February 27th

Collaboration 
Discovery Education Cohort - Underwood is one of 27 schools partnering with Discovery Education to help drive system-wide Learning and Teaching transformations. We have created a small cohort comprised of Underwood staff as well as a professional learning consultant from Discovery Education. Our focus will revolve around learning, reflecting, and dialogue with each other about the 4 C's, Learner Agency, Social Emotional Learning, and Digital Learning. The cohort will meet 3 times this year (Feb. 20, Mar 21, & April 7. As part of our learning, Learning Walks will be conducted each time where a small group of 2-3 staff members will spend 10-15 minutes in some of your classrooms. These Learning Walks will occur between 10:45-11:45

Habitat for Humanity - Per Dr. Merrill  - Earlier this year, our school system agreed to participate in a “Building Together” project run by  Habitat for Humanity of Wake County. We also learned the Habitat for Humanity house will be built for one of our bus drivers, Roxanne Harris, and her family. As a sponsoring organization, we are working to raise as much as $65,000 by March 24. I am excited to share that Moseley Architects already has made a donation of $2,000 in my name. If you would like to be a part of this exciting partnership, please donate by visiting the Building Together website. Individual schools will be recognized based on donations given. Project updates and opportunities to volunteer directly at the site of this new home will be shared at a later time. 

Visit from Magnet Office with guests - On Tuesday February 28th 9:15AM  Our Magnet office representative and members of the Charlotte-Meck Magnet office will be visit the creative arts electives to tour 1st and 2nd Period Arts Electives. 

Communication 
Underwood Foundation Spring Gala - tickets are now available -- Gala tickets for Friday, March 24, 7:00pm at CAM. If you would like to be added to the list for potential free tickets, email Ashley.

Artspleasure - Save the date for March 23rd from 5:00-7:30. More information to come. 

Spotlight on Student Breakfast-March 7th, 8:00-8:45am in the Media Center. Please attend and help celebrate our eight nominated students.  Sign up for a food item to bring: https://docs.google.com/document/d/144lseHlkskG3Mfrtiz9c9bqZaGGaxHdiqoBtCbOsWFA/edit?usp=sharing

Critical Thinking 
Input Sessions on Curriculum: February 20 - March 2
We Need YOU! We are hosting a series of curriculum review sessions Feb. 20-March 2. We seek input from teachers, staff, parents and community around new resources for curriculum offerings that we will begin implementing this fall. Please take a look at the MEMO from Assistant Superintendent for Academics Brian Kingsley.

Creativity 
February is Love the Bus Month

                                               Aeronautics elective - created parachutes and tested to see if they will launch and fly

                         Kitchen Chemistry elective - predicting what would happen to water as pencils were                                          stuck in it. Also focused on how plastic harms the environment.

February 20

Communication 
Underwood Foundation Spring Gala - tickets are now available -- Gala tickets for Friday, March 24, 7:00pm at CAM. 

Magnet Seats - 36 students have been selected to join our school through the magnet application process for the 2017-18 school year. We will be having a Meet and Greet on Tuesday the 21st at 10:00 in the media center. If you have time, feel free to stop in and say hi to our new families.

Employee Transfer Process : March 1 - May 1
The transfer request period will open on March 1, 2017 and close on May 1, 2017 at 11:59pm. During this window employees may interview and accept positions for the 2017-18 school year without their current Principal's permission. After this window closes, interviews and/or transfer requests for the 2017-18 school year will require your current Principal's permission and HR approval.

Employees must create an internal AppliTrack application at http://www.applitrack.com/wcpss/onlineapp. If you already have an existing AppliTrack account, login to your account and go to #2 “Current Employment Status” and select the option for current employees. Do not create another AppliTrack account if one already exists.

Collaboration 

Way to go Special Education Team!

Discovery Education Cohort - Underwood is one of 27 schools partnering with Discovery Education to help drive system-wide Learning and Teaching transformations. We have created a small cohort comprised of Underwood staff as well as a professional learning consultant from Discovery Education. Our focus will revolve around learning, reflecting, and dialogue with each other about the 4 C's, Learner Agency, Social Emotional Learning, and Digital Learning. The cohort will meet 3 times this year (Feb. 20, Mar 21, & April 7. As part of our learning, Learning Walks will be conducted each time where a small group of 2-3 staff members will spend 10-15 minutes in some of your classrooms. These Learning Walks will occur between 10:45-11:45. Our learning consultant is Libby Galster and below is a quick video introducing herself to Underwood.
Video introduction


Conscious Discipline: Ms. Gary and Mrs. Romero using Feeling Buddies curriculum with the class. They were discussing how the Feeling Buddies can be used in their Safe Place.

