Stingray Staff Sentinel 12/8/19

CSUSA has implemented a continuous improvement focus. What does that mean for us? It is not a huge shift in our work, as teachers tweak their craft all the time to do it better the next time. It means we systematically use data to make improvements along the way, not just after the autopsy of the end of year tests.

One thing we must do to monitor how our efforts are working to improve is analyze data. Mid year assessments are being launched and hopefully you are having conversations with students for them to understand the importance to show what they know and do their best. These assessments can help to drive instruction, but it also gives us individual temperature checks to see if what they are learning in class can transfer over to a standardized assessment.

The data has to be analyzed to figure out from the gaps, did the student not learn it, or did they have issues transferring their learning to a standardized question/answer format? Test taking skills and stamina also are a factor and things that we can practice and teach too.

The state is holding schools more accountable than ever for special education students and English language learners. It is very important that we realize as a staff that accommodations are legal requirements. The classroom accommodations are for general education teachers. It is imperative that general education teachers CONSISTENTLY have the accommodations in place and have a system for providing evidence. You need to have documented that you planned for accommodations and administered assessments with accommodations. You need to have examples of work that demonstrate accommodations were provided. During early release we will have staff members report out on best practices in this area. Our school has a "C" grade in the area of students with disabilities, and we will be working to improve this score, which is rooted in GROWTH.

There is a new RTI process for students not making progress. Please complete a packet for those with concerning results. RTI is a process where we intervene and see if we can get improved results. They may through the RTI process be referred for evaluation for special education services, but that is not the reason for referral. Please consult one of the interventionists or Ms. Coates if you need help getting started.

Be sure you have had goal setting conferences through the PLP for your students before they take NWEA again to give them some context. If our kids don't know where they are going, they won't know when they get there. The best time to have those conference is well before testing so they know what they are working for, and then after we have results to determine next steps. Remember that the expectation is that parents are offered a conference for the PLP and at a minimum have signed it. This takes the place of the legally required PMP (for just struggling students) in the state of Florida.

In reviewing our Wildy Important Goal for this year, please remember that we are working on ALL students in ALL Subgroups showing higher rates of growth than ever before. Our Students With Disabilities (SWD) have a "C" grade for growth, as well as our African American population. We also have not shown high rates of growth for our average and high level learners. All three of these groups benefit from increased engagement protocols in the classroom. They need to talk about the content, have multi-sensory experiences with the content and have it be more memorable to increase recall.

One last thing... we have a threat assessment protocol. The times have changed; mental health is a serious concern. The past few years there have been more threats to self and others than ever before. For example, a student threatening to kill themselves. We never take that lightly. Notify an Mr. Davis or myself if this ever happens to a student in your room. In addition, if you make a DCF report, be sure to notify a Mr. Davis or myself.

Wow... our job is so much more than just teaching isn't it! There are so many moving parts to focus on and it is not an easy job! I appreciate everything you do to be advocates for your students. You are their biggest cheerleaders and often their biggest influence. Don't underestimate your ability to not only improve academics but to change lives.

~Principal Sauer

Monday 12/9:

Baby It's Cold Outside - Special Hot Chocolate & Joe Bar in conference room

NWEA Testing 4th Math

5 Below Shopping Fundraiser Day

Secret Snowman "My Favorites Monday"

-Pro-Martial Arts 3:00-4:00

-Jazz Band 3:15-4:30

-Basketball 3:15-5:15

-Girl who code grade 3-5

-ODM 4th grade team 3:30-6

-No B2 Coding & Drones - not meeting in December

Tuesday 12/10:

NWEA Testing 3rd Math

5 Below Shopping Fundraiser Day

Secret Snowman "Treat Tuesday"

Last day to turn in your Snowflake for competition!!

PLCs in 203: Small Group Instruction - Best Practices

-Tutoring for Grades 3-8 (3-8 3:15-4:15 & MS 3:30-4:30)

- Happy Feet Soccer K-1 ends 3:45, 2nd-4th ends 4:00

- Artists in Motion 3:30-5:30

- K-4 Indian Classical Dance 3:15-4:00

- Girls Who Code grades 6-8 3:20-4:30

-Drum Line 3:15-4:30

No Girls on the Run & Heart & Sole - done until late Jan

No Brick, Beakers & Bots - Drones & Bots Robotics Club K-5 - not meeting in Dec.

