Thursday MM - Day "F"

Happy Halloween!

Thanks for your focus during the staff meeting.  We can improve through the power of relationships!   

Report cards

• Tuesday November 5th Report cards due for review before midnight.
• Friday November 8th Report cards printed
• Tuesday November 12th Report cards delivered in the Tuesday Packet.
• It is critical that EVERYBODY follows the pattern, as Friday, November 8th is Mix-It-Up day and Monday, November 11th is a Holiday.

3-5 Report cards 

• What comments are required? 
• Personalized messages or selected comments from central office list on Power Teacher.
• Is the entire report card to be done on Power Teacher? 
• Yes,  individualized comments as well as attendance (the two components last year of page two) can be handled through Power School.
• Will Damita be able to print them?
• Yes
• When are report cards to be finalized by teachers?
• Tuesday November 5th Report cards due for review before midnight.

Remember that the handout provided by our grade book gurus, Demarie and Kim, can answer many questions.  

Subs:
Camesia Goldsmith for Natalie
Catherine Blankenmyer for Debbie Woodruff
Johnell Hunter for Dorothy
Shirley Porter for Jennifer

Wednesday MM - Day "E"

Be amazing today!

Faculty meeting at 3:20 in the media center.

I will be at a Magnet meeting from 10-noon.  The agenda is in the blog documents folder.

Subs:
Shelly Kirley for Demarie 
Catherine Blankenmeyer for Jennifer
Johnell Hunter for Dorothy
Camesia Goldsmith for Natalie

Remember Orange On Thursday!

Tuesday MM - day "D"

Good Morning!

SPECIALS are delayed until we finish the Benchmark assessment this morning.  Plan for missing the first four sections [1st-2nd-Kinder-3rd HAG]  If we finish the assessment early, we will make an announcement and get going as soon as all the specialists are done working with the accommodations groups.

Speaking of specials, the schedule for the next nine weeks is complete and being reviewed today.  I will have it ready to post at our faculty meeting Wednesday.  With 29 classrooms, common planning is a challenge.  Our 4th and 5th residential teams did not have it in the first nine weeks.  This coming nine weeks, 3rd grade residential and HAG will bear that burden.  The following nine weeks it will shift to a new group, so take advantage of your common planning time to collaborate with your peers.

THURSDAY - Wear Orange, and for 2 cogs, make it HAT DAY.  Andy will be clear on the announcements that we do not "dress up" for Halloween and the hat of choice cannot cover the face or be disruptive.  Please remind the students that Orange is for UNITY.  Watch this Video to see the power of unity.

Below are some questions about 3-5 report cards.  Begin to have a conversation with your colleagues and we will meet at the end of our Faculty meeting to come to a consensus. My goal is to provide effective and standardized communication with families on the progress of their children.

• What comments are required?  Personalized messages or selected comments from central office list on PowerTeacher?
• Is the entire report card to be done on PowerTeacher as individualized comments as well as attendance (the two components last year of page two) can be handled through PowerSchool?
• Will Damita be able to print them?--which is mostly the current teacher assumption
• When are report cards to be finalized by teachers?

Subs:
Melissa Edwards has taken ill and will not be available as tech support today.  We will reschedule for November. Rosemary Hazy for Donna McNatt
Catherine Blankenmeyer for Jennifer 
Johnell Hunter for Dorothy
No sub for Natalie Newman - She plans to return Wednesday as she recovers from a medical procedure   Keep her in your thoughts.

Monday MM - Day "C"

Good Morning!

Let's focus our energies to build academic confidence for each student this week.  Specific feedback on their strengths will enable them to accept the challenges they face in areas of weakness.

PEP's for all students below grade level should be started before the end of the quarter.

Tuesday

• Benchmark assessments
• PTA Birthday Bash
• Tech support form Melisa Edwards all day

Wednesday

• Faculty meeting at 3:20
• TAC issues due to SIT representatives
• Benchmark makeups

Thursday

• Halloween
• Last day of the quarter
• Benchmark makeups 

Friday

• Teacher workday
• Coffee talk in the media center 8:00-9:30

Subs:

Sandra Mofett for Darcy Steele

Rosemary Hazy for Donna McGee

James Reams for Donna McNatt

Johnell Hunter for Jennifer

Camesia Goldsmith for Dorothy

Friday MM - Day "B"

Good Morning!

Great Night of MAD Science and BOOK FAIR.  Thanks for your support!

