Week 32: April 27th-May 1st (6 1/2 weeks of school)

• B week for duty

• Habit of the week: Put first things first

• Upcoming meetings and events for April 27 - May 1 and May 4-8
• School-wide PLCs: Wednesday from 3:00-4:15 in the Platform
• May newsletter: Make sure your submissions are in.  They were due April 23rd.
• mClass EOY window opens: Monday, April 27th (Mrs. Perrell is meeting with grade levels to set the testing schedules/days).
• Arbor day projects due: Tuesday, April 28th
• Habit 7 training: Tuesday, April 28th or Thursday, April 30th.  This session is for all staff members who are new to Bullock or any staff members who would like a refresher on "Sharpening the Saw."
• 3-5 RtI: Tuesday, April 28th
• KEA webinar (kindergarten only): April 28th, 29th and 30th from 3:30-4:30.
• Spring portraits (rescheduled): Tuesday, April 28th
• Leader in Me coaching day (see details below): Wednesday, April 29th
• EVAAS roster verification meeting: April 29th (15 minutes) at the beginning of PLCs. 
• Arbor day winners selected:  Thursday, April 30th
• TOPS folders due (K-2): April 30th
• K field trip: K to Marbles on Friday, May 1st
• Special Olympics: Friday, May 1st
• School lunch lady day: Friday, May 1st
• Book fair: May 4th-8th
• Teacher Appreciation: May 4th-8th (You are going to LOVE it!)
• SIT team meeting: May 4th
• K-2 RtI: May 5th
• KEA webinar (kindergarten only): May 6th and 7th from 3:30-4:30
• Kindergarten instruction meeting: May 7th from 6:00-7:00 in the platform.
• Kindergarten muffins for mom: May 8th
• Beginning with the end in mind
• mClass EOY window: April 27th - May 15th
• Career week: May 11th-15th
• 4th quarter assessments (K-2): May 19th-21st
• EOGs: May 28th-June 3rd

• Farewell tradition:  We would like to start a new farewell tradition at Bullock.  Please meet in the back lobby on May 1st after car riders are gone (3:05pm) for a send-off for Mr. Garrett.  You will be provided with a note card in your mailbox this week to write well wishes or a story/memory about Mr. Garrett's time at Bullock.  Please return the cards to Mrs. Welch by the end of day on Thursday, April 30th.

• EVAAS verification time:  The EVAAS verification window opens for teachers on Monday, April 27th.  EVAAS is located at https://ncdpi.sas.com.  Helpful resources are located at that link as well.  I will review how to verify your roster on Wednesday at the start of PLCs.  You can access a helpful online tutorial at https://evaas.sas.com/videos/NC/RosterVerification/story.html to get a jump start.  

• Leader on TRACK:  Please tell your students that we have some very exciting Leader on TRACK celebrations coming up that they will not want to miss.  In the coming weeks, we will have a bounce house and a dunk tank to dunk their teachers and much more.  Remind students that they should continue to "put first things first" with their academics. We continue to strive to fly the Peace Flag as well.

• Leader in Me coaching day: We will have a Leader in Me coaching day on Wednesday of this week.  Each grade level is scheduled to meet with Dana to ask questions and reflect on the LIM process thus far.  The meetings are brief and we will have a team of substitutes to cover classes throughout the building. The schedule is included below:
• 7:45-8:15 School tour and getting settled for Dana (our coach)
• 8:15-8:45 2nd grade, Ross and Sellers
• 8:45-9:15 5th grade
• 9:15-9:45 Habit 7 Teachers
• 9:45-10:15 K (teachers and assistants)
• 10:15-10:45 1st grade  (teachers and assistants)
• 10:45-11:15 3rd grade
• 11:15-11:45 4th grade
• 11:45-12:15 Lighthouse team lunch
• 12:15-3:00 Lighthouse team debrief
•  EC, ESL, custodial staff, dining hall staff, office ladies, Officer Seagroves and tutors should plug into a session that works the best for their schedule.  I would like for every single staff member of our staff to have a voice in this discussion.

• Arbor Day:  Arbor Day entries are due April 28th.  No late entries will be accepted.  Please give projects to Ms. Dossenbach.  Thank you for allowing time for students to work on their projects and getting students excited about this opportunity.   We will be celebrating Arbor Day at Bullock on May 14th at 1:15pm.

• PTO requests:  Please complete the Google form located at http://goo.gl/czlY9s for items that you would like to see PTO fund next year.  PTO is in the planning process and wants to best serve student needs. They will be selected two "big rocks" for fundraising.  Thanks for your ideas.  

