Friday MM - Day F

Good Morning!

Another fine day of testing was completed with TEAMWORK.  Thanks for all the care and concern given to our students.  Now comes the most important job we have... 

• We must MODEL for all students that each and every day is an opportunity to learn and be your best
• Provide AMAZING lessons through June 11th
• Increase your engagement with all aspects of the day
• Build the capacity in them to value each day.

Our "party" to celebrate the completion of the EOG Tests and our increased supervision and the  will be at Twin City Diner @ 3:45.  We will provide several appetizers to share and you can be responsible to purchase your own beverage.  Stop by to celebrate and socialize.

Can be found in the Blog Documents folder

No subs for Friday

Thursday MM - Math EOG

Good Morning!

The atmosphere in the building yesterday was phenomenal.  Keep it up today and focus on the best interest of students. 

We will be hard pressed to make the all call before the 12:30 specials.  We will do our best to communicate with those affected.  There shall be no outdoor recess until the all call is made.

Our FCAE and Student Survey results are back.  I have placed copies of both in the blog documents folder.  We will discuss a few points at our last faculty meeting, June 12th.

Please read the e-mail forwarded from Lynda Fuller regarding the Department's Accountability Services Division invitation to participate in the standard setting process to be held in Raleigh July 22-26. 

No subs Today

 

Wednesday MM - ELA/EOG

Good Morning!

Please create a sense of well being for ALL students as they demonstrate their academic growth on the EOG tests this week.  

• Keep all hallways quiet
• We will not have Specials or Recess until an announcement is made over the intercom
• Recess must be spread out and supervised as we will have more classes than normal due to the compressed schedule
• Set up your students for success and organize your outside time

Mrs Manceri needs your input on Field day lunches.  Please respond on her sign up near the sign-in.

No subs Today!

Please read the message below from Steve Oates and Jackie Pierson regarding Video use in the classroom.

Unless a school subscribes to Movie Licensing, teachers should not be showing entertainment videos (they have ratings) in the school building for rewards or as "fillers" after testing.  Nonrated "educational" videos can be shown without a license IF IT RELATES DIRECTLY to an educational objective THEY ARE TEACHING at the present time.  

Rated entertainment videos (such as ones that are based on novels) may only be used in the classroom as part of a lesson that is current and involves student activity--and must comply with our video ratings chart.

Approval forms for ALL "outside" videos (videos not cataloged in the school's media collection) still need to be signed by the Principal and/or Parent and videos must conform to the video ratings chart.  

Videos from Learn 360 or Teacher Tube (because they are not usually rated as PG, PG-13, or R) do NOT need prior approval.

The use of Netflix and similar "personal" subscription services should not be used in the classroom (unless the license agreement states "For Classroom Use" or "For public performance").  Use of any "clips" from subscription services must follow our Selection and Video use policy.
 
According to our Selection and Video Use policy and best instructional practices, use of lengthy videos should be avoided in the classroom.  "Clips" from videos CAN be used in the classroom as part of a current lesson, but must follow the video ratings chart for Principal and/or Parent permission due to content.  "Clips" are considered to be 5-10 minutes in length.
 
Some recommended activities for "post testing" afternoons include  review sessions (where appropriate), enrichment or pre-teaching activities to build prior knowledge for upcoming curriculum topics (even next year),  read-ins with book shares, webquests or scavenger hunts, poetry slams,  student creative writing projects such as puppet shows or TV shows,  board game marathons or centers, research projects on topics of student's choice, extended PE activities, celebration activities with guest speakers. career fairs, etc.

I know it is difficult to keep students engaged at the end of the year, and using videos in the classroom is always an ethical and challenging decision process.  I will be glad to field questions or discuss specific video titles that teachers would like to use in the classroom. 

Tuesday MM - Day C

Good Morning!

Our Schedule for EOG testing on Wednesday and Thursday are posted on the board and in the blog documents folder.

Hallways and classrooms for testing need to be FREE from any wall materials that are "educational" before the end of the day.  

Please be early the next few days and remember our PBIS universals as we all increase our supervision and interaction with our students.

PTA birthday bash today for May and June.   We will call each separately beginning with May at 1:50

Our Faculty meeting will be Wednesday afternoon.

No Subs Today - and PLEASE no subs Wednesday or Thursday for testing!

Friday MM - Day B

Good Morning!

Be.engaged with students and learning today.  Resist the temptation to "coast."  Day 169 in our calendar is just as valuable as any other day in our year.  Friday is just as valuable as any other day in the week.  When all our students have left for the day, feel the intrinsic reward that you made a difference.  Then and only then, begin the memorial day weekend knowing you are fulfilling your purpose.

