Walnut Hill Elementary

Hawks,

With 21 instructional days left until the first round of STAAR we are moving urgently and intentionally to look at our data from every angle and act on it strategically to maximize preparation for our students. I am so energized by this our habit of Synergy and inspired by our collective commitment to ensure our students are equipped for the challenge that lies ahead.

To this end, I am reminded of one of my favorite speeches from history given by President Theodore Roosevelt in France in 1910, The Man in the Arena. There are risks in life that are worth giving our all even regardless if the result is victory or defeat. The point of the speech that Dr. Brene Brown illustrates in her book and in the video below is that we have to be vulnerable enough to show up, embrace our imperfections, and dare greatly "so that our place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." This is my charge to each of us for every single day that we have left in every moment: Show up, strive valiantly to make a difference for students, be intentional, sweat the details, and do so daring greatly. Our kids are the most worthy cause and I am so excited to see what their future holds well beyond their years at Walnut Hill.

With gratitude,

-Mr. Potter

District Goals:

• Student achievement on state assessments in all subjects in Domain 1 will increase from 39 percent to 47 percent by 2022.
  
• Student achievement on the third-grade state assessment in reading at the Meets performance level or above will increase from 35.6 percent to 45.0 percent by 2022.
  
• The percent of graduates who are college-, career-, or military-ready (CCMR) from Domain 1 will increase from 45.0 percent to 49.0 percent by 2022.
  
• Student participation in extracurricular or co-curricular activities will increase from 59.0 percent to 78.0 percent by 2022.
  

Walnut Hill TIP Goals:

• 5.3 Data-driven instruction.
• 1.1 Develop campus instructional leaders with clear roles and responsibilities.
• 5.1 Objective-driven daily lesson plans with formative assessments.

Walnut Hill CIP Goals:

• (Key Action 1) Advance teacher effectiveness and improve the quality of instruction through research-based professional learning practices.
• (Key Action 2) Close achievement gaps through effective data practices and alignment of core content curriculum.
• (Key Action 3) Develop and sustain a positive and supportive climate and culture of high expectations through effective communication with inclusive practices.

The Shout Out this week goes to Ms. Espinel for her amazing work in having our students' work featured this evening at the Dallas Contemporary for youth art month! I am beyond proud of this recognition for our students! Excellent work, Ms. Espinel. Please be sure to congratulate our students!

Student in photo: Shani Segovia. Students who participated with their artwork; Sophia Reyes, Daisy Anguiano, Kevin Gonzalez, Vienna Porchia, Shani Segovia.

At Walnut Hill relationships drive the learning process and we are focused on the whole child. This means that if we only track student data that we are missing the whole child. This is why we have Leadership Notebooks so that our students will set goals to move their leadership and achievement to the next level in such a way that is empowering. Students must be able to speak to their personal goals, data, milestones, and celebrations. Please see the resources below and ensure that EVERY Leadership Notebook has the sections listed below. Please ensure that students can speak to their data and their goals/WIGS.

Please ensure that the CORE 4 is evident throughout the year in all interaction as we strive to provide the very best service to students and families from the curb to the classroom.

In addition to the graphic below please ensure that:

• Journals are evident in all classrooms (limit the use of glue in materials and focus on student-generated supports.)
• Worksheets/writing prompts, etc are not used to limit student creativity and academic excellence. If there is a chance that any curriculum support would do this, DO NOT USE IT. Focus instead on tools that are thought-provoking, foster endurance, creativity, and resilience. A good rule to follow is that if you would not display it as student work, do not use it for student learning.
• Student/Staff Culture is 100%, Classroom Management is 100%, Culture Routines are 100%
• Authentic student work that is worthy of display is the standard for the products that our students create DAILY. That means that all work should be at the level or above the level of the TEKS (see staff handbook under student work).
• Writing, reading, and student discourse occurs across all contents daily. (See Bernabei text structures below).
• Students own their data, can speak to their data, and are regularly setting goals to move to the next level. Individual Student Academic Growth is Priority Number 1 Thie Year!

We will be looking for evidence of aggressive monitoring in classrooms daily.

Be sure to have:

• Rosters and clipboards with tired students based on recent data (ACP Data/Weekly DOL)
• Pre-determined Conceptual Laps (no procedural Laps)
• Ensure that Aggressive Monitoring occurs during independent practice
• Clearly defined and announced laps and paths starting with the highest mastery first on each concept (this can change based on who is mastering what) - These should be determined in PLC.

See the video example below

This month, our school will be highlighting the Bridge Map! Bridge Maps, Brace Maps, Multi-FLow Tree, Double Bubble, Flow, Bubble and Circle maps should be evident everywhere with a frame of reference!

Please note that our weekly campus PD is Thursday to better streamline information. Please mark your calendars accordingly for all and note that ALL Teachers must attend SWAG nights and weekly PD, non-negotiable. We are providing the dates in advance so that you can plan accordingly. In addition, K-2 SLAR/ELAR will be provided by Teaching and Learning. Please see the dates below.

Monday, March 2

• Ms. Torres Campus Visit
• TX Independence Day
• Just One More Celebration Luncheon(by invite)
• 9:35am K/1 Team Meeting
• 12:50pm G/T PLC
• 3:15-4:30 Ramos Dance Club
• 3:30pm CILT

TUESDAY, March 3

• K-1 TELPAS rate sheets due
• 12:50pm Kinder/First PLC
• 1:50pm ARD (Potter)
• 3:15pm-4:00pm Ramos Poetry Club

WEDNESDAY, March 4

• 9:30 am 4/5 PLC
• 1:15pm K/1/2 GT Content Planning
• 3:00pm Preston Hollow Dance Class
• 3:00pm-4:30pm Chess
• 12:00pm-7:00pm Walnut Hill Design Charette

THURSDAY, March 5

• Instructional Rounds @ Joe May 8:30am to 1:00pm (Potter & Collings)
• 8:30am - 11:30am Elementary CRC's Required Training (Garcia)
• 1:00pm-4:00pm Counselor Training
• 8:30am 2nd/3rd PLC
• 10:30am 504 meeting (Collings)
• 12:05pm PreK PLC
• 3:15pm PD

FRIDAY, March 6

• TX History & Women's History Student Work Posted
• Read to Succeed Incentive
• STAAR Designated Supports Due
• 9:30am Enrichment PLC
• 12:05 ARD (Collings)
• 1:50pm ARD (Collings)

MARCH

9 - Lighthouse Meeting 4:10pm

11 - Happy Birthday Ms. Zuniga!!

16-17 Spring Break

24-Coffe with the Principal

25-Happy Birthday Ms. Lopez!!

27-Happy Birthday Ms. Pandya!!

28-United 2 Learn-Community day

31-Happy Birthday Ms. Coble!!

APRIL

16-Network Day

JUNE

4-Network Day

10-Principal Luncheon

Learners Today, Leaders Tomorrow.

Vision Statement

Walnut Hill Elementary seeks national recognition as a premier elementary school committed to developing global leaders.

Mission Statement

Walnut Hill Elementary will create and foster an optimal learning environment focused on academic excellence, innovation, high expectations, and a commitment to actively involving and serving our community.

Email: ppotter@dallasisd.org
Website: https://www.dallasisd.org/walnuthill
Location: 10115 Midway Road, Dallas, TX, USA
Phone: (972) 502-7800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WHEDallas/
Twitter: @WHES_Hawks