Update ~ January 26-30, 2015

Celebrating Success
Last March when I met with the group of CHS teachers who had just returned from the annual PLC Conference, they shared with me that they hoped that they could find a way to share their new found enthusiasm for collaborative team work, formerly known as PLCs with their colleagues.  They wanted to help strengthen and sustain the collaborative culture at CHS.  They felt so strongly about this, that they devoted time to meet together to create a way to share their enthusiasm and understanding of the purpose of CTs with the rest of us. Wind back the clock to early August when we all met as a faculty during the two "back to school" teacher work days. We organized in groups and the PLC conference attendees led small group discussions about what they had learned and how we could deepen our collaborative practice at CHS. Now it's the end of January and I hope you will agree , that we have indeed deepened our our collaborative practice and the feeling of honest and meaningful collaboration is alive and well at CHS.  As I walked around our school last Wednesday teachers were engaged in conversations about student academic progress, or lack there of, some were looking at data and deciding on interventions, another team was looking at data to help identify strengths and weaknesses in their instruction.  Science teachers shared with me how they are experimenting with Galileo to administer their recently developed common summative assessments and working out the glitches.  Several CTE teachers stopped by to tell me about their productive CT and how they were targeting struggling students and developing different ways to support increased academic success.  I can't say it enough, so I'll say it again and again, I am extremely proud and grateful to serve as the principal of Coconino and work along side such a committed and dedicated group of educators.  Thank you!

TPEC
Early this week you will find your Teacher Evaluation Action Report (TEAR) in your mail box. Please look this over carefully.   Should you find a mistake in your TEAR sheet, see your evaluator. If changes are necessary we will make the changes in TrueNorth Logic and send the hard copy with edits to Dietrich at Human Resources. If the information is accurate, you need only sign the document, make a copy for your records and submit the signed original to Becky.

Current Drug Trends
On Wednesday, February 11 we will have a special presentation at CHS.  Retired police officer Debi La Vergne will be here to present important information about new trends in teenage and adult drug usage.  The purpose of the presentation is to educate teachers about teen and adult drug use.  Debi's message is "The more informed we are, the more we can affect positive change."  The session will include information on current trends, including illegal substances, new designer drugs, synthetics, over the counter and prescription drugs.  Debi will also educate us on signs and symptoms to look for in addition to effective prevention strategies.
This presentation will take place on Wednesday, February 11, 1:00-3:00pm. in the mini-theater.  You are not required to attend, but I believe you will find the information to be very relevant and helpful. Please sign up with Becky if you would like to attend.  Space is limited to the first forty who sign up.


Dates to Remember

• Tuesday, 1/27 Faculty Meeting 2:30pm in the Mini-Theater

Word of the week: Purpose

Press on!  Panther Strong! 

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Update ~ January 20-23, 2015

Celebrating SuccessA big thank you to the CHS Legion of Kindness and faculty sponsor, Joyce Daoust, for their passion and hard work to help spread kindness and compassion throughout our school. There wasn't a dry eye in the house following the video presentation last Thursday, but I believe the the conversations that followed the video helped accomplish their mission.

In spite of the recent website audit that I mentioned in an email last week, we do have many teachers who have created exemplary teacher webpages.  Check out Smithology, Kelley Smith's teacher page for a great example.

Link Crew Freshmen Connections Link Leaders will be meeting with all 9th grade students during 7th period study hall on the following dates:Thursday, January 29thThursday, March 26thThursday, May 7th Please mark your calendars

Professional GrowthDietrich Sauer and Derek Born will host an information and Q & A session regarding TPPC and other Professional Growth topics at the District Office in the Governing Board Room on Tuesday, January 20 from 4:00 to 5:00pm. 

Pathways  SY 2015-16 I need your input...We know that the Wednesday/Thursday block schedule is here to stay.  Some teachers have indicated that they are not fond of the Study Hall structure we have in place, so we have been looking a some possible changes.  There are, of course,  various limitations and numerous variables to consider if we are going to change the existing format.  Please provide your input by taking a minute and take the very brief questionnaire here. 

Make-Up Prep hour meetingsProvided we have no sprinkler leaks, snow day, or other unexpected interruption, we will plan to have prep hour meetings on Tuesday, February 3.  We will meet in room 204. (2nd period will meet in room 200).

What the Tech?Thank you all for taking the time to review your hand held device policies with your students.  Please submit your completed 3rd period rosters in Krista's mailbox. The students who completed their forms and received Pawsitive Panthers will be entered in a drawing and names will be selected during the pep assembly on Thursday.   If you need more Pawsitive Panthers stop by Krista's room 204.   

