CELEBRATING SUCCESS...
Congratulations to our CHS English Teachers and students for the successful day of Poetry Out Loud. Last Thursday, 20+ students performed in front of the standing room only audience of their peers. Not only was the poise and confidence of the students who performed remarkable, the enthusiasm they generated for poetry was exciting. What a collection of superstars we have! Go Panthers!
Speaking of Panthers...How about our girl's basketball team? 13 and 0. Hope you can come help cheer them on as they play Youngker High School at home Tuesday, 1/31 and Flagstaff High School at home on Friday, 2/3. Panther Strong!
GOOD NEWS BAD NEWS...
We heard back from the A+ Organization and...we have a little work to do. Although we did not make the cut for the first round, with a little refinement, they have offered us the opportunity to resubmit. We are anxious to receive the specific feedback so we can make the suggested changes and try again.
POSITIVE BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION SUPPORT (PBIS)...
One definition is "PBIS is a broad range of systemic and individual strategies for achieving positive social and learning outcomes while preventing problem behaviors." In other words, creating and sustaining a positive school climate. Sometimes it takes a little more work than other times to sustain the positive, like when we have to transition from vacation mode into the spring semester for the second time. Please remind students of our CHS guiding principles: Respect, Responsibility and Integrity, and review classroom expectations. Also remember to acknowledge and reinforce positive behaviors by giving out Pawsitive Panthers. If you need additional Pawsitive Panther tickets, please contact Maggi Loritz or Krista Dobosh.
More about PBIS at our upcoming prep hour meetings on February 7.
MOOLA FOR OUR SCHOOL...
To help generate a little money for school related expenses, CHS is now participating in the BoxTop program. If you purchase products that have the BoxTop logo (General Mills, Pillsbury, Old El Paso, Green Giant, Ziploc, Kleenex, and a whole bunch more) you can turn the BoxTop label in to Jennifer Milius.
DATES TO REMEMBER...
2/3 ~ Winter Pep Assembly
2/7 ~ Prep Hour Meetings
Press on! Panther Strong!
Please acknowledge you have read this post by clicking here
Sunday, January 29, 2017
Sunday, January 22, 2017
Update ~ January 23-27, 2017
CELEBRATING SUCCESS...
Hopefully you are enjoying the snow and the resulting snow days.
Congratulations to CHS Student Bryan Colvard. Bryan was selected to participate on the Arizona All-State Jazz Band. Bryan will be recognized at the Arizona Music Educators Association conference in early February.
VIP VISIT...
Last week CHS was a paid a visit by one of our newly elected school board members. Dr. Carole Gilmore came by for a tour and to find out what happens behind the four (or more) walls of CHS. She asked that I let you all know that she would like to make herself available if you would like to meet her and share your thoughts, concerns or questions about the state of education in FUSD. She also said if you have special events coming up this year, she would love an invitation and do everything possible to be there.
Carole Gilmore Dr.Gilmore.fusd@gmail.com
GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE...
What's the story? After a few years of a tiny mouse problem, we now have big mouse problem. This growing mouse population is due in part to the cold weather, but is largely due to an increase of food particles in and around school and food residue in the classroom trashcans. Uh oh, how can I help? you say. Please do not allow students to eat meals in your rooms. Remind students that they must eat their meals in the designated eating areas only. We will be asking students to put left over lunches in their backpacks or toss as they enter the building after lunch.
What about drinks? As long as the beverage container has a lid of some type, students can bring their drinks with them to class. Cans with opening and no lids are not permitted. Thank you in advance for your support and help in getting rid of our unwanted visitors.
PLANNING AHEAD...
We have a Faculty Meeting for Tuesday, February 7. Please note that the meeting will be during prep hours on the 7th.
Feb 3 ~ Pep Assembly
Feb 22 ~ "Other" day. School wide assembly.
Please mark your calendars
TPEC...
The first rounds of teacher observations/evaluations are almost complete. If you have already received the results of your evaluation, please remember to go in to TNL and acknowledge your formal evaluation.
Directions:
Log on to TNL
Open Observation section
Open formal observation acknowledgement (This is a tab across the top of the observation screen)
Once the acknowledgement screen is open, click edit.
