Week 33: April 25-29

Bullock Brief
Please make sure every second counts as we continue our journey. You are excellent conductors!  Stay focused on GROWTH for ALL using data to drive your instruction. Let Wendy and me know if we can assist in any way. 

• 1 week until the EOY mClass window opens
• 19 days until Q4 assessments (1st-2nd)
• 22 days until the science EOG (5th grade)
• 25 days until the reading EOG (3rd-5th)
• 31 1/2 days until the last day of school (8 weeks)

A week for duty.  

Habit 7 Schedule

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
E	A	B	C	D  Club Day: 9-10am 2nd resource: 8:15-8:55

Upcoming meetings and events for April 25-29, May 2-6, and May 9-13. 
The most up-to-date calendar is located online in Google calendar. 

_________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

Celebrations
We have so much to celebrate.  Check-out these new additions:  Fling, Bradian, Hurdt, 3rd grade living history, Lloyd and Arbor day, Bradian and Battle of the Books, Schlott, Davis and Strickland.  
Stop by Celebration Station.

______________________________________________________

The focus this month: Seek first to understand and then to be understood
________________________________________________

 
Please review the information from last week's blog on inquiry.  

________________________________________________

Committees: Action teams (committees) will meet tomorrow.  Please remember to share your notes so we all can see the great things going on at Bullock.  Please use the provided action team template and review the projects you have planned and their status.  Please do celebrate successes and let us all know.    

Arbor Day:  Arbor Day is April 29th at 1:00pm.  Thank you Ms. Lloyd for your hard work in planning this event.  Thank you also to the entire staff for chipping-in to make this such a special day.  

Gail's retirement:  Gail's last day at Bullock will be this Friday, April 29th.  :( We will have a retirement party celebrating Gail and this new journey in her life at 3:00 on Friday, April 29th in the Depot.  

Ms. Dickens:  Melissa Dickens will be joining us starting on May 2nd as our bookkeeper.  Ms. Dickens has been working closely with Gail over the past few days to learn the ropes.  Please give Melissa a warm Bullock welcome.  

Paper supply is low:  Just a reminder to be conservative.  

Summer Achievement Academy (SAA):  If you applied to the summer achievement program, Ms. Kennedy is working on preparing your contract.  We are still awaiting clarification on the number of TAs we will have in the program.  We have determined the schedule for the program and will be having a meeting to discuss details on May 2nd at 3:30 immediately following our brief staff meeting in regards to creating class rosters on May 2nd. 

Summative reviews and PDPs: The summative and PDP schedule has been shared via email.  Please let me know if you need to change the scheduled time.  Please remember to complete your PDP EOY review prior to our meeting.  I know these processes take your precious time.  Thank you for your investment of time.  

Instructional Assistant Evaluations:  Teachers who have an instructional assistant, please complete the teacher's assistant evaluation form by April 29th, 2016.  Please download the form, complete digitally and email to me.  Please set a meeting to review the evaluation using the scheduling app starting May 9th.  

EVAAS verification:  The teacher verification window is April 23-May 20.  More information to come.  

Silence in car pool:  Please make sure to remain silent while moving through the area where our car riders are waiting for their cars.  It is hard to keep the students quiet if the adults are talking.  Thanks for your help with this matter.  

Absences:  Please remember to notify Gail?Melissa, Wendy and I if you will be out.  We are having a very difficult time getting subs as of late.  We must know who is out to ensure there is adequate coverage for classrooms as the students arrive. 

Sub apologies:  We have had a run of bad luck with subs not picking-up jobs.  It has resulted in needing the "borrow" TAs our regular basis.  I am sorry that has happened on a consistent basis.  We will work to remedy the situation, but in the interim thank you for remaining flexible, positive and supportive or one another.  We so appreciate that.   

Master calendar (draft):  A draft of the master calendar for next year is ready.   The calendar can be accessed here.  Please review and let me know of any conflicts or concerns.  There a couple missing events--spring pictures, CUOC, symphony and field trips-- that we will be adding before we finalize the calendar for the year.  Thank you to the team members that stayed late to proactively prepare for next year.  

