December 18th

Celebrations

• Star, Rachel and Karen are hosting a team of teachers from Fuquay-Varina Elementary to "see" Conscious Discipline in action!
• **Alexandria has been so helpful as always.
• Rhonda, Allison, and Mallory attending the Core behavior workshop with Mitzi Sarafit
• Holiday performances last Thursday! Looking forwarded to Tuesday night and Thursday morning! 

** From the feedback responses. 

Communication 

Elective brochures-Please be sure to turn in your elective brochures to Ashley's mailbox.

Elective registration will begin Tuesday (5th grade) and Wednesday (4th grade).  Ashley will be in touch with scheduling details.

Early Release - Our early release is on Thursday the 20th. Here is the Agenda. Lunch will be provided by our fantastic PTA! We are asking that all staff attend the beginning of the ER for the announcements and inclusion activities. Instructional Assistants and office staff are not required to stay for the "Gifts of knowledge", but are welcomed to learn with us. The remainder time in the afternoon is for you to do as you see fit. Have a great and relaxing break! 

Y-Learning Update:  The purpose of this program is to support the academic needs of students in the level 2/low 3 range. Currently, it is ran by Y Learning Counselors but they are actively seeking teachers to help participate.  If you are interested in teaching (it is paid and you get a YMCA membership), please see Mallory.  If you have suggestions for how to improve the program, please see Alexandria.

December 20th PLT:  The December 20th PLT time will be designated for the Secret Santa reveal/Holiday breakfast.  The start time for the breakfast will be at 8:00.  Please sign up to bring a breakfast item to share (and your final gift to give to your person for the reveal!)  Sign up is here!

December 21 things to know:

• Early Release (bring artifact that you are using in your classroom from the work you have been doing with unpacking the standards. )
• Lunch will be provided by the PTA
• Wear your ugly sweaters!  A champion will be crowned for the best one!
• We will also be taking a fun staff picture.

Link to Amazon during your holiday shopping and help Underwood!  Visit smile.amazon.com and then search and link to the charity:  Underwood Gt Magnet Elementary School Foundation or Underwood Elementary PTA.  Then .5% of eligible purchases will go back to our school!

Eschools

Please be sure to complete your evaluations in Eschools, so they are feeding into your transcript to renew your license!  

Collaboration

MTAC -- Why MTAC? 

Underwood's newly formed Media Technology Advisory Committee (MTAC) will have our first meeting on Thursday, January 4 at 7:45 in the media center. Coffee will be served!

If you are interested in serving on our MTAC, let Andrea or Tanya know. We are hoping for the following representatives - admin, K-1, 2-3, 4-5, specialist, and parent. 

CAM Docent Program will begin in January.  Selected 5th grade students will go on five consecutive Tuesday afternoons for training after school, followed by presentation opportunities to the general public during First Friday Evening Events at CAM.  If you are able to come attend and help, please sign up here.  

CD cohort will be meeting on Thursday, December 21st at 7:45am in the Media Center. Our focus will be reflecting on how our relationship with our own emotions and how it affect the children in our lives.

Technology Request -- If you have a technology problem that you would like to be looked at complete the Tech Help request and if on-site staff is unable to fix then they would be submitted to district help desk.  If you are need of a equipment  be sure to complete Funds Request form . This would be for cords, bulbs, ink, batteries, etc.

Mid Year PDP - Mid year PDPs will need to be conducted by January 26th. The administrator that is not the person that did your first observation will be meeting with you to go over your mid-year review. Be sure to write a short paragraph (2-5 sentences) that gives details about where you are in meeting your goal and/or steps that you are going to take second semester to meet your goal. Mallory and I will send up a sign up sheet to the people that we are to meet with via email by January 3rd. 

Teacher Assistants - Teacher Assistant Training - Jan. 16 In collaboration with the Wake County Teacher Assistants Association, the Office of Professional Learning is hosting a session designed specifically for Teacher Assistants: Building Capacity as Teacher Assistant to Offer Instructional Support in the Classroom. The session will focus on behavioral intervention strategies and will be held on Jan.16 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in room 1400 B of the Crossroads II building. TAs should register in eSchools with SRN#183011903. Participants will receive a letter of recognition for attendance. Enrollment is limited to 70.