Check to see there is a date for the formal observation, if not you can add date
Click yes to acknowledge you have received the formal observation
*If you have not yet had a formal observation, contact your evaluator.
For teachers who are required to have a second evaluation, you will hear from your evaluator soon to schedule observations. In the meantime we will continue to do walk-through and informal observations. Please let us know if there is something particular you would like us to observe.
STUDENT SUCCESS...
During our discussion about grading and reporting, several teachers noted that "Non-learning" behaviors are essential for student academic success. Research by The University of Chicago Consortium states "School performance is a complex phenomenon, shaped by a wide variety of factors. In addition to content knowledge and academic skills, students must develop sets of behaviors, skills, attitudes, and strategies that are crucial to academic performance in their classes" The research goes on to name these factors non-cognitive skills while acknowledging that few aspects of human behavior are devoid of cognition. The research identifies five categories of non-cognitive factors:
1. Academic Behaviors: Going to class, doing homework, organizing materials, participating in class, and studying.
2. Academic Perseverance: Grit, tenacity, delayed gratification, self-discipline, and self control.
3. Academic Mindsets: I belong to the academic environment, my ability and competence grow with my effort, I can succeed at this, and this work has value for me.
4. Learning Strategies: Study skills, metacognitive strategies, Self-regulated learning and goal setting
5. Social Skills: Interpersonal skills, Empathy and cooperation, assertion and responsibility.
Now the million dollar questions -How do these factors fit into our grading structures and school policies? And how do we positively affect these non-cognitive behaviors as we focus on academic standards? I suppose if we knew the answers to these questions and were able to overcome the outside influences affecting non-cognitive behaviors, every single one of our students would be highly successful at school.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts and our continued PLC conversations regarding students and their academic success at CHS.
If you are interested in learning more about the research and strategies to use to help support the non-cognitive behaviors, you might be interested in an upcoming 301workshop.
Title: Assisting Adolescents to Improve as Learners (Using the University of Chicago's research on non-cognitive behaviors)
Facilitator: Russ Randall
Location: CHS Room 301
Dates and Times: 4/4/17, 4/11/17, 4/18/17 3:00-5:00pm. Participants can attend 1,2 or all 3 workshops.
What do principals do at work on snow days? For grins and giggles click here.
Thank you for your continued work to support our CHS vision to be a vibrant school community that exemplifies academic excellence and model citizenship. Press on! Panther Strong!
Please acknowledge you have read this post by clicking here
Hopefully you are enjoying the snow and the resulting snow days.
Congratulations to CHS Student Bryan Colvard. Bryan was selected to participate on the Arizona All-State Jazz Band. Bryan will be recognized at the Arizona Music Educators Association conference in early February.
VIP VISIT...
Last week CHS was a paid a visit by one of our newly elected school board members. Dr. Carole Gilmore came by for a tour and to find out what happens behind the four (or more) walls of CHS. She asked that I let you all know that she would like to make herself available if you would like to meet her and share your thoughts, concerns or questions about the state of education in FUSD. She also said if you have special events coming up this year, she would love an invitation and do everything possible to be there.
Carole Gilmore Dr.Gilmore.fusd@gmail.com
GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE...
What's the story? After a few years of a tiny mouse problem, we now have big mouse problem. This growing mouse population is due in part to the cold weather, but is largely due to an increase of food particles in and around school and food residue in the classroom trashcans. Uh oh, how can I help? you say. Please do not allow students to eat meals in your rooms. Remind students that they must eat their meals in the designated eating areas only. We will be asking students to put left over lunches in their backpacks or toss as they enter the building after lunch.
What about drinks? As long as the beverage container has a lid of some type, students can bring their drinks with them to class. Cans with opening and no lids are not permitted. Thank you in advance for your support and help in getting rid of our unwanted visitors.
PLANNING AHEAD...
We have a Faculty Meeting for Tuesday, February 7. Please note that the meeting will be during prep hours on the 7th.
Feb 3 ~ Pep Assembly
Feb 22 ~ "Other" day. School wide assembly.
Please mark your calendars
TPEC...
The first rounds of teacher observations/evaluations are almost complete. If you have already received the results of your evaluation, please remember to go in to TNL and acknowledge your formal evaluation.