PTO...reminder:  Please continue to encourage your students' family and friends to volunteer at the PTO Thrift Shop.  We are over 150 hours.  That means we will receive our PTO money.  WooHoo!  The more we work the more $$ we earn.  

Administrative Professionals week:  Please let of our office staff know how much you appreciate all that they do.  

Visit http://www.meetme.so/StefanieClarke to schedule time to meet with me. 

Should have recently completed (check that it's complete):

• PDP updated by April 18th
• Safe school modules - April 22nd

Due this week:

• TOPs folders due - April 25th
• Committee meetings - April 25th
• EVAAS teacher verification - April 23rd-May 20th
• Clubs - April 29th
• Arbor Day - April 29th
• Gail's retirement party - April 29th

Upcoming due dates:

• mClass EOY window opens - May 2nd - 20th
• Midterm - may 4th
• Last week to check-out books - May 9th-13th

Week 32: April 18-22

Bullock Brief
Please make sure every second counts as we continue our journey. You are excellent conductors!  Stay focused on GROWTH for ALL using data to drive your instruction. Let Wendy and me know if we can assist in any way. 

• 2 weeks until the EOY mClass window opens
• 24 day until Q4 assessments (1st-2nd)
• 27 days until the science EOG (5th grade)
• 30 days until the reading EOG (3rd-5th)
• 36 1/2 days until the last day of school (8 weeks)

B week for duty.  

Habit 7 Schedule

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
E	A	B	C	D  Club Day: 9-10am 2nd resource: 8:15-8:55

Upcoming meetings and events for April 18-22, April 25-29 and May 2-6. 
The most up-to-date calendar is located online in Google calendar. 

_________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Celebrations
New celebrations have been posted.  We have so much to celebrate among our great staff.  
Stop by Celebration Station.

______________________________________________________

The focus this month: Seek first to understand and then to be understood
________________________________________________

 
The "I" in WICOR stands from inquiry.   We have explored the Costa's levels of questionning throughout the year.  Inquiry is the asking and answering of high-level questionning.  Please review your lesson plans for verbs such as the ones listed below on the 2nd and 3rd level (Costa's 2 and 3).  These questions can be used verbally or as writing prompts.  



________________________________________________

Staff Meeting tomorrow: We will have a staff meeting tomorrow starting at 2:45pm.  During the meeting, we will be brainstorming test taking strategies.  Please bring ideas to share with the group to help prepare our students to perform their best on the upcoming end of year tests (K-5).  This should include engaging review strategies and resources. We will also celebrate the teacher and teacher assistant of the year.  It will be a great meeting.   The agenda for the meeting is located here.

Paper supply is low again:  Our paper supply is low again.  We had spend nearly double what we normally spend on paper by January of this year.  We are again running low.  We cannot order more paper. Please be conservative.  

Summer Achievement Academy (SAA):  Thank you to all the staff members who chose to submit an application for camp.  Your help is grealty appreciated.  We will start working on a tentative staffing plan in the next couple of weeks.  More information to come.  

Warren Williams visit:  April 19th in Kindergarten

3rd grade wax museum:  Come check-out the hard work of our third graders at the living museum on April 21st.  The living musuem is such a wonderful learning experience.  There will be a living museum parade on April 21st at 11:00am.  

Summative reviews and PDPs: Wendy and I will be setting-up summative and PDP final reviews in the coming weeks.  This will include teachers and TAs.  Please make sure to update your PDP for the final review.  We will conduct the summative review and PDP at the same time.  

Safe School modules:  The last three safe school modules are due at Bullock on April 22nd.  

EVAAS verification:  The teacher verification window is April 23-May 20.

