Thursday Thriller
August 30, 2024
EXTRA,EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT!
Many of you might have missed this, but Mr. Reggie Byrd put on quite a show, singing and dancing just before we handed out the YONDR pouches. His performance was sparked by the immense joy he feels every day working with all of you! In the spirit of the moment, he even wrote his name on a YONDR pouch and turned in his phone. I had to remind him that staff doesn't need to participate—only students. I suspect part of his joy came from realizing he wouldn't have to carry a YONDR pouch all day!
First lunch is packed with students playing chess. They love the game!
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Nuts-n-Bolts
1. Voice Amplifier-this is one of those 'non-negotiables' that we need to wear when teaching. This isn't about the loud voice it's about articulation so ALL students wherever they are in the classroom can fully understand what you are saying. Less strain on your vocal cords, all students can hear instruction and improve student engagement are among the few benefits.
Here are different research studies that support voice amplification systems:
a. ERIC Capsule
c. Edutopia
2. Absences- Please remember that Personal and Incentive days need to be approved at least two days prior by Administration. When you are absent, please link share your sub plans with both Nicole and Kim.
3. Accountable for Learning
Please find the Accountable for Learning spreadsheet linked for your reference. It's also available on the HUB for use throughout the school year. Babett will send reminder slips to students before lunch, prompting them to go to Room 208 during lunch.
**Remember:**
If you assign a student to Accountable for Learning, it’s crucial to inform them directly—and ideally, their parents as well. Students should only be assigned if they are refusing to work on their assignments during class. This is **not** a detention, test make-up, or study hall.
Babett will update the spreadsheet when students attend, and will follow up if they miss two sessions.
**Remember:**
If you assign a student to Accountable for Learning, it’s crucial to inform them directly—and ideally, their parents as well. Students should only be assigned if they are refusing to work on their assignments during class. This is **not** a detention, test make-up, or study hall.
Babett will update the spreadsheet when students attend, and will follow up if they miss two sessions.
4. Student Support Team This year, we’ll be holding weekly SST meetings every Monday to discuss students who may need extra support at Garrison Middle School. Our core team includes Kim Doepker, Steve Pitzer, Nicole Mueller, Yaneth Hernandez, Amy Heitstuman, Heather Adams, and myself. We may invite additional staff based on the student’s needs.
Our goal is to address a wide range of student needs, including attendance, behavior, academics, study skills, and social-emotional learning. If you believe a student could benefit from our team’s support, please fill out the linked form (also available on the HUB) with as much detail and accuracy as possible, keeping in mind that the information provided is part of the public record. After our meeting, a team member will follow up with proposed action steps.
5. Safety -Please review emergency procedures as needed. Remember to print the rosters for your classes and place them in your orange bucket. The office has established a process to support you if a roster is needed. If your bucket hasn’t been updated yet, rest assured that other supplies for the orange buckets will continue to be updated as they arrive.
You will be receiving an Evacuation Map (in your box) that needs to be posted in your classroom near the door. Please be sure to do this as soon as you get it so that all rooms provide necessary information to visitors as needed.
If you are part of the Safety Team (or an alternate), you will receive a clipboard containing the Roles and Responsibilities sheet during an emergency or drill. This clipboard will also include a map and a calendar of drills (both available in the Emergency Procedure slideshow). If you are a zone leader, you will have an additional checklist to note which teachers provide you with a roster during pick-up. It is crucial that you grab this clipboard whenever an emergency alarm sounds, ensuring that we are all aligned and prepared for any situation.
If you are part of the Safety Team (or an alternate), you will receive a clipboard containing the Roles and Responsibilities sheet during an emergency or drill. This clipboard will also include a map and a calendar of drills (both available in the Emergency Procedure slideshow). If you are a zone leader, you will have an additional checklist to note which teachers provide you with a roster during pick-up. It is crucial that you grab this clipboard whenever an emergency alarm sounds, ensuring that we are all aligned and prepared for any situation.
6. Friday, September 20th - Courageous Conversations Training -
- Middle School: All Garrison and Pioneer certificated staff, as well as classified staff involved in student supervision, will participate in a session titled "Courageous Middle School Classroom Meetings" on Friday, September 20, 2024, from 1:15 to 3:45 PM in the Pioneer Commons.
- The Association and District agreed to trade “teacher-directed” time on September 20th with Building Directed time in November. As a result, November 1st will be a full “teacher-directed” day.
7. October: During October, Ben and Yelena will conduct follow-up engagements at each school. These will include individual and small group meetings with staff, classroom visits, and small-group coaching sessions for administrators and specific staff. Each visit will conclude with a one-hour training session for certificated and classroom/supervision support staff.
- Tuesday, October 29th: All day at Garrison – with a staff meeting from 3:45 to 4:45 PM.
8. November 4th Training: In October, each building will identify Equity Leads (certificated and classified) who will receive advanced training in November. These Equity Leads will support their colleagues as thought partners and trainers, helping to sustain our efforts throughout the year.
We are committed to providing ongoing support to ensure a positive and inclusive environment in our classrooms. We look forward to working together to make this plan a success.
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Something to Consider
I've heard from many of you that the start of this school year has gone exceptionally well—some even saying it's one of the best starts we've had since pre-COVID.
Starting a school year is truly a team effort. We all shared the same vision, rowing in the same direction with the goal of launching the year successfully. Whether it was establishing routines and procedures, welcoming students, implementing YONDR pouches, or adapting to larger class sizes and new content areas, we were united in our purpose to make our school a great place for both students and staff.
We HOPED for a great start, but we didn't just leave it to hope. We believed in our plans, invested the time, and worked together to make it happen!
If you have a moment, please click on the QR code to visit our Padlet. It’s a fun and interactive way to share and see what brought hope to you, your students, or simply supported your well-being during these first two weeks.
This is an AMAZING staff! From custodians to support staff, all the way to administration, everyone played a part in kicking off this year on the right foot!
Hope you find a gold nugget these past two weeks to share with your colleagues.
THANK YOU for the work you do!!
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"Attitude is a choice. What you think you can do, whether positive or negative, confidence or scared, will most likely happen." -Pat Summit
Pat Summit was an American women's college basketball head coach who acquired 1,098 career wins, the most in college basketball history at the time of her retirement. She served as the head coach of the University of Tennessee Lady Vols basketball team from 1974 to 2012.