PLTs - Travis will be attending a High 5 PLT training on Tuesday with the five surrounding counties as a part of WCPSS mission to support collaboration. 

2017 SAS Curriculum Pathways Summer Teacher Institute - Deadline February 26
We are excited to announce our 2nd Summer Teacher Institute - an opportunity with area teachers to join our team for a paid, 8-week edtech immersion. You can find all the details here: http://blogs.sas.com/content/sascp/2017/01/31/2017-teacher-institute/.

Critical Thinking
SSA - Single Subject Acceleration information has been updated for next school year. Information can be found on our website - http://www.wcpss.net/site/default.aspx?DomainID=5231. With parent sessions information found here. Please send all nomination to Jen Page and Heather Callahan by 4/26. (Teachers please add to you weekly newsletter).

Input Sessions on Curriculum: February 20 - March 2
We Need YOU! We are hosting a series of curriculum review sessions Feb. 20-March 2. We seek input from teachers, staff, parents and community around new resources for curriculum offerings that we will begin implementing this fall. Please take a look at the MEMO from Assistant Superintendent for Academics Brian Kingsley.

Teacher Assistant Professional Learning Opportunities 
View the Schedule with your WCPSS Google account to see the available sessions and eSchools information.Teacher Assistants, please register in eSchools for the session(s) you are interested in attending. All classes are optional! Sessions are held at Crossroads II, 110 Corning Road, Cary, NC 27518 and occur from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. For questions, please contact Susan Andrews, sandrews@wcpss.net, 919-694-0244.

Master of Education Elon’s Master of Education program with you and your teachers. We will host an on-campus information session on Tuesday, February 28 at 5 p.m. and a virtual information session on Tuesday, March 7 at 6 p.m.

Creativity 

Mrs. Mann is offering an art class to any interested staff members which will occur over two 1 hr sessions in the afternoon. If you are interested in taking this class, please sign up using the link below!
Signing up for an art class

February is Love the Bus Month

February 13th

Communication 
Spring Pictures - Class and Spring Pictures are on Friday, be sure to review the schedule and be on time so we can keep to our schedule.

Access Theme Park, Hotel and Other Discounts with TicketsatWork
WCPSS employees now have access to discounts for Carowinds as well as hundreds of other attractions and events nationwide through TicketsatWork. To learn more and purchase your tickets or other travel offers, see this flier.

Intent Form - Please complete the blue intent form by this Friday. If you have misplaced it, here is the Intent form. 

Transfer Window:  The transfer window for WCPSS will open on March 1, 2017 and close on May 1, 2017.  All recommendations need to be submitted to HR, via AppliTrack, by 11:59 pm on May 1, 2017.  When the transfer window opens, information will be posted on the intranet for teachers to access.  After May 1, all other transfers will be approved based on conversations with Principals and Human Resources. 

Collaboration 

Planning Days - Great to see teachers collaborating and determining essential standards, measure of assessments, and instructional planning to meet students needs.

Engage Wake: Teacher Assistant - Professional Learning Opportunities Spring 2017 
View the Schedule with your WCPSS Google account to see the available sessions and eSchools information.
Teacher Assistants, please register in eSchools for the session(s) you are interested in attending. All classes are optional!
Sessions are held at Crossroads II, 110 Corning Road, Cary, NC 27518 and occur from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
For questions, please contact Susan Andrews, sandrews@wcpss.net, 919-694-0244.

Conscious Discipline Cohort-Join us on Thursday morning at 7:45am in the Media Center as we focus on the language of Positive Intent to guide our interactions with our students.

Critical Thinking 
2017 SAS Curriculum Pathways Summer Teacher Institute - Deadline February 26
We are excited to announce our 2nd Summer Teacher Institute - an opportunity with area teachers to join our team for a paid, 8-week edtech immersion. You can find all the details here: http://blogs.sas.com/content/sascp/2017/01/31/2017-teacher-institute/.

