Core Values-Leadership Observations

One of our Core Values is to “take ownership for the success of our students.” To do this, it’s important that students are able to articulate the learning objective and know how to apply the skill in context.  

For the month of February, the leadership team will be observing learning objectives for our calibration observations. It is critical that students understand what they are learning and why they are learning it. As you know, we have spent several staff meetings this school year sharing best practices on how to effectively implement this strategy. We will focus on the bite-size action step and student outcome below. We look forward to observing you in action. 

Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions regarding the expectations.

Valentine's Day Parties

 

You are welcome to plan a small Valentine’s Day celebration in your classroom on February 14. We request that this celebration take place the last 30 minutes of the day. If you would like to do Valentine’s Day themed academic activities throughout the day, you are welcome to do that as well.

Per our student handbook, “Students in grades K-5 may celebrate by bringing valentines for their classmates. Students who bring valentines must give one to each of their classmates.”

To maximize time, have your students only write who it’s from, instead of writing each student’s name on the valentines. If you do provide a class list to families, please make sure not to include last names.

1/2 PD Agenda

 

As you know, the leadership team used your feedback when designing our ½ day PDs this school year. We are using our ½ day PD on Wednesday for professional development AND additional prep/planning time. You will spend the first hour and a half going through workshop lesson plan expectation. The second hour and a half you can prep/plan at your discretion. However, all staff must remain in the building until 3:15 PM.  See the schedule here.

We hope the additional 6 hours of prep that our half days provide reaffirm that “you matter!” As you know, the leadership team loves using your feedback to make our school better!   

Affirmations

 

Stacey Ramirez for using your creativity to design a % sign that promotes our enrollment efforts.

Tameka for having several difficult parent conversations to ensure the safety of our students.

Jen H for going above and beyond to address chronic absenteeism.

Jamie for the Monday gift. It made my morning.

Stacey Reed, Robyn, Jamie, and Tameka for helping to complete several compliance tasks. I know you sacrificed your own task to help me. Thank you for always being positive and putting our Team 1 first.

Nikki and Sandy for making sure I didn’t embarrass myself at morning assembly.

Nikki and Danielle for taking time to encourage me. Your words of appreciation meant a lot!

Jamie for representing Keystone so well across the NHA network.

ABCD Goals-Attendance

 

Congratulations to Sarah’s class for spelling the word, HERE and Mark’s class for spelling the word, PRESENT!

This Week

 

Monday, January 30:

     ·      Purchase Flower Grams

Tuesday, January 31:

     ·      Social Media Post Due to Jorvonna-4^th Grade

     ·      NWEA Winter Testing

Wednesday, February 1:

     ·      ½ Day of School

     ·      ½ Day PD 11:45-3:15

Thursday, February 2:

     ·      Purple Club

     ·      DSQ School Visit

Friday, February 3:

     ·      Payday Breakfast-3^rd Grade

     ·      Kids Heart Challenge Kickoff (Staff may wear KHC shirt with jeans. All others must be in professional attire.)

Happy Birthday

 

There is a special gift in the mailboxes of all the people who celebrate their birthdays in February.

Important Dates

 

February 5: Kim B’s Birthday

February 7: SLT Meeting

February 7-9: Beginning Teacher PD

February 8: Count Day

February 8: Perfect Attendance Prize Redemption

February 10: MS Dance 5-7 PM

February 10: Jessica W’s Birthday

February 10: Morning Assembly Presentation Due (President’s Day)-Jordan

February 13: MS Dean PD at Keystone

February 14: Staff Meeting

February 14: Staff Meeting Snacks-Specials

February 14: Flower Gram Delivery

February 14: Show Some LOVE Spirit Day-students can wear Valentine tops or solid colored pink, white, or red shirts with jeans for FREE

February 15: Dean Prep PD at Keystone

February 17: Payday Breakfast-5^th Grade

February 17: Morning Assembly Presentation Due (Black History Month)-Felsburg

February 17: IAT Meetings

February 19: Cindy Chuang’s Birthday

February 20: No School-Presidents’ Day

February 21: PLC Meeting

February 21: Kinder Camp

February 21-24: 3-8 Math Interim 2

February 22: Black History Month (BHM) Spirit Day-students may wear BHM tops or solid colored red, black, or green tops with jeans for FREE.

