Week 27

 

Happy Friday Team..."Celebrate Good Times, Come On"!

You made it...you did it...congratulations!  It is time for you to enjoy a well deserved break!  Thank you so much for all of your hard work these last few weeks.  It has been noticed.  Please relax, rest, rejuvenate, and have some fun and we will return for the last push to summer. 🩷

When we return we will be entering the last 11 weeks of school and testing season!  As you know, this time will go like a whirlwind, and it is very important that set your classroom and students up for success.  

As such, I strongly recommend you go back to the "beginning" as you welcome your students back to class.  Procedures and Routines  are EVERYTHING... If students behaviors do not match your expectations, make sure you have them re-do and repeat until they do, and as often as you need.   

Just remember, on Monday, March 31st, you are setting your classroom and students' behaviors for the remainder of the year.  

Week 27 Instruction

 

When we return we will be in Week 27 for instruction.  Even though we will still be 

MSTEP Mondays

We don't have many Mondays left before your MSTEP testing begins.  Please make sure that you are utilizing this time effectively in preparation for testing.

Common Assessment - Students Not Tested By Assessment

ELA

Math

 

03's and GLTs

GLTs and 03s will be held as scheduled.  

Student At-Risk for Retention List

I am asking that you submit the list of students that you have identified as At Risk for Retention, and that you discussed the possibility with their parent during Parent Teacher Conferences.

I need to send letters to these parents when we return from Spring Break.

 Retention Concerns and IEPS

Please be advised, (1) you may not tell parents to request an IEP, (2) advise parents to request and IEP or testing, or (3) recommend to parents that they request an IEP.  That does not follow the Department of Education process of Child Find.

If you have academic concerns, or if parents have academic concerns, you need to bring the students through the IAT process (Child Find).  This is the appropriate legal process.  Unfortunately, waiting until the end of the year to start this process can impact Administrations ability to retain students for whom you have academic/attendance concerns. 

We have only one more IAT meeting this year.  In order to bring a student through the process, you must complete the paper work and the intervention document.  If you need to do this, I highly recommend you get the paperwork completed and submitted to Dean Schofield as soon as possible. 

Computer Needs 

Please remember that Mr. Kinsey is not available during the day to assist with computer needs or questions.  He is teaching every day.   If you have questions, please reach out to Mr. Orlando.  Please DO NOT send students down to the Media Center.

Upcoming Events

Monday - Friday, March 24 - 28 - SPRING BREAK 🎉

Monday, March 31 - School Resumes; Moral Focus Assembly K-5 8:15 am; Technology                                    Refresh Day; Staff Meeting 3:35 pm

Tuesday - Thursday, April 1-3 - Tutoring Resumes

Monday - Friday, March 31 - April 4 - Vision Testing for all students in Grades 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th

March 31-April 4 - Spring Spirit Week $ 6.00 week/ $ 2.00 day

    - Monday -         Hat Day - Wear a school appropriate hat

    -Tuesday -         Flower Day - Wear clothing with flowers on it

    -Wednesday -    Sunshine Day - Wear yellow 

    -Thursday -        PASTEL DAY - Wear Pastel (Easter) colors

    -Friday -              Detroit Tiger Day - Wear Detroit Tiger Gear

Monday, April 7 - MSTEP Testing Begins (Please refer to the schedule passed out on Monday)

• Tuesday, April 8 - 5th Grade ELA MSTEP
• Thursday, April 10 - 5th Grade Math MSTEP
• Monday, April 14 - 5th Grade Science MSTEP
• Tuesday, April 15 - 8th Grade PSAT
• Thursday, April 17 - 5th Grade Social Studies MSTEP

Monday, April 7 - Committee Meetings 3:35 pm

Thursday, April 10 - Tutoring Ends

Monday, April 7 - Friday, May 16

• Lunch In Classrooms
• Art and Music on a cart - in Classrooms

Friday, April 25 - $ 2.00 Dress Down; Progress Report Day

Friday, April 18-Tuesday, April 22 - Easter Break - NO SCHOOL

Week 26

 

Happy Friday Team!

Whew...what a week!  Between Parent Teacher Conferences, Interim 3 testing, a full moon, and a solar eclipse...it has been a week with kiddos off the chain.  We know that following Spring Break, it is only going to get busier with students trying to push the limits.  Please make sure you don't let behaviors slide...review your expectations and stick to routines.  Believe it or not, it does help.

It's OFFICIAL...Mrs. Scott has accepted the position of 3rd grade teacher!  Congratulations and welcome to our team!

Next week Spring officially arrives...Yay!  I love the seasons we have here in Michigan.  And we only have 5 days before Spring Break. It's getting real!  There is a lot to cover before you get your well deserved Break..so here we go!

 

I hope you are able to take the weekend to rest and rejuvenate. 

