Mount Elden Minutes

I cannot believe we are heading into October. We have completed 36 days of school already. Thank you so much for your hard work scheduling parent teacher conferences. We appreciate you being so accommodating and dedicated to making connections with your families.

Report summary from Penny's visit last Friday:

Focus of the Visit

Briefly summarize the visit and the actions engaged in during the visit linked to specific GEARS (i.e., observed

collaborative teams, completed classroom walk-throughs, discussed instruction, reviewed data, discussed data

protocol, etc.).

● The principal and I spent the first part of the morning reviewing progress to date

and catching up on what has been accomplished since my last site visit.

● We conducted classroom walkthroughs to look for learning targets.

● The principal, instructional coach and I met to review the quarter 1 goal, to do

some thinking around next steps for quarter 2 and to answer questions about

Project Momentum.

● I observed the early release time with staff which included time in interdisciplinary

teams, with the bulk of the time spent in CT s. The principal and instructional coach

delivered professional development to staff around unpacking standards, the

FUSD template, gears 1-3, and additional resources. The principal and

instructional coach supported teams who worked in the same space during the

entirety of the session.

Strengths

What progress has been made towards improving student success related to the GEARS? Share evidence/data.

● Classroom walkthroughs provided evidence that teachers are continuing to post

learning targets and using the diamond board strategy shared in an earlier

district professional development as well as interactive notebooks.

● The principal is maximizing the time that they have on Fridays to ensure that

they are building capacity in teachers.they are building capacity in teachers.● She uses written communication to reinforce expectations through a weekly

blog.

Recommendations for Continued Growth

Identify areas for growth linked to the GEARS and provide recommendations for each area identified. What evidence

was considered? (Evidence may be objective, observational or gained through dialogue.)

● Continue classroom walkthroughs and provide feedback to teachers.

● Create the professional development sessions that will be offered on a Friday early

release on common formative assessments and depth of knowledge.

● Review team progress on building units in google with the administrative team to

identify teams that might need additional support.

Principal Commitments

What action(s) related to the GEARS does the principal commit to do over the next couple of weeks (prior to the next

Principal Partner meeting)?

● The principal will analyze quarter 1 walkthrough data including frequency and

trends and share this with the principal partner.

● The principal will complete the quarter 1 reflection and draft the quarter 2 goal

for discussion during an upcoming call.

ParentSquare Instructions

NEW INFORMATION:

Once you have your conferences scheduled, please download the report and send to the following people:

Administration: Tammy, Lawrence, Claudia,

Elective Teacher: David P, Laura A, Maria C, Chuck B, Morgan J, John S, Donald P, Emily G

Counselors/Nurse: , Renee R, Linda M, Lisa B, Becca B,

How to download the report LINK

ParentSquare makes it easy to create appointment sign-ups, allowing families to select a time that works best for them. Please follow the step-by-step instructions linked below to set up your sign-ups:

How to Create Appointment Sign-Ups in ParentSquare

TIP: In your post regarding conference sign ups, you can ask families to notate if they will be attended in-person or virtually when they select a time slot.

Virtual Conference Option: Microsoft Teams

To accommodate families who prefer virtual conferences, you can set up meetings via Microsoft Teams. You can create a Microsoft Teams meeting and share the link with parents through ParentSquare. Here are instructions on how to use Microsoft Teams set up your virtual meetings:

Microsoft Teams Quick Guide

TIP: You can choose to do a single Teams meeting for all of your conferences with a waiting room, and only admit families into the meeting when their time slot begins. Or, you can create a separate meeting for each family that requests a virtual meeting.

Don't forget to submit your plan to Tammy ASAP!

Items you must present: AASA scores, Benchmark testing, attendance, academic behaviors and social/emotional behavior. Conference must be offered to all families either in-person, virtual or phone.

Decide as a team if you are going to do student led or teacher led conferences.

COMPLETE THIS FORM

TO GIVE A STAFF A SHOUT OUT!

From Jenn F: A GIANT thank you to admin, Bain, Artu, and Gurney for the continuous check ins this school year! The love and support is keeping me going down here in the 100 degree heat! Jenny B, I so love reading your messages and words of encouragement!!! Love and gratitude to all of you. Hope to see you all soon!!! (GO BILLS!)

From Lora L: Morgan Coverdale! She is a great team member and I feel like I love collaborating with her!

From Laura A: Thanks to Jenny and Leah for organizing and hosting the book fair.

Anonymous: James Connell- Thank you for taking the time to consult on a student I was concerned about.

From Cindy M: Laura, Sharlie, Ellen, Maria and Daphne, Thank you for all your help with all the counseling office needs, especially helping our students get the attention they need!

Friday Collaboration Time

Team CT

Work on your checklist items or any team items you may have

In your designated room

11:50-12:35

Department CT

12:45-2:45

Review blueprints, pacing guides, PBOs, academic language, etc.

Continue to plan units with grade level peers with common assessments,

discuss One Time Capitol Funds

Accurate attendance: Please have Bellwork for your students to complete while you take ACCURATE attendance! Thank you!

Lunch Detention is a thing! Please refer to the email from Lawrence.

HOMEWORK CLUB: if you are interested in doing Homework Club (formerly known as tutoring) please complete this Google Form.

PBIS-

6^th Grade Students & Teachers wear BLUE on Tue. 10/01
7^th Grade Students & Teachers wear ORANGE on Wed. 10/02
8^th Grade Students & Teachers wear GREEN on Thur. 10/03

Thunderbucks Store: Friday Oct. 4

Practicum students/Student teachers: ALL practicum student requests must be cleared by Tammy. Please DO NOT accept a practicum student. Please refer all requests to Tammy.

Field Trips: Please follow the field trip protocol:

Make sure Ellen has your list of students going at least 2 days in advance.
Provide the nurse a list one week in advance so she can get the meds together.
Please see Daphne with any questions.

Panorama Survey Coming Soon!

IPAD UPDATE: Don't forget to have students update their IPADS!

Thunderbird Nest We will keep adding and improving

BLACKOUT DATES AND PROTOCOLS

As a reminder, the days before and after a holiday (see below) are blackout dates for ALL staff. (Classified, certified, and ancillary) You must have principal pre-approval if you must call off for extenuating circumstances. Please don’t plan a trip without prior approval. Thank you for understanding.

“Personal leave will not be granted on unless you receive pre-approval from principal.: 1) the day prior or subsequent to any scheduled holiday, 2) the first or last instructional week of the school year, 3) Parent/Teacher conference days, 4) make-up snow days, 5) testing days for test administrators and proctors, and 6) district wide staff development days.”

When we hit the 10% threshold, I will then need to deny. It is very helpful when you secure a sub.

Upcoming Blackout Dates Include:

October 4- over 10%

October 7-9

November 8, 26

December 20

Any day we are above the 10% threshold