January/February 2018

This Week
Monday
* Jenny training

Tuesday
* 7:40 READ Act support in the Gold Mine room
* Jenny training

Wednesday
* SD: Team planning

Thursday
* 2nd Grade team planning day

Friday
* 6:00-8:00 Sock Hop

GRE Apple Award Recipients 
Stacie Martino and Jenn Dale will be representing GRE as our Apple Award Recipients!  Congratulations girls!

Reminders
* Norms Reminders:

- If you would like Gail to help you gather books please see her on Monday or before school.
-  Please provide Gail 1 weeks notice to pull books.
- Please walk your students out of the building at the end of the day.

* If you have students who need to be put on a READ plan, we will write these together on February 6th. We will have a sub to cover your class. Libby will share the schedule with you next week.

* If you need support in updating READ plans, Libby will be in the Gold Mine room on Tuesday, January 30th at 7:40. Please bring your data and laptop.

Please welcome our new EA, Anna Woolsey. Anna will take over for Ashley Peterson who is our new RtI assistant.

Kindie Technology CoTeaching
Dot & Dash are back! Our kindie programmers used voice commands to give a sequence of steps for kindie robots to travel from one specific spot to another on a Twister board. To further understand the importance of sequencing and following commands, students explored programming Dot & Dash to make noises, change light sequences, move forward and backward, as well as turning left and right. To complete our week, kindie friends challenged themselves to program Dash to complete the same sequence of events they had on a Twister board. For those that mastered that quickly, kindergarten partners programmed Dash to make shapes on the Twister board and then self selected challenge paths for their partners.

Happy Birthday
Dixie Litzsinger - February 2nd
Jen Borchert - February 3rd

Go For the Gold
• Thank you Leadership Team for your thoughtful contributions!
• Thank you Tobey for staying late and ensuring our plumbing problem was fixed!
• Thank you Fat Friday team for a fun, delicious spread!

Golden Nuggets
Morning Announcements: Dalcerri
Lounge Duty: Broecker/Dalcerri

January 

This Week
Monday
* Jenny mid years

Tuesday
* 7:30 Leadership Team meeting
* Libby mid years

Wednesday
* 7:30 Book Study
* Jenny mid years

Thursday
* 4th Grade plan day
* Jenny admin meeting

Friday
* Libby mid years
* Fat Friday - Super Bowl Party!

Reminders
* Please make sure your blogs are updated for January. Please include links to math videos for parents.

* Please send Libby the names of all students who did not meet the cut score in December for Istation by Friday. All current READ plans should be updated with MOY data. Please see Libby if you need help.

* If you would like Gail to pull books, please give her your list on Mondays and give her a week's notice.

Happy Birthday
Stephanie Braden - January 25th

1st Grade Technology CoTeaching
To build schema for our Famous Americans and American Symbols unit, first graders learned how to access assigned books within Epic Books about Martin Luther King. Jr. First graders took screenshots of pictures that illustrated important moments in Dr. King’s life. Through Spark Video, they organized their screenshots and recorded their new learning about this American Hero.

Student Sample #1



Student Sample #2

Go For the Gold
* Thank you Lauren Rayens for facilitating the Spelling Bee!
* Thank you Kristi Barta for organizing subs on a non-Barta day!
* Thank you Karen Warner and Karen Petty for the use of your spaces for the Spelling Bee!
* Thank you Jeannette Shepperd for helping during the Spelling Bee!

Golden Nuggets
Morning Announcements: Hawk
Lounge Duty: Poli/Westra

January

This Week

Monday

No School

Tuesday

Wednesday

* SD: Data review, CITE rubric

Thursday

* Jenny admin meeting

* Fifth grade plan day

Friday

* 9:00 5th grade transition meetings

* 10:00-11:00 Open enrollment presentation
* 2:15 Spelling Bee

Reminders

* READ Plans must be updated in Alpine by Friday. Click here to see directions on how to do this. If you have students who  fell below the cut score for Winter, we will write these new plans together the first week in February. Please send Libby the names of the students who need to be put on a plan by Friday. See Libby if you have any questions.

* For staff development this week, please bring your mid year reading data. We will also discuss the CITE rubric. 

* We are excited that Kristi will continue to work her 110 next year. This requires her to modify her schedule this spring. Please note the days she will be here on the calendar.

