Monday Morning Memo 10.26.20

I hope that you all had a restful weekend!  If you saw me Friday you know that I was beat just like many of you.  I have to say that although many of you had a tough day too with no internet, new testing platforms, or a difficult kiddo, so many of you saw that I was struggling and did something to make me laugh, give me a squeeze, or offer a word of encouragement.  That is what makes DCE so great.  We are a family... and although some days will be tougher than others... there is always someone right there next to you that will lend a helping hand.  Especially as we begin to head into the long stretch of the holiday season, please be sure that if you see a friend that is struggling or could use a pick me that you become their person that lifts them up! 

Deliberate Practice Plan:

Your Deliberate Practice Plan is due on October 30.  James and I have posted the video link from Dr. Keegan as well as a PowerPoint that will walk you through the steps of completing your form in our DCE Staff Shared Drive in the Marzano folder.  It is important that you get your DPP form submitted in a timely manner in case we need you to edit it.  Some of you have asked for additional guidance in completing your form so below is some information that may help you!

As you know, this year you will be scored on some elements that will not be demonstrated during your formal observation.  The first question that you respond to on your DPP form will be scored as element #53: Developing a Written Growth and Development Plan. It is important that you look at the Marzano rubric for element #53 as you fill out your form as this is a scored element. 

Below are some examples and a template for filling in your DPP information in your form.

What are the specific measurable goals you have set, action steps you have planned, timelines you have identified, and resources that you need to improve this area? [Element 53]

SMART Goal Format - from X to Y by Z

Example:

I will go from beginning to applying in element 6, Identifying Critical Information, by March of 2021.

Action Steps I have planned and Timelines I have identified

• I will watch the Educational Impact course on my element by November 2020.
• List action step here to be completed by (insert target date)
• List action step here to be completed by (insert target date)
• List action step here to be completed by (insert target date)
• List action step here to be completed by (insert target date)
• List action step here to be completed by (insert target date)
• List action step here to be completed by (insert target date)

Action steps could be things such as completing the Educational Impact Course on your element, having a peer observe you and give you feedback on your element, reading research on your element, etc.  You will want to be specific and have several action steps that will lead to you successfully reaching your goal rubric score for your DPP.  These action steps can include tasks you plan to implement with your students as well.

The next area that you need to fill out asks for the:

Resources that I need to improve this area:

Examples:

• Marzano element documents
• Educational Impact website and login information
• Critical concepts
• Pacing guides
• Test Specifications
• ____________________
• ____________________
• ____________________

The next response in your goal setting sheet will score element #54: Monitoring Progress Relative to the Professional Growth and Development Plan. Here is a copy of the desired effect, teacher evidence, and rubric that goes with element #54.  This is another of your non-observable elements that will be scored this year.

When looking over this rubric be sure to pay attention to the teacher evidences as well as the key terms in the applying range of the rubric.  When we meet to discuss your DPP we will be talking with you about your monitoring of your DPP plan in order to score this element.

Describe your method for monitoring the improvement of your deliberate practice

element? How will you be charting your progress? [Element 54]

Examples: (How will you chart your progress?  How will you know if you have been successful or not?)

• Copies of student Critical Concept scales
• Critical Concept item analysis
• Action step timeline checklist
• Feedback from informal observation
• __________________________________________________
• __________________________________________________
• __________________________________________________

Keep in mind, writing your DPP will take some time.  Your DPP will impact your score of your selected DPP target element as well as elements 53 and 54.  

Please do not hesitate to reach our to James, Marie, or me if you have any questions as you are working!

Student Performance Measure:

The final step of completing your DPP form is selecting your Student Performance Measure.  Keep in mind that your SPM counts as 1/3 of your overall evaluation rating.  Many teachers will likely select the first option, teacher made tests.  James and I have to approve these assessments.  If you are looking for specifics about the design of these assessments please reference the instructional contract which can be found on the CCPS website.  If you select STAR you will need to specify in the comment section if you plan to use STAR scores for reading or for math and whether you will be selecting the proficiency or the growth measure.  If you select the growth measure this will be calculated on the number of your students in your class that "JUMP A BUCKET."  Remember, "jumping a bucket" means that their percentile ranking moves them from one category to the next on our chart.

Work Day and Report Cards

This year the District assigned our Teacher Work Day as Saturday, October 31 for completing your report cards.  You are NOT required to come to school this day; however, we know that many of you like to have time in your classrooms on your work day to get odds and ends completed.  James and I will be opening the building on October 31 from 8:00 am -12:00 pm.  James has also arranged for us to have air conditioning.  Yay!

The report card posting window is officially open.  Scarlett emailed reminders about posting.  Please take a look at her email if you have not already.  Remember, report card grades must be "posted" by 7:20 am on Monday, November 2nd.  

Fire Inspection

We have heard that a few schools have started having their fire inspections.  This likely means that ours is just around the corner.  Our school is in great shape, but there are some areas that many schools get hit on that are important for us to look over as reminders.  One of the big ones is having items on top of your cabinets or shelves too close to the ceiling.  A good rule of thumb is to not place anything on top of cabinets or on your top shelf in your closets to eliminate any possible safety hazard.  You will see on the document that is linked here the actual ceiling height limit as well as other common safety violations that you can check for.

This Week's Schedule

It will be a busy, but great week!  Please let us know if you need anything!

-Keli and James

Monday Morning Memo 10.19.2020

 Happy Mission Possible Monday.  

We all agree that there has been a lot of "things" thrown at us in the last few months.  Keli and I challenged us in August to work hard to focus on our attitudes and effort. It was easy to accomplish that in August when we were preparing for all the things we knew would be a challenge this year.  Can we still have positive attitudes and tremendous effort in October and beyond when those challenges are testing our patience?

It's a new week.  Remember each week is new chance to reach success and do your best.  Take a breath and ask yourself:

            1.  Was I better for children today?

            2.  Did I give everything I had for the people around me?

Let's have a great week.

James & Keli

Phone 10.18.2020

 Good afternoon Cub Families this is Mr. Vernon.  I hope you all are having a good weekend.  I have a few announcements for this coming week.  

We are excited that Mrs. Riddell, DCE Media Specialist, is going to be hosting the fall book fair. It will look a little different, but the goal of getting books into students' hands to encourage a love of reading is the same! Mrs. Riddell sent home flyers this past week with information on shopping dates and times, and it also provides information on an optional eWallet so no money has to be exchanged. Students will be shopping during school hours on their assigned media special day or another scheduled time between Friday, October 23rd- Friday, October 30th. I can't wait to see our cubs' excitement over the book fair. 

Also this week we will be conducting both of our safety drills.  Each month there is a practice of our fire drill procedures, where we will practice evacuating the building.  The second drill is the active assailant drill, where we will practice placing the school in a lockdown.  Practice is important so we are always prepared.  If your child has any questions, please make sure they know these drills this week are only practice.

The last announcement is just making sure all parents know that the Deep Creek Character Parade will be held during Celebrate Literacy Week.  Celebrate Literacy Week will be during the second semester of the school year.  So, make sure as your children are reading over the next few months that you are thinking of great costumes that they can wear to represent their favorite characters. More information will come out about the parade as we get closer to the event.

Thank you all for listening and enjoy the rest of your day.  I am excited to see our Ready, Responsible and Respectful Cubs tomorrow morning.  

Monday Morning Memo 10.11.20

Happy Monday! We hope that you had a restful weekend.  Thank you for continuing to push through the barriers that 2020 has put in front of us.  Last week we were reminded of where we get the strength to keep going.  On Friday, our students that completed their Summer Slide Challenge got to come outside and spend some time with James and me.  It was just a few minutes and there was not a big, expensive inflatable slide waiting for them.  Due to the health restrictions, all we could put together was a socially distanced obstacle course made of cones and hoola hoops and we bought them each a popsicle.  Yet, the kids had a blast and exclaimed that this activity was better than any other summer slide activity we had had in the past.  Our kids are resilient.  Our kids make us smile.  Our kids are what keep us going.  Our day got even better Friday afternoon when we were invited to Ms. Niehaus' class.  Check out what we experienced while we were there in the message below!

Goal Getters:

Data.  It is tough for adults to look at, analyze, and reflect upon.  It sometimes tells us something that we do not want to acknowledge such as our current weight (true for me!), how much money we spend on specific activities, or an area of our instruction that could be improved.  Sometimes it can be so tricky or stressful for us that the thought of using it with students can be very overwhelming.  Research shows that making data and learning visible to our students has a high yield pay off for them.  This is true for us as adults too.  When I really sit down and look at what my current weight is and the goal weight I want to get to and then develop an action plan and a tracking system I am much more likely to be successful in my weight loss journey.  

Several weeks ago Ms. Niehaus sat with her students and developed individualized learning goals with each of them.  On her bulletin board she posted their goals.  She utilized the tracking sheets and communicated the goals and strategies set with the parents of her students.  She set a deadline for when their goals needed to be accomplished and checked in with them frequently to ensure that they were on track.  The target date was Friday.  The kids wanted every Cub in their class to achieve their first goal by this date to be able to celebrate together as a class.  They selected a disco dance party with treats as their celebration.  The kiddos were so excited they could not keep it a secret.  As we did lunch duty one Cub couldn't contain his excitement and shared that his goal was to learn 19 sight words during this time.  Learning these words got him to his goal of 100 total sight words.  He was so proud of this goal and was eager to share with us that he had brought packs of gummies to share with his classmates because he was proud of them too!  

Disco lights, glow bracelets, dancing, and a snack were definitely an amazing treat.  However, the true excitement in the room came when we asked the class why they were having this party.  They pointed to the bulletin board to show us each of their goals and were already excited to tell us what their next goal is and how they plan to smash it.  I walked around the room as the students gathered snacks from the table and peeked at some of the other items that Ms. Niehaus had posted around her room.  The room is filled with data that is being accessed by students on a daily basis.  As I snapped pictures Ms. Niehaus said that the academic results she is experiencing this year were no where near this last year at 5 weeks into school time.  Her students have earned far more AR points, learned many new sight words, and are mastering their numbers.  

There was not any shame in the room.  Students were not embarrassed about where their data showed them to be.  They were not comparing their goals to anyone else's.  Instead, they were proud of how much they grew.  They were proud of how much their peers grew.  The classroom was a family.  It was a community of learners that knew we all have strengths and weaknesses and needed to improve in different ways.  Their hard work was paying off.  They knew where they stood academically and where they needed to get to by when.

We know that many more of you are using data with your students.  Many of you have also dove head first into the new leadership notebook goal setting and tracking pages as well.  We can't wait to get around to your rooms to see these in action!  Thank you for continuing to take risks.  It is tough... but there can be a big pay off for both you and your students!  Don't forget about the data tracking on your grade level data walls too. This is a great place to celebrate our Cubs and their accomplishments.  Below are some pictures that I snapped while in Addison's room.  

This Week:

Health Screenings:

This week we have a few things scheduled.  Monday, Tuesday, and Friday are Health Screenings for students in grades K, 1, and 3.  Screenings will take place in room F-101.  Please be sure that you read the directions on the bottom of the schedule carefully and that you review the list of students than can't be screened that you received in an email from Mr. Capo.

Click here to view the schedule.

Team Meetings:

This week we also have Team Meetings on Tuesday.  This is a meeting for your team to use as you see fit.  The only agenda item that we request that you include is developing a goal for what your team hopes to accomplish the following week during back to back planning.  After this month, team meetings will always follow program planner meetings to give you an opportunity to go over important items.

Child Study:

This week is Child Study. You will be meeting with your grade level teams during your planning periods.  If you are a K-2 teacher this will be a traditional Child Study Meeting.  If you are a K-2 CD teacher please meet with Jen Giesel in the morning to discuss kiddos.  If you are a 3-5 teacher or a 3-5 CD teacher, I will need to meet with you during your planning to go over information about the new APM ClearSight assessment that opens next week.  I apologize for this, but did not want to schedule an additional meeting and this is information you will have to have before testing.

Calendar:

As always, thank you for being you!  We hope you have a great week!

-Keli and James

Monday Morning Memo 10.4.20

The Fridge is Stocked:

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of emotions for all of us.  Who would have thought that we would be starting the month of October in this boat?  But, with all that is going on in the world you have done an amazing job of making what is happening within the walls of our school magical and comforting to our students and to each other.  Things are not easy.  In fact, they are difficult and exhausting.  But you are facing each day with a smile beneath your mask and you are working together to find solutions to the obstacles that continue to pop up.  James and I appreciate you so much.  Although we wish we could show our appreciation in bigger ways, we have stocked the fridge in the staff lounge with goodies.  You will find sodas, waters, Gatorades, candy bars, ice cream sandwiches, yogurts, and more.  Please take a minute to stop by the fridge on Monday and grab yourself a drink and a snack.  We hope you are able to find a quiet moment in your day to breath a bit and enjoy your treat.

Survey Week:

We are in survey week.  Attendance is extremely important during this time period.  Please be sure that you take attendance accurately and on time each morning this week.  Attendance during this time is reported to the State.  

Summer Slide:

The students that completed the Summer Slide challenge will have an opportunity to play with Mr. Vernon and me on October 9.  We have planned some fun activities and a cool treat.  Please see the schedule below for the morning.  This link will also take you to the list of students that have earned this reward.

List of Students: Click Here

Weekly Schedule:

Below is our schedule for the week.  We hope it is an awesome one for you and your students!