• Built in snow day "time":  Vote if you would like to add 15 minutes on the instructional day from the beginning of the year to avoid needing to add time later.  Submit your vote by Monday end of day at http://goo.gl/zQHAxI.  

• Bright Ideas:  Check out the flyer from Central Electric in the workroom offering $2,000 for creative, hands-on projects.  It sounds like a great offer.  

• Instruction:
• Academic vocabulary:  Effective academic vocab practice requires systematic practice, review and deep processing. I have attached a PDF from Berkely Unified Schools about academic vocabulary (http://goo.gl/9G9Sgt).  It provides clear direction on instructional techniques for teaching academic vocab and super graphic organizers (Learning Focused style!!). This is a must-see resource.  Please see the word lists in the back.  
• Test taking strategies:  The summary of your brainstorm ideas can be found at http://goo.gl/EcX0ZD.  Thanks for the great ideas.  Take time to teach these test taking skills to your students. 

• SIT goals:
• What is your student proficiency in reading?  How are you addressing student needs to meet this goal?  (SIT goal: By June 2015, we will increase our reading proficiency from 53% to 60% based on the 3-5 READY EOG in grades 3-5 and from 65% to 72% based on mClass TRC in grades K-3).
• How many times has your class been a Leader on TRACK?  Are your "high-flyers in RtI or receiving other support from mentors and colleagues?  Have you reflected on your practices and sought advice for troublesome issues?:  (SIT goal:  By June 2015, our discipline referrals will be reduced by 25% from 267 referrals to 200 referrals).

• Don't forget: Nominate colleagues for staff member of the month.  It feels good to be noticed fro your efforts!  Live our mission..share the love. 

Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten.

B. F. Skinner

Week 31: April 20-24 (7 1/2 weeks left of school)

• A week for duty

• Upcoming meetings and events for April 20-24 and April 27 - May 1
• 1st grade field trip: Visiting the zoo on Monday, April 20th (weather permitting)
• AIG meeting:  Monday, April 20th at 3:00pm.
• Lighthouse Team Meeting: Monday, April 20th at 3:00pm at the Platform.
• AdvancED visit: Tuesday, April 21st.  
• K-2 RtI: Tuesday, April 21st
• Habit 6 training: Tuesday, April 21st or Thursday, April 23rd.  This session is for all staff members who are new to Bullock or any staff members who would like a refresher on "Synergizing."
• Admin professionals day: Wednesday, April 22nd.
• Lee County Reading Association: Thursday, April 23rd at the Platform at 4pm.  
• McTeacher Night for 3rd grade: Thursday, April 23rd from 5:00-8:00.
• May newsletter: Submissions due April 23rd
• Jump Rope for Heart: Friday, April 24th.  
• mClass EOY window opens: Monday, April 27th
• Arbor day projects due: Tuesday, April 28th
• Habit 7 training: Tuesday, April 28th or Thursday, April 30th.  This session is for all staff members who are new to Bullock or any staff members who would like a refresher on "Sharpening the Saw."
• 3-5 RtI: Tuesday, April 28th
• Spring portraits (rescheduled): Tuesday, April 28th
• Arbor day winners selected:  Wednesday, April 29th
• K field trip: K to Marbles on Friday, May 1st
• Special Olympics: Friday, May 1st
• School lunch lady day: Friday, May 1st
• Beginning with the end in mind
• mClass EOY window: April 27th - May 15th
• Teacher appreciation/book fair:  May 4th-9th
• Career week: May 11th-15th
• 4th quarter assessments (K-2): May 19th-21st
• EOGs: May 28th-June 3rd

• IMPORTANT AdvancED visit:  The AdvancED observation will take place on Tuesday, April 21st.  I am proud to show these folks teaching and learning at B.T. Bullock.  Thank you for all your hard work.  
• Tutors, TAs, ESL, EC, etc. should continue with business as usual during the visit.
• Please make sure that all bulletin boards are updated by Monday morning.
• Please make sure your classrooms and the common areas of our school are clean and organized so our observers can focus on what matters...learning. 
• Observers will be looking for the following components: 
• Equitable learning environment
• High expectations
• Supportive learning environment
• Active learning environment
• Progress monitoring and feedback environment
• Well-managed learning environment
• Digital learning environment

• Building hours:  The building will be open from 10-3 tomorrow, April 19th.  The building is also unlocked every day at 6:00am and open until 8:00pm.  

