October 31st

Communication 

Election Day (2 hr Delay) - Staff will need to be in by 10 but the building will be open at normal times. We will have a late dismissal start, so the day will begin at 11:20 (fourth period). All other schedule are normal. 

Business Meeting - Thursday we will be having our meeting at 7:45 in the media center -- teacher and teacher of the year celebration, United Way Kickoff, and other items. 

Collaboration 

Elective share - Thursday Nov. 3 (K-2- 9:30 and 3-5 10:15) 30 minute specials - Instead of a buddy day, we will continue with our rotation.   Teachers and specialists need to be part of the elective share.

Critical Thinking 

MTSS - At least one MTSS implementation team member from the district has signed up to visit your school to conduct OTISS walkthrough on November 17th. 

December 2nd ER - We will be having our MTSS Coach Victoria Bardsley leading our team in an overview of MTSS and how we are supporting our students learning.  

Creativity 

Elective Artifacts - We are organizing the display case in front of the library we our academic electives and fine arts electives. We need your help. By next Friday 4th please submit an artifact or photo (via Drive preferably with students) that showcase something from your elective. With the artifact or photo include the elective name and the objective that the artifact goes with it. If you have submitted an artifact for the magnet fair, we will use that one after the Magnet Fair on the 5th. 

October 24th

Communication 

Unicorn Trot was a huge success, excellent job in supporting the PTA in participating in the spirit days, the Unicorn Trot, and turning in students' pledges.

Lockdown - be sure to review with your students the lockdown procedures, we do one code red lockdown practice a semester.

Student Council - will meet Thursday at 2:45 (have the students leave the room at the 2:40 bell). 

Collaboration

Planning Days -- First quarter planning days have been completed, it is great to see the collaboration and supporting each other in tasks. 

Conscious Discipline -- Ashley will be working with the staff members that were unable to complete our early release session. 

Critical Thinking
Power schools -- thank you for continuing to input weekly assignments. We are continuing to work through the "grade" default (level 4). It seems to be something with the preference, but will continue to work through Help desk and Academics department.

End of Quarter - is this Friday. Report cards will be going home on November 8th. 

Creativity 

Artifacts - Be sure to save artifacts for our Magnet Fair (November 5th). Please turn these into Ashley or Alexandria. Magnet Fair is November 5th.

Rex Hospital - Please email me if you are interested in having your students create Valentine’s Day cards! This was such a thoughtful gesture last year and was much appreciated by our patients and their families.

October 17th

Great job of reaching our goal! 

Creativity 

UNC REX and Underwood Elementary - Valentine's Day Card request - Last year we had over 200 cards that were sent to patients at Rex Hospital Valentine Cards. If this is something that you would like to do with your class, please email me and I will add you to list. We will be collecting cards February 

United Way School Captain volunteer and ask them to attend one of the (45 min) training session.  Our United Way Representative will host the training and share our vision, goals, process and other meaningful information to help achieve success again this year. Please email me if you are interested in being our United Way Champion.

State Fair -- YEAH ARTS at Underwood, Students finished #2 overall in school's at the North Carolina State Fair!

Hall Displays - Love seeing the hall displays, be sure to put a note that says the objectives and general purpose of the learning opportunities. 

Communication 

Heather Peaden will be transiting to a 3-5 grade level teacher support position. We would like to welcome Neeta Shah to third grade and will be starting on October 19th. Heather will start as at a 3-5 support teacher on October 24th.

MTSS Walkthrough -- on October 26th a WCPSS Mtss team member will be completing walk throughs looking at 7 categories of adult behavior through Hattie's research. This is NOT a teacher evaluation tool. This information will be shared with our MTSS team in December.  Please review a two minute -- bit.ly/OTISSvideo to learn more about the purpose.

Oct. 16-22 is International Character Counts Week. Take a picture, write a short description, and tweet it using #WCPSShasCharacter - Courage, Perseverance, good judgment, respect, integrity, responsibility, kindness, and self-discipline.

Spirit week - Monday - Crazy hair/socks, Tuesday Favorite Team, Wednesday - Hat day, Thursday - Pajama, Friday - Underwood Trot day. Be sure to have Rachel F. take a class picture.

