August Newsletter

Thank you for attending our Back-to-School PD! It was wonderful to see everyone, and we had OUTSTANDING attendance!

August 11 - Sign and scan Staff Handbook acknowledgment form to Celina/Aimee

August 14 - First day with students

August 23 - PLD on Zoom: TSG 101, FLIP-It Method, QF - Kathy Jacoby and Shanna Sipe

Sept. 1 - Inclusive Quality First Sign-in sheets uploaded to Teams

Sept. 6 - PLC 8:30-10:30 at Howenstine - Teacher only

Sept. 13 - PD 8-11:00 at Howenstine - All Inclusive and PEEPS staff

• Inclusive teachers: If you need support in locating your monthly SISO contact your CSP.
• Complete your team schedule. This supports your team's responsibilities in supervising students.
• Make sure parents are signing in and out correctly every day.
• Use AZDHS Roster to keep track of students and staff.
• Review blue cards for completion before adding to your binder.
• Take photos of children to create a visual schedule.
• Remember to post your schedule using common language.
• TSG: When adding students to your class, please use the correct "State ID" number in synergy for the "Identifier" number in TSG. Continue to use last year's class, just adding new students once synergy shows their State ID#. Do NOT create numbers. The correct number is 8 digits only. If you have any questions, please contact your CSP.

In the early weeks of the year, teaching teams use visual schedules and visual cues to support their students. We are sending out a video from Conscious Discipline which outlines the process for doing this. We encourage you to find the time to watch it together. This video explains how to teach visual schedules through modelling, providing visuals, and lots of practice. Teaching routines and procedures may take some weeks. In the long run, it is worth our time. It supports children by creating a sense of safety and security. In addition, it offers children the emotional and mental freedom to explore and learn in a calm and predictable environment.

https://consciousdiscipline.com/e-learning/webinars/three-vital-steps-to-successful-routines/

Please welcome the following new staff/transfers:

Alexa Myhre teacher at Bloom

Melissa Diaz teacher, Ivy Miller TA transferred to open PEEPS program at Bonillas

Demetruis Silmon TA at Bonillas

Amos Brown TA at Borton

Alyssa Jimenez & Sherilynn Herrera TAs at Cavett

Isabella Romano (Skylar) TA at Davidson

Argelia Barraza TA at Erickson

Ariel Davila TA at Ford

Beatriz Romero TA at Kellond

Sarah Selinas TA at Miller

Karissa Miller & Mary (Libby) Wilson TAs transferred to Miller

Aanyesia Holmes TA at Myers/Ganoung

Aliana Estrada teacher at Robins

Jessica Rodriguez TA at Robins

Haide Garcia TA at Rose

Rebecca Hale opening new PEEPS program at Safford

Maxima Mendez & Reyna Martinez TAs at Safford

Beka (Laura) Yarnell teacher at Vesey

Cassandra Alvarado TA at Vesey

Raonna Hundley TA at Warren

Anna Rivera TA at Wheeler

Respectful Greetings (Role Model)

Set the tone for the day by greeting students at the door! Research shows that an authentic greeting at the door can increase student engagement by up to 20%! Invest a moment to greet students eye-to-eye, name-to-name, hand-to-hand, and heart-to-heart. It can be as simple as, "Hi ___! (fist bump) I'm so glad you're here," or "Welcome ___! (high five), How was your soccer game?"

Listening is an important skill that is harder than it sounds. We fail to listen not because we don’t hear, but instead because we don’t focus or pay attention to what we are hearing. Listening is a sign of Respect. It shows that you value what the speaker has to say. This month's focus for Pre-K is on practicing Respect through Strong Listening.

Click here to download Respect Newsletter:

https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:6847256f-ef53-4379-ad82-b62f70e84aad

Conversation Starters:

• Can you share or show what Respect means?
• Why do you think it is important to use Strong Listening when practicing Respect?

On Wednesdays it would be beneficial to start organizing all materials by exploration areas. This could be plastic bins or baskets, nicely labeled placed in cabinets. This benefits the team to inventory the materials they have. To keep students' interest best practice is to rotate materials in your exploration areas quarterly. Work with your CSP for ideas.

Character Strong: https://characterstrong.com/

AZDHS Licensing: https://www.azdhs.gov/licensing/childcare-facilities/index.php

AZDHS Empower Standards: https://www.azdhs.gov/prevention/nutrition-physical-activity/empower/index.php#standards-resources-home.

Attention Teachers: please place preschool flyers in your school offices for recruitment! Thank you for all you do!

BREATHE. We are all in this together. Take time for self-care and get enough REST.

• Acknowledge the change. The most important thing to do when change is happening in the workplace is to acknowledge it.
• Face your fears. Writing down these fears in an objective form can stop you dwelling on them.
• Confront your feelings and seek support. Face your feelings about fear and the transition you are going through.
• Stop the fearful thoughts and replace them with something positive. Fear can come from creating negative thoughts and scenarios in your head about what the future holds.
• Be flexible and embracing of change. Instead of hiding from your fear and creating a barrier, be open and flexible to new challenges and tasks.

Contact us:

TUSD Preschool Programs

2110 W. Brichta Ave

Tucson, Az. 85745

520-225-1177

Reem.Kievit@tusd1.org Director

Celina.Robles2@tusd1.org Title I Program Coordinator

Amy.Wilson@tusd1.org Child Find Program Coordinator

Aimee.Gillard@tusd1.org PEEPS Program Coordinator

Mary.Torres@tusd1.org Administrative Secretary

Marla.Guillen@tusd1.org Administrative Assistant / Licensing Specialist

Keomi.Garcia@tusd1.org Administrative Assistant / PEEPS

Kathleen.Lavoie@tusd1.org Curriculum Service Provider

Monica.MendezSaucedo@tusd1.org Curriculum Service Provider

B.Graham@tusd1.org (Jamie) Curriculum Service Provider

Visit us on Facebook, TUSD Preschool, Before & After School Program.