Friday MM - Day B

Good Morning, Welcome to February!

Many guests in the building for the WatchDOGS breakfast.  Some students will arrive late to class if they are with their dad, do not count them as tardy.

Our EOM PBIS Re-COG-nition is today in the gym

• K-2 students report at 12:55
• 3rd grade report at 1:30
• 4tth & 5th  report at 2:05

The kids LOVE having staff there to model mediocre dancing.  They do have some inhibitions and they are comforted by the fact that the adults can "let loose" and enjoy themselves even if the look incredibly silly.  You do not need to be good at something to enjoy it. 

Subs:
Rosemary Hazy for Trish 
Willie Mae Carson for Karon
No sub for Irene 
No sub for Olga

Thursday MM - Day A

Good Morning!

The 2nd grade Living rhythms presentation will be at 11:30 in the gym. Joel will re-arrange classes as needed.

Wednesday meeting schedules which were presented at the faculty meeting are below. 

• 2.6.13 SIT meeting 
• 2.13.13 All Faculty - Open Space 
• 2.20.13 Kindergarten Registration 
• 2.27.13 All Faculty - Open Space
• 3.6.13 All Faculty Meeting 
• 3.13.13 All Faculty - Open Space 
• 3.19.13 – Tuesday 2/3 grade performance 6pm Book fair and Literacy events 
• 3.28.13 – Thursday Rs/Rc 

Additional information at the meeting regarding Learning Focused and essential questions is below.

Essential Questions/CWT tool

1a. Learning objective/target/EQ is posted.
1b.Learning objective/target/EQ is evident to the students.
1c.Learning objective/target/EQ is aligned with the NC standards and WSFCS pacing.

 

Baseline data collected Feb 1st – 28th
Report March 6th

Subs today

Stanley Bradley for Linnea

Lynn Boyles for Demarie

   

Wednesday MM - Day F

Good Morning!

See you at the Meeting in the media center after-school.

The STEM team began to work on the State rubric and will continue to examine our implementation next Tuesday from 3:30-4:30.  If you are interested in joining, please come out as we can improve with staff input and ownership.

Rosemary Hazy for Mariah Lee

Tuesday MM - Day E

Good Morning!

The Sweep team is in effect for DIBELS this week followed by ACCESS for our LEP students. 

Living Rhythms are using Mobile 38 to work with our 2nd grade students on sound. (2.P.1 Understand the relationship between sound and vibrating objects.)  They will present what they have learned in this residency on Thursday at 11:30 in the gym.

PTA January and July birthday bash will be this afternoon.  We will do January first followed by July.  We will read all the July birthdays with February dates next month.

We are proud to be involved as a pilot for the STEM Recognition Program.  The first meeting of our Brunson team that will be responsible for the completion of the rubric and the writing of the application will be this afternoon, Tuesday January 29th from 3:30-4:30 in the LTM room.   The Team consists of ...... volunteers.  The goal is to have a  distributed representation of our faculty, between 5 to 10 members, who are committed to furthering our STEM focus. 

Faculty meeting Wednesday in the media center.

Pastries for Papa Friday Morning!  

Subs:
Rosemary Hazy for Tonya G.
Christie Howerton for Deb F.

Monday MM - Day D

Good Morning!

I trust everyone made it home safely on Friday.  I have more information regarding timekeeping and the early dismissal/ two hour delay that I will share at our faculty meeting on Wednesday.  

Our two hour delay has the following adjustments

• No gym duty in the morning.  Be prepared to accept kids into your classroom at 9:50 
• Lunch will remain as scheduled
• Specials schedule is posted on the board and in the blog documents 
• Specials are 25 minutes in length - do not be late on either end. 

I have posted for your information the "HOME BASE BIWEEKLY UPDATE" in the Blog documents folder. 

Rosemary Hazy for Dorothy Manigault

Friday MM - C Day??

Good Morning!