Critical Thinking 

Readvolution: Remember to remind and encourage students to keep reading and logging books in the Hurricanes Readvolution app found in the WakeID Portal over break. Our school has only logged 658 entries so far. That is way under 2 books per students since Readvolution began.

Lost and Found -- We are getting ready to donate our lost and found items as they have been in there for a few weeks now. Before we donate them is their a student in your class that could benefit from some gently used clothes, if so click on this link to add their name. 

The 3-1 Student Device Integration - ES course is now live in Learning Central. Teachers and staff at your school will not be automatically enrolled. All teachers who are receiving Chromebooks as a part of the 3-1 device rollout are expected to complete the 3-1 Student Device Integration - ES course by the end of the 17-18 school year (6/30/18). I will forward the information to all teachers that this applies to as the computers should be coming in the spring. The district has identified the make and model. 

ECU Offers New Online Master of Arts Program - Apply by Feb. 1
East Carolina University is offering a one-year online Master of Arts in Education program for practicing teachers. A new cohort for elementary school teachers begins in Summer 2018. The cohort for middle school teachers begins in fall 2018. Middle school teachers in the program may choose from a concentration in English, Math, Social Studies or Science. Elementary teachers entering the summer cohort may choose from Teacher Leadership, Academically and Intellectually Gifted or Teaching English as a Second Language. The deadline to apply for either cohort is Feb. 1, 2018. GRE or MAT test waivers are possible if an applicant has been teaching for 10 or more years or if the applicant is an ECU graduate with a GPA of 3.3 or higher. Check out these Google docs for more information on the program or contact Carol Greene, greeneh@ecu.edu.

Feedback -- If you have more feedback (things that have worked or things that could be better throughout the school year) you would like for us to consider, please feel free to email, discuss or fill out this form. https://goo.gl/forms/XNwhdAo6gU8lOfck1

Feedback responses -- See Link to feedback to see responses to the staff's questions and feedback. This will continued to be updated monthly. 

Creativity

Student and Staff Awesomeness -- Check out what our team is doing in their classrooms -- via Twitter - @underwoodgtm -- #weareunderwood Keep up the great work! 

Calendar:

December 18th- Instructional Leadership Team meeting 
December 19th- Middle School Magnet Parent Session (Ligon and Moore Square)
                         - Holiday Performance (Band and Strings), 7pm
December 20th-Holiday Breakfast 8am (food sign up above, 8:30 last Secret Santa gift)
December 21st - CD cohort 7:45am
                         - Early Release 
December 22nd - January 1st - Winter Break 
January 2nd-Business Meeting
January 10th-Magnet Open House, 10am/12:30pm/6:30pm
January 11th-Theater Production, 7pm

*Staff attended events listed here

December 11

Celebrations

• *Quarterly Planning Days have been a life saver! Time to process new learning and work side by side as a team allowed our grade level to get so much accomplished.
• Congratulations to our students who participated in the Special Olympics held last Thursday!
• Alexandria for ordering and organizing additional independent reading texts for Grade 3 EL curriculum.
• Harlem GlobeTrotters and Rodeo Ticket Discounts
  PNC Arena is offering all WCPSS employees discounts to the Harlem Globetrotters game on Feb. 11 at 3 p.m. and Cinch World’s Toughest Rodeo on Feb. 18 at 7:30 p.m. For tickets for groups of 10 or more, contact Brian Slais at 919-861-5457. See these flyers for more information.
  

** From the feedback responses. 

Collaboration

Teacher Assistants - Teacher Assistant Training - Jan. 16 In collaboration with the Wake County Teacher Assistants Association, the Office of Professional Learning is hosting a session designed specifically for Teacher Assistants: Building Capacity as Teacher Assistant to Offer Instructional Support in the Classroom. The session will focus on behavioral intervention strategies and will be held on Jan.16 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in room 1400 B of the Crossroads II building. TAs should register in eSchools with SRN#183011903. Participants will receive a letter of recognition for attendance. Enrollment is limited to 70.

