Monday Morning Memo
Feb. 5th - 9th
Principal's Message
Let's talk dress code.
Before speaking to individuals, let's revisit professional dress attire at work collectively.
I believe those working in an elementary setting should be comfortable and dressed to support the learning of little learners. With that said, let us be clear:
- With the exception of the PE coach, one should not dress as if they're going to the gym or on a hike.
- No sweat pants.
- No hats, scarves, or wraps [unless approved for religious exceptions as allowed by MCS Policy].
- If you are wearing jeans - wear a professional top / blouse and professional footwear.
- Jeans should be whole - not cut out, torn, or frayed.
- Jeans may be worn with a Marietta or Park Street Spirit Wear with appropriate footwear - slippers / house shoes are not acceptable.
Questions: Refer to page 29 of the staff handbook which you signed off on.
From the Admin Team:
- Late by 7:50 AM: The expectation all staff members are at Park Street no later than 7:50 AM.
- Lesson Plans:
- We are seeing to much copy and paste from week-to-week with nothing changing.
- Unsure of what is being taught (whole-group and small group).
- Lesson plans not posted:
- Coaches and I will be speaking with individual teams / teachers to see how we can support with instructional planning.
- SMORE newsletters:
- Ensure grade level newsletters reflect current instructional lessons and progression from week-to-week.
- Are posted no later than Friday, 3:00 PM
- Mid-Year Data Review & Conference:
- Admin will be scheduling mid-year conversations with all certified teachers.
- Calendar invites along with what information to bring to the conversation will be sent this and the following week.
Weekly Schedule
National School Counselor Week
Valentine's Gram Fundraiser
Staff Mid-Year Data Reviews & Evaluations taking place
Monday, February 5th
- ACCESS testing continues
- 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th grade tutoring
- Lion King Rehearsal
Tuesday, February 5th
- ACCESS testing continues
- ELC pre-school pop-up
- MTSS at CO [AM/PM]
- Staff Meeting 3:45-4:45 [staff attendance required]
Wednesday, February 7th
- Panther Hour for K-2
- ACCESS testing continues
- OAA District Math Walks
- Shelter Drill
- 3rd / 5th grade tutoring
Thursday, February 8th
- Team [1G] funding due!
- ACCESS testing continues
- Principal's Meeting at CO 8:00-1:00
- 2, 3, 4, 5 Tutoring
Friday, February 9th
- ACCESS testing continues
- District Coaches Meeting
- iLab closed: District OAA meeting
- EIP team meeting 2:00 pm
UP-COMING:
- Feb 12th: 3rd & 4th grade 1/2 day planning
- Feb. 13th: 1st & 5th grade 1/2 day planning
- Feb. 14th: PTA Valentine's Day Staff Breakfast / K & 2nd grade 1/2 day planning
- Feb. 15th: SC 1/2 day planning --- National School Resource Officer Day (we 💙Officer Hill)
- Feb. 16th: Black History Bowl
- Feb: 17th - 25th Mid-Winter Break!
Panther Express: Parent Newsletter
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta: Tip of the Month
Celebrate Black History Month 2024
25 Inspirational Classroom Doors Celebrating Black History
Decorating your classroom door is a great way to get kids excited about learning. We found a great selection of inspiring classroom door designs to help inspire your class to learn about and celebrate Black history! From historical figures to modern leaders, to your students themselves, there’s a door to honor a wide range of amazing accomplishments.
Spring Tutoring Schedule
Milestones Resources
3rd - 4th - 5th GRADE TEACHERS
Any questions: ask Sharon & Courtney
Live Hyperlinks
- Student practice test [ELA / Math] - Students see what the test will look like and how questions will be asked.
- Online study guide
- DOK weights & percentage by math / ELA domains
- Achievement level descriptors
AP*Updates
Carrie Madden
Quarter 3 Progress Reports
- Are to be SENT HOME on Thursday, February 8th.
- Expectations are EVERY student get a progress report (Grades that departmentalize-students should receive ONE report)
- Comments are expected for students that have below a “C” in grades 3-5 or a “1” in grades K-2
- REMINDER: Truth in grading: Grades aligned to district/state reporting (report card - assessment date) must reflect accurate student performance on grade level standards. If a student is performing below grade level. They cannot have an “A” or “B” on their report card.
