Rocket Weekly for Staff

Character Trait for February: Honesty

February Mindset Focus: A Goal Without a Plan is Just a Wish

To be honest is defined as...

the quality or act of being honest;

uprightness and fairness.

Being honest means being truthful to both oneself and others...

and doing what is right regardless of who is around.

In our RES School Family we all work together to help our students be honest

through daily instruction and mindset/counseling lessons.

We are also teaching our students that goals are important

and how to identify the steps needed to reach those goals.

Great goals take work to achieve;

work is hard;

together we can work to turn their goals into reality

through honest conversations!

Click here for the Monthly Character Education Traits and Mindset Words of the Month.

Please click here for one list of all after school club teams and students.

(Last edited 02/02/20 - Wellness Mindset Club students added)

The Follett Book Fair will be running all week. Please click here to sign up for class visits if you have not already done so.

PLC Meetings have been cancelled - Enjoy the Gift of Time!

Book Fair Opens!

8:45am - 9:25am Cancelled: Math PLC Meeting: 1st and 2nd Grade

3:50pm - 4:10pm Tier 2 Mentoring Team Meeting (Check In/Out Mentors)

Field Trip: 5th Grade CSM Water Safety

Book Fair Open

8:00am - 8:50am Staff Meeting

Please click here to access the agenda.

8:45am - 9:25am Cancelled: Math PLC Meeting: Kindergarten

9:15am - 9:30am Recycling Bin Collection

4:00pm - 5:30pm Competitive DI Team (Mr. Cross' Team)

4:00pm - 5:15pm Spark (FLOW Club)

Work-Out Wednesday: Students and staff are encouraged to wear school appropriate athletic gear as we focus on the importance of living a healthy lifestyle while also taking a mid-week motor break to focus!

Book Fair Open

8:15am - 9:00am Creative Writing Club

8:45am - 9:25am Cancelled: Math PLC Meeting: 3rd and 4th Grade

3:45pm - 5:15pm 4th Grade Math Team

6:00pm Soft Window: MP 3 Interim Report Cards Due

• Please email Mrs. Batelka and Mrs. Goddard once Interims are ready to be printed

PST Meetings

Book Fair Open

9:00am - 8:45am MTSS Tier 1 Team Meeting

9:05am - 9:35am MTSS Tier 2 Team Meeting

9:15am - 9:30am Recycling Bin Collection

11:50am - 12:20pm Maker-Space Club (2nd/3rd Grades)

12:40pm - 1:10pm Maker-Space Club (1st Grade)

1:20pm - 1:50pm Maker-Space Club (4th/5th Grades)

3:45pm - 5:15pm Wellness Mindset Club

4:00pm - 6:00pm Book Fair hours extended

5:00pm MP 3 Interim Report Card Window officially closes

5:30pm - 7pm Reading Night!

• Breakfast for dinner - Green Eggs and Ham!
• 6pm Guest Reading - Dr. Seuss visits!
• Book Tasting for all ages
• Literacy Stations
• Buddy Book Reading hosted by 4th and 5th Grade students

Book Fair Open

Wear our school colors to show our Ridge Pride!

8:45am - 9:25am Cancelled: Math PLC Meeting: 5th Grade

9:00am - 11:05am Collaborative Planning: 3rd Grade Team

Click here for the Agenda

11:15am - 1:45pm Collaborative Planning: 4th Grade Team

Click here for the Agenda

4th Grade Team will eat lunch from 1:20pm - 1:50pm

2:00pm - 4:00pm Collaborative Planning: 5th Grade Team

Click here for the Agenda

3:50pm Relay for Life Drawing - Enso Kitchen: 6 Chocolate Croissants!!!!

4:00pm - 5:00pm Competitive DI Team (Mrs. Haney's Team)

4:00pm - 5:15pm Robotics Club

4:15pm Staff Member of the Week Lottery Wheel!!!!

4:15pm Staff Social: Legion

Dues: $20 may be turned into Ms. Steiger or Mrs. Goddard.

Sunshine Breakfast/Lunch/Snacks Potluck! Each team will determine what type of snacks to provide.

• 3/23: Intermediate
  
• 4/29: Primary (Breakfast)
• 6/15: Office Staff

Staff Member of the Week

• We're celebrating one another and selecting a staff member of the week every Friday at 4:10pm for the following week!
• If you have not completed the survey, and wish to participate in the selection process please click here.
• Only staff who have completed the survey will be included in the Lottery Wheel.

Below is a chart, developed by Mrs. Batelka, based upon the available information regarding county-based assessments. End of Unit optional assessments, highly recommended by supervisors, are also being included.