Accommodations for testing (IEP, 504, LEP) - Classroom teachers will need to review accommodations for students if - Testing accommodations --- submit settings form to secure a staff member that can administer the assessment in the appropriate setting per their plan

Critical Thinking 

PTA Stipend:  Just a reminder to spend your $100 PTA Stipend for instructional materials by December 15th.  Provide a copy of your receipt attached to the reimbursement form found in the PTA Treasurer's mailbox. 

Lost and Found -- We are getting ready to donate our lost and found items as they have been in there for a few weeks now. Before we donate them is their a student in your class that could benefit from some gently used clothes, if so click on this link to add their name. 

The 3-1 Student Device Integration - ES course is now live in Learning Central. Teachers and staff at your school will not be automatically enrolled. All teachers who are receiving Chromebooks as a part of the 3-1 device rollout are expected to complete the 3-1 Student Device Integration - ES course by the end of the 17-18 school year (6/30/18). I will forward the information to all teachers that this applies to as the computers should be coming in the spring. The district has identified the make and model. 

ECU Offers New Online Master of Arts Program - Apply by Feb. 1
East Carolina University is offering a one-year online Master of Arts in Education program for practicing teachers. A new cohort for elementary school teachers begins in Summer 2018. The cohort for middle school teachers begins in fall 2018. Middle school teachers in the program may choose from a concentration in English, Math, Social Studies or Science. Elementary teachers entering the summer cohort may choose from Teacher Leadership, Academically and Intellectually Gifted or Teaching English as a Second Language. The deadline to apply for either cohort is Feb. 1, 2018. GRE or MAT test waivers are possible if an applicant has been teaching for 10 or more years or if the applicant is an ECU graduate with a GPA of 3.3 or higher. Check out these Google docs for more information on the program or contact Carol Greene, greeneh@ecu.edu.

Feedback -- If you have more feedback (things that have worked or things that could be better throughout the school year) you would like for us to consider, please feel free to email, discuss or fill out this form. https://goo.gl/forms/XNwhdAo6gU8lOfck1

Feedback responses -- See Link to feedback to see responses to the staff's questions and feedback. This will continued to be updated monthly. 

Communication 

@LeoLibraryDog - Leo the Library Dog tweets about interesting events, tech tools/toys and new books available - please follow Leo on Twitter. 

Elective brochures are going home on Tuesday, December 12.  Please come by IRT/Magnet office on Monday to initial brochures if needed.

Y-Learning Update:  The purpose of this program is to support the academic needs of students in the level 2/low 3 range. Currently, it is ran by Y Learning Counselors but they are actively seeking teachers to help participate.  If you are interested in teaching (it is paid and you get a YMCA membership), please see Mallory.  If you have suggestions for how to improve the program, please see Alexandria.

December 20th PLT:  The December 20th PLT time will be designated for the Secret Santa reveal/Holiday breakfast.  The start time for the breakfast will be at 8:00.  Please sign up to bring a breakfast item to share (and your final gift to give to your person for the reveal!)  Sign up is here!

December 21 things to know:

• Early Release (bring artifact that you are using in your classroom from the work you have been doing with unpacking the standards. )
• Lunch will be provided by the PTA
• Wear your ugly sweaters!  A champion will be crowned for the best one!
• We will also be taking a fun staff picture.

Staff Holiday Party:
We are excited to invite our staff school family to a Holiday get together Friday, December 15th from 5-7 pm at Oak and Dagger at Seaboard Station! Thanks to all that RSVP'd.  Come join us for a time of joy, good friends and good food (beverages will be on your own but there will be a bar area in our semi private area).  We are looking forward to our time to come together and celebrate the company of each other!

Link to Amazon during your holiday shopping and help Underwood!  Visit smile.amazon.com and then search and link to the charity:  Underwood Gt Magnet Elementary School Foundation or Underwood Elementary PTA.  Then .5% of eligible purchases will go back to our school!

Eschools
Please be sure to complete your evaluations in Eschools, so they are feeding into your transcript to renew your license!  

A few updates!!