5:00 Volunteer Training

5:30 Middle School Winter Concert

6:30 Basketball Game at Hope Christian Academy vs. Innovation Academy

Wednesday 12/11

Happy Birthday to Ms. Asbacher

JINGLE, SPARKLE, ANTLER DAY (with jeans ;)

Early Release

NWEA 5th ELA

Secret Snowman "What I like to Do Wednesday"

Elem Dismissal 12:45-1:15

MS Dismissal 1:00-1:30

Team Leads mtg 1:15

ER PD Mtg. 1:50 in cafe - ends 3:30

-Basketball 3:15-5:15

-Art Club 1:00-3:00

-ODM 3rd & MS team 3:30-6

5 Below Shopping Fundraiser Day

Thursday 12/12:

Happy Birthday to Ms. Cella

NWEA 4th Math

5 Below Shopping Fundraiser Day

Secret Snowman "Thirsty Thursday"

-Tutoring for Grades 3-8 (3-5 3:15-4:15 & MS 3:30-4:30)

-Playball Club 3:00-4:00

-Artists in Motion 3:30-5:30

-Middle School Social 4:30-6

-Basketball Game at Hope Christian Academy 6:00 vs. Mandarin

No Girls on the Run and Heart & Sole - Done until late Jan

Friday 12/13:

NWEA 3rd Math

5 Below Shopping Fundraiser Day

Secret Snowman

Spirit Day - Jeans w/school logo apparel or staff shirt !

Candygram delivery from Safety Patrol

-Anime Club gr 6-8 3:30-4:30

Staff Holiday Party Miller's Ale House Tinseltown 5pm - Plus One! (no children)

Upcoming:

• 12/7-12/15 "5 Below" Store Fundraiser Spirit Week
  

• 12/14 Saturday Tutoring

• 12/16-12/18 WinterWonderland Shop
  

• 12/16 Focus Portal Opens for 2nd quarter posting

• 12/16 Basketball Game

• 12/17 Kinder Field Trip

• 12/17 No PLCs - Work on Grades

• 12/18 4th grade field trip

• 12/18 Basketball game

• 12/19 PBS K-5 rewards

• 12/19 End of Quarter

• 12/19 Lunch in classroom

• 12/19 Noon Dismissal - no Aftercare

• 12/20- 1/5 Winter Break

• 1/6 Professional Development Day 7:30-3:30

• 1/6 Grades Due at NOON - powerschool & Focus, print to team leads

• 1/7 Classes Resume

• 1/7 Basketball Game
  

We are out of subs for DECEMBER 13th If anyone gets ill to the point of being unable to work, we would have to utilize Kinder aides.

CSUSA is moving from Ultipro to ADP. They are hoping all spring leave requests move over automatically, but this is not guaranteed. At this point, please do not enter any additional leave requests for Feb-May, but wait for the roll out of ADP - more info to come.

December

· Stephanie Klein – 4th

· Dustin Craig – 7th

· Brittany Asbacher – 11th

· Lindsay Cella -12th

· Donna Webster – 14th

· Glynna Gilbert – 25th

Many of you have been participating in our December to Remember activities for teamwork and fun!! We have two bingo winners in the Self-Care column: Ms. Jones and Ms. Finnegan.

There are bigger prizes for the other rows and they have yet to be claimed. Who will be next?

Don't forget the snowflake competition ends Tuesday, for classes to vote.

Link to December to Remember newsletter: https://www.smore.com/g49ru

December 11th Early Release Wednesday, pair your JEANS with holiday lights, antlers and jingle bells! Light up your wardrobe with seasonal lights. Wear something that lights up with holiday cheer! Holiday headgear, jingle bells, etc.

We will have a series of new staff members joining us between now and the beginning of January.

Please join me in welcoming Bill Stewart, our new MS science teacher this week!

It is important for you to think through WHAT WOULD YOU DO....