- K-2 you may also reference the rubrics: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1rMmBLYXoC9kxlvhQxGCeGIUVD0BAmuYV?usp=sharing
To access your progress report:
- In each grade level’s shared drive folder: 2023-2024 Progress Reports and Report Card Resources has been created.
- IN GOOGLE, make a COPY (one for each student) and complete
- Please create a folder for Q3. Names should be in the SAVED COPY for reference.
- After you complete a progress report for each student, please SAVE or make a hard copy for your records.
Student Survey
The Georgia Student Health Survey is an anonymous, statewide survey instrument that identifies school climate issues that impact student achievement. This survey will be administered to 3-5 graders on February 12 and 13th after the STAR assessment. The survey includes 15 questions that will take no more than 10-15 minutes. All student survey data is anonymous and self-reported. ALL opt-out letters are to be returned to Mrs. Madden by February 8th.
ACCESS
The WIDA ACCESS is a mandated assessment for all ESOL students to measure social and academic proficiency in English. The testing window opened January 10 and closes March 1st. PSE’s ESOL team’s goal is to complete all testing by February break.
Updates:
- Kindergarteners: ALL STUDENTS HAVE BEEN TESTED!!!
- Grades 1-5: ALL STUDENTS SHOULD BE COMPLETED THIS WEEK.
- ANY new ESOL students that enroll within the testing window MUST take the assessment at PSE.
- ACCESS Schedule: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OAHNxuT0xl3XklUxP0EQSUTl9TO219EFPSv6bRXqwg8/edit?usp=sharing
- Please know this is a WORKING schedule. ESOL teachers will communicate with classroom teachers on any changes and the schedule will be updated to reflect any changes.
- The schedule will be accessible on the Panther Post for the duration of the testing window.
The ESOL team appreciates your support and flexibility. If you have any questions, please reach out to your ESOL teacher.
***
Idris Johnson
Promotion / Reminders
- The student’s ESOL teacher, homeroom teacher, administrator, and MTSS Facilitator must be invited to and involved in the school’s retention committee meetings for identified students.
- Meeting notes must be recorded on the “Promotion and Retention Checklist and Meeting Form” and available to Assistant Principals.
- Please continue to inform student support teams and parents of student progress.
Behavior
*Reiterate appropriate behavioral expectations to "ALL" students.
Instruction
Looking forward 1:1 Mid-year Reviews and continuing the walkthrough/observation cycle. You should have already received your meeting invitation to our meeting if not, you will by Monday.
My favorite quote for the week:
**There is always enough time for the "right work!" Unknown
*Please make time to schedule some FUN for your own upcoming break!
***
Karna Kelly
Attending an Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting is an important opportunity to collaborate with the student's educational team and discuss their unique needs and progress. To make the most of the meeting, make sure you can share on following items:
- IEP Document:
- Ensure you have a copy of the student's current IEP. Review it beforehand to refresh your memory on the student's goals, accommodations, and any modifications. This document serves as the foundation for discussions during the meeting.
- Student Work Samples and Progress Data:
- Bring samples of the student's work, assessments, and any progress monitoring data. This tangible evidence can provide valuable insights into the student's academic performance and help guide discussions about the effectiveness of current strategies.
- Observations and Anecdotal Notes:
- Share any observations or anecdotal notes you have about the student's behavior, participation, and engagement in the classroom. This qualitative information can complement quantitative data and contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the student's experience.
- Questions and Concerns:
- Prepare a list of questions and concerns you may have regarding the student's progress or any challenges they are facing. This will help ensure that all relevant topics are addressed during the meeting.
- Proposed Changes or Suggestions:
- If you believe that adjustments to the current IEP are needed, come to the meeting with specific proposed changes or suggestions. Be ready to discuss how these modifications can better support the student's learning and development.
- Communication Log:
- If you have been communicating with parents, specialists, or other team members about the student, bring a log of these communications. This can help provide context and continuity in understanding the student's overall support network.
- Open Mind and Willingness to Collaborate:
- Approach the meeting with an open mind and a collaborative spirit. Be receptive to input from other team members, including parents, special education teachers, and support staff. Remember that the goal is to work together to provide the best possible support for the student.
By coming to the IEP meeting well-prepared with relevant documents, data, and a collaborative mindset, you contribute to a more productive and effective discussion about the student's educational journey and how to best meet their needs.
Remember: NOT KNOWING IS NOT AN EXCSUSE! The IEP meeting is a collaborative effort involving various stakeholders, including parents, special education professionals, and general education teachers. Your input is valuable in creating a comprehensive and effective educational plan for the student.
