April 23, 2010

PTO Meeting - The next PTO Carnival planning meeting will be on Tuesday, April 27th, at 5:30 pm in the Inman Primary media center.  It would be nice to have a representative from each grade level present.  I will be in attendance also. 

Spelling Bee - I am designating Mark Haufle & Sue Timmerman to decide when or if we will do a joint Spelling Bee contest like we have done in the past. I think it is a great event but will honor the concern about loss of classroom time if that is the decision made by the teams.  Please let me know by April 27th so I can include that communication in the May newsletter going out next week!!

Parent Technology Workshop - You should have received an appointment email from me regarding our May 4th visitor, Karen Gale, FBI Victim Specialist.  In addition to her online safety presentation to staff, parents, students and community members from 6:00-7:30 in the evening, she will present to students in an assembly at WIS (12:30-1:30) and the MS (2:00-3:00).  Please adjust your schedules to accomodate this needed and engaging presentation!

Spring Assessments - Spring fluency testing will be completed by Mrs. Rea the first week of May. She will be assessing any student who has been below grade level at any point (fall or winter) during the school year.  If teachers would like other students assessed, please talk to Mrs. Rea.  Both teams have set Gates testing for the first week in May.  Discussion needs to take place as when the end of year math assessments would be given.  We can make that part of our May 5th PLC discussion (see below).

May PLC Expected Outcomes & Curriculum Work - We lost 5 early out days this semester so we are tabling our curriculum work until this summer.  Mrs. Sims and I will be creating a schedule and contacting teachers when we set those dates, objectives and expected outcomes.  As for May, we will use the following outline for our three remaining PLC dates. The first date will be a building staff work session.

May 5th PLC
2009-10 Review and 2010-11 Planning

(schedules, programs, behavior plans, etc.)
SPED Teachers with Monica Crouch @ Webster


May 12th PLC
ITBS, Gates and Other Reading Data Review
Reading SMART Goals review and year end summary
Set 2010-11 SMART Goals


May 19th PLC
ITBS, Saxon End-of-Year Assessment, and Other Math Data Review
Math SMART Goals review and year end summary
Set 2010-11 SMART Goals

Transition Day was moved to Thursday, May 27th to keep it during the last week of school (original last day was May 24th!) . The 3rd Grade parent orientation will remain on May 20th.  I will communicate the evening parent meeting schedule with the 4th grade team (next fall's team) as we get closer to the date. 

Quote of the Week

It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which,more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome.
~ William James

Good leaders surround themselves with good people,
who in turn become good leaders.
~Michael Nolan

I read these quotes this morning and it made me think about all the changes each of us will be faced with this coming fall.  The tasks at-hand will be daunting if we take it on individually as independent contractors and separate entities.  The underlying belief of living as and working within Professional Learning Communities is strong collaboration, teacher leadership and open communication.  You have developed as leaders within your teams and the building and I'm confident in your leadership decisions you make - and if I don't, you've been open to ongoing conversation and ideas.  :)  The staff at Washington Intermediate has tackled major changes before and I believe that will collaboration and positive attitudes, we will continue to learn, grow and provide our students and parents with the best educational opportunities possible.