March 12th

Celebrations!

• Heather Callahan has her baby BOY, Rylan Larre Callahan, 7 lbs 5oz, 19.25 inches...born on March 5th at 3:36 pm! 
• Underwood was selected as an alternate to represent our state for the White House Easter Egg Roll.  Lauren will be designing an Easter Egg that may be replicated on a big egg to represent North Carolina on the White House Lawn.
• TWC-  65% of staff of completed the Teacher Working Conditions Survey!!!!  YAY!!!
• We organized Media Center 4C's Stations for indoor recess today. The Centers consisted of 10 stations using low and high tech. Students chose the station and worked together in groups of four. It was learning on real-life, have to work-together kind of way. Students had choice, focus and fun. We would love to see how this can become a more regular part of all classroom learning!

• Pieces of Gold was a huge success! Congratulations to our performers led by Kellie, Rachel, and Melissa! 

Collaboration

Lunch and Learn --  Tanya will be hosting Lunch and Learn on a variety of technology tools during lunch times. For more information -- see Lunch and Learn flyer. She will also share at our Business meeting on Tuesday. 

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.

PD -- We at Curriculum Pathways are excited to announce the third Teacher Institute (June 18-August 10)! The application is open and ready for your submission. The deadline for applications is March 30th, 2018, at 11:59 pm EST.2018 Summer Teacher Institute - Pathfinders from Curriculum Pathways’s Tweet . 

Clean School --In an effort to provide a clean and safe school, the custodial team has had on-going meetings to increase their support to make sure that our learning spaces are clean and supporting the students. Click on the link Customer service updates to see the custodial expectations. If you have a maintenance concern or need please email Mr. Marrow.  If you have a cleaning concern please email Ms. Mbalia. Mr. Marrow and Ms. Mbalia will be conducting weekly walkthroughs.

Creativity

Free Arts Integration Workshop:  Stepping Into Character

with Meredyth Pederson Cooper, Director of Education at Raleigh Little Theatre
Add theatre arts to your arts integration teaching toolbox, as you learn how to build dramatic frames so your students can learn and you can teach “in role” as characters. With strong scaffolding and thoughtful facilitation, the elements of character, conflict and storytelling become effective teaching tools in the classroom. This workshop will provide the tools you need to bring role work into your classroom and build effective lessons that engage your students’ imaginations and help them make relevant connections to curriculum.   
When: Saturday, March 24, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
Where: MJH Gallery at the United Arts Council, 410 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh
Who: Open to any Wake County elementary educator with any level of arts experience
Cost: Free, but you do need to register by emailing full name, position, school, and email address to rcarlile@unitedarts.org.  CEU credit available.

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

Yearbooks -- Yearbook orders received and to deliver orders to the Yearbook Box?  The last day for Yearbook ordering is March 30, 2018.

Google Expedition: Teachers: Don't forget to sign up for a time on the linked form for your Google Expedition Experience.  A Google Expedition is a virtual or augmented reality experience where students will put on a set of viewing goggles and see images moving around in 3D.  The available topics to choose from are found HERE.  Tanya or Andrea can help talk you through what might be acceptable as a simple lesson idea.  See Tanya's email with the subject line "Exciting Opportunity" sent last week for more details.

Communication 

Behavior Support Team -- Some updates and clarification about how we support our students with our school-wide expectations -- PRIDE / CD at Underwood. This is also what was sent by Travis via email. 

Playground Equipment -  PTA has purchased new playground equipment.  SIP team will receive more information tomorrow for the process to follow with the equipment.  Starting Wednesday the equipment will be stored in the cart. Please be sure the students are collecting all the equipment before returning the bag to the cart.   

Foundation Gala-If you would like to attend the annual Spring Gala on March 23rd at CAM, you can sign up here.  Staff tickets are free and you may bring one guest at the discounted rate of $35.  Checks can be made out to Underwood Foundation and put in the Foundation mailbox.  

Teacher Working Conditions Survey-  Last Friday we handed out the Teacher Working Conditions Survey codes to get into the portal.  If you did not receive one, please see Alexandria to get your code.  Once you get your code- the web address -  www.ncteachingconditions.org

We are looking for a 100% participation!  As of now we are at 65% (28/43). 

Reflection from ER day-  Please fill out the reflection from Friday-  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdNjzuTezPuJLcGFxq9rwJDp5K8gGA1fEw8l_wD6L3MMOHvaw/viewform?usp=sf_link

3:1 Webinar-  Please make sure you are working on the 3:1 webinar.  Here is the link to the overview.  Let Alexandria or Tanya know if you have any questions.  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kQHn6EJiVaj7LFTbur19PemG8E7TDYEmZ6xzmhntMCY/edit?usp=sharing

Critical Thinking 

Shifts in ELA -- 
- Building Knowledge Informational Text
- Evidence from Text
- Complex Text and academic Vocabulary




ED Pins -- For teachers looking for ways to boost up their global awareness/collaboration piece of their teacher evaluations, this is a GREAT way way to begin! https://sites.google.com/view/edpins/home  NC had no pins so I added one tonight for Underwood :)

Student Teachers - Would you like to host and work with a student teacher next school year? I am compiling a list of teachers. If you would be interested please add your name to sign up. I will send a final list to NC State, if you are chosen to have host a college senior, Keith Walkowiak from NC State will email or contact you. 

Next School Year -- Staff we are entering that time of year where we are starting to make plans for next school year. If you are considering a change in locations, be sure to complete the transfer application process - via https://wakeconnect.wcpss.net/sites/transfer-process/SitePage/28515/transfer-process - Please see Travis if this is an opportunity that you would like to explore for next school year. 

Graduate Literacy Cohort - Please pass along to your faculty information about our Graduate Literacy Cohort Program here at NC State.  Please contact Dr. Hiller Spires directly (haspires@ncsu.edu or 919.210.1301) with any questions.

Have a great Friday and an even better weekend!

Keith

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

Calendar:

March 13th-SIP/Leadership Meeting; 7:45am
March 15th-CD Cohort; 7:45am
March 23rd-Foundation Gala at CAM; 7pm
March 27th-SIP/Leadership Meeting; 7:45am
March 27th-Artspleasure; 5-8pm
March 29-Q3 electives end

*Staff attended events listed here