REMINDER..Master calendar meeting with PTO:  We will be holding a master calendar meeting with PTO on April 19th at 4:00pm.  We need one representative from every grade level at the meeting as well as all folks who would like to have a fundraiser, arrange pictures, hold events, etc.  In order to avoid events being too close together, we need all representatives present.  If you cannot attend, please send someone in your absence.  Once the calendar is set we will avoid revisions or additions so that we have a more balanced workload and spread-out community events.  We also want to avoid overlapping money requests for our parents.  This calendar will include ALL fundraising events for the entire year.  We will also decide on dates for all staff, committee, SIT, Lighthouse, RtI and PLCs.  No complaints about the calendar if your not there. ;)

PTO...reminder:  Please continue to encourage your students' family and friends to volunteer at the PTO Thrift Shop.  Each class that works 10 hours will get a popcorn party.  We need 150 hours to get our PTO check each year.  This is the money the PTO uses to give you money to spend in your classrooms.  It's really important we get that check. 

Visit http://www.meetme.so/StefanieClarke to schedule time to meet with me. 

Should have recently completed (check that it's complete):

• Report cards go home - April 13th
• Read-a-Thon - April 15th

Due this week:

• PDP updated by April 18th
• Summative and final PDP review starting April 18th (individual dates to come)
• Safe school modules - April 22nd

Upcoming due dates:

• TOPs folders due - April 25th
• Committee meetings - April 25th
• EVAAS teacher verification - April 23rd-May 20th
• Arbor Day - April 29th

Week 31: April 11th-15th

Bullock Brief

42 1/2 days!  We've got this.  Growth for all!  

A week for duty.  

Habit 7 Schedule
Complete schedule here. 

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
E	A	B	C	D

Upcoming meetings and events for April 11-15, April 18-22 and April 25-29. 
The most up-to-date calendar is located online in Google calendar. 

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

Celebrations
Please do not skip by this section.  It's too good to miss. Heading to celebration station is a "happy place" where we can celebrate all the great people and things happening at Bullock.  Please do not forget YOU too can post celebrations in this area.

Stop by Celebration Station.

______________________________________________________

The focus this month: Seek first to understand and then to be understood
________________________________________________

 
Last week, we reviewed the "C" in WICOR delving into collaboration.  The "W" is WICOR stands from writing.   Research has shown that writing about reading is a vital component to success.  Learning logs and quick writes are great strategies to infuse writing into your current reading program.  The posted essential question is a great starting point for learning log reflections and quick writes.  
________________________________________________

SIT meeting: Please provide feedback to your SIT rep in preparation for our meeting tomorrow, April 11th.  Please review the SIT minutes for important information in regards to planning and action teams for next year.  

Summer Achievement Academy (SAA):  The summer achievement academy will be held from June 14th-28th.  More information is forthcoming in the near future.  The SAA will be provided for all students in grades 3-5 who do not pass one or more component of the EOG.  If you are interested in working, please let me know ASAP.  We need more people to help more our students.  The invitation to teach is also extended to recent retirees, tutors and teachers who work outside the district.    

Field trip "black-out" dates:  We will not be taking off campus field trips within 20 days of the EOGs.  The last date for an off campus field trip is May 4th.  This decision is based on the need to prioritize preparation for the exams, a need to ensure test administrator back-ups/proctors are on campus if needed, and for billing purposes with our bus garage and central office.  

Bullock Food Drive: Please help encourage our students to contribute to the Bullock food drive.  The letter from Ms. O'Shaughnessy is located here. Thank you for supporting this wonderful cause.  

School-wide Intervention: School-wide intervention will be delayed one day as we work through the final logistics.  We will start the intervention teams on Tuesday, April 12th.  

TOPs folders: TOPS folders are due April 25th.  There will be a box for the folders in the front office. 

NCEES Housekeeping: Please give the NCEES housekeeping spreadsheet a final review. Wendy and I will be setting-up summative and final PDP review meetings starting the week of the 18th.  Please use this week to review and finalize your PDP in preparation for the final meeting.  

Teacher and Teacher Assistant of the Year:  We will announce and celebrate our Teacher and Teacher Assistant of the year on April 18th during our staff meeting.  

Safe School modules:  The last three safe school modules are due at Bullock on April 22nd.  

Lesson plans:  Please remember that lesson plans should be visible on your desk or somewhere in your classroom during informal observations.  Please make sure lesson plans include: review, reteaching and writing.  

