from August 8 to August 30.
• Any students assigned a license after the 30^th will need their teacher to schedule the assessment prior to their first session. 
  1. Directions on how to do this will be shared soon.

Please contact Teresa if you have any issues with student access.  If it cannot be resolved, then a work order should be submitted.

Please see the email from me with directions for use at home and for you to get started in your classroom. 

The Emory Imagine Learning site code is 0637380 

District Digital Content:

• District Digital Content– This document has all the login information for any district provided digital content.(Imagine Learning, ST Math, Dreambox etc)

Math Units of Study Update:

• The second Unit of Study has been posted to the website for teachers to access.  The Math team has included each grade level UOS 2 on the Math Calendar located on the website.  Please note the start date varies per grade level, however, most will begin after August 26.

Flag Salute Returns Sept 9:

Our UN Ambassadors have created several innovative ideas to improve our Monday Flag Salute. They voted and approved a new formation and location for the flag salute. Flyers will be placed in your boxes to show this.

As with before, each class will be assigned a Monday to lead the flag salute. The Emory Academy choir will sing the song. All should join in as well.

The assigned class should also speak to the leadership attribute for the month we are working on.  Choose either an individual, small group, or whole class to showcase this attribute. This could be as simple as a quote, short song, skit, poem, or speech. You decide what works best for you! This should be student led, not teacher.

The order of events for the flag salute is as follows:

1. Flag salute- class assigned
2. Song- Emory choir
3. Emory Pledge- Emory choir
4. Principal message- principal
5. Leadership attribute- class assigned
6. Stomp- school-wide

Our first official flag salute will be held on Monday, September 9^th.

Upcoming Dates:

Cybersmarts Week August 26-30

Internet Safety Student Assemblies/Family Night August 27

Phonics Orientation at Ed Center 3:30-5:00  August 26

Staff United Nations (Shared Leadership- August 26)

Fountas and Pinnell 8/30 (gr 1-6) **

Flag Salute Returns September 9

Apex Fun Run Sept 13

T.C. Primary Grade Sept 16

Soaring to Success Respect Sept 20

Quote(s) of the Week:

 

Thank you for a great week! I hope that you have some fun with your friends and family this weekend.

Staff Professional Development:

This week is a Principal PLC.  We will meet in room 23 from 1:40-2:40. TOSA Meagan will join us as we take time to prepare/orient ourselves for the new units (Reading/Writing or Phonics) which launch on September 3rd. 4th and 5th grade your Up the Ladder (Reading) book is supposed to arrive “the last week of August”.

Teachers College Staff Developer Visits:

Grades 3-6                                       August 19, 20

Thank you RoseAnn, Holli and Leslie for hosting the labsites.

Please bring:

• a read aloud text/picture book
• something to write with
• and your Reading UOS UNIT 1

 

August 19 and 20 (Monday/Tuesday). We are excited to work with Kristina Horsting this year who supported Berry last year. Our focus for both days will be Interactive Read Aloud.

 

5th/6th	Angelica, Don, Leslie, Dave, Patty, Shelly	8:00-9:50	Labsite- Leslie Room 13	Meet in Room 23
4th	Erika, Tracy, Holli, K.C.	10:10-12:00	Labsite-Holli Perkins 15	Meet in Room 23
3rd	RoseAnn, Aranzazu, Maria	12:35-2:25	Labsite- RoseAnn Robles Room 9	Meet in Room 23

Imagine Learning:

Imagine Learning is ready to go for the students included on the list linked here. Our priority for our 80 licenses are newcomers, students who are “emerging, “expanding” and long term English Learners. Pending approval of our School Plan (end of the month) we will begin Imagine Learning outside of the school day. You may have your students use Imagine Learning during the school day and/or at home.

Link to students assigned Imagine Learning (compiled using teacher recommendation and ELPAC score)

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1h2oBiPtK4_PwFpfaEUrl9dG-XA1RP9ap2pIkwwtRYO0/edit?usp=sharing

New this year—

• Students will take an assessment when they first log on.  Please note that it is recommended that they complete the assessment during one sitting, so teachers will have to plan for students to complete it without interruption.  A 30 to 45 minute timeframe would be the suggestion.  
• The testing window will be open from August 8 to August 30.
• Any students assigned a license after the 30^th will need their teacher to schedule the assessment prior to their first session. 
  1. Directions on how to do this will be shared soon.

