PantherReport_8/26/12

Celebrating Success
Our CHS students are the best. The entire student body made us all proud during the PBIS presentation last Thursday. A great big thank you to our Link Crew for putting together the student friendly PBIS presentations.  These students are truly role models for their peers. A special thank you to Krista, Theresa  and Gaby for an outstanding job.

Did you hear that our Varsity Football Team beat Page 51-0? Congratulations!

PLCs ~ WOW! Working On the Work...Awesome work last week in your Collaborative Teams. We all know that in order to evaluate and measure student learning, we have to be clear on what it is they should know and be able to do.  Thank you for working together to look carefully at our standards and in some cases, curriculum maps, to create a list of the agreed-upon Essential Learning Outcomes for the courses you teach. Although there is no exact recipe or step by step manual for ensuring that all students are learning at high levels, there is extensive research and agreement among educators that we must be very clear about the knowledge, skills and dispositions students must acquire to be academically successful. Along with focusing our teaching on these Essential Learning Outcomes we must also monitor the learning, or lack there of, of these stated outcomes. This week we will not meet together as a faculty, but you will meet separately in your PLCs to complete the work you began last week. If you have completed your list of Outcomes, please spend the time discussing your plans for evaluating student progress toward acquiring these skills and knowledge.  The guiding questions for this exercise are; How do we know if our students are learning? What do we do if the are not? and, What do we do if they are? Your team recorder will take notes and submit them to Tadd. Thank you everyone!
"PLC is not something you do, it is something you are."
                      ~Thomas W. Many EdD

FYI

• Educational Consultant Dr. Michael Schmoker will be working with our district to help realize the Governing Board's Goal of Increased Student Achievement. Dr. Schmoker will be working with us here at Coconino as well as Thomas and Kinsey Elementary Schools.  As soon as I have dates and I learn a little more about the plan, I will let you all know.

• Teacher Evaluation of Performance is the name of the newly developed Teacher Evaluation tool. Dietrich Sauer, Director of Human Resources, will be at CHS to train us all on the new tool and the process for evaluation during our first prep hour meetings on September 14. Please mark your calendars. 

Field Trips

We are starting to get a lot of requests for field trips. If at all possible please try to schedule field trips for Thursday afternoons. I realize this will not always be possible. We are trying hard to have fewer classroom disruptions and it will take all of us working together to make this happen. 

Dates to Remember

8/27~AASC Conference @ CHS

8/27~S3 Mtg 3:00 PM

8/29~PLCs

8/29~PBIS Mtg 

8/30~Academic Support Period Begins

8/30 ~CHS Open House 6:00-8:00 PM

8/31~V FB @ Home V. Paradise Valley HS

Go Panthers!!!

PantherReport 8-20

Celebrating Success
Can you guess what this number represents 4500? That is approximately how many text books were distributed last week during text book distribution days.   WOW!!! Thank you Jen Parker and crew for your hard work. And, thank you teachers for all your help in making this process work.  CHS students should be well equipped to learn now :)

The first week of school was super. It was really cool to see so many of the creative and innovative ways  you rolled out the PBIS expectations and began to build relationships to help nurture student-teacher interactions. A great feeling of positive energy during the first week of school was evident. Thank you everybody. I hope in the near future we can build in time to share all your talents and expertise with one another.
As education researcher Robert Marzano says "Positive relationships between teachers and students are among the most commonly cited variables associated with effective instruction … A weak or negative relationship will mute or even negate the benefits of even the most effective instructional strategies."

Student Conduct
We all know that in order to create the learning environment we desire, we need to teach and "train" all of our students of our expectations.  This takes some time and requires constant and consistant reminding  of proper conduct, food in designated areas, responsible electronic usage dress code etc...during our PBIS University we discussed using the first few weeks of school to do this. Several teachers have already expressed frustration of our inconsistencies. I stopped no less than a dozen young ladies regarding the length of their shorts last week and explained that our dress code requires that shorts should be no shorter than where there finger tips touch along their sides. The young ladies were polite and promised they would find more appropriate attire. However,  when I asked if anyone else had mentioned the dress code policy to them , they all said no.  I realize that they might not have been telling the whole truth, but if we, as staff and faculty, believe that dress code is uber-important, it's going to require that we ALL do our part. I will post signs on our main entry doors reminding students of our dress code policy. Wednesday morning during first hour we will do a school wide dress code check.  All students in violation will be asked to go to the mini-theater to meet with administrators. I will do a Connect-Ed robo call home Tuesday night. We will continue to work together to create the CHS we want to see.

FYI

• If you need Content Objective Posters they are available in the office on the shelf above Lost & Found. 
• Anyone interested in attending the Bullying Prevention Conference featuring Barbara Coloroso on September 29, please let me know ASAP.

