Mr. Elkins' Weekly Wrap

Friday, January 12, 2024

Week of 1/8 - 1/12

Hey Panda Family,

The next couple of weeks (including this one) are filled with lots of MOY data and academic progress points. These numbers and the academic progress are definitely important, but what really matters in the end - and what your students will remember the most - is how we made them feel. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s message focused on love. Love is the most important subject we teach. If we want the best results from our students they must know they are loved. We love y'all and we hope you have a wonderful long weekend 💚🐼

Here are the Weekly Wrap updates for this week:

New Updates

Staff Meeting: Our monthly staff meeting will be on Tuesday, January 16 at 3:30 in the Media Center. Please see the agenda below:

Good News
SEL Professional Development - Todd Rich
Parents Bill of Rights
Fixed Mindset vs. Growth Mindset
Miscellaneous

MCL Email
Panorama Data Summary
Recycling School Initiative
Imprints
Staff Challenge for January/February

Good of the Order

Dojo Attendance Blurb: One of our School Improvement goals for this year is to increase our overall school attendance. One action step towards this goal is to check in with parents via Dojo each day a student in your class is absent. Feel free to use the example message below that SIT created. We hope by having teachers touch base with families when a child is absent it will let them know how much we miss them and also create an opportunity for the parent to let us know why their child is out. Here is the Dojo template below. Feel free to use this one or one of your choice.

We missed ________________ today. Hope to see them tomorrow! Let us know if you need anything. Please make sure you send a handwritten note for today’s absence. Thank you!

District Badge: This is a friendly reminder to all staff to make sure your new WS/FCS badge is clipped to you and visible at all times. Your new badge doubles as a entry key where there is a key pad. Simply hold your badge up to the pad. If you haven't seen Ms. Owens to get your new badge, please make sure you do so as soon as possible.

Field Trip Chaperones (from district): Effective immediately, the district is requiring all field trips to have a 1:10 adult to student ratio. The adults can consist of staff members or qualified chaperone volunteers. Please make sure you follow this guidance for all upcoming field trips.

Shout-outs: From Ms. Rempe - Someone changed my account password and Ms. Lloyd came to my rescue today! Thank You!

Shout out to Ms. Corlett for getting her Donor's Choose project funded!

Shout out to Ms. True - she had her district audit this week and obtained a perfect score! Great work, Ms. True!

Updates from Previous Week

PDP Mid-Year Sign Up (Certified Staff Only): All certified staff need to sign up for a time to discuss and sign-off on their mid-year PDP progress. If Elkins completes your observations you will sign up with him, if Gardner completes your observations you will sign up with her. Sign-up sheets are outside both of our offices. Please make sure you have completed your mid-year progress in NCEES before we meet. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Mclass/DIBELS Invalidations: Please email Mrs. Gardner if you need a probe to be invalidated. Include the following information:
Student's name
Which subtest(s) needs invalidation
Reason for invalidation request. Please be specific - include explanation of situation and specific probe name (PSF, NWF, etc.)

Weather Guidelines for WS/FCS and Resources for Recess (from district): The cold weather is officially here! As we navigate outdoor recess this winter, a good rule of thumb is to stay indoors when it is below 33 degrees. When the temperature is above 33, keep an eye on the wind chill. We have a resource document and a local weather station on this site to guide these decisions. Remember our Energizers site & Bitmoji classroom for indoor recess on those colder days.

Vision Screening: Vision Screening will be on Wednesday, January 17, 2024 for PreK, 1st, and 3rd grades only.

Schedule - PreK, 1st, 3rd
Location - Cafeteria

Dental Screening: Dental Screening will be on Tuesday, January 23, 2024 for PreK, Kindergarten, 3rd, and 5th grades only.

Schedule - PreK, K, 3rd, 5th
Location - Stage

MOY & Check-In Dates: Please refer to the list of MOY and NC Check-In dates below. Please mark your calendar.

Mclass/Dibels MOY (K-4): January 10 - February 6

Kindergarten begins on January 10
Grades 1-3 begin January 22

iReady Reading MOY (K-5): Complete the week of January 8-12
iReady Math MOY (K-5): Complete the week of January 16-19
2^nd grade CogAT - January 17, 18, and 19
ELA Check-In (3-5): January 30
Math Check-In (grades 3, 4): February 1
Science Check-In (5th only): February 1
Math Check-In Grade 5: February 22

Updated IEP Notes Document: Please use the link below when you take notes during an IEP meeting. It will force you to make a copy of the notes form.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/19kBf1QhGaXfLUPIFN0cuBpswOmsFl1zO/copy

Panda Family Bingo: Thank you for distributing the Panda Family Bingo cards in the Friday Folders. If you need any additional cards please see Ms. Ceglowski. When a student returns a completed Bingo Card please place it in Ms. Ceglowski's box.

