Week of 8/26 - 8/30

Hey Panda Family,

Congratulations on making it through Week 1! Thank you to each and every one of you for all your hard work. You are AMAZING! 😊

NC School Report Card: Our School Performance Grade (SPG) is in for the 2018-2019 school year. We stayed at a solid "B" rating with a score of 76. This is a great success, especially as you factor in the new Math standards. I am proud of everyone's hard work that went in to helping us achieve this mark. We are the highest rated school in Kernersville! This includes all elementary, middle, and high schools. That's amazing! We will discuss our SPG in more detail at our next staff meeting, in addition to how we plan to work towards continued growth in this area. The state will post this information for the public in early September, so please refrain from sharing this news until then.

School EVAAS Growth: We "Met" our State EVAAS School Goal with a positive 0.57 Growth Index!

Lesson Plans: Friendly reminder that Lesson Plans should be posted to the PowerSchool Wiki starting next week, September 3. 

Istation Update: the school district has a called meeting on September 9 to discuss the approval of Istation. Mr. Hall (our Instructional Superintendent) said it is merely a political struggle right now. On this date we should get an answer if we are moving forward with Istation as our K-3 assessment tool or looking at other options. Essentially, we are waiting on guidance from the district.

Staff Spotlight: I learned this week that Ms. Berrier is one semester away from finishing her degree! Proud of you!

Ms. Adams also taught me (and Ms. Harman's class) about the weather meter located on the roof and in the library - who knew!

PGE Friday Night Storybook: We are going to start a new Friday Night tradition on our school Facebook Page. I'm super excited about it! Click the link to see more: https://youtu.be/1m4ID4ubhB0

District Videos: Please remember to watch the required videos and sign off (Blood-Borne & Safety Data Sheets).  All homeroom teachers need to also watch the Bus Safety video with their class. Ms. Gardner emailed out the links to all videos. The sign-off papers are located on the wall across from Ms. Gardner's office. Please view and sign-off by 9/13/19. 

Field Trip Calendar: There’s a master field trip calendar list on the closet door across from Gardner’s office. This is for your information when planning trips. Please do not write on the calendar. This will allow grade levels to see what days already have trips so you avoid those dates. 

Yellow Bathroom Sign: When Mr. Jose or district maintenance is working in the student bathrooms, the plastic, yellow work guy blocks off the bathroom. Please remind students they are not allowed to enter and should find another bathroom if this sign is present.

IF Updates

Free PD: If you need some free PD, check out this website.   If you click “PD Calendar” on the left, it will show you what is available. 

Istation Webinar: If you have not watched the Istation webinar, please make plans to do to.  This is the link to the webpage, and then you should scroll down and watch the “Informational Webinar for Educators”.  We are still on hold and cannot start assessing yet.  We hope to get more direction on September 9 on how to proceed. 

High Frequency Words: I have made copies of the updated HFW lists.  They are in the trays in my office that are under the board.  Please feel free to come get some if you need one for a new student or a student who does not have one.  If a student had one in the cumulative folder, then you are welcome to use it.

Math Individual Student Reports: Mrs. Owens has been so kind as to print and sort the Individual Student Report (ISR) for each homeroom teacher.  You can get your current student’s scores from these reports!  Please file these in the cumulative folders with the Reading ISR. These are the same reports that were sent home at Open House. 

Powerteacher Pro: On September 12^th, we are lucky to have Ava Palmer here to help everyone with Powerteacher Pro (the system we use to add information to report cards).  All certified staff will need to meet with her to make sure you are all set for the school year.  Anyone can come to any session, but these blocks are scheduled around your planning time for your convenience.  We will meet in Room 126. Plan to stay for the first 10 minutes while she shares information.  The remainder of the time will be a question & answer session, bring your questions!  You will not need to stay during the Q&A session if you don’t have questions. Here is the schedule she will follow:

7:30-8:00 Open for anyone

8:00-8:30 Open for anyone

8:45-9:15 5^th Grade

9:20-10:05 2^nd Grade

10:10-10:55 4^th Grade

11:00-11:15 break 

11:15-12:00 Kindergarten

12:05-12:50 1^st Grade

12:55-1:40 Specialists  

1:55-2:30 4^th Grade

2:30 4:00 Open for anyone

PLTs: We will begin having PLT next week!  I look forward to meeting with everyone.  PLT is on the same day and time as it was last year.  The only change is that afternoon PLTs will start at 2:00, so you have a moment after dropping your students off at specials.  1^st and 5^th grade will have different schedules this week.  5^th will meet on 9/4 at 8:00 and 1^st will meet on 9/4 at 3:30. 

Missing item: Ms. Finley’s Letterland train is missing!  It was sent to be laminated and hasn’t been spotted since.  If you have seen it, please let either of us know so that it can get back to her.  Thank you for your detective work!

PD Credits: I am happy to report that we have some PD offerings ready for you to register for!  They include: PGE PLT 1^st Quarter 2019-2020, PGE Education Galaxy training August 2019, and PGE Istation Overview.  Please register for these so you can get the credit you deserve!

IST Meetings: We are considering changing the times that IST meets.  Please fill out this form and let us know your preference.  We will try to honor your preferences as much as possible.

Upcoming Dates:

August 30 - Cumulative Folder Spreadsheet completed
September 2 - Labor Day (No School)
September 3 - Lesson Plans should be posted beginning on this date
September 3 - PLTs & Classroom Walk-Throughs begin this week
September 3 - Wear PINK
September 3 - Proctor training @ 11:15 (Ms. Owens reached out to those individuals)
September 3 - BOG 3 training for 3rd grade teachers @ 12:55
September 3 - PBIS & Wellness Committees meet @ 3:30
September 4 - Elkins @ Principals' meeting 8-12
September 4 - Wear ORANGE
September 5 - Wear PURPLE
September 5 - Training with Jerry Yale @ 3:30 (certified staff only)
September 6 - Wear RED, WHITE, & BLUE
September 6 - WS Symphony for 4th & 5th grade @ 10:15
September 9 - PTA meeting @ 6:30
September 10 - BOG 3 test for 3rd grade
September 10 - SIT @ 3:30
September 11 - Gardner @ AP meeting 8-11
September 12 - Powerteacher Pro Training (All teachers)
September 12 - FCAE meeting @ 3:30
September 13 - Mad Science Assembly 1:30 (K-2nd) & 2:10 (3rd-5th)
September 16 - PTA Spirit Night @ Dairi-O from 5-8
September 17 - Elkins @ Principals' meeting 8-12
September 17 - Staff Meeting @ 3:30 (Flex Benefits will present)
September 19 - Gardner @ AP meeting 8-11
September 20 - CogAt training @ 9:20 for 2nd grade
September 20 - PBIS Kickoff assembly @ 2:00
September 24 - SCC & Media Committees meet @ 3:30
September 25 - School Picture Day!
September 25 - ACCESS testing window closes
September 25 - PDPs due for certified staff
September 27 - Flu Shots on campus from 7-9:00am
September 30 - CogAt Window Opens

In the comments section below, please share one NICE thing someone did for you this week. I look forward to reading them! (Mine - THANK YOU to whoever was the notecard fairy and left the Carolina Panthers notecards in my box. That was so nice! I love them!)