Leon Springs Elementary

Marigolds! I read something this week that stated: "Create a vision, and then be a living example of what it takes to achieve it." We all need to be a living example of what it means to be great. Excellence requires that we move from just "telling" people what we want to do to "showing" it. I need all of you on board. We need to be a living example of what it will take to move from good to great!

XOXO

Your always learning principal

Thank you to Joy Ulcak and the committee for facilitating this incredible celebration! Our San Antonio Mayor, Ron Nirenberg, will be attending along with several other city officials. We have 16 central office staff members coming---we have never had so many guests attend! Wear red, white, or blue. This will be a professional dress day for all staff.

• Please update and keep up with your grade level data. Every teacher is responsible for making sure their data is updated on the data sheet. We want CCAs on there, as this will hold us all accountable.
• Team planning: remember to always use the collaborative agenda as this will hold the team accountable. This should always be in your grade level drive folder. On the days that your administrator is off campus or unavailable to attend your planning, the agenda gives us insight into what was planned and what we should see in the classrooms.
• Keep your team planning time sacred, as this is very important. We should not schedule ARDs, 504s, conferences, etc.

Eligibility decisions for STAAR accommodations (Accessibility Features, Locally Approved Designated Supports, and Designated Supports Requiring TEA Approval) are made by the appropriate team of people at the campus level based on eligibility criteria and are documented in the appropriate eStar paperwork. A team may be an ARD committee, 504 committee, RtI committee, or LPAC. For some Designated Supports, the campus team will need to submit an Accommodation Request Form (ARF) to TEA for approval.

It is important to refer to the individual policy documents on TEA’s Accommodation Resources website located at https://tea.texas.gov/accommodations/ or online District & Campus Coordinator Resources for comprehensive information.

Please use the following timeline for documenting all ARD, 504 and RtI committee decisions in eSTAR.

Friday, March 20th for all April STAAR (4th/7th Writing, 5th/8th Math/Reading, English I & II)

Friday, April 17th for May STAAR Window (Algebra I, Biology, U.S. History, 8th Science, 8th Social Studies)

Thursday, April 23rd for May STAAR (3rd/4th/6th/7th Math/Reading, 5th/8th Math/Reading Retests, 5th Science)

Friday, June 5th for all June STAAR Retests (5th & 8th Math/Reading Retests, English I & II, Algebra I, Biology, U.S. History)

Campuses are strongly discouraged from making changes in testing modes and/or accommodations between first and second SSI administrations due to lack of time in making student-driven decisions. Any exceptions to this should be discussed with your district or special ed area coordinator.

NOTE: LPAC decisions must be documented earlier due to TELPAS. The LPAC Committee Decision timeline will be shared separately via the Principals' Bulletin.

Kinder Teachers: Please click on the appropriate selection. It will force you to make a copy for your campus so you can make any necessary changes and/or add comments in the Notes box. Remember, these documents can only be accessed through a NISD email account.

Attached you will find important information on upcoming CDBs. It will be important to read this information carefully and plan accordingly. If grade levels will be switching discovery time, this will have to be on the campus calendar and communicated to everyone involved.

Sarah Morrow is our United Way representative, and she will be giving us more info soon! The drive goes from Nov 5th to Dec 3rd. Your contribution represents a valuable difference in someone’s life. Thank you for caring about our community. Thank you for considering donating to United Way. Of course the easiest way to give is through payroll deduction.

• Great news---all team leaders have grade level access on CMS. This will be helpful when analyzing data for CCAs, CDBs, etc...Team leaders have the same access as an instructional specialist.
• Priority standards will be identified with an asterisk on CDB item analysis page, as this will make instructional planning easier.
• House Bill 3 update regarding literacy support: HB 3 mandates all K-3 teachers to attend literacy academies by the year 2021-2022. If you have not attended literacy academies, please sign up. Be on the lookout for upcoming classes on ERO.
• House Bill 3 also requires districts to provide a phonics curriculum using systematic direct instruction. The district has provided all campuses with Lucy Calkins units of Phonics and Words Their Way. It is an expectation that this is the curriculum that we follow. We need to implement this with fidelity in our classrooms.

State law makes it clear that students may not opt out of standardized or any other tests.

Texas Education Code section 26.010 states:

•EXEMPTION FROM INSTRUCTION. (a) A parent is entitled to remove the parent's child temporarily from a class or other school activity that conflicts with the parent's religious or moral beliefs if the parent presents or delivers to the teacher of the parent's child a written statement authorizing the removal of the child from the class or other school activity. A parent is not entitled to remove the parent's child from a class or other school activity to avoid a test or to prevent the child from taking a subject for an entire semester. (b) This section does not exempt a child from satisfying grade level or graduation requirements in a manner acceptable to the school district and the agency.

•Students who are in attendance on the day of testing and who choose not to participate or refuse to mark their answers on the answer document or in the online form will have their tests submitted for scoring as is.

A big THANK YOU to Whitney Krause and her mom, Kim, for the awesome Oribe gift sets and complimentary blowout. Thank you to Me Salon & Boutique! We are all going to have amazing hair!

Please remember that we do not do blanket interventions at LSE! I want us all to do what is best for kids, and give kids what they need. We meet kids where they are and go from there. We make instructional decisions based on data. Once a student is on a tier 2 or tier 3, we do have to increase duration and intensity of the intervention, and this is a committee decision. Always document interventions in RtI. If your student is receiving an intervention from Monica Macias, please work collaboratively in order for both the reading specialists and the classroom teacher, enter the data in RtI together. Everyone needs to be on the same page!

The Partnerships Office has added two new products to its theme park ticket and passes options. A SeaWorld San Antonio Gold Pass, including Aquatica and free parking, is only $115. A SeaWorld San Antonio Silver Pass, including Aquatica and 50 percent off parking, is only $99.

Call the Partnerships Office at (210) 397-8599 to purchase the passes over the phone and learn about other theme park deeply discounted tickets.

We had over 200 students with perfect attendance this nine weeks---this is incredible! The popcorn party will be on Friday, Nov 15th at 8 am.

Email: gracie-m.espinoza@nisd.net
Website: www.nisd.net
Phone: 210-397-4400
Twitter: @graciemespinoz4