Upcoming Dates:

January 15 - No School for staff or students (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)

January 16 - Complete iReady Math MOY Diagnostic this week

January 16 - Staff Meeting @ 3:30

January 17 - Gardner @ IF meeting

January 17 - Balint @ MTSS meeting

January 17 - Vision screening - grades 1, 3, and PreK

January 17-19 - 2^nd grade COGAT testing

January 23 - Dental Screening PreK, K, 3, and 5

January 23 - SCC & Wellness Committees meet @ 3:30

January 23 - SIT @ 3:30

January 24 - Little Theater program 9:00 K-2 11:15 3-5 (Gym)

January 24 - End of 2nd Quarter

January 25 - PD day (No school for students)

January 26 - RS Day (No school for students)

January 30 - ELA Check-In (Grades 3rd - 5th)

January 30 - PTA Spirit Night @ McDonald's in Walkertown

February 1 - Math Check-In (Grades 3rd & 4th)

February 1 - Science Check-In (5th Grade)

February 2 - Family Bingo Prize Drawing (all cards due today)

February 2 - Mary Starling Concert @ 10:00 (5th Grade only)

Friday, January 5, 2024

Week of January 1 - 5

Hey Panda Family,

Happy New Year! It was so good to see everyone this week refreshed and ready to tackle 2024! As we venture into 2024 don't forget the IMPACT you make each day. If you need a "word" for the new year, make it IMPACT. Make a positive impact each day 😊 Congratulations to all our Core Award nominees and winners. We are so proud of all of you! Have a wonderful weekend!

Here are the Weekly Wrap updates for this week:

New Updates

Core Award Winners: Congratulations to our 2024 Core Award Winners!

Teacher of the Year - Lisa Musten

Certified Instructional Support Personnel of the Year - Lesley Guffey

Classified Employee of the Year - Tama Lloyd

Volunteer of the Year - Doris Murray

HR Mobile: Next Friday, January 12 the district Mobile Human Resources will be here at Piney Grove from 1:00 - 4:00. They will be located in the PLT Conference Room. This is drop in only. If you have any HR-related questions please stop by.

Mclass/DIBELS Invalidations: Please email Mrs. Gardner if you need a probe to be invalidated. Include the following information:

Student's name
Which subtest(s) needs invalidation
Reason for invalidation request. Please be specific - include explanation of situation and specific probe name (PSF, NWF, etc.)

Carol Bolchalk: Ms. Bolchalk has been approved as a substitute. Her number is 336-830-2056.

2024 Forsyth County Teacher Grants: Applications are currently being accepted for the 2024 Forsyth County Teacher Grants, awarded by The Winston-Salem Foundation for professional development to

PK-12th grade educators in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.

Grants in amounts of up to $2,500, are available for teachers, guidance counselors, curriculum coordinators, media coordinators, and other educators in the Winston- Salem/Forsyth County Schools (as well as The Appalachian State Academy at Middle Fork) for various professional growth and enrichment opportunities.

Grants are awarded in support of innovative and results-oriented educational opportunities that enable educators to enhance their impact on students and enrich the subject and/or content being taught in the classroom. These projects should expand the knowledge and skills of both teachers and students. Applicants should submit only one application per deadline.

The deadline for applications is Thursday, February 1, 2024 at 5:00 PM. An advisory committee of professional educators will review applications; applicants will be notified of funding decisions after a two-month review period.

For more information or to apply, visit wsfoundation.org/fctg.

Vision Screening: Vision Screening will be on Wednesday, January 17, 2024 for PreK, 1st, and 3rd grades only.

Schedule - PreK, 1st, 3rd
Location - Cafeteria

Dental Screening: Dental Screening will be on Tuesday, January 23, 2024 for PreK, Kindergarten, 3rd, and 5th grades only.

Schedule - PreK, K, 3rd, 5th
Location - Stage

Shout-outs: Congratulations to Ms. Kayla Vaden on her recent wedding engagement! We are so happy for you and Corey!

Updates from Previous Week

MOY & Check-In Dates: Please refer to the list of MOY and NC Check-In dates below. Please mark your calendar.

Mclass/Dibels MOY (K-4): January 10 - February 6

Kindergarten begins on January 10
Grades 1-3 begin January 22

iReady Reading MOY (K-5): Complete the week of January 8-12
iReady Math MOY (K-5): Complete the week of January 16-19
2^nd grade CogAT - January 17, 18, and 19
ELA Check-In (3-5): January 30
Math Check-In (grades 3, 4): February 1
Science Check-In (5th only): February 1
Math Check-In Grade 5: February 22

WS/FCS Staff Badge (from Ms. Owens): We have received our new ID badges for all staff members who had their picture taken in the fall. These can be used to enter the building in place of a key. You will still need individual room keys for your classrooms. There is an "Acknowledgement of Receipt" form that has to be filled out by each employee before I can give your badge. The forms and badges are in my office so stop by when you get a chance. If you did not have your picture taken, I am working on figuring out how to get you a badge.

Updated IEP Notes Document: Please use the link below when you take notes during an IEP meeting. It will force you to make a copy of the notes form.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/19kBf1QhGaXfLUPIFN0cuBpswOmsFl1zO/copy

iReady Lesson Prizes: Outside of the Media Center is our iReady Lesson Tracker bulletin board. When a grade level hits 2,000 completed lessons in both Reading and Math they will earn their first grade level prize. Please talk this up with your students to motivate them.

Upcoming Dates:

January 8 - Complete iReady Reading MOY Diagnostic this week

January 8 - PTA meeting @ 6:30

January 9 - SIT & PBIS @ 3:30

January 9 - Spirit Night @ Walkertown McDonalds

January 10 - Elkins @ Principal Meeting

January 11 - WF basketball game - 10:30-2:30