Week 26 Instruction

 

This coming week is Week 26 of our Curriculum instruction, as well as, Interim 3 testing for Mrs. Scott's class.  Please make sure your instruction and Common Assessment completion reflects the scope/sequence for the week.  I would really try to have all Common Assessments completed so that there is minimal carry over after Spring Break.

MSTEP Mondays

We don't have many Mondays left before your MSTEP testing begins.  Please make sure that you are utilizing this time effectively in preparation for testing.

Common Assessment - Students Not Tested By Assessment

ELA

Math

2nd Full Lesson Observation

It's that time again...  Next week I need to complete your 2nd Full Lesson Observation.  Since it is Spring, they will be UNANNOUNCED.  That means, I will simply be dropping in anytime throughout the week to observe your instruction, etc.

Please make sure that your lesson plans are completed and uploaded into your grade level folder.  

03's and GLTs

GLTs will be held as scheduled.  03s are drop in.  This is due to my need to complete your 2nd Full Lesson Observation.

Classroom Phone Use

Please remind students of appropriate Phone Etiquette.  When answering the phone, they should "Good Morning/Afternoon...Ms/Mr (Teacher's Name) Classroom..(Student Name) speaking".

We are noticing, when we call classroom students simply saying "Hello".  This is not appropriate phone usage.

 

Student Retention

If, during Parent Teacher Conferences, you discussed the potential of any student being retained, I need you to send me a list of those students names as soon as possible.  I want to be able to follow up with parents and place those possible retentions in the system.

Students in Hallways

I am noticing a number of students being sent out into the hallway as a punishment/consequence.  Please know that this is not an acceptable practice for Laurus Academy as we cannot have students unsupervised.  If you need to have a student removed from your room, please send them to a buddy room with work so that they are supervised.

Emergency Sub Plans/Folder/Binder

Just a heads up...I will be coming around on Monday to check completion and classroom placement of your Emergency Sub Plans.  Please make sure that they are done.  

• 3 Lesson Plans ( enough copies for students)
• Seating Chart
• Attendance Sheets (3)
• Classroom Sheet with Rules and Procedures
• Lunch Procedures
• Dismissal Procedures

DRESS CODE - Students

As we are now entering the 3rd trimester, we are noticing that students are getting lax with following our Dress Code.  You, as the classroom teacher, are the first line of addressing these infractions as you greet your students.  Please communicate with students and parents (via SchoolConnect) our uniform expectations of students, including: No Crocs or Slides, no wearing coats in class, and no hoodies.

Copies/Printing

I am still noticing many students, before/after and during school, making copies.  We need this to stop.  Please plan accordingly so that you can have your copies made prior to your need of them.

Computer Needs 

Please remember that Mr. Kinsey is not available during the day to assist with computer needs or questions.  He is teaching every day.   If you have questions, please reach out to Mr. Orlando.  Please DO NOT send students down to the Media Center.

Upcoming Events

Hearing Testing - Friday, March 14 through Thursday, March 20 for students in grades Kindergarten, 2nd and 4th Grade

Monday - Friday, March 17-21 - Book Fair Week

Tuesday, March 18 - Rogers and Schofield out for Dean Day at Linden Charter Academy

Wednesday, March 19 - Gizmos Reading Night 4:30-5:30 pm. Students must attend with a parent

Friday, March 21 - Dress Down $ 2.00; Progress Report Day

Monday - Friday, March 24 - 28 - SPRING BREAK 🎉

Monday, March 31 - School Resumes

Monday - Friday, March 31 - April 4 - Vision Testing for all students in Grades 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th

Monday, April 7 - MSTEP Testing Begins (Please refer to the schedule passed out on Monday)

Week 25

 

Happy Weekend Team!

Well...we made it through another busy week at Laurus, and now it is time to "Spring Forward" and loose an hour! This is always an adjustment for me as I truly miss my "hour"!  It is an adjustment for the kids too...they will not be getting as much sleep, and it will be a struggle to keep them engaged and focused...so be prepared and have some "tricks up your sleeves".

We are down to the last 3 weeks before the start of MSTEP.  As we discussed last week, it is crunch time.  Below you will see the graphic of our individual grade level MSTEP goals.  Please take a look at it as these numbers are the driver for our Intervention and Small Group Instruction going forward.  

Please take the weekend to rest and rejuvenate.  There is so much sickness and we need you to be healthy.

Finally, I'd like us to give a big welcome to Mrs. Severina Scott! 🎉  She will be taking over the vacant third grade classroom position for the remainder of the school year.  Please welcome her and be a resource for her as she navigates the ins and outs of being a teacher in our wing.

