The Academy Weekly Memo: October 1-5, 2023

 

Together: "Unity is strength... when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved." - Mattie Stepanek

I. Praise and Thanks: 

• Mr. Garcia would like to thank the following teammates for exemplifying excellence from our Portrait of a Lab School Team Member/Educator:

• Thank you Dr. Snow, Mrs. Reynolds, and Ms. Britt for making the effort to order Hispanic Heritage Month decor for our school.  

• Thank you Ms. Clayton, Ms. Martinez, and Ms. Stemper for helping me put up these decorations around the building.

II. This Week's Events:

Monday, October 2: ORANGE COLOR DAY: KINDERGARTEN

• 8:15 a.m.-Leadership Team Planning Meeting

Tuesday, October 3: PURPLE COLOR DAY: KINDERGARTEN

• 9:00 a.m.-Chancellor Everts/Mr. & Mrs. Baker Visit
• 3:00 p.m.-SIT Meeting

Wednesday, October 4: BROWN COLOR DAY: KINDERGARTEN

• 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.-K-1 Farm Field Trip 
• 9:30 a.m.-Care Team Meeting
• 3:00 p.m.-Curriculum Coaches' Meeting

Thursday, October 5: PINK COLOR DAY KINDERGARTEN

• 8:15 a.m.-Schoolwide Morning Meeting via Zoom
• 3:00 p.m.-Solutions Summit

Friday, October 6: 🌈 RAINBOW 🌈 COLOR DAY: KINDERGARTEN

• Enrichment Friday
• Featured Activities-
• 9:00 a.m.-LEAD Girls-5th Grade
• 9:00 a.m.-App State Office of Diversity Monthly Read Aloud
• Student Teachers Regional Meeting
• 11:15 a.m.-Lab School Teacher Virtual Meet-Up

III. Reminders and Updates:

A. Chancellor/Bakers Visit: IMPORTANT 🖤💛

• As shared at our faculty meeting last week, this is a very important visit. We may have special additional guests joining us on that day. 
• Please remember that the front parking lots are not to be used by faculty and staff on that day unless you have a handicapped parking pass. 
• Be prepared for an impromptu visit to your classroom or workspace. 
• This special visit is an opportunity for all to highlight the great things happening for our mini-Mountaineers. Everyone must make extra efforts to be on point that day and show our Mountaineer Pride!
• I will be visiting classrooms briefly on Monday to share with our mini-Mountaineers a little information about the Chancellor, so they are aware who she is when she visits on Tuesday. 

B. Solutions Summit: Schoolwide Recess

• A solutions summit is an opportunity for individuals to come together to address challenges, engage in proactive discussion in order to build solutions for specific problem. 
• I know with the many things we are taking on this year with our new innovative lab school model that there are challenges and concerns. The solution summit is designed for individuals to build solutions together on a problem of practice. We will meet monthly to share and discuss solutions on the things we are implementing at the Academy. 
• The solutions summit is optional and all are invited to participate. We will gather in the STEM Lab on Thursday from 3:00-4:00 p.m. Any one who wishes to share solutions and ideas  on Schoolwide Recess is welcome to attend. 

C. EC Schedule

• An individual EC student's schedule is not to be changed in any way unless direct communication has been given from either Shaylee Rogers-Moore, Barbara Lewis, or myself. 
• If you have any questions about an EC student's schedule or IEP, then please seek out Shaylee, Barbara, or Sean.
• Recently, some adjustments have been made by our EC Department for the schedules for some of our EC Students. This was done in order to ensure that all of our EC Students service-delivery times were being met based on individual student needs. 
• Shaylee Rogers-Moore has communicated these changes with Curriculum Coaches and the Support Team. The changes will go into effect for this Monday. 
• Curriculum Coaches will communicate with their respective grade spans on any changes. 

D. PTO

• Our PTO is working very hard this year to support our Academy. 
• Be on the lookout for T-Shirt Order Forms to land your way. 
• Please complete the PTO Membership Form and pay the $5 fee. Please place completed forms in the PTO Mailbox in the Main Office Workroom. Let's have 100% Teacher/Staff Membership in the Academy PTO! 
• The PTO has also graciously offered "PTO Office Hours" to provide direct support and help to all teachers and staff members. They have placed forms in the various workrooms. There is a QR Code on that flyer for you to sign up for a service. 

E. Blue Card Training

• We are working on plans to provide either training or re-training for selected staff for CPI Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Training. This is training in safe restraints. Selected staff will be notified once dates have been set for this training. 

F. Bathroom Visit Timing

• Homeroom Teachers, if possible please be sure that students have visited the bathroom before Specials. I know time is tight and any effort is appreciated to make sure Specialists have time for students to complete learning in their classrooms as well. Thanks!

G. Lab School Virtual Meet-Up:

• This Friday, teachers will virtually meet up with our sister lab school colleagues via Zoom. 
• Our purpose is for lab schools to have time to connect, share ideas, and network. These sessions will take place throughout the school year. 
• The first topic will be on Learning Lab/Student Engagement.
• Specialists, ML Teacher, and EC Teachers are to choose what Grade Span Zoom Session to attend. 
• This is a great opportunity for our App State Lab Schools to share and learn together. 
• I will send Calendar Invitations with the Zoom link.
• Here are the topics and dates for the Lab School Virtual Meet-Ups:

• AMF K-1 and 2-3 teams and Elkin 2nd grade

• AMF 4-5 and Elkin 3-4 team

• #1 - Learning Lab/Exploration Block and Student Engagement

• Friday, October 6th, 11:15-11:45

• #2 - Reading Workshop Material Sharing

• Friday, December 1st, 11:15-11:45

• #3 - Co-teaching strategies

• Friday, January 12th, 11:15-11:45

• #4 - Differentiated core

• Friday, March 1st, 11:15-11:45

H. Mental Health Training

• This past Tuesday, I shared information on the state required mental health training for all faculty and staff. 
• Click this link for access information. Please be sure to complete these required trainings in a timely manner. 

I. Security Awareness Training: 

• Remember to complete the required Security Awareness Training from App State by October 27. 
• Emails have been sent by App State with links to this required training.