Update ~ November 27-December 1, 2017

Welcome back! 
I hope you had a wonderful break and are ready for our gradual descent to the end of a successful semester.

THIS WEEK...
Just a reminder that we have our first day of Instruction Rounds on Tuesday, November 28.  Please meet your team in the mini theater at the beginning of your prep period.  Also please note, that because we are meeting on prep periods, we will NOT meet for a faculty meeting on Tuesday. 

ASSESSMENT...
One of our goals this year is to develop our collective philosophy, policies, and procedures about assessments.  A healthy assessment environment requires that we begin to see assessment through new eyes and put in place the mechanisms that will make a healthy assessment environment possible.  We want to help students build confidence about assessments and connect assessments (whether of or for learning) to our teaching and learning practices.  Our classroom assessment posters were created to help support this goal. Please remember to post the "Take a deep breath..." sign and encourage our students to understand that assessment is part of the learning process.

STUDENT SUCCESS...
If it has been a while since you have reviewed the IEP or 504 plans of your students, please take a few minutes to familiarize yourselves with these plans.  As you know many of our students require accommodations for testing and or modified grading plans and as the semester winds down, it is a good idea to review individual plans.  Should you need help accessing, or interpreting the plans, please contact Patty Harper.

COLLABORATIVE TEAMS...

Remeber to submit your subject area revised Essential Learning Outcomes as well as a copy of your Collaborative Team's group norms or working agreements. You can submit these via Google Docs to Cris and I or a hard copy will work just as well.  These are due on or before December 15.

LEAVE REQUESTS...
Please look ahead, and if you know in advance you are going to have to call off for any reason: Doctor's appointments, conferences, hunting, traveling, field trips, coaching, etc. Please, Please, Please submit your leave request as soon as possible. Thank you!

RINGING IN THE HOLIDAYS...
You are all invited to join us for our annual Holiday Party hosted by Cris Holmes, Steve Bonderud and Stacie Zanzucchi. An invitation will be in your boxes this week.
What: Holiday Happy Hour and Hors d' oeuvres
When: December 10 at 4:30pm
Where: The home of Martin and Stacie Zanzucchi 5150 Country Club Dr.

Please acknowledge you have read this post by clicking here

Update ~ November 20,21, 2017

CHS has the best teachers and staff in the world.  I am so grateful! 

Have a wonderful week and well deserved holiday break!

Update ~ November 13-17, 2017

CELEBRATING SUCCESS...

"To me, the sole hope of human salvation lies in teaching." - George Bernard Shaw

Thank you, CHS Teachers, for coming together last week during your prep hour to learn about Instructional Rounds. Your warm reception, willingness, and courage to embark on the next path of this journey is exciting.
The opportunity to observe and interact with each other in a non-evaluative way to improve teaching and learning means everyone wins.  Few would argue that when a collection of minds and hearts works together, great things happen.  We have so much expertise right here within our walls and participating in rounds will be a way to share this expertise and make great things happen.  There is no doubt that the journey of continuous improvement is hard work.  We have to remember that the fruits of this hard work are improved student learning and a better and brighter future.   I hope you find joy in the journey.
Go Us!
Please mark your calendars for Rounds on Tuesday, November 28 during prep hour. 

HONORING NATIVE AMERICANS...
November is National Native American month.  This week we will honor Native Americans with our CHS Native American Heritage week.

Also this week...
11/13 ~ CHS Gold Team invites you all to Hiking & Happy Hour.  Meet at 3:00pm in the North Commons to join the Hike and Downtown at Collins around 4:30pm
11/14 ~ Faculty Meeting Special Guest Presentation 2:45 pm

BELATED NOTE...
To all service men and women, you deserve all the honor, admiration, and gratitude. Thank you for serving and Happy Veteran's day!

Please acknowledge you have read this post by clicking here

Update ~ November 6-10, 2017

CELEBRATING SUCCESS...
This year's college application campaign was a great success.  Over 90% of our seniors completed a college application and those who knew they were going in the military or trade school completed one just for practice.  Thank you all for your support for this important event. A special shout-out to our counselors for organizing this event and to Laura Locke and her Interior Design students for bringing our halls alive to the sound of college and reminding students that anything is possible. Thanks too, to all the teachers who joined in the door decorating contest. It was really fun seeing all the creativity and enthusiasm and hearing students talk about college and life after high school.

TPEC Q & A...
(Old news for some, new news for others)
Q ~ Do I have to use one of the Lesson Plan Templates on the Blog?

A ~ No, the templates are there as a guide and include the components of an effective lesson plan and provide a framework for the flow of an effective lesson. I added one more this week, it is called Lesson Plan-Formative Assessment.
According to the TPEC:
" Lesson plan contains daily objectives that are aligned with current state adopted standards. Lessons must outline specific learning activities that include formative assessment. The teacher was clearly prepared ahead of time and materials were ready and well organized".

Q ~ Do I have to use the big white poster to write the Content Objective?

A ~ No, but the Content Objective is the heart of the lesson and should be visible and referred to throughout the lesson. More importantly, the students should know the purpose of the day's lesson or the "Where am I going?"  part of lesson.  The Content Objective helps describe clearly what students will know, understand, be able to do as a result of participating in the lesson, and is the learning goal or intention of day's lesson.  

NOVEMBER...

There's some research out there that says November is one of the hardest months for educators.  The pizazz and excitement of the beginning of the school year have worn off and the reality of grading papers, trying to make lessons exciting, difficult parents, and the holidays approaching, teachers, students, and administrators can get the blues. So what can we do about this? "Find your tribe," says Wendy Turner a teacher from Delaware. When you are feeling frustrated or down, connecting with colleagues or friends is important and can be a positive source of comfort and support.  Our CHS, True Colors Gold Team is organizing a get together to help us get the mojo back.  Hope you can join the Gold Team for a hike and happy hour on Monday, November 13.  Details out soon! Oh, and save the date for our annual CHS Holiday party, December 10, 4:30 pm. Cheers!

SPEAKING OF NOVEMBER...
Prep Hour meetings are this Tuesday, November 7. Teachers who have 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th-period prep, will go to room # 507 Laura Locke's room) and those who have 6th or 7th-period prep will go to room #306 (Derek Born's room).
ALSO...
We will have a faculty meeting on Tuesday, November 14 at 2:45pm.  Please mark your calendars. This meeting will be a special presentation by the attorney for Udall and Shumway. Cathleen M Dooley.  Cathleen's presentation will focus on educating students with disabilities for general education teachers. Please let me know in advance if you are unable to attend this meeting. 

Press on!  Panther Strong!

Please acknowledge you have read this post by clicking here.