Summer Update #1 - Thursday June 26th

USA - USA - USA

The drama of the World Cup reminds me of the distinct pleasure of working in a diverse school.  We have national allegiances to 

• Columbia
• Ecuador
• Uruguay
• Mexico
• USA
• Others that I surely have neglected - sorry

Enjoy the drama, or tune out.   Summer is here and the choice is yours.

PBIS Reflection

In an effort to sustain and grow our amazing climate I am going to add this section to the daily blog.  So for my first effort I want to reflect on our leadership to resist connecting the actions of one individual to a group.

• Suarez, the star of the Uruguay, is accused of POOR sportsmanship with a "bite" to the back of an Italian player on Tuesday.  I was rooting for Uruguay as that is the home country of Silvia Correa.  Do I stop rooting for the Team?  Do I sever my friendship with Silvia before she bites?
• We often roll out group consequences for our classrooms.  Principals have even created policies that target one or two behaviors, yet affect many folks in a deleterious manner. (not me of course....?)
• I challenge us to reflect on this complex issue and grow our practice with students to balance our judgments concerning individual and community.

Staffing updates

• I have made two recommendations to our HR department for staff to be hired that are EIE trained!  A network of STEM schools trained by Liz Parry is starting to take hold!  I will be able to release their names after they complete the employment process with WSFCS.  I will also be able to inform teachers that are on the bubble for grade level assignment next year before the next blog on July 10th.  If you are part of a "move," expect an e-mail July 9th.  The "lineup" will be listed in the next posting.

I apologize that I am unable to post our winning entry on the new sign.  we have 3 lines to work with and entries that garnered votes all had 4 or more lines that need vertical alignment to convey their message. I am going to post the summer enrichment dates and be boring until August.

SUMMER is here and the time is right.........

for some communication updates?

I plan to update the blog on the following dates for your continued information over the summer.  

• Thursday, June 26th

• Thursday, July 10th

• Thursday, July 24th

• Thursday, August 7th

• Thursday, August 14th

All areas of the school except for the offices and mobiles will be CLOSED from July 28th through August 17th.  This allows the cleaning crew to perform deep cleaning in the short window after the summer enrichment program.

• Our Return to work date is 
• Monday, August 18th

• Our Reserved Central PD day is
• Tuesday, August 19th

• Expeditionary Learning PD is
• Wednesday August 20th

• Open House Evening is
• Thursday, August 21st

• Curriculum Nights 
• HAG Monday, September 8th 
• K - 2 Tuesday, September 9th
• 3 - 5 Thursday, September 11th

Friday MM

Good Morning, MAKE this day a positive memory for your students and yourself!

The lunch schedule is below and posted on the board

Hollomon Science 11:00 AM
Woodruff Technology 11:05 AM
Smoot Engineering 11:10 AM
Castello Mathematics 11:15 AM
Hailstock Sustainability 11:20 AM
Binkley Environment 11:25 AM

Adams Science 11:35 AM
Gray Technology 11:40 AM
Kiger Engineering 11:45 AM
Zarate Mathematics 11:50 AM
Gulledge Sustainability 11:55 AM
Lopez Environment 12:00 PM

Grisette Science 12:05 PM
Coles Technology 12:10 PM
Steele Engineering 12:15 PM
Overby Mathematics 12:20 PM
Patrick Sustainability 12:25 PM
McNatt Environment 12:30 PM

Gough Science 12:35 PM
Mason Technology 12:40 PM
Phelps Engineering 12:45 PM
Weber Mathematics 12:50 PM
Ray Sustainability 12:55 PM
Cota-robles Environment 1:00 PM

Sipe Science 1:10 PM
Spaciel Technology 1:15 PM

Thursday MM

Good Morning!

Recess schedule today is as follows;

• noon - 4th HAG
• 12:30 - 3rd HAG and 4th grade
• 1:00 - Kinder and 1st grade
• 1:30 - 2nd and 3rd grade
• 2:00 - all 5th grade

Extra Class placement cards and instruction sheets will be available in from Willie later today.  copies of the check out check out list will be with Brenda.

For the morning of the 13th, we will be PACKED with parents so please get here early and fill the parking lot on the bus side rather than the car rider side.  I will be outside to help with traffic while Maria, Stacy and James help sign parents in on legal pads. 

Subs:
Rosemary Hazy for Tonya Grisette PM only

Wednesday MM

Good Morning!

We have one make up RTA test today occurring in the Speech room. Please respect this area of the building and provide the appropriate environment. We will have Regular recess schedule today and an adjusted recess schedule Thursday as we have EOG re-test in multiple areas of our campus.

Faculty meeting is SHORT.  Be there and we will review the EOY checklist.

I will be at CO for an meeting @ 9 am and will return before lunch.

Subs:
Foster Horne for Kyrie Gough

Tuesday MM

Good Morning!

The 3rd grade Read to Achieve Test is happening today.  NO Recess until the all clear. Rooms utilized will be in all areas of the building except the 2-3 lower hallway.  We must provide an excellent environment for these students to demonstrate their growth this year.  

