SIT Meeting: SIT will meet via Zoom this Tuesday, February 16 @ 3:30. Please be on the lookout for an email from Ms. Pereda with meeting details.
Extended Learning Plan: Please complete this form if you are interested in extended learning after school hours for your students, or for a small group beginning the week of Monday, March 1. You can work up to 2 extra hours per week. All staff are eligible to participate and be paid. Please let us know your availability. I need to know if you are interested in participating by the end of the day on Monday, February 15.
Retention Emails: This past week all K-5 Homeroom teachers received an email regarding retention. If you could please review that email and respond accordingly by the end of the day on Monday, February 15.
Kindergarten Registration Day: This Thursday, February 18 from 10:00 - 7:00 is Kindergarten Registration Day district-wide. We will be allowing families to enter the building as we help them register their child for Kindergarten. All visitors will be screened and required to wear a mask while in the building. If you happen to see a visitor on Thursday please make sure to welcome them to Piney Grove!
Picture Day (from Ms. Willis): Pictures will be in the media center with two photographers on 2/23 & 2/25. Teachers please be near the photographers so they can get the correct name of the students. When we did K/1, the photographers asked the students their names and then found the closest name to what they heard. We had several student's pictures come back with the wrong name or they didn't get a package at all because the payment didn't match a name.
Virtual Assembly March 12, 2021: See the details below for the virtual assembly we will have in March.
Program Date: March 12, 2021
Program Name: Space Station Conservation Livestream Special
Livestream Show Start Times:
1:00 PM (PreK-2)
2:00 PM (3-5)
- 35-minute show presents a virtual lesson in energy efficiency.
- Through an interactive web platform, a live host will introduce entertaining sketches featuring a variety of characters in professionally filmed scenes from our live theatrical productions – and guide classrooms to participate in a discussion on resources and energy conservation:
- Students and teachers will also have access to a Q&A with the host
CARES Team Update (from Ms. Ceglowski):
- Ms. Ceglowski will be able to make visits this week due to the remote learning schedule. Please get in touch with her for any needs you may have.
Timothy's Technology Corner: Here are this week's contents for Timothy's Technology Corner:
Remote Learning Week Schedule: It just so happens that this scheduled week of remote learning comes at an opportune time. We have a painter that is scheduled to begin working on a few rooms in our house. I will be working remotely from home in my kitchen with the pups as my sidekicks. If you need anything, please let me know. We can communicate via email, phone, or Zoom!!! This week, I am I devoting my time to finding more ideas and resources to share with you. In fact, I am taking part in a free virtual Kami Connect Conference on Thursday. The keynote speaker at 8:05 am, PST is Gerry Brooks!!! To participate in this event, register at
https://kamiapp.wufoo.com/forms/wdjl2c301c3vu0/.
Free Phonics Apps (Grades K-2): Another area in which students seem to struggle is phonics. I did a quick Google search for free web-based resources. Here are a few that I thought may be beneficial to K-2 teachers. Please look at them and see if they are something that you could use. Provide me with feedback to let me know what you think. The first three teachers to respond with feedback will be eligible to receive a Gold Star Award (see below for more details).
Teacher Made: As of now, this is a free alternative to Kami. Like Kami, Teacher Made
allows you to turn worksheets/printables, etc. into digital activities. It is my understanding that you can add the external Teacher Made app to Canvas in which you can assign activities and grade them using Speedgrader. Take advantage of this resource while it is still free.
Gold Star Award: On Thursday, I was inspired to start awarding weekly Gold Star Awards to those individuals who respond to my emails, surveys, or share with me a success story regarding the implementation of a resource that I share with the staff. This week, I am presenting four awards. By the end of the year, I hope that everyone will have received the award as I will only be presenting one award per individual.
Without further ado, this week's awards go to:
- Teresa Sweeney for being one of the first teachers to invite me into their classroom as well as implementing 99Math into her math lessons.
- Kellie Sloan for being one of the first teachers to invite me into their classrooms as well as being brave enough to have her students interact with a math activity using the Promethean panel.
- Jessica Medley for sharing her success story with implementing 99Math. I understand that her students had fun even though Mr. Elkins outplayed them.
- Brendan Elkins for taking the time to participate, interact, and be a kid at heart with Ms. Medley's students on 99Math.
Congratulations to these four educators I look forward to recognizing others for their success in the coming weeks!
SEL Spirit Week: Please encourage your students to participate in the SEL Spirit Week this week! This is a super fun way to build classroom community and have a little fun during the remote learning week :)
As January has ended and tax documents have started arriving, it’s a great time to remind you that the WS/FSC Guidance Resources program is here to support you through ComPsych’s important Financial Connect program. You also have a discount on TurboTax. You can access more information about this program www.guidanceresources.com. Username: WSFCSEAP Password: EAP
If you have questions, contact Teresa Brown tabrown@wsfcs.k12.nc.us.