Dates to Remember

• 8/22 ~Common Assessment administration. (Delivery of assessments and scantrons 8/20 )
• 8/22 ~ PLCs
• 8/23 ~ Common Assessment administration cont'd
• 8/23 ~ PBIS Training for students 

Looking ahead

• On August 27 CHS is hosting the Student Council Spirit Conference (AASC).  Our SC members will be attending this conference during the school day along with visiting students from other Arizona Schools. 
• August 30 ~ CHS Open House 6:00-8:00 PM

Have a great second week:)

Panther Power 2012-13

Celebrating Success
School hasn't even started yet and we already have lots to celebrate.  Thank you for your presence and focus during our Back-To-School days.  As we work together on continuous improvement toward student success and academic excellence it is reassuring to see our teachers spending time together sharing professional knowledge and continuing to learn about trends in education that have proven effective. There is no doubt that by working together and supporting each other we will continue on the road to greatness.  "Collaboration and the ability to engage in collaborative action are becoming increasingly important to the survival of public schools.  Indeed, without the ability to collaborate with others, the prospect of improving student achievement is not likely."-Schlechty, 2005

As you are all working to prepare for the new school year, our students are also already preparing for a great year. Our 11th and 12th grade Student Link Crew organized and hosted the best ever Freshmen Orientation on Friday the 10th. CHS Student Council got together several times throughout the summer to plan for what they hope to be successful year. (Keep a look out for the CHS Lipdub). They also got up bright and early on Thursday the 9th to cook and serve breakfast for all of us.

I eagerly look forward to a great year and am confident that we will continue to accomplish a great deal together. It truly takes a village!

Updates

• Class Size: Remember increased student enrollment is actually a good problem to have. If you have high numbers please don't panic and please be patient as we resolve the good problem. I promise and, double promise, that your concerns are being heard.  I am in daily conversation with our superintendent about enrollment and our extraordinarily high class sizes. She assures me that if these numbers prove to be accurate during the first few days of school we will look at hiring new faculty in order to create additional sections in order to bring class sizes to a reasonable number. In the meantime do welcome all of your students and do not send students to see the counselors unless they do not appear on your roster. 
• Text Books: On Thursday Aug. 16, during enrichment/intervention time students will be issued their textbooks as part of the scheduled rotation that afternoon.  After receiving their ID cards, students will come to the library where we will have a copy of their schedule and will issue them the necessary textbooks. * If you will not be using the assigned textbook in your class this year, please let Jen know by Tuesday, Aug 14 so we do not issue books that are not needed. 

 Note from Jen Parker-
1.  Please help reinforce to the students that they are responsible for the actual textbook they are issued.  (This is a great place to talk about Responsibility as one of our targeted expectations for PBIS!) Students may NOT turn in another student's book at the end of the year.  Please have students write their names inside the books, and please do not allow students to store their books in your classroom.  This also causes problems at the end of the year with determining responsibility and assessing fines for damage and/or loss.

2.  If possible, it would be great if we could utilize the online versions of the textbooks.  It helps reduce the wear and tear on the books and is a convenient way for many of our students to have a "copy" of their textbook both at home and at school.  If you do not know the access codes, the publishing company can provide them for you.

• Thursday Plan: We will need everyone's help this Thursday, August 16th beginning at 12:55.  Cris will be sending out the plan to you all for this day. Students will be rotating to stations to do the following: Take pictures and receive student IDs, get text books, log on info for Student Vue and  learn about Academic Support Period and Panther Pathways.
• PBIS: As we anxiously await the installation of the "Expectation" signs, Krista and Gaby have provided us with paper copies of the classroom wide and hallway expectations to review with our students. Please find time to teach these expectations with your students, then post the expectations in the location where you would like your permanent sign installed. The laminated Behavior Flow Chart is in your box as well. There is also a letter from me to our student body regarding PBIS.  Please distribute these letters during third hour. 
• RTR/RTC Will be utilized this week for "Intake" of students who are attempting to skip class. Bondo and Mr. Popham will be circulating in and around the building in hopes of thwarting thoughts of missing class and gathering students who are not where they are supposed to be.
• Wednesday PLC meeting: We will meet together in the mini-theater at 1:00 on Wednesday, August 15 to discuss our school wide plan for PLCs and early release Wednesdays. 
• Parent Information Session regarding the Modified Six Period day. August 15 @5:30 Mini-Theater.

Here's to a great year!

On your mark, get set-Feel the Power-GO!

Greetings CHS
On the eve of the first day back for the 2012-2013 School Year, I welcome you all to what promises to be an excellent School Year.
If you have been in the building in the past few days you have probably noticed our new front entrance. Construction is coming to an end and we are really pleased with the results. I think you will all agree that our new entrance is inviting, open and safe. We have added some inspirational quotes on the walls of the building as well, and to help promote timeliness and responsibility new clocks have been installed in the main hallways. A special thank you to Krista Dobosh, Steve Bonderud and our awesome custodial staff for sprucing up the building over the summer.
Soooo, what else is new at CHS?

A lot

• New Gingerbread (Building improvements)
• New Benches all around Campus
• New Fire Alarm System (really)
• Refined Policies, Procedures and Expectations
• Protocol for implementing Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS)
• New "Modified Six" bell schedule
• A plan to monitor student learning and a schedule that ensures student academic success
• New faces to CHS ~ A big welcome to you all!!!

