Weekly Update #28

This Week's Schedule  

           

Monday, April 4, 2022                     School Site Council (2:30)

Tuesday, April 5, 2022                    MCAS - Grade 4 ELA (1)       

Wednesday, April 6, 2022                Early Release (1:15)                   

Thursday, April 7, 2022                  MCAS - Grade 4 ELA (2) 

Friday, April 8, 2022                      Grade 2 Assembly (1:00pm)                  

         _______________________________________________________    

Please read the weekly update carefully.

Operational: 

  PLTs are ELA with Tracey and Cyndi

• MCAS is Here! Thank You to all the teachers, supports and especially our 3rd Grade students. Everyone did a wonderful job during our first week of MCAS ELA. MCAS continues this week. Grade 4 will be testing in ELA. 8:30 start
• Tuesday, April 5, 2022 (Session 1)
• Thursday, April 7, 2022 (Session 2)
• Rooms 207 & 208 (Rms. 207 & 208 lunch time - 10:45 - 11:15) will need to switch lunch times with Rooms 108 & 109 (Grade 2: Lunchtime - 12:15- 12:45pm) on Tuesday and Thursday this week
• Supports: Reading and ESL teachers will rotate throughout the testing period to help support classrooms. Look for your name on each week's MCAS directions document.
• Grade 4 Directions Grade 4 MCAS ELA 2022 (1).docx
• Reminder - lunches for Rms. 207 & 208 need to switch with Rms. 108 & 109 on Tuesday and Thursday due to testing

• Grades / Scores - Based on recent communication with students and families, it is evident that we do not have transparency with our students and families regarding grades.  It is important that Data Folders be used a tool (which students can take ownership of) and are visible in our classrooms as a way to increase transparency.  This is a very important part of the feedback to students that we have encouraged through feedback and student discourse.
• Schoology is a great resource to post assignments and scores, which students and parents have access to.
• Friday ELA was designed to be flexible to accommodate one on one student conferences.  Please use this time to ensure that students know where they are and what they need to do to improve.
• Retention - Please make sure that you connectwith families about concerns for possible retention if you are considerations this for any student.  At Connery, we use the Lights Retention Scale to gauge whether a student should be retained.  This process is presented to admin and presented to our Deputy Superintendent.  (Retention Scales will be placed in everyone's mailbox shortly.)
• Multicultural Night - This is our 3rd Open House.  It is not optional, so please make sure that you save the date and arrange to be present.
• Field Trips - At Connery, we had a protocol and system for field trips.  For any field trip that a grade level would like to plan, there needs to be documented alignment to standards/content being taught.
• An updated Field Trip Planning Notice will be sent in the near future.
• Updated Calendar
• TeachPoint Reminder- New Due Dates - Evidence Due (Formative April 28th) (Summative May 27th)
• Small Group Observations - Glenda and Liz will be coming around to all classrooms to observe small groups throughout the spring.  
• Look Fors: rotation board/schedule visible and Guided Reading lesson
• Peer Observations - Each teacher is expected to observe their peers at Connery School. If you have not begun peer observations, please reach out to your CITs asap to schedule this observation. 
• Planning Expectations - Please send us your sub plans when you are out.
• As a reminder, when you have an absence you need to contact Glenda, Liz and your CIT before 8am. Also, your absence must be posted in AESOP before 8am.
• Assessment Calendar - please note that the assessment calendar was updated.  Click here for all dates including the Star Renaissance Expectations.

• Connery Assembly Schedule:  
• Friday, 05/20/22: Grades PreK & K - 1pm    

ELA:

• Please remember to return each set of Guided Reading books after they are used.

Math:

• Please come with prepared lesson plans (to review/edit) for PLT and a task to complete.

    Social Work Updates:

• SW Extension Update: 2914 and 2951
• SW Support Referral Form- This is a friendly reminder to please utilize the Social Work support referral form that was emailed out/discussed at staff meeting early in the school year. This form should be used when requesting non-emergency/crisis support. Some examples include:                                                                                                                                                     *An observation request                                                                                                                     *A social-emotional wonder/concern                                                                                                 *Collaboration/discussion of strategies to support a student or general concerns regarding a           student          
• Office Referral
• Behavior Management Resource - Minors and Major Behaviors and De-escalation Strategies
• Incident Report/Office Referral Requests:                                               
• Please place all completed forms in the Social Work mailbox.                                   
• Please ensure that each section/prompt on the form is filled out completely (i.e. child's full name, grade, steps taken, etc.) before submitting.                                                              
• If there is more than one child engaging in a behavior/incident, please make the appropriate number of copies for filing purposes.                                                      
• Glenda has asked that the following scenarios be an immediate phone call to either her office or the SW office in addition to completing an incident report/office referral as soon as possible:                                                                                                        
• physical unsafe behaviors with staff members or other students (hitting, kicking, etc.)               
• self-harm or threats of any kind   
• any behavior that could be interpreted as or is sexual in any way (ie: showing private parts, issues in the bathroom, report of inappropriate touching or words, etc.)                                                         

Health and Safety:

• Recess has presented an increase of injuries.  The injuries occur most during activities that are unstructured.  Please use this resource guide as a means to support full class activities.

Misc. Info: Inventory for Professional Development - please complete so that we can track the books that we each have in our classrooms.

Book Recommendations

Poetry Book Recommendations from Barnes & Nobels

Technology Issues

• Reminder: Please let Liz or your CIT know if a student is not bringing their laptop to school daily. 
• Please remember to submit all technology issues to the Helpdesk by emailing: servicedesk@lynnschools.org . Be sure to provide as many details as possible including name of user having issue (email or stu#), problem, program being used, etc.
• Please enter tickets for EACH problem they encounter with as much information as possible included. 

Looking Ahead

• April 11 - ILT Mtg. (2:30)
• April 12  - Staff Mtg.(2:30)
• April 13 - Early Release (1:15)
• April 15- 22 - Good Friday and Spring Vacation