Directions:
Log on to TNL
Open Observation section
Open formal observation acknowledgement (This is a tab across the top of the observation screen)
Once the acknowledgement screen is open, click edit.
Check to see there is a date for the formal observation, if not you can add date
Click yes to acknowledge you have received the formal observation
*If you have not yet had a formal observation, contact your evaluator.
For teachers who are required to have a second evaluation, you will hear from your evaluator soon to schedule observations. In the meantime we will continue to do walk-through and informal observations. Please let us know if there is something particular you would like us to observe.
STUDENT SUCCESS...
During our discussion about grading and reporting, several teachers noted that "Non-learning" behaviors are essential for student academic success. Research by The University of Chicago Consortium states "School performance is a complex phenomenon, shaped by a wide variety of factors. In addition to content knowledge and academic skills, students must develop sets of behaviors, skills, attitudes, and strategies that are crucial to academic performance in their classes" The research goes on to name these factors non-cognitive skills while acknowledging that few aspects of human behavior are devoid of cognition. The research identifies five categories of non-cognitive factors:
1. Academic Behaviors: Going to class, doing homework, organizing materials, participating in class, and studying.
2. Academic Perseverance: Grit, tenacity, delayed gratification, self-discipline, and self control.
3. Academic Mindsets: I belong to the academic environment, my ability and competence grow with my effort, I can succeed at this, and this work has value for me.
4. Learning Strategies: Study skills, metacognitive strategies, Self-regulated learning and goal setting
5. Social Skills: Interpersonal skills, Empathy and cooperation, assertion and responsibility.
Now the million dollar questions -How do these factors fit into our grading structures and school policies? And how do we positively affect these non-cognitive behaviors as we focus on academic standards? I suppose if we knew the answers to these questions and were able to overcome the outside influences affecting non-cognitive behaviors, every single one of our students would be highly successful at school.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts and our continued PLC conversations regarding students and their academic success at CHS.
If you are interested in learning more about the research and strategies to use to help support the non-cognitive behaviors, you might be interested in an upcoming 301workshop.
Title: Assisting Adolescents to Improve as Learners (Using the University of Chicago's research on non-cognitive behaviors)
Facilitator: Russ Randall
Location: CHS Room 301
Dates and Times: 4/4/17, 4/11/17, 4/18/17 3:00-5:00pm. Participants can attend 1,2 or all 3 workshops.
What do principals do at work on snow days? For grins and giggles click here.
Thank you for your continued work to support our CHS vision to be a vibrant school community that exemplifies academic excellence and model citizenship. Press on! Panther Strong!
Please acknowledge you have read this post by clicking here
Monday, January 16, 2017
Update ~ January 17-20, 2017
CELEBRATING SUCCESS
Hi and welcome back!
Thank you all for your focused attention and participation in the conversation about grading and reporting. As with the presentation of any information, review, old or new, it often provokes thought and for some, questions, curiosity and strong emotions, as was the case last Wednesday. I will preface the sharing of the "parking lot" feedback by reiterating the purpose of last week's faculty meeting and focused conversation. The purpose was to broaden our awareness about the topic of grading and reporting and to reflect on our individual as well as collective grading policies and practices. In all honesty, I do not believe that there is an imminent mandate to move to standards based grading. I do believe, however that we would be remiss if we ignored the topic and did not engage in conversation as a professional learning community. I also believe that teaching and learning are dynamic and thankfully ever evolving and since learning is a social endeavor, we will continue to reflect together on our teaching and learning practice.
Please find below the questions and comments from our meeting (Post-its on the Parking Lot posters)
Hi and welcome back!
Thank you all for your focused attention and participation in the conversation about grading and reporting. As with the presentation of any information, review, old or new, it often provokes thought and for some, questions, curiosity and strong emotions, as was the case last Wednesday. I will preface the sharing of the "parking lot" feedback by reiterating the purpose of last week's faculty meeting and focused conversation. The purpose was to broaden our awareness about the topic of grading and reporting and to reflect on our individual as well as collective grading policies and practices. In all honesty, I do not believe that there is an imminent mandate to move to standards based grading. I do believe, however that we would be remiss if we ignored the topic and did not engage in conversation as a professional learning community. I also believe that teaching and learning are dynamic and thankfully ever evolving and since learning is a social endeavor, we will continue to reflect together on our teaching and learning practice.