Early dismissal brings a change in schedule.

No Specials, No LTM, No Recess.  

Focus on Core academics and use your time wisely.

Lunch schedule will be early and will begin as early as 9am  I am working Mrs. Manceri. to develop a schedule

Subs later

Thursday MM - Day B

Good Morning!

We are proud to be involved as a pilot for the STEM Recognition Program.  The first meeting of our Brunson team that will be responsible for the completion of the rubric and the writing of the application will be Tuesday January 29th from 3:30-4:30 in the LTM room.  A copy of the application/rubric and associated documents can be found by following this link.  The Team consists of ...... volunteers.  The goal is to have a  distributed representation of our faculty, between 5 to 10 members, who are committed to furthering our STEM focus.

Also on the Pilot front we are working with the Smarter Balanced Consortium to administer a 5th grade Math assessment.  The window for administration is April 15-26. 

The school board meeting of January 15th is now on-line and can be accessed on this linked page .  Fast forward to the 23 minute mark and watch about nine minutes of our School board presentation.  After watching myself, I would encourage each of you to videotape your teaching as I counted 6 "um's" and 2 "ah's" in the last couple of minutes of my presentation.  Always something to improve!

Due to our possible weather event, the back-pack program will distribute this afternoon.  We missed last weekend and will send a double load today.

Please keep our dear friend and Augustine tutor, Woody Clinard, in your thoughts and prayers as his lovely wife Helen has passed away.  Funeral services are set for Saturday.  You may click to view the obituary.

no sub today for Dorothy Manigault

Wednesday MM - Day A

Good Morning!

Thanks for the attention and support at our PD yesterday.  Modeling continuous learning is may be teaching strategy that is not measured by our CWT or Marzanno, yet I believe it has great value and may be the next thesis topic for Dr. Peddle???

Focus on getting your report cards completed and mailed to the appropriate administrator.  The Tuesday Packet delivery date is January 29th. 

No faculty meeting today - our next meeting will be January 30th - I would like to have 15 minutes of our fifth grade teams time from 3:30-3:45 to discuss our Pilot for "Smarter Balanced" and technology.

Sub - Jane Desantis for Dorothy Manigault

Friday MM - Day F SNOW

Good Morning!

I am looking forward to our PD on the 22nd.  Be prepared for the CCES discussion by reading the articles and participating in your group.  We need to begin at 8:00 AM sharp so come early for the Camino treats. 

I have posted the 3rd quarter schedule in the Blog Documents and on the board.  Silvia will also have a few copies for you to look over.  We begin on Day A - January 23rd.

The Student day taken by snow on January 18th will be made up on February 18th.  The Rc Day of February 18th will..........Not sure yet, but it may be Monday April 1st.  Stay tuned.

Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve.  You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don’t have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve. You don’t have to know Einstein’s theory of relativity to serve. You don’t have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.

 

- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“The Drum Major Instinct”

Delivered at Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atlanta, Georgia, February 4, 1968

Thursday MM - Day E

Morning!

I am at the Elementary Principals meeting and will be back after lunch.

Wednesday MM - Day D

Good Morning!

I am in the RTP today at the STEM Recognition Pilot meeting.  I am looking forward to honing my focus on the integration of STEM.

On the magnet front our numbers through Monday were, 1st Choice = 31and 2nd choice = 62.  The application window closes at 4:30 this Friday!

I will be at the Elementary Principals meeting on Thursday morning to discuss the process for Kindergarten registration and continued discussions on safety improvements.

The Brunson presentation at our School Board meeting went well.   I will post a link to a video when it is uploaded to the WSFCS home page. 

Speaking of videos, here is a link to the Monthly message from Dr. Martin.