      I am really excited to start the new year and look forward to a great school year.
Agenda for Wednesday and Thursday below:

Back-to-School Days

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

8:00-9:00                   FUSD Superintendent Barbara Hickman – Opening address

9:15-9:45                   CHS Faculty and Staff introductions

9:45-12:00                HQ Attestations, work in classrooms

12:00-12:45              Lunch provided in the cafeteria

12:45-1:00                Your other “Dream Job”

1:00-2:00                   Student achievement at CHS

                                    AZ Learns Status

                                    Common Assessments

2:00-2:30                  CHS Next Steps – Thursday Early Release Plan

2:30-2:45                  Safety and Security @CHS

2:45-3:00                   Career Ladder Presentation         

Thursday, August 9, 2012

7:30-8:00                  Breakfast provided by CHS Student Council

8:00-8:30                  PBIS opening and plan for the morning

8:30-11:30                PBIS University

11:30-12:30              Lunch on your own

12:30-3:00                Work in your classrooms

1:00-2:00                   Department Chair meeting

2:00-3:00                   New Teacher CHS orientation and Q & A

Friday, August 10, 2012

7:30-11:30                CHS and FHS will convene at FHS

11:30-1:00                Lunch on your own

1:00-4:00                   CHS and SMS will convene at CHS

"We have exactly enough time-starting now".  :)

                                   - Dana Meadows, Dartmouth College

Mid Summer but, New School Year News

Hello Fabulous CHS Faculty and Staff,
As summer comes to a screeching halt, I bet you would like to know what to expect for our first three teacher work days. As you know it all starts next week on August 8th.  Below you will find a schedule of events for the first two teacher workdays, August 8th and 9th. I also want to remind you that this year we will be on a "Modified Six" Schedule. Click here to view the new Bell Schedule.  I am really excited about the way our Thursday Afternoon schedule is looking. A special thank you to Mike Vogler, Kelly Koelfgen and Tim Aydelott for coming in over the summer to help design Thursday afternoons to best meet the needs of the students and to best utilize the expertise of our faculty. I will fill you in on the details of the Thursday Academic Support Period, Interventions, Structured Study Halls and Panther Pathways wenst we meet on the 8th.

 I've been humming David Bowie's song Ch Ch Ch Changes all summer. You'll see why in the next line of this blog.  I am sad to announce that the following people are no longer at CHS: Danny Blackgoat, Michele Corcoran, Donna Denoble, Shannon Etson, Amy Horn, Rod Horn, Ann Hurst, Denise Mattingly, Jason Mills, Nicole Mills, Bill Mulkey, Katie piehl, Evelyn Ramirez, Trish Roach, Jessica Sargent, Diane Sorden, Julie Vlieg, Eileen Westphal and Will White. We also have a number of para-professionals that have moved on. These teachers will be greatly missed at CHS.  As I write this note i am in the process of hiring replacements for all of these positions. I am keeping my fingers crossed that by August 13th (First day back for students) we will have a full faculty and staff and I will be able to ask your help in welcoming all of our new Panther Faculty and staff. Until then, please join me in welcoming the following new CHS Faculty; Pat Cochran, Loren Hudson, Elizabeth LeMaster, Lang Suby, Laura Sauer, Craig Howdeshell and Patty Harper (Returning from a Year's LOA).  I will catch you up on all the other ch ch ch changes once everyone else is in place.
A few more tidbits to keep in mind as you are planning for the first few weeks of school:

• The pre-assessment portion of the Common Assessments will administered on August 22 and August 23.  ( District wide )
• The Common grade book weighted distribution will be ~ Practice = 20%, Performance = 20% and Measurement = 60%  4) Common Summative, End of Course Assessments = 15% of total grade
• CHS Fall Open House (Back to School Night) is scheduled for Thursday, August 30 @ 6:00PM
• PBIS will be in full implementation at CHS this school year. We will have a thorough training on Thursday morning, August 9. 

 I am truly looking forward to a great and positive school year.  In the meantime I wish you all an enjoyable, safe and restful last few days of summer.

Back to School Teacher Schedule


Wednesday August 8
8:00-9:00AM ~ FUSD Superintendent Barbara Hickman Opening address and welcome back @ CHS Main Auditorium
9:15-9:45AM ~ CHS Faculty Welcome Back SY 2012-2013 remarks (We will stay in the main auditorium)
9:45AM-12:00PM ~Work in your classrooms
12:00-12:45PM ~ Lunch provided to CHS Faculty and staff in the Cafeteria
12:45-3:00 ~ CHS School Year Overview, Plan and Nitty Gritty


Thursday August 9
7:30-8:00AM ~ Breakfast provided
8:00-11:30 AM ~ PBIS University
11:30-12:30PM ~ Lunch on your own
12:30-1:00 PM ~ Department Chair Meeting 
12:30-3:00PM ~  Work in your classrooms


Friday August 10


301 Day ~ 

7:30 AM-11:30AM ~  Teachers from both high schools will meet and will be grouped by departments.  Locations TBD.  Please keep an eye out for an e-mail from Gretchen Markiewicz with more details. 

* Please plan to bring your text or a sample of text from your specific content area for the 301 day