Scenerio:

You are outside with your class and you hear what may be gunfire ... WHAT DO YOU DO?

1st....

2nd....

How do you keep others safe?

#SeeSomethingSaySomething - You MUST act!

You Have the Authority...

Remember that as a teacher/staff member in the State of Florida, by law you have the authorization and obligation to call/alert others in an emergency: hold, shelter, lockdown, lockout, evacuate. You can use the Tapp App if able, but if a phone is not with you, then alert another for their phone, or use the PA system: 7001#00* You do NOT need an administrator to make that determination.

Please remember that leggings are not to be worn as pants as part of professional dress.

Thank you

• Thank you to Erica for writing lesson plans for 6th and 7th grade science in the gap between middle school science teachers in additional to all her other work
• Thank you to Ms. Cella, Ms. Pawlak and Ms. Davis, in your support of the Girls on the Run and Heart and Sole girls for their club and 5k this weekend.
• 4th grade math team did a wonderful job purposefully planning on their planning day last week, we appreciate their focused attention to the work.
• Ms. Chesney has been rocking the hands on science in 5th grade! With her and Krieger in 4th we are setting up for FSA success!
• 2nd grade did an amazing job with a safe and fun field trip to see the lions and tigers on the northside despite the chilly temps!!
• Mr. Weyer was our Stingtastic staff member of the week, nominated by 2nd grade for his field trip help and calm demeanor!
• Mr. Swilling had an awesome small group lesson on Inference in Ms. Klein's classroom Friday.
• The kinder aides are amazing about pitching in without complaint when subs are in short supply and illness hits the building!
  
• 5th grade is tracking Imagine Math leaders in different categories that show what they value in the use of the program. Great Job 5th grade.

Please use the small forms available upstairs and downstairs to fill out a staff shout out to thank a peer for going above and beyond. Notice something amazing, fill one out! Place in the turn in location outside of the Principal's office. Ms. Papke will use these to put in the daily reminders as staff shout outs, and on Friday's we will be doing drawings for prizes from the turned in shout outs!

Positive Referral Online Form

If you plan on doing any holiday shopping at 5 Below, please consider going this week!!! Present the flyer and DCSS gets 10% back! Feel free to share with family & friends or bring a few extra to hand out in store! The flyer was sent home, but here is also a link to the pdf. https://bit.ly/2qwvp4n

Parents and Families—this year’s main fundraiser is the Southside Stingray Obstacle Challenge! It’s a two-week program that kicks off with a Pep Rally on January 7th. Families will then gather pledges for every obstacle your student completes (30-35 obstacles) at the Southside Stingray Obstacle Challenge, which will happen on Thursday, January 16th. This year our goal is to raise $10,000 for technology, musical instruments and athletic equipment, and we need your help! We’ve asked the experts at Booster to power our fundraiser to make it easier, more profitable, and more fun.

Students will also experience an amazing character theme, MINDSPARK: WILD WEST! Booster’s most exciting theme yet combines S.T.E.A.M. skills (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) with character-building. While they're teaming up with the MindSpark Kids to save Dr. Shock, our students will learn five character traits that will help strengthen themselves and our world.

Donations will go toward technology, musical instruments, and athletic equipment and the entire two-week experience. So please help our school by getting pledges from family and friends and entering them on FUNRUN.COM. Also, all families are invited to come out and cheer on our students at the Southside Stingray Obstacle Challenge. Thanks so much for your support!

12/1: https://www.smore.com/fuwdx

11/17: https://www.smore.com/tp47q

11/10: https://www.smore.com/vfb9x

11/3: https://www.smore.com/spjyv

10/27 https://www.smore.com/58cyg

10/20: https://www.smore.com/v96m8

10/14 https://www.smore.com/tv4u7

10/6 https://www.smore.com/693fp

9/29 https://www.smore.com/z0nx2

9/22: https://www.smore.com/7p9cx

9/15: https://www.smore.com/zex6v

9/8: https://www.smore.com/4fnrg

9/1: https://www.smore.com/03c2f

8/26: https://www.smore.com/bjkr7

8/19: https://www.smore.com/4rz05