Wow! The third week of school was no joke. I hope all of you had a chance to rest and relax. I don't know about you but I definitely was much more tired this week. I hope all of you enjoyed the beautiful weather this weekend! In our house, we celebrated XC, soccer, Homecoming, and apple picking. Let's finish September strong as we sail into Fall.

Thank you to the teachers who met with me this past week. I appreciate your thoughtful and intentional conversations about instruction and building relationships.

Here is the shortened version of the GSD Teacher Effectiveness Framework. Here are the items to do this month. If you are tenured, please use the observation schedule to sign up. Everyone please sign up for an observation at this link.

By the last Friday in September...

• Teacher completes self-assessment
• Teacher completes Student Growth Data module, reviews with administrator
• Teacher completes Individual Development Plan (IDP) collaboratively with administrator

There are changes to 4th and 5th grade evaluations per Scott's email. Please reach out if you are anxious and we will navigate this TOGETHER!

For the 2023/24 school year the following adjustments will be made to the fourth and fifth grade fall Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark testing expectations:

Fall Testing

• Grade 4 - all students whose spring 2023 F and P score was T or below, as well as those students scoring 495 or below on the Fall 2023 i-Ready Reading assessment (see the i-Ready Placement Table key at the bottom of this email)
• Grade 5 - all students whose spring 2023 F and P score was Q or below, as well as those students scoring 541 or below on the Fall 2023 i-Ready Reading assessment (see the i-Ready Placement Table, figure 1 at the bottom of this email)

The data from these assessments should be used when planning your independent reading/intervention/guided reading time (outside of CKLA). Scores will still need to be entered into eduClimber.

Winter Testing, TBD

Spring F and P Testing, TBD

Plan on it looking similar to Fall

CKLA Testing

In addition, the beginning of year CKLA assessment will be given to all students (over 3 days after unit 1, according to the Amplify Teacher Planner).

Evaluation - Student Growth

Decisions relating to Student Growth for evaluations are forthcoming, since the previous F and P data point will no longer be available in these grades.

As a related "awareness" piece of information, Read by Grade Three legislation still requires an "initial" and "comprehensive" assessment in grades K-3, therefore no changes will be made to those grade levels F and P expectations. As always, should you have questions or concerns, please bring those to the attention of your principal directly.

The Crisis Team met last Monday. We are creating a new emergency folder for you to use. It will contain the following:

• Student List

• New Maps

• Directions for Fire

• Directions for Tornado

• Directions for Lock Down

• Sub Check In for Emergency Protocol with Extension

Blue Backpack

Please take your Blue Backpack with you to recess.

Please make sure you have copies of your emergency forms in your backpack.

We understand that the Blue Backpacks have not been updated with new supplies recently. Julie Raymond sent me this checklist of what should be in the blue backpack. Please print this checklist and inventory your backpack if you have not yet this year. Please check expiration dates of glucose tabs.

Fire Drill

Our first fire drill went very well. Everyone was out of the building in approximately 3 minutes 30 seconds. Nice Job! Please let a member of the Crisis Team know if you do not have red and green cards.

Upcoming Drills

Our first Tornado Drill will be this Friday at 10:00.

Our first Lock Down Drill will be Tuesday, October 3 at 10:45.

We had our first ODRs this week. These ODRs did meet the major infraction criteria however please make sure you review the PBIS flowchart to ensure you understand majors and minors. Ask questions if you are unsure!

ODRS are entered into the MiStar system with a few exceptions. All of them are kept and housed in the office.

Remember Expectations, Relationships, Communication!

Thank you to the PBIS team for organizing this.

• Movies will begin at 1:30 pm and students should head back to their rooms by 3:15 pm.
• If students haven't already, they should use the google form to preselect a movie to watch.
• Each teacher will host a movie but we will make adjustments based on the number of students at each movie. Specials teachers will cover preps and support staff will help support.
• Students will be given a ticket on Friday morning and concession snacks in ziplock bags personalized for individual students.

In October, we will begin PBIS Clubs.

Everyone did an amazing job ensuring our students had the best testing experience they could. We definitely learned a lot. I know the test took longer than expected and some teachers are concerned about the results. It will be wonderful to get more information at our PD on Wednesday! For the PD, just make sure that all of your students have tested and we will be learning how to use the data for our instruction and our students learning paths. We will meet in the library from 12:45-3:45.

Here is the padlet from Myrina that has LOTS of information in one place.

Thank you to Dane, Angel, Wendy, and Colleen for assisting with the behavior MTSS meetings.

Thank you to the Crisis Team for meeting on Monday.

Thank you to Kara for her pirate jokes on Pirate Day.

