The Academy Weekly Memo: November 20-24, 2024

 

Together: "How you learn has nothing to do with how brilliant you are."-Henry Winkler

I. Praise and Thanks:

• Thanks to Alicia Kinzer for continued willingness to support her colleagues and collaborate with them! I appreciate Alicia's consistent commitment to The Portrait element of "Working in collaborative teams and take collective responsibility for student learning."
• Thanks to Marla Cantrell for her leadership in preparing the Angel Tree for our families in need. I appreciate Marla demonstrating The Portrait element of "seeing possibilities instead of limitations" when it comes to serving our families.
• Thanks to Suzanne Smith and Alix Denny for demonstrating instructional leadership during PLTs. I observed them both sharing a video they created of a lesson rehearsal. I appreciate Suzanne and Alix both demonstrating The Portrait element of "Being committed to co-teaching in a team-based learning community."

II. This Week's Events:

Monday, November 20

• Parent-Teacher Conferences
• 8:15 a.m.-Leadership Team Weekly Planning Meeting

Tuesday, November 21

• Parent-Teacher Conferences
• 3:00 p.m.-SIT Meeting
• No Design Team Meetings Due to Parent-Teacher Conferences

Wednesday, November 22:

• Leave Day
• No meetings or workshops planned for this day.

Thursday, November 23:

• Thanksgiving Holiday

Friday, November 24

• Thanksgiving Break Holiday

III. Updates and Reminders:

A. Board of Governors' Meeting Follow-Up/Review

• For those not present at teacher meeting on Friday, the Board of Governors' released a 122-page report on the academic achievement of all lab schools in the state. They are not pleased with the low proficiency of test scores on our End of Grade Tests. All lab schools are require to develop an improvement plan by late January. The plan has to reflect our steps for increasing proficiency in test scores. The Board of Governors are holding all university chancellors accountable for these plans.
• As I learn more details about next steps for the required improvement plan for the Board of Governors, I shall share with all. In the meantime, continue to remain laser-focused on our students, instructional framework, and curriculum essentials. 
• Let's use this as our opportunity to demonstrate our committed excellence, collective efficacy, and instructional strengths. We can do this and we will prove the naysayers wrong. 

B. Angel Tree: A message from Marla Cantrell

Teachers and staff,

It is that time of year for the Angel Tree.  The Angel Tree is located outside of the Media Center and is intended to bless families during the holidays who need extra help.  Each child (and his/her siblings under age 18) has 3 ornaments on the tree.  Here is how you can help:  (1) choose as many angel ornaments off of the tree as you’d like.  Each ornament lists the child’s age and what he or she needs or wants. (2) Buy the item(s),  (3) wrap them and (4) put the ornament on the front of the package with the number showing.  Then return the wrapped gift to room 101. All gifts need to be at school no later than Friday, December 8.  

C. Hospitality Design Team Update: 

• Congratulations to Alicia Kinzer! Her name was picked in the random drawing for a $25 Amazon Gift Card! Thanks to all for who have paid their hospitality dues! 
• Please be sure to see Jessica Hill's email on other fun activities! 

D. Save the Date! : #InstantPD

• #InstantPD returns on Tuesday, November 28 from 3:00-3:15 p.m.
• This is quick, informal PD that you can pick up on your way home from teammates. It's only 15 minutes!
• Suzanne Smith and Alix Denny will lead the first session on the topic of observational checklists!