Subs:
No sub for Deb Gray
Jane DeSantis-Bostedt for Cindy Sanders

Thursday MM - Day A

Good Morning!

We hope to do one make-up test today,  Please help keep the environment appropriate for testing.

A change in date for our Mix-it-up/Field Day faculty meeting as our PBIS team will be at Training on Wednesday, June 5th.  We will meet as a whole staff on Thursday afternoon, June 6th to engage in learning about this fantastic event.

SIT meeting tonight in the Art room 

We still need 8 proctors for Thursday May 30th.  Please see Kathy today with names and numbers so we can secure a full team before the weekend! We are using watchDOGS and Spouses.  If anybody has ever mentioned helping in our school, this is a great way to give back to our community.  Thanks for your help!

No subs today

Wednesday MM - Day F

Good Morning!

SCIENCE TESTING TODAY!!!

Great work on Tuesday with our on-line EOG.  Technical issues and anomalies were handled with grace, and dignity for each student was preserved.  I am proud of our calm and confident demeanor that we demonstrate to our students.  Keeping our "cool" is the number one thing we can do to empower students to do their best.

I need information about any end-of year plans/events to be e-mailed to me before Friday at 8am.  Please type in the subject line EOY 2013.  This data will help me as we plan for our faculty meeting on Wednesday May 29th.  At this meeting we will receive our EOY checklist from Silvia and review our work calendar that runs through Tuesday, June 18th.  We will also have a meeting on June 5th focused on our June 7th Celebration and June 10th Mix-It-Up Field day.

Rosemary Hazy for Kim Mason  
Jeffrey Peagram for Brenda Coles

Tuesday MM - Day E

Good Morning!

• SCIENCE EOG Today and Wednesday
• NO all calls
• reduce the volume in all areas of the building 
• Specials continue as normal 
• Only fifth grade to use Restrooms after announcements
• Lunch is modified for the 10 classes in Blue
• Do not discuss the test!

Please keep the school and community in Oklahoma in your thoughts today as they recover from a devastating tornado.

 TAC/MTAC met last night and we got in to some amazing issues.  I enjoy the honesty that occurs in these meetings and though we are often at a standstill as to solutions, we do realize that opening the discussion leads toward understanding.  One issue for action is a voluntary faculty contact list so teachers can contact others beyond the walls of the school.  Kathy and Lara will provide more information at our next staff meeting.

I want to share this excerpt from an e-mail message regarding the end of the year.  I wrote this in reference to planning end of year parties

• We try to preserve a rigorous academic environment through the last day.  I encourage teachers to "celebrate" the growth and keep the event in perspective....

The parent replied.

• I am so pleased to hear the students will be working until the very end.  So many parents (including myself) get frustrated that the last several days of school are spent cleaning up the classrooms (which needs to get done, but there is no academic component to being at school!)

Let's all be cognizant of our responsibility to engage our students in relevant and meaningful learning on each and EVERY day we have the opportunity.  

Subs:
Rosemary Hazy for Anne Campbell
John Mabe for Joel Peddle
Levannah Silverwood for John Brock

Monday MM - Day D

Good Morning!

SCIENCE testing begins Tuesday.  This EOG is on-line and we will follow the lunch schedule on the board for the 21st and 22nd only.

Thanks for your support of the PBIS Universals as we close this amazing year.  Together we can enjoy the remaining days of learning.

Assistants role for the end of the year

• No more duty free lunch
• Copies only in the upper grades as the K-2 assessments require lots of support

Our Cafe superstar Manager Heather Manceri wants us to be aware of two things

• Inform her TODAY of any times you will not be in cafe line for the remainder of the year
• Encourage all students to pay off any cafe debt they have accumulated

Subs:
Rosemary Hazy for Olga
No sub for Dorothy

Friday MM - Day C

Good Morning!

We have moved the PBIS meeting to provide choice!

• Today from 3:25-3:45
• Monday Morning from 7:30-7:50

We look forward to discussing our universals as the we hold true to our values through the end of the year.

ThursdayMM - Day B

Good Morning!

PBIS - Monday @ 3:25 we will have a ALL STAFF meeting for 20 minutes to roll-out our golden ticket program.

I am at the Elementary Principals meeting today and will not be back until mid-afternoon.

The grounds crew is scheduled to be here today to mow and trim.  Please be sure your vehicle is parked in a spot that allows access to all areas around the parking lot.

The UNCF College Fund campaign has ended, and the winner of the third donor drawing is Stephanie Ingram.  Congratulations, Stephanie, you will receive an insulated tumbler and a Starbucks card.  Thanks to ALL who contributed, we met our goal!  Brunson teachers and staff donated a total of $1065 to this worthy cause. 

