Hey Panda Family,
Positive Covid Student Cases or Exposures: If a parent reaches out to you letting you know their child has tested positive for Covid, or has been exposed outside of school, please email Ms. Gardner and myself so we can reach out to the parents and input the case into the district system.
Lunch in Classrooms: Please have students spread out, eat outside, etc. during lunch time so we can create as much separation between students while their masks are off. No parents are allowed to eat lunch with their child at this time. Thanks!
Lesson Plans: Lessons plans should be on your Canvas page beginning this week. They should be easy to follow and should have these elements: Standards, EQ ("I can" statements), Materials used, Assessment activities (should match standard), and any relevant links. Your lesson plans in Canvas should serve as a blue print for your instruction. If you would like to create more detailed plans for yourself you are more than welcome to, but it is not required.
Canvas Page: Please make sure you publish your Canvas page and make myself, Ms. Gardner, and Ms. Grubbs Observers. Here are the directions you can send to your parents so they can access your Canvas page - Parent Access to Canvas
After school PD on Thursday: We will have our first after school PD session this week, September 2, from 3:30-5:00 in the Media Center. This month, we will review all things MTSS so that we can make sure we are starting the year off right. The presentation will not last the entire time, and there will be time for questions/answers at the end. We will discuss the content of the other monthly sessions of PD with our SIT team, so share any ideas you have with your SIT rep. This month's PD session is for all Homeroom Teachers, all Instructional Assistants, and all EC staff.
PLTs: All PLT meetings will begin this week. We will meet in Ms. Grubbs' office.
Grade Level Meeting Minutes: Please share your grade level meeting minutes with me and Ms. Gardner each month. All grade levels should have at least one meeting per month. Thank you to those grade levels who have already shared their first meeting minutes.
Cumulative Folder Check: Your Google form Cumulative Folder Check was due this past Friday. Thank you to those who have already completed this. If you haven't finished it please work to do so this week. This is important so you have all current information on your students. We will follow-up with those who haven't finished it this week. If you have any questions please see Ms. Grubbs.
Welcome Our Guests: This Wednesday, September 1 we will be hosting the monthly East Area principal meeting. All Kernersville and Walktertown principals will be at PGE for this meeting. We will be meeting in room 126. Please make sure to say hey and give them a big Panda welcome if you see them. Thanks!
PDP conferences: Elkins and Gardner will have a schedule for certified staff to sign up for their PDP conference during PLTs this week.
MClass Ipads (K-3): We are trying to deliver the iPads by Monday morning. You may need to complete the set up of your staff iPad using your full email address and network password. If it prompts you to set a password for locking the iPad use your room number twice. (ex. 206206) Use Public as the wifi option. Let Mrs. Epperley know if you have any questions!
Archive Class Dojo from 2020-2021: Please make sure you archive your Class Dojo class from last school year. If you haven't archived your class your students from last year will show up in multiple homerooms. Here are the directions to archive your class from last year - Archive Class Dojo
Committee Meetings: Committee meetings will begin the first full week of September. Committees meet on Tuesday afternoons. Here is the link to sign up: Committees 2021-2022
Yearbook & Science - As Needed
PBIS & MTAC - 1st Tuesday of each month
SIT - 2nd Tuesday of each month
Staff Meeting - 3rd Tuesday of each month (everyone)
SCC & Wellness - 4th Tuesday of each month
Training Videos (from Nurse Rebecca): I have provided the links to the mandatory PPE and Medication administration PowerPoints that need to be sent out and completed by all staff. There is a google form at the end of each presentation where they can sign off saying they have completed the training. If you have any questions about medication administration please see Nurse Rebecca or Ms. Landreth.
Human Resources Videos (from district): Mandatory training videos to be completed by September 1, 2021.
This required training includes the Active Shooter Training which has to be completed within the first 5 days of teachers returning to work.
All the training will be housed through SafeSchools. This information will be shared with all employees Monday August 16th via email. It will be the responsibility of the employees to complete this training by the deadline. Each employee should be doing the training separately because there is a test at the end of the training and this is how compliance is tracked. HR will monitor compliance and work with Principals, APs and Managers when necessary in order to achieve 100% compliance. Completion information is housed in SafeSchools. HR will pull reports to share with Principals and Managers to ensure we are in compliance.
The three courses are Active Shooter, Safety Data Sheets, and Blood-borne Pathogen.
PTA & Hospitality Sign-Up: Please don't forget to join PTA and Hospitality this school year. They both do so much to support our school and your classroom. Here are the links:
Snacks: If parents want to bring in snacks for the classroom (i.e. birthday cupcakes, etc.) they do not have to be individually wrapped anymore. This was confirmed through district personnel.
Morning Media Checkout: Open Checkout time in the mornings 7:50-8:20 for students who would like to come get books!