In preparation for Mix-it-Up day, Our amazing cafe' manager heather would like and estimation of the number of students in each class that will buy lunch that day.  She has a space in the cafe' for you to record that number for her today if you would please.  

I have put the Website rubric on the blog documents folder and we will review it as we eat at our staff meeting on the 30th.

I am at CO this morning to listen to John Worley give a presentation on the upcoming release of our EOG test data.

Subs:
Johnell Hunter for Jennifer
Rosemary Hazy for Donna McGee
James Reams for Donna McNatt
Mary Daniel for Sara Davis pm only
??? for Allison Phelps

!!!  Flexible Benefits Make-Up Days   !!!

Mark Your Calendar...

Tuesday, November 12, Wednesday, November 13

and

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Representatives from Colonial Life will be on site at the Education Building, 4801 Bethania Station Road 7:30am -5:30pm, Room 121,

 (down the hall and across from the mail room).

                                                                                                         

Employees will be seen on a first-come, first serve basis.

Enrollment booklets will be available on site.

Appointments are unavailable. November 14^th is the final day to enroll or make changes.

No Exceptions!!!

Contact Diane Wessell in Financial Services at 727-2822, opt 1 if additional information is needed.

Thursday MM - Day "A"

Good Morning!  

I look forward to seeing you all here tonight to support our families interest in STEM with our Mad Science presentation!  We will begin at 6pm with a PTA meeting and turn it over to the scientists at 6:15.  The book fair will be open until 8pm.

Benchmark assessment in Reading this morning.  Please read the e-mail Kathy sent on this subject and give kids an opportunity to provide some formative data for our instructional design.

I have a list of the staff who have joined the PTA, so if you are unsure if you have completed this task, see me.  If you want to support this fine organization, the fee is $5 and you can pay tonight at the STEM night and Book Fair.

A week from today we have a Rs professional development day on November 1st.  We have a coffee talk planned from 8-9:30.  The remainder of the day is yours to work on your grades or take annual leave.

I apologize for the Website fiasco this afternoon.  Friday I will post the rubric for teacher websites and our expectations for management of this tool.

Survey Monkey "Name our Space" top results.  

Be.cafe	17.07% 7
Room without a View	12.20% 5
Hole in the Wall	9.76% 4
The Pit Stop	7.32% 3
McCrory's Revenge	7.32% 3
Paradise Lost	4.88% 2
La Cueva	4.88% 2
The Escape	4.88% 2
Squeeze Inn	4.88% 2

Wednesday MM - Day "F"

Good Morning!

Kathy has been able to organize our "Accommodation" groups so that we can continue Specials this week of Benchmark assessments.  Next Tuesday is a different story and we will need to suspend Specials until the testing is complete.  

PLEASE ensure a wonderful environment for testing with Level zero in the halls.  The most effective way to accomplish this is through modeling.  Each teacher that is at level zero will add to the necessity of our testing atmosphere.  I will not talk to you this week in the halls.  I will only use my voice if needed for immediate safety concerns.  Choose to communicate with non-verbal cues and hand gestures.  

Our STEM fair in December will feature work from each and every student at Brunson.  Our STEM team has set the vision that we take it to the next level  and I am thrilled for our students.  What does this look like?  You will get the full picture at our faculty meeting on October 30th.  Families will be informed at STEM night on Thursday and we expect support from our staff.

Tuesday MM - Day "E"

PICTURE DAY!

Keep to the schedule and be prepared.  Enjoy the book fair and help kids make great choices.

Wednesday we will have PD for all certified staff in the computer lab to work on website development.

Thursday is our STEM night with a presentation from MAD Science.  We need you to promote this event and stimulate interest in our STEM fair this December.

Science Benchmarks for 5th grade begins Wednesday morning.

Subs:
Rosemary Hazy for Paige Sipe
James Byers for Dorothy
Catherine for Jennifer

Upcoming EOQ benchmarks & Monday MM - Day "D"

Please be aware of upcoming assessments:

Monday-Wednesday: Wrapping up CogAT make-ups
Wednesday: Science EOQ Benchmark
Thursday: Reading EOQ Benchmark (3rd grade excluded due to BOG3)
Friday and Next Monday: EOQ Makeups
Next Tuesday: Math EOQ

Science will include all 5th grade classes plus EC and ESL teachers.
Reading and Math will require the support of all specialists as well.

Thank you all for your flexibility as we assess our students' needs.

I (Jeff) am at a Technology workshop and meetings at CO today until lunch.  See you all in the afternoon.

subs
Laurie Howington for Dorothy
Sandra Moffat for Tonya G.
Catherine for Jennifer

Friday MM - Day "C"

Good Morning!

