November 20th, 2015

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

In the spirit of giving, GVMS is able to adopt two families in need for the holiday season.  Please click THIS LINK to sign up to help this family for the holidays.  There are 4 children listed so our GVMS Staff should be able to help!  All gifts need to be in my office when we return on Monday, November 30th so that I can deliver to the DO! Thank you for your generosity!!

Starting in the Spring semester, all TAs/Leadership/Reading Lab/Study Hall students will receive letter grade instead of Pass/Fail.  PLEASE make sure that you know this as will work to change this for the Spring.  Additionally, we may look at adding Honors titles to some hybrid GATE classes that we have for the Spring semester.  Stay tuned...

Take a look at THIS FANTASTIC ARTICLE for 21 Grab and Go Teaching Tools for your classroom.  It is a GREAT read and easy and most of you are DOING THESE ALREADY!!

I am THRILLED to read THIS ARTICLE to see that we are already using some of these for quick and easy formative assessments!  It makes my heart happy!!  Yes, 

Is your classrooms student centered?   How do you know?  Check out THIS LINK to get ideas, feedback, and great guiding questions to ask yourself as you reflect on YOUR student centered classroom!

Below is an awesome infographic I "stole" from Marie Williams via Twitter: If you hate assessment you might be doing it wrong.  The two questions: "What did you learn from others?" and "What did you contribute to others?”are particularly powerful.  They completely dispel the notion that the teacher is the keeper/holder/guardian of all knowledge, and they reinforce the importance of collaboration as an essential component of learning. 

We have often had the discussion of having students complete meaningful work for student reflection.  Beyond the "check yes or no" if they did something, take a look at THIS ARTICLE for why this is SO important!

Hour of Code is COMING December 7-13 and if you visit THIS LINK to register for Hour of Code, and we get our whole school registered, we can win $10,000 in TECHNOLOGY!!! Let's DO THIS GVMS!!

Have you checked out our Fish Moments?

BE THERE: Thanks to all the eyes and ears with our kids! We need ALL the help we can get!

PLAY: Thanks to Elizabeth for the yummy carrot cake with ALL of the carrots!! Thanks to Dan Peckham and Joe for the breakfast treats!

MAKE THEIR DAY: Made our day to see the AMAZING collaboration that our English Dept did! I know it's hard planning for an all day sub so we appreciate it! Thanks to Sue for reminding me why I am doing what I am doing. Often it gets hard being beat down day after day with negativity from staff and parents, so thank you Sue for making my day!

CHOOSE YOUR ATTITUDE: LET'S STAY POSITIVE PEEPS! SMILE MORE! HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY!!

UPCOMING SCHEDULE FOR BAND ASSEMBLY, DECEMBER 9TH FOR 7TH/8TH

6th grade will attend on DECEMBER 8th DURING 6th period!

Grades 6-8		Morning Assembly Schedule A lunch							Morning Assembly Schedule B Lunch
	Period	Start	End	Inst. Minutes	Passing Minutes	Non-Inst Minutes		Period		Start	End	Inst. Minutes	Passing Minutes	Non Inst Minutes
	1	8:55	9:35	40	0			1		8:55	9:35	40	4
	A	9:39	10:39	60	4			2		9:39	10:39	60	4
	2	10:43	11:43	60	4			Assem		10:43	11:43	60	0
	3	11:47	12:25	38	0			3		11:47	12:25	38	4
	Lunch	12:25	12:55		4	30		4		12:29	1:07	38	0
	4	12:59	1:37	38	4			Lunch		1:07	1:37			30
	5	1:41	2:19	38	4			5		1:41	2:19	38	4
	6	2:23	3:05	42				6		2:23	3:05	42
				320	20							320	20
	Student Daily Instructional Minutes = 320								Student Daily Instructional Minutes = 320

November 13, 2015

HAPPY WORLD KINDNESS DAY!!

TODAY is WORLD KINDNESS DAY!!! Check out THIS LINK for ideas, books, lessons, and more!

Here are our counts for this month so far: We have had a total of 222 Good News Referrals- as of Friday 11/13 in the AM)!  LOVE THE POSITIVE!

We have had referrals so far November (as of Friday, 11/13 in the AM)...We also had 4 full suspensions and 1 potential suspension pending Board decision :( breaks our heart.

Moving forward, Elizabeth will email all teachers that there is an Independent Study coming your way so that we are no longer relying on the student to give you the paperwork. We are hoping this gives more of a head's up that it's coming. We will also include something in next week's blog post about the REQUIRED two week notice. We know emergencies come up, but these are mostly vacations and we need you all to have ample time.

Please take ONE MINUTE to put your nomination HERE for Student of the Month for November for "Trustworthiness". ALL names must be entered by Monday so that post cards can be sent!! Please be sure that they haven't already been nominated by clicking "Control F" and entering their name. It will automatically show you if they have already been chosen! Thank you to Cristina, Katherine, Kimberly, Dan Peckham, Liz, Kevin, Shawna, Prisci, Tamia, Christen, Dustin, Dalal, Dave M, Sandy, Carol, Allison, Sue, Lorraine, Heather, Dave O., Joe, Julie, and Lacey for already taking care of this! Awesome!

Does just checking off that our students REALLY tell you what they know? Nope. Check out THIS ARTICLE to see WHY feedback is so important. How do our students know HOW to improve? How do our students know WHY they are earning the grade that they are earning? If we just check a box, does this REALLY show that they understand the standards and materials? What do you think?

Check out these ideas to engage students within the first 5 minutes of any lesson. Simple, easy and super effective! 