Please find below the questions and comments from our meeting (Post-its on the Parking Lot posters)
- How do we transition from a grade based economy to a learning based economy?
- How will we hold students accountable for the required work?
- Are teachers now going to be held accountable for how they grade?
- Consistency among teachers is not possible, we all teach differently...
- Can we develop a consistent school wide policy for accepting late work, NOT when students are absent?
- So, how's standards based grading working in FUSD elementary schools?
- How much more are teachers going to be asked to do?
- How does standards based grading impact autonomy in their classroom?
- Requiring complete consistency in grading limits freedom to teach in the way that works best for each of us. this is concerning.
- What do we do when we don't have set standards for each science content?
- Will colleges accept this on applications? GPAs? How does this translate for students' future plans?
- How would this affect College and Career Ready Standards?
- What is a "non'Learning" factor?
- How do we reduce the appearance of "subjective" grading and students being "hated" by a teacher and not getting a high standards grade?
- Who is going to pay for the work and time that would go into moving to standards grading? The shift would require a lot of time.
- What about a student who can master a subject, do they test out? What is the responsibility of the teacher.
- This will not work across all subjects, too broad of standards.
- Can you pass/ not fail? What can we do to get students to pass?
- Grades are cool and stuff.
- Thanks for addressing this issue.
- I wish there was a way to motivate students without the threat of a grade, or "This will be on the test"
- Aren't all the non- learning factors actually factors in their learning?
- Is there a way we can make a compromise? Have seperate standards to grade "non-learning" activities and maybe just add weight to the assessment learning?
As we discussed briefly, our mindsets about grading are deeply rooted and powerful. I look forward to our exploration of the topic and finding the answers to our questions, all the while working together toward enhancing our culture of learning at CHS.
PLANNING AHEAD
For your planning purposes below is the schedule for February 3 (Winter Pep Assembly)
Also on Wednesday, February 22 will will have a guest speaker assembly for our students. The assembly will be in the auditorium, with one assembly for 9th and 10th grade and the other for 11th and 12th. I will send the bell schedule for the 22 in next week's PantherReport, but wanted you to be aware of the assembly date.
Period
|
Time
|
Duration
|
1
|
7:50-8:40
|
45 + 5(Pulse)
|
2
|
8:45-9:30
|
45
|
3
|
9:35-10:20
|
45
|
4/5
|
10:25-11:10
|
45
|
Lunch
|
11:10-11:40
|
30
|
6
|
11:45-12:30
|
45
|
7
|
12:35-1:20
|
45
|
Assembly
|
1:25-2:20
|
55
|
Have a great week and Press on! Panther Strong!
Monday, January 9, 2017
Update ~ January 9-13, 2016
WHAT TO SAY WHEN YOUR COLLEAGUE ASKS "WHATEVER HAPPENED WITH THAT A+ APPLICATION?...
Signed, sealed delivered, it's done! We officially submitted the application at noon today. Thank you to everyone for your early contributions and a huge shout out to the Allstar Authors and Editors: Chelsea Lohr, Mike Vogler, and Terry Wilson. Thank you also to our contributing authors: Les Hauer, Derek Born, Russ Randall, Andrew Benford, Christine Sapio, Eric Freas, Jennifer Hamilton, and Becky Gonzales. You are awesome! Chelsea is going to reformat the looooooong 100 page document and it will be available for anyone who would like to read the application in its entirety.
The application included an overview of CHS and our journey over the past five years, highlighting:
- Collaborative professional culture (Professional Learning Community and Collaborative Teams)
- Shared Leadership
- Talented, smart and dedicated teachers and staff
- Prideful student body
- Student participation in athletics, clubs and activities
- Slow and steady increased academic achievement (AZMerit and decreased failure rates)
- Curriculum analysis (Essential Learning Outcomes and Common Assessments)
- Increased student engagement
- Increased graduation rates: We went from a 74% grad rate in 2012 to 86% in 2016
- Robust programs and programs of study: CIT, CTE, Dual Enrollment, CAVIAT, Puente Language Institute, Robotics, Band & Orchestra, AP Scholars Program, LINK Crew, Student Council, JROTC, Specialized SPED programs, Transition to Work, Etc..