Cleanliness:  Please make sure you are working with your student leaders to keep your classroom clean.  If you opt to eat lunch in your room, please make sure your classroom is left in good condition.  The dining hall is certainly available to help reduce the mess in individual rooms.  The condition of our building and classrooms matters.  Please attend to spills and trash as they happen.  Classroom cleanliness presents a wonderful opportunity for our student leaders.  

EVAAS verification:  The teacher verification window is April 23-May 20.

IMPORTANT...Master calendar meeting with PTO:  We will be holding a master calendar meeting with PTO on April 19th at 4:00pm (please note time change).  We need one representative from every grade level at the meeting as well as all folks who would like to have a fundraiser, arrange pictures, hold events, etc.  In order to avoid events being too close together, we need all representatives present.  If you cannot attend, please send someone in your absence.  Once the calendar is set we will avoid revisions or additions so that we have a more balanced workload and spread-out community events.  We also want to avoid overlapping money requests for our parents.  This calendar will include ALL fundraising events for the entire year.  We will also decide on dates for all staff, committee, SIT, Lighthouse, RtI and PLCs.  No complaints about the calendar if your not there. ;)

PTO...reminder:  Please continue to encourage your students' family and friends to volunteer at the PTO Thrift Shop.  Each class that works 10 hours will get a popcorn party.  We need 150 hours to get our PTO check each year.  This is the money the PTO uses to give you money to spend in your classrooms.  It's really important we get that check. 

My schedule this week:  I will be off campus for the annual NCASA conference on April 13th-15th.  Please see Wendy, Megan and the lovely ladies in the office in my absence.  I will be accessible via email or my cell 919-935-7408.  I am seeking coverage of my morning and afternoon duty on Thursday and Friday AM as well as Wednesday, Thursday and Friday afternoon.  Please let me know if you are available to help.  Greeting children is a wonderful way to start and end the day. 

Visit http://www.meetme.so/StefanieClarke to schedule time to meet with me. 

Should have recently completed (check that it's complete):

• NCEES housekeeping - Due April 8
• Grades due - April 6th
• Check water bottle supply - April 8th

Due this week:

• Report cards go home - April 13th
• Read-a-Thon - April 15th

Upcoming due dates:

• PDP updated by April 18th
• Summative and final PDP review starting April 18th (individual dates to come)
• Safe school modules - April 22nd
• TOPs folders due - April 25th

Week 30: April 4th-8th

Bullock Brief

Stay on that train to Charleston!!!
Stay focused on the core belief that ALL our students can and will grow. We have 47 1/2 days until the last day of school.  

B week for duty.  Please notice changes to the duty schedule.  Our start time to the day continues to be 7:30am. If you are going to be out, please secure coverage. It puts everyone in a pinch if your position is not covered in the AM.  Thanks for your help with a smooth, orderly and happy morning arrival process.  

Habit 7 Schedule
Complete schedule here. 

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
E	A	B	C	D

Upcoming meetings and events for April 4-8, April 11-15, and April 18-22. 
The most up-to-date calendar is located online in Google calendar. 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

Celebrations
Please do not skip by this section.  It's too good to miss. Heading to celebration station is a "happy place" where we can celebrate all the great people and things happening at Bullock.  Please do not forget YOU too can post celebrations in this area.

Stop by Celebration Station.

______________________________________________________

The focus this month: Seek first to understand and then to be understood

My oh my, did our leaders shine on Leadership Day!!  Remember that those skills and strategies are real and relevant every single day.  Continue living our mission daily:  loving, learning and leading.  
________________________________________________

 
AVID uses WICOR.  We delved into WICOR at the beginning of the year.  As we enter review time, I wanted to review WICOR again.  The "C" in WICOR stands for Collaboration.  AVID acknowledges that learners learn through meaningful collaboration.  Ms. Gaines, our interventionist, shared some wonderful strategies for think-pair-share before the break.  I wanted to reshare those strategies as you as planning for the next 9 1/2 weeks.
________________________________________________

IMPORTANT...NCEES Housekeeping: Over the break I did some housekeeping on our NCEES system, there are some loose ends to tie-up.  Please carefully check the spreadsheet located here to see you have outstanding items in the NCEES system to complete the observation cycle.  Check column A and E as some items need peer/mentor assistance to complete.  Please complete these odds and ends no later than April 8th. 

