February 21, 2020

We are BLESSED to have some of the best in the business at GVMS!  We have stressed this over and over again:  GO VISIT YOUR COLLEAGUES ON OUR CAMPUS!  Struggling with classroom management?  Want some out of the box ideas on student engagement?  Not sure what great academic conversations look and sound like?  Want ideas on quick and easy formative assessments to gauge what student "got" during your lesson?  JUST GO VISIT.  One period is ALL it would take and WE definitely have names to give you of people to visit.  Why is this important?  Take a look at THIS EASY ARTICLE about Open Classrooms and just how awesome they are!!

Currently the admin team is doing a book study on the book Your Students, My Students, Our Students
explores the hard truths of current special education practice and outlines five essential disruptions to
the status quo. Authors Lee Ann Jung, Nancy Frey, Douglas Fisher, and Julie Kroener show you:
Establish a school culture that champions equity and inclusion.

• The Solutions 
• 
  

1. Build the belief among school teams that every student has value as an individual and is worthy of time, attention, and membership in
every opportunity schools and society have to offer. 

2. See students with disabilities as general education students. 

3. Do not assign any students to a "track"; deliver instruction to students with
disabilities
in the general education classroom.

4. Ensure every student receives quality core instruction every day.
When students don't respond to instruction, consider changes to the instruction itself. 

5. Provide every student with access to accommodations and modifications when these
are needed. 

6. Supply students who need support with evidence-based interventions that support
the skill and help them achieve meaningful growth. 

To realize authentic and equitable inclusion, we must relentlessly and collectively pursue change.

This book—written not for "special educators" or "general educators" but for all educators—

addresses the challenges, maps out the solutions, and provides tools and inspiration for the work ahead.

Real-life examples of empowerment and success illustrate just what's possible when educators commit

to the belief that every student belongs to all of us and all students deserve learning experiences that

will equip them to live full and rewarding lives.

Grades 3-8: Please start practicing SBAC

It's a good time to start having students explore the CAASPP Practice & Training Tests. This will help prepare

them for the CAASPP summative that they will be taking in just over 8 weeks. CDE has the California

Science Test (CAST) Training Test as well. Please go to www.fsusd.org/assessment and click on the green

button "SBAC Practice & Training Tests" to access the site. Students and teachers can access as a

Guest at school or home. Once you get logged as Guest, you'll need to select a grade. Be sure to select

Grades 5 or 8 if you want to take the California Science Test (CAST). 

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• SUPER DUPER AMAZING shout out to STAFF that made the MAP Growth Celebration happen!  It took the WHOLE VILLAGE!  Those who came to help supervise, to help pass out snacks, to chat with our students, to make connections, to praise their efforts...WE LOVEDDDDDDDDDDDD it!!!!
• SUPER awesome shout out to RYAN and MEGAN for pinch hitting for me last week for No One Eat Alone Day!  I am sad I missed it but am so grateful you helped make the pledge tree happens! ~Christina
• SUPER awesome shout out to TAMIA for holding down the fort while Heather is out! ~KC
• SUPER awesome shout out to CAROL for meeting with me yesterday to disucss end of the year process and what's in store for our History Department! ~Karen
• SUPER awesome shout out to our DEPT CHAIRS for their leadership!
• SUPER awesome shout out to TAMIA for bringing the Sunny D drinks to remind us of Orange Sunshine at the District Office! ~Julie
• SUPER awesome shout out to CHRISTINE, KRISTEN, ELIZABETH and EVERYONE that made the MAP Growth Celebration possible!  Our kids LOVED it! ~Christina G.