Spotlight on Student -If you would like to nominate a student, please click the link below.  You will be asked to write the student’s name and a  3-5 sentence description on why you feel the student is deserving of the recognition.  Nominations will be accepted through Friday, February 17th. - Nomination Form. 

Creativity 
The digital version of Explore Wake Schools magazine is out now!
Please share this with fellow staff members, parents, friends and neighbors. It’s a must-read for anyone thinking about applying to a magnet school for next year. This issue includes information and tips about the magnet process, as well as features about some of our magnet schools and themes. Enjoy!

Celebrating 100th Day!!   

February 6th

Communication 

Business Meeting Date Change - Mark your calendar, we will have our business meeting on February 23rd as opposed to March 2nd. Dr. Phillips will be speaking to our staff about how to support students that are refugees and/or are new to our county. Our meeting will start at 7:45, we will be using our business meeting on March 2nd to continue our TIPs problem solving based on informal discussion for all teams.

Powerschool reminder:  The expectation is to enter 2-3 assignments per week. This could be a part of your PLT celebration and announcement time (for grade level consistency it would be good to determine which assignments could be recorded).

Report cards go home on Tuesday, February 7th.  Home Connect Letters and Elective report cards should also be included.

PDP/2nd Observations - All Mid Year PDPs should be completed by this week. Daphne and I are in the process of completing 2nd round observations license renewals, comprehensive and standard evaluation staff members (see my evaluations if you are unsure if this is you). Once those are completed we will be completing our abbreviated staff members's 2nd observations.

Elective Rosters:  Double check your rosters to be sure that the students that are attending are actually on your rosters.  If you are noticing a student showing up or not showing up, please let us know.  We appreciate everyone's flexibility and understanding in the changes that occur each quarter.

Critical Thinking 
Continuing Education - NC State has a new M.Ed. in elementary science education that prepares elementary school teachers to become science specialists and, upon graduation, will earn an "add-on" to their teaching license designating this specialization. NC State is the first, and currently the only, university in North Carolina that offers this opportunity in collaboration with the NC State Board of Education.  Please contact Dr. Sarah Carrier (sarah_carrier@ncsu.edu) or Dr. James Minogue (james_minogue@ncsu.edu) with any questions.

Creativity 

Winter Carnival - Reminder that Winter Carnival is Saturday February 11th from 11-3. We would love to have 100% staff participation/attendance. So try your best to make it out and support our PTA.

TEK Clubs:  Just a reminder that the deadline for submitting a proposal for a TEK clubs is February 10th.  Email Duval Fisher ( duval@tailoredenrichmentkids.com )with a paragraph description of your club/what grade level students and materials needed.  Clubs will run on Wednesday's from March 29-May 10.  Based on the number of students enrolled, you can be paid $650+.

Case 21 - Reminder that our Case21 results have been printed out and given to classroom teachers. WE will have item analysis discussions at our PTLs to see what objectives need more attention to support the majority of the students. Be sure to send home the parent letter with the students report cards.

CAM Raleigh:  Fifth grade students artwork created with artist in residence Shannon Newby was on display at CAM Raleigh this past weekend.  Underwood Continuing Strings shared their talents with the visitors Friday night.  Our fifth grade students will also be participating in their docent program starting this February.  If this is something you would like to be interested in supporting, please let us know!

Collaboration 

Discovery ED Group - We will have a group of 7-8 staff members will be working with Libby Galster (Discovery Education Consult) for four days focusing on supporting our School Improvement Plan focused on our two Key Process - Vocabulary and linguistic representation. The team will also be looking at 4cs in the classroom.

Early Release-February 10th preview:  We will be working together to review and evaluate our leveled book room.  Our goal is to have a quality, rigorous selection of texts to utilize for reading instruction.  You input will be valuable as we purchase new texts.  Please bring at least one book to donate for our participation in the Wake Up and Read Program.  More information will be shared at the meeting.

Yearbook photos needed-Yearbook is especially in need of photos from Elective Events, Specials Events, Field Trips, and in-classroom Photos.  Email photos in full original resolution size to Sharon Cole  sharoncole@carolina.rr.com   (Yearbook software requires the original, full resolution image quality which is typically 750KB - 2MB file size)