Extra, Extra Prep

 

We would love to offer you an extra hour of prep this trimester! Extra, Extra Prep will be available the week of November 11-15. We hope this will either help you finalize grades, prepare for conferences, and/or complete other tasks.

 

Please note:

        ·        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 prep(s), 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 classroom teacher 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, November 6.

    2.   Pick one time slot.

    3.   Prepare lesson plans for a sub.

Finalized schedule will be emailed Friday, November 8.

Achievement Boards

 

It’s time to change your bulletin boards. All bulletin boards are required to be changed to Achievement Boards by this Friday.  

Make sure to include the following when posting your Achievement Board:

    ·      Title

    ·      Objective written as an I Can Statement

    ·      Standard (Common Core, NGSS, etc.)

    ·      Student work

    ·      Specific feedback for each student. Please write more than “Good job!”

Please note: if the student work has a score on it, take off the student's name before displaying it. If the student’s work does not have a score on it, it is acceptable to post the student's name.

Full Lesson Observations

Full Lesson Observations (FLO) begin November 11. These observations are announced (scheduled) and are 30-45 minutes. Ratings for all four competencies (Classroom Culture, Planning, Teaching, and Assessing) will be inputted into the Interactive Framework.

Each dean will send out a sign-up by Tuesday, November 5. Please review our expectations for each indicator by clicking HERE and contact us prior to your observation if you have questions.

P/T Conference Reminder

 

As a reminder, all parent-teacher conferences communication must be sent this Wednesday at 8 AM. It’s imperative that you schedule it to avoid not sending this on time. Please click here for directions.

Positive Behavior Deadline

 

We set a goal of entering one positive behavior per student every trimester. With only 2 weeks left in the trimester, 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.

Affirmations

 

Steve for converting two music files into YouTube files. Thanks for assisting me so quickly. I know I can always count on you.    

Jessica G. for creating ALL the auxiliary staff conference sign ups. You have no idea how much that took off of me. You are amazing!

Mark for making me smile every morning with our friendly competition. FYI-I’m currently winning!

Alex for subbing in 2^nd and 3^rd grade.

Stacey Reed, Holly, Laurie, and Rachel for attending two back-to-back IEPs for over 3 ½ hours. Thank you for making our school the best choice for parents and students.

Stacey Ramirez for creating the attendance liaison responsibility list.

Robyn, Tracy, Valyn, Stephanie, Theresa, Linsey, Flo, Mark, John, Ja’Rayl, and Christina for actively participating in the student vs. staff volleyball game. I greatly appreciate you spending the evening with our families.

Diane and Amanda for selling concessions at the game. I appreciate your efforts with NJHS.

Keystone staff that came and watch the game. It was nice to hear you cheering in the stands.  

Sandy and Jeanne for covering classrooms while teachers were attending IEP meetings.

Tracy for providing me with 2 additional highlights for my phone cast.  Thank you for highlighting the great things that are occurring inside and outside of Keystone.

Mark for showcasing the amazing things that occur in your classroom. I appreciate the additional social media post.

Steve and Tracy for reading the fine print to ensure our 8th graders have a successful trip. 

This Week

 

Monday, November 4:

    ·      Schoolwide Fun-Clue (November 4-8)

    ·      Pajama Day-FREE (Fall Fundraiser Reward)-STUDENTS ONLY

    ·      Payday Breakfast-Kinder Paras (since there was no school on Friday)

Tuesday, November 5:

    ·      SLT Meeting 3:50-4:20

Wednesday, November 6:

    ·      Perfect Attendance Reward

Thursday, November 7:

    ·      CLUE Costume Contest

Friday, November 8:

    ·      Purple Club

    ·      Crystal’s Birthday

    ·      Change Bulletin Board

Happy Birthday

 

Crystal: November 8

Important Dates

 

November 11: Veterans Day Assembly 8:30 AM

November 11: Veterans Day Spirit Day $1.00

November 12: Staff Meeting

November 12: Staff Meeting Snacks-2^nd Grade

November 14: Morning Assembly Presentation Due (American Indian Heritage Month)-Jeng