Our 5th grade is due back this afternoon and it usually coincides with dismissal, so please be helpful as we will have LOADS of luggage and reunited families in our car rider area.

Book Fair week begins in earnest and each classroom teacher should help our students learn the negative implications associated with theft.  We have many avenues for students to purchase items from the fair at every conceivable price point.  Be an advocate for truth and honesty as you model a positive attitude toward this school-wide event.

Sign-up for our Tuesday October 22nd picture schedule is on the board.  

Best wishes to Andy as he is out of the building to compete in the Tuna 200 beginning today at 11:30.  
(Click if your are interested in seeing the 200 mile course)

Subs:
David Robinson for Suzette Lopez
Neveen Kamel for Marcela Zarate
James Reams for Dorothy Manigault
Maria Skabardonis for Jennifer

Thursday MM - Day "B"

Good Morning!  

I am at the elementary Principal's meeting today and will return after lunch.  The agenda is posted on the blog documents folder.

Also on the blog documents folder is the agenda and notes from the system wide TAC meeting attended by Kathy yesterday.  Thanks Kathy.

Friday we are missing many of our front office staff in the afternoon.  Please take care of business with Silvia and Damita today, as Kathy and I will work the desks Friday at 11:30.

Subs:
James Reams for Dorothy
Catherine for Jennifer

Wednesday MM - Day "A"

Good Morning!

I enjoyed my learning yesterday in GSO concerning the teacher evaluation tool.  One section of my learning was working collaboratively to identify confusing language within standard two.  It was an eye-opening and productive use of my time.  I will work diligently to utilize this tool for teacher growth and clarify the standards.  Many conferences are scheduled today to begin the process.

Just a short PD for new staff today as next week is packed with teacher websites PD on Wednesday and PTA on Thursday.  

PLEASE keep our building quiet the remainder of the week as we administer the CogAT to our second grade classes in the mornings. 

The Duty free Lunch schedule is posted on the board and I would love some feedback if there are mistakes in coverage.  Let's look it over and BE SURE that kids are supervised and safe before we leave the cafe'.

Subs:
Catherine for Jennifer
Patsy for Dorothy

Tuesday MM - Day "F"

Good Morning!

Update from Kathy

I have placed a copy of Curriculum Updates from the September meeting in the blog documents folder.  This is the same update that I sent as an e-mail attachment last month.  I have heard several comments in the past couple of weeks where people said "I didn't know that___."  This written update is in lieu of grade level meetings where I could give face-to-face updates.  If your grade level prefers a meeting instead of reading the updates, please let me know!

Be aware that the CogAT (Wed-Fri) will affect some assistant coverage/classes.  The following staff will be involved from 8:30-9:10 and 10:15-11:30 each day: 

• 2nd grade teachers
• Jenny Orefice (not Thursday unless someone is sick)
• Kelly Moye
• Natalie Newman
• Maria Cook
• Doris Davis
• Deb Gray
• Nicole Robinson

Kathy Wilheit

Curriculum Coordinator

An update from the United Way/Olga and Lisa

An email is scheduled to be sent out at 6:30 a.m. with a link to the UNITED WAY e-pledge site. It will come from Sam Dempsey, and the subject line will be 2013 United Way Campaign. We've done everything we can think of with technology to keep it out of people's junk mail folders. My fingers are crossed that it will work. Please also remind people that this is a personalized link that goes from their email to their UW account -- so they shouldn't share it with others.

Part of the problem is that we decided to go with random passwords to increase security. We didn't find out until later that by doing that, we can't include people's passwords in the email. However, there is a workaround -- go to this site: https://uwfc.upicsolutions.org/crm/Start.jsp and click the "Forgot My Password" link. Follow the instructions, and you'll get your new password and be able to log in. (When they ask for your User ID, it's your full email address.)

Hope this helps. Thanks for all of your work on the campaign.

Theo Helm
Director of Marketing and Communications

Week at a glance - October 14th- 18th

Monday

• Pre-observation & PDP conferences are scheduled throughout the day.

Tuesday

• Progress reports in the Tuesday Packet
• PEP conferences need to be held before October 31st.
• STEM Team meeting after-school
• Ready Regional meeting in GSO for Jeff
• Field Trip - 4th grade to Heritage days

Wednesday 

• Assessment - CogAT for Second Grade
• PD in the LTM @ 3:30 for all new staff
• Field Trip - 5th grade to Camp Thunderbird
• Pre-observation & PDP conferences are scheduled throughout the day.