* The Spelling Bee will be Friday at 2:15 in the gym for grades 3-5. This date was changed from Thursday. 

Kindness Week
Kindness week is quickly approaching! This year Kindness Week will be February 12th-15th.
• On Thursday, February 15th, we will have our door decorating contest. This is an optional activity for teachers - you do not have to participate! If you would like to, have your class decorate your classroom door in a way that represents kindness. We will have a few judges walk around in the afternoon on the 15th, and pick a winner for K-2, and a winner for 3-5. Remember the door can be decorated any day that week leading up to the contest.
• Also, each teacher will have a class set of the Kindness Checklist to pass out to students on Monday, February 12th. (These will be in your copy box in the workroom.) Students will be challenged to complete as many of these acts as they can throughout the week.
• Please let Bev or Kylee know if you have any questions!

    

Happy Birthday
Catherine Graham - January 20th

Welcome


Please help us welcome Kym Koford. Kym will be supporting classrooms, supervising lunch/recess, and performing copy room duties.

2nd Grade Technology CoTeaching
Second graders researched severe storms using the app, Epic Books, and focused on the important idea of, "in my own words". They used the thinking strategy of determining importance to select and read meaningful digital resources that would provide information matching their reading purpose. In their own words, students synthesized their research about what the storm looks like, how it impacts people, animals, and the environment using Spark Video. As the last slide of their Spark Video presentations, students reflected and self assessed their ability to explain and share important ideas in their own words using a Critical Thinking rubric.

Student sample #1


Student Sample #2


Go For the Gold
• Thank you Karen Petty for the amazing assembly! What a powerful way to teach students history through images and music!
• Thank you teachers for an incredible work ethic during our PLC day. We appreciate your willingness to grow and learn together!
• Thank you Catherine Graham, Jamie Marchese, and Ashley Dalcerri for sharing your experiences!
• Thank you Allison Hawk for sharing the activity!
• Thank you Stephanie Brown and Jamie Marchese for helping with interviews!

Golden Nuggets
Morning Announcements: Broecker
Lounge Duty: Holtzer/Kramer

January

This Week
Monday
Welcome back!

Tuesday

Wednesday
* SD: No staff development

Thursday
* Kindie planning day
* 2:20 All school sing along
* Jenny admin meeting

Friday
* PLC Day - Click here for the PLC Day agenda

Reminders
* We are going to have an all-school (1st - 5th grades) sing along on Thursday to teach students about Black history month through music. We want this to be a powerful experience for our students. Please bring your class to the gym at 2:20. The gym will be tight, so please remind your students to come in quietly and calmly. Music will be playing as students enter. This assembly will last about 30 minutes. A seating chart will be shared with you this week. Kindie team, we will schedule a time with you for older students to sing to your students.

* Please sign up for your 40 minute mid-year conference on the calendar on Anita's desk. The calendar will be there on Tuesday.

* Teachers in grades 3-5, please continue to track accommodations for CMAS.

3rd Grade Technology CoTeaching
Geography problems were analyzed and communicated by third grade researchers. Using both digital and paper resources students determined causes, solutions, and implications of their chosen geographical problem. To synthesize individual research, students created an infographic using Piktochart that paired text and graphics to communicate their findings to others. Infographics were then shared digitally so students can learn about other geographical problems and their implications on people and the environment. Please checkout the infographics below. If you click on them they will open in a larger screen.

Student Sample #1
Student Sample #2

Happy Birthday
Leah Clements - January 10th

Go For the Gold
* Thank you Bev Holtzer for buying 5th grade lunch!

Golden Nuggets
Morning Announcements: Lautenbach
Lounge Duty: Office Staff

DECEMBER

This Week
Monday
* EPR help Session @ 7:45 in the Gold Mine Room
* Staff lunch provided by the Berge family
* Wear plaid!

Tuesday
* Snack attack in the lounge
* Ugly sweater day

Wednesday
* SD: Holiday love in the office conference room
* Wear red, green, or blue

Thursday
* Qdoba Taco Bar
* Wear sparkle, shimmer, or shine
* Release EPRs by 4:00

Friday
Happy holidays!

Reminders:
* EPR reminder -- If a child is on an ALP, ELLP, READ Plan, IEP, or 504, a teacher may select a box on that child's EPR where any of the four components of the GVCs or grade level outcomes have been modified as suggested by his/her plan.  The teacher will check the box that reads "personalized plan."  This shows up as an asterisk beside the rating with the identifying "personalized plan" language to guide parents.

* Teacher grants were directly deposited if you typically receive direct deposit.  Please check your check stub and let me know if you have questions.

* Below are the READ Plan cut scores. If you have students who fell below the cut score on their MOY assessment, we will write their plan in January. There is no 30 day window to reassess for MOY.

* Teachers, please remind students which door they are to exit the building at the end of the day.

* Please see the current box top contest being put on by PTO.

4th Grade Technology CoTeaching
Fourth grade nonfiction readers were busy this week. Students worked on digital literacy skills while completing a performance task. Each student was given six resources that provided clues to help solve a mystery. Students had to use the various digital resources including, newspaper articles, pictures, maps, and matrixes to determine where a mystery fossil had been discovered. As students discovered clues they recorded them on a digital chart. Once all the clues had been found, students synthesized their findings within an infographic. Most fourth graders are still working on their infographics, but please check out some "work in progress" samples below.

Student Sample #1
Student Sample #2


Happy Birthday

Hays Padrnos - December 25th

Melissa Robart - January 7th

Go For the Gold

* Thank you Stacie Martino for hosting our holiday party!
* Thank you Karen for a wonderful concert!
* Thank you Anita and Christi for a great kindergarten registration night!
* Thank you Kristi, Jenny, Libby, & Allison for covering classes.

Golden Nuggets

Morning Announcements: Rayens

Lounge Duty: Evans/Carmack

DECEMBER

This Week
Monday
* 7:45 EPR help session in the Gold Mine room

Tuesday
* Leadership team meeting in the Gold Mine room
* 2nd grade plan day

Wednesday
* SD - EPR collaboration in the Gold Mine room

Thursday
* 1st grade plan day
* 12:00 Jenny admin meeting
5:00-7:00 Kindergarten orientation

Friday
* 9:00-10:00 Choir dress rehearsal - Grades 3-5 only
* 4:00 Holiday party
* 7:00 Choir performance

Reminders
EPRs
* Click here for expectations for comments and basic navigation strategies. All students should receive a personal comment and comments when they are not meeting standards. Please remember that report cards should not be a surprise.
* Kristi will host a help session will be held on Monday, December 11 at 7:45 in the Gold Mine room
* Report cards need to be shared with specials, sped, Kristi, Jamie, and Stephanie Brown.
* Report cards should be completed and submitted by the end of the day on Thursday, December 21st.

Istation
* Administer to all students 12/4-12/15 for the middle of the year window.

Safety
* All teachers must walk their students out of the building at the end of the day due to safety issues.  Please be at the front of your line or work with the teacher next door to have one person cover the front of the line and the other the back of the line.

Holidays
* Please let the office know when you are having your holiday party by clicking here.
* Our staff party is Friday, December 15th at 4:00 at Stacie Martino's house. Her address is 16793 Firebrick Dr. Parker, 80134. Dinner will be provided. Please bring your own drinks.

Misc.
* Staff development will be in the Gold Mine room this week to collaborate with SPED around EPRs.
* Teachers grades 3-5, please continue to track students' accommodations.

Opportunity

An award has been established in honor of Nancy Intagliata, a former teacher at Cougar Run Elementary. She died from cancer in February 2016 and her family would like to honor her legacy and her values by paying it forward to Douglas County educators and staff whose lives have been impacted by a cancer diagnosis. 

This award is a $2000 cash gift to any employee of any Douglas County elementary school. The applicant need only complete a simple application with a short statement describing how he or she has been personally impacted by cancer. This impact can include a personal fight with cancer or a loved one’s fight with cancer. The award money can be used in whatever way the recipient sees fit. 

Applications are due March 1, 2018, and the award(s) will be announced on May 1, 2018.

Details and application can be found at www.alegacyfornancy.org

Welcome!

Please welcome Katie Houseman, our new RtI assistant.

Happy Birthday
Allison Hawk - December 12th
Krista Hardin - December 16th
Amy Fugier - December 17th

5th Grade Technology CoTeaching
This week in 5th grade students analyzed and interpreted weather patterns using multiple data points. Each student created a Google Form that allowed input of weather data points including the date, mean temperature in degrees, barometer in pounds per square inch (psi), humidity in percentages, dew point in degrees, wind direction, wind speed in miles per hour (mph), visibility in miles (m), and a brief description of the weather. After collecting historical weather data for specific cities for ten days, students met with other budding meteorologists with cities in the same region. These region groups identified trends and connections based on the weather data. To show region weather trends in a different way, students used an interactive weather map to label temperature fronts, air pressure, and precipitation.

*Conferring with Readers and Writers

 *Strategies That Work

* The Next Steps in Guided Reading

Go For the Gold
* Congratulation to Ashley Dalcerri on her engagement!!
* Congratulations Allison Hawk for completing you admin program!
* Congratulations Karen Petty for selling your house!
* Thank you Gail Golish for supplying more flatware in the lounge!

Golden Nuggets
Morning Announcements: Dalcerri
Lounge Duty: Brakefield/Braden

December

This Week
Monday
* 7:30 EPR help session in the Gold Mine room

Tuesday

Wednesday
* 7:30 Book Study
* Jenny feedback on goals

Thursday
* 3rd grade plan day
* Jenny admin meeting

Friday

Reminders:
CMAS (Formally PARCC)
* Teachers in grades 3-5, please begin documenting accommodations for CMAS testing. A google form was shared with you to track these accommodations. Please see Libby if you have any questions.

EPRs
* Click here for expectations for comments and basic navigation strategies.  All students should receive a personal comment and comments when they are not meeting standards.  Please remember that report cards should not be surprises.

* A help session will be held on Monday, December 4, in the Gold Mine Room at 7:45.

* Report cards need to be shared with specials, sped, admin, Kristi and Jamie and Stephanie Brown.

* Report cards should be completed and submitted by the end of the day on December 21st.

* Kristi will host an EPR help session on Monday morning at 7:30 in the Gold Mine room.

IStation
* Administer to all students 12/4-12/15 for the middle of the year window

Blog
* Please post your December blog post.  Please include upcoming learning and ways parents can help at home.  If you can highlight math videos that showcase how students solve problems that would be great! See Jenny's parent blog post below.  You can cute and paste this exact post if you'd like.

HELPING YOUR CHILD WITH MATH HOMEWORK

Math homework can often be a frustrating experience for children and parents.  Parents were often taught traditional algorithms and do not know the strategies students are learning today.  While these strategies promote a deeper conceptual understanding of key math concepts, it is difficult for parents to see the benefits when they are unaware of them themselves.

We have a great resource that will help!  The Math Words and Ideas site from the Investigations Math Series has links to math videos that explain how all concepts are taught at each grade level.

 Click here to access this site.

Simply click on your child's grade level at the left-hand side of the screen.  When you click on a math concept additional subtopics appear.  Each subtopic includes a short video explaining strategies taught at school.  In the example below, third grade was selected on left and arrays was chosen under the concept of multiplication.

Watching these short videos are a great way to review how and why concepts were taught a certain way.  You may even consider watching with your child.  The presentation below provides a few additional tips to promote a love of math at home.

Click here for the presentation.

Misc.
* On December 13 during staff development please plan on meeting in the Gold Mine.  This time will be decidicated to collaborating on RtI and Sped students.

* Our holiday party will be on December 15th after school at Stacie Martino's home. More details will follow, but put it on your calendar. You won't want to miss it?

Technology CoTeaching in Kindie
This week our kindergartners began studying the Sun. In order to digitally keep track of schema and new learning they learned the ever important skill of taking a screenshot in different iPad apps. Drawing Pad was used first to illustrate what they thought their schema was about the Sun. Then they took screenshots of their drawings, uploaded them to Seesaw, labeled the different parts of their schema drawing, and recorded their voice to describe their schema. Next as nonfiction readers they researched the Sun using Pebble Go and took a screenshot of a page that gave them new learning. After uploading their Pebble Go screenshot on Seesaw, students explained their new learning by labeling, drawing pictures, and recording their voice.

Please look at the examples below:
Schema Reflections:
New Learning Reflections:

 *Conferring with Readers and Writers

 *Strategies That Work

* The Next Steps in Guided Reading

Happy Birthday
Christy Schwalick - December 5th

Go For the Gold
* Thank you Christy Dismang and Anita Rudman for participating in our open enrollment open house Tuesday night!
* Thank you Jenny Brown for filling in for feedback meetings!

Golden Nuggets
Morning Announcements: Hawk
Lounge Duty: Petty/Simpson