Please Note: The Quarter 3 Chart is now available from Central Office. It is linked below in the Required and Recommended Assessments by Grade Level Section.

• Classroom teachers do not not need to remain with students if a bus is late or missing.
• Teachers are to escort all students waiting for a bus to the front of the school.
• Mr. Earley remains with the students until 4:15pm.
• Either Mrs. Batelka or Mrs. Cox is also present.

• The Book Fair will take place 2/24 through 2/28.
• There will be an evening time on 2/27 from 4pm to 6pm.
• Please click here to sign up your class!

Classroom teachers are encouraged to work with their buddy classroom to create a joint literacy activity. Ideas for those interested are forthcoming!

Three additional Smart TVs are being purchased at the Central Office Level and will be placed in the following classrooms: Mrs. Anderson, Mrs. Pierce, and Ms. Rye.

The date of installation is unknown at this time. Outside contractors will be installing them and we will be informed of the date/times of installation. There is a chance that the installation will occur during instructional time. Notice will be provided and in advance, thank you everyone for being flexible as the dates and times are not negotiable due to a system-level schedule.

An EXCITING new set of webinars are about to launch with SMART Technologies for EDUCATORS by EDUCATORS.

• Click here link to register and learn more

• February 27th - No Tricks Just Treats Ready Made Lessons in the SMART Exchange: Explore the new SMART Exchange to learn how to utilize FREE powerful content created by teachers around the world. Discover how to easily share content with students, through both the SMART board and SMART Learning Suite Online.
  
• March 4th - Hands On, Minds On Digital Manipulatives with SMART Learning Suite: Explore the power of using SMART notebook to create digital manipulatives to support student learning. Discover the power of sharing digital manipulatives to student devices through SMART Learning Suite Online.
• March 10th - Fostering Classroom Talk and Inquiry with SMART: In this webinar, we will discuss how to create a question-friendly classroom with SMART Learning Suite. Share how to actively engage students in the process.
• March 11th - Notebook & SLS Online Go Together like Peanut Butter & Jelly: Join us to learn how to build engaging interactive lessons in SMART Notebook and then seamlessly deliver this content to students using SMART Learning Suite Online. See how this process supports student inquiry by leveraging student devices as well as flexible grouping to personalize learning.
  

Staff may also watch previous webinars

Classroom Teachers may earn acquired hours (45 minutes) for watching the 30 minute webinars and writing a brief reflection on how to apply the webinar in their instructional plan. To earn the acquired hours staff must submit a brief paragraph about what they learned and how they plan on using (or will use) the information in a future lesson.

Rocking Rockets' Celebration: Monthly Celebration for students achieving a specific positive percentage on ClassDoJo.

• March Celebration will be Dr. Seuss Themed! Mrs. Miller is in the process of following up with all staff leading a station. All stations will have a Dr. Seuss Theme and a Dr. Seuss book will be read to begin each station. The celebration will be begin at 2:45pm (to allow for a reading of the book) and end at 3:30pm (normal time).

Rocket Store:

• Next Rocket Store: Friday, March 6th

Tier 2 Check-In/Out:

• Additional students, based upon the criteria set by the MTSS Tier 2 Team will be considered during the 03/02/2020 Meeting.
• Any teacher referrals to Check In Check Out, for consideration in the March Meeting, are due by 2/27/2020.

• All students need to wear a winter/thicker coat that zips/buttons.

• Any students wearing only a light jacket or sweatshirt will remain inside for indoor recess.

Recess Teams need to work together to identify a plan of who/where to take students who are not allowed to go out because they do not have the appropriate coats.

Please Note: Students may not be sent to ISIC or the Main Office as there is no guarantee that a staff member is available to supervise students. If needed, the Gift of Time may be reallocated to cover indoor recess when there is outdoor recess should alternative coverage be unable to be made.

The Relay for Life Team is sponsoring a T-Shirt Fundraiser in support of Autism Awareness.

National Autism Awareness Day is April 2, 2020.

Click here to buy a shirt/sweatshirt to support Autism Awareness and our Relay for Life Team!

We are very excited to announce that the Ridge Rocking Rockets Relay for Life Team is up and running!

Ridge Elementary School will have a Relay for Life Team this school year to support and honor our School Family Members affected by cancer.

Please click here to donate or join our team!!!!!

Our last Relay for Life meeting was held on Wednesday, February 12, 2020.

• The meeting notes will be posted here next week.

