Together. Together. Together. Together. Together.

I. Praise and Thanks:

A huge wave of gratitude for all Academy Team Members! I am so grateful for everything being done to prepare for our first day of school together at the Academy. You are all truly making it happen. This is going to a great school year #TOGETHER with our mini-Mountaineers!

II. Portrait of a Lab School Team:

This year, we are all called to uphold the Portrait of a Lab School Team Member or Educator as it applies to our respective roles.
A copy of it is linked here.
Thank you for your commitment to our lab school vision, mission, and core values. We will refer to the Portrait throughout the school year.
If you have not signed and returned to me, then please do so as soon as possible.

III. This Week's Events At A Glance:

Monday, August 28: 🎉🥳 First Day of School!

Tuesday, August 29

Wednesday, August 30

Thursday, August 31

Friday, September 1: 🎉🥳 Enrichment Friday

9:00 a.m.-Student Assembly featuring North Forsyth High School Band and Cheerleaders
1:40 p.m.-Grades 3-5 Club Showcase via Zoom
Amie Snow has created Personalized Learning Plans and shared via Google Doc with Classroom Teachers. Curriculum Coaches, and Interventionists. They are also linked here.

Teacher Schedules: Press Tabs on Spreadsheet for Schedules for PLTs, Planning, and Specialist Co-Planning
Teachers must be present with students for only Morning Meeting, Schoolwide Recess, and Closing Meeting/Dismissal.

III. Reminders and Updates:

A. Faculty Meeting This Tuesday.

B. Mastery Connect and Planbook

C. Remind Sign-Up

Please be sure to sign up for the Academy Faculty/Staff Remind Group as soon as possible.
You can use this link to sign up in addition to the directions I emailed to earlier this week.
I have another App State Football Giveaway for the September 2nd game at Boone. I will be using Remind only for this giveaway, so please sign up soon!
Everyone must sign up by Monday, August 28 before school starts.

D. Design Team Sign-Up

All Academy Faculty and Staff Members are required to be on a Design Team.
If you are already on SIT, then you are not required to be on a Design Team.
Darron Daniels sent out an email with information and a link to the sign-up form.
Please complete by Monday, August 28.

E. Car Tags

F. Fire Safety and Classrooms

Darron Daniels has visited each classroom to inspect for safety purposes. Please be sure to follow up on any directives he shared regarding your classroom.
Remember that less is more when it comes to furniture and space.
Learning can take anyplace on our beautiful campus. Remember that outdoors and hallways can be used for teaching and learning. You can also use the front lobby, media center, and learning lab.
When you take your students out of their scheduled classroom, then please notify the Main Office.

IV. PDPs (Professional Development Plans)

All teachers (Curriculum Coaches, EC Teachers, Specialists, EC Teachers, ML Teachers, & Interventionists) must complete a PDP and meet with an administrator (Sean Gaillard or Barbara Lewis) by September 8.
Barbara and I will reach out to the teachers on our observation/evaluation caseload to schedule a PDP Conference. We must complete that conference by September 8. Additionally, Beginning Teachers and their assigned Mentors will meet together with either Barbara or me for the PDP Conference.
As I shared earlier, teachers must have 3 PDP Goals on the following:

Linked here is the Observation and Evaluation Schedule.
Prior to completing the PDP, complete the the NCEES Self-Assessment. You will complete the Teacher Rubric-Fillable and rank yourself accordingly to each standard. It is linked here. Make sure you are under the "Resources" link.
The PDP is linked here. Make sure you are under the "Resources" link. Complete the PDP prior to the PDP Conference with Barbara or me.

IV. People Admin and Institutional Goals

All SHRA employees and school counselors, social workers, nurses, teacher support coaches, school improvement coaches, administrators, directors will follow the SHRA process.
Staff Performance Plans must be completed by September 8 in People Admin.
Linked here is the Evaluation Schedule for SHRA.
Linked here are the Institutional Goals. Make sure the weights add up to 50% if you are not a supervisor.
Linked here are directions and videos to assist with creating a performance plan in People Admin. Use the menu on the left to access what you need for support.
When you are finished in People Admin, press "Save Draft." Do not hit "Complete" yet. E-mail Barbara or Sean when you ready so we can approve.
When I have completed making everyone a "Co-Reviewer" in People Admin, I shall email to notify that you are ready to begin the process.
You must have 3-4 Individual Goals listed in People Admin. Make sure that those goals are meaningful, achievable, and aligned with the Academy's vision and mission.

One More Thing...Maybe Two Things...

After 32 years in Education, I still get butterflies before the First Day of School.
I don't have as many this year because I believe and know we have such an amazing team in this gig together for our mini-Mountaineers. We are together and that keeps those butterflies in me a little more calm.
Thanks for making it happen! I am so proud of each of you and I am grateful.
Remember, it might not seem like it fits, but it's going to work together just like Dolly Parton and the surviving Beatles did with the "Let It Be" Remake.

The Academy at Middle Fork Memo Blog