Early Release Lunch - PTA will be providing lunch on Friday for us!!! Also, specialist will be helping with Unicorn Trot, so no specials.

Critical Thinking 

CD Cohort - bring CD book (if you have one) and handouts to Kim's session for our October 21st Early Release meeting.

PBIS - Be sure to wire up students (minor/major referrals) - we use this data to make data decisions about classroom learning and decisions. Write ups should be written when it's impacting learning/teaching and/or a repeated occurrence.

Alignment Lessons - Be sure to let Alex or Ashley know if as a grade level you don't want these lessons. 

Collaboration 

Thursday, October 20, 2016 to offer support with your implementation of Conscious Discipline® 

Thank to those who came to support the Grounds Crew Clean up. 5th Grade residency will continue this week. 

October 10th

Such an awesome team to be a part of on a daily basis!!! 

Kudos for your continued focus on student learning and finding solutions for concerns that we have control over. 

Creativity

The hallway displays are looking great! They showcase authentic student work utilizing common core standards. Please be sure to add a note that shows families the standards and what the purpose of the product.

Powerschool Assignment - Reminder that we have decided to have two ELA and Math assignments into Powerschool Gradebook. Assignment do not have to be tests they can be ticket out the door, project, literature circles, etc).  If your interim reports didn't populate as intended please email me the students that it impacted so we can share with academics and hope to decrease these concerns for first quarter report cards.
PowerSchool and PowerTeacher will be unavailable from 5pm, Friday, October 14th until 6am, Monday, October 17th due to DPI system maintenance.

Critical Thinking

Learning spaces -- we have purchased some furniture to increase voice and choice for our students. We have five classes that are fully invested in flexible learning spaces. We have some wavy tables (one side of the table has wheels and is able to move when needed) and Hokki stools that would love to have a home in places that would utilize them. Are you one of those classrooms? - email Ashley if you are interested in trying out seating options or a table.

Collaboration

Magnet Theme Team -- We are excited about our Theme Teams the purpose of these teams is to have a collaborative effort for our school. The teams are intended to support our school culture in multiple ways to drive our magnet theme. The teams have been designed to support multiple facets of the school community.  #weareunderwood 

Community Work day October 15th - www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10C0C4FADA72BA31-fall.

Communication

Wake County - ECU MSA Cohort Information Session
If you are interested in participating in a cohort-structured program to earn your Master in School Administration (MSA) or Principal Licensure Add-On Program (Must have a Masters Degree) please plan to attend an information meeting co-sponsored by WCPSS and the Department of Educational Leadership at East Carolina University.

From the Superintendent's office - WCPSS recognizes a student’s First Amendment right to express his or her thoughts and ideas. A student cannot be compelled to participate in the National Anthem, but each student should maintain proper decorum while others participate. 

Have a great week!

Week of October 3rd

Communication 

Back to School Picnic - Thursday, October 6 from 5:30-7:00. Hope to see you there!

YLearning - Starts Monday, Oct. 3. Dismiss the students at the 3:45 bell to the Media center. Daphne will send everyone a list of the students' names that will start tomorrow. Thanks again to Karen F-Vennners, Cheryl W & Scott B for being part of the tutorial program!!! If you have any questions about the program, contact Christian Ruark - Christian.Ruark@YMCAtriangle.org or see me!

Field Trips - All teams have turned in their field trip paperwork! Yay!!!  Remember to turn in the parent permission forms with medical needs to Gina Cornick at least 1 month ahead of time. Safety Plan must be signed by both Travis and Gina!  Once it is signed, turn in to Daphne!

MTSS -- ICEL document we used last year to come up with our SIP goals in reading and math. (I Instruction/Instructional Strategies C:  Curriculum Design/Curriculum Planning E:  Environment/Motivation and Management )

Critical Thinking

The 2015-16 individual teacher Value-Added reports will be made available to teachers on the evening of October 6.

Creativity 

Brain Smart Start --- sign up to lead these during Business or Early Release meetings -- Schedule

Collaboration 

Prospective parent school tours began this month.  Twice a month we will be touring parents around the building and possibly popping in classrooms to observe.  No need to stop instruction or do anything different upon our arrival.