February 23: Family Learning Night

February 23: SpEd Open House

February 24: Stefanie’s Birthday

February 24: Morning Assembly Presentation Due (Reading Month Kickoff)-Hutcherson

February 24: Spirit Day and Popcorn $1.00 each

February 25: Lisa’s Birthday

February 27-March 3: Principal & Deans Appreciation Week

February 28: Jessica’s Birthday

February 28: Social Media Post Due to Jorvonna-5^th Grade

 

*If you have an event to add or something has been forgotten, please let me know!  

Extra, Extra Prep

We would love to offer you an extra hour of prep AGAIN! Extra, Extra Prep will be available the week of February 13-17.

A few reminders:

      ·      This is optional. You are not required to take an extra prep.

      ·      This is for salary staff, however, if an hourly staff needs additional time, please see your dean.

      ·      We will do our very best to make sure that you get your hour prep, however, if too many people call off on a particular day, we may need to reschedule your extra prep.

      ·      It’s our desire to do this at least once a trimester as long as subs are available.

 

If you are a salary staff member and would like to have an extra hour of prep, please follow the steps below.

      1.      Click on this sign-up sheet by 3:45 on Wednesday, January 25. 

      2.      Pick one time slot.

      3.      Prepare lesson plans for a sub.

Finalized schedule will be emailed Friday, February 3.

Black History Month Reminder

 

In preparation of Black History Month, I want to remind you of our expectations. Each homeroom needs to do an activity each week in honor of Black History Month. Please make sure to focus on the accomplishments and achievements of African Americans, instead of the difficulties that were/are endured. We would like to reserve those topics (slavery, Civil Rights Movements, etc.) for 5^th and 8^th grade where there are standards and resources to support the accuracy and sensitivity that is required to teach these topics. 

Furthermore, I want to encourage you to go beyond African American athletics, actors, musicians, and those whom students are already familiar with (MLK, Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, etc.). Instead introduce students to scientists, lawyers, inventors, entrepreneurs, etc. that will broaden their knowledge of the contributions made by so many other African Americans.

Lastly, please invite me into your classroom when you are doing these activities so I can take pictures and include it in the Sunday night phone cast and on our social media pages.

Meet With Other Grade Level PLCs

Our second “Meet with Other Grade Levels” PLC is Tuesday. This PLC was designed based on your feedback and desire to meet with other grade levels to focus on a particular standard and/or topic responding to the question, “What content should we be teaching to better prepare our students?”

We hope this time together provides you with multiple opportunities to share best practices and brainstorm innovative ways to improve learning and drive student achievement. 

Please click here for your group, location, and instructional focus. 

2023-24 School Year

Thank you for your valuable feedback regarding the 2023-24 school calendar. Majority of you voted to start the school before Labor Day.

You also voted to continue to have parent-teacher conferences at the end of trimester 1 & 2 (November and March). 

I will be working on submitting our calendar to NHA for approval. This process takes several months, but I will provide you with the finalized calendar once it’s approved by NHA and our Board. 

ABCD Goal Check-in

 We set a goal of entering one positive behavior per student every trimester. We are halfway through the trimester, and I hope that you have majority entered. The purpose of this initiative is to decrease our attrition rate. This can only be done if the positive behaviors are genuine. If you try to enter all the behaviors in the last week of the trimester, it takes away from the authenticity. If you haven’t started, I strongly encourage you to start on Monday.

Holiday Party

 

Our annual holiday party is approaching. On Friday, January 27 from 5-7 PM, we will be at Revel & Roll in Ann Arbor. Since most of you will be leaving directly from the school, you may have a casual day so you can be comfortable bowling.  I look forward to spending a fun evening with you!

ABCD Goal-Attendance

 Congratulations to Sarah’s class for spelling the word, HERE and Mark’s class for spelling the word, PRESENT!

Affirmations

 

Christina for your kind note. 

Stacey Reed for all your hard work with our SEER.  

Stacey Ramirez for enrolling A LOT of students this week.

