One Year Ago...
As we enter December, you may feel like I do right now; anxious for the business that this season presents. Try to stay present with your students, family, and friends. Enjoy the giggles from Elf on the Shelf. Balance the crazy days at school with your crazy days at home. Understand that sometimes we just have to work really hard at certain times but everything ebbs and flows. Most importantly, remember that everyone is probably feeling the same as you. You are not alone. You are enough.
PBIS
Change in Meeting Date: Due to conferences our PBIS meeting will be November 30th.
PBIS Meeting Dates: 1/18, 2/15, 3/14, 4/11, 5/23
We meet at 8:05 in the Staff Lounge.
Thank you for all of your help on Clubs! The next dates are Thursday, December 14th at 2:20 and Friday, January 12th at 2:20. After this, we will switch clubs again.
PBIS Weekly Focus:
11/27-Hallway Expectations
12/4-Playground Expectations
12/11-Classroom Expectations
12/18-Cafeteria Expectations
Christmas Concert
Thank you to Becky and Jera for preparing our students for the annual Christmas concert. The Christmas Concert is Monday, December 11th at CHS. Kindergarten through 2nd grade students will start at 6:00. Third grade through fifth grade students will start at 7:00. All teachers must attend. Thank you for your support!
Shout Outs
Thank you to Dane for starting the races for the Turkey Trot!
Thank you to Kendra and Alisha for attending the Tech Advisory Committee presentation.
Thank you to Kara for creating a Spirit Week flyer.
Parent Shout Outs:
I would like you give a shout out to Mrs. Bannon. She is patient, kind and loving. "Mrs. Bannon ALWAYS saves the day." ❤
Thank you to Mrs.Bannon for going above and beyond making sure my son has all of the resources and help necessary to be successful in and out of the classroom.
My son, Michael, had Mrs Wheaton last year. Michael is now in the 3rd grade. Michael’s grandfather generally picks my children up from school. However, on November 10, I picked the kids up from school. Mrs. Wheaton was dismissing her class and noticed Michael not walking with his grandpa and asked Michael where his grandpa was before recognizing me. My heart was warmed, and as a parent it makes me so much more comfortable knowing that teachers are watching out for anything out of the ordinary. My schedule doesn’t allow me to pick up my kids during the school week, and I feel very comfortable with the watchful eyes of the staff at Parsons. Just wanted to shout out to Mrs Wheaton that we appreciate her and are thankful for her! -Michael & Hillary Calvird
Staff Shout Outs: Thank you for the new shout outs!
Thanks to our Third Grade Team for always supporting us with our constant questions about this year’s 4th graders. We love you!
Britt (Gurney) has handled many difficult convos with parents and kiddos this year and has done so with so much grace and understanding. You are incredible!
A big thank you to Dane for helping my kiddos with Math while I was out! It meant so much to have that extra help and support when I wasn't feeling well, especially from the math expert!
Who would you like to Shout Out? Fill out the form here.
Orange Frog
Brittany S nominated Hollie for the following reasons.
"It has been amazing watching Hollie grow! She started at Parsons as a student teacher and has been so resilient through multiple team shake ups and adversity from the pandemic. She holds her head up high and always comes to work with a positive attitude. She seeks advice and input from others and has a big heart. She is always checking in on others and offering them a smile in the hallway.
This year it has been great to see her take on more leadership roles as she pursues her masters. She is juggling it all and beautifully! We are so lucky to have her. She is a staple at Parsons!"
I asked Hollie the following questions.
- What brings you joy? Trying new things and challenges, reading, exercising
- How do you bring joy to others? I try to share a positive attitude and different perspectives. I like to help others whenever I can and share a smile!
- Who is someone that brings joy to you? Kyle always makes me laugh and all family, friends, and students :)
Spark Student of the Week: Ryan Chamberlin
Ryan is always asking if he can help. He loves to help Mr. Ed in the lunchroom or with beautifying our school. He has just joined our Peer to Peer program as a mentor for younger students. Keep up the good work Ryan!
- What brings you joy? Seeing people smile and helping people out
- How do you bring joy to others? Preparing by putting a smile on people's face. I use our class quote "If someone doesn't have a smile, give them one of yours."
- Who is someone that brings joy to you? My great grandma because she's 90 years old and still smiling.
Bite Sized PD
Know/Need to Know
Try this new strategy to engage your students and establish prior knowledge and current gaps in learning.
Know/Need-to-know uses a simple T-chart displayed in class (or digitally if preferred) to demonstrate what students know and need to know about a topic. The strategy usually preludes a unit of student or multi-day lesson and is referenced both by teacher and students to drive the learning experience.
As a strategy to increase student voice, choice, and initiative, the teacher should use the K/NTK process in combination with other formative data to drive learning and inform instruction.
As a strategy to increase value for students, the teacher should ensure students can return to the process throughout, observing how lessons and activities addressed various “needs” and contributing new items to either side of the list.
Website News Article
Trusting Readers Book Study
Book meeting 2:
We discussed Chapter 1: All Roads Lead to Independent Reading. We had a great discussion about trust and engagement in the literary classroom. Here were some many takeaways.
- The right anchor chart can provide visuals that support engagement and expectations.
- "Engagement in learning is one of the major contributors to student achievement."
- "Trust plays a key role in this work, as trusting relationships between students and teachers are the foundations of thriving classrooms that intentionally invite engagement in reading."
- Beware of emphasizing time alone when thinking about reading stamina. Instead view stamina as a by product of deep engagement. When this occurs, so does meaning making.
Our next book study date is...
What to expect:
We will meet twice per month for 30 minutes each time
Everyone reads at their own pace, please attempt to keep up
Safe zone: this is where we can ask questions and discuss to deepen our understanding
Practice respect
Be willing to participate