Please contact Teresa if you have any issues with student access.  If it cannot be resolved, then a work order should be submitted.

Please see the email from me with directions for use at home and for you to get started in your classroom. 

The Emory Imagine Learning site code is 0637380 

District Digital Content:

• District Digital Content– This document has all the login information for any district provided digital content.(Imagine Learning, ST Math, Dreambox etc)

Emory Student United Nations:

Thank you for selecting your United Nations Representatives!! And thanks to Erika, Holli and Shelly for serving as advisors.

Our first meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 21, 2019. The meeting will last approximately 45 minutes, so students will be out of the classroom for a short period of time.

 Who: Our students

What: Emory Student United Nations

When: Wednesday, August 21^th  12:15-1:05

Where: Room 27

Why: Support our Mission of developing leadership and empowering students

 Lunch schedules on meeting days for classroom reps:

TK-K   Regular Lunch Schedule

1^st        Regular lunch then at bell, line up at line 27

2^nd       Regular lunch, but line up at 27 @ 1^st grade bell

3^rd        Regular lunch, but line up at 27 @ 1^st grade bell

4^th        Regular lunch, but line up at 27 @ 1^st grade bell

5^th/6^th   Early lunch at 12:00, but line up at 27 @ 1^st grade bell

PBIS/BEST Behavior Leadership Team:

Please let me know if you would like to join our PBIS leadership team. Team members will get a copy of  BEST Behavior/PBIS book We will read the book and, during release time, work together to develop professional learning for our colleagues and update school-wide procedures and systems.

Cybersmarts Week August 26-30th:

The San Diego Police Foundation Internet Safety Presentation

Student Assemblies

August 27

Tk-3      1:00-1:30

4-6        1:40-2:25

Family Education 

August 27 5:00 p.m.

The presentation is designed for an adult audience: topics include hackers and scams, cyberbullying, social media, and gaming. They will provide tips and tricks for families to monitor your child’s access.

• CyberSmarts- ALL TK- 8^th grade classrooms
  • Please take some time to review your grade level content at the posted CyberSmarts agenda website at http://tinyurl.com/becybersmart for your classroom instructional planning.
    • Just click the tab for your grade level at the top of the CyberSmarts Week page; The 3 – 5 core “mini-lessons of the week” for each grade level are in folders at the bottom of each grade level tab.
    • A Teacher Agenda page is provided with some simple steps to prepare for CyberSmarts Week

ELA TOSA Tip:

GRADES TK-2 – *PHONICS*

News: Phonics professional development MONDAY, AUGUST 26TH at the Ed Center, out-of-contract pay provided.  All teachers grades TK-2 are invited, sign up here.

GRADES 3-8 – *MICROPROGRESSIONS*

We are now in our 4th week of school, and as you have been building relationships with students and helping them set goals, many teachers have reached out to me for resources to support using MICROPROGRESSIONS in the classroom.  MICROPROGRESSIONS are a tool created from the reading learning progressions which help support students with specific, skill-related goal setting in reader’s workshop.  If you would like more information about using MICROPROGRESSIONS in your classroom, please put in a TOSA Request  and I will be happy to support.  In addition, see the resources below:

 

• Presentation: Microprogressions

 

• Google Folder with Microprogressions grades 3-8

(note: a work in progress as this is a collaborative folder with resources created by teachers across the District – feel free to add your own microprogressions to the folder!)

Math Units of Study Update:

• The second Unit of Study has been posted to the website for teachers to access.  The Math team has included each grade level UOS 2 on the Math Calendar located on the website.  Please note the start date varies per grade level, however, most will begin after August 26.

Upcoming Dates:

T.C. Upper Grade     August 19, 20

Principal PLC TOSA Meagan Visits Preparing for/Orientation to Unit August 21

Cybersmarts Week August 26-30

Flag Salute Returns August 26

Internet Safety Student Assemblies/Family Night August 27

Phonics Orientation at Ed Center 3:30-5:00  August 26

Staff United Nations (Shared Leadership- August 26)

Fountas and Pinnell 8/30 (gr 1-6) **

Apex Fun Run Sept 13

T.C. Primary Grade Sept 16

Quote of the Week: