Vertical+Teams

Jan 12, 2011
Science Vertical Team:

Photostories will be created by 3rd grade high flex groups to do the science coach questions. This will start on the broadcast in March.

We have a new schedule for keeping the science lab organized and clean. 4th grade is in charge of the month of April. We will need to check the lab every other week.

Cultural Club- Boat party days for BOY are either Aug 20 or 27th. Will let you know as soon as it is officially booked. Black History Assembly on feb 2 at 8:15. Students will be singing and 5th grade will present Art History projects with the focus on African American artist Black History Month Essay contest: The theme is African Americans in the Civil War. I will email you the link for the contest. If any of your students do their biography report on an African American from the Civil War area, lets enter it into the contest. Moms group- We are still on the search for ideas for our moms groups. Please share any ideas you have. __Boy Enrichment Activities__ Community feedback suggests more activities involving the boys (etc. Girls Night Out, Daddy/Daughter Dance) -Possibly tie in an event with the Mom organization -Ideas for something to do this Spring (Possibly Mom/Son Field Day) *Instead of organizing something, we will be supporting PTA and helping out with their Mommy & Son Magic Show that is tentatively planned for April 15th. It will be free and site-based, rather than grade levels will be helping out. Becki will be the point person and work with Stephanie and relay the information back to sire-based. __***4th grade has been talking about in the future hosting a Boys Night Out as a fundraiser.__ __Julie made the comment that whoever takes it on would make some good money. Shane said that in past years he's seen them done as a gaming type lock-in or sports. I tole them that those are the same ideas that we have had when discussing it as a group.__ Additional Information Discussed: *Specials is planning a Trophy Run towards the end of the 3rd Nine Weeks when it warms up. This will be the last one for the year, then Field Day. Math-Math Night will be on Feb. 19th from 6-7. We will be set up in the same spot as last year. I have some games from that orego thing and we have plenty of shower curtains and cards. We will also have computers for whatever.... I have asked for foam dice so we can write our own numbers for playing. I will type up the directions for the orego games to hand out to parents.200 club will be like last year with the ribbons and stars. Do we need anything for the orego lessons? How are they going for each teacher? Student Council will be in charge of making signs for the school and each for grade level. I think that's it.
 * Site Based Team-** We are looking for ideas for staff development next year so let me know if you have anything you want us to look into. Your suggestions are what we do every year.

Technology Team:
 * Make sure kids are saving work.
 * USE TEACHER PORTAL.
 * Clean filters to projectors weekly/biweekly. Turn them off when you are not using them. If you are having issues, let me know or Carol.

Language Arts Team

The first entry of the Writing Portfolios took place in December. Students in all grade levels wrote to the prompt “A Time You had Fun,” or students composed a piece of writing that went along with the LA Writing TEKS for the Second Nine Weeks that were established by the ARRC. Team members were reminded to make sure to have the students’ writings displayed on their bulletin boards on in the hallway. Compliments have already been given by the school administration on the quality of work that is being displayed. It was also decided to keep the writings on display throughout the month of February. It was noted that several parents will be visiting the school for Valentine’s Day and it would be good for the parents to see the work produced by the students. The writings will need to be taken down before March 1st as the fourth grade Writing TAKS Test will be administered on that date.

It was also decided for next year to have students produce a piece of writing for the Writing Portfolios once every Nine Weeks. With the current format of the portfolios, students will produce a piece of writing at the beginning, middle, and end of the year. Team members liked this idea, as it would allow for more student writing to be displayed throughout the year. This is a suggestion that the team will incorporate into the Writing Portfolios for next year.

The team planned the logistics of the Super Bowl Stars Program. The program will begin the first week of February. All grade levels, including fifth grade will begin this week, even though their Reading TAKS Test is earlier. Fourth grade mentioned they would like to administer there first passage the last week of January because of Camp Write-A-Long in February, however when they submit names for broadcast, the weeks they are submitting names for will correlate with the other grade levels.

Team members were reminded to make sure that their grade levels had their passages run off and ready to go. Student names will once again be displayed on morning broadcast. Jackie and Estella will once again take care of putting together the photostory. Teachers from each grade level will individually submit names of their class winners. Teachers should submit names to both Jackie and Estella. Names should be submitted by the following Wednesday of each week by 3:30 sharp in order to allow time to make the photostory. This is a deadline that will be followed closely this year without any exceptions. In the past problems would arise when teachers submitted names late. Team members need to remind their grade levels to submit their names on time and to observe the deadline. The first deadline for name submission will be Wednesday, February 9th at 3:30.

Students will once again be able to track their progress on class bulletin boards and the ribbons that were used last year. Bentley will put in the order to have the ribbons copied, and he will talk with KayLynne to make sure they are a different color than the 200 Club Ribbons. Students will also receive pencils and erasers for participating in both Super Bowl Stars and 200 Club. KayLynne is already ordering supplies for both programs. Prizes will also be awarded to the touch down winners. After ordering pencils and erasers, the team will have about $150 to spend on prizes. Tia O’Nan and Nikki Orona will take care of purchasing these prizes.

Chris Garza will look into getting one of the Stony Point teams to come for the parade as the students enjoy having them come each year. Questions arose as to what time the parade would start on April 21st. Last year the parade did not start until 2:15. Team members suggested having the parade start at 2:00 in order to allow time to take students back to their classrooms for dismissal. Bentley will talk to KayLynne about the start time.