• During the week of December 11th, central office staff members will be doing walk-throughs at Underwood (specifically literacy and MTSS).  We wanted all of you to be aware that you may have individuals pop in your classrooms.  

Creativity

Friends and Family Board:  Our friends/family board is currently being created! Add your friends/family photo to the google folder here. If your photo that you submitted for our back to school summer photo collage works for you, just let Travis know and we will use that one.

Student and Staff Awesomeness -- Check out what our team is doing in their classrooms -- via Twitter - @underwoodgtm -- #weareunderwood Keep up the great work! 

Calendar:

December 14-Holiday Performance (Dance and Music), 7pm
December 15th-Staff Holiday Party-Oak and Dagger at Seaboard Station, 5-7pm
December 18th- Instructional Leadership Team meeting 
December 19th-Holiday Performance (Band and Strings), 7pm
December 21st - Early Release 
December 22nd - January 1st - Winter Break 
January 2nd-Business Meeting
January 10th-Magnet Open House, 10am/12:30pm/6:30pm
January 11th-Theater Production, 7pm

*Staff attended events listed here

December 4th

Celebrations

• **Having the school join together for a gathering is nice
• Thank you  Brenda Herb for providing light to our staff bathroom down at the k/1 hallway, it is greatly appreciated by the staff
• Shannon McKenna has been supporting our ELL students in fifth grade 2 times a day!  
• Alissa and Amanda are working with Girls on the Run!
• Sara Goldberg met her students to see the movie Wonder!
• Heather Peaden, Glendia Bryson-Jacobs, Lauren Mann, Ceil O'Loughlin, Mallory Mbalia, Star Davis, Rhonda Miller, Charolotte Nagy, Jen Williams, Travis Shilling, Sherry Pollock, Cheryl Wright, Kellie Harris shared their favorite stories at the book fair!  
• Staff that attended the book fair!!!

** From the feedback responses. 

Collaboration

Q3/Q4 elective placements can be found here.  Please email Ashley with any feedback.  If you envision needing any materials for upcoming electives, please submit your requests on the Instructional Funds form as soon as possible since magnet money has to be spent by Winter Break.

Media Center --  Be sure to see Tanya or Andrea about reserving space in the media center. We have a ton of groups working in there this year (yea!!) and we want to make sure that the media center space is accessible, but also the calendar is as accurate as possible to avoid frustration. More info available at https://ugtmmediacenter.blogspot.com/. 

Accommodations for testing (IEP, 504, LEP) - Classroom teachers will need to review accommodations for students if - Testing accommodations --- submit settings form to secure a staff member that can administer the assessment in the appropriate setting per their plan

Critical Thinking 

PTA Stipend:  Just a reminder to spend your $100 PTA Stipend for instructional materials by December.  Provide a copy of your receipt attached to the reimbursement form found in the PTA Treasurer's mailbox. 

Magnet Materials -- Magnet money is available to enrich the Magnet content you teach. Use the Instruction Funds Form (Link ) to submit your request.

Feedback -- If you have more feedback (things that have worked or things that could be better throughout the school year) you would like for us to consider, please feel free to email, discuss or fill out this form. https://goo.gl/forms/XNwhdAo6gU8lOfck1

Feedback responses -- See Link to feedback to see responses to the staff's questions and feedback. This will continued to be updated monthly. 

Digital Portfolio - WCPSS has created a two day workshop to support the inititave of Digital Portfolios. Underwood will be sending four classroom teachers (as is all Wake County Schools) to be trained in implementing student digital portfolios. There will be two sessions starting in January to provide the supports to implement digital portfolio starting in the 2018-19 school year. If you are interested please email Travis by this Friday.  

Communication 

Staff Holiday Party
We are excited to invite our staff school family to a Holiday get together Friday, December 15th from 5-7 pm at Oak and Dagger at Seaboard station!  We will be sending out an Evite soon so that we can gather exact numbers.  Come join us for a time of joy, good friends and good food (beverages will be on your own but there will be a bar area in our semi private area).  We hope that many can attend this time to come together and celebrate the company of each other!

New, Free Conscious Discipline Webinars!  

Link to Amazon during your holiday shopping and help Underwood!  Visit smile.amazon.com and then search and link to the charity:  Underwood Gt Magnet Elementary School Foundation.  Then .5% of eligible purchases will go back to our school!

A few updates!!

• IOWA testing is next week (December 6th and 7th) from 11:30-12:15.  Please move quietly through the hallways at this time (especially upstairs). 
• During the week of December 11th, central office staff members will be doing walk-throughs at Underwood (specifically literacy and MTSS).  We wanted all of you to be aware that you may have individuals pop in your classrooms.  
• Early Release -  December 21st-  An agenda will be coming, but please be prepared to bring an artifact that you are using in your classroom from the work you have been doing with unpacking the standards.  Staff will have an opportunity to share their process and use of the artifact.  

Creativity

Friends and Family Board:  We will be creating a staff Friends and Family Board in the workroom.  Add your friends/family photo to the google folder here. We currently have 15% of our staff's photo.  Encourage your students to send in a picture of their friends/family to be displayed in your room on a bulletin board, book within your Safe Place, etc.  The Friends and Family Board builds community and connection, and links the home family with the School Family.

Student and Staff Awesomeness -- Check out what our team is doing in their classrooms -- via Twitter - @underwoodgtm -- #weareunderwood Keep up the great work! 

Calendar:

December 5th - Business Meeting
December 15th-Staff Holiday Party 
December 18th- Instructional Leadership Team meeting 
December 21st - Early Release 
December 22nd - January 1st - Winter Break 

*Staff attended events listed here

November 27

Celebrations

• **I really like having Alex here full time! I appreciate Travis continuing to be approachable and allow teachers to have autonomy in their classrooms.
• **Cindy and Alexandria covered lunch duty when TAs were pulled to substitute. This only took 20 minutes out of their day and was so helpful!
• **Quarterly Planning Days have been a life saver! Time to process new learning and work side by side as a team allowed our grade level to get so much accomplished.
• Thank you to the YMCA for being flexible with the cafeteria space so we could have our meeting. Also, thank you to Melissa and Shannon for working with the YMCA with their learning spaces during the Early Release. 
• Kindergarten and Third grade collaborating with AIG department to utilize KIT enrichment with their students (celebrated 1st and 2nd last week). 
• Rachel leading the School Family assembly and the Specialists' leading an intentional follow up lesson to help us all grow in our understanding and use of Positive Intent!

** From the feedback responses. 

Creativity

Friends and Family Board:  We will be creating a staff Friends and Family Board in the workroom.  Add your friends/family photo to the google folder here. We currently have 15% of our staff's photo.  Encourage your students to send in a picture of their friends/family to be displayed in your room on a bulletin board, book within your Safe Place, etc.  The Friends and Family Board builds community and connection, and links the home family with the School Family.

Student and Staff Awesomeness -- Check out what our team is doing in their classrooms -- via Twitter - @underwoodgtm -- #weareunderwood Keep up the great work! 

Collaboration

Conscious Discipline tip:  Using visuals helps promote a sense of safety.  Have your class brainstorm all the events happening between now and the holidays occurring during the school day that vary from the daily schedule. (holiday performances, grade level events, etc).  Then collaboratively they illustrate and write a description for each event....turning it into a book that is read daily.  As events occur, that page of the book is taken out.  This helps prepare students for the events, teaches the passage of time and the predictability will help students stay in a higher brain state.  Q3/Q4 elective placements can be found here.  Please email Ashley with any feedback.  If you envision needing any materials for upcoming electives, please submit your requests on the Instructional Funds form as soon as possible since magnet money has to be spent by Winter Break. NCTIES 2018 is getting geared up for another exciting conference year.  This year's conference theme is "What Box".  We hope NCTIES 2018 will help you leave the box behind. If you are interested in attending this conference that integrates technology with your daily work complete the following interest form by December 1st. The conference is March 1st and March 2nd (February 28th is a pre-conference) more information is available at http://www.ncties.org/.  Learning, Technology and the Future. : December 1, 2017 6pm EST-10pm EST Online Virtual 30 minute sessions...lots to choose from each half hour. Attend a few sessions or one every half hour. Listen and learn or engage in interactive chat during each presentation. Earn CEUs. Relevant to WCPSS and Underwood despite being based in New Zealand and Australia. See Tanya with questions or for more information. "Free, online conference. Share with and learn from other educators across Australia and New Zealand. Hear from inspiring speakers. Get tips and tools to help students get future ready, boost collaboration and productivity in the classroom." - Click on Link for more information.