Weekly Raffle Fundraiser

• Each Friday a raffle will be held for a special item or basket of goodies.
• Staff may purchase raffles tickets on Thursdays/Fridays prior to the raffle immediately following bus dismissal.
• Raffle tickets will be $1/ticket or $5/6 tickets.
• We are looking for donations for the weekly raffle. Please click here to donate an item.
• If you're aware of an organization or group able to donate an item please let Mrs. Batelka know and she will follow-up with the organization/group.

Stay tuned for upcoming fundraisers and activities sponsored by our Relay for Life Team!

• The Board of Education approved the school year calendars for 2020-2021 and 2021-2022. These calendars at www.smcps.org/calendar.
• SMCPS Mental & Behavioral Health Fair will be held on May 9, 11 am-2 pm, at the Dr. J. A. Forrest Career and Technology Center. This is an opportunity for families to meet local providers and learn more about local services that address mental and behavioral health needs such as anxiety, depression, trauma, substance abuse and more. Short presentations will be available for parents on supporting the mental and behavioral health needs of youth ages 5-21.

Information Technology Services:

• On Thursday, March 5th from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, our Internet Firewall Vendor will be working with our staff on scheduled maintenance. During the maintenance window, access to the SMCPS websites, including School sites, Moodle, and HAC may be intermittent.

Instructional Updates

• 2020 Instructional Conference “Best Practices for Student Success” - This year’s Conference will be held on Monday, August 10 at LMS. Principals will select school team members to attend the conference. Ten-month school team members will receive a stipend for 4 hours of instructional planning on Tuesday, Aug. 11. The Call for Proposals will go out in Mid March. We have not been notified the number of team members each school may send. In the interim, please email Mrs. Batelka if you are interested in attending. Once the number of teams members is provided, Mrs. Batelka will follow-up with interested staff
• SMCPS will be holding a STEM Playdate on April 16th, 4:30-6:30. Activities include Sphero, Bee Bots, Digital BreakOut Boxes, and Botball. If any staff members are interested in running a session, they can fill out this form. Any staff interested in attending can add their name to this Google Sheet. Staff will be paid for their time. Questions can be directed to Heather Wysokinski at hmwysokinski@smcps.org.
• The Department of Assessment & Accountability is offering stipend compensated training opportunities available to SMCPS staff on a number of software applications. All training will be first come first serve and will be limited to a set number of attendees. Please click here to see the Training Opportunities portion of the Department of Assessment & Accountability’s Google Site.
  

Student Services:

• SAVE THE DATE- Mental Health First Aid Training open to all staff, March 30th or May 22nd, registration information coming soon- 20 slots will be available on each date, 8 am-4 pm. Please email Mrs. Batelka if you're interested in attending this training. At this time, schools have not been informed of the number of staff members permitted or the sign-up process.

Human Resources

• SMCPS will hold a Job Fair on Saturday, March 28, 2020, from 9 a.m. to noon. at the Dr. James A. Forrest Career & Technology Center. Please share widely!
• The Online Transfer Request will be open Monday, January 6, 2020, through March 6, 2020. Certificated staff who wish to be considered for a transfer to another school location should complete the online transfer request. Staff may request up to a maximum of 5 sites to be considered for a transfer to. Requests to change grade levels or subjects within your current school only should be communicated in writing to your building principal.
  

Most recent Kindergarten Memo

Most recent Math Memo

• February 10, 2020. This edition contains important information about communicating mathematics precisely and correctly as well as making sense of problems and story problem solving.

Bridges Updates and Supports:

• Please click here to access the Bridges Issue
• Please click here to access help videos

Most recent English Language Arts Newsletter

• Please click here to access The Reading Corner (December 2, 2019 Edition). Please take the time to review the information as there is important information staff need to be aware of regarding upcoming standards and instructional notes for each grade level.
  

Most recent Health and Physical Education Update

Most recent Special Education Newsletter: The PIER

• Please click here for the February 7, 2020 Issue. This month's newsletter contains information about the following: New staff, Math Strategies vs Models, Alt Assessment Update, Two Word Challenge, Alternatives to Reading logs, Supplementary Aids Reminders, February Hot Topic, ESY Reminder, Transition Expo 2020 and some February humor!

Most recent Elementary Science Newsletter

• January 2020 Edition. This edition contains information on Grade 5 practice tests for units 1 and 2 and reminders about the Assessment Guides (along with links for each grade level), and grade level questions to consider at the mid-year mark.

