February 29th Updates

Collaboration 

Thank you to Star, Rachel and Karen F-V for hosting 12 teachers from Oak Grove Elementary who are just beginning their journey with Conscious Discipline and wanted to "see it in action."  Following the classroom observations, the debrief session allowed the teachers to ask questions and share strategies about implementation. 

Student Editors 

5th Graders at CAM

The 5th Grade Docent Program is off to a great start!  Students are learning the importance of various public speaking skills and are beginning their study of the artists and artwork that will be showcased at CAM.  - Volunteer. Also the students will be the docents of the museum on the first Friday of the month. 

Foundation Summer Camp Auction is wrapping up (ends Tuesday). All proceeds go to the foundation. One of the focuses for the foundation funds will be for our instructional assistants. As a school we created three positions to support our classroom instructional assistants. So please continue to provide information about our foundation -- Summer Camp

NCTies 16 -- We have 11 staff members that will be learning with each other form a variety of educators in North Carolina and around the country in integrating technology to enhance learning.

Read Across America with Daniels Students be sure to sign up to participate on Wednesday March 2nd.

Critical Thinking 

Some of the take-aways from the Strategic Directives principal's meeting discussions; we need some models of how the four Cs looks in the a school, resources (funds, space and people), and time for collaboration for school staff. 

Writing in all subjects -- Empowering Writers Toolkit

  North Carolina’s Severe Weather Awareness Week March 6-12, 2016     Statewide Tornado Drill for 2016 Wednesday, March 9, at 9:30 AM EST

As a reminder, classroom teachers are responsible for consistently implementing IEP and 504 accommodations and modifications.  CCR teachers and Mrs. Romero can help classroom teachers understand how accommodations and modifications are delivered, but it is the legal responsibility of the classroom teacher to provide, as specified on an IEP, and 504 items such as modified in class assignments, modified homework, and differentiated instruction in the general education classroom. Please be sure that this is happening in your classroom.  If you have questions or need clarification please see me.

Communication 

Our Meet and Greet Event breakfast was held on Tuesday to welcome newly accepted families for the 2016-2017 school year.  Parents were able to meet with PTA parents to learn more about Underwood, ask questions and get to know one another.

Teacher Working Conditions Survey is from March 1st-22nd. I will be giving leadership chairs the pages with codes to be used when completing the TWC. Feel free to trade codes as the surveys are anonymous. 

Congratulations to Scott Brown --- he will be attending NCCAT: Expanding Your Technology Toolbox. 

Creativity 

teachers using theater and dance to teach math

Underwood Celebrations

Area of house plans

February 22nd Updates

Thank you all again for having a constructive dialogue about our district Vision 2020. As mentioned many of the items that were shared will be discussed as we work on our school improvement plan and look ahead to next year's plans.

Communication 

- It is imperative that you continue to communicate items that are going on in your classroom via Member hub, email, and other sites. 

@underwoodgtm Tweets!

Collaboration 

- “A clear purpose will unite you as you move forward, values will guide your behavior, and goals will focus your energy.” ― Kenneth H. Blanchard, Collaboration Begins with You: Be a Silo Buster (via Goodreads.com)

- 

Creating Soil 

Kahoot - discussing the Moon Phases

How to prevent chocolate from melting

-- Alexandria, Brenda, Daphne, Andrea, and Tonya working together to integrate Minecraft to support struggling readers in our third grade reading elective.

-- MTSS Cohort 2 - (Cheryl, Victoria, Charlotte, Heather P, Christine) in working on supporting our Tier 1 supports. ICEL support

-- Daphne, Victoria, Cheryl, and Rachel working together in ensuring testing accommodations are communicated and supported in all settings.

Critical Thinking 

- fifth grade has been providing student time to work on their "Genius Hour" - the purpose of a Genius Hour is for students to create questions that they would like to answer about a topic. Then they would have the time to research their answers and present their findings. Here is an example of -- Saving the Manatees. 

What we Love about Underwood 

Creativity 

Non-Fiction Text 

Timeline on Martin Luther King

Pictograph using objects

Lost and Found station

Math with Dance

February 15th

Celebrations 

WOW! McClass Results for Mid year -- 91% of our students are in the green on their composite scores and 80% in blue or green for TRC. These are the highest results in the central area! 

Communications 

Teacher Survey (thank you 5 teachers that have completed the survey, only 39 to go) -- https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/82CXZCN

What the students are learning in your classroom needs to be communicated often. Ideally this would be throughout the school week or a preview of what is to come. This should be done via Memberhub. 

Employee Transfer Period Begins March 1-Transfer Period for employees interested in transferring for 2016-17 will be March 1-April 30.The online transfer page will be available at 8 AM on March 1, 2016. 

Be sure to send home or electronically elective letters to our families. Our students spend 25% of their learning time in our electives so it is important that we share out their learning goals and progress.  

Art Electives

Collaboration

Help us make a difference in education by joining the Alliance for Excellent Education and the Digital Learning Day nationwide celebratory event this February 17th! This day is set aside to promote "the effective use of modern day tools afforded to every other industry to improve the learning experience in K-12 public schools."http://dtl.ncdpi.wikispaces.net/Digital+Learning+Day

Examples:

BYOD - 

Fourth Grade -- Literature circles with wonder statements being the conversation starters 

Third grade -- Collaborative conversation about Area/Perimeter questions. 

Critical Thinking

Case 21 data results -- it is important to dig deeper in reviewing the level of progress to ensure that we our make decisions using data and not opinions. 

Creativity

100 Days in Kindergarden
Minecraft EDU at Underwood

February 1st

“The world no longer cares how much you know; the world cares about what you can do with what you know.” - Tony Wagner, Creating Innovators. 

Communication 

Be sure to email Mr. Marrow for cleaning concerns, room temperature checks and other custodial needs, so he can address them or contact people that can resolve the concern.  

Per Security: Reminders -- 

Code Red: A Code Red Lockdown is used only when there is an immediate threat to the safety and security of the school, staff, and students.  This threat can either be in the building or on building grounds. Examples: Armed/ dangerous intruder in the building, confirmed armed/danger individual on building grounds

Code Yellow:A Code Yellow Lockdown is used when there is a threat in the surrounding community.  This lockdown occurs when there is no direct threat to the school at present time, but the event could quickly impact the school in the future. Examples: Suspect running from Law Enforcement in area, nearby bank/business robbery or hostage situation, criminal or suspicious activity in surrounding community

Critical Thinking

Ignite Vision 2020 - we (whole staff) will be dialoguing about the district mission. At 8:20 at the February 18th in the media center we will be viewing Dr. Merrill's video speaking to our Strategic Plan (if you would like to view it before hand). At February 19th's business meeting, we will be dialoguing about how to apply the Strategic Plan at Underwood and supports that we would need through guided questions. I am bringing our thoughts to the Principals' meeting on the 25th to have a discussion with district leaders on a plan to support schools. 

Collaboration

Great example of learning opportunities at NCCAT -- Strategies for teaching and learning in our digital environment (many other offerings through out the year. 

No Leadership Team meeting today, if you have leadership item please let Christine know she can add it to the agenda. We will be meeting next Monday. 

Creativity

 

Vocabulary examples -- Vocabulary in Art

WOW! What a fun Carnival! Thanks to all that participated and helped promote it. Thanks Tonya for capturing some of the highlights -- Animoto video.

Celebrations

Thank you to all of classes that made cards to support the patients at Rex Hospital. These were delivered over the weekend and will be given to patients on Valentines Day! -- Photo