Bulldog News

Hello Team,

ILEARN is officially upon us! While we know there is bound to be frustration among students and staff while enduring test sessions, it is so important for us as the adults to maintain our positive attitudes! Our students feed off our energy and it will be critical that they maintain their focus and stamina during each session.

Take every opportunity possible to praise them and cheer them on.

Best,

Ross, Anuja & Dana

Remember to sign in at the Front Office or KRONOS daily! It is your duty to make this part of your morning routine.

If you have a morning duty, please report to your assigned location at 7:10am and if you have an afternoon duty, please report by 2:20pm.

Mon, Apr 22:

• Day 12
• After School Activities: Art Club, Boy Scouts, Soccer Practice, Handbell Choir, Talent Show Auditions, Baseball Game vs Robert Lee 106 @ 6:15pm @ Riverside Park

Tue, Apr 23:

• Day 1
• ILEARN TESTING WINDOW OPENS
  
• After School Activities: Track & Field, Soccer Practice, Baseball Practice, Junior Coaches Meeting, Knitting and Crocheting Club, Board Game Club

Wed, Apr 24:

• Day 2
• Administrative Professionals Day
  
• After School Activities: Girls Scouts, Soccer Game @ Riverside Park @ 7:15pm
  

Thu, Apr 25:

• Day 3
• JBNC Summer Resource Fair - 5:00-7:00pm
  
• After School Activities: Track & Field, Baseball Practice, Junior Coaches Meeting, Do It Now Club, Yearbook Club, IREAD-3 Tutoring.
  

Fri, Apr 26:

• Day 4
• April Bulldogs of the Month Celebration - 1:30pm in Cafeteria
  
• After School Activities:
  

• Track and Field Meet @ Arsenal Tech High School @ 11:00am
  

Upcoming Dates/Events:

• Tuesday, April 30: Day 6
• Tuesday, April 30: Midterms to Go Home
• Wednesday, May 1: School Administrator's Day
• Wednesday, May 1: Staff Pitch-In
• Wednesday, May 1: Staff Meeting - 3:00pm in Media Center
• May 6-10: Staff Appreciation Week
• May 6-17: NWEA EOY Window
• Friday, May 10: TGNS Talent Show - 12:00pm in Cafeteria
• Monday, May 13: 2nd Grade Field Trip to Legacy Center
• Tuesday, May 14: 2nd Grade Field Trip to Legacy Center
• Wednesday, May 15: Staff Meeting - 3:00pm in Media Center
• Thursday, May 16: Food Co-Op - 12:30pm in Gym
• Friday, May 17: 6th Grade Field Trip to Trader's Point Creamery
• Friday, May 17: Do It Now Club Field Trip to Butler
• Friday, May 17: May Bulldogs of the Month Celebration
• Monday, May 20: 1st Grade Field Trip to Holliday Park
• Monday, May 20: 3rd Grade Field Trip to Commons Park
• Tuesday, May 21: 2nd Grade Field Trip to Connor Prairie
• Tuesday, May 21: 5th Grade Field Trip to Central Library
• Wednesday, May 22: 3rd Grade Field Trip to Marian
• Wednesday, May 22: 4th Grade Field Trip to Public Greens
• Wednesday, May 22: Kindergarten Field Trip to Zoo
• Wednesday, May 22: Advisory Council - 3:00pm in Conference Room
• Thursday, May 23: Instruction Partners Final Walkthrough Day
• Thursday, May 23: 4th Grade Field Trip to Public Greens
• Thursday, May 23: Kindergarten EOY Celebration - 1:00pm
• Thursday, May 23: TGNS Athletic Celebration - 5:30-7:00pm
• Friday, May 24: Snow Make Up Day (FIELD DAY!)
• Monday, May 27: Memorial Day - No School
• Tuesday, May 28: K-5 Awards Celebration - 9:00-11:00am
• Tuesday, May 28: 6th Grade Promotion - 12:30pm
• Wednesday, May 29: Unified Special Olympics
• Thursday, May 30: Last Day for Students!
• Friday, May 31: Last Day for Staff!