Andria, Ellen, Cindy Conti, Jen D, and Kathleen for completing winter benchmarking.

Nikki and Ashley B for volunteering and staying after school to attend an additional PD.

Megan for implementing one of behavior strategies from the staff meeting and sharing her success.

Ellen and Cindy Conti for sharing a best practice at the staff meeting.

Tracy, Steve, Emma, Mandy, Nikki, Josie, Cindy Chuang, and Diane for presenting at the staff meeting.

Monique for welcoming a new student with no time to prepare. I appreciate your positivity.

This Week

 

Monday, January 23:

    ·      3-8 ELA Interim 2

    ·      K-2 Math Numeracy 2

Tuesday, January 24:

    ·      PLC Meeting 

    ·      NWEA Winter Testing

Friday, January 27:

    ·      Staff Holiday Party

    ·      Spirit Day and Popcorn $1.00 each

    ·     Morning Assembly Presentation Due (Black History Month)-Ancrile

Important Dates

 

January 30-February 3: Purchase Flower Grams

January 31: Social Media Post Due to Jorvonna-4^th Grade

February 1: ½ Day of School 11:20 Dismissal

February 1: ½ Day PD 11:45-3:15

February 2: Purple Club

February 2: DSQ School Visit

February 3: IAT

February 3: Payday Breakfast-3^rd Grade

February 5: Kim B’s Birthday

February 7: SLT Meeting

February 7-9: Beginning Teacher PD

February 8: Count Day

February 8: Perfect Attendance Prize Redemption

February 10: MS Dance 5-7 PM

February 10: Jessica W’s Birthday

February 10: Morning Assembly Presentation Due (President’s Day)-Jordan

February 13: MS Dean PD at Keystone

February 14: Staff Meeting

February 14: Staff Meeting Snacks-Specials

February 14: Flower Gram Delivery

February 14: Show Some LOVE Spirit Day-students can wear Valentine tops or solid colored pink, white, or red shirts with jeans for FREE

February 15: Dean Prep PD at Keystone

February 17: Payday Breakfast-5^th Grade

February 17: Morning Assembly Presentation Due (Black History Month)-Felsburg

February 17: IAT Meetings

February 19: Cindy Chuang’s Birthday

February 20: No School-Presidents’ Day

February 21: PLC Meeting

February 21: Kinder Camp

February 21-24: 3-8 Math Interim 2

February 22: Black History Month (BHM) Spirit Day-students may wear BHM tops or solid colored red, black, or green tops with jeans for FREE.

February 23: Family Learning Night

February 23: SpEd Open House

February 24: Stefanie’s Birthday

February 24: Morning Assembly Presentation Due (Reading Month Kickoff)-Hutcherson

February 24: Spirit Day and Popcorn $1.00 each

February 25: Lisa’s Birthday

February 27-March 3: Principal & Deans Appreciation Week

February 28: Jessica’s Birthday

February 28: Social Media Post Due to Jorvonna-5^th Grade

 

*If you have an event to add or something has been forgotten, please let me know!  

Staff Meeting

Starting at 3:45 on Tuesday, please go to the staff lounge to sign in, pick up documents, and grab some snacks. Our staff meeting will begin promptly at 4:00 pm in the technology room.

You may click here for the agenda.

2023-24 School Calendar

 

We are in the process of working on the calendar for the 2023-24 school year and as always, we want to include you in the decision-making process. Please click on this quick 2-question survey by Tuesday, January 17. We appreciate your valuable input.

Beginning Teacher PD

 We are unable to approve any days off on February 7 and 9 due to all subs being used for Beginning Teacher PD. Please reach out if you have concerns.

Welcome to the Team!

 

We would like to welcome Rachel Galesewicz as our new Occupational Therapist. Her first day is Tuesday. Please give her a warm Keystone welcome! 

Job Shadowing

 

On Tuesday, I have two deans from other NHA schools shadowing me. This is one of their requirements for Principal Prep. If you see them with me, please give them a warm smile and don’t hesitate to tell them how amazing I am as your principal. Just kidding…sort of. Lol.   

Congratulations

 Congratulations to Mrs. Joye’s class on spelling the word, PRESENT!