- Innovative instructional practices; Math department implementation of inquiry based instruction , co-teaching, team teaching.
- Implementation of Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS)
- Significant decrease in minor and major discipline referrals: 971 in 2012 to 594 in 2016
- Multi-tiered Systems of support: Tier-1, Tier-2 and Tier -3
- Implementation of a secondary model of Response to Intervention (RTI): Intervention team, Success 101, Block Algebra, Connections Room, Homework Clubs.
- Using data to make decisions
- Department Chairs active role in book studies and leadership
- Counseling department adoption of the American School Counselor Association Model (ASCA) with a laser like focus on college and career readiness
- Active participation in school-wide committees: Master Board, School Structures, Graduation and Presence Patrol, PBIS, GDMs, Attendance, etc.
- Relentless pursuit of excellence and desire to see our vision to create and maintain a vibrant school community that exemplifies academic excellence and model citizenship drive everything we do.
Wow! We have a lot to brag about...
So now what? We wait until January 27, to find out if our school is selected for a two day site visit.
VISITORS
For the next two weeks (January 9-19) CHS is hosting three visiting high school teachers from India. Our visiting teachers teach high school math and science at Woodstock International School in Landour, India a small hill town in the foothills of the Himalaya Mountains. Tarun and Nishtha are in Flagstaff through a partnership with the Science and Learning Center at NAU and will be working with David Tollefson and Nicole Wescott while they are here at CHS. Should you see them in the hallways please extend a warm CHS welcome or stop by the classrooms to say hello.
NEW SMILE
I am pleased to welcome our new counseling secretary, Tracey Bouvier. Stop by the counseling office to say hi and join me in welcoming Tracey to the Panther Family.
DATES TO REMEBER
January 11, 1:15pm Faculty PD in the cafeteria
Press on! Panther Strong!
Please acknowledge you have read this post by clicking here
Monday, January 2, 2017
January 3-6, 2017
LET'S DO THIS...
As winter break steps aside to make way for the spring semester I find myself once again conflicted. I am both excited and melancholy all at once as I think about giving up the freedom the holiday break affords and giving way to the routines of the upcoming school days. I have a sneaky suspicion you may feel the same. I am mostly excited and look forward to the new year with great expectations. I look forward to coming back together and greeting our students with renewed energy and sustaining the positive momentum of the school year.
Welcome back, happy new year and cheers to our relentless pursuit of excellence!
WHAT'S UP THIS WEEK?...
Fortunately we can expect a quiet week. You should anticipate very little movement with respect to student schedule changes, however there are a handful of students who may need to make schedule changes. Counselors will be meeting with these students asap.
WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF THE MONTH?...
1/11 ~ Faculty Meeting P.D. 1:15pm Mini-theater
1/16 ~ HOLIDAY NO SCHOOL
1/30-2/3 ~ Winter Spirit Week
2/3 ~ Winter Pep Assembly
PLEASE REMEMBER TO...
*Greet students at the door
*Teach your best lessons everyday
*Make questions more important than answers
*Press on! Panther Strong!
*Enjoy the journey
Please acknowledge you have read this post by clicking here
As winter break steps aside to make way for the spring semester I find myself once again conflicted. I am both excited and melancholy all at once as I think about giving up the freedom the holiday break affords and giving way to the routines of the upcoming school days. I have a sneaky suspicion you may feel the same. I am mostly excited and look forward to the new year with great expectations. I look forward to coming back together and greeting our students with renewed energy and sustaining the positive momentum of the school year.
Welcome back, happy new year and cheers to our relentless pursuit of excellence!
WHAT'S UP THIS WEEK?...
Fortunately we can expect a quiet week. You should anticipate very little movement with respect to student schedule changes, however there are a handful of students who may need to make schedule changes. Counselors will be meeting with these students asap.
WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF THE MONTH?...
1/11 ~ Faculty Meeting P.D. 1:15pm Mini-theater
1/16 ~ HOLIDAY NO SCHOOL
1/30-2/3 ~ Winter Spirit Week
2/3 ~ Winter Pep Assembly
PLEASE REMEMBER TO...
*Greet students at the door
*Teach your best lessons everyday
*Make questions more important than answers
*Press on! Panther Strong!
*Enjoy the journey
Please acknowledge you have read this post by clicking here