• Arbor Day:  Arbor Day submissions are due April 28th.  It is an optional project.  It is a fun opportunity for our students to celebrate nature and exhibit leadership. Please remind your students about this opportunity. You can carve out time to work on the projects if you are able.  Some students will be selected to present their writing during the event.  We will be celebrating Arbor Day at Bullock on May 14th at 1:15pm.

• K-2 TOPS reminder:  TOPS folders are due April 30th for K-2 teachers.  Please see Mrs. Romines, Mrs. Stone, or Mrs. Schlott with questions. 

• Field trip changes:  Please be sure to alert Ms. Baker if you are considering changing the date of scheduled field trip.  

• Instruction:
• Academic vocabulary:  Make sure you are explicitly teaching academic vocabulary.  Use the learning focused graphic organizers to help students acquire new vocabulary.  
• Analyze data: As a grade level team...
• Review your recent quarterly scores, and other formative assessments given in class, to determine standards that are not yet mastered.
• Analyze 'why' students are not mastering a given standard.
• Determine who is the most effective at teaching that standard (based on data).  Have the resident expert share strategies.
• Use data to determine student groups who need support .  
• Structure your time and teaching decisions around those needs.  Use the tutors, each other and other external resources to meet student needs.  
• In summary, pre-test---teach----group (differentiate)---assess---analyze.  
• NC READY: Please make sure that you are using the NC READY books for math (and literacy if you can). 
• Test taking strategies:  The summary of your brainstorm ideas can be found at http://goo.gl/EcX0ZD.  Thanks for the great ideas.  Take time to teach these test taking skills to your students. 

• SIT goals:
• By June 2015, we will increase our reading proficiency from 53% to 60% based on the 3-5 READY EOG in grades 3-5 and from 65% to 72% based on mClass TRC in grades K-3
• By June 2015, our discipline referrals will be reduced by 25% from 267 referrals to 200 referrals.
• By June 2015, we will reduce our teacher turn-over rate from 29% to the state average of 13%.
• By June 2015, we will reduce our bus discipline rate by 20% from 129 referrals to 103 referrals.

• Tech changes:  We are sad to say goodbye to Mr. Garrett starting May 1st.  I hope that you'll give Will a warm Bullock send off.  Ana, who currently works at Broadway, will be joining the Bullock family on May 1st.  

• Retention: Please make sure you are completing the retention paperwork and following all the steps for retention if you would like to consider retaining a child.  Please make me a copy of the paperwork and place it in my mailbox no later than April 22nd if you would like to retain a child.  I will not consider retention for students who have not followed the process.  The retention form is located at http://goo.gl/YNEB60.  

• Don't forget: Nominate colleagues for staff member of the month.

• Seeking first to understand....: I thought this was a neat idea to connect with students.  It's a relevant way to practice writing as well.  Go to http://goo.gl/njC2Jg.

Every child deserves a champion--an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists they become the best they can possibly be.  - Rita Pierson

Week 30: April 13-17 (8 1/2 more weeks of school)

• B week for duty

• Upcoming meetings and events for April 13-17 and April 20-24
• Staff meeting: April 13th at 3:00 at Platform 9 3/4.
• 3-5 RtI meeting: Tuesday, April 14th.
• Science Fair: Tuesday, April 14th and 15th in the Depot.
• Community viewing: Wednesday from 5:30-6:30pm.  
• 4th grade field trip: Shrek at Lee County High on Wednesday, April 15th.
• Habit 5 Training: Tuesday, April 14th or Thursday, April 16th.  This session is for all staff members who are new to Bullock or any staff members who would like a refresher on "Seek first to understand and then to be understood."
• Secretary's day: Wednesday, April 15th.  
• PTO meeting: Thursday, April 16th at 5:00pm in the front conference room.
• Bus driver banquet (bus drivers and admin): Thursday, April 16th at 6:30pm.  
• East Lee Band visit (5th grade only): 1:15 in the Depot on April 17th.  
• 2nd grade field trip: Shrek at Lee County High on Friday, April 17th
• 1st grade field trip: Visiting the zoo on Monday, April 20th.
• AIG meeting:  Monday, April 20th at 3:00pm.
• Lighthouse Team Meeting: Monday, April 20th at 3:00pm at the Platform.
• AdvancED observations: Tuesday, April 21st.  
• Habit 6 Training: Tuesday, April 21st or Thursday, April 23rd.  This session is for all staff members who are new to Bullock or any staff members who would like a refresher on "Synergizing."
• Lee County Reading Association: Thursday, April 23rd at the Platform at 4pm.  
• McTeacher Night for 3rd grade: Thursday, April 23rd from 5:00-8:00.
• Jump Rope for Heart: Friday, April 24th.  