Thursday

• Assessment - CogAT for Second Grade
• Field Trip - 5th grade to Camp Thunderbird
• Field Trip - 1st grade to Homeland Creamery
• Elementary Principals Meeting in the AM

Friday

• Assessment - CogAT for Second Grade
• Field Trip - 5th grade to Camp Thunderbird

Monday MM - Day "E"

Good Morning!

Got a later start and I will update this with weekly info later today.

Friday MM - Day "D"

Good Morning!

Stacy sent a technology e-mail this week regarding computers on the classroom.  Please read and if you are interested, respond before October 15th.

PBIS ReCOGnition

Wait for the announcement and meet at the small playground.   

• Kinder &1st     12:25-1:00 
• 3rd, 4th & 5th 1:15-1:50
• Second Grade @ 2:00-2:35

We need help with Adult supervision and request;

• Kinder &1st - Vivanco & Gillespie
• 3rd, 4th & 5th - Newman, Cook, Robinson & James
• Second Grade - Gray, Lopez, Hollomon & Gulledge

The 2013 United Way Campaign is underway! Our campaign runs from October 7th until October 18th. As educators, we know how much the outside world can negatively impact our students and their families. Many families deal with job losses, health issues and financials stresses.

The United Way partners with 34 agencies to provide help with these situations focusing on EDUCATION, FINANCIAL STABILITY, AND HEALTH. The major emphasis is funding programs within these agencies to assure success. As United Way President Cindy Gordineer states, "Dollars are just dollars until they are used effectively."

A huge amount of United Way money comes back to our schools. United Way resources and programming have been instrumental in raising the Forsyth County high school graduation rate from 70.7% in 2007 to 82.1% in 2013.

We are asking for your help in reaching our 2013 financial goal of $2,308 and more importantly a goal of 40% staff participation.

United Way pledges are done online by going to the district website and clicking "pledge now". The site will lead you through the process. Let me know if you have any questions.

This year, we have several incentives for those who are making donations, including a $25.00 Target gift card, a t-shirt, and other yummy treats. Any school that has 100% participation will have dinner cooked by our new superintendent!

Thank you so much for your generosity. Please remember that no amount is too small.

Olga Kangelaris
Lisa Thompson-Weber
United Way Co-Chairs

Subs:

Rosemary for Trish AM and Olga PM

Marion Williams for Nancy

Janet Wilson for Stephanie

No sub yet for Sarah Davis

James Reams for Dorothy

Catherine Blankenmeyer for Jennifer A

Thursday MM - Day "C"

Good Morning!

As of last  evening 26 staff members have completed the PBIS Self Assessment Survey. We need 90% participation.
The survey closes Friday - 10/11/13.

Your Self-Assessment Survey is up and ready to go....Here are the directions:

1) Go to https://www.pbisapps.org/Applications/Pages/PBIS-Assessment.aspx

2) Under LOGIN put in your school account number: 413840 and click LOGIN

3) Your School’s Dashboard will appear

4) To complete a survey,

1.      Click on the Launch arrow located in the far right column

2.      Once Launch is selected, the user will be able to complete the survey

This is what the screen will look like:

Surveys Currently Open
Name	Open Date	Close Date	Responses	Launch
SCHOOL NAME	9/13/2013	9/30/2013	0

5) Complete the survey (make click one item both columns, Current Status and Priority for Improvement) and hit submit

This is what the survey will look like:

			Current Status						Priority for Improvement
			In Place	Partial In Place	Not In Place	Don't Know			High	Med	Low	Don't Know
1. A small number (e.g. 3-5) of positively & clearly stated student expectations or rules are defined.			( )	( )	( )	( )			( )	( )	( )	( )
2. Expected student behaviors are taught directly.			( )	( )	(X)	( )			( )	( )	( )	( )
3. Expected student behaviors are rewarded regularly.			( )	( )	( )	( )			( )	( )	( )	( )
4. Problem behaviors (failure to meet expected student behaviors) are defined clearly.			( )	( )	( )	( )			( )	( )	( )	( )

6) Logout after each survey

Let me know if you have any questions.  

The survey will be open from today’s date until Fri., Oct 11. 

Check out the picture below and play the game "one of these things is not like the other."

Subs:
Christi Cook for Stephanie Ingram
Janet Wilson for Karon Kiger
Rosemary for Nancy
James for Dorothy
Catherine for Jennifer
Laurie for Earline - Long Term

Note from Jenny

Happy Unity Day!