Week 25 Instruction and Interim 3

 

This coming week is Week 25 of our Curriculum instruction, as well as, Interim 3 testing. As we discussed earlier, our priority is to complete our Interim 3 testing.  I would recommend that you take a look the end of week assessments and plan your instruction around students ability to complete those.  

MSTEP Mondays

We have started  MSTEP Mondays.  We will continue to utilizing the State Testing MSTEP books for Reading/Vocabulary, Math, and ELA.  Don't forget to utilize the C&I State Test Prep Documents to pull instructional materials/ideas based on Standard Alignments, as well as the EdCite practice resources.

MSTEP Proficiency Goals

03's and GLTs

GLTs will be held as scheduled.  03s are drop in.  I will be spending time in the classrooms to observe on Tuesday - Thursday. 

Report Cards

They will be passed out during their child's Parent Teacher Conference. If parents do not attend in person conferences, ie. if they do a phone conference, then their child's report card will be sent home on Friday, March 14th.

Parent Teacher Conferences

Parent Teacher Conferences are next week.  You should be scheduling these with parents now.  Please remember to remind the parents to bring their student to the conference as these are Student Lead Conferences. Also, let them know that is when they will receive their child's Report Card.

Conferences should take approximately 15 minutes each.  (Plan to use a timer to be considerate to all parents.)  

This is a time for you to revisit Retention Concerns with parents..this would be around grade, Interim scores, and ATTENDANCE concerns.  Please make sure that you complete and review with parents (make sure they sign...it doesn't mean they agree), the At-Risk of Retention document.  This was attached to the email sent by Mrs. Wheeler.

There is ONE Sign In Sheet this time.  You MUST have parents sign the Sign In Sheet as this is an official document that has to be scanned to NHA.

Also, I need a copy of your PTC schedule by Friday, March 7th.

Students in Hallways

I am noticing a number of students being sent out into the hallway as a punishment/consequence.  Please know that this is not an acceptable practice for Laurus Academy as we cannot have students unsupervised.  If you need to have a student removed from your room, please send them to a buddy room with work so that they are supervised.

Emergency Sub Plans/Folder/Binder

We need emergency sub plans by Monday.  Please submit (3 lessons plans with enough copies for each day) . These plans need to be given to your Dean by Monday morning. 

• 3 Lesson Plans ( enough copies for students)
• Seating Chart
• Attendance Sheets (3)
• Classroom Sheet with Rules and Procedures
• Lunch Procedures
• Dismissal Procedures

Dismissal Expectations

Please remember that all students should be seated during dismissal until their driveline number comes up.  There are way too many students up and moving about classrooms, being in doorways, out in hallways, etc.

Copies/Printing

We are noticing a lot of students being sent to the printers to either pick up copies/printing or to make copies, using your teacher codes.  Please DO NOT continue to do this.  Students should not have your teacher codes, nor should they be sent down to retrieve printing jobs or copies.  These tasks should be done prior to or after school, or during your prep times.

Computer Needs 

Please remember that Mr. Kinsey is not available during the day to assist with computer needs or questions.  He is teaching every day.   If you have questions, please reach out to Mr. Orlando.  Please DO NOT send students down to the Media Center.

Upcoming Events

Monday-Friday, March 10 - 14  - Parent Teacher Conference Week/REPORT CARDS passed out during conferences; NO TUTORING THIS WEEK

Monday - Friday, March 10-14 - 3-8 Grades INTERIM 3 Assessment Week;  K-2 Math Check Point Assessment

Wednesday, March 12 - HALF DAY for Students-DISMISSAL at 11:00 am/Parent Teacher Conferences until 3:00 pm; FREE DRESS FOR STUDENTS - SCHOOL APPROPRIATE

ALL STAFF ARE REQUIRED TO STAY UNTIL 3:00 PM WHETHER YOUR CONFERENCES ARE COMPLETED OR NOT...WHETHER OR NOT YOU CONDUCT CONFERENCES.  EVERYONE HAS TO STAY UNTIL 3:00 PM.

Wednesday, March 12 - HALF DAY - Honor's Assemblies 8:10 am K-2, 9:00 am 3-5, 9:50 am 6-8.

Thursday, March 13 - "313" Dress Down Day - FREE

Friday, March 14 - Cookie Dough Fundraiser Ends

Hearing Testing - Friday, March 14 through Thursday, March 20 for students in grades Kindergarten, 2nd and 4th Grade

Monday - Friday, March 17-21 - Book Fair Week

Tuesday, March 18 - Rogers and Schofield out for Dean Day at Linden Charter Academy

Wednesday, March 19 - Gizmos Reading Night 4:30-5:30 pm. Students must attend with a parent

Friday, March 21 - Dress Down $ 2.00; Progress Report Day

Monday - Friday, March 24 - 28 - SPRING BREAK

Monday, March 31 - School Resumes

Monday, April 7 - MSTEP Testing Begins