Attendance Champions!

• For the week of 4/15-4/19, Mrs. Adams's class wins with 97% attendance!

ACTION REQUIRED: ILEARN TESTING

• The TGNS Testing Policy can be accessed here: TGNS Testing Policy Please make sure you take time to review this prior to testing.
• On Monday afternoon at 2:45pm, we will have a stand up meeting for ALL ADMIN & PROCTORS involved in 3rd & 5th grade testing sessions.
• Tuesday begins our official testing window with 3rd & 5th grade
• Media specials will be held in classrooms through the remainder of the school year, including Day 6 and 12.
• PLEASE ENSURE ALL STAFF LOOK AT THE TESTING SCHEDULE DAILY! It is very important to know when and where testing is occurring in order to maintain an optimal testing environment. Please be aware of when you are needed for testing sessions and be on time.

ACTION REQUIRED: PIT Day Sign In Sheets

• Please make sure to turn in your PIT Day sign in sheet to Mrs. Petruniw's mailbox ASAP.

Questions?: Should you have any questions, please email the Admin Team anytime! We will be happy to assist you in any way we can.

• Shout out to all staff that helped administer and proctor ILEARN practice tests and make up sessions!

• Shout out to Mr. Evans, Ms. Spates, Mr. Ferguson, Ms. Foster, Ms. Iliff, Ms. Fath and Ms. McKiernan-Allen for knocking our Prevention Matters site visit out of the park! Our TA person really enjoyed her visit and was really impressed by our implementation.

• Shout out to all staff for an incredible final PIT Day! We don't have final totals yet, but we know there are some 100%s out there! We will announce our % next week!

• Shout out to Ms. Felipe, Ms. Mendoza and Ms. Lindsey for all that they do for the school to keep us moving! There is so much that goes on behind the scenes that these ladies are responsible for. We couldn't run the school without them! Happy Administrative Professionals Day on Wednesday!

If you have a shout out to share, please send to Mrs. Petruniw!

Goals:

• Kindergarten: NWEA Reading: 80%; NWEA Math: 70%; <220 Referrals

• First Grade: NWEA Reading: 85%; NWEA Math: 80%; <360 Referrals

Kindergarten

• We are working on getting ready for our promotion ceremony! We have worked so hard this year and we are ready to become big first graders next year. We are also learning about butterfly life cycles.

First Grade

• We are getting ready for our first fundraiser of the year for our Service Learning project. Please be on the look out for more information to be sent home to families. You all should have a manila folder in your mailboxes.

Goals:

• Second Grade: NWEA Reading: 60%; NWEA Math: 70%; <350 Referrals
  
• Third Grade: IREAD-3: 75%; NWEA Reading: 70%; NWEA Math: 72%; <240 Referrals

2nd Grade

• Second graders are going to use their newly acquired mapping skills to create a map that they will use during their trip to Connor Prairie.

3rd Grade

• Third grade had an awesome time recognizing National Poem in Your Pocket Day. Thank you to everyone to took a moment to listen to our third grades read. Their enthusiasm for this day surpassed our expectations.

Goals:

• Fourth Grade: NWEA Reading: 58%; NWEA Math: 48%; ILEARN Reading: 32%; ILEARN Math: 30%; <160 Referrals

• 
  

• Fifth Grade: NWEA Reading: 45%; NWEA Math: 46%; ILEARN Reading: 29%; ILEARN Math: 20%; <570 Referrals
  

4th/5th Grade

• This week the 4th and 5th grade students had a guest speaker from the IACS. She spoke to the students about the roles and responsibilities of the group. She also spoke to the students about several volunteering opportunities that are available.
  