Check out THIS LINK for a Google Contest that our students can enter!

What are your thoughts about grades for TAs? We have LOTS of students who seem to think it is their "right" to be a TA and not a privilege. We are thinking of changing to grades versus pass/fail for the next semester. We are also grade checking at each grading period to ensure that they have the required 2.0.

We LOVED this website for 10 fun formative assessment ideas! From a mock Twitter post, to a summary poem, to a top 10 list, to an add- there is something for ALL LEARNERS!

Hour of Code is COMING December 7-13 and if you visit THIS LINK to register for Hour of Code, and we get our whole school registered, we can win $10,000 in TECHNOLOGY!!! Let's DO THIS GVMS!!

Have you checked out our Fish Moments?

BE THERE: Thanks to SUE for sharing her 95.3 KUIC Teacher of the Month Coffee Break with us! Thanks to Shawna for holding down the interviews ;) Thanks to Pozzesi for the guidance again! Thanks to Mimi and Rosa for ALWAYS being there!

PLAY: Thanks to Karen, Mimi, and Rosa for revamping the faculty room! Dustin- you still make me smile with the socks (and gag a little)!

MAKE THEIR DAY: Vending machines will be delivered this MONDAY for our staff lounge! Fabulous! Thanks to Sarj for covering during lunches and having another activity for kids to do!

CHOOSE YOUR ATTITUDE: Thanks to Carol for creating the Padlet for collaboration and to all of the RESPECTFUL people that shared their thoughts. LET'S STAY POSITIVE PEEPS! SMILE MORE!

Why WE love OUR job!

It’s not everyday you GET to be someone who can positively impact the lives of others. Us? Yes, we GET TO DO THIS EVERYDAY!

• We Get to hug those sullen-faced children
• We Get to "whip" and "nae-nae" with them at lunch and passing period
• We Get to VISIT to classes everyday/every week
• We Get to celebrate WINS, Good News Referrals, and Pride Cards
• We Get to help students solve problems
• We Get to see teachers MOTIVATE kiddos AND motivate teachers ourselves!
• We Get to watch children grow, literally in real-time
• We Get to collaborate, problem solve and communicate
• We Get to high five and knuckle pound all day
• We Get to smile and laugh with kids that may not do that at home
• We Get to leave school knowing that tomorrow will be another chance to improve the life of SOMEONE

HAVE YOU??

• Already completed your nomination (double checking that they haven't already been chosen) for Student of the Month?
• Checked out THIS LINK for the SignUp Genius for December 18th Workday/Baby Shower celebration luncheon?
• Sent us a nomination for Rock Star Teacher and why you want them to get this? Super fun!!

November 6, 2015

We are OFFICIALLY in November! Hold on to your hats!

Thank you 6th GRADE for rocking the presentation at our faculty meeting! We appreciate it and we love love love the learning that we get from one another! Here is the link to all that was absorbed at CUE!  Thank you 6th grade!

Here are our counts for this month so far: We have had a total of 154 Good News Referrals- as of Friday 11/6 in the AM)!  LOVE THE POSITIVE!

We have had 16 referrals so far November (as of Friday, 11/6 in the AM)...And apparently we are getting a few more as the day goes on...=(

Please take ONE MINUTE to put your nomination HERE for Student of the Month for November for "Trustworthiness". Please be sure that they haven't already been nominated by clicking "Control F" and entering their name. It will automatically show you if they have already been chosen! Thank you for those that have already done so!!

Check out THIS LINK for a Google Contest that our students can enter!

What are your thoughts about grades for TAs? We have LOTS of students who seem to think it is their "right" to be a TA and not a privilege. We are thinking of changing to grades versus pass/fail for the next semester. We are also grade checking at each grading period to ensure that they have the required 2.0.

We LOVED this website for 10 fun formative assessment ideas! From a mock Twitter post, to a summary poem, to a top 10 list, to an add- there is something for ALL LEARNERS!

Hour of Code is COMING December 7-13 and if you visit THIS LINK to register for Hour of Code, and we get our whole school registered, we can win $10,000 in TECHNOLOGY!!! Let's DO THIS GVMS!!

Want to have more ideas in your toolkit to IGNITE student engagement? Take a look AT THIS ARTICLE for suggestions!

Here, again, is the presentation regarding our Positive Behavior Intervention Supports, step by step guidance on what to do, and more. Please take a moment to review THIS PRESENTATION for your reference!

Did you know that Friday, November 13th is WORLD KINDNESS DAY?!?! Check out THIS LINK for ideas, books, lessons, and more!

Have you checked out our Fish Moments?

BE THERE: Thanks to SIXTH GRADE for their presentation at our faculty meeting! Next month is HISTORY! Thanks to Pozzesi for checking on stuff! for us!

PLAY: Thanks to Sue for the squishy minions!

MAKE THEIR DAY: Thanks for the extra candy Kevin! Thanks to Shawna and Paula for breakfast! Thanks for the extra coffee donations! MUCH appreciated!

CHOOSE YOUR ATTITUDE: LET'S STAY POSITIVE PEEPS! SMILE MORE!

Did you?

• Sent us a name for ROCK STAR nomination? Please send us names so that we can have them get their pin and pick their treat! Congrats to Sue, Heather and Carol for being the first group!
• Enter your selection for Student of the Month for November and Trustworthiness? It takes under 3 minutes!
• Mark your calendar for December 11th after school for Winter Celebration at Rockville Grill and December 18th for Hot Cocoa Bar/Potluck/Baby Shower?