Proclamation about cell phone use @ Brunson

• No staff member shall use a cellular or portable electronic device while supervising students
• Not at recess
• Not at arrival duties
• Not at dismissal duties
• Not in the cafeteria

• The staff will be rewarded with a PARTY on Friday May 30th @ 3:30 if there is no cell phone use in these areas

• Individual staff members who violate this request will be directed to leave their cellular device in the office safe each day upon arrival at school and retrieve it after dismissal.

• We MUST give our full attention to our students.  Just as the state has a Law to eliminate distracted driving, we must do everything we can to focus on our students for the remainder of this school year.

 There are no subs as of 6 pm Wednesday night.

Wednesday MM - Day A

Good Morning!

EXTEND II continues today in Room 20.

EOG administrator training is TODAY 3:20 in the media center.  Bring your Manual that you have read!

May Unity Day will be this Friday (5/17) and the color to wear will be yellow! I will put flyers in your mailboxes - please post them in your room and make your students aware of Friday's Unity Day. Thanks for all you do to support the KC Club kids :) Jenny 

Upon logon to your computer tomorrow, you will be prompted to change your Active Directory (network) password.  This password change is necessary for the upcoming migration to Microsoft Office365.  Please review the bullet points below:

 

• Password must be at least eight characters in length.
• Your current password cannot be used.
• Your previous four passwords cannot be used
• You must change your password upon logon to the domain (computer) only. 
  Do not change password on the Email logon page or the Webportal. 
• Once changed, your password will sync with email, webportal, website, Exceed, Kace and all other Intranet programs where your network logon is used.
  
  
  Subs:
  Alan Goldenstien for Tonya G. pm only
  
  

Tuesday MM

Good Morning!

Remember to wear Tennis shoes or Sneakers on Wednesday to support the Boston One Project.

EXTEND II testing this morning.  Announcements will be short. Keep the upstairs and lobby QUIET until we announce all clear.

If anyone has a picture of Dr. Morrison at a function here at Brunson, please share with me soon.

Subs:
Willie Mae Carson for Karon
Jane Desantis-Bostedt for Tonya L.

Monday MM - Day E

Good Morning/Happy Mother's Day!

Extend II testing begins Tuesday upstairs with Kim and Tonya as our administrators.  Please provide an amazing testing environment these mornings for our students who are demonstrating their growth. 

Our wall walks will begin on Friday with the upstairs hallway.  We will also visit all fifth grade classrooms and ESL. Begin to clear all student work and academic information from these areas to be in alignment with our NC Testing Code of Ethics.

Administrator training for "Paper and Pencil" is Wednesday, followed by "Accommodations" training on Thursday.

Subs:
Julie Atkins for Mariah
Willie Mae Carson for Trish

Friday MM - Day D

Good Morning! 

HAG tour at 8:30 today

After the science training Wednesday we need to communicate with our staff that the computer lab is booked on the mornings (8:00-12:00) of May 17, May 21, and May 22  for Science EOG tutorial/testing for the fifth graders.  

Subs:
Marion Williams for Debbie Woodruff
No sub for Deb Fidali PM only 
I have a CO meeting today @ 2pm 

Thursday MM - Day C

Good Morning!

STEM Career Exploration tonight at ATKINS .  Come on over if you can make it, and encourage your kids to attend.

Great Training Kathy! 

No Subs today

Wednesday MM - Day B

Good Morning!

We have added a few dates to our school calendar
 
HAG PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT 2013

• Monday, June 3, 2013 at 6:30pm

HAG classroom tours

• Wednesday June 5  11:30-12:30
• Thursday    June 6  11:30-12:30

UNCF College Fund campaign update:  Willie Stevens was drawn as the winner of a Starbucks gift card.  Our second winner is Annie Campbell, who will receive a gift card to Bone Fish Grill.  Please contact Paula Wilkins to receive your prize.

The College Fund campaign continues until next Monday, May 13.  That means we’re down to the final four days to reach our goal of $1000.  Thank you to ALL who have donated to the fund.  We’re at the $725 mark, and we can make the additional $275 with donations – no matter how small – that show our belief that “a mind is a terrible thing to waste.”

Thank you!  Please let Linnea Patrick know if you need a pledge card or any kind of help making your donation.

Our EVASS rostering will take place Friday in the media center at 3:15.  All ESL, EC, 3rd, 4th & 5th grade teachers are needed from 3:20-3:40.

Subs: 
Rosemary Hazy for Karon 

See you all in the media center at 3:20!  Please arrive as early as you can following buses so we can get started at 3:20.