Goals:

• Sixth Grade: NWEA Reading: 70%; NWEA Math: 66%; ILEARN Reading: 35%; ILEARN Math: 30%; <50 Referrals

• 6th grade is wrapping up life sciences with the study of endangered animals in Indiana. They will be studying the possible effects of their species going extinct, especially in relation to their own trophic level.

Problem Solving: Using the Action Steps:

Students can escalate conflicts unnecessarily by failing to consider other people's perspectives or by assuming others have hostile intentions. The perspectives-taking skills learned in earlier lessons are in important part of Action Step A: Analyze the Situation.

In Step B: Brainstorm options, students generate multiple possible solutions to the problem.

In Action Step C, students learn questions to help them consider each option they brainstormed. By thinking through each solution, students may avoid unintended consequences of hastily made decisions.

Here is an article on tested benefits breaks. It lets you know about having short breaks can help students focus better. This is great as we go into a long testing season!

Please reach out to Coach Corn for tips and suggestions on brain breaks and body breaks for before/after testing sessions!

https://www.edutopia.org/article/research-tested-benefits-breaks

***IMPORTANT*** - DCS & Title IX Reporting Guidance

• Please take some time to review the documents in the following link. The district has put out new guidance when making decisions for reports to DCS.
• We will be using these documents to guide our reporting practices.
• DCS & Title IX Reporting Guidance Documents

Bulldog Beverages Cart

• The Life Skills classrooms are ready to start taking orders for our Bulldog Beverages Cart! If you could use the following link, if you are interested, to place your order BY EACH WEDNESDAY. We will be fulfilling orders and delivering them on Fridays!
• Bulldog Beverage Cart Order Form

IMPORTANT: Support Staff Schedule

• It was recommended by the Advisory Council that the 18-19 Support Staff Schedule be reshared with all staff. It can be accessed here: 18-19 Support Staff Schedule
• Please take a moment to review the schedule. Note that Admin team is expecting that this schedule be followed daily.
• If you are assigned to a classroom to provide instructional support, it is your responsibility and our expectation that you arrive to your locations daily, be on time, stay for the entire scheduled duration, and provide instructional support as directed by classroom teacher. Please refrain from being on your phone or email while working in classrooms.
• If you are a classroom teacher that has support staff assigned to you, it is your responsibility and our expectation that you provide your support staff adequate direction and guidance in order to be able to support your students effectively. This means having materials prepared for your support team member in advance and taking time in advance to meet with your support team member to discuss what they should be doing while in your classroom. Please do not send your support away when they have been assigned to your room!
• Please see Mrs. Larson with any questions or concerns about the support team schedule or expectations.

IMPORTANT: Snow Make Up Day

• Please note that our make up day will be Friday, May 24! We will hold our Field Day on this day provided the weather holds up. Please mark your calendars now!

Student Restrooms

• The restrooms are once again becoming destroyed and vandalized on a regular basis.
• It is the responsibility of all staff members to check the restrooms PRIOR to allowing students to enter and then check once again AFTER all students have exited.
• This will allow us to better pinpoint when damage is occurring and ensure that your students have a better restroom experience.
• If you know students that are prone to funny business in the restrooms, make sure they go in ALONE.
• It is always better to go as a whole class rather than sending students by themselves or in pairs.
• If you notice any kind of damage or vandalism, please report to the Front Office immediately.

2019-2020 TGNS School Calendar

• Next year's calendar is now available here: 19-20 TGNS School Calendar

Sub Tubs

• Please take a few minutes to review the Sub Tub Requirements that were shared earlier this year.
• It is a professional expectation at TGNS for each teacher to have an updated and complete Sub Tub that is easy to locate and PREPARED with packets and plans for an emergency absence.
• While your colleagues are understanding of having to accept split students, it is a huge inconvenience when there is not work for them to complete or when work has to be complied on your behalf.
• Computers will no longer be allowed to be sent with students who are split up as it is too great of an inconvenience to collect them at the end of the day.
• Additionally, please do not include work that requires scissors, glue and other extraneous materials. It is too much of a hassle to ensure that students have these materials with them.

