The Lion Ledger

Tallwood High School

October 21, 2019 - Vol. 6 No. 8

THE PRIDE OF THE LIONS

Congratulations!

Once again, our Tallwood Marching Lions dominated competitions at Hanover and Gloucester over the weekend. Thank you to Tim Rossettini for your outstanding leadership and dedication.

zoom_out_map

In addition, Kayden Brickhouse was selected to the Southeast Senior Regional Orchestra. He has now qualified to audition for All-Virginia Band and Orchestra.

Thank you!

Thank you to our teachers: Meredith Miller, Lori Morris-Platte, Lavell White, Biff Johnson, Ebony Cherry, Chad Rotella, Cassidy Mulé, Matt Myint, Catherine Christiansen, Jenna Free and Shawnda Hinton for participating in our Coffee and Collaboration professional learning on Monday.

zoom_out_map

Thank you to our GSWLA team led by Jessica Windish for their work in promoting our academy at the annual Navigating the Journey event at the Virginia Beach Convention Center on Tuesday. Our students led in-depth presentations and represented the many cultures that Tallwood embraces.

Thank you to Kim Thomas, Drew Carawan, and Heather Allen for coordinating our PSAT testing on Wednesday!

Thanks to the efforts of our Environmental Science teachers and our Ecology Club, sponsored by Stephanie Trevino, there is another water filling station to fill your water bottles upstairs at the end of the C Hall.

Thank you to Ebony Cherry for serving as our representative at the Teacher Assembly meetings with Dr. Spence.

zoom_out_map

I Make A Difference Award

This week I would like to pass on the “I Make a Difference Award” to Mr. Lester Dildy.

Mr. Dildy has always been nothing but the kindest hardworking gentlemen I have had the privilege of working with. When walking around our amazing facilities we see how much pride our custodial staff takes in making sure our educators and students have a wonderful learning environment for success. He is always there to lend a helping hand and wants nothing but the best for our Tallwood family. Thank you Mr. Lester Dildy for all you do in Making A Difference for everyone in the Pride at Tallwood High School. ~ Tim Rossettini

zoom_out_map

Last Week's I Make A Difference Recipient

Tim Rossettini

zoom_out_map

Teacher of the Month

Congratulations to Earl DeMott for being selected as September's Teacher of the Month!

THE MANE ATTRACTION

Safe Schools Week

Thank you to our security assistants for all that you do to keep our school safe: Herbert Battle, David Boone, Randall Dunn, Felicia Loper, Donna Moore, John Parker, and Mary Williams.

We are especially grateful for our School Resource Officer, Christopher Washington, for keeping our students and school safe. He works nonstop to serve and protect our Lions!

Teacher of the Year

Teacher of the Year nominations will be accepted beginning on Wednesday, October 23 through Tuesday, November 5. Please confirm with the teacher that he or she accepts the nomination and is eligible. Please see the email that I will send on Wednesday, October 23, for more information.

United Way

The SCA will begin collecting money for United Way on Tuesday, October 22 during 1A through Friday, November 25. The homeroom that collects the most money will win a breakfast provided by the SCA.

To kick-off the campaign, please visit the division’s YouTube page and watch this brief video message that underscores the impact that you and the United Way are making in our VBCPS community. As a friendly reminder, to view videos on YouTube please sign in using your division credentials. In addition, I have also attached the public workplace giving instructions, which gives helpful tips on how to make a donation using the online giving platform.

zoom_out_map

Jeans Day for Beach Bags Food Drive

Every department that fills two boxes with the following items can earn a jeans day on Friday, October 25! Boxes will be located in department workrooms/offices from October 14 - October 23. The winning departments will be announced on October 24.

Please fill the boxes with the following items.

Juice boxes
Shelf-stable main course items, such as ravioli, spaghetti and meatballs, soups, etc.
Fruit cups
Individually wrapped snacks, such as granola, cereal bars, crackers, etc.

zoom_out_map

Superintendent Visit

Dr. Spence will visit Tallwood on Friday, October 25 during first and second blocks.

Recall our everyday instructional expectations and prepare appropriately:

Post Learning Targets
Utilize High Level Questioning Techniques
Differentiate Instruction
Incorporate Balanced Assessments: Formative and Summative
Focus on Student Engagement

Grades for the First Quarter

Grades for the First Quarter will be tentatively due in Synergy at 9:00 AM on Tuesday, November 5. There will be a brief faculty meeting followed by professional learning based on the topics you chose in our survey.

