From the Principal's Desk:

Thanks to many of you for your kind, supportive emails, notes, and office visits following our staff meeting.  Thanks to all of you for the full attention you each gave to me for the entire meeting.

The Principal's Award for Students of the Month will be completed and posted early next week once I get the remaining names needed from some grade levels.

I want to personally thank our new engineer, Luis Rodriquez as he ends his first full week with us.  Luis is so approachable and willing to help us in any way.  Thank you,
Luis.

Parent Conference Schedules -
don't forget at the end of the day on Tuesday to please leave me the attendance
sheet of which parents/families actually attended.  Also, for those not formally conferencing all day, please submit me your schedule indicating what you will be doing on that day.  Thank you.

Sisters of Promise—thanks to our staff members who having been working with WCCS older girls.  Their recent weekend camping trip is one sign of the commitment they have to this group.

AFLAC rep,
Calista Jackson, will be in the faculty room on November 15 and 17 from
10:45-1:00. See your staff room notice for details.

Thanks to those of you who have been attending our afterschool staff development with TC consultants.  It does not go unnoticed.

If you need to reschedule your Entry Plan interview with me, please add your name to the list on the counter in the front office.  I have missed about three of the already-scheduled interviews and I do apologize.

I have formally started by observations of staff. I will be continuing this with teachers who have been here under 3 years.  Also, you special education and support staff teachers with BPS, you will be re-assigned a supervisor.   It will be either LaMonica
or me.

 

From the Assistant Principal's Office:

What is PBIS

PBIS is a framework or approach for assisting school personnel in adopting and organizing evidence-based behavioral interventions into an integrated continuum that enhances academic and social behavior outcomes for all students. PBIS IS NOT a packaged curriculum, scripted intervention, or manualized strategy.
PBIS IS a prevention-oriented way for school personnel to (a) organize evidence-based practices, (b) improve their implementation of those practices, and (c) maximize academic and social behavior outcomes for students. PBIS supports the success of ALL students.

Using the Respectful Discipline can therefore help your school implement PBIS successfully.

PBIS key features

A common purpose and approach to discipline throughout the school

A small number of posi­tively stated expecta­tions for all students

Procedures for teaching these expectations

A continuum of proce­dures for encouraging expected behavior

A continuum of proce­dures for discouraging inappropriate behavior

Systems for students with at-risk behavior

Ongoing evaluation of effectiveness

 

From Our Coordinator of Special Education:

The ISST will meet on E-Day at 2:30 PM.

  
Please take a moment to review the RtI document that was sent.  It contains information necessary to complete ISST referrals.

     
If you have parents who are concerned about their child's academic and social emotional progress, please feel free to refer them to me.

      
I will be holding 504 meetings on November 8, 2011, beginning at 8:30 AM through 2:30 PM.  If you have any concerns regarding students who currently have 504's, please come see me or send me recommendations for their Annual Reviews.

***Special Request***   Please let the special education teachers know of upcoming tests.  Due to limited testing space and the requirement that we all adhere to specific testing accommodations, planning is key to everyone's success.  Multiple tests in
a week will require additional testing time (time + 1/2), scheduling for multiple small groups, etc.  Coordinating with the Integrated Co-Teacher and other team members, will reduce the amount of student instructional time lost taking multiple tests per week.  Thank you for your consideration.

"I am always willing to learn, however I do not always like to be taught."

Winston Churchill

Best-
F. Hanesworth

Literacy News from Rob and Brian:

We have had a lot of professional development from Teachers College over the past two weeks; we will discuss some of the best practices during common planning.  Ask yourself, what will I add to my practice from the professional development?

Next week, folders and notebooks will be collected after parent teacher afternoon for grades K, 1 and 7 and 8.   Remember all students need to write everyday.

Remember to share with parents, tips that can help readers at home like setting up a quiet place or having time for the family to read together.   It might be nice to have a range of levels available for parents to see some books.

Primary teachers should be working on the assessments for letters, words their way, and concepts of print.  Assessment pro should be functioning very soon.

Math News from Renee:

Afterschool Math PD will be held on November 7^th, from 3:40-4:30 in the library.
We will have a K-2 and 3-8 version available. All are welcome... foldables can be
used for ALL subjects!!

On November 10^th, Andrea from BOCES will be back to work with us on our pacing and incorporating the Common Core Learning Standards. Please bring your teacher editions, current pacing, and copy of the CCLS. Times and location TBD.

Quarterly assessments are upon us. These will be designed with questions on all standards that you have taught up to this point. We will also be completing item analysis for this assessment. The dates are as follows:

November 10^th: grades 5, 6, and 7

November 15^th: grades 1, 4, and 8
November 22^nd: grade K
November 30^th: grade 2

December 6^th: grade 3

The assessments fall on the given day depending on your pacing and what would make the most sense. They will be in similar length to unit tests and will be taken during math class on those days. If you have any questions, please ask!