Juniper Elementary Technology Magnet School

Sorry for the later than usual WW.  Just getting back from the coast.  Really nice swell came in and surf was up!  Felt so good to get back in the water and paddle around, even though I got roughed up a bit in the bigger surf.  Weather was fantastic on Saturday and Terri and I hiked Cape Lookout and watched whales and HUGE surf (20’+ ) peeling in around the 2 mi cape.  I hope you all had a fantastic three-day weekend.  So well deserved for all your hard work.  Maria and I sat in on a handful of conferences and we agreed things were going really well.  Out of all the parent conferences I’ve done at Juniper, I think I had the least amount that I needed to sit it on – a testament to what great jobs you are all doing.

Below are two Student Learning Growth Goal Forms.  Please take a look at both.  The brief form is the same from last year.  The Template form is a very easy t0 understand and fill out form, if you choose not to use the brief form.  The recommendation is to look at reading and writing for your goals like previous years.  I will need to get a copy of your completed SLGGS by Thanksgiving Break.  This year, i will be uploading a copy (.pdf) of your goals into TalentEd. so we have a copy of it in your electronic file.

SLGG Brief Form

SLGG Template

Tomorrow is Halloween!  Don’t forget about the breakfast party in the library at 8am.   Guidelines below if you need them.

Halloween Guidelines

Math notes for report cards from Gary Timms.  Report Cards are being updated for 2017-2018 school year.  Some items currently on the report card are not aligned to CCSS, so they are not assessed in Bridges.  Please  skip items on the report card instead of creating additional assessments and instructional lessons to meet those report card items.
School teams can make this decision for this school year.

See you tomorrow!

Dan

Hey all ~ i know some of you are always looking for a small grant for a cool project.  The link below has a easy-to-read list of grant sources. ~ Dan

Get a roundup of educational grants, contests, awards, free toolkits, and classroom guides aimed at helping students, classrooms, schools, and communities. Check this page weekly to get the latest updates!

Source: The Big List of Educational Grants and Resources | Edutopia

Hello everyone ~ I have been so busy lately with various things, that I have not been able to get into classrooms nearly as much as I would like. I can’t wait for things to settle down a bit so I can’t get back into classes.

In addition to Juniper’s SBAC data I shared with you last week, I also wanted to let you know that Juniper is one of only two schools that had growth in every area!  That’s right, Juniper and Ponderosa had no area of decline in either math or ELA overall, or in growth percentile in 3rd, 4th or 5th.  That is AWESOME!  Congrats to everyone for all their hard work.

Below are two important links that will make your life easier in terms of entering math data for yourself and EBISS.   Forefront Math is a data keeping spreadsheet that already has your class and your students entered.  The assessments are aligned to Bridges and once you enter results, it will color code proficiency and help with your small group instruction.  Plus, it is aligned to our Report Cards.

The first link is the overview and the second is a power point that guides you through the set up and goes over features.   Please take a look at both, talk about it as a team and we will have a follow-up discussion soon at a Tuesday am training.

Forefront Math

Forefront

I will be at the COSA conference Monday and Tuesday, but available by phone.  Maria will be here until lunch on Monday and then we have a small team of ICCLs going over to hear Mary Ehrenworth’s presentation on Strengthening Literacy .

SHOUT OUTS!  I have placed the Shout Out! cards in the basket by your boxes again.  If you see something so cool and want to let that staff member know, write a Shout Out! on the back and put it in their box with a candy.  So easy and yet means so much.

Thanks – you all ROCK!

Screen Saver Video

Hi all ~ If you did not get a chance to come to our Cup Cake Celebration this am, I am inviting you to take a look at the Smarter Balance data that I compiled below.   Juniper did outstanding in both Math and ELA.  We met and exceeded our Academic Excellence goal in math.  This is just one piece of evidence of the work that we ALL do to create an environment where students, families, and staff can thrive!  Thank you all so much.  IF you did not get a chance to pick up a cup cake.  We have many in the office.

SBAC Data

Hi all ~ You may have seen my earlier email from my gapps account regarding the 2016 SDP (School Design Plan) Teams.  It looks like it went out to all of you, so I thought I’d follow up on the WW as well.

If you have not already, please sign up for one of the teams by clicking here and submitting your name under the team that you’d like to participate in.   We will be working specifically on school design through our three teams:  Academic Excellence, Thriving Citizens, and Future Ready, and I would like everyone (certified and classified) to sign up for one of the teams.  We will have monthly meetings for each team and your involvement and input is highly encouraged.  Attendance at every meeting is not mandatory – IEP meetings, family emergencies, etc., come up and we will have opportunities to work as teams at SIWs.

The goal of each team is to define and refine our school design plan in these each area.  Our meetings are brainstorm sessions to review data, plan for professional development, exchange ideas, and implement action.  Thriving Citizens and Academic Excellence have already met and Future Ready will be meeting this Thursday at 8am on Thursday.  Team meeting outcomes will be shared in the WW, at staff meetings, and at SIWs.

Thanks

~ Dan

‘Early Release Wednesday’ Lunch Schedule, Oct. 19th

–   CLASSES EAT IN ROOMS

Students will load buses at 11:45 am on October 19.  Lunch will begin at 10:45 am.  

Here is our schedule: 

10:45 am = 1st Grade

10:50 am = 4th Grade

11:00 am = 2nd Grade & Perkins

11:05 am = 5th Grade

11:10 am = Kinder (Tables will be set up in the gym)

11:20 am = 3rd Grade (Specialists walk students to lunch, then supervise the lunch line)

Students will walk through the line and gather lunch, fruit and a drink, then return to the classroom.  Morning preps and AM recess will run as usual, with afternoon preps from 11:45 – 12:15 pm.  See a glitch? Let Maria know ~

With our increasing need for parent communication and parent conferences coming, I thought this article might be of interest. ~Dan

Whether it’s email, messaging apps, an active website, or virtual office hours, technology helps you keep parents in the loop about what’s happening in their child’s classroom.

Source: Tech-Enhanced Parent Engagement | Edutopia