Media Center --  Be sure to see Tanya or Andrea about reserving space in the media center. We have a ton of groups working in there this year (yea!!) and we want to make sure that the media center space is accessible, but also the calendar is as accurate as possible to avoid frustration. More info available at https://ugtmmediacenter.blogspot.com/. 

Accommodations for testing (IEP, 504, LEP) - Classroom teachers will need to review accommodations for students if - Testing accommodations --- submit settings form to secure a staff member that can administer the assessment in the appropriate setting per their plan

Critical Thinking 

Science Kits -- Now that Q1 is over, please send science kit refills needs for the unit you just finished to Tanya so we can get those ordered and ready for you to restock your kits before they get put away too deeply.

Magnet Materials -- Magnet money is available to enrich the Magnet content you teach. Use the Instruction Funds Form (Link ) to submit your request.

Feedback -- If you have more feedback (things that have worked or things that could be better throughout the school year) you would like for us to consider, please feel free to email, discuss or fill out this form. https://goo.gl/forms/XNwhdAo6gU8lOfck1

Feedback responses -- See Link to feedback to see responses to the staff's questions and feedback. This will continued to be updated monthly. 

PTA Stipend:  Just a reminder to spend your $100 PTA Stipend for instructional materials by December.  Provide a copy of your receipt attached to the reimbursement form found in the PTA Treasurer's mailbox. 

Communication 

Gates leading to the playground (K side and Glenwood Ave) will both now remain locked at all times.  We will notify parents and the community that that area is not to be used after school or on the weekend. If an emergency arises, the code is 0572.

Magnet Spotlight -  At anytime if you have work samples, displays or items that would be a great addition to the Magnet Display Cases (in front of the Media Center), please leave them on Ashley's table.  Be sure to label it with the elective course name.  

Staff Holiday Party
We are excited to invite our staff school family to a Holiday get together Friday, December 15th from 5-7 pm at Oak and Dagger at Seaboard station!  We will be sending out an Evite soon so that we can gather exact numbers.  Come join us for a time of joy, good friends and good food (beverages will be on your own but there will be a bar area in our semi private area).  We hope that many can attend this time to come together and celebrate the company of each other!

New, Free Conscious Discipline Webinars!  This week's free webinar is "Part 1:  Using Healthy Conflict to Teach."  Visit here for the details.

Link to Amazon during your holiday shopping and help Underwood!  Visit smile.amazon.com and then search and link to the charity:  Underwood Gt Magnet Elementary School Foundation.  Then .5% of eligible purchases will go back to our school!

Calendar:

November 27th - Book Fair 

November 28th - Moonlight Reading  
November 29th - Instructional Leadership Team meeting at Spring Forest Road 
December 5th - Business Meeting
December 15th-Staff Holiday Party 
December 21st - Early Release 
December 22nd - January 1st - Winter Break 

*Staff attended events listed here

November 20

Celebrations 

• Our fantastic Instructional Assistants that have been flexible in covering classrooms due to shortage in substitutes and teacher absences. Thank you for your continued flexible and focus on the students. 
• Cindy, Karen and Holly for continuing to keep the front office organized, supportive and calm. 
• Andrea Trowell, Elizabeth Mankin and Megan DeLong (k and 3rd grade parent) in setting up the Book Fair (which looks amazing). 
• Fifth grade in collaborating with fourth grade to utilize Afternoon Scholars to support level 2 students with the goal of grade level proficient. 
• First and Second grade teams collaborating with AIG to support the KITS programs. 
• Second grade team welcoming their families to the Thanksgiving feasts. 
• First grade team for continue to utilize Stem Challenges on Friday. 