Attendance due to Student Quarantine: If asked about attendance for quarantine, please share the following information with parents. The attendance procedures from DPI will be followed for the coding of quarantine students in PowerSchool. The absences will be excused absences.
Tama Lloyd: Ms. Lloyd is our building-base Covid sub. You may book her for any normal absences, but if we have a staff member that has to be out for quarantine please know she will be pulled to sub in that classroom. Reminder - staff members that are vaccinated do not have to quarantine due to exposure.
Technology Updates (from Mr. Younts):
- 🗓️ Master Calendar: Staff, the Piney Grove Master Calendar is your go-to resource for important dates. If you have not done so, you can add the Piney Grove Master Calendar to your Google Calendar by clicking on the link below. If you are signed into Google, you will be asked if you want to "add" the calendar. Once you click on "add this calendar", it will appear on your list of calendars which is located along the left-hand side of your screen in the Calendar app. If you have any questions, please see Timothy for assistance.
- 🍎 Instructional Resource: As you begin diving into your first unit of study in Wonders or your first Math cluster, consider this Digital Dictionary from Slidesmania as a working resource for your students. (The link below will force a copy. Be sure to rename it with your name.) This might be used as a small group activity while you are working with students in reading.
- Below is a link to an article that looks at 10 different ways that technology can be used to build vocabulary:
- https://www.readingrockets.org/article/10-ways-use-technology-build-vocabulary
- 🔗 Link to Digital Dictionary
- 💻 ITF Meeting: I will be out of the building this Friday, September 3, 2021, so that I may attend my monthly ITF meeting .
Items from Previous Weeks
Opening Staff Meeting Presentation: 2021-2022 Opening Staff Meeting
Canvas Page: Please work to make your Canvas page inviting, friendly, and easy to navigate. Your parents will have access to it through their child's account. It should be a one-stop shop with a teacher bio, lesson plans, schedule, supply lists, etc. If it is important and pertains to your class, then your Canvas page should have it!
Asynchronous Work During Quarantines (from district): If students are absent due to inclement weather, long term sickness, or quarantine, teachers should provide playlists or assignments to continue learning through Canvas. Since we are not using concurrent teaching practices this year, playlists and other assignments housed in Canvas would provide asynchronous learning and continued practice during extended absences. If an entire class is quarantined, teachers may want to return to teaching the whole class through Zoom or Teams during the duration of the quarantine. (Note- A device distribution plan may be needed for K-2.)
Playground: We are still waiting on the maintenance department to finish the drainage work on our playground. Please keep students off the playground until we give the "all clear".
No Lunch Visitors: Parents are not allowed to eat lunch with their child in the classroom. We will revisit lunch visitors if/when we begin eating in the cafeteria.
Field Trips: Please submit field trip requests to Ms. Gardner as soon as you have them. Dates are filling up.
PBIS Reminders: Please begin teaching/reviewing PBIS expectations with your students this week. Here is some important PBIS info for you:
- Teach universal "Give me 5"
- Teach universal sign for the bathroom
- All policies and procedures are on our staff Canvas page
- Log into Canvas
- Click PBIS button
- Click the first link (goes to Goggle Drive)
- Click Procedures
- Model for the students your expectations.
- Correct mistakes immediately, then follow with positive reinforcement
Testing Code of Ethics: Please complete the PGES Signature Form for Testing COE training that was completed at the opening staff meeting.
NCEES Evaluation Information (certified staff): On our Canvas page under 21-22 NCEES documents there are resources to guide you.
- Use August 16 as the Orientation date
- Make sure to "MARK COMPLETE"
- Complete the self assessment.
- Click "START NEW"
- You may "SHARE" your self assessment if you want. This is not required.
- Make sure to hit "FINALIZE"
mClass Canvas button: There is a lot of good stuff on our school Canvas page, especially under the mClass button. Please take a look there if you need materials for a training, a quick reminder about a particular assessment, etc. I will be happy to add anything specific you need so let me know what you’d like.
MTSS updates this week: When you have concerns about a student, please let me know. The best thing to do is to stop by and make sure I write the name down. :) However, please make sure you contact the parents to share your concerns before they are contacted by another staff member. This also goes for Speech articulation only referrals. We certainly don’t want to surprise the parents when we call to tell them about any concerns.
Games: Teachers who come to PLT, don’t forget to learn how to play your game and bring it with you to PLT so that you can teach your grade level how to play!
The WS/FCS Teacher Academy is excited to begin pairing our Quality Colleagues for the 2021-2022 school year. This is a great opportunity for teachers that have changed grade levels/subjects, are "singletons" in their school, or just need a little extra support. Beginning this year, teachers can refer themselves to be paired with a Teacher Academy Teacher Leader if they feel they could benefit from the support of another teacher in their same grade level/subject! Space is limited; spots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Click here for more information: Flyer and Teacher Self-Referral Form Note: Beginning Teachers receive support through the Beginning Teacher Support Program. Quality Colleague is not for a beginning teacher.