November 15: Payday Breakfast-7^th Grade

November 15: End of Trimester 1

November 15: Trimester 1 School Store

November 15: Report Cards Sent Home

November 15: IAT Meetings

November 18: School Store Rewards

November 19: Valyn’s Birthday

November 19: Team PLC Meeting

November 21: Morning Assembly Presentation Due (Thanksgiving)-Joye

November 22: Dress Down & Hat $1.00 each

November 22: 2^nd Grade Social Media Post Due to Jorvonna

November 22-26: Fall Book Fair

November 23: Steve’s Birthday

November 25: P/T Conferences 4-8PM (in-person)

November 26: ½ Day of School

November 26: P/T Conferences 12-4 PM (in-person)

November 27-29: No School-Thanksgiving Break

 

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

ABCDE Goals-Behaviors

You know I mentioned every year that October is the time when students test their boundaries. Well, I am not the only one who thinks that--NHA confirmed this in the quarterly Behave With Care newsletter (see the ‘Tis the Season image below).

To assist you with navigating student behaviors, consider planned refreshers and/or reteach lessons with your kids on the expectations and procedures around the school and in your class. Break up the monotony, have fun with your kids and the lesson(s), and check out THIS article, Creating Calm: 5 Ways to Prevent Big Behaviors, for simple yet powerful suggestions and tips on managing behaviors.

P/T Conference Expectations

 

One of our Core Values is “Make our schools the best choice for parents and students.” Thank you for doing this EVERYDAY, especially as we prepare for P-T conferences. Please click HERE for our expectations pertaining to discussing students’ academic performance, attendance, retention, and scheduling.

As a reminder, salary staff are expected to stay until 8:00 pm on Monday. The PTO will be providing a meal on both days.

DON’T FORGET

During conferences, teachers must review our Parent-School Compact with each family as a requirement of our grants compliance.  Use the sign-in sheet to track each family you review the contract with. Stacey Reed will send a copy of the contract and the sign-in sheet that should be used.  Please put your name on the sheet and submit completed sheets to Stacey Reed after your last conference is held.

This Week

 

Andria for always thinking of ways to improve our school culture. I cannot wait to try your staff fun idea.     

Linsey and Crystal for offering me extra prep when I was substitute teaching. That truly meant a lot to me.   

Robyn for buying me breakfast. It was just what I needed.  

Stacey Ramirez for providing me with communication and a map for the staff.  

Stephanie for getting 100% of the Educational Benefit forms submitted.

Stacey Ramirez for exceeding your MICIR compliance.

Sandy for jumping in and supporting 5^th grade at the last minute with no hesitation. Thank you for being someone I can count on.  

Josie and Amy for taking on additional students while a colleague was absent. The leadership team thanks you!

Robyn and Stacey Reed for being substitute teachers and maintaining your dean roles.

Alex for providing our staff with professional development.

Jen H for investigating SO MANY behaviors. Not only that, but you also write up the reports and contact families. The leadership team would be lost without you.  

Josie for providing me with exactly what I need so I can have the energy to run our team PLC.

Nikki and Stacey Ramirez for being so thoughtful. You have no idea how special you made me feel with your acts of kindness.  

Steve for supporting the leadership team and investigating a behavior issue.  

Robyn for all your safety week communications.

Amy, Josie, and Falak for offering our students another FREE afterschool club. Thank you for bringing back the Newspaper Club.

Jessica G for going above and beyond to ensure the auxiliary staff and specials teachers’ P/T conference sign up goes smoothly.

Flo for providing guidance with our new printing process.

Nikki and Linsey for providing me with extra prep while I subbed.

Happy Birthday

 

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

Important Dates

November 4-8: Schoolwide Fun-Clue

November 4: Pajama Day-FREE (Fall Fundraiser Reward)

November 4: Payday Breakfast-Kinder Paras

November 5: SLT Meeting 3:50-4:20

November 6: Perfect Attendance Reward

November 7: Purple Club

November 8: Crystal’s Birthday

November 8: Change Bulletin Board

November 11: Veterans Day Assembly 8:30 AM

November 11: Veterans Day Spirit Day $1.00

November 12: Staff Meeting

November 12: Staff Meeting Snacks-2^nd Grade

November 14: Morning Assembly Presentation Due (American Indian Heritage Month)-Jeng