Copy Report

Compared to last year, we made 50,000 more copies from September to October. If the number of copies continue to increase, then I will have to take instructional money from each department in order to offset the cost. Please be conscious of the number of copies you make and that they are double-sided.

Senior Residential Governor's School

Lion Lunch Reminder

It is imperative that you report to your Lion Lunch duty daily on time.

When you are absent, it is the expectation that your sub perform your duty. Make notes in your sub plans accordingly.

While on duty, it is the expectation that you are actively monitoring and focusing on student safety.

Office Manager

We wish Vera Dozier the best as she enters retirement to take care of her family. In her absence, please contact Lynn Brazie or me for immediate assistance.

zoom_out_map

LEO

This week’s LEO focuses on life skills discussions. If you are searching for other discussion topics, please consider the lesson our ITS, Allison Heischober, created on Digital Citizenship.

Here is the learning plan: DigCit Lesson Plan

Here is the presentation: DigCit Slides

We had some great ideas shared during Coffee and Collaboration, so I am sure you are fully equipped to have important conversations with your LEO group. Take this time to be inventive and creative with students.

As always, you can get all your information from our Schoology group:

https://vbschools.schoology.com/group/1793696284

open_in_new zoom_out_map

SCHOOL DIVISION NEWS

Open Enrollment

As a friendly reminder, the Consolidated Benefits Office (CBO) encourages you to review your benefits during Open Enrollment. This year’s Open Enrollment will be a passive enrollment, meaning the following benefit(s) will continue as currently elected (roll-over) for January 1, 2020:

Health
Dental
Legal
Identity Theft Protection

Note: There are certain Optional Benefits, such as Optional Life Insurance, that you may enroll in at any time (evidence of insurability may be required if you enroll in them outside of your New Hire Period); as well as Employer Paid Benefits, such as Basic Life Insurance, that you are offered upon your date of hire (enrollment in these are automatic and cannot be declined). Refer to the 2019 Benefits Guide for more details.

You are required to elect certain benefits on the BENEFITFOCUS platform to have coverage for the upcoming plan year. The following benefit(s) must be elected to have coverage during 2020:

Health Savings Account (HSA)
Health Care Flexible Spending Account (HCFSA)
Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA)

Federal Cards

The 2019 Impact Aid Federal Card Survey will begin on Monday, October 28, 2019. Schools will be required to distribute Federal Cards to students in their homerooms on Monday, October 28, 2019.

A MANDATORY Federal Card Meeting will be held in the Schola on Monday, October 21, at the beginning of each block for all teachers with a 1A homeroom.

LION LEARNING

zoom_out_map

Because of a Teacher

We learned quite a bit from our teachers during Coffee and Collaboration. The impact you make on our students leaves a lasting mark on their lives. Please take three minutes to watch this video as a reminder of how much of a difference you make each day with our students! Thank you for all that you do!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UtCgZZeUeI

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Strategic Monitoring

As we get closer to the end of the quarter, please keep in mind the students who need academic assistance. Our Strategic Monitoring process has changed this year to target ALL students. As in the past, you will receive a spreadsheet with your class rosters, but you will mark students as RED, YELLOW, and GREEN based on class averages. Students in marked RED and YELLOW will require you to list interventions you have implemented. The process will repeat each quarter to monitor which students need more support. Directions will be sent to you by Shaheen Soorani towards the end of the quarter.

Goal Setting in TalentEd

Thank you for completing the Formative Focus portion of TalentEd. Now, we need to consider your Student Growth Goals for the year. Here is the general information you should begin preparing.

Setting: Provide a summary of your total number of students and any special learning circumstances in your classes. Pay close attention to the students who receive special education services, since data from these students are also part of the school’s Plan for Continuous Improvement. You will want to determine the number of students with disabilities and/or 504 accommodations.
Content/Subject/Field: List your content area and the growth measures you will use to set growth goals.
Baseline Data: Utilize your pre-assessments data.
Goal Statement: Create a SMART goal that you can measure.
Strategy/Professional Learning: What professional learning do you need to achieve this goal?
Evidence: What data do you have to measure your goal?

Goals need to be written to encompass all of your students, not just select students or courses.

Your Goal Setting is also due with your Formative Focus on November 1. Please let your administrator know if you need any assistance.