Faculty meeting Wednesday.  the EOY check out list will be provided and we will discuss PDP goal setting for 2014-15.

Robin Phelps for Carol Stewart PM only

In the News today;

The North Carolina House leadership will introduce its budget proposal on Tuesday at a news conference at 9 a.m.

The Senate has put forth its proposed budget, but that includes some controversial measures. The Senate wants to hike teacher pay but cut teacher assistants and tenure.

The Senate’s $468 million plan to address teacher concerns about pay but applying only to those teachers who give up tenure.

North Carolina teachers have struggled to get raises in recent years, and frustration over the issue has been a major part of the Moral Monday protests.

The issue has been a big one in a political year, one in which the Democrats are fighting hard to regain control of the North Carolina General Assembly.

The Senate plan would repeal the automatic loss of teacher tenure in 2018 and offer teachers a choice of whether to maintain that status, according to a news release from Berger's office. Teachers who move to annual contracts for 2014-15 would move to the new pay scale; those who choose to keep tenure would remain on the current pay scale.

The Senate plan also extends supplemental pay for teachers with master's degrees. Teacher pay has not risen at a state level since 2008 except for a 1.2 percent raise in 2012.

Gov. Pat McCrory made proposals to raise teacher pay before General Assembly began its short session. McCrory is proposing to raise starting teacher pay in North Carolina from $30,800 to $33,000.

Monday MM

Good Morning!

The schedule for this week was distributed and posted.  The EOG Lunch schedule remains intact as we prepare for the 3rd grade Read To Achieve test on Tuesday and EOG 2nd administrations on Thursday.

This is our last week to make an impact on students perceptions regarding;

• School
• Teachers
• Kindness
• Compassion
• Respect
• Responsibility
• Reflection
• ___________

The list can be exhausting.  What is the core value that you want for all students?  How do you translate this through actions, as we all know they speak louder than words.  

My suggestion, focus on one thing you can do to leave a positive impression, then do that all week for all kids.

Faculty meeting Wednesday.

Subs:
Katherine Rouson for Karon Kiger
Joshua Waddell for Marcela Zarate
No sub for Tonya Lovin am only

Friday MM - Day 5 Of EOG schedule

Good Morning!

GREAT WORK on the three days of assessments.  You have created a space for students to showcase their academic achievements with limited negative stress. 

3 locations will serve student today for Make-up testing.  Please be cognizant of volume and allow these students an appropriate environment. 

This morning we will work on score distribution.  Kathy has communicated via e-mail our strategies for letters communicating the EOG scores.   They will be sent home today in ALL classes.  Do not be an outlier and neglect to send home today.

The schedule for today's recess is identical to Thursday.

The schedule for Specials next week is posted on the board and will be distributed in the cafeteria today at Lunch.

Subs:
Vickie Jones for Cindy Sanders
Leslie Hill for Kim Woody

Wednesday MM - Day 3 of EOG schedule

Good Morning!

After an evening of Reflection, I believe we had an excellent start to our assessment window.  Please continue to be student focused and POSITIVE.  I am talking to myself here as I struggled to "let little things go."  I do not need to continue, I need to START.  I appreciate everyone who can read my body language and asked if I was OK.  I wasn't.  I was wrapped up in judgement of others rather than my service to others.  I apologize and will provide an improved outlook and model of leadership today.  Join me.

Faculty meeting tonight at 3:25


There was a tremendous response to the CPR/First Aid class that Forsyth Tech is offering WSFCS employees on June 21. So much so, that all sections are now full. To be more accommodating of employees' time during the summer, Marilyn Calhoun is asking any teacher who is interested in taking CPR/First Aid this summer to email her directly with dates that would work with their summer schedules. She will set up additional classes if there is a need.

Please share this with your staff and, as a reminder, this training is FREE. Marilyn Calhoun's contact information is mcalhoun@forsythtech.edu. Thanks.

Nancy Sutton
Program Specialist
Health & Physical Education

No subs Today

Tuesday MM - Day 2 of EOG Schedule

Good Morning!

Be proud of the work you have done this year and SMILE at your students.  We all travel together on this educational journey.

We will make the "All Call" to start specials and recess as soon as testing is finished.  Please be quiet in all areas of the building and exercise your strengths of being a flexible/selfless problem solver.

Subs:
Reseall Haynes for Venice Hailstock

Monday MM - Day 1 of EOG schedule

Good Morning!

Confidence is CRITICAL today for all our students, (K through 5) as we prepare for EOG assessments starting Tuesday.  Stress is our reaction to a stimulus. You have very little control concerning the  the stimuli that confront us daily, BUT you are in complete control of the reaction.  Be STRONG in your dedication to our students.  Think big picture and be a flexible/selfless problem solver.  

Thanks for a fantastic PBIS Re-COG-nition from our 4th grade leaders and the film festival crew.  Remember to promote the golden ticket.

I will be at CO this morning for a 10 am Title One/Prioritized Plan/Budget meeting.  I will post the plan on the blog documents for review prior to faculty approval at the Wednesday Staff Meeting.

Subs:
Rosemary Hazy for Venice Hailstock
Michelle Butler for Angela Adams