Most recent Gifted and Talented Newsletter

Most recent Library Media Newsletter

Most recent Fine Arts Newsletter

• Please click here for the October Edition
  

Most recent ESOL Newsletter

• Please click here for the February Edition
• Please click here to access the ELL Site

Most recent Educational Equity Newsletter

• Please click here for the February 2020 Newsletter

Department of Assessment and Accountability (DAA)

• Please click here to access the DAA Site

"I can't do that, YET."

As we work with others in achieving their goals, there is great power in the the word, "yet." Fostering this mindset allows us to grow and recognize that first failures are not failures - they are lessons as we grow toward our goals.

Resources for Aspiring:

• Mindset and the Power of Yet - article
• Growth Mindset Lesson - Khan Academy lesson
• Tips for Goal Setting with Students - EdWeek Article

Click here for a SMCPS developed Aspiring Video

This will be updated quarterly and as changes are made by content supervisors.

Elementary Site Link: Please click here

• Goalbook ELA items are available in Performance Matters for the easy constructions of self-scoring assessments to support the review of low performing standards and encourage UDL.
• Guidance on accessing and using these items to construct assessments can be seen here.

Performance Matters updates are live! Highlights include:

• Baseball Card: A reset button was added to deselect all added measures while retaining applied student filters
• Items with rubrics: Scorer permissions are now defaulted for all instruction blocks, no need to manually select ‘scorer’ when adding the rubric
• Online Scoring: displays scanned image if applicable
• MyDashboard: users with access to more than one building can filter to a specific school on the MyDashboard page
• Interventions: “RTI/MTSS” was changed to “Intervention”; new attribute INT identifies students with open interventions watch video
• More updates can be found here

Reminders for Scanning Scansheets:

• To minimize mistakes by the scanner, please remember to change the scan file type to TIFF and scan as GrayScale or Color. This will help ensure that bubbles and erasures are read correctly.
• Please remind students to bubble dark, complete bubbles, to stay within the bubbles, to erase mistakes completely, and not to mark in or near the barcode.
• Please remember to include both the Student Name and ID Number if not using a pre-printed scan sheet. If sheets are double-sided, be sure student information is on both sides. Please be sure the last names are included.

Have a question about assessment data, building a test, or entering RTI data? Visit the SMCPS PM Google Site for all this and more! https://sites.google.com/smcps.org/unify/home The site can also be found on the SMCPS Staff page under Instructional Resources. Within PM you can also visit the News & Assignments tab or Help module ⍰ for videos and instructions. Contact Jeff Gibson jsgibson@smcps.org or Kristen Maher kmmaher@smcps.org with further questions.

SMCPS UNIFY Google Support Site:

• Reminder that the SMCPS Unify Google Site can be found on the staff page under Instructional Resources at https://www.smcps.org/staff
  

• Troubleshooting directions for student testing.
  
• Directions to assist teachers with online scoring.
  
• Steps for the creation of Answer Key Only assessments.
  
• Steps for using pre-made interactive test items to create online assessments.

Any questions, training or additional Unify support needs can be referred to the appropriate contact found on the Training Page.

Stay tuned for the next TAC TIP!

Methods of Teaching Reading in the Content Areas, Part II: This course focuses on teaching secondary students to access and learn from text. Class participants are expected to apply theories, strategies, and practices in classroom lessons. The course introduces types of reading, reading skills, and instruction that integrates content with reading goals. You do not need to have completed Teaching Reading in the Content Areas Part I to register for this course. To account for all 45 hours (3 credits), participants will be required to complete work outside of class meeting times that will be applicable in their own classrooms. Scheduled classes will be held at Leonardtown Middle School from 4:00 - 8:00 PM on March 25; April 1, 15, 29; May 6, 13, 27; and June 3, 10. Visit the PMPD website for more information.

Registration is open for additional courses:

• Please log into the system for available courses

Register online: https://smcps.truenorthlogic.com
UserName: beginning of SMCPS login (without @smcps.org)
Password: normal SMCPS password

Stay tuned for upcoming staff members' birthdays!

We will announce the staff member on morning announcements and post information about that person in the hallway for all to see.

We also will be playing 2 truths and a myth. These will be posted on the display to give staff and students a chance to try and figure out what a staff member's myth may be. It will be revealed at the end of the week.

Week of September 2nd

Week of September 9th

Week of September 16th

Week of September 23rd

Week of September 30th

Week of October 7th

Week of October 14th

Week of October 21st

Week of October 28th

Week of November 4th

Week of November 11th

Week of November 18th

Week of November 25th

Week of December 2nd

Week of December 9th

Week of December 16th

Week of December 30th

Week of January 6th

Week of January 13th

Week of January 20th

Week of January 27th

Week of February 3rd

Week of February 10th

Week of February 17th