Community STEM Career Fair

Thursday, May 9

6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Atkins Academic & Technology High School

3605 Old Greensboro Road

Winston-Salem, NC 27101

 

Come visit with professionals from colleges and businesses in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math. See displays and demonstrations and interact with those who are training and working in our local STEM community. Participating professionals include . . .

 

 B/E Aerospace

Carolina Liquid Chemistries

Code Blue Health Careers

Cook Medical

Davenport Transportation Consulting

Digital Design & Modeling

Forsyth Tech Science & Math

Gramercy Research

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

N.C. A&T State University

North Carolina Biotech Center

SciWorks

Targacept

Volvo

VT-Wake Forest University Bioengineering

Wake Forest University Biology

Wake Forest University Computer Engineering and Programming

Wake Forest University Physician Assistant Program

Winston-Salem State University Life Sciences

 

Tuesday MM - Day A

Good Morning!

I am at the Joint Principals meeting this morning. (agenda is available in the blog documents folder)   I look forward to my return after lunch for our STEM meeting in Mobile 33.  We are reviewing the final work on the rubric and engaging in a discussion about "Expeditionary Learning" led by our own ALN

Wednesday's meeting will engage all your senses as we come together as a community to establish our testing environment.  

• Good morning!  All staff need to attend Wednesday's staff meeting/test training.  Not everyone will stay for the whole time.  We will end the meeting with the science EOG training.  Teachers who will administer science should plan to stay until 5:00.

• The following Wednesday will only be for those who are administering reading/math (Plan to stay until 5:00.) K-2 and instructional assistants will not need to attend on the 15th. 

• Anyone testing students with accommodations needs to attend on the 16th.  That meeting should end by 4:30.

Let me remind you of the new expectation that everyone read the Assessment Guide before attending the training sessions.
 
This is our last six-day rotation for LTM. 

No subs as of 5:15 Monday night.

Monday MM - Day F

Good Morning!

Thanks for a great event on Friday! 

Welcome back to Kathy from her Peruvian mission/adventure.   Extend the welcome back wishes to Kevin Alston who will transition from his EC internship to a long term sub for 3rd grade PRT & technology. 

A reminder to thoroughly read the NC Testing Code of Ethics before our whole staff training session on Wednesday.  

Teachers, a copy of the STC refurbishment and needs sheet was placed in each teachers box. Please fill out according to your needs. If you need something SPECIFIC, please list that at the bottom of the page. This form MUST be returned to Lisa Weber by Friday, May 10. Any forms not returned may prevent you from receiving the necessary living materials and supplies needed for next year.  If you have questions, please see Lisa Weber.

Subs:
Gwen Sloan for Angela Hunt
David Robinson on for Michelle Gray 
No sub for  Natalie Newman

Friday MM - Day E

Good Morning!

SPRING FLING!  Please share in the excitement that the students have for this event.  Our sacrifice of one evening for the joy delivered is well worth the effort.  The amount of happiness our students will experience is dependent on our attitude toward sharing our time.  Be engaged, Be involved, Be supportive. 

Thanks to Andy and the PBIS team for today's Monthly celebration of Krazy Cickball!

• K-1 @ 12:20- 12:55
• 4-5 @ 12:55- 1:30
• 2-3 @ 1:35- 2:20

IMPORTANT:  Teachers, if you have over half your class coming to the ReCOGnition please work it out with a co-teacher to supervise kids inside and you come out to play!/ supervise outside.
Our Amazing maintenance division will repair the plumbing in the K-1 hall Saturday.  We will also be replacing the water fountain with a dual level unit that will eliminate the wooden steps!

Scott and Deb will host a free comic book day event from 9-11 in the lobby on Saturday.  encourage your graphic novel readers to come on over and get a free book.

After the last visit from Rowan county Kim Marion sent this;

• I also want you to know you have some STEM teachers in the building who are doing an excellent job of teaching problem solving, innovation, creativity, etc.  i know you know this but have to Bragg on them every chance i get.

I had a great Piedmont club meal with Jenny Niles Thursday at the annual Counselors breakfast.  We are fortunate to have her working with our students and staff. 

No Subs for Damita or Doris
 

Wednesday MM - Day C

Good Morning!

Thanks to the good sized crowd that shared their perspectives of our schedule last evening.  We will improve our systems through the spirit of collaboration.

Two tours today - HAG at 11:30 & STEM at 10:30

We will have visitors again tomorrow about 8/9 folks in one group so that I can take them around between 10;30 - 12:30 and strive to see all classrooms and all the great STEM activities in which your students are engaged.
  
Just keep doing what you do everyday -- engaging minds with a STEM emphasis :)

Thank you for sharing your practices with others. - Kim
  Subs:
Willie Mae Carson for Mariah
Kay Hamilton for Janet
Peggy Neal for Tonya L. (pm only)