Week 33

 

Happy Friday Team, 

Welcome to another "well deserved" weekend!  

This weekend is Mother's Day weekend.  My mom used to get me a card every year...not because I was an actual mother, but because she wanted me to be honored for being a school "mom" to my students.  I loved her for that.  It validated my love for my kids and for all I poured into them each and every day.  

Today, whether you are a mother to biological children, or like me, a mother to my school children, I want to honor you for your your time, love, dedication, commitment, and care to your children.  You plant seeds that you may never see bloom...you provide a safe and loving haven for children who may desperately need it...you spend 180 days loving and caring for children that belong to someone else.  For that and so much more, I honor you.  Thank you for all you give, for all you do, for all that you are in the lives of the Laurus students.

I hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day weekend...celebrating your mom and yourself.💕

MSTEP Continues for Make Ups

MSTEP testing continues this week for make up testing.  It officially ends Friday, May 16th.   

I plan to move Make Up testing into the Media Center for the last week of testing.

Specials and Lunch

On Monday, May 12th, Specials will return to their respective classrooms and Middle School lunch will return to the gym.  A GREAT BIG THANK YOU to the Specials teachers for giving up their space for our MSTEP testing!  It was truly appreciated!

Spring NWEA Testing 

NWEA testing is now in effect for ALL STUDENTS in Grades 3-8 beginning Monday, May 12.

This testing has to occur in your classroom.  Please do not ask to send testing students to 

Ms. Trolinger or Mr. Branson.  Students must test with you.

Again, please encourage your students to do their best on these NWEA tests.  These test scores are VERY IMPORTANT to our Charter Authorizer, Bay Mills (who grants our charter to stay open).  They are looking for significant student growth in Math and ELA, so please emphasize the importance of focus, taking their time and putting forth their best effort to your students.

 Birthday Celebrations

Please remember that we have a new procedure this year regarding student birthdays.  We know students love to celebrate their birthdays...and rightly so.  However, we cannot have these celebrations continually disrupting our instruction.  

In order to take the pressure off of you for making the decision, we have instituted Birthday Celebrations on the LAST FRIDAY of every month.  If parents ask, please remind them of this.  Our next Birthday Celebration Friday is May 30th.  We will hold June Birthday Celebrations on the last day of school.

Week 33 Instruction 

 

This week is Week 33 of instruction. Even though you are reviewing/preparing for MSTEP and administering NWEA, it is very important that we maintain our scope and sequence rigorously, and that we are up to date with the weekly Common Assessments.

Common Assessments 

If your grade level is not is Blue for any weekly Common Assessments, I need you to go in and check to see if any of your students are missing that assessment.  If so, it needs to be administered.

ELA

Math

    

Field Trips

Continue to include in weekly newsletters the following information:

If students have been suspended since April 1st, they will not be able to attend the grade level field trips.  This is a school policy.

Bathroom Reminders

Just a few additional reminders:

1.  If students have a history of fighting, please do not let them go with a group into the bathroom during a bathroom break. They need to go by themselves.

2. Please diligently monitor your bathroom breaks.

3. Only allow one student out of the room at a time for an emergency bathroom break.

Attendance Taking and Attendance Grids

Please continue to be up to date with your daily attendance and grid submission. It is your responsibility to make sure that your attendance is submitted for AM/PM each day and that your grids are submitted for every week of the school year..  Please check your folder.

Behaviors

If a student is misbehaving or having issues in the classroom, you need to be the first contact with the parent (Phone Call, Email, SchoolConnect, etc.).  Also, make sure that you are inputting these behaviors in the system.  The ABSS's and Deans cannot move on these continual behaviors if there is no paper trail.

GLTs  

GLTs will resume as normal this week; however, they will only occur on Wednesday due to MSTEP Make Ups.  03s are on an as needed basis...please come to me.

Grading

We have 4 1/2 weeks before Gradebook closes.  Please be diligent about inputting your grades consistently

 

Gradebook Closes

Gradebook will close on WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4th in order to give you time to complete Report Cards.  All missing and incomplete assignments can be accepted for grades up to that date.  However, after that date no missing or incomplete work will be accepted for grading.

Upcoming Events:

Monday, May 12 - Staff Meeting (End Of Year Information) 3:35 pm. VERY IMPORTANT...PLEASE PLAN TO BE THERE.

Friday, May 16 - MSTEP Ends

Tuesday, May 20 - Fire Drill AM; 3rd Grade Field Trip (Powell to Attend); 4th Grade Field Trip (Rowden to attend).  Please see Ms. Davis or Ms. Hardrick for any behavior issues.

Wednesday, May 21 - Career Day; 5th Grade Field Trip (Rowden to Attend)

Thursday, May 22 - 8th Grade Breakfast; 8th Grade Prom 5:00-7:00 pm; 3rd-7th Grade Step Up Day 11:30-1:30

Friday - Monday, May 23 - May 26 - NO SCHOOL Memorial Day Holiday Weekend

Friday, May 30 - May Birthday Celebration Day

Wednesday, June 4 - Gradebook Closes

Monday, June 9 - 8th Grade Graduation

Wednesday, June 10 - Kindergarten Step Up Day

Tuesday, June 12 - Gr. 1-7 FIELD DAY

June 13 - HALF DAY - Last Day of School; Report Cards Home; June Birthday Celebration Day