November 15: Payday Breakfast-7^th Grade

November 15: End of Trimester 1

November 15: Trimester 1 School Store

November 15: Report Cards Sent Home

November 15: IAT Meetings

November 18: School Store Rewards

November 19: Valyn’s Birthday

November 19: Team PLC Meeting

November 21: Morning Assembly Presentation Due (Thanksgiving)-Joye

November 22: Dress Down & Hat $1.00 each

November 22: 2^nd Grade Social Media Post Due to Jorvonna

November 22-26: Fall Book Fair

November 23: Steve’s Birthday

November 25: P/T Conferences 4-8PM (in-person)

November 26: ½ Day of School

November 26: P/T Conferences 12-4 PM (in-person)

November 27-29: No School-Thanksgiving Break

 

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

ABCDE Goals-Attendance

We continue to work hard to improve our chronic absenteeism rate. I am proud to say that we have 18 less absences in comparison to last year (YTD). Although this may seem small, we need to celebrate all wins, especially when it comes to attendance.

Please continue to motivate our students through our schoolwide proactive strategies!  

Core Values-BWC

One of our Core Values is Behave With Care. As we approach the holiday season, I wanted to remind you of our expectations. As we show respect and care for all our students and families, please refrain from having Halloween and/or Christmas themed activities/décor/parties. These are probably the two holidays that cause the most discomfort for students who do not celebrate.

Instead, focus on the seasons by having fall and winter themed activities. I follow this guidance when I decorate the front office. I’m very conscience about only using pumpkins that aren’t jack ‘o lanterns and trees that don’t contain ornaments. When we do recognize these holidays with “trunk or treat” or decorate a tree ornament, it is always optional and not completed during school hours.

Please let me know if you have any questions as we respect our diverse population of students.

School Visit

 

On Tuesday, my remaining mentees will be spending the day shadowing me.  

Our DSQ and C&I team will be visiting separately on Wednesday.

Thanks in advance for giving everyone a warm Keystone welcome.

Affirmations

 

Jen S for showing me grace when I continued to blend your first and last name.   

Ellen for putting smiles on our families faces with the parking lot touchpoint. You are the perfect person to do this task due to your personality. Thank you! 

Stacey Ramirez for fixing the broken picture frame in my office.

Ja’Rayl, Jane, Emma, Andria, and Cindy for your support with parking lot touch points.

Stacey Reed for being acting principal while I was away.

Stacey Reed and Alex for allowing other principals to observe you in action.

Monique and Sarah for sharing a best practice with your colleagues. Your contribution will add value to our school culture.

Kim B for a wonderful treat. Thank you for thinking of me.

Danielle for providing an extra social media post and inviting families into her classroom.

Falak for sharing your collaborative coaching experience.

Ja’Rayl, Jessica G, and John for sacrificing your prep to cover art.

Ellen and Andria for subbing all day in classrooms when we were short on subs.

Jen D and Cindy for subbing half day in classrooms when we were short on subs.

Jane for stepping in and covering a classroom.

Jessica G, John, and Ja’Rayl for taking on additional students and sacrificing your prep when a staff member was sick.

Ellen, Andria, Cindy, and Jane for takin the time to enter us into a contest. Fingers crossed that we win.

Ellen, Cindy, Andria, Jane, Christina, Monique, Jen S, and Stacey Reed for attending our Family Learning Night. Thank you for spending an evening with our families while putting smiles on students’ faces. 

This Week

 

Monday, October 21:

    ·      Robyn P’s Birthday

    ·      BEE kind by spreading affirmations FREE

Tuesday, October 22:

    ·      PLC (Team) Meeting

    ·      Picture Re-takes

Wednesday, October 23:

    ·      C&I and DSQ Visit

Thursday, October 24:

    ·      30 Hour PD

    ·      MOYA-MS may wear animal colors: brown, black, gray, or white for the theme “animal round up!”

    ·      Morning Assembly Presentation Due (American Indian Heritage Month)-M. Higgins

Friday, October 25:

    ·      Parent-Student Compact Due

    ·      Spirit Day $1.00 and Popcorn $1.00

    ·      Kim J’s Birthday

    ·      Middle School Dance 4-6 PM

Happy Birthday

 

Robyn P: October 21

Kim J: October 25