Subs today
Lynn Boyles for Donna McGee
No sub for Natalie Newman
Marion Williams for Debbie Woodruff
Rosemary Hazy for Kim Mason AM only

BRUNSON SIP

• •Raise reading & math performance 
• Learning Focused

• Provide a positive learning environment 
• PBIS

• Magnet implementation  - STEM  
• STEM Recognition Design Team Pilot

Tuesday MM - Day C

Good Morning!

In the Blog Documents folder, please read the letter from DPI that invites teachers to participate in a webinar on the new IIS system on January 31.  Pearson-IIS Announcement

TAC is interesting and productive for me in many ways.  I learned that my default communication style should be differentiated to "focus" the message.  So let me have a go;

Do not use your cell phone while you are responsible for students.  

I hope this message is focused on the mission to give students our best!

Wednesday January 16^th, I will participate in the STEM Recognition Program Pilot Team meeting presented by DPI.

During this meeting the following documents will be referenced:

·         STEM Recognition Program

·         NC STEM Attribute Implementation Rubrics:

·         North Carolina STEM School/Programs

·         North Carolina Future-Ready STEM High School

·         Engineering STEM Connections Summary

·         Engineering Connections Aligned with the STEM Rubric Principles: Grades 9-12, 6-8, K-5

·         Engineering Connections Aligned with the STEM Rubric Principles: K-12 Correlation

These documents are located on the DPI website at the following locations.

NC STEM Attribute Implementation Rubrics for high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools located at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/stem/schools/

                Engineering Connections located at

                http://www.ncpublicschools.org/stem/resources/

Subs:
Marion Williams for Debbie Woodruff
Lynn Boyles for Donna McGee
Gwen Sloan for Nancy Smoot
 

Monday MM - Day B

Good Morning!

No staff meeting this week.  Our PD on the 22nd will begin at 7:45 with a light treats from Camino.  At 8:00 we will break into small groups to discuss the 4 articles on CCES.  At 9:15 we will resume our exploration of Learning Focused.  After Lunch we will have group work on TRC and HAG.  

I wanted to share the e-mail from Randy Bledsoe, superintendent of Elkin City schools, after his visit on Friday - Thank you and your wonderful staff for providing us an opportunity to see first-hand the STEM program in the elementary school.  As I move toward a vision of implementation in our system, I will take all the tremendous teaching and learning experiences I saw in your classrooms as our model of excellence.  Great School, Great Teachers, Great Students and Great Administrators -  the recipe for educational success.

Arrangements for Debbie Woodruff's sister, Judy Anne Woodruff Brabham.  Service on Monday night at 7pm in Rural Hall @ Hayworth Miller Funeral Home, Visitation following.  Graveside burial on Tuesday @ 11am   Here is the link to the Obituary

Marion Williams for Debbie Woddruff

Lynn Boyles for Donna McGee

No sub for Edwin Guerra

Last Call!

Happy Friday!  I have 2 deadlines to remind you of:

1.  I need 4th and 5th grade spelling bee rep names by the end of today.  I have heard from Overby, Patrick, MacNatt and Campbell.  3rd grade is welcome but not required.

2.  If you want credit hours for Learning Focused training or CCES trainings (the ones offered here at Brunson), you need to enroll through staff development.  I will close on CCES on Friday of next week (Jan 18).  If you are unsure about this, ask me.

Thanks,
Kathy

Reminder that on Friday, January 11, 2013 4th grade will be in the gym.

10:00-10:40: Anderson
10:40-11:20 Garst
11:20-12:00 McGee
12:00-12:40 Cota-Robles
12:40-1:20 Weber

Keep Debbie W. in your thoughts and prayers as her sister took a fall yesterday and is critical condition.

Subs:
Kelly Bennett for Debbie
Rosemary Hazy for Nancy
No sub for Stephanie S.  

Thursday MM - Day F

Good Morning!

Good fire drill yesterday.  I am asking each of you to ask your class to use the design process and brainstorm ways we can improve our preparation.  Zip an e-mail to Andy before the end of the day Friday with at least one suggestion from your students about fire drills.