New Social Studies Standards (from district): New Social Studies standards have been voted on and approved by the NC Board of Education. These standards will begin implementation for grades K-8 and World History during the 2021-22 school year. Civics Literacy and Economics and Personal Finance will be implemented at a few schools during the 2021-22 school year and everywhere in 2022-23. The new American History course will also be implemented in 2022-23.
The Social Studies Department will be hosting Teacher Input sessions to get teacher feedback as we begin the development of our new curriculum documents. Sessions will be held on Zoom and teachers should complete the link (http://bit.ly/FebInput2021) to sign up for a session. This is a great opportunity for teachers to express what they would like to see in our new documents. Dates and times are listed below.
Elementary
- 2/15/21: General Elementary @ 4:00
- 2/17/21: 4th and 5th grade @ 4:00
- 2/22/21: 2nd & 3rd @ 3:00
- 2/22/21: K & 1st @ 4:00
Morning Announcements: Here are the links to the Morning Announcements for this week.
Staff Spotlight: From Ms. Medley - I love when students tell me what they remember their former teachers saying! So here is a HUGE Shout Out to Ms. Mabe for teaching her kids about improper fractions in a fun way that they remembered!! Do not put those seven year olds on 2 year old backs!
Reminders from Previous Weeks
Positive/Exposed Covid-19 Students: Some parents are only contacting the teacher when their child has tested positive and/or been exposed to Covid-19. If you have a parent reach out to you in regards to their child testing positive and/or being exposed, please make sure they also let myself or Ms. Gardner know too. They can call, email, or message us on Dojo and we will follow-up. For every exposure and positive case we have to fill out specific information for the district. Thanks so much for your help with this!
Substitutes: Since returning to in-person learning, when you are out of work you will need to enter your absence and request a sub. If you are a TA you have to be out 3 days before getting a sub unless it is Covid related. You can get a sub on the first day of a Covid related absence. Elaine Christopher is our Covid sub so we need to save her for Covid absences. Elaine can do normal sub jobs on Fridays. If you have any questions please touch base with Ms. Willis.
Arts Council: CLICK HERE to make a gift by cash, check or payroll deduction to the Arts Council. The Arts Council supports the wonderful arts programs throughout our district.
Mid-Year Parent/Teacher Virtual Conferences: All teachers are expected to hold 10-15 minute virtual parent/teacher conferences the week of February 15 - 19. Please review each student's progress on iReady diagnostics, report card praises and concerns, other testing results, and overall growth. Please begin scheduling these conferences.
February 17 (Flex Wednesday): During the Remote Learning week, February 17 (Wednesday) will still operate as a normal Flex Wednesday. This would be a good day to schedule some of your parent/teacher conferences.
Posted Daily Schedule: As we begin in-person Classroom Walkthroughs, please make sure the schedule that is posted outside your classroom door is updated and reflects your in-person schedule.
3rd Quarter Specials: Below is the link for 3rd quarter specials. There is a separate specials schedule for February 15-19. This is a Remote Learning Week. We will use the old Remote Learning schedule. (More details to come)
PAW Forms: Don't forget the protocols for using PAW Forms. If a student gets 3 checks in a week you need to have a phone conversation with the parent regarding the child's behavior. If a student accrues 6 behavior checks in a week then it becomes an office referral. You must have a conversation with the parent via phone before it becomes an office referral. We want to give our parents every opportunity to help us correct the problem.
Yearbook Pictures: Please go through your phone and begin sending Ms. True some good pictures of your students for the yearbook. We certainly understand these pictures will look much different this year, but we still want to capture these memories whether they be remote or in-person. You can text her pictures at 336-403-0458.
Lesson Plans: In an effort to not add something else to your plate, we are going to be very flexible with lesson plans for the remainder of this school year. Even as you transition to concurrent teaching (in-person & remote) your Canvas page can serve as your "plans". Ms. Gardner and I will use your Canvas page to locate your standards and "I Can" statements for each week & subject. Remember the key components of Modeled, Guided, Independent, and Assessment as you plan your week. While we may not be checking for formal lesson plans at this time, it is still important that you have your own plans in place to guide your instruction.
School-Wide Packet Pickup: We would like to coordinate a school-wide packet pickup day each week for all grade levels to best help our parents (this way our parents that have kids in multiple grade levels can get all materials in one trip). If you are preparing tangible packets for pickup please have them out and ready by the end of business day on Thursdays. This way parents have Friday and the weekend to pick up any materials needed for the next week. This is effective immediately. Thank you for your help with this!
Shout out to Mrs. Fischer for leaving great plans during her week long absence and making my week in 4th grade a breeze!
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