Dates to Remember

• Tuesday, January 20, Department Chair Meeting 2:30pm
• Wednesday, January 21, School Structures Committee Meeting room 204
• Thursday, January 22, Winter Pep Assembly during Pathways
• Thursday, January 22, Financial Aid Night @ CHS 6:00-7:00pm
• Tuesday, January 27, Faculty Meeting 2:30pm in the mini-theater

Press On!  Panther Strong!

January 12-16, 2015

Celebrating Success
Our awesome awesomeness...It was reassuring to see our students really working hard last week. Josh Begay along with CHS and FHS math teachers have been working to strengthen mathematics instruction and implement an inquiry and interactive approach to teaching math. Although the students struggled with this approach in the beginning, they came back from winter break ready to pick up where they left off and excited about math, true story!

In preparation for registration and to help build and strengthen existing programs and courses, posters and signs are starting to appear around the building.  Laura Locke's interior design poster is a great example of this.  If you are hoping to recruit students for your classes now is the time to start.  Feel free to use the bulletin boards to hang posters, flyers, etc.

What the Tech? 
This week is the week for teachers to share their classroom expectations for hand held devices with students.  Students will complete the What the Tech worksheet and submit the completed form on Thursday, January 15 to their 3rd period Homeroom Teacher.  Paula Wright developed a rough draft of some of the policies used by CHS Teachers.  Please feel free to adapt any of the policies outlined in this draft. Click here to view the outline.  Les Hauer worked with his students to develop his expectations and procedures for using hand held devices.  If you have a written policy or strategy that you are willing to share please send via e-mail to the CHS Exchange.  A note to 3rd period teachers; please give a Pawsitive Panther to each student who submits a completed form.  We have some amazing prizes including a full season ski pass to the Az Snowbowl donated by Findley Toyota.

Prep Hour Meetings
Remember this Tuesday, January 13, we have prep hour meetings. Periods 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 will meet at the beginning of each hour in room 204.  (4th & 5th period teachers will overlap, but 5th period teachers should still come to room 204 at the beginning of the period).  2nd period will meet in room 200 at the beginning of the hour.  Please bring a lesson plan, or lesson topic that you will be teaching in the near future and a writing utensil. 
Topics for Prep hour mtgs include CHS Interventions, PBIS and Questioning Strategies.

Planning Ahead
This year we will have a school wide spring Open House on April 1 at 5:00pm.  This will follow our 8th grade visitation that takes place during the school day.  Please mark your calendars.

Health and Wellness
CHS has the opportunity to host a series of early morning all levels fitness classes. Participants would receive NATEP wellness points for the class.  We are trying to gauge interest before committing to a regular class at CHS. Please let Becky know if this is something of interest to you.

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Happy New Year ~ 2015

A Warm Welcome Back!
I hope your holiday break was one filled with joy, relaxation and grand memories.  The new year is upon us and I hope you’ll join me in my optimism that the best is yet to come...As we role into to 2015, it is time to finish development and begin implementation of our response plan to the CHS accreditation report.  As I have shared with you already, our response has required some soul searching and humility. However, we can all recognize that no matter how good we are, we can always seek to be better.  I sincerely look forward to working together in order to meet the needs of each and every one of our students.

CHS 2015 School Goals (As outlined in the Accreditation Report)

1.  Develop a commitment to a shared purpose and school wide focus.
2.  Create and commit to an equitable learning environment where all students are engaged in rigorous content and deep learning.
3.  Develop a structured professional development plan to support and deepen teacher understanding and use of "Best Instructional Practices" in order to increase active student engagement and rigor in the classroom.
As we work on finalizing our five year strategic plan, I welcome your comments, thoughts and ideas about how best to meet these goals.  Please feel free to share your thoughts directly with me or Cris or through your department chairs, who will be meeting on January 20 to discuss next steps. 

As a heads up, our upcoming Prep Hour Meetings on January 13 will be professional development focusing on questioning strategies and student engagement techniques. This PD is an exciting opportunity to get to the heart of what our accreditation report asks us to improve upon. I am looking forward to seeing what you all bring to the table, and taking up this challenge together.

Welcome Back to students, too
I am returning to CHS with enthusiasm and optimism for what 2015 will bring. Please join me in giving our students a warm welcome back to school. Your presence in the hallways during passing periods and at your doors as students enter the classroom is powerful and welcoming. I hope we can set a positive tone for the new year together by welcoming our students back to school and letting them know how excited we are to see them again.  Thank you in advance for your support and cooperation!

Calendar

• January 7 ~ School Structures committee Mtg 2:30pm Room 204
• January 8 ~ What the Tech? 
• January 13 ~ Prep Hour P.D. Mtgs Room 204 (With the exception of 2nd hour, which will be held in room 200)
• January 27 ~ Faculty Mtg Mini-Theater 2:45pm 

"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops." 

-Henry Adams

Again, welcome back and have a great week!

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