Spartan Staff Weekly

Chelsea Jennings, Principal

Rhett Barrett, Assistant Principal

Aaron Tinnin, Assistant Principal

Email: cjennings@sdale.org
Website: sms.sdale.org
Location: 17051 E Hwy 412, Springdale, AR, USA
Phone: (479)750-8821
Facebook: Link

I am so thankful for teachers who helped instill a love of reading within me, even if it started with those creepy Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark books and trying to earn a personal pan pizza. It grew from there into becoming an English teacher!

Based on last year's ATLAS data, almost half of our students read at a K-4th grade level. This alone should be a compelling reason for us to make a collective effort to promote a culture of literacy.

Here's how you can help:

• Share books you are listening to or reading. Sarah Granata is going to place laminated "What I'm Reading" signs in your boxes you can put on your doors. Even if you are not an avid book reader, you could include a text you are researching, referencing, or picking up on occasion.
• Have a classroom library with books at various reading levels and that represent or interest our students. This isn't just for English teachers! Don't have one? The IFs will help!
• Provide designated time for self-selected reading. Require Advisory be used for silent reading 1x/week and/or that it be the "reward" when students get finished with an assignment (instead of Chromebook games).
• Use strategies that help kids feel successful as readers. When using a text in class, chunk it into sections, choral read it together, give a glossary of vocab words, model annotation, etc.
• Incentivize! Your team should have a system for giving RISE tickets for reading logs. Our schoolwide homework is that students are reading 150 minutes/week. Our LMC also does Quarterly Reading Challenges and Blackout Bingo games on breaks that have incentives.

Monday, August 25th:

• WIN: Intervention & Enrichment
• SMS Volleyball @ Bentonville Lincoln, 4:30pm

Tuesday, August 26th:

• WIN: Intervention & Enrichment
• SMS Volleyball vs. Washington @ Lakeside, 4:30pm

Wednesday, August 27th:

• Early Release Wednesday
• CTMs @ 2:10 & Huddle @ 3:30pm

Thursday, August 28th:

• WIN: Intervention & Enrichment
• Leadership Team Meetings: Team Leaders & SOS Team
• SMS Football vs. Lincoln @ SHS, 5:30pm

Friday, August 29th:

• WIN: Clubs!
• College Colors Day (see below)

Good news: 260 students have paid their school supply fee!

Bad news: Less than half of our kids have paid their school supply fee!

Please do a push in Advisory to collect this BEFORE the price goes up to $40 after Labor Day. I put more detailed information in The Spartan Scoop, and it would be good to review that info in Advisory.

75% of our students have qualified for F/R lunches so far, and we still need 69 students to submit/qualify to have the same percentage as last year. Brittni has updated the Advisory tracker list for you.

6th grade switch starting this week:

• Sharks & Barracudas will eat LUNCH first
• Jaguars will go to SOCIAL first
  
  

7th grade switch starting this week:

• Explorers and Jets will eat LUNCH first
• Mavericks will go to SOCIAL first

Empower login information will be emailed to parents in the coming weeks. Reminders of our expectations:

• Update Empower regularly with scores = "evidence" of individual student proficiency.
• Aim to enter one score per week to give parents and students feedback on progress.
• In Empower, you need a minimum of 3 scores at a level 3+ for an essential standard for the algorithm to work. The more scores, the more accurate reflection of proficiency.
• Quality > quantity of what is graded.

• Remember: Assessments for learning might include group work or a practice activity = no score entered. Assessments of learning might include a CFA, project, portfolio, summative, or exit slip = score entered.

• WIN sessions begin this week, so hopefully everyone entered their open or closed sessions in Primetime on Friday. Here are the WIN & Primetime Guidelines.

• Study Hall

• No online programs first week or two (IXL to come)

• Students can work or read

Our 1st Quarter Reading Challenge kicks off this week. For our new teachers, this is a quarterly challenge we offer to all students AND staff. Everyone is welcome to participate. At the end of the quarter, Sonic drinks are delivered to all who complete the challenge--including teachers!

For teachers, you have the option to complete this challenge using adult books that you are reading--showing students that you're a lifelong reader OR you could complete this challenge using books geared towards our middle schoolers--allowing you to stay up to date on the books your students are reading & can then discuss. If you're interested in participating, swing by the library to pick up a copy of the challenge! A copy of the challenge is in The Spartan Scoop.

Here are TESS tracks and assigned observers. We will share more information about classroom observations and TESS requirements sometime this fall.

Would you like to schedule an appointment with an ESL expert?

Danell Lagomarsino is a language specialist with the ESL Department. She is available by appointment to visit with you to discuss your needs.

She can:

- Demonstrate techniques

- Help interpret ELLevation Data [the program we use to view all language learner data].

- Observe particular students and offer insights and tips.

- Offer expertise and guidance that is tailored and targeted to your specific needs.

Contact Information

dlagomarsino@sdale.org

When faced with the inevitable challenges of the job and working on a team, sometimes we might need a moment of "healthy venting," but it should never derail a CTM from getting to important agenda items. Anything beyond the left column above should be saved for a 1:1 conversation with a trusted friend or family member. If a colleague is focused on blaming and complaining, experts say to acknowledge the feelings and redirect the conversation:

"That sounds tough. What solution do you have so far?"

"I want to support you, but I/we need to focus on ___ right now. Maybe we can talk about this again if it doesn't get resolved by (action or time)."

Shout out to our Weekly Warrior, Sarah Granata, who received the sword from Ember Davis!

Speaking of Ember, she took possession of the sword and shield seriously and it made its way to Greece (or at least the Greek Theatre under the INTEGRITY sign). Where else will it go this year?

Kathryn Rodgers 1

Stephanie Phillips 8

Kyra Luper 11

Amber Cole 12

Shawn Campbell 17

Ashley DeLeeuw 18

Kaity Burt 26

Robin McDonald 28

Melody Harris 31

Maria Micozzi 31