Parent Shout Outs:

Shout Out to Mr. Putek! My daughter is in his class and has come home everyday saying it was the best day at school. For him to create that kind of atmosphere in his classroom the first couple weeks of school is very impressive! Getting these kids excited for school is the best thing a teacher can do for them!! Way to go Mr. Putek!

Staff Shout Outs:

Thank you Julia and Joel for the Oreo fun!

Who would you like to Shout Out? Fill out the form here.

https://forms.gle/GQ4FtXAbx55YZUdN6

Spark Staff Member of the Week: Dane Ziemba

Here were just a few moments of joy-spotting Kara saw in Dane.

• He came up with Donut Club Fridays so we can hang out and chat with staff friends while enjoying a sweet treat.
• He has reached out to teachers to see if they are in need of extra behavior support.
• He has been quick to say something funny and spark a smile.
• He truly wants his coworkers to be happy so he's always reaching out to see how he can help make that happen.

I asked Dane the following questions.

• What brings you joy? Weekends and time with family and friends
• How do you bring joy to others? I try to do small things for people to help them out.
• Who is someone that brings joy to you? My daughter Hazel

  
  

Spark will hang out with Dane for a week. He is going to try to spot joy in others and will pass on Spark next week. Stay tuned!

Spark Student of the Week: Anthony W

Anthony is a safety that helps with buses at the end of the day. He is very responsible and is kind to our youngest pirates. He can always be counted on to do his job.

I asked Anthony the following questions.

• What brings you joy? Playing with my friends
• How do you bring joy to others? I stay positive and be supportive.
• Who is someone that brings joy to you? My sister and my family make me laugh.

Thank you to everyone for being open to collaboration for our website. News articles should be short articles with one picture. Please sign up for one month as a grade, special, or committee. Even better, have a student group write an article! Here is the sign up.

Wahoo!! We have raised $8,546 towards our school goal of $20,000.. Mrs. Revoir and I are trying to figure out a way to reduce the interruption to your classrooms for the fundraiser rewards. We are going to try to disperse them at lunch on Fridays. We will be raising funds from 9/18-10/27. The Fun Run Event will take place on October 19, 2023. Check out the flyers below for more information!

How's your intentional use of technology going?

When thinking of technology ask yourself these questions?

1. How do I learn about new digital tools that support student learning?
2. How do I know if this piece of technology is worth adding to my classroom practice?
3. How do I introduce a new digital learning tool to my class?

Article: https://hthunboxed.org/intentional-integration-technology-choices-for-teachers/

Thanks to Tammy for letting me know about this cool contest! Enter at this link if you are interested in a truck load of books!

There are changes to the lunch schedule this year. In an attempt to improve crowding, behavior, and increase student leadership opportunities, we are mixing the lunch with a lower/upper elementary model. Please check it out.

K grade 11:45-12:10

3rd grade 11:55-12:20

1st grade 12:05-12:30

4th grade 12:15-12:40

2nd grade 12:25-12:50

5th grade 12:35-1:00

A reminder that the Michigan School Code states that recess is 30 minutes. Please let me know whether your recess will be in the morning or right after lunch. If your recess follows your lunch time, this model also ensures that there will be a mix of upper and lower elementary students outside at one time. Remember that active supervision is our priority. Teachers should place themselves around the playground, track, and soccer fields to ensure that students are monitored appropriately.

September 8, 2023

September 18, 2023

I am at RESA on Tuesday all day. I will be out Thursday from 1:30-3:30 for a Principal's Meeting. Dane is covering for me.

September 26: Sarah at RESA 9:00-2:00

September 27th: Half Day-Dismissal 11:55, PD iReady Data Dive 12:45-3:45

September 28th: 1:00-3:30 Principal's Meeting, WatchDOGS Event 6:30-7:30

September 29th: Tornado Drill 10:00, PBIS Party

October 3rd: Lock Down Drill 10:45

October 4th: Picture Day and Count Day

October 5th: Staff Meeting 7:45, Town Hall 2:00

October 19th: Fun Run

October 23rd-24th: No School Autumn Break

October 26th: Trunk or Treat

October 31st: Halloween Parade

November 3rd: Half Day-Dismissal 11:55 Parent Teacher Conferences

November 7th: No School-Professional Development Day

November 9th: Half Day-Dismissal 11:55 Parent Teacher Conferences

November 10th: Veteran's Day, Half Day-Dismissal 11:55 Parent Teacher Conferences

November 20th or 21st: Turkey Trot TBD

November 22nd-24th: Thanksgiving Break

December 2nd: Gibraltar Christmas Parade

December 18th-19th: Santas's Shop

December 19th: Cookies with Santa PM

December 22nd: Last Day before Winter Break