Student Services Ticketing System

• In lieu of sending emails to members of the Student Services team (Social Worker, Dean of Culture, Academic Case Manager, Community Connector, Director of Operations, Operations Manager), we have now switched to an online ticketing platform.
• Please refer to this document for step by step directions on how to use the Ticketing System and for staff responsibilities: TGNS Student & Family Referral Ticketing System
• Tickets will be assigned to the appropriate team member and actions taken from there.
• Please see Mrs. Petruniw with any questions. Please allow for extra time for response this first week that the ticketing system is live as our team members become familiar with the process.

Lesson Plan Information

• Completed plans are always due at the start of each cycle.
• Below you will find a link where lesson plans are submitted. Beside your name and in the appropriate column, you will paste a link where Ms. Stockton can access your lesson plans. Please make sure that your sharing setting are appropriate so that I can access them without having to send a request. This shared document is also where grade levels will paste a link to their unit plans for Science/SS and their Service Learning Outlines.
• Below you will find links to access copies of the 12-Day lesson plans (the By Day version, the By Subject version and the Special Area template), the unit plan template for Science/SS and the Service Learning Outline. These are links to Ms. Stockton's master copies of the plans. To make a copy for yourself, you need to: Click the Link, Go to File, "Make a Copy", Go into Your Google Drive and a Copy of the document should be there waiting for you to rename and use as your own.
• Moving forward, you can copy your own version that is living within your google docs to make plans for the next 12 days.
• Please remember, the Service Learning Outline and the unit plan for Science/SS are your higher-level overview documents. On your 12 day plan, you still need to include details about what specifically will be happening in your classroom during that time.
• If you have questions about any of this, please let Ms. Stockton know.
• Links to Lesson Plans Document (Where plans are submitted):
• Link to Lesson Plan Template by Day **Make a copy for yourself**:
• Link to Lesson Plan Template by Subject **Make a copy for yourself**:
• Link to Lesson Plan Template for Special Area **Make a copy for yourself**:
• Link to Unit Plan Template for Science/SS **Make a copy for yourself**:
• Link to Service Learning Outline **Make a copy for yourself**:

Bedbugs

• In the event that you spot a bedbug on a student or their belongings, please notify Mr. Pippin and Ms. Becky immediately.
• There is a process we have to follow to 1) identify if it is a bedbug, 2) notify families and 3) put in protective measures for the class and children.

Purchase Requisition Forms

• Should you wish to order classroom supplies, please use the Purchase Requisition forms found here: TGNS Purchase Requisitions
• In this folder you will also find the Custodial Supply List and Educational Supply List. Whenever possible, please order off these lists because items from the IPS Warehouse are significantly more cost effective than other places.
• Please expect a 2 week turnaround time for supplies ordered and plan your orders accordingly. Not all orders are guaranteed to be approved.

Time Off Requests

• Please use the form located here: Time Off Request Form when requesting days off.
• IPS staff should also use this form to keep us aware in addition to requesting in KRONOS.

• Parallel App

  • Please make sure you download the SubConnect for Teachers app on your phone if you are someone that would require a sub in your absence.
  • SPED/ESL will need to register with their IPS email.
  • TGNS staff need to register with their TGNS email.
  • It is now officially your responsibility to request your own substitute. Please continue to request days off for approval via the Google Form and once you have approval, you may go in and request the sub.
  • Remember, the earlier you request a sub, the higher the chance of securing one. If you have had a good sub in the past, please share their name with Mrs. Felipe so we can begin to build a list of strong subs.

TGNS Assessment Calendar - 2018-2019

• Assessment Calendar for the year can be found here: TGNS 2018-2019 Assessment Calendar

Email: ross@thomasgregg.org
Website: http://www.myips.org/thomasdgregg15
Location: 2302 E Michigan St, Indianapolis, IN, United States
Phone: 317-226-4215
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thomasgregg15
Twitter: @thomasgregg15