• IMPORTANT AdvancED visit:  The AdvancED observation will take place on Tuesday, April 21st.  
• Please try to be here on that day unless there is a major unexpected emergency.  
• Please make sure that all bulletin boards are updated, complete and feature rigorous student work by Monday, April 20th at 8:00am.  
• K/1 teachers: Please make sure to clean the area outside your classrooms by the playground including taking items to lost and found, straightening rugs, cleaning-up blocks, etc.  Please notify the custodial team if there are broken items that need to be discarded.  Our environment is an important component of our school.
• Wendy and I will continue informal walk-throughs for AdvancED this week.
• Continue to reflect on these questions and reference the materials provided in regards to high-quality instruction.
• Equitable learning environment: How are you providing differentiated learning opportunities for your students?
• High expectations: Where have you incorporated higher-order thinking and rigorous coursework in your instructional day?
• Supportive learning environment: How do you ensure that your learning environment is positive and safe for students to take academic risks? 
• Active learning environment: How will an outside observer be able to see that ALL students in your class are actively engaged?
• Progress monitoring and feedback environment: What process or systems are used to provide ongoing feedback about student learning in all subjects?
• Well-managed learning environment:  What classroom routines are implemented to protect instructional time and set behavioral expectations?
• Digital learning environment: How are you using digital tools to research, solve problems, communicate, collaborate, and create original student work?

• Arbor Day:  We will be celebrating Arbor Day at Bullock on May 14th at 1:15pm. Our city mayor, county commissioners, Dr. Bryan, other district leaders and the Sanford Herald will be here with us that day.  The Arbor Foundation will be donating trees to Bullock again.  Yay!  Students will be receiving the details of the Arbor Day writing competition on Monday, April 13th.  The competition is not mandatory for our students, but it allows our little naturalists choice and voice to be leaders in our school.  Submissions are due April 25th.  

• Paper requests: Please do not interrupt art class for materials and supplies in the closet.  Please see the custodial staff if you need paper or supplies from the art storage area.  Thanks for help with this.  

• K-2 TOPS:  TOPS folders are due April 30th for K-2 teachers.  Please see Mrs. Romines, Mrs. Stone, or Mrs. Schlott with questions.  

• Instructional time reminder:  We have 6 weeks before EOGs and 2 weeks before the EOY for mClass.  Please continue to focus on the "big rock" of academics.  

• NC READY: Please make sure that you are using the NC READY books for math (and literacy if you can). Wendy and I will be checking lesson plans to ensure that this is being used for instruction.  

• Modeling reminder #2: Please remember that we should have quiet hallways.  Please make sure to keep you voice quiet in the halls as well.  Loudly redirecting student behavior in our common areas can be more disruptive than the undesired behavior itself.  

• PM for RtI: Classroom teachers should continue to progress monitor their RtI students.  Mrs. Straub and Mrs. Williams are providing interventions, but can not manage progress monitoring as well.  Also please make sure to clearly communicate what students should be working on during their intervention sessions.  

• Safety reminder: Our county maintenance department has asked that we not use plug-in air fresheners.  :( Air fresheners are still fine to have, but please do not use the plug-in type.  Thank you for your help with this.  It's all about safety.  

The paradigm of change....change starts with you.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.  Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead

Week 29 (9 1/2 more weeks this year): April 6th-10th

• Spring Break high:  I hope that you all are on a Spring Break high as you "sharpened the saw" with your families and friends and celebrated the Easter holiday.  I am certainly excited to see you all again.  

• A week for duty

• Upcoming meetings and events for April 6-10 and April 13-17
• Grade cards due: Monday, April 6th
• Grade cards go home: April 9th
• Jump Rope for Heart kick-off:  April 6th in the Depot from 1:00-1:20 for K-2 and 1:30-1:50 for 3-5.  
• SIT meeting: Monday, April 6th in Platform 9 3/4. 
• K-2 RtI meeting: Tuesday, April 7th.
• Science Fair:  Turn-in projects no later than Wednesday, April 8th
• School-wide PLCs: Wednesday, April 8th. 
• Habit 4 Training: Tuesday, April 7th or Thursday, April 9th.  This session is for all staff members who are new to Bullock or any staff members who would like a refresher on "Think Win-Win." 
• Safety videos due: April 10th (only 2 this time)
• School-wide habit quiz:  Friday, April 10th.  We were at 67% for students in December.  
• Teacher of the Year celebration: April 10th at 3:00pm.  
• Staff meeting: April 13th at 3:00 at Platform 9 3/4.
• 3-5 RtI meeting: Tuesday, April 14th.
• East Lee Band visit (5th grade only): 1:15 in the Depot on April 14th.  
• Habit 5 Training: Tuesday, April 14th or Thursday, April 16th.  This session is for all staff members who are new to Bullock or any staff members who would like a refresher on "Seek first to understand and then to be understood."
• Secretary's day: Wednesday, April 15th.  
• PTO meeting: Thursday, April 16th at 5:00pm in the front conference room.
• Bus driver banquet (bus drivers and admin): Thursday, April 16th at 6:30pm.  

