This year I decided not to compete in the Michigan 70.3 Ironman. I did train but didn't have enough time to feel fully prepared and I was ok with stepping back. I needed it last year. It brought me to the healthiest version of myself, both mentally and physically. I believe that by putting myself first it led to to new and wonderful opportunities like becoming a Parsons Pirate. A friend recently posted a quote that said "Sometimes what didn't work out for you really worked out for you." Last summer I was interviewing for jobs as a principal in Ann Arbor and NOT getting that job was the greatest gift the universe could ever give me. I love my job!

Ironman's quote is "Anything is Possible." Think of all the possibility that this year holds. All the lives you will change. All the growth you will undergo-for both your students and yourself. Tomorrow I will watch my baby brother compete in Ironman 70.3 Frankfort, MI. If you ever get a chance to watch one, I highly encourage it. It's so inspiring. Here's to all the possibility that awaits this year!

Here is the shortened version of the GSD Teacher Effectiveness Framework. Here are the items to do this month. If you have an IDP please reach out with a time to meet next week. 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.

Wow! I witnessed some fabulous lessons about expectations and classroom contracts this week. I appreciate all of your patience with students as you build relationships.

Remember to check out the shared PBIS folder. New resources are being added often. Thank you to Hollie and the third grade theme for uploading a new visual for expectations. Check it out under Tier I resources!

Remember Expectations, Relationships, Communication!

The i-Ready window runs from September 11-September 22.

You have been doing an amazing job! I'm happy to see all the teamwork!

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

Here are the recommended testing sessions.

K-Three 20 minute sessions

1-Two 20-30 minute sessions

2-5 Two 40-50 minute sessions

Our September 27th PD is about diving into the i-Ready data.

Thank you to Kristyl, Alisha, and Danni for participating in our allergy training.

Thank you to Dane for covering for me when I was at Cabinet.

Thank you to the donut deliverer in the lounge.

Thank you to Wendy for helping with breakfast each morning.

Staff Shout Outs:

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

https://forms.gle/GQ4FtXAbx55YZUdN6

We want all of you to feel supported as we begin this school year. Some of you have new students who are exhibiting negative behaviors. We don't want you to have to wait until our first MTSS meeting on October 16th. Thanks to the teachers who have signed up. We will meet in the conference room this Wednesday morning.

Spark Staff Member of the Week: Kara Scheetz

Brittany knows you guys might laugh at her for picking her work bestie but Kara definitely deserved it. Here were just a few moments of joy-spotting Brittany saw in Kara.

• Bringing plants to cheer up coworkers
• Giving advice to and a listening ear to those who need it
• Helping people reframe their thinking from negative to positive
• Her morning meeting with her kids

I asked Kara the following questions.

• What brings you joy? Spending time with my family, having fun with my coworkers and friends, and teaching kiddos brings me joy.
• How do you bring joy to others? I like to be a good listener and problem solver for others. I also like to make people laugh.
• Who is someone that brings joy to you? Mr. Scheetz brings me joy because he inspires me to continue to be a better person.

  
  

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

Spark Student of the Week: Toni D

Toni gives everyone a smile and hugs in the hallway.

I asked Toni the following questions.

• What brings you joy? Everything, even school because it is so important
• How do you bring joy to others? I like to make them laugh.
• Who is someone that brings joy to you? Mom, Dad, Sister, Brother

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.

Parsons annual fundraiser, the Fun Run, is coming! 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!

Engagement Strategy-Spider Web
1. Plan the questions

Examples for Reading: What do you notice about the characters struggles? How is the relationship between _ & _ changing? How is the conflict changing and how does that change the story?

2. Set the Stage

Put students in a circle. You can choose to give a time limit or not. Each student is to contribute to the conversation in these three ways:

• Ask a question about a meaning or context
• Make a connection to a fact or concept
• Share a new piece of knowledge/their answer to the question prompt

3. Have the Discussion

Pose the first question and then start the timer. Be mostly silent (unless the conversation stalls - provide provocative question prompts) as you graph the conversation. As students speak, draw lines between who responds to whose idea.The arrows are a part of the feedback they will hear at the end of the conversation and/or part of your own reflection.

4. Reflect (as a class or by yourself)

Use the graph for yourself to reflect on their participation or share the graph with the class to help students reflect on what they contributed to the conversation. In addition, this allows students to reflect on what they got (or could have got) from participating in the conversation.

Supporting feedback, authentic assessment, and deeper level thinking, this creates space to listen to your students, allow them to drive conversation, and show them that their thinking with each other matters.

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!

The Crisis Team will be meeting on Monday at 4:00 pm. I have new red folders for school maps, drill information, sub info, and safety plans that are coming.

Please check out this Safety Plan for arrival and dismissal stations. This is a working document that will be changed as needed.

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 19th: Talk Like a Pirate Day-Dress Like a Pirate or with Parsons Pride

September 14th: Staff Meeting 7:45

September 21: Fire Drill 9:30

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

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

September 28th: 1:00-3:30 Principal's Meeting

September 29th: Tornado Drill 10:00

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