Teacher and Teacher Assistant of the Year:  Certified staff members and our teacher assistant's should cast their vote for the teacher and the teacher assistant (respectively) of the year on the form shared on April 1st.  Votes are due Tuesday, April 5th at 3:00pm.  

Reminder...Million minute challenge: It is a requirement to enter your class's minutes read on the Million Minute Challenge spreadsheet.  Please make sure you are updating the spreadsheet weekly.  

IAM password change:  Starting April 4th, employees Service to access Homebase will need to change thei password every 90 days.  The NCEdCloud IAM service has been upgraded to enforce the expiration of employee passwords for improved security.  

Award and graduation schedule:  I have elicited the feedback of our Habit 7 team and grade level chairs in regards to the timing of our awards and graduation events at the end of the year.  All dates have been tentatively placed on the Bullock master calendar.  Please review and provide feedback to the aforementioned folks on the proposed timeline.  Can you believe we are planning for the end of the year?  

Grades due:  Grades are due no later than Wednesday April 6th.  Please turn-in your teacher comment verification no later than the 6th as well.  Please place comments on quarter 3.  

Staff meetings in April:  We will not have a staff meeting on April 4th when we return.  We will have a staff meeting on April 18th where we will acknowledge our new teacher and teacher assistant of the year.  

IMPORTANT...Master calendar meeting with PTO:  We will be holding a master calendar meeting with PTO on April 19th at 5:00pm.  We need one representative from every grade level at the meeting as well as all folks who would like to have a fundraiser, arrange pictures, hold events, etc.  In order to avoid events being too close together, we need all representatives present.  If you cannot attend, please send someone in your absence.  Once the calendar is set we will avoid revisions or additions so that we have a more balanced workload and spread-out community events.  We also want to avoid overlapping money requests for our parents.  This calendar will include ALL fundraising events for the entire year.  We will also decide on dates for all staff, committee, SIT, Lighthouse, RtI and PLCs.  No complaints about the calendar if your not there. ;)

PTO Thrift Shop Nominations:  I need to submit the names for nominees to serve on the PTO Thrift Shop Board.  If you are interested, please let me know via email.  Serving on the board earns us hours at the thrift shop.  Kim Slate has served for several years.  We are so thankful for her service and involvement with the PTO Thrift Shop.  

PTO...reminder:  Please continue to encourage your students' family and friends to volunteer at the PTO Thrift Shop.  Each class that works 10 hours will get a popcorn party.  We need 150 hours to get our PTO check each year.  This is the money the PTO uses to give you money to spend in your classrooms.  It's really important we get that check. 

Behavior reminder:  Please remind students that clubs, specials events, celebrations, etc are contingent on good behavior.  We have a lot of wonderful things to look forward to.  We want our students "putting first things first" as we enter crunch time.  

Water bottle supply:  Please double-check that you have two water bottles per student in your room in storage.  If not, please notify me via email.  Please complete this by April 8th. 

Library check-in:  Please send students to Platform 9 3/4 on the day you have library so that Ms. Davis can work with her volunteers to get the books checked-in before the students arrive for class.  It will save time and make check-out more efficient.  

Kindergarten registration:  Starts April 4th and runs through April 29th.

Sharpen the Saw Event:  April 5th at 6:00pm for VFW Line Dancing.  Dinner will be at Hawkins Grill at 5:00pm.  


Visit http://www.meetme.so/StefanieClarke to schedule time to meet with me. 

Should have recently completed (check that it's complete):

• Relaxation
• Rejuvenation
• Time with friends and family
• Fun!

Due this week:

• NCEES housekeeping - Due April 8
• Teacher and Teacher Assistant of the Year - Due April 5th at 3:00pm
• Grades due - April 6th
• TENTATIVE Leader on Track school-wide celebration - April 8th
• Check water bottle supply - April 8th

Upcoming due dates:

• Report cards go home - April 13th
• Read-a-Thon - April 15th