• AdvancED visit:  The AdvancED observation will take place on Tuesday, April 21st.  I know this is going to feel like a lot over the next few weeks.  We will knock their socks off and make Lee County proud.  
• Please remember two things as we embark on this process: (1) you are a phenomenal staff who tirelessly serve children every day....it's time to show off, (2) the practices that we are focusing on are best for kids and we should ALWAYS do what is best for kids.  If it's the right thing to do on April 21st, it's the right thing to do always. 
• Please carefully review the Prezi and observation tool that has been shared with you for further details.  Mrs. Perrell and I will be using that tool for informal walk-throughs the next few weeks to help provide feedback.  
• Observers will be questioning teachers and students about their practices.  Remember to be clear about learning goals and engage students in meaningful reflections about their learning.  
• In order to distill down the information that has been provided, I have created an AdvancED Essential Question for each standard.  Please reflect upon these questions in context of your classroom environment and instruction. These would also be good dicussion points in your PLC meeting.   I will be resending these question each day over the next few days as to not overwhlem.  I wanted to frontload the information as we begin with the end in mind:
• Equitable learning environment: How are you providing differentiated learning opportunities for your students?
• High expectations: Where have you incorporated higher-order thinking and rigorous coursework in your instructional day?
• Supportive learning environment: How do you ensure that your learning environment is positive and safe for students to take academic risks? 
• Active learning environment: How will an outside observer be able to see that ALL students in your class are actively engaged?
• Progress monitoring and feedback environment: What process or systems are used to provide ongoing feedback about student learning in all subjects?
• Well-managed learning environment:  What classroom routines are implemented to protect instructional time and set behavioral expectations?
• Digital learning environment: How are you using digital tools to research, solve problems, communicate, collaborate, and create original student work?

• Teacher of the Year:  We will be announcing our 2015-16 teacher of the year and enjoying some refreshment this Friday at 3:oopm at Platform 9 3/4.  What a wonderful way to end the week!

• Instructional time reminder:  We have 7 weeks before EOGs and 3 weeks before the EOY for mClass.  

• NC READY: Please make sure that you are using the NC READY books for math. Students need to be exposed the rigor of that resource.   

• Staff member of the month:  Don't forget to celebrate your colleagues by submitting nominations for staff member of the month.  
• Parent contact info for CO:  Please remember to enter your parent contact information for Central Office by April 10th.  I know requests such as this spread your schedule thin.  I appreciate your time in completing this request so our county can better communicate with our stakeholders.  
• https://docs.google.com/a/lee.k12.nc.us/forms/d/1UV0ysBbfi2hq_BvLkb8OMij6zBXITy9EmTVQJltl7qY/viewform 

• Discipline:  Teacher and TAs must notify a parent/guardian before submitting a discipline referral. Mrs. Perrell and I will not process referrals if the parent has not been contacted in advance.  Parents want to know details of incidents that we are unable to provide. It is important that we work with our parents to help keep out students on TRACK and avoid surprises.  Thanks for you help with this.  

• Modeling: Please remember that we should have quiet hallways.  Please make sure to keep you voice quiet in the halls as well.  Loudly redirecting student behavior in our common areas can be more distruptive than the undesired behavior itself.  

• Leaders on TRACK:  Please continue to be consistent and excited about the Leaders on TRACK competition. We are seeing a decrease in the overall referrals. That is amazing!  Decreased referrals = Increased instructional time (not to mention your sanity).  That is most certainly a WIN-WIN.  Please do not send individual students to the celebration it should be earned as a class.  Remember that we pull the names of the classes who earned the reward at 3:00pm on Thursday.  If your train is not moved at that time, the class will not be able to participate in the celebration.  

• Safety reminder:  A tornado "watch" means that conditions are favorable for a tornado to form.  Classes in the cabooses should enter the main building during a "watch."  All students should remain in the building and continue normal activity.  A tornado "warning" means that a tornado has been spotted.  All staff and students should move to their designated safe spot inside the and assume "tuck and duck" position.  

Leadership is a choice, not a position. - Stephen Covey