I will be at a joint counselors' meeting and IST Chair training at the Education Building today from noon to 4:00.  If anything comes up, please feel free to email me!  Counselor mail will be out for students, too.  :)

Wednesday MM - Day "B"

Good Morning my ORANGE friends.

Please discuss aspects of Bully prevention with your class today.  Focus on the word UNITY.

• Origin of UNITY

  Middle English unite, from Anglo-French unité, from Latinunitat-, unitas, from unus one — more at one

  First Known Use: 14th century

  Related to UNITY

  Synonyms

  balance, coherence, concinnity, consonance, consonancy,orchestration, proportion, symmetry, symphony, harmony

  Antonyms

  asymmetry, discordance, disproportion, disunity,imbalance, incoherence, violence

  Related Words

  coordination, correlation, correspondence, equalization,equilibrium, evenness, order, orderliness, regularity,uniformity

  Near Antonyms

  confusion, disorganization, dissonance, disturbance,tension; disconnectedness, disjointedness, incompatibility;irregularity, unevenness

We had a group of CO personnel here Tuesday to inspect our space issues and propose some solutions.  I will keep you posted as they left in a positive mood ready to brainstorm options for our future at this site.

This morning, I will be at CO for my PDP conference and will return ready to schedule yours! 

Our weekly Wednesday PD is for

• 3-5 regular ed
• ESL
• EC
• Guidance

Please bring your LEP accommodation forms.  We will begin 5 minutes after the last bus in the media center.

Hospitality Dues, part of our Staff Community should be paid soon.  $20 for Certified or $15 for Classified

Subs:
James Reams for Dorothy Manigault
Catherine Blankenmeyer for Jennifer Antonosanti
Rosemary Hazy for Nancy Smoot

 

Tuesday MM - Day "A"

Good Morning!

Dental screening will be in the gym as Joel will take his show on the road.  Thanks 

Please go to this Survey Monkey form linked below to register your choice of name for our area off the cafe that houses the refrigerator.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DY8S2TV

Monday MM - Day "F"

Good Morning!

I hope your weekend was enjoyable and you are ready to engage students in new learning!

Quite a few items on our Calendar this week so please be aware and prepared.  The Dental screening schedule is posted on the board and in the blog documents folder.  

Subs:
Stephanie Pitters for Linnea AM only
No sub for Jennifer Antonosanti yet

Thursday MM - Day "D"

Good Morning!

This is the last blog of the week as I will be in Durham tonight to see Jack Johnson perform.

Our family is in a good habit for cranking through laundry on the weekends, as the weekdays are full.  I am telling you this to implore each of you to be prepared for UNITY DAY next Wednesday October 9th.  Our entire district will Wear ORANGE to support bully prevention.  It will be on the morning announcements beginning today and we need your support.

• Wear Orange on the 9th
• Encourage your students to wear Orange on the 9th
• Teach and model bully prevention

Dental screening is on Tuesday October 8th.  Please help Damita get the folders prepared so the professionals from our Health Department will be able to serve our students.
Grade levels affected are Kindergarten, third and fifth.

Here are the subs for the next two days

• David Robinson for Allison Phleps 10.3 only 
• Rosemary for Demarie 10.3 & 10.4  
• Laurie for Earline 10.3 & 10.4  
• Shelly Kirley for Tanya Lovin 10.3 am only 
• Catherine Blankenmeyer for Dorothy 10.3 
• Levannah Silverwood for Brenda Coles 10.4 only 
• Ina Spivey for Donna McNatt 10.4 only 
• Jennifer Dongell for Deb Schultz-Fidali 10.3 & 10.4

 

Wednesday MM - Day "C"

Good Morning!

We have a champion in our midst from the Salem Lake 7-mile race last weekend!

Males 40 To 44

Place	O'All	Name	Age	City	State	Club	Time
1	20	Lester-Niles, Andrew D	44	Winston Salem	NC		50:14
2	93	Branch, Tommy	44	Mount Airy	NC		01:02:48
3	100	Mccuiston, Derek	41	Winston Salem	NC		01:03:06

K-3 teachers meet at 3:25 in the media center for a TRC/DIBELS Staff development with Kathy.

Great SIT meting last night with an emphasis on safety and data.  

The School Health Alliance "Tip of the Month" will be in your boxes today.  Please post it in your class as a student will read it on the announcements Thursday.

Subs:
Rosemary for Demarie
Laurie for Earline 
Gloria Hay for Angela Adams
No subs for Nicole or Dorothy