PTA board meeting today at 1pm

There was a miscommunication between the Horace Mann Representative, Don Smith, and I regarding the date for the financial planning event.  Please see Silvia for his contact info and he will meet with you at your convenience. 

No subs today.

Wednesday MM - E Day

Good Morning!

Please welcome Don Smith from Horace Mann as he presents on financial planning in the media center tonight at 3:30.  This is not a mandatory faculty meeting and is an optional event provided for your information.

Our safety discussion at our Joint Principals meeting yesterday was focused on the WSFCS response to the tragedy in Newtown.  Just as air travel has changed since 9/11, our schools will change.  I want to thank all of you for working with our locked doors and asking visitors, "may I help you."  Be on the lookout for yellow visitor and PTA volunteer badges.  We have a PTA board meeting on Thursday and will discuss any changes to the systems they use to identify volunteers.

Sub today;
Rosemary Hazy for Kyrie

As we prepare to discuss the CCES articles from Andy on the 22nd, here is a cartoon you might enjoy.

Tuesday MM - Day D

Good Morning!

I am at the joint principals meeting today and will return after lunch.  FYI, the agenda is in the blog documents folder.

 Enjoy the picture of our magnet fair success.

Monday MM - Day C

Good Morning!

Thanks to the staff who assisted at the Magnet Fair.  We had fun meeting families who are interested in our school.  Today is our first tour at 8:30.  We will continue to educate and inform interested families every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:30-9:30 through the end of the application process on January 18th.

Our Wednesday meeting is an optional event hosted by Horace Mann.  

Keep focused on the educational needs of our students and look for an invitation for mid-year PDP reviews, as they need to be completed before January 18th.

Friday MM - Day B

Morning!

Thanks to Kathy for the CC updates below this post.
See you at the magnet fair on Saturday.
Subs, Patricia for Marcela

Curriculum notes

Happy New Year everyone!  It was weird not coming back to Brunson on Wednesday, but I was in a CC meeting all day.  I am not sending out notes from that meeting because they all pertain to K-3 language arts.  Those teachers received an e-mail.

We will hold our school spelling bee on January 15 at 9:15am in the media center.  This date will avoid the tours coming through on MWF that week.  3rd graders are welcome to participate, but 4th and 5th grade teachers need to send a representative.  I need your rep's name by the 11th (Friday). 

I am really looking forward to our discussion about the Common Core on our RC day.  The articles that Andy shared got my brain moving.  I was reminded that change brings unique reactions--fear, excitement, relief, anger...  We are in a year full of changes.  I appreciate your dedication to keeping yourselves current, adapting, and working as a team to increase understanding.

Thursday MM - Day A

Good Morning!

I failed to be clear that each of you is welcome to attend the Magnet Fair without signing up for the 75 minute shift to "grip and grin."  To entice your participation, I will be purchasing some pizza or appetizers at a downtown location on Saturday at 2:30 for those of you who are able to join us at the fair.

On the Technology front, I hope you enjoyed seeing the teaching stations, new Active Boards and laptops in our fifth grade classes.  We are moving forward as a district to embrace multiple pathways to assess student achievement.  If you are interested in learning more about  the capabilities of the Promethean products, meet in Mobile # 34 on Monday January 7th.  We are hoping to start a Teacher Tech club that will be similar to a book club, yet the discussion will focus on Active board applications in the classroom.  

Karin Galiger for Mariah - am only

Wednesday MM - Day F

Happy New Year and welcome to 2013!

I thoroughly enjoyed our break and return refreshed with vigor and a plan for success. 

Let's all meet in the media center at 3:20 today for a faculty meeting.  We will focus on the magnet application period of 2013 including the Fair this Saturday from 10-2

I will be at the convention center today at 10 am for a magnet meeting.

13 days of instruction until the end of the quarter.  Make each day valuable and be sure to communicate progress with our families in a timely manner. 

No subs today