Critical Thinking 

Moonlight Reading -- Would you like to be a guest reader during Moonlight reading? Readers would be 6pm, 6:25 and 6:55.  2-3 readers per time slot if possible. If interested add your name to the list -- Sign up sheet. 

Magnet Materials -- Magnet money is available to enrich the Magnet content you teach. Use the Instruction Funds Form (Link ) to submit your request.

Feedback -- If you have more feedback (things that have worked or things that could be better throughout the school year) you would like for us to consider, please feel free to email, discuss or fill out this form. https://goo.gl/forms/XNwhdAo6gU8lOfck1

Feedback responses -- See Link to feedback to see responses to the staff's questions and feedback. This will continued to be updated monthly. 

PTA Stipend:  Just a reminder to spend your $100 PTA Stipend for instructional materials by December.  Provide a copy of your receipt attached to the reimbursement form found in the PTA Treasurer's mailbox. 

Communication 

Gates leading to the playground (K side and Glenwood Ave) will both now remain locked at all times.  We will notify parents and the community that that area is not to be used after school or on the weekend. If an emergency arises, the code is 0572.

Early Release-  We will be meeting from 2:00-4:00 on Tuesday.  Agenda can be found here.

Magnet Spotlight -When tours enter your classroom, if you (or a student!) are able to take 30 seconds or so to explain what is going on to parents they are better able to process what they are seeing. These short pop-in visit help prospective parents "see" our dynamic program in action to gain a better understanding of the Gifted and Talented program.

Staff Holiday Party
We are excited to invite our staff school family to a Holiday get together Friday, December 15th from 5-7 pm at Oak and Dagger at Seaboard station!  We will be sending out an Evite soon so that we can gather exact numbers.  Come join us for a time of joy, good friends and good food (beverages will be on your own but there will be a bar area in our semi private area).  We hope that many can attend this time to come together and celebrate the company of each other!

New, Free Conscious Discipline Webinars!  This week's free webinar is "Parent cliffnotes for Conscious Discipline."  It might be a great one to share with the parents in your class.  Visit here for the details.

Underwood staff shirts- Ashley has cleaned out the Magnet closet and several "old school"  Underwood staff shirts were found.  If you would like one, they are yours! The bag is in the IRT/Magnet office.

Collaboration 

NCTIES 2018 is getting geared up for another exciting conference year.  This year's conference theme is "What Box".  We hope NCTIES 2018 will help you leave the box behind. If you are interested in attending this conference that integrates technology with your daily work complete the following interest form by December 1st. The conference is March 1st and March 2nd (February 28th is a pre-conference) more information is available at http://www.ncties.org/.

Media Center --  Be sure to see Tanya or Andrea about reserving space in the media center. We have a ton of groups working in there this year (yea!!) and we want to make sure that the media center space is accessible, but also the calendar is as accurate as possible to avoid frustration. More info available at https://ugtmmediacenter.blogspot.com/. 

Accommodations for testing (IEP, 504, LEP) - Classroom teachers will need to review accommodations for students if - Testing accommodations --- submit settings form to secure a staff member that can administer the assessment in the appropriate setting per their plan

Creativity 

Friends and Family Board:  We will be creating a staff Friends and Family Board in the workroom.  Add your friends/family photo to the google folder here. We currently have 15% of our staff's photo.  Encourage your students to send in a picture of their friends/family to be displayed in your room on a bulletin board, book within your Safe Place, etc.  The Friends and Family Board builds community and connection, and links the home family with the School Family.

Student and Staff Awesomeness -- Check out what our team is doing in their classrooms -- via Twitter - @underwoodgtm -- #weareunderwood Keep up the great work! 

Calendar:

November 21st - Early Release, School Family Assembly 9:30

November 22nd - 24th - Vacation Day and Holidays 

November 27th - Book Fair 

November 28th - Moonlight Reading  
November 29th - Instructional Leadership Team meeting at Spring Forest Road 
December 5th - Business Meeting
December 15th-Staff Holiday Party 
December 21st - Early Release 
December 22nd - January 1st - Winter Break 

*Staff attended events listed here