Thursday Thriller November 9

 Thursday Thriller
November 9, 2023

Photos from the Field

The PAC meeting is this coming Tuesday, not today.  However, not realizing this I sent a reminder to students about the PAC meeting last night at 9:00PM.  Cleo comes in at 8:50 this morning, "What is going on? This meeting isn't until Tuesday."  I belly laughed and said my fault.  The others who showed up just thought we were going to have an additional meeting. 😅

Alex came to visit yesterday morning.  Molly was super excited to see him!

Holden entertained me in Yaz's class today

Nuts-n-Bolts

1.   To incentivize and motivate students for this second round of iReady lessons,  what if mid-way we celebrate students who have completed 'x' number lessons with something extra?  Students' currency is social  time, their phones and something sugary or Takis.  What if students who reached the 'x' number of lessons by Dec. 13th got an ice cream bar or hot cocoa in the commons with special privilege of 'phone time'?  Maybe it's 20 mins at the end of the day? We are open to suggestions.  Also, for first quarter we will award Advisory classes that had over 90% finish rate by Nov 3 with something...LOL...maybe donuts, hot cocoa?  What do you think?  Maybe the Advisory teacher should get a coffee card?😊  Ideas to motivate students is what we are looking for.

2.  Please make sure you are wearing your voice amplifier   You may have a 'coach's voice' or a loud voice in general. However, this is about articulation not the level of sound.  It's IMPERATIVE and well...a non-negotiable...that you wear it.  Students are able to hear clearly what you are saying.  Here is a quick video on the BENEFITS of the voice amp systems.  

3.    The Health Center is going to open on Monday!  The Health Center is an independent support located in Garrison.  There will be a full time counselor on staff.  Referrals will go through Steve and Nicole M. Nicole, HC staff and I met to discuss communication and processes.  We will communicate with staff in the next few weeks.  Right now The Health Center will be open for counseling services.  The medical services are on a 'needs basis.'  The HC is located two doors down from Mr. Bertram's room.  They have transformed those offices! Stop in and say hi!

4.  Counselors, admin, Yaneth and Itsel (counseling intern) have and will continue to pull students from class to do check ins regarding Securely Alerts and grades. Currently 54.8% of our students have at least one F and 191 chronically absent students.  We need to bring students to the office so it is a private conversation. We are implementing paper/pencil grade checks.  For chronically absent students, when they are here we administer the WARNS (Washington Assessment of Risk and Needs) screener.  This gives us a report to identify supports and needs.  I am explaining this so you understand why we need to pull students from class.  It's not ideal but needed. Please ask Nicole or myself if you have questions.

5.  This has been quite a week. The non-emergency dispatcher is a really sweet lady who knows me by my first name.  There were definitely things that both Nicole and I did not get to.  Our goal is to tackle these unfinished tasks first thing Monday morning. 

6. Update:  Yaneth's father did not need surgery!  He may be released from Sacred Heart tomorrow to come home. :D

Something to Ponder

Observing WAGs (Weeks at a Glance) and using slides to guide students on their daily tasks and expectations is like laying the foundation for a successful class period. It's all about setting the stage for a great learning experience. When many teachers, like all of you, follow this approach, it lets students know that we have shared expectations, routines, and activities, like warm-ups and "do now" tasks, that are part of our daily routine at Garrison. This consistency helps create a positive and familiar learning environment.

This is from Dave Stuart, Jr.

Keep up the good work with the WAGs, slides and expectations!!

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Vision and Hearing for 7th grade will be on November 16th from 9:00-11:30 in room 165

Interim Assessment Block

If you are ELA/MATH/SST and possibly SCIENCE, this might be of help to you. :D 

Middle Level Standards

Are your student INVESTING or DRIVING?

DISCIPLINE (email on October 24th titled: Referral Process)

Just a reminder in regards to classroom exclusions/referrals. If you complete this form, Referral located on the HUB for the 3D's -disrespect, defiance and disruption the student needs to be sent to the office.

We need the student in the office ASAP.  Some of you have sent a note with the student:  "See referral" OR you have called/texted for Ruben's support escorting the student to the office; either way the student needs to be in the office. 

When you don't send the student immediately, the follow up is delayed, the student is taken out of another class to speak with and they don't understand that this was an exclusion for the 3D's from a previous class period.

Referrals and Exclusions are reported to the STATE.  This is not to deter you from sending students who need to be sent out of class for disruption, defiance and/or disrespect. 

Please access the Accountable for Learning (the renamed Refusal to Work) for students to complete work at lunch time.

REFERRAL/EXCLUSION for the 3 D's (disruption, disrespect, defiance)

1.  Referral Form is filled out and sent

2. Student is sent immediately to the office

3.  You follow up via PS with families

4. Office takes care of students by calling parents and assigning discipline. 

REFERRAL (student does NOT need to be sent to the office.  Admin/Counselors will follow up)

1.  3 Tardies periods 2-7

2. Dress Code

3.  Cell phone

4.  3D's with a guest teacher

ACCOUNTABLE for LEARNING (lunch time)

*Student is not using the given class time to complete tasks