Coaches Corner
Doreen Tichenor: 504 & MTSS Coordinator
Thank you for all you do and will do to support our students.
Sharon Worley: Math Coach
Teachers,
I have linked some resources that may be helpful when planning math tasks and activities with your students. I have also linked the MCS Instructional Framework that should be used when planning your math instruction. Please reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns about any of the activities or tasks.
Stormi Johnson: Instructional Coach
PTA News
New Spirit Wear shirts for sale, ORDER ONLY. We will not have additional shirts to sell.
- Flyers in mailboxes today, please send home today with students. Limited days to order!
- If you would like one, complete an order form and place money in an envelope. Turn in the envelope to the PTA box. If you would like to use a credit card, see Mrs. Johnson.
- Students can only pay with cash or check.
Only one more week for Candy Grams!
Please read the following:
- All directions are on the flyer attached to the Candy Grams
- If you need additional Candy Grams, see Mrs. Johnson
- Candy Grams and money need to be in the envelope attached or they will be sent back to them.
- The envelopes need to be placed in the black boxes, not the staff mailboxes.
- Students need to have all the information completed on the candy grams or they will be returned to them.
- We will sell Candy Grams in the morning from 8:00-8:30 in the Cafeteria if students want to purchase more, please do not make copies of the Candy Gram sheets.
- Candy Grams will be sold until February 9th
- All Candy grams MUST be turned in on February 9th, if they are received after they will be sent back to the student.
- All Candy grams will be delivered on February 14th
Courtney Ortega-Zuco: Literacy Coach
Fluency
“The more deeply readers have processed the structure, meaning, and function of a word, the more quickly and accurately it will be accessed during reading.” (Perfetti, 2007)
Our next SoR Walkthrough will focus on fluency instruction. Fluency has often been described as the bridge between decoding and reading comprehension. Fluency has a very strong relationship with reading comprehension and that is why it is important to include evidence-based fluency instruction in reading lessons. Here are some resources to support your fluency instruction and knowledge.
- FCRR Student Center Activities: Materials to use during whole- or small-group instruction, centers/workstations, or for extended learning. Fluency materials include (but are not limited to) letter recognition, letter-sound correspondence, word parts, words, phrases, chunked text, and connected text.
- Fluency Padlet created by Justin Browning
- Article: Teaching Oral Reading Fluency to Older Students
- What is Fluency? Frequently Asked Questions
- Podcast: Fluency Instructional Routines with Nathaniel Swain
- Podcast: What to do after administering the ORF: A conversation with Dr. Jan Hasbrouck
- Webinar: Reading Fluency-Essential for Reading Comprehension
SoR Walk-through form: Instruction that Promotes Fluency (standard 5)
Sawubona! We see you.
- Shannon Carter: Spending time with a special 3rd grade friend to deescalate and return to class safely.
- Vanessa and Asha: When one team member is out, teaming up to ensure the office runs smoothly.
- Angelica Avalos: Always covering and your flexibility!
- DLI Team: Taking time to observe each other and putting in the time to ensure our DLI program grows!
- ESOL Team: OWNING ACCESS!!! Scheduling, testing, cross-checking, and supporting each other!! You all ROCK!!!
- Kent Wright: For being AWESOME! After finishing an AT consult Mr. Wright went above and beyond to assist a student. He recorded a male voice on a voice output device so that one of our male students would have a male voice on his device!!! The device is tricky and not easy to program. I so appreciate his help and kindness. Thank you, DSS & PS Admin Team!
- Nurse Jenny: Being quick to respond to help a student in crisis and help out in the office. We appreciate you!
- Amanda Cobb: For unending support and flexibility! Helping students and your peers!
- Dr. Zimmerman: Working hard behind the scenes - connecting parents with resources to ensure our Panthers are fed, have clothes, and a place to sleep! #WeSeeYOU!
- Ms. Worley: For your dedication to our students and for leading our after-school tutoring.
- EIP, Reading Specialists, IRR, & ESOL teams: For going above and beyond to ensure our students are becoming the best version of themselves.
- Ms. Martinez: Thank you so much for all of your help with promotion/retention meetings.
- Front Office Team (Ms. Armstrong, Ms. Barrios, Ms. Brenda, Ms. Raquel, & Nurse Nicole): This week was BUSY and full of Excitement! Thank you for keeping our building afloat!