Gatekeepers

"I know you are glad it's the end of the school year and things are starting to slow down", said the Ridiculously Misguided Adult.

"Yes", said the Extremely Exhausted Teacher (with that I am too tired to inform another misguided soul look).

Only educators understand what we are going through at this time of year. This is just a reminder that we need to continue to push and take complete advantage of the extra time we have been given before the test. We will survive and, in the end, we will reap the fruit of our labor.

I am extremely proud to be your principal. Please schedule a meeting with us if you need anything. Even if you just need to vent. Take care of each other and practice random acts of kindness in the building. Let's end this year on a positive note.

After looking at the statistics for this page, I am wondering if anyone knows it is there. Previously you had to logon to access the information. I have now made it visible to all. Please take a look and let me know if there or items you would like to see on this page.

https://www.rcboe.org/site/Default.aspx?PageType=1&SiteID=16&ChannelID=5569&DirectoryType=6

Virtual Tutor courses are now set up in Edgenuity in the Blended Learning side and are ready to be assigned to students. Teachers can assign the entire course or assign specific strands of the course with a shorter time frame. Edgenuity has created a webinar for teachers with directions on how to get stared and to assign the courses to their students.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/puo0tlkvq94voqg/2018-03-15%2010.01%20Introduction%20to%20Virtual%20Tutor%20(VT)%20Courses%20in%20Edgenuity.mp4?dl=0

Watch this video for a unique way to allow students to participate in peer evaluation.

https://www.peergrade.io/

Did you know we have our own FPS commercial? It will be used next year for promotion and recruitment fairs. I thought you might want to take a look. https://www.rcboe.org/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=16&ModuleInstanceID=71292&ViewID=6446EE88-D30C-497E-9316-3F8874B3E108&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=71485&PageID=25

Don't forget your grades are due. The deadline was Friday, April 20th. Let's get them in!

The required iReady screening window will be open from April 10th – May 11th. All Kindergarten – 9th grade students will need to complete the test.

May 1, 2018 marks the month long celebration of Law Day, and the theme for this year is “Separation of Powers: Framework for Freedom.”

In conjunction with Law Day, the Augusta Bar Association is sponsoring a poster contest open to all students in grades 3-8. Students can participate by creating a poster exploring how the system of checks and balances through the separation of powers preserve political liberty and provide a framework for freedom. All entries must be received by April 20, 2018 and must be accompanied by the official entry form, contest flyer, and entry forms with specific contest rules and details here. https://www.dropbox.com/s/zndl1dog6cuekso/2018%20Law%20Day%20Poster%20Contest%20Entry%20%20Form.pdf?dl=0

Celebrating the Month of the Military Child Activities

Please click the file below to download a list of activities.

Please let Ms. Hughes know how much you appreciate her.

It is almost that time again for testing! We will have training for all staff during your planning periods Wednesday, April 25, 2018 in Mrs. Patterson’s classroom on the middle school wing. All paraprofessionals will attend training at 9:10 am on April 25, 2018. Please be present and on time. We will discuss daily testing expectations, responsibilities and assignments.

Middle School Sports Banquet- April 26th 6:00-8:00, FPS Auditorium

FPS Beta Club will be sponsoring a school wide service project for the Boys and Girls Club of the Augusta. New and gently used sports equipment (basketballs, soccer balls, volleyballs, footballs, tennis balls, golf balls, etc.) may be donated for the children at the Boys and Girls Club. Items may be dropped off in one of the red bins located outside the library and the cafeteria. Donations will be accepted from April 19th – May 16th

Due to the May GMAS Testing Window the Gifted 'testing window’ is also adjusted.

Gifted Testing

Grades 3-5 will be tested April 12-27th.

Grades K-2's will be tested May 7th - 31st.

Itinerant teachers will be coming to your school to test the 771 K-2 students.

PreK - May 24th @ 10:00 am

Kindergarten - May 25th @ 9:30 am

1st Grade -May 22nd @ 9:30 am

2nd Grade - May 22nd @ 1:30 pm

3rd Grade - May 24th @ 9:30 am

4th Grade - May 23rd @ 9:30 am

5th Grade - May 23rd @ 1:30 pm

6th & 7th Grade - May 21st @ 11:30 am

8th Grade - May 21st @ 10:00 am

Please join us May 19th for a great time. We are so proud of our middle school. They have worked so hard and deserve this celebration. Please let us know if you would like to help.

Kindergarten Round-Up will be held Monday, May 21, at all elementary schools, except CT Walker, Jenkins White and Craig Houghton.

• The district will be working with the Communications Department to send out a media press release and shout point to parents.
• The district will also send you copies of the informal readiness assessments and other information needed for the event.
  

Round up Checklist:

1. We are asking that you create a warm, friendly atmosphere to accept children and parents.
2. If students will go with the teachers then they should attempt to administer the brief informal readiness assessment while parents are registering. We know that all children may not be eager to leave their parents or parents may not want them to go out of their sight-- please work with these children and parents. We want children to get an opportunity to see their school and get excited about Kindergarten. Do not force children to participate. Teachers should collect what information they can for the readiness assessment.
3. So that your Kindergarten staff can be available to help, PreK will pay for up to two (2) substitutes so that your teachers can assist with this process. Please put this request in subfinder as soon as possible. Documentation for substitutes will be sent to you by May 21st
4. PreK students who are in zone should already be in the system and may only need to update information. Online registration is available so paper/pencil registration is optional. Please verify zone documentation.

Please refer to Registration Central in the Parent Section of www.rcboe.org or a list of documents needed for all new students.

5. Parent’s of Current PreK students that are not zoned for your school should be encouraged to visit their zoned schools on May 21st.

6. The new school at Dyess Parkway will also host a registration. Location to be announced.

7. Jenkins White and Craig Houghton will assist parents in determining the zoned school based on new neighborhood planning units (NPUs).

8. Georgia Law requires students turn age 5 by September 1st, 2018 in order to attend Kindergarten in August. Please verify birth certificates. Remember that birth certificates from Georgia can only be copied in a reduced size or scanned to an

email. Double check that your

copy actually shows up before the

parent leave with the original.

The middle school students will participate in Challenge Day May 22nd.

Hopefully we won't need as much of this as we did last year. The following is an update regarding summer school:

Summer school will only be held during the month of June and students will attend Monday through Friday (no alternating days) – 8:30AM – 3:00 PM.

There are 6 Middle School sites (GHMS, Hornsby, Langford, Morgan Road, Murphey & Pine Hill) which will house middle and elementary school students. Our students will be assigned to Morgan Rd.

Westside will once again host the Kroger teacher supply giveaway this summer. Kroger is graciously providing all of the supplies, we just provide the space.

The date is JULY 27, 2018

The time is TBD (probably starting around 9 until supplies are exhausted)

The place is WESTSIDE’S SMALL GYM (you have to come inside the building for access).

New teachers will be in New Teacher Orientation on that day; however Dr. Doby-Holmes and Ms. Schad are working together to make sure each new teacher in training receives a bag.

So what about Benchmark 3. The following are four powerful questions to ask yourself:

1. Based on the results, what adjustments need to be made in instruction?
2. Are you on the curriculum map and scheduled to complete all concepts before May?
3. Are instructional activities aligned with the depth of the standard?
4. Are students prepared to write constructed and extended responses?

-FYI: The benchmark shows that many students are not attempting the constructed and extended response items. What is your team's plan to change this?

https://prezi.com/view/d5bF5e03GGbO66YLt50z/