May 5, 2008 – May 9, 2008                                                                Week 35/A
         
“To the world you might be just one person; but to just one person, you might be the world.”
--Author unknown

Yolanda Ellis, Assistant Principal

• Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week!!
• NASA Planning -Monday
• Progress Reports - Wednesday
• Safety Committee – Thursday
• Awards & Certificate Packets are due Friday, May 9, 2008
• Field Trip- 5000 Role Models-Thursday
• Field Trip- 3rd/5th Grade- Friday - Miami Children’s Museum

Take one a day and feel great all week!

Day 1  Your dreams are waiting for you right
          around the corner.
Day 2  There are angels on earth.  You are
          one of them!
Day 3  Hit a roadblock?  Go around it!
Day 4  Trust that life will bring you joy.
Day 5  Recognize your own value: beyond
          measure.
Day 6  You’re going places!
Day 7  Give in to spring fever.  It’s good for
          you!

TIME TO REFLECT

Spend some time during this week of celebration to reflect on the following questions.  Share your thoughts with your colleagues.

What are the essential understandings, the big ideas you want students to take away from your class?  Why are these important and meaningful?  In what ways are they relevant for students now?  How will they be relevant in 5 years?  In 10 years?

Think about some of your experiences in school.  What big ideas have you retained?  What did you learn that remains important and meaningful?

How do the essential understandings you have retained match or mismatch with those you want for your students?  Why is this important?

What personal and professional resources can I call upon when I’m having a bad day?  A great day?

When I look at my students’ work I see… When I look at my students’ work I feel… When I look at my students’ work I wish…

What do I see, what do I think, how do I feel when I am in my classroom?  What do my students see, what do they think, how do they feel when they are in my classroom?  Why is this important to know?

7 TIPS FOR MAINTAINING A POSITIVE ATTITUDE

1. Learn healthy ways to manage your stress.
2. Think of challenges as opportunities to shine.
3. Look for the best in others—and yourself.
4. Eat right and get plenty of rest.
5. Focus on the joys in life and remember to laugh
6. Keep things in perspective.  Do what you can do, and let go of the rest.
7. Take pride in your work and your achievements. 

It is important that the attendance information that is in your electronic grade book matches the information that is in ISIS for which Ms. Turner is responsible for.  To that end, you are asked to confer with her before you make any changes to the system. Checking the attendance bulletin on a daily basis will also help to minimize errors and revisions of the bulletin.  If you notice errors, please fill out the proper form so that we have documentation for any and all audits. Any additional questions or clarifications please see Ms. Turner.

HEALTH CARE

The ratification vote on the Healthcare Re-opener will be held on Wednesday, May 7, 2008.  Any questions or concerns please see Mrs. DuBose or Ms. Isom

This month's featured book, The Alchemist. Dr. Snyder and Ms. Herrera is hosting for this month. The price of the book is $12.00.

• Interim Progress Reports go home Wednesday, May 7, 2008
• All entries in the Electronic Gradebook should be completed by the end of day Monday, May 5, 2008

• The last day for SuccessMaker is Tuesday, May 20, 2008.  Student should continue to work on sites such as:  Reading Plus, FCAT Explorer, Riverdeep, etc. 

MEETINGS WILL HELD ON MONDAYS

*Please be sure to leave detailed lesson plans for the ½ day that you will be mapping the curriculum.  Bring your TE manuals for all subject areas.

SESSION TIMES

AM (9:00am - 12:00pm)

PM (1:00pm - 4:00pm)

May 5 - 5th grade AM / Kdg. - 1st Grade PM

May 12 – 2nd grade AM  / 3rd Grade PM

May 19 - 4th grade AM / 5th Grade PM

The assessment window for DIBELS begins on April 30, 2008.  This is the final assessment for this school year and we are looking forward to high student achievement in all grades, in all areas. During this assessment period, the following tests will be administered:
Kindergarten:  LNF, PSF, and NWF
1st Grade: PSF, NWF, and ORF
2nd Grade: NWF and ORF
The assessment window is fifteen (15) instructional days.  Many of you have specified goals in your Professional Development Plan pertaining to student achievement using this assessment.  Review of these scores will begin immediately after all students are assessed and review of your PDP’s will begin the last week in May.

MEDIA NEWS

• Scholastic Book Fair officially begins Wednesday, May 7th. Remind students to bring in dollars for One for Books Drive. The class with the most dollars collected will win a special prize. Also, teachers are eligible to receive prizes as well. For every twenty books sold, your name is entered in a special drawing to receive a special prize.

• Don’t forget to submit names for May’s Reader’s Tea Party. This is the last Tea Party for the 2007-2008 school year. Let’s end this year with a wonderful party for the month of May.

Book Inventory begins the week of May 11th. Please allow your students to return all books (overdue or current). The library will be closed for book check out during this time. Library